IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MOTIVE POWER APPARATUS, SPECIALLY DEVISED FOR PROPELLING TRICYCLES, TRAM-CARS, AND OTHER ROAD VEHICLES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Fletcher, of Faversham, in the County of
Kent, Mechanical Engineer, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF MOTIVE POWER APPARATUS, SPECIALLY DEVISED FOR
PROPELLING TRICYCLES, TRAM-CARS, AND OTHER ROAD VEHICLES,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Fletcher at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th October 1883.
WILLIAM FLETCHER, of Faversham in the County of Kent, Mechanical Engineer,
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MOTIVE POWER APPARATUS, SPECIALLY
DEVISED FOR PROPELLING TRICYCLES, TRAM-CARS, AND OTHER BOAD VEHICLES,
The object of my invention is the construction of a novel form of hydraulic
motor specially devised for the purpose of propelling tricycles, tram-cars and other
road vehicles, by an arrangement of pumps, pressure accumulator, and devices or
parts in connection therewith, the peculiar construction, combination and adaptation
of which to a road vehicle may be thus described :—
By way of example I will describe the apparatus as arranged for driving a
tricycle. place immediately in front of the back steering wheel a cylinder which
I call an accumulator, and which cylinder is provided with a ram projecting
through the top cover, where it abuts against a powerful spring placed between the
said ram and an entablature firmly secured by uprights to the top flange of the
accumulator; branch pipes from the upper part of the accumulator project and
communicate with air vessels.
The said accumulator, at a point below the ram, is connected, by means of a pipe
direct with force pumps, by preference two, the action of which when working in
manner as hereinafter described, force water from a tank or cistern, carried on the
vehicle, into the accumulator, for the purpose of creating hydraulic pressure
therein, which, when created, is discharged by a suitable arrangement of valve to
hydraulic cylinders, pistons and connecting rods giving motion to cranks for
propelling the machine, and for exhausting the water back to the tank.

page_text: The pumps first employed for creating pressure in the accumulator are placed
one on either side of the driver, and are placed either in a vertical or in a
horizontal position so that they can be worked by handles, or by connection with
the driving axle. These pumps are first employed for forcing water into the
accumulator, the action of which lifts the ram and also forces air into the before
mentioned air vessels, the combination of pressures thus created act against the
ram, viz; the spring between the entablature and the top of the ram and the air
in the said vessels, this combination of pressures creates in the accumulator an
hydraulic pressure of some tons. So soon as this pressure is created, the vehicle is
ready to start, for this purpose a valve is opened between the accumulator and two
cylinders provided with suitable thoroughfares for the passage of water thereto
from the accumulator, the water so passing transfers its pressure to pistons in these
cylinders, which water gives rotary motion through suitable connections to the
cranks formed on the axle of the driving wheel. The water as it is discharged
from these driving cylinders flows into this tank forming the supply, (when the motor
is used for the propulsion of a tram car, three pumps will be used, driven by a
three throw crank, which will be worked by manual or other power).
As there must necessarily be some loss of pressure constantly going on whilst
working, such loss is made up so as to maintain a constant pressure in the
accumulator by an occasional working by the driver of one or two of the first-
named pumps. Thus it will be seen that the action of the force, pumps when
worked in manner as herein described will, in combination with the accumulator
and bydraulic driving cylinder, transmit motion to a crank shaft which, when
adapted to a vehicle, will propel such vehicle with a minimum expenditure of
power by the operator in charge of the machine

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Fletcher in the Patent Office on the 16th April 1884.
WILLIAM FLETCHER, of Faversham, in the County of Kent, Mechanical Engineer
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MOTIVE POWER APPARATUS, SPECIALLY
DEVISED FOR PROPELLING TRICYCLES, TRAM-CARS, AND OTHER ROAD VEHICLES
The object of my invention is the construction of a novel form of hydraulic
motor, specially devised for the purpose of propelling tricycles, tram-cars and
other road vehicles, by an arrangement of pumps, pressure accumulator, and
devices or parts in connection therewith, the peculiar construction, combination
and adaptation of which to a road vehicle may be thus described.
