Improvements in or relating to Motor-propelled Road Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Motor-propelled Road Vehicles.
I, PAUL LABRE, of Montluçon, in the Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to motor-propelled vehicles, particularly motor-safety-
bicycles, driven by petroleum motors.
The frame of the bicycle is of the ordinary kind, but has a portion of the tube
or saddle pillar passing from the saddle to the crank axle bracket, substituted by
the motor itself, the remaining or upper portion of the tube or saddle pillar
terminates in a flange provided with a suitable number of holes. The motor
is provided with a suitable face on which the above named flange is fixed by
screws or bolts. The crank-axle bracket of the bicycle carries the other or lower
end of the tube or saddle pillar which terminates adjacent to the motor, in a fork
which embraces the lower part of the said motor to which it is connected by a
bolt or other suitable device.
The other constituent parts of the bicycle are arranged in substantially the
usual manner. To the back or driving wheel of the bicycle is secured a belt
pulley formed conveniently of a metal ring and fixed directly to the spokes of
the wheel by solder or other appropriate means.
The exhaust of the motor communicates by a suitably arranged tube with a
silencer arranged below the crank-axle bracket.
A driving belt passes round a grooved pulley fixed to the fly wheel of the motor
and round the driving pulley before referred to; the belt also passes between
two arms of a double guide serving to guide the shaft or axle of an adjustable
tension roller. By displacing this tension roller in the guide, by the aid of an
appropriate controlling device, the tension of the driving belt can be varied and
thus the movement of the vehicle by the motor as well as the independence
between the vehicle and the motor be controlled.
The other necessary elements of the mechanism viz. :-the carburetter, the
accumulators, the induction coil and the driving mechanism are arranged in.
suitable positions.
The cylinder of the motor is made of steel, whereby it is possible to impart to
it the maximum resistance and the minimum weight; it is provided with cooling
ribs or flanges, which are arranged in greater number or closer together at or
near the ignition or closed end of the cylinder than at the other or open end.
By this arrangement the cylinder is maintained at a uniform temperature
throughout its length.
The suction valve and its seat constitute a single fitting which is screwed into,
or otherwise suitably connected with, the upper part of the cylinder and which
is covered by a cap or socket serving to receive a tube communicating with the
carburetter.
The connecting rod and the crank of the motor are enclosed in a case carrying

page_text: fixed bearings preferably of steel in which, loose bearings preferably of bronze,
are adapted to rotate freely.
This case is provided with a valve for preventing oil from being forced out
through the joints of the bearings when the piston, during its down stroke,
produces pressure in the interior. This valve opens as soon as a sufficient pressure
is produced, and allows the air to escape. When the piston ascends, a slight
vacuum is produced in the interior of the case and this has a tendency to draw
back into the interior of the case, the oil that had entered the bearings during
the preceding downstroke. By unscrewing this valve the case can be filled
with oil.
The lubrication of the movable parts is ensured by a washer or collar arranged
loosely upon the head of the connecting rod, and one portion of which is at each
revolution immersed in the oil bath and distributes the necessary oil throughout
the case thus ensuring continuous lubrication of all the rubbing parts of the
motor.
The fly wheel is keyed on one end of the motor shaft which, at its other end,
carries, or is formed in one part with, a small toothed wheel gearing with teeth
formed at the interior of a cam which actuates the exhaust valve. This valve-
operating mechanism is also enclosed in a case, which is so prolonged at its upper
part as to ensure a proper guide for the valve rod. This arrangement permits of
the cam being in the same plane as the gear wheel or pinion which actuates it,
and thereby effects a reduction in the width of the motor. The cam of the
exhaust valve is provided with a shaft carrying a cam which controls the
ignition.
A cock provided at the closed end of the cylinder admits of the cylinder being
opened to the atmosphere and the compression avoided during the starting of
the motor.
A portion of the exhaust gases are conveyed into the carburetter.
This carburetter is formed of a metallic box divided into two compartments,
one of which constitutes the carburetter proper. The two compartments are
adapted to communicate with each other by a tube provided with a cock.
