Improvements:in or relating to Self-Propelled Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements:in or relating to Self-Propelled Vehicles.
I, EDWARD JOEL PENNINGTON, Engineer, of the Hotel Metropole, in the County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This.invention relates. to. self-propelled vehicles and to the provision of a shield
for the purpose of dividing the air as the vehicle passes through it; also to the
utilization.of.the shield for. the air currents for various purposes.
In carrying out the invention .I provide the self-propelled vehicle with a wind
guard or. shield so as to divide the air and facilitate the progress of the vehicle. I
utilize the currents of air caused or diverted by the shield for the purpose of cooling
the motor engine-I am considering more particularly an oil engine-and the water
employed for cooling the engine. Hitherto it has been customary to keep the
cooling water in a single tank of comparatively large dimensions, with the result
that the large body of water became heated, and it was impossible to efficiently
cool it, although in the case of important contests ice has been used for this purpose.
In carrying out my invention I divide the cooling water into a number of tanks
or receptacles or into thin streams or the like, in all cases managing so that the
large bulk of the water is broken up and each portion of it is therefore more easily
cooled. I prefer also to increase the cooling effect by directing one or more air
currents from' the shield on to the tanks, vessels, pipes, etc. containing the cooling
I may form the shield itself of a number of pipes which would directly
receive the current of air as the vehicle moved along, or I may form the shield
of a thin sheet of metal, or equivalent with a thin water space either entire or
divided up throughout and a suitable plate or backing behind so as to present as
large a surface of a thin sheet of water to the impinging air. for cooling purposes.
I may in addition to or instead of the above, direct some of the air on to the
engine itself for cooling purposes, and I may employ a funnel shaped tube or
collector for this purpose.
Where the engine is in the front of the vehicle I may house the engine inside or
underneath the shield allowing some of the air to impinge upon the engine or not
as desired, and may employ the shield to. protect. the engine from dust dirt etc.
It is sometimes desirable. to increase, and sometimes to diminish the load upon
the driving wheel of the engine, and for this. purpose-especially where the engine
is in front of the vehicle-I may arrange the shield. or a portion thereof, or an
addition thereto, so as to effect, this purpose, by. the: pressure of the air as the
vehicle travels. For example, if a portion of the shield or a. separate resisting
surface be provided, placed with its front end downwards and its back end raised,
the effect of the air pressure.upon such inclined plane would be to force that portion
of the vehicle including the engine downwards and thus increase the adhesion of the
wheel upon the road. If with a similar. arrangement the incline of the resisting
surface were reversed, the leading end being the higher of the two, the effect would
be to lift the weight of the vehicle, or of the driving portion thereof so that the
wheel would not press so hard upon the ground an arrangement which would tend

page_text: to facilitate the passage of the vehicle or motor over rough and bumpy ground.
The resisting surface may be so pivotted or carried that its angle can be varied
as required.
The angles of the shield faces may be subject to variation according to the
direction of the wind or other circumstances such adjustment being either effected
by suitable controlling handles etc. upon the vehicle, or by the direct operation of
the driver of the vehicle, or automatically as by the operation of a suitable wind
It is intended while utilizing as above explained the air currents for cooling
purposes, to minimise as much as possible the resistance of the vehicle to its
passage through the air.
vane.
Dated this 9th day of June 1896
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Self-Propelled Vehicles.
I, EDWARD JOEL PENNINGTON, Engineer, formerly of the Hotel Metropole, in the
County of Middlesex, now of the Motor Mills, Coventry, in the County of Warwick,
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 self-propelled vehicles aud to the provision of a shield
for the purpose of dividing the air as the vehicle passes through it; also to the
utilization of the shield for the air currents for various purposes.
In carrying out the invention I provide the self-propelled vehicle with a wind
guard or shield so as to divide the air and facilitate the progress of the vehicle.
I utilize the currents of air caused or diverted by the shield for the purpose of
cooling the motor engine-I am considering more particularly an oil engine-and
the water employed for cooling the engine. Hitherto, it has been customary to
keep the cooling water in a single tank of comparatively large dimensions, with
the result that the large body of water became heated, and it was impossible to
efficiently cool it, although in the case of important contests ice has been used for
this purpose.
In carrying out my invention I divide the cooling water into a number of tanks
or receptacles or into thin streams or the like, in all cases managing so that the
large bulk of the water is broken up and each portion of it is therefore more easily
cooled. I prefer also to increase the cooling effect by directing one or more air
currents from the shield on to the tanks, vessels, pipes, etc. containing the cooling
I may form the shield itself of a number of pipes which would directly
receive the current of air as the vehicle moved along, or I may form the shield of a
thin sheet of metal, or equivalent with a thin water space either entire or divided
up throughout and a suitable plate or backing behind so as to present as large a
surface of a thin sheet of water to the impinging air for cooling purposes.
I may in addition to or instead of the above, direct some of the air on to the
engine itself for cooling purposes, and I may employ a funnel shaped tube or
collector for this purpose.
Where the engine is in the front of the vehicle I may house the engine inside or
underneath the shield allowing some of the air to impinge upon the engine or not
as desired, and may employ the shield to protect the engine from dust, dirt etc.
It is sometimes desirable to increase, and sometimes to diminish the load upon
the driving wheel of the engine, and for this purpose-especially where the engine
is in front of the vehicle-I may arrange the shield or a portion thereof, or an

