Improvements in Motor Driven Velosipedes and similar Light Carriages.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Motor Driven Velosipedes and similar Light
Carriages.
I, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN, of 44, Albert Road, Alexandra Park,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanician, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows;-
This invention relates to motor propelled wheeled vehicles, more especially
those in which the propelling power is obtained through the expansive force of
heated air and of steam, and consists chiefly in improvements in the method of
and in the means for regulating the power of the generator and in the construc-
tion and arrangement of the parts of the apparatus in vehicles in which the
cycle of operations in the motor is assisted by the rider.
The chief object of this invention is to provide a light vehicle in which the
propulsion is effected chiefly by a motor assisted by the feet of the rider at
starting and when ascending inclines and proceeding against a strong wind.
I will state the nature of my invention with reference to a velocipede or bicycle.
The pedal crank of the bicycle is made to operate, when rotated by the foot, a
suitable feed pump, fixed to the frame, which draws in the working fluid and
forces it into a generator or heater of suitable construction carried by the framing.
The working fluid is led from the heater or generator to a motor preferably
consisting chiefly of a cylinder provided with a reciprocating piston, fixed to
the framing and acting upon a crank shaft fixed or geared to the driving wheel.
The feed pump and cylinder are provided with necessary and suitable valves to
control the inlet, expansion and ejection of the working fluid. When steam is
used a suitable receptacle is fixed to the frame and communicates with the pump
through the inlet valve.
The generator or heater is heated by a petroleum burner of suitable construc-
tion supplied from an oil cistern also fixed to the framing.
The generator or heater preferably consists of a tubular coil enclosed in a
casing provided with a chimney and having a jacket of non-conducting material
such as asbestos. The casing also receives the flame from the burner and oil
for combustion is preferably forced through the burner from a vessel in which
pressure is first obtained by means of a pump worked by the hand or foot.
In order to regulate the supply of fluid to the heater or generator, a governor
or controlling apparatus working automatically and of any suitable construction
is used. This preferably consists of a device for varying the stroke of the feed
pump plunger which for this purpose is disconnected from its operating crank

page_text: and is provided with a spring which keeps it always out. To the external end
of the plunger is fixed a stepped catch the steps of which recede therefrom.
Facing the steps of the catch is the end of a piston rod attached to a piston
fitting a cylinder, closed at one end which is in communication with the generator.
A spring is also disposed upon the outside of the piston to keep it home in the
cylinder. Opposite the end of the plunger of the feed pump is a reciprocating
rod actuated from the crank on the pedal shaft so as to advance and recede to
and from the said plunger touching it each time it advances. When the pressure
is high in the generator the governor piston is forced out according to the pres-
sure, more or less and intercepts the plunger of the feed pump at a point in its
stroke corresponding with the outward travel of the governor piston. The reci-
procating rod above referred to thus comes in contact with the feed pump plunger
only at the intercepted part of its full stroke and forcing it in for the remainder
of its stroke so causes it to inject a larger or lesser volume of fluid in accordance
with the pressure in the governor cylinder.
When steam is employed a condenser of any suitable construction is arranged
to receive the exhaust from the motor and conduct it into the receptacle again."
The pedal shaft is preferably geared direct to the driving wheel axle but in
order to enable the driving wheel axle to over run the pedal axle suitable clutch
mechanism to permit of the transmission of power in one direction only is used
in connection with the driving or pedal axle.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester,
arrington Chambers, 24, North John Street, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Motor Driven Velocipedes and similar Light
Carriages.
I, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN, of 44, Albert Road, Alexandra Park,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanician, 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 wheeled vehicles, more especially those
in which the propelling power is obtained through the expansive force of steam,
and consists chiefly in improvements in the method of and in the means for
regulating the power of the generator and in the construction and arrangement
of the parts of the apparatus in vehicles in which the motor or the cycle of
operations in the motor is assisted by the rider.
The chief object of my invention is to provide a light vehicle in which the
propulsion is effected chiefly by a motor assisted by the feet of the rider when
starting and when ascending inclines and proceeding against a strong wind.
The drawings attached hereunto illustrates a bicycle to which my improvements
are applied. But they are equally applicable to a tricycle or quadricycle.
In the said drawings Figure 1 represents an elevation and Figure 2 a plan
of the lower part of the vehicle beneath the line, a.
The bicycle illustrated as a framework A of ordinary construction consisting

