Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd June, 1892-Accepted, 23rd July, 189:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
A communication to me from OSCAR DALISCH, of Neisse, in the Empire of
Germany, Goldsmith.
1, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its objects to remove the difficulties experienced by
velocipedists in riding up hill, or on bad roads, or against the wind &c., by assisting
the muscular power or by substituting when required a mechanical power, such as
compressed air, or liquid carbonic acid, &c.
On a suitable part of the velocipede is arranged a reservoir containing com-
pressed air, or liquid carbonic acid, and connected by a pipe with a cylinder
provided with a piston and rod in such manner that (as in a steam engine) the
compressed air is admitted alternately in front of and behind the piston, and by
means of the piston rod, connecting rod, and crank, the crank shaft and chain
wheels of the machine are turned, the forward movement of the latter being thus
assisted or effected.
Between the reservoir and the cylinder in the supply pipe is arranged a valve
which can be opened by the velocipedist at will to admit the compressed air to
the cylinder.
Between the reservoir and the cylinder may also be arranged a pressure
reducing valve of the ordinary kind to reduce the pressure of the driving fluid.
In another modified form of apparatus the velocipede may also be used as a fire
engine, the axle of the velocipede being connected with the pump cylinder by a
connecting rod and cranks (or by chain wheels). The axle driven by the cylinder
and piston first described or by the muscular power of the velocipedist will set in
action the pump through a suction pipe and delivery pipe, the axle of the
velocipede serving as a driving axle and the wheels as fly wheels for the pump for
which purpose the wheels are raised from the ground and supported by bars which
are pivotted underneath the axle, and rest upon the ground under the axle, while
the velocipede is being driven.
The opened supply pipe (in the arrangement first described) admits the com-
pressed air or other driving fluid into two valve boxes, which are arranged at each
end of the cylinder, and contain valves which are closed against the outer ends of
the cylinder by spiral springs.
The piston and piston rod are made hollow, and in them is placed a rod, which
is pivotted at its front end to a cross piece, sliding in a slot in the outer end of the
piston rod, and having its projecting ends fixed to a sleeve to which is pivotted a
lever, the other end of which is pivotted to the outer end of a lever fitting upon a
suitable part of the connecting rod, and projecting from the latter at about right
angles, and capable of turning upon it so that it can be turned either up or down.
In an opening through the piston is fitted a double valve which is alternately
moved in one or other direction and allows the air in front of each side of the
piston alternately, to pass through the hollow piston and piston rod, and escape.
The rear end of the central rod which passes through the piston and rod as first
described, is turned up and provided with a rod (parallel to the piston rod) one
end of which projects forward through the piston, and its ends press against and
open the two admission valves in the ends of the cylinder alternately. Just before
one of these valves is opened, the valve in the piston strikes the end of the cover.
and opens the exhaust to the other end of the cylinder as already described. The

page_text: compressed air or other driving fluid then moves the piston forward, and the
projecting arm upon the connecting rod will, by its angular movement against
the central rod, keep the admission valve open for the first part of the stroke
of the piston, so that a sufficient-quantity of compressed air is admitted to complete
the stroke. When the piston reaches the other end of its stroke, the exhaust valve
in it strikes the cover and reverses the position of the exhaust, whilst the other
admission valve is opened and kept open for a sufficient part of the stroke, and the
engine continues to work as long as the supply valve is open.
By turning the projecting lever upon the connecting rod round through 180°, it
is possible to give the machine a reverse action. If this is done whilst the
velocipede is being driven, then one of the admission valves is opened prematurely
and a back pressure is caused in front of the piston before the crank comes to its
dead point, stopping the piston and causing it to move back, and so to give the
velocipede a reverse movement.
Dated this 17th d..
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
'Improvements.in Velocipedes.
A communication to me from OSCAR DALISCH, of Neisse, in the Empire of
Germany, Goldsmith.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, 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 and accompanying drawings, that is to say :-
This invention has for its objects to remove the difficulties experienced by
velocipedists in riding up hill, or on bad roads, or against the wind &c., by assisting
the muscular power or by substituting when required a mechanical power such as
compressed air, liquid carbonic acid &c.
The accompanying drawings are in illustration of the invention,
Figures 1 and 2 being side and back views of a velocipede,
Figures 3, 4, and 5, a longitudinal section of the cylinder upon a larger scale,
with the cut-off in different positions.
Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the action, and
Figure 6 is a view of the piston rod with cut-off mechanism.
On a suitable part of the velocipede is arranged a reservoir a containing
compressed air, or liquid carbonic acid, and connected by a pipe with a cylinder
provided with a piston and rod, in such manner that (as in a steam engine) the
compressed air is admitted alternately in front of and behind the piston and by
means of the piston rod, connecting rod, and crank, the crank shaft and chain
wheels c and d of the machine are turned, the forward movement of the latter
being thus-assisted or effected.
Between the reservoir a and the cylinder-b-in-the-supply pipe is arranged a 4
valve which can be opened by the velocipedist at will to admit the compressed
air to the cylinder.
Between the reservoir a and the cylinder 6 may also be arranged a pressure
reducing valve of the ordinary kind, to reduce the pressure of the driving fluid
and a heating chamber may also be arranged to expand the air or gas, and thus 5
obtain as much power as possible.
'
In the form of apparatus shewn in Figures 1 and 2, the velocipede may also be
used as a fire-engine, the axle of the velocipede being connected with the pump
cylinder by a connecting rod and cranks (or by chain wheels c and d).
:

page_text: The axle driven by the cylinder 6 and piston first described or by the muscular
power of the velocipedist will set in action the pump f through a suction pipe g
and delivery pipe h the axle of the velocipede serving as a driving axle and the
wheels as fly wheels for the pump, for which purpose the wheels i are raised from
the ground and supported by bars k, k, which are pivotted underneath the axle,.
and rest upon the ground under the axle while the velocipede is being driven.
The opened supply pipe 7 (in the arrangement first described) admits the .
compressed air or other driving fluid into two valve boxes m and m', which are.
arranged at each end of the cylinder b, and contain valves n and n' which are.
closed against the outer ends of the cylinder b by spiral springs.
The piston and piston rod are made hollow and in them is placed a rod o,.
which is pivotted at its front end to a cross piece p sliding in a slot in the outer
end of the piston rod, and having its projecting ends fixed to a sleeve I to. which
is pivotted a lever r, the other end of which is pivotted to the outer end of a lever s
fitting upon a suitable part of the connecting rod t, and projecting from the latter
at about right angles, and capable of turning upon it so that it can be turned
either up, or down.
In an opening through the piston is fitted a double valve
moved in one or the other direction and allows the air in
the piston to pass alternately through the hollow piston
escape.
which is alternately
front of each side of
and piston rod, and
In the position shewn in Figure 3 the pin o¹ of the rod o opens the valve n
through which the compressed air enters behind the piston. A moment before, the
valve on this side is closed by striking against the cover of the cylinder and
the air in front of the pistons can escape through the bore v' and the hollow and
slotted piston rod.
The compressed air moves the piston forward and the pin o' of the rod o will.
keep open the valve n for a short time by a differential movement of the rod o in
the piston rod, so that a sufficient quantity of compressed air can enter to drive.
the piston.
Figure 4 shews the position in which the valve n is still open. When the piston
reaches the front cover of the cylinder, the valve v will be closed on this side and
the valve n opened by the rod o', and the compressed air enters in front of the
piston and the air behind the piston exhausts.
This operation is repeated as long as the valve in the supply pipe is open.
+
By turning the projecting levers and s upon the connecting rod round through
180° (see Figure 5), it is possible to give the machine a reverse action. If this is.
done whilst the velocipede is being driven, the admission valves n or n¹ are-
successively opened prematurely and a back pressure is caused in front of the
piston before the crank comes to its dead point, tending to stop the piston,.
(Figure 5^).
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what [
claim is :-
1. On a velocipede the arrangement of a reservoir a containing compressed air
or other driving fluid, and a cylinder b, the piston of which drives by the hollow
piston rod, the connecting rod and crank, the axle of the velocipede, when the .
valve of the supply pipe is opened, substantially as set forth.
2. The motion of the valves and n' by the pin o¹ of the rod o, provided with
the cross piece p, sliding in slots of the piston rod and fixed to the sleeve q, so.
that they can turn round, which with the levers r and s gives the rod o¹ a
differential movement so as to keep the valve n or n' open at the end positions of
the piston for the inlet of the compressed air or other driving fluid, in combination.
with the double valve v, which is open for the exhaust and closed for the inlet, .
substantially as set forth.
3. The moveable fastening of the levers on the connecting rod t, which by-

page_text: turning the crank u, gives by the lever r, the sleeve 9 and the cross piece p to the
rod o the differential movement required, and by turning the levers 180° causes
a premature opening of one of the valves n, n', reversing the motion of the
velocipede, substantially as set forth.
4. The arrangement of the pumpf in such manner, that the axle driven by the
cylinder acts on the driving axle of the pump, and the raised wheels upon the
axle and the fly wheels of the same, all substantially as set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1892.
EDWARDS & Co., .
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.