By way of example, I will describe the apparatus as arranged for driving
a tricycle. I place immediately in front of the back steering wheel, a cylinder,
which I call an accumulator, and which cylinder is provided with a ram or plunger
projecting through the top cover where it abuts against a powerful spring placed
between the said ram and an entablature firmly secured by uprights to the top
flange of the accumulator; branch pipes from the upper part of the accumulator
project and communicate with air vessels.
The said accumulator, at a point below the ram, is connected, by means of a
pipe direct with force pumps, by preference two, the action of which when working
in manner as hereinafter described, force water from a tank or cistern, carried
on the vehicle, into the accumulator for the purpose of creating hydraulic pressure
therein, which when created is discharged by a suitable arrangement of valve
to hydraulic cylinders, pistons and connecting rods giving motion to cranks for
propelling the machine, and for exhausting the water back to the tank.
The pumps first employed for creating pressure in the accumulator are placed,
one on either side of the driver, and are placed either in a vertical or in a
horizontal position, so that they can be worked by handles, or by connection with
the driving axle. These pumps are first employed for forcing water into the
accumulator, the action of which lifts the ram and also forces air into the before
mentioned air vessels, the combination of pressures thus created act against the
ram, vis, the spring between the entablature and the top of the ram and the air
in the said vessels, this combination of pressures creates in the accumulator an
hydraulic pressure of some tons. So soon as this pressure is created, the vehicle is
ready to start; for this purpose a valve is opened between the accumulator and
two cylinders provided with suitable thoroughfares for the passage of water
thereto from the accumulator, the water so passing transfers its pressure to pistons
in these cylinders which water gives rotary motion, through suitable connections,
to the cranks formed on the axle of the driving wheels. The water, as it is
discharged from these driving cylinders, flows into the tank forming the supply,
(when the motor is used for the propulsion of a tram car a three throw pump will
be used which will be worked by manual or other power). As there must
necessarily be some loss of pressure constantly going on whilst working, such
loss is made up, so as to maintain a constant pressure in the accumulator, by an
occasional working, by the driver, of one or two of the first named pumps. Thus,
it will be seen that the action of the force pumps when worked in manner, as
herein described, will, in combination with the accumulator and hydraulic driving
cylinder, transmit motion to a crank shaft which, when adapted to a vehicle, will
propel such vehicle with a minimum expenditure of water by the operator in
charge of the machine or vehicle.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly, understood, I proceed to
describe the same, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1

page_text: (Sheet 1) is an elevation of a road vehicle constructed according to my invention,
Fig. 2 (Sheet 2) is a plan thereof, and Figs. 3, 4 and 5 (Sheet 3) detail views,
drawn to a larger scale, shewing the more important working parts of the
vehicle.
The same letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
The vehicle shewn in the drawings is provided with three wheels, but I do not
confine myself to this number, as four, or even more, may be used, as found
convenient.
A A, is the framing of the vehicle, B the driving wheels, C a two-throw crank
axle upon which these wheels are mounted, and B₁ the steering wheel, mounted
and held in a fork b, working in a socket c, which socket is secured to a back-
bone d, firmly fixed in the framing. In order to counteract any tendency to
swerving or unsteadiness, the centre of the steering wheel is provided with
radius bars e, working on a segment f, also fixed to the framing. g, g, are rods,
secured to the cross bar of the fork head. These rods are provided with levers h
and h¹, the latter of which is under the control of the driver for the purpose of
steering.
D, D¹, are force pumps, provided with levers i, which may be worked by hand,
or by eccentrics, fixed on the crank axle C. These pumps are held on a plate
firmly fixed by straps, on each side of the framing, and are furnished with suction
and delivery valves; a pipe E with check valve j, connects the pumps, and this
check valve sustains the weight and pressure obtained by the agency of the water.
