Improvements in Auto-cars.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 24th July, 1897-Accepted, 25th Sep., 1897
Improvements in Auto-cars.
I, JOHN OWDEN O'BRIEN, M.I. Mech. E. of the firm of W. P. Thompson & Co.,
of 6 Bank Street, Manchester, Liverpool and London, in the Counties of Lan-
caster and Middlesex respectively, l'atent Agents, (a communication from Louis
Marie Damien Triouleyre of 2 Rue de Compiègne Paris, in the Republic of
France, Engineer) do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to vehicles known as auto-cars and the inventor's object
is to supply an improved car worked by a petroleum motor the principal features
of which are, a double suspension by springs intended to diminish the vibration
of these vehicles an arrangement to enable the driver while seated to start the
carriage and regulate the working of all the mechanical parts; an arrangement
for condensing the steam arising from the water used for cooling the cylinder,
and various improvements in detail which will be described below."
In this vehicle the mechanism is fixed on a rigid frame supported on the axles
of the wheels by means of laminated springs and the body of the carriage is in
its turn suspended on this framework by means of C springs for the purpose of
considerably reducing the vibrations arising from the motor attached to the frame.
On the other hand the position of the C springs between the frame to which
the mechanism is attached and the body which carries the controlling parts placed
near the driver's seat necessitates the use of flexible connections between the said
parts. These arrangements will be readily understood by the aid of the following
deseription.
The mineral oil used is contained in a reservoir fixed to the splash board of the
carriage or in some other suitable position, whence it descends into the carburetter
or mixing chamber through a flexible tube fitted with a regulating tap placed
within reach of the conductors hand. The oil is heated by a portion of the burnt
gases entering the double bottom of this carburetter through a pipe branching
from the exhaust pipe fitted to the explosion chamber connected to the cylinder
of the motor. The air drawn in during the time of admission enters the car-
buretter or mixing chamber through an opening, it then passes through a pipe
where the carburetting process can be regulated at will by the admission of a
quantity of air according to requirements by means of a tap placed near the con-
ductor's seat. Behind this tap a valve is placed the rod of which enables the
volume of carburetted air introduced into the cylinder to be regulated at will.
The carburetted air subsequently passes through a chamber fitted with metallic
webs and reaches the explosion chamber connected to the cylinder in which the
ignition of the mixture is effected by means of an electric spark in the usual way.
This cylinder works at four times and its piston operates the driving shaft carrying
the fly wheel.
In order to permit of the escape of the burnt gases at the desired time the
driving shaft carries a pinion gearing into a wheel of twice the diameter fitted

page_text: with a cam which works a vertical oscillating lever and which by a connecting
rod and a cranked lever controls the spring rod of the escape or exhaust valve in
the explosion chamber.
When this valve is opened the waste gas escaping through the pipe passes,
before escaping outside, through a receiver placed under the carriage and divided
into compartments intended to deaden the noise caused by the escape of the gas.
The cooling of the cylinder is effected by the circulation through pipes of the
water contained in two tanks placed at the sides of the carriage and in order
to avoid the rapid evaporation of this water I make use of a surface condensing
apparatus placed behind the conductor's seat which consists of a double casing
and tubes through which the steam reaches through pipes whilst the condensed
water returns to the reservoirs by means of pipes. The steam not condensed in
this condenser passes into other tanks or traps placed behind the carriage and
finally escapes outside.
I will now describe the various arrangements for the transmission of motion,
the steering, starting and stopping of the car.
On the driving shaft two drums are fixed corresponding respectively to the fast
and loose pulleys fixed on an intermediate shaft the ends of which carry the pinions
which work the endless chains controlling the driving wheels of the car. This
shaft is in two parts connected in a well known manner and admitting of the
driving wheels being left independent of each other.
The moving of the straps on the pulleys above mentioned is effected by means
of forks and connecting levers and rods which the conductor can work by handles
placed before him, according to the speed at which he desires the car to run.