In order to prevent the liquid from violently moving during any concussions of
the vehicle, I arrange plates or baffles across the carburetter, which however leave
below them, an uninterrupted passage extending from one end of the carburetter
to the other.
The air enters the carburetter through a tube capable of sliding in a socket or
sheath in the upper compartment. This tube is provided at its lower part with
orifices serving to afford a passage for the air. A float surmounted by a rod
permits of the level of the liquid in the lower compartment being readily
ascertained.
Before the carburetted air passes to the motor, it traverses wire-gauze and
oakum, serving to retain the liquid particles and to regulate the carburetting.
A three-way cock permits of a controllable mixture of carburetted gas and air
being conducted to the motor.
The liquid in the lower part of the carburetter, is heated by the exhaust gases
which enter the same.
The carburetter may be fixed to the frame by yokes or collars.
The details of the apparatus may be modified without departing from the spirit
of the invention.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX.
47, Lincoln's Inn, Fields, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: I, PAUL LABRE, of Montlug on, in the Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to motor-propelled vehicles, particularly motor-safety-
bicycles, driven by petroleum motors.
In order that my invention may be properly understood, I will describe the
same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 represents the motor bicycle in side elevation.
Figures 2 and 3 represent the motor in-sectional views taken at right angles
to each other and
Figure 4 represents the carburetter. The frame of the bicycle is of the
ordinary kind but has a portion of the tube or saddle pillar a passing from the
saddle to the crank axle bracket substituted by the motor itself, the remaining
or upper portion of the tube or saddle pillar a terminates in a flange b provided
with a suitable number of holes. The motor is provided with a suitable face on
which the flange b is fixed by screws or bolts. The crank-axle bracket of the
bicycle carries the other or lower end of the tube or saddle-pillar a which
terminates adjacent to the motor in a fork c which embraces the lower part of
the said motor to which it is connected by a bolt or other suitable device as shewn
in Figure 3.
The other constituent parts of the bicycle are arranged in substantially the
usual manner. To the back or driving wheel of the bicycle is secured a belt
pulley formed conveniently of a metal ring and fixed directly to the spokes of
the wheel by solder or other appropriate means.
The exhaust of the motor communicates by a suitably arranged tube e with a
silencer arranged below the crank axle bracket.
A driving belt passes round a grooved pulley h fixed to the fly wheel i of the
motor and round the driving pulley before referred to the belt also passes
between two arms of a double guide serving to guide the shaft or axle of an
adjustable tension roller k. By displacing this tension roller k in the guide j, by
the aid of an appropriate controlling device, the tension of the driving belt g
can be varied and thus the movement of the vehicle by the motor as well as the
independence between the vehicle and the motor be controlled.
The other necessary elements of the mechanism riz.: the carburetter m, the
accumulators n, the induction coil o and the driving mechanism are arranged in
positions such as shewn in Figure 1.
The cylinder of the motor is made of steel, whereby it is possible to impart to
it the maximum resistance and the minimum weight it is provided with cooling
ribs or flanges, which are arranged in greater nuniber or closer together at or
near the ignition or closed end of the cylinder than at the other or open end.
By this arrangement the cylinder is maintained at a uniform temperature through-
out its length.
The suction valve and its seat a constitute a single fitting which is screwed
into or otherwise suitably connected with, the upper part of the cylinder and
which is covered by a cap or socket serving to receive a tuber communicating
with the carburetter.
The connecting rod and the crank of the motor are enclosed in a case s carrying
fixed bearings preferably of steel, in which, loose bearings u preferably of bronze
are adapted to rotate freely.

page_text: This case is provided with a valve for preventing oil from being forced out
through the joints of the bearings when the piston, during its down stroke,
produces pressure in the interior. This valve opens as soon as a sufficient pressure
is produced, and allows the air to escape. When the piston ascends, a slight
vacuum is produced in the interior of the cases and this has a tendency to draw
back into the interior of the case the oil that had entered the bearings during
the preceding down stroke. By unscrewing this valve the case can be filled
with oil.