These pumps are fed with water from a tank F, carried beneath them; they may
differ in size, that marked D supplies nearly half the water used in working the
vehicle, according to the momentum of which a regulated supply is kept up in
the accumulator G, that marked D¹, supplies a quantity of water sufficient to give
one revolution to the driving wheels. In descending gradients both these pumps
will be worked by the momentum of the vehicle acting on the eccentrics k, k,
which are mounted on the crank axle C, and these eccentrics are connected through
a suitable system of levers to the pumps D. D'. These eccentrics and the pumps
thus connected, in combination with the break Z, acting on both driving wheels
at the same time, by means of levers 7, 11, operated by the foot of the driver, retard
the speed of the descent, increase the force in the accumulator, and also effect
a saving of labour, as the driver will then be under no necessity to use the hand
pumps for some time. This arrangement of the eccentrics is clearly shewn in
fig. 1 (Sheet 1).
In applying my invention to tramcars, a three-throw hydraulic force pump will
be used in addition, and worked by manual or other power, and arranged to suit
requirements.
The accumulator G is bolted to a plate firmly fixed by straps to the framing A.
This accumulator, which is shewn in vertical section in Fig. 3 (Sheet 3), is constructed
as follows: m, is an outer cylinder having a bottom plate m¹, with flange for
fixing it to the bed plate-and furnished, at top with a recess for a cup leather m²;
this recess is also provided with a flange m³, and a flange ring m³, both being
bolted together for the purpose of retaining the cup leather in position, and serving
as a guide for a hollow ram or plunger. Near the bottom of this outer cylinder is
an inlet n, for a pipe n³, in connection with the check valve j and near the top and
under the cup leather is an outlet pipe n³ to convey the water under pressure for
working the vehicle. Inside the above named cylinder is the hollow ram or
plunger H, which is either of brass, or copper coated, and turned perfectly true in
order that, in its passage through the cup leather, no damage should result to it.
There is also a guide rod I passing through the centre of the ram or plunger which
is stepped in the bottom plate thereof, and is held by a shoulder on the upper plate.
This guide rod is turned true and passes through the entablature plate J which is
at a convenient distance from the top flange of the accumulator, and is held in
position by rods or uprights. K, K' are air vessels, secured one on each side of the
entablature plate, these air vessels are made of brass or copper and are provided

page_text: with a bent pipe o, firmly screwed and fixed in the upper part of the outside
cylinder m, of the accumulator G. A powerful conical spring L, or springs, is, or
are, used which, in combination with the pressure exerted by the atmospheric air
contained in the air vessels K K¹, between the ram and the entablature plate gives
the accumulative force necessary to impart motion to the vehicle. These conical
springs are of such a strength as to give, say, 300 lbs. on the square inch, which
will amount to several tons pressure on the working capacity of the accumulator,
which is not less than fifteen inches rise. More than one of these accumulators
may be used, if required, and when the invention is applied to a tram cas (or even
to a fixed engine) the application of more than one accumulator will be found
advantageous. Pipes p, convey the water from the upper part of the accumulator
to two cylinders M M, one on each side of the vehicle. These cylinders, which are
of special construction, and are clearly shewn in figs 4 and 5 (sheet 3) consist of
an outer cylinder 8, and a tube s¹ forming a piston and working therein. This
piston is made in two parts, which are firmly held together: by a central screw 8³,
each part having, at the point of connection, a cup leather s³. These cup leathers
are placed back to back and a plate or disc s*, interposed between them prevents
escape of water, and forms a support to these cup leathers. There is also a cup
leather 8, at each end of the cylinder for the purpose of preventing the escape of
water during the working of the piston. The piston has also an inner tube 86
likewise formed in two parts, one end of each part having a plug 87 which is tapped
to form a back nut on the central screw. One extremity of each piston is provided
with a cross head 8, which is secured to the central tube 86, by means of a collar 810,
and back out 8", forming a lock nut, the other extremity being likewise held secure
by similar means. To each of these cross heads, slings t are connected by keys and
brasses to the crank axle C, which is made on quarter centres.