page_text: shown presented to the air. In this case the cylinders E are shown at the forward
end of the vehicle.
The resisting surfaces or aeroplanes are shown in Figures 1 and 2 where they are
marked H and are shown pivotted in a frame I so that their angles may be adjusted.
Any suitable means may be employed for this purpose but in the drawing I have
shown a rod J pivotted to one of the planes H and extending to a fixed quadrant
plate K to which it may be secured by a bolt and winged uut J¹ as will be well
understood, the angle of the plane or planes H varying with the position in which
the end of J is locked at the quadrant plate K.
The size, shape, material and position or positions of the planes H may be
varied as desired. As shown in full lines in the drawings they would have
a tendency to lift the forward end of the vehicle, but if altered to the
positions shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 they would tend to press the vehicle
more firmly towards the ground instead of lifting it; this arrangement would be
chiefly desirable in connection with the driving wheel or wheels so as to secure
additional adhesion. More than one set of these planes may be employed where
required; for example one set may be in front as shown in Figure 1, and another
set may be behind for the purpose either of lightening the load or increasing the
adhesion as may be found desirable.
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. In a self-propelled vehicle the employment of a shield such as A for the
purpose described.
2. In a self-propelled vehicle cooling the water which is used for cooling the
cylinders by exposing it in small quantities to the action of the air as the vehicle
travels substantially in the manner described.
3. In a self-propelled vehicle the combination with the motor cylinder or
cylinders of a pipe such as G or other device whereby. a jet of air is delivered to
the cylinder or cylinders in consequence of the movement of the vehicle substantially
as.described.
4. In a self-propelled vehicle the combination with a shield such as A of one or
more pipes such as G so as to deliver air collected or directed by the shield to the
cylinders for cooling purposes.
5. In a self propelled vehicle the employment of resisting surfaces or aeroplanes
substantially as and for the purpose described.
6. The combination with a self-propelled vehicle of one or more adjustable
aeroplanes such as H for the purpose described.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
attachments for a self-propelled vehicle substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Oth day of Annil 1807

page_text: addition thereto, so as to effect this purpose, by the pressure of the air as the vehicle
travels. For example, if a portion of the shield or a separate resisting surface be
provided, placed with its front end downwards and its back end raised, the effect
of the air pressure upon such inclined plane would be to force that portion of the
vehicle including the engine downwards and thus increase the adhesion of the wheel
upon the road. If with a similar arrangement the incline of the resisting surface
were reversed, the leading end being the higher of the two, the effect would be to
lift the weight of the vehicle, or of the driving portion thereof so that the wheel
would not press so hard upon the ground an arrangement which would tend to
facilitate the passage of the vehicle or motor over rough and bumpy ground.
The resisting surface may be so pivotted or carried that its angle can be varied
as required.
The angles of the shield faces may be subject to variation according to the
direction of the wind or other circumstances such adjustment being either effected
by suitable controlling handles etc. upon the vehicle, or by the direct operation of
the driver of the vehicle, or automatically as by the operation of a suitable wind
It is intended while utilizing as above explained the air currents for cooling
purposes, to minimise as much as possible the resistance of the vehicle to its passage
through the air.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor vehicle fitted with a shield and aeroplane
in accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of a motor showing a modified form of
the aeroplane.
Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 3.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A Figures 1 and 2 represents the wind guard or shield which as above explained
may be composed of or provided with a number of pipes or other receptacles, or a
large portion of it may consist of two plates connected at the edges so as to leave
space between for a thin sheet of water; the water is applied at one part and
removed from another part as far as possible away from the inlet. In these
Figures C represent the supply pipes and D the return pipes both of which may be
controlled by the cocks C and D which may be connected together and controlled
by the driver in any convenient manner. B indicates one or more stays by which
the shield is supported. In Figures 1 and 2 the shield is shown elevated above the
front wheels of the vehicle while in Figures 3 and 4 it is shown much lower down
and covering a wider surface so that it practically encloses the front of those wheels
which may be placed nearer together to facilitate this if necessary. However I do
not restrict myself as to the position or arrangements of the shield.
E are the cylinders of the oil engine and F the main priming tubes of the vehicle.
G are tubes opening to the front of the shield A at A¹ and having enlarged mouths
if desired, as shown and terminating at their other ends so as to deliver the air
forced through them by the movement of the vehicle in such a manner as to tend
to cool the cylinders. It may impinge directly upon the cylinders or they may be
enclosed by a suitable casing into which the air may be delivered. A throttle
valve or other means may be employed for regulating the passage of the air through
the pipes G if required.
The shield A may be made adjustable or be provided with adjustable wings for
the purpose of increasing the area or the angle of the shield.
If desired the shield may be so shaped or arranged as to collect the air and
deliver it into the pipes G for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of the
air-cooling of the cylinders.
The wind-guard or shield A may serve also the useful purpose of shielding the
occupant of the vehicle from the draught.
The shield in Figures 3 and 4 is shown constructed of a large number of pipes
in which the water would circulate in any required manner, and a larger surface is