One of the important characteristics of the invention is that the driver can
start the carriage without getting off his seat. This is effected by levers placed
within reach of his hand by means of which he can produce a free escape at
each revolution of the driving shaft, so as to prevent the resistance arising from
the compression of the explosive mixture and make the driving shaft revolve
by hand by means of a clutch devised for the purpose until the normal action
of the motor has been attained. For this purpose I make use of the following
, arrangements:-
1. A hand wheel which by pinions and a chain which connects them drives a
cross shaft carrying a pinion which drives a chain turning the movable part of
a clutch on the driving shaft.
2. A controlling rod which by means of rods and pivoted or cranked levers
allows the conductor of the car to connect the movable part with the part of the
clutch fixed to the driving shaft.
3. A controlling rod which by means of a rod and a fork or lever allows the
displacement of the slide of the vertical oscillating lever controlling the
movements of the escape valve in such a way as to cause this slide to act on a
second cam placed at an angle of 180 degrees to the other, and which brings about
an escape at each revolution of the driving shaft.
4. Finally a commutator enabling the electric ignition of the mixture to be
produced at will.
This having been done the carriage is started as follows.
The conductor having put the driving belts on the loose pulleys in order to
prevent any action of the motor on the carriage acts on the lever in order to get
one escape per revolution of the driving shaft and this avoids the necessary
effort for compression then he acts on the second lever in order to engage the two
parts of the clutch, he then opens the inlet valve by means of its rod and he
commences to turn the hand wheel so as to cause the driving shaft to revolve.
After having rotated this shaft two or three times so that the explosive mixture
may reach the cylinder he acts on the commutator and closes the circuit so as to
produce sparks to ignite the mixture. As soon as the ignition begins he again
dispiaces the lever in order to re-establish the complete cycle of the motor and he
finally displaces the other lever in order to disengage the catches of the clutch

page_text: and disconnect the driving shaft from the parts which by means of this clutch
connect it with the hand wheel. The motor being thus started it will be sufficient
for the conductor to remove the brakes and to put on one of the straps according
to the speed which he desires to attain and finally to regulate the composition of
the mixture by means of the inlet tap as explained above.
In conclusion in order to effect the prompt stoppage of the car when required
two brakes worked by special levers are employed one of which acts in the usual
manner whilst the other works on the naves of the wheels.
Dated this 24th day of October 1896
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
Improvements in Auto-cars.
I, JOHN OWDEN O'BRIEN, M.I. Mech. E. of the firm of W. P. Thompson & Co.,
of 6 Bank Street, Manchester, Liverpool and London, in the Counties of Lan-
caster and Middlesex respectively, Patent Agents, (a communication from Louis
Marie Damien Triouleyre of 2 Rue de Compiègne, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Engineer), do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
mauner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to vehicles known as auto-cars and has for its object to
provide an improved car worked by a petroleum motor, the principal features of
which are, a double suspension by springs intended to diminish the vibration
of these vehicles, an arrangement to enable the driver while seated, to start the
carriage and regulate the working of all the mechanical parts; an arrangement
for condensing the steam arising from the water used for cooling the cylinder
and various improvements in detail which will be described below.
Fig. 1. Vertical section showing the whole of mechanism of the vehicle.
Fig. 2. Plan of same.
Fig. 3. Diagrammatic drawing showing in lateral elevation, the suspension of
the carriage, and certain details of mechanism.
Fig. 4. Diagrammatic drawing of the same parts of the vehicle, seen in the
plan.
Fig. 5. Diagrammatic drawing of the front of the carriage.
Referring more paricularly to Figs. 1 & 3.
In this vehicle the mechanism is mounted on a rigid frame A supported on the
axles of the wheels by means of laminated springs a, a, and the body B of the
carriage is in its turu suspended on this framework by means of curved or
Csprings 6 and for the purpose of considerably reducing the vibrations arising
from the motor C fixed to the frame A.
On the other hand, the interposition of the springs 61 a between the frame A
to which the mechanism is attached and the body B which carries the controlling
parts placed near the driver's seat, necessitates the use of flexible connections
between the said parts. These arrangements will be readily understood by the
aid of the following description.