The lubrication of the movable parts is ensured by a washer or collar we arranged
loosely upon the head of the connecting rod, and one portion of which is at each
revolution immersed in the oil bath and distributes the necessary oil throughout
the case thus ensuring continuous lubrication of all the rubbing parts of the
motor.
The fly wheel is keyed on one end of the motor shaft which at its other end
carries, or is formed in one part with, a small toothed wheel gearing with teeth
formed at the interior of a cam y which actuates the exhaust valve z.
This valve-operating mechanism is also enclosed in a case 1 which is so pro-
longed at its upper part as to ensure a proper guide for the valve rod. This
arrangement permits of the cam y being in the same plane as the gear wheel
or pinion which actuates it, and thereby effects a reduction in the width of the
motor. The cam y of the exhaust valve is provided with a shaft 2 carrying a
cam 3 which controls the ignition.
A cock 4 provided at the closed end of the cylinder admits of the cylinder
being opened to the atmosphere and the compression avoided during the starting
of the motor.
A portion of the exhaust gases are conveyed through a pipe 5 into the
carburetter m.
This carburetter is formed of a metallic box divided, as shown in Figure 4,
into two compartments, one of which, 6, constitutes the carburetter proper. The
two compartments 6 and 7 are adapted to communicate with each other by a
tube 8 provided with a cock 9.
In order to prevent the liquid from violently moving during any concussions
of the vehicle, I arrange plates or baffles 10 across the carburetter, which however
leave below them an uninterrupted passage extending from one end of the
carburetter to the other.
The air enters the carburetter through a tube 11 capable of sliding in a sockeṭ
or sheath 12 in the upper compartment 6. The tube 11 is provided at its lower
part with orifices 13 serving to afford a passage for the air. A float 14, sur-
mounted by a rod 15, permits of the level of the liquid in the lower compart-
ment being readily ascertained.
Before the carburetted air passes to the motor, it traverses wire gauze 16 and
oakum 17, serving to retain the liquid particles and to regulate the carburetting.
A three-way-cock 18 permits of a controllable mixture of carburetted gas and
air being conducted to the motor, through the tube ».
The liquid in the lower part of the carburetter is heated by the exhaust gases
which enter the same by the pipe 5 above referred to.
The carburetter m may be fixed to the frame by yokes or collars 19 and 20
and a claw 21. The details of the apparatus may be modified without departing
from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The combination with a safety-bicycle of a hydro-carbon-motor substituting
a portion of, or fitted into the tube or saddle pillar which passes from the saddle
to the crank-axle bracket and which motor is arranged to rotate the rear or
driving wheel of the bicycle by a belt passing round a pulley fixed directly to

page_text: the spokes of the said driving wheel substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In a safety bicycle such as claimed in the preceding claim, a motor, having
a steel cylinder provided with cooling ribs or Hanges more numerous or closer
together at or near the ignition or closed end of the cylinder than at the other
end, and having a washer or collar adapted to be immersed, at each stroke of
the motor in an oil bath contained in the motor-casing, substantially as herein- ☐
before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. In a motor such as claimed in the last preceding claim the employment of
internal gearing for actuating the cam controlling the exhaust and of a valve on
the motor casing for preventing oil from being forced out through the joints
during the down stroke of the piston, substantially as herein before described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination with a safety bicycle such as claimed in the preceding
ciaims of a driving pulley or ring fixed to the spokes of the driving wheel of the
bicycle substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
5. The combination with a motor safety-bicycle such as claimed in the preceding
claims, of a device wherein the driving belt is caused to pass over a roller capable
of being adjusted between guide arms substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
6. In a motor-safety-bicycle such as claimed in the preceding claims, a car-
buretter formed of two compartments capable of being placed in communication
with each other, the air being admitted to the lower part of one of the compart-
ments, which latter is provided with transverse plates or baffles substantially as
and for the purpose herein before described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the motor-bicycle
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
:
1
1000
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.