Patent GB-610828-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to electrically driven amusement vehicles
IPC: B60K1/00
Filed: 1945-09-19
Abstract: 610,828. Amusement apparatus. PERRIOLAT, E. Sept. 19, 1945, No. 24216. Convention date, June 2, 1944. [Classes 79 (ii), 79 (iii) and 79 (v)] [Also in Groups XXX, XXXII and XXXIV] An electrically-driven vehicle comprises front driving and steering wheels and a rear wheel mounted in means which can swing about a vertical pivot and which is interconnected with the steering mechanism of the front wheels. The vehicle also comprises a number of details, namely-automatic braking of the vehicle, whereby when the vehicle is subjected to a longitudinal shock the driver's seat rocks about a pivot and applies a brake to the rear wheel; also when the vehicle is subjected to a longitudinal shock the current pick-up shoe is lifted from the floor, thus stopping the motor; the front wheels are driven by clutches which slip in cornering and in overloading; and the front of the vehicle is provided with a jacking device embodying a jockey-wheel for easy manipulation. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the vehicle comprises a pair of front wheels 21, 2<SP>2</SP> and a rear wheel 33. Each front wheel is driven by a motor 31, Fig. 5, through a reduction gear 6 and friction clutch members 7, 8, the latter member being connected to the reduction gear 6, the former being mounted on a splined shaft 10 and urged by a spring 11 against the wheel disc. The nut 12<SP>1</SP> is so adjusted that the spring 11 exerts sufficient pressure on the clutch members to transmit the drive when running straight, but will allow the clutch to slip on the inside wheel when cornering, owing to the higher resistance offered by such wheel. The motors are provided with steering pivots 12 for mounting on a steering linkwork, Fig. 7, which consists of a parallelogram 15, 16, 17, 18. Deflection of the wheels and parallelogram is effected by a steering wheel and column, the bottom end of which is provided with a drum 21 on to which a pair of chains 22, 23, Fig. 8, are made to wind and unwind. The ends of the chains are coupled through spring tensioning means 25 to the track rod 16 of the parallelogram. The rear wheel 33 is mounted in a fork 26<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 7, pivoted at 26 to the vehicle chassis. An extension of the fork is coupled to an assembly 28 which in turn is pivoted to the track rod 16. The assembly comprises a bar 34 coupled to the link 16 and is extended by a rod 31 which slides in a fork 30 against a spring 32, said fork 30 being pivoted to the fork 261. Under a transverse shock, the rear wheel pivots about 26 and will automatically right itself under the influence of the spring 32. The braking of the vehicle, Figs. 1 and 12, is effected through the seat 40 which is pivoted at 41 to the chassis. An arm 42 attached to the seat carries a brake shoe 43. When the vehicle suffers an impact load, the seat and passenger are thrown back, such movement applying the brake shoe 43. To prevent the motors from over loading when the vehicle is in a collision, the pick-up arm 56, 57 is raised automatically. Fig. 13 shows the pick-up mechanism in normal position and Fig. 14 in the raised position after head-on impact. A foot pedal 51 is pivoted to a frame member 60 sliding in a cylinder 61 under the bias of a spring 62. The frame member and cylinder are connected by a pair of links 64, 65, and when the pedal is depressed, the pedal lever urged against the link 65 forces the frame member outwardly against the spring 62. The pedal lever has an extension which abuts a V-shaped lever 54, which constitutes the current pick-up, and, when the pedal is depressed, the pick-up is forced downwards against the spring 59. In the case of impact, the cylinder is moved backwards against spring 62 carrying with it link 64 which displaces pedal 51 to the right. Pedal 51 has an extension 53 which is thus raised from the V-shaped lever 54, 55 carrying the pick-up arm 56 so allowing the latter to be raised by spring 59 to interrupt the current. A means for easily transporting the vehicle comprises a lever 51, Fig. 18, pivoted to the vehicle at 67, the end of the lever constituting a fork 68 in which a small wheel 69 is mounted. When out of use the lever is stowed horizontally and locked in position. Each end of the vehicle is protected by a rubber strip which in turn is covered by a steel strip. This steel strip is mounted on a hinge and held in position by a toggle lever.