Between the outer cylinder 8, and the piston 8¹ is a very limited space, which
space will necessarily vary according to the proportions of the outer cylinder,
and consequently a minimum of water is alone necessary to give motion to the
vehicle.
The pipes p¹ shewn in fig. 4 (Sheet 3) convey the water under pressure to the
ports p, p, at each end of the cylinder; these ports are clearly seen in fig. 5
(sheet 3). The pressure of water forced through these pipes enters these ports at
given intervals by means of cocks v, or cylindrical valves, worked by parallel slide
rods x, to which rods levers w, are attached, which impart the alternate action to
the cocks, or cylindrical valves, by means of tappets fixed on the crank axle C.
A link, in connection with the tappet plate and stud³ operates a fixed joint
for giving motion to the parallel rods x. A similar arrangement of tappets is used
for opening and closing the cocks through which the exhausted water is returned
to the tank. There are four of these tappets fixed on the crank axle, each of which
consists of a circular plate, having a slot ², in it, and provided with an adjustable
stud, which imparts motion to the link at a given time, for the purpose of
operating the parallel rods x, and the levers w, fixed on the cocks or cylindrical
valves for supplying the pressure to the two cylinders M, M, and effecting the
exhaust from the same.
For the purpose of controlling and regulating the speed of the vehicle I provide
a valve q, lever q² and rod q³, (the lever q' being under the control of the driver),
also an outlet pipe q³ for allowing any surplus pressure to escape back to the tank.
This valve q may be so constructed and arranged as to serve as a governor which
would be acted upon by the motion of the vehicle, and so regulate the speed of the
Baid vehicle. Q is the seat, and Q₁ the foot board.
For starting the vehicle the tank F must be supplied with water, and the
pumps D D¹ worked by the driver in order to obtain sufficient force in the
accumulator G, the water passing through the delivery pipes p³ and check valve j,
to the inlet of the accumulator, the ram or plunger being pressed upwards against
the conical spring L, which reacts in a downward direction, and this combination of
pressures, together with the air contained in the air vessels K, K¹ force the water

page_text: through the outlet pipe p of the accumulator to the cocks or valves and to the
inlet of the cylinders thus operating the pistons and the connecting slings attached
to the cranks and causing the revolution of the wheels and consequently the travel
of the vehicle.
With obvious modifications the pumps may be arranged to be worked by the
feet of the driver.
Having now described the nature of the said invention, and in what manner
the same may be performed, I declare that I claim.
1. The improved construction of motive power apparatus, having its parts
arranged combined and operating substantially as herein described, and shewn in
the drawings as applied by way of example to a road vehicle.
2. The application to and use on tramcars, of the parts constituting the motor
and the combination with such parts of a three-throw hydraulic force pump, as
set forth.
3. The special construction and arrangement of accumulator, as herein described
and as shewn in the drawings.
4. The arrangement and use of the force pumps, the one for supplying nearly
half the water used in working the vehicle, the other for supplying a quantity of
water sufficient to impart one revolution to the driving wheels of the vehicle, as
'described.
5. The general construction and arrangement of the cylinders, together with
their pistons and rods, as herein specified, and as shewn in the drawings, especially
in figs. 4 and 5.
6. The arrangement and combination of springs and air vessels, in connection
with the accumulator, together with the branch pipes and check valve for the
purpose of sustaining force and pressure of water for working the machinery
comprising the motor, all substantially as specified and as shewn in the drawings.
In witness whereof I the William Fletcher have hereunto set my hand and
seal this sixteenth day of April in the year 1884.
W. FLETCHER (L.S.)