IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES, AND IN THE APPLICATION OF MOTIVE POWER THERETO, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO TRAM CARS, TRACTION ENGINES, AND OTHER ROAD LOCOMOTIVES
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry John Lawson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th September 1880.
HENRY JOHN LAWSON, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES, AND IN THE APPLICATION OF MOTIVE POWER
THERETO, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO TRAM CARS, TRACTION
ENGINES, AND OTHER ROAD LOCOMOTIVES."
My Invention consists of certain improvements in velocipedes which are partly
or completely propelled by motors, and machinery connected therewith, having
for their principal object the construction and arrangement of these machines
in such a manner that the carriage of an engine, or motor for self propulsion,
with its necessary accompanying machinery, may be rendered practicable with
less inconvenience to the rider (from the extra weight, bulk, and strain, when the
engine is not working, and has to be propelled solely by his efforts), by the
application and use of compressed gas for fuel and motive purposes. My Invention
further consists of the application, construction, and arrangement of a gas engine,
combined with certain alterations in the various details of the velocipede portion,
whereby loss of power, friction, and weight, are reduced, while strength is at the
same time added to such portions of the machine as the framing wheels, &c., for
sustaining the increased strain. The engine is bolted down to a platform, which
is suspended to the frame by iron stays. It is vertically arranged, and the crank
has two toothed wheels fitted suitably upon it for changing the speed, the teeth
running into those of corresponding wheels upon cranked shaft carrying the large
wheel of tricycle. At the will of the rider these toothed wheels may be slid
into or out of position, so that the machine may be propelled either with or
independently of the engine power. In the rear of the machine a reservoir of
welded iron is situated, supported upon iron stays bolted to the frame of tricycle
for containing compressed gas at a high pressure, but one opening answers both
for the egress and entrance of the gas, which has first a valve or box of bulletts
through which the gas passes to the furnaces or cylinder, and then is connected to
an air pump which serves both to exhaust and compress the gas. This is performed
by the engine itself, the heating being done by gas from an ordinary main should
there be no pressure in the reservoir. In the case of the engine being worked by
gases, or a mixture of gas and atmosphere, the same arrangement applies for the

page_text: starting of the compression suitable burners being constructed. The jet which
carries the light to cylinder is suspended elastically to absorb the jar. In the act
of compression the piston of pump is connected with the driving shaft by a
connecting rod and toothed wheel, which may be thrown out of gear at pleasure.
The tank is fitted both with pressure and vacuum gauges, and the pump has a
series of taps for connecting either the exhaust or force valve with inlet. In other
details the usual methods of working with a mixture of air and gas are followed,
but by the application to velocipedes of this system of using the combustion of
compressed gas for fuel and motive purposes a great advantage is gained over the
use of coal and other fuel and its inconvenient carriage. The piston is forced up by
the ignition and explosion of the gas, and thus propels the machine by acting upon
the driving axle in the way and manner described, or by an action similar to the
well known silent feed clutch, ratchets, &c., as now used in velocipedes.

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry John Lawson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th September 1880.
HENRY JOHN LAWSON, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES, AND IN THE APPLICATION OF MOTIVE POWER
THERETO, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO TRAM CARS, TRACTION
ENGINES, AND OTHER ROAD LOCOMOTIVES."
My Invention consists of certain improvements in velocipedes which are partly
or completely propelled by motors, and machinery connected thorewith, having
for their principal object the construction and arrangement of these machines
in such a manner that the carriage of an engine, or motor for self propulsion,
with its necessary accompanying machinery, may be rendered practicable with
less inconvenience to the rider (from the extra weight, bulk, and strain, when the
engine is not working, and has to be propelled solely by his efforts), by the
application and use of compressed gas for fuel and motive purposes. My Invention
further consists of the application, construction, and arrangement of a gas engine,
combined with certain alterations in the various details of the velocipede portion,
whereby loss of power, friction, and weight, are reduced, while strength is at the
same time added to such portions of the machine as the framing wheels, &c., for
sustaining the increased strain. The engine is bolted down to a platform, which
is suspended to the frame by iron stays. It is vertically arranged, and the crank
bas two toothed wheels fitted suitably upon it for changing the speed, the teeth
running into those of corresponding wheels upon cranked shaft carrying the large
wheel of tricycle. At the will of the rider these toothed wheels may be slid
into or out of position, so that the machine may be propelled either with or
independently of the engine power. In the rear of the machine a reservoir of
welded iron is situated, supported upon iron stays bolted to the frame of tricycle
for containing compressed gas at a high pressure, but one opening answers both
for the egress and entrance of the gas, which has first a valve or box of bulletts
through which the gas passes to the furnaces or cylinder, and then is connected to
an air pump which serves both to exhaust and compress the gas. This is performed
by the engine itself, the heating being done by gas from an ordinary main should
there be no pressure in the reservoir. In the case of the engine being worked by
gases, or a mixture of gas and atmosphere, the same arrangement applies for the

page_text: starting of the compression suitable burners being constructed. The jet which
carries the light to cyclinder is suspended elastically to absorb the jar. In the act
of compression the piston of pump is connected with the driving shaft by a
connecting rod and toothed wheel, which may be thrown out of gear at pleasure.
The tank is fitted both with pressure and vacuum gauges, and the pump has a
series of taps for connecting either the exhaust or force valve with inlet. In other
details the usual methods of working with a mixture of air and gas are followed,
but by the application to velocipedes of this system of using the combustion of
compressed gas for fuel and motive purposes a great advantage is gained over the
use of coal and other fuel and its inconvenient carriage. The piston is forced up by
the ignition and explosion of the gas, and thus propels the machine by acting upon
the driving axle in the way and manner described, or by an action similar to the
well known silent feed clutch, ratchets, &c., as now used in velocipedes.