Liquid Transmission of Power for Driving Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st July, 1897-Accepted, 14th Aug, 1897
Liquid Transmission of Power for Driving Cycles.
JOHN MCKAY Engineer Cedar Villa, Nursery Lane Wilmslow Cheshire. I do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The application and use of a liquid for the transmission of power for driving cycles,
with any number of wheels, as hereinafter described. On the crank shaft of the said
cycle, which said shaft is driven by pedals and cranks, in the ordinary way. I place a
wheel with teeth or blades, (in the place of the ordinary chain wheel). This wheel is
enclosed in a liquid tight case, forming a race for the liquid, from this case and
connected to the same, I carry two tubes which I connect to a similar liquid tight
case which is fixed round the axle or hub of the driven cycle wheel or wheels, thus
forming a continuous race for the liquid, with which they are filled.
The aforesaid cases and tubes may be all in one piece if desired and may be made
independent of the framing of the cycle and capable of being removed from same.
On the axle of the driven wheel or wheels, or on one of the hubs of same, I place
a wheel with teeth or blades, similar to the one on the crank shaft, the said wheel
being of any suitable size to give the required ratio of speed.
The teeth or blades of this wheel together with the one on the crank shaft, slide
in and partly out of their respective wheels, their action being controlled by grooves
in their respective cases, into which projections of the said teeth or blades fit and
which gives them a cam movement as their respective wheels rotate, or by any other
suitable mechanism.
The action of the driving is as follows, the wheel with teeth or blades fastened on
to the crank shaft, the said shaft being driven by cranks and pedals in the ordinary
When this shaft and wheel are rotated, the liquid which is preferably water, is
forced up one of the tubes and rotates the driven cycle wheel or wheels, by means of
the wheel with teeth or blades, fastened on to the axle or hub of same, the liquid
then returns down the other tube to the wheel fastened on the crank shaft, and the
action is repeated.
Both the driving and driven wheels with teeth or blades, are capable of being
rotated in either direction, to permit of what is known as back pedalling to retard or
stop the cycle when required.

page_text: 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 improvements in the means of driving cycles and the like
by the employment of the power of a moving body of liquid..
Briefly stated the means I employ consist of wheels with blades carried-in the
case of a cycle by the crank axle and driven wheel axle respectively, such wheels
being enclosed in cases between which are tubes or connections forming a continuous
race round which water or liquid travels by the revolution of the wheels one of which
is driving the other, means being also provided for moving the blade of the wheels
so that at their non-effective point they may be forced into the body of the wheel
and be again forced out when they are required to do work.
Suitable means are also provided for keeping the casings liquid tight.
In the accompaning drawings:-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a cast cycle frame shewing the liquid tight cases and
connections.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the back wheel end of the driving
mechanism the case being in section, and
Fig. 3 is an end view of the back wheel spindle the bladed wheel part of which is
in section and a part of the case in section.
The arrangement shewn in Fig. 1 illustrates the driving mechanism applied to a
rear driving bicycle the bladed wheel in this case being secured on the hub or spindle
of the back wheel but said bladed wheel may be attached to the main axle in the
case of a cycle when it is desirable or necessary to drive more than one cycle wheel.
The casing.shewn consists of two circular cases ab connected by tubes c c forming a
continuous race from a to b and around same such race being. filled with a liquid such
as water.
In Figs. 2 and 3 are shown the bladed wheel d contained in the case ba
corresponding wheel being also situated in the case a and attached to the crank
axle.
The wheel d carries the blades which are adapted to slide in recesses d² in the
wheel such blades carrying pins e at right angles thereto which project through slots f
in the side of the wheel. The end of these pins engage in a cam or eccentric shaped
groove in the side of the case b and the wheel d is eccentrically placed in said case
as shown so that during its rotation the blades d through the pins e and the
controlling action of the groove g are withdrawn or forced back into the wheels as
they reach the side & of the case when they can no longer perforin useful work, such
blades being forced out again when they leave such side.
The blades in case b are acted upon by the liquid in the race which is forced round
by the blades of the wheel in case a (and the axle h of the back or driven wheel is
consequently rotated) the water passing round the race back to the case a again and
so on. The groove g in the case allows the action to be reversed and the liquid to
move in the other direction to permit of what is known as back pedalling to stop or
retard the cycle.
The case b should be liquid tight and for this purpose suitable stuffing boxes may
be employed between it and the wheel d or the washer i engaging in a groove of the
case may be employed on one side and the washer j held in place by a screwed
collar on the other side these washers forming practically an efficient stuffing
box.
The case may also be made in parts or with covers or doors for the purpose of
easily reaching the interior. Or the cases and tubes may be all in one piece and
being independent of the framing of the cycle may be readily removed therefrom.
In the case of the wheel on the crank axle it will be understood that it is of
different, diameters to give the required ratio of speed to the wheel being driven.
It will be evident that my invention is not confined to the particular shape of

page_text: wheel, blades or cases or the means of moving the blades as these may be varied
as desired.
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. The improved means of transmitting power by liquid in driving cycles or the
like substantially as described.
2. The improved means of transmitting power by liquid in driving cycles or the
like comprising a continuous enclosed race for the liquid a driving and a driven bladed
wheel situated in same and means for causing the blades of the wheel to become
inoperative at their non-effective points substantially as described.
3. The construction of bladed wheel and means for moving the blades of same
substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. The construction of liquid tight case substantially as and for the purpose
described.
5. The improved means of transmitting power by liquid in driving cycles
substantially as described and illustrated.
1000
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent,