Improvements in or connected with Steam and other Fluid Pressure Motors.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Steam and other Fluid Pressure
Motors.
I, HENRY WILCKE, of 70, Brainard Street, Tue Brook, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference mainly to motors for driving or propelling vehicles;
such as road and rail vehicles, and has chiefly for its object amongst others, to
provide improvements, by which vehicles may be propelled at varying speeds,
up inclines, and generally worked and manipulated, without tooth wheels or
other similar or equivalent gearings, and variable speed mechanisms, such as
bave hitherto been employed.
According to this invention, I employ steam cylinders and pistons, of which
there will be preferably two or more, the pistons of which are connected through
suitable means, as by piston rods and cranks so that the pistons move relatively
to one another in the required manner.
In connection with the pistons, and operated by them, I provide reciprocating
levers, having movable fulcra, the pistons being connected to them at one end,
while the other ends are connected, by suitable connecting rods, to friction or
equivalent gripping and releasing devices working in connection with discs or
wheels, or a disc or wheel on the axle which drives the vehicle or locomotive, as
the case may be.
The gripping or equivalent devices are reciprocated by the levers driven by
the pistons, and in one direction, grip or engage with the discs or wheels, they
work in connection with, while in the other direction they do not act upon them,
sp that such discs or wheels revolve freely past or over them.
According to one arrangement, there are two sets of the gripping or equivalent
devices arranged on opposite sides of the axle and operated from two levers and
connecting rods, the two levers being operated by the engine from a common
point where they are connected with the piston rods thereof. Also, the gripping
or like devices, are in some cases in duplex arrangement, working in connection
with duplex discs or wheels side by side.
The pistons of the cylinders move the full stroke under all conditions, and
according to the position of the movable fulcra, so will be the amount of move-
ment of the gripping or equivalent devices. That is to say, if the fulcra are
near the piston rod connection, the movement of the gripping or equivalent devices
will be large and the rate of movement of the discs or wheels they operate
relatively high; whereas, if the fulcra are near the opposite end of the levers,
their movement will be small, and the rate of movement of the discs or wheels rela-
tively low. Consequently, in the latter case power will be great and the speed
small; while in the former the speed will be great and the power smaller; and
any varying rates and powers between these extremes may be obtained by varying
the position of the fulcra.

page_text: The fulcra may be moved to and fro, along slots in the levers by a screw having
right and left hand threads, or by other equivalent mechanisms.
In one form the gripping or engaging devices may consist of wedge shaped
parts connected with the levers and working between other parts, which work
in connection with annular flanges on the discs or wheels; the action being that
when the wedges move in one direction they press the parts which they act upon
onto the disc flanges, and when moved in the other direction these parts do
not grip on the flanges, but slide freely over or past them, while in the former
action they grip and move the disc forward, thus the disc has a continuous forward
movement while the gripping devices have a to and fro movement, one of which
is a propelling action while the other is free or non-propelling.
The movement of the wedge pieces, or inclined parts or equivalent gripping
parts, is extremely small, being only the amount necessary to remove the friction
from the discs or wheels; this movement may be limited by screw and nut adjust-
ment, or stops, so that it will work without jar or noise. In some cases, the
parts which grip the disc surfaces will be carried, or the whole gripping devices
will be carried, in the return stroke, by a separate slide, guide, or carrier, so that
they are out of contact altogether with the disc or wheel surfaces; while in
another arrangement, one of the parts of the gripping devices merely slides on
one of the disc or wheel surfaces freely in the return stroke.
As regards the arrangement and construction of the part, the invention is not
restricted to those more particularly described, but may be carried out in different
forms and by arrangement of levers and parts and different dispositions of same
and the mode of operating may be carried out with double or multiple sets of
parts as above described, or single sets.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.
CUMI LEIM DIMITTALION.
Improvements in or connected with Steam and other Fluid Pressure
Motors.
I, HENRY WILCKE, of 70, Brainard Street, Tue Brook, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference, mainly, to motors for driving or propelling vehicles,
such as road and rail vehicles, and has chiefly for its object, amongst others, to
provide improvements, by which vehicles may be propelled at varying speeds,
up inclines, and generally worked and manipulated, without tooth wheels or
other similar or equivalent gearings, and variable speed mechanisms, such as
have hitherto been employed.
According to this invention, I employ steam cylinders and pistons, of which
there will be preferably two or more, the pistons of which are connected, through
suitable means, as by piston rods and cranks, so that the pistons move relatively
tu cne another in the required manner.
In connection with the pistons, and operated by them, I provide reciprocating
levers, having movable fulcra, the pistons being connected to them at one end,
while the other ends are connected, by suitable connecting rods, to friction or

page_text: equivalent gripping and releasing devices, working in connection with discs or
wheels, or a disc or wheel, on the axle which drives the vehicle or locomotive, as
the case may be.
The gripping or equivalent devices are reciprocated by the levers driven by
the pistons, and, in one direction, grip or engage with the discs or wheels they
work in connection with, while, in the other direction, they do not act upon them,
so that such discs or wheels revolve freely past or over them.
According to one arrangement, there are two sets of the gripping or equivalent
devices, arranged on opposite sides of the axle, and operated from two levers and
connecting rods, the two levers being operated by the engine from a common
point where they are connected with the piston rods thereof. Also, the gripping
or like devices, are, in some cases, in duplex arrangement, working in connection
with duplex discs or wheels side by side.
The pistons of the cylinders move the full stroke under all conditions, and,
according to the positions of the movable fulera, so will be the amount of move-
ment of the gripping or equivalent devices. That is to say, if the fulcra are
near the piston rod connection, the movement of the gripping or equivalent devices
will be large, and the rate of movement of the discs or wheels they operate
relatively high; whereas, if the fulcra are near the opposite end of the levers,
their movement will be small, and the rate of movement of the discs or wheels rela-
tively low. Consequently, in the latter case, power will be great and the speed
small; while in the former, the speed will be great and the power smaller; and
any varying rates and powers between these extremes may be obtained by varying
the position of the fulcra.
The fulcra may be moved to and fro, along slots in the levers by a screw having
right and left hand threads, or by other equivalent mechanisms.
In one form, the gripping or engaging devices may consist of wedge shaped
parts, connected with the levers, and working between other parts, which work
in connection with annular flanges on the discs or wheels; the action being that
when the wedges move in one direction they press the parts which they act upon
onto the disc flanges, and, when moved in the other direction, these parts do
not grip on the flanges, but slide freely over or past them, while in the former
action they grip and move the disc forward, thus the disc has a continuous forward
movement while the gripping devices have a to and fro movement, one of which
is a propelling action while the other is free or non-propelling.
The movement of the wedge pieces, or inclined parts or equivalent gripping
parts, is extremely small, being only the amount necessary to remove the friction
from the discs or wheels; this movement may be limited by screw and nut adjust-
ment, or stops, so that it will work without jar or noise. In some cases, the
parts which grip the disc surfaces will be carried, or the whole gripping devices
will be carried, in the return stroke, by a separate slide, guide, or carrier, so that
they are out of contact altogether with the disc or wheel surfaces; while, in
another arrangement, one of the parts of the gripping devices merely slides on
one of the disc or wheel surfaces freely in the return stroke.
As regards the arrangement and construction of the part, the invention is not
restricted to those more particularly described, but may be carried out in different
forms and by arrangement of levers and parts, and different dispositions of same,
and the mode of operating, may be carried out with double or multiple sets of
parts, as above described, or single sets.
The drawings, hereto annexed, shew some modifications, according to the inven-
tion, and the further description of it will be made with the aid of these drawings.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, and Figure 2 an end view, partly
in section, shewing one modification. Figures 3 and 4 are, respectively, sectional
side elevation, and end view, partly in section, of another modification.
Figures 5 and 6 are part sectional side elevation, and end view, respectively,
of a further modification. Figure 7 is a side elevation of another modification.

page_text: The same letters and figures of reference are used to denote the same or equiva-
lent parts, wherever they occur in the drawings.
Referring, in the first instance, to Figures 1 and 2, these figures illustrate one
example of the application of the invention, and one form of apparatus for carrying
it out.
In these drawings, a is a shaft-say the axle of the driving road wheel, or
wheels, of a motor vehicle (but it may be an intermediate shaft); and b are two
disc wheels, which are mounted upon this shaft, and through which the move-
ment imparted by the apparatus to be described is transmitted to the road wheels.
Each of these discs bis provided at its periphery with an annular open channel b',
the open parts of the two lying in the vertical plane, and facing each other; and
through the inner and outer annular surfaces of the interior of these channels,
power from the driving mechanism is applied.
The actuating mechanisms of these discs, are of the reciprocating type, and
comprise an engaging and disengaging device (that shewn being of the frictional
order), operated in connection with the channels b'; reciprocating or rocking
levers, or their equivalents, connected with and operating these devices, and
having variable fulcra, or means for varying the leverage; and a steam, gas, or
oil engine, connected with and operating the levers.
The frictional device consists of wedge shaped blocks c, and inner and outer
blocks c¹, working internally, in connection with the surfaces of c, and, externally,
with the surfaces of 6, the block c being held in connection with c¹, by the
plates, which is on c.
T
The actuating levers are designated d, and are connected at their outer parts
with the blocks c by connecting rods e, the outer heads e¹ of which work upon a
pin 3, coupling the two. wedge blocks e together.
The fulcra of the lever consist of the pins and blocks f, which are adapted
to move up and down in slots in the levers. Their movement or adjustment may
be effected by any suitable known gear, such, for instance, as screw gear or the
like.
The opposite ends of these levers d are connected with a reciprocating rod g,
which is guided by the guides g' and g² (the latter being a slide guide), and receives
motion to and fro, from a crank, or crank or disc, on a shaft h having a continuous
rotating movement, it being connected to g by a suitable connecting rod. This
shaft may represent the crank shaft of a steam, gas, oil, or other suitable engine,
and be assumed to revolve at a constant rate of speed.
With regard to the reciprocating gripping device consisting of the parts c and c¹,
these, preferably, are so made and fitted together, that they have substantially
no visible movement in relation to each other when in the channels 61, the mere
application of pull or push of the block e-or c, c¹when moved in one direction,
being sufficient to cause the blocks c¹ to effect an immovable frictional connection
between them and the surfaces of 1; and, when moved in the other direction,
to free them so as to produce a perfectly free sliding connection between them.
In action, the engine being driven at, say, a constant rate of speed, will impart
to the rod g a constant rate of reciprocation, the rate of movement of the rod,
however, in the different parts of its stroke, being variable, i.e. slow at the ends,
and faster in the intermediate portions, this being due to its being driven by a
revolving mechanism. The reciprocation of the block c, through the levers d
and connecting rods e, alternately press the grip blocks c forwards and backwards
together, and these grip blocks, above and below, being arranged with their
inclinations in opposite directions, as shewn in Figure 1, cause the blocks c¹,
connected with them, to be respectively pressed outwards and grip the disc b,
and to be relieved from gripping or pressing upon such disc.
Thus, by each forward and backward motion of these reciprocating parts, the
disc b will be moved, and practically a constant movement is produced by the

page_text: alternate grippings and releasings; and thus the intermittent reciprocating move-
ment of the device c c¹ is converted to a continuous rotary one.
As regards the levers and gear shewn in Figures 1 and 2, these are largely
diagrammatic, and obviously susceptible of a great variety of modifications and
forms.
With regard to the general characteristics of the invention, and apparatus
shewn, the effects accomplished are, that by varying the amount of movement
of the engaging and releasing device, or the reciprocating parts, which impart
movement to the rotary moving part, through an intermediate mechanism between
the engine and these parts which renders their throw variable (such as by the
means shewn or specified), and by running the engine at a constant speed (say
its full power), the power which the engine is capable of applying to the parts
moved is variable in a high degree. That is, with a constant rate of movement
of the engine, a small movement of the engaging and disengaging device will
produce a high leverage or power, and slow propelling effect; while a large
amount of movement, with smaller leverage and power, will produce a higher
propelling effect; and hence, an engine which is capable of driving a vehicle,
say upon the level at the desired speed, is rendered capable of driving it up
gradients at a lower speed, and of starting it from a state of rest, with the same
certainty and these effects are accomplished without the use of tooth or belt
gearing, or the like; and further, these variable powers or leverages may be
applied and changed whilst the mechanism is in motion, and without having to
throw mechanisms in and out of gear.
Referring now to the modifications shewn in Figures 3 and 4, in this case, the
reciprocating and gripping parts are substantially the same as those shewn in
Figures 1 and 2, except that, instead of the blocks c being alone moved by the
connecting rods, both these blocks c and the inner of the blocks care moved,
so that a positive movement of the two in relation to each other is produced;
and this is effected through the link i, which is connected to the connecting rod
head e', and to the blocks c, and inner blocks c', by the pins c³ connected with c,
and connected with c¹.
It will be seen that when the connecting rod e is moved one way or the other,
the blocks c and c¹ will be positively moved in relation to each other through
the link ; and the pins c³ and c. In other respects, the apparatus and its action
are the same as that shewn in Figures 1 and 2.
The modification shewn in Figures 5 and 6 has for its object the same end as
that shewn in Figures 3 and 4; namely, the positive movement of the parts c
and c¹ in relation to each other; and as an equivalent to the mode of obtaining
this end, in lieu of the link, I provide, in connection with the inner blocks c¹,
a rod k, connected to c¹ by the T or cross bar ¹, and passing through a frictional
box (which is similar to a stuffing box and gland), mounted and arranged to
oscillate upon trunnions supported in the brackets k. Obviously, for each change
of direction of motion of the blocks c and c¹, the block c¹ connected with k will
tend to resist such change; and, consequently, the action or movement, in connec-
tion with these two blocks, becomes a positive one.
In the modification shewn in Figure 7, the reciprocating and variable power
lever, d, is adapted as a reversing lever, and is applied directly to the blocks c c¹,
the rod working this link in this case being the reciprocating rod 7.
In the construction shewn the blocks c and c¹ are both operated similarly as
in Figures 3 and 4, through pins 3 and 4, blocks being provided about these
pins to work in the curved surfaces of the lever d. The link lever d is moved
in the manner of an ordinary engine valve gear link, nearer to and further from
the shaft a; and, consequently, the further the point of pressure, viz., the joint ¹
of upon d, is from the axis of a, or the nearer it is to the shaft, the greater or
smaller will be the leverage, and the greater or smaller will be the stroke of the
gripping device. The rod has, itself, the same stroke each reciprocation. Then

page_text: as a reversing device, according to which side of the blocks and the pin
joint is, will depend the direction in which these blocks 3 and will be moved
in the opposite strokes of 1, and, according to these, they will either grip or move
freely over the disc b.
As a modification of this, the link can be used solely as a reversing device;
while the variable lever device would operate it, in which case the rod / would
be the equivalent of the rod e, in Figures 1 to 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The herein described improvement in or connected with motors, or motor
mechanisms, for purposes such as described, that is to say, in a motor or mechanism
for the purposes described, effecting or producing variable power applied to, and
speed of, a rotary and driven part--through which the vehicle is propelled, by
a reciprocating mechanism adapted to produce rotative movement of said rotary
part; and mechanism, between said reciprocating driving mechanism and the
engine, by which the stroke of the reciprocating mechanisms, and the power
applied, is rendered variable; for the purposes set forth.
2. In a motor mechanism, for the purposes described, an engine combined with
and adapted to operate a reciprocating device, adapted to engage with a rotary
part which is the driven part-when moved in one direction, and to disengage
therefrom, when moved in the opposite direction; and intermediate mechanism
by which the power or leverage and stroke of said reciprocating device, is rendered
variable; substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. In motor apparatus for the purposes described, a disc or discs (or their
equivalent), and frictional gripping and releasing devices working in connection
therewith, adapted to be reciprocated by a normally rotating engine or motor,
whereby such reciprocating motion is converted to a rotary motion in the driven
discs substantially as set forth.
4. In motors, or motor apparatus, for the purposes described, the combination
of the rotating discs connected with, and adapted to drive the driving wheel of
the vehicle; reciprocating gripping and releasing devices; levers (or their
equivalents), having shifting fulcra, and connected with the gripping device;
and an engine connected with and adapted to reciprocate said levers; substantially
as herein set forth.
5. In motor, or motor apparatus, for the purposes described, the construction
of the reciprocating frictional wedge gripping and releasing device, in con-
junction with the revolving part driven thereby; substantially as herein set forth
and shewn.
G. In motor apparatus, for the purposes described, variable power levers or
devices, arranged in said apparatus, and adapted to operate, substantially as set
forth and shewn in the drawings.
7. A motor apparatus, or parts of apparatus, arranged constructed, and adapted
to operate, as set forth with reference to Figures 1 and 2; Figures 3 and 4;
Figures 5 and 6; and Figure 7 of the drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of January
1808
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15; Water Street, Liverpool.