The mineral oil or spirit used, is contained in a reservoir D, Fig. 1, fixed to
the splash board of the carriage or in some other suitable position, whence it descends
into the carburetter or mixing chamber E, through a flexible tube d fitted with
regulating tap d' placed within reach of the conductor's hand. The oil or
spirit is heated by a portion of the burnt gases entering the double bottom of

page_text: this carburetter through a pipe e¹ branching from the exhaust pipe e fitted to
the explosion chamber C connected to the cylinder of the motor C. The air
drawn in during the time of admission enters the carburetter or mixing chamber
through an opening 2, it then passes through a pipe F where the carburetting
process can be regulated at will by the admission of a quantity of air according
to requirements by means of a tap f Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5, placed near the conductor's
seat. Behind this tap, a valve fi is placed, the rod f of which enables the volume
of carburetted air introduced into the cylinder to be regulated at will.
The carburetted air subsequently passes through a chamber F fitted with
metallic webs and reaches the explosion chamber C connected to the cylinder C,
in which the ignition of the mixture is effected by means of an electric spark in
the usual way. This cylinder exhausts every fourth stroke, and its piston operates
the driving shaft M carrying the fly wheel V.
In order to permit of the escape of the burnt gases at the desired time, the
driving shaft carries a pinion a gearing into a wheel of twice the diameter
fitted with a cam, which works a vertical oscillating lever c and which by a
connecting rod c and a cranked lever controls the spring rod c³ of the escape
or exhaust valve in the explosion chamber C¹.
. When this exhaust valve is opened the waste gas escaping through the pipe e
passes, before escaping outside, through a receiver I, placed under the carriage
and divided into compartments intended to deaden the noise caused by the escape
of the gas.
The cooling of the cylinder C is effected by the circulation through pipes g,
Figs. 1 & 2, of the water contained in two tanks G, placed at the sides of the
carriage, and in order to prevent the rapid evaporation of this water, I make use
of a surface condensing apparatus H placed behind the conductor's seat, which is
constructed with a double casing and tubes, which the steam reaches through
pipes h, whilst the condensed water returns to the reservoirs G by means of
pipes h. The steam not condensed in this condenser G passes into other tanks
or traps, placed behind the carriage, and finally escapes outside.
I will now describe the various arrangements for the transmission of motion-
the stering, starting and stopping of the car.
On the driving shaft M two drums J and K Fig. 2 are fixed, corresponding
respectively to the fast and loose pulleys j and k and fixed on an intermediate
shaft L the ends of which carry the pinions which work the endless chains
.controlling the driving wheels of the car. This shaft L is in two parts connected
in a well known manner and so as to leave the driving wheels independent of
each other.
The moving of the straps on the pulleys above mentioned is effected by means
of forks and connecting levers 7 Fig. 2, and rods 3 which the conductor
can work by handles Figs. 1 and 2, placed before him, according to the speed
at which he desires the car to run.
One of the important characteristics of the invention is that the driver can
start the vehicle without getting off his seat. This is effected by levers placed
within reach of his hand by means of which he can produce a free escape at each
revolution of the driving shaft, so as to prevent the resistance arising from the
compression of the explosive mixture, and permit the driving shaft to be revolved
by hand by means of a clutch devised for the purpose, until the normal action of
the motor has been attained. For this purpose I make use of the following
arrangements:-
1. A hand wheel Figs. 2, 3 and 4, pinions o¹ and o³ and a chain o³ Fig. 3
connecting them which drive a cross shaft l' provided with a pinion and a
driving chain 1 rotating the movable part 2 of a clutch on the driving shaft M.
2. A controlling rod Q Fig. 5, which by means of rods g and pivoted or cranked
levers q allows the conductor of the car to connect the movable part pa with the
port of the clutch fixed to the driving shaft M.
A controlling rod R Figs. 4 and 5, which by means of the rod and pivoted

page_text: lever allows the displacement of the end of the vertical oscillating levere which
controls the movements of the exhaust valve. It has been shown above that in
normal motion, the lever c is worked by a cam fixed on the axle of the wheel b,
and which opens the exhaust each time that the driving shaft has made two
revolutions. Near this cam is fixed another cam presenting at its periphery two
projections which bear on the roller carried at the end of the lever c, after it has
been displaced, and thus causes an escape at each revolution of the driving
shaft.
4. Finally a commutator enabling the electric ignition of the mixture to be
produced at will.
Under these conditions the vehicle is started as follows.
The conductor having put the driving belts on the loose pulley in order to
prevent any action of the motor on the vehicle, operates the lever R in order to
get one escape per revolution of the driving shaft, and thus avoids the necessary
effort for compression, then he operates the lever Q in order to engage the two
parts of the clutch, he then opens the inlet valve by means of its rod f and he
rotates the hand wheel o so as to cause the driving shaft to revolve. After
having rotated this shaft two or three times so that the explosive mixture may
reach the cylinder, he operates the commutator and closes the circuit so as to pro-
duce sparks to ignite the mixture. As soon as the ignition begins he replaces the
lever R in order to re-establish the complete cycle of the motor, and he finally
replaces the other lever Q in order to disengage the catches of the clutch, and dis-
connect the driving shaft from the parts which, by means of this clutch, connect
it with the hand wheel o. The motor being thus started, it will be sufficient
for the conductor to remove the brakes, and to put on one of the straps, according
to the speed which he desires to attain and finally to regulate the composition of
the mixture by means of the inlet tap f as explained above.
It is evident that any suitable means can be employed to enable the conductor
to direct or steer the vehicle by means of a handle m placed before him. On
the drawings, I have indicated, for example, the use of a known arrangement,
the principal features of which are,-levers serving to move or displace the axis
of the front wheels, which are pivoted near the ends of the axle. Any similar
arrangement can be employed.
In conclusion in order to effect the prompt stoppage of the car when required,
two brakes worked by special levers are employed, one of which acts in the usual
manner whilst the other works on the naves of the wheels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The method of constructing auto-cars, which consists in placing the motor
and the mechanical parts upon a rigid frame supported on the axles of the wheels
by means of springs supporting the carriage which carries the conductor and
passengers by means of springs from the said frame, to render it independent
thereof, placing handles within reach of the conductor to permit him to start
the vehicle and to control the parts fixed to the frame, without descending from
his seat, and connecting the said parts by means of flexible connections, jointed
in such a manner as to operate without modifying the elasticity of the springs
interposed between the said frame bearing the mechanism and the said carriage
carrying the conductor, substantially as described.
2. The combination of a hand wheel such as o, placed near the seat of the con-
ductor, by which the driving shaft may be turned by means of shafts and endless
chains and a clutch; of an operating rod such as Q, placed near the conductor
and serving by means of pivoted cranked levers to connect or disconnect the said
clutch; of a controlling rod such as R placed near the conductor and serving
by means of pivoted cranked levers to displace the lever controlling the exhaust
valve of an explosion air motor exhausting every fourth in order to submit it to

page_text: the action of a cam, and which brings about an escape at each revolution of the
driving shaft; and of a commutator placed near the conductor and serving to
open or shut off the electric igniting current, substantially as described and
shown.
3. In combination with the tank containing the necessary water to cool the
cylinder of the motor of the auto-car; a surface condenser such as H exposed
to the outer air and serving to condense the steam produced by the contact of
this water with the partitions of the said motor cylinder, substantially as described
and shown.
4. An auto-car comprising a rigid frame A carrying the mechanism, a car-
riage body B suspended on the said frame by springs 6 and 63, a carburetter or
mixing chamber E, a valve f to regulate the composition of the mixture of air
and combustible vapour; a motor cylinder C exhausting every fourth stroke; a
lever c worked by a cam, and controlling the exhaust valve; a surface condenser H
for the steam arising from the water employed to cool the motor cylinder;
drums J and K and pulleys receiving movable straps to change the speed of the
carriage; an operating wheel o by which the driving shaft may be turned by
haud; a lever Q to connect the movable part 2 with the part of the clutch fixed
on the driving shaft; a lever R serving to displace the lever controlling the
exhaust valve of the motor; a commutator serving to regulate the ignition of
the explosive mixture; substantially as herein described, and represented on the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1897
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool and London, Patent Agents.