page_text: of the tubes or bars, a forming the socket of the steering fork a¹, a³ forming the
seat post, a3 and as the upper and lower bars respectively and as and a diagonal
stays supporting the rear wheel axle bearing at their junction a', these stays
being duplicated to form a fork as shown in Figure 2. This framework is made
of a stronger material where necessary than ordinary velocipede frames are made
of and may when required be strengthened further by additional stays, or have
its construction modified in any suitable way. The diagonal stays a5 and a
are longer than usual in order to obtain sufficient space between the wheel and
the seat posts a³ for the motor. A pedal crank axle provided with cranks b
and pedals 62 and a sprocket wheel 63 is mounted in a bearing B at the junction
of the seat post a³ with the lower bar a and diagonal stay as and geared with
a sprocket wheel c upon the driving wheel C by means of an endless chain band c¹
fixed upon one side of the said wheel. Upon the other side of the wheel C there
is fixed a second sprocket wheel c².
The motor D consists of a steam engine, shewn in the drawings as having one
double acting cylinder d with a rotary valve d₁ of any suitable construction.
The valve is preferably driven by a chain band passing over the sprocket
wheels d³, fixed to the motor shaft d5 and valve spindle respectively. In
place of one double acting cylinder, I may use two, or I may use single acting
cylinders. When two cylinders are used they are sometimes constructed to work
on the compound system.
The motor shaft is fitted with a sprocket wheel do and the latter gears with
the sprocket wheel cupon the driving wheel D by means of the chain band d
Preferably arrangements are made by which the motor shaft or the driving wheel
axle can over run the pedal crank axle. This may be done in any convenient
known way.
To the framework A, preferably to the seat post a² is suitably fixed a gene-
rator E. This is of any suitable construction. At present I purpose to use a coil
of steel tubing enclosed in a metal casing e lined with a suitable non-conducting
material such as fire clay or asbestos. This coil is held in position by means
of suitable clips fixed to the easing e and the latter is fixed to the framework
by means of the clips e¹.
From the upper end of the coil aforesaid is led a pipe e to the cylinder valves d¹
for the steam supply to the cylinders, and an exhaust pipe is led from the
valve to the rear of the machine.
In the casing beneath the coil there is fixed a petroleum burner F of ordinary
construction. The petroleum is fed to the burner from a vessel f through the
pipe f having a shutoff cock fa therein, preferably by gravity. But in order
to increase the pressure of the fuel as it issues from the burner I make the
vessel f airtight and fix an air pump f³ therein which is operated by the rider
when required.
A water tank G is fixed in any suitable position to the framework A. It is
provided with a filling manhole and cover g and the water is led by a pipe '
to a pump H fixed preferably to the lower part of the framework.
The pump is operated by a cam or an eccentric h shewn fixed to the driving
wheel hub c. This eccentric communicates its motion through a sliding rod h¹
to a sliding rod mounted in a guide ha in line with the axis of the pumps. The
pump plunger 3 is normally held out against the rod h¹ by a spring h. From
the pump is led the feed or delivery pipe h5 to the generator. In order to prevent
the acting of the pump when not required as when descending inclines and to
regulate the injection of water in accordance with the power required, I employ
a controlling or regulating device constructed preferably as hereinafter described
and illustrated at I Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. In this controlling device
there is fixed a graduated or stepped terminal i to the plunger h³ or an equivalent
thereof. At right angles thereto is mounted a cylinder fitted with a piston
and rod or plunger, the outer end of the plunger being suitably formed to
engage with the stepped terminal i aforesaid. The cylinder communicates by a

page_text: pipe with the generator E. The plunger is normally kept home in the
cylinder i by means of a suitably disposed spring.
The exhaust pipe 3 may be led to a condenser of any suitable known con-
struction fixed where most convenient to the framework A.
In order to stop the action of the motor quickly I arrange a bye pass valve h
in the delivery pipe from the pump to the generator and a branch pipe_hi
is led from the said valve ho to the water tank G. Leading from the valve also
there is a pipe 8 which can when desired communicate with the generator and
act as a drain or blow off pipe.
Preferably an ordinary four way valve is employed and is so disposed that
through one part communication between the pump and the generator is made
and when this communication is closed, the pump delivery pipe is put in com-
munication with the water tank G, and the generator with the drain pipe h8.
Suitable provision is made for lubricating the parts of the motor and the
moving parts of the machine.
In operating the machine, the petroleum and water vessels are first charged
with their respective liquids, and the petroleum burner is heated by means of a
wick soaked in petroleum or by means of a saucer of burning spirit, until the
petroleum, when turned on becomes vapourised in the burner and maintains
its own flame. A few strokes of the air pump in the petroleum vessel f increases
the production of gas and by means of the consequent increased induction of
air through the burner the size and heat of the flame are increased. The flame
can thus be regulated by the pressure of air in the vessel f. When the generator
is sufficiently hot, the machine is mounted by the operator and started by means
of the pedals. The motion of the machine transmits an oscillating movement
to the sliding rod h¹ and thus operates the feed pump H causing water to be
drawn in from the water tank G and pipe g¹ and ejected through the pipe
to the generator E where it is immediately converted into steam which is con-
veyed to the motor D by the pipe . When the pressure rises above a predeter-
mined limit it overcomes the spring which keeps the piston down in the
regulator cylinder and the end of the rod or plunger intercepts the pump
plunger 3 by engaging with the stepped terminal i. This only permits the
sliding rod to press in the plunger for a part of its stroke the length
depending upon the part at which the plunger is intercepted. Thus the amount
of injection is reduced.
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:-
First The herein before described improvements in motor driven velocipedes
and the like which are contained in the combination and arrangement of parts
forming a vehicle having a motor, generator, burner, fuel vessels, feed pump
and feed controlling device, in which vehicle the starting is effected and the
motor assisted by means of pedal mechanism so arranged as to transmit motion
to the driving wheel of the machine and to the pump for forcing the feed water
into the generator substantially as described and illustrated in the several views
of the drawings annexed.
Second: In a steam motor driven velocipede and similar vehicle the use and
arrangement of a controlling device dependent upon the pressure of steam acting
in opposition to a spring and intercepting the feed pump plunger in its stroke
so as to regulate the amount of injection, and which consists of a cylinder pro-
vided with a plunger or piston open upon one side to the steam pressure in the
generator and pressed upoĭ by a spring upon the other side, which piston
engages with a graduated or stepped terminal upon the end of a free
plunger so as to be capable of shortening the length of the out stroke of the
pump plunger and thus shortening the injection stroke thereof substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the annexed sheet of drawings.
pump

page_text: Third: In a steam motor for a velocipede or similar light carriage in which
the generator is fed by a pump operated by the motor, the use and arrangement
of a controlling device which is dependent upon the pressure in the generator
acting in opposition to a spring or its equivalent and thereby regulating the
stroke of the pump substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 5th day of Navambar 1808
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester,
Harrington Chambers, 24, North John Street, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.