Patent GB-347104-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in power driven vehicles
IPC: B62D21/04
Filed: 1930-01-10
Abstract: 347,104. Petrol electric motor vehicles. TATRA-WERKE, AUTO-MOBIL-UND WAGGONBAU AKT.-GES., 200, Kartouzskß U1, SmÝchov, Prague. Jan. 10, 1930, No. 972. Convention date, Jan. 23, 1929. [Classes 79 (ii), 79 (iii), and 79 (iv).] In a power-driven vehicle of the kind in which one or more pairs of driving wheels are driven by an electric motor or motors supplied with current by a generator driven by an internal-combustion engine or the like, and in which the electric motor or motors and/or the generator and also the transmission gearing are enclosed by a tubular chassis to which swinging half-axles carrying the driving wheels are pivoted or by an extension of such tubular chassis, provision is made to enable the electric drive to be cut out or superseded by a direct drive from the engine to the mechanical transmission gearing. The change may be effected at the will of the driver or automatically, when a certain speed has been attained. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the generator 7 is driven directly or through an overhung internal-combustion engine 6, and is attached to one end of a tubular chassis frame 8, 10 embodying differential axle casings 9, 11 and carrying at its other end the electric motor 12. The motor shaft 21 extends longitudinally through the tubular casing and is adapted to be clutched directly to the generator shaft 31 by a clutch 30 to obtain a direct mechanical drive. The drive is transmitted from the shaft 21, to the half-axles of the driving wheels 15, 18 through differential gears 22, 23 respectively acting through bevel gears such as 24, 25, 24<1>, 25<1>, the bevels 24, 24<1> being free on the shaft and connected to the respective elements of the differential 22. To drive a single pair of wheels, the motor would be attached to the rear of the differential casing 9. Separate motors may be provided for driving the two pairs of wheels, the second motor being disposed immediately in front of or behind the forward differential casing 9. The shaft 21 in this case would be divided but coupled up for direct mechanical drive. In the arrangements shown in Figs. 3 and 4, separate longitudinal shafts 21a, 21a<1> are provided, each driving the wheels on one side only of the vehicle as described in Specification 277,981, [Class 79 (ii), Motor vehicles, Driving &c.]. The shafts are driven through separate motors 12a, 12a<1> arranged transversely, Fig. 3, in alignment, Fig. 4, or in parallel, in which case they may drive through spur gearing or be directly attached to the ends of the shafts 21a, 21a<1>. In Fig. 3 the motor shafts 21b, 21b<1> drive through bevel gearing 35, 35<1> and the forward ends of the shafts 21a, 21a<1> are connected through a differential casing 36 to a shaft 21 providing for direct clutching to the engine. In Fig. 4, the motor shafts which are concentric are connected to the differential 36 and shaft 21. In a further modification Fig. 5, (not shown) a pair of motors with shafts arranged as shown in Fig. 4, drive through bevel gearings the half-axles of a single pair of wheels. Specification 340,348 also is referred to.