Patent GB-190226189-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Motor Vehicles
Inventor: SECHAUD HENRY
Filed: 1902-11-27
Granted: 1903-11-26
Abstract: 26,189. SÚchaud, H. Nov. 27. Motor road vehicles.-The object is to enable changes of direction or speed, throwing the motor in or out of gear, braking the vehicle and regulating the motor, and steering all to be effected by means of a single appliance. To this end the invention comprises a combined steering-post and mechanical controlling - devices, and improved friction-clutch mechanism. Fig. 3 shows a vertical - section through the axis of the steering and contralling mechanism, and Fig. 4 the same in side elevation. The steering - post consists of a stationary outer tube a, which is mounted on trunnions or pivots b in a fixed support, and has a gear casing c at its lower end. The steering hand wheel f, n is mounted on a rotatory tube d, whereby, through toothed gearing e, u, the uni. versal joint w, and the sliding shaft x, the circular rack z of the steering-mechanism can be actuated. The application and release of the brake, changes in the gearing, and the concurrent advancing or retarding of the ignition are effected through the medium of a link connected at 11 by turning the steering-post a on its pivots b. It is held in any one of its operative positions by a notched sector r. This sector has a number of circular slots in it, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and the steering-post is provided with a sleeve m, which can be raised or lowered to engage or disengage with them. The sleeve is raised against the pressure of a spring j by the action of grasping and pressing towards each other the two parts of the hand-wheel f, n. Temporary complete disengagement may at any time be effected by the use of a detent p. The supply of motive power is controlled by actuating the carburetter or steam valve or an electric switch by the angular adjustment of a sliding shaft 9, through the universal joint 8, arm 6, rods 1, 4, and screw-and-nut mechanism 3 by rotating the hand-wheel 2. The friction clutch mechanism employed in connection with the change gear is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. This is arranged so that either the slow-speed pinion 21 or fast-speed pinion 24 can be driven by the motor shaft 17 according to the adjustment of the pull-rod 12 connected to the steering-post at 11. To effect this, the shaft 16 has mounted fast on it three discs 19, 29, 31, between which are held expansible split rings 28, 30. These split rings, when expanded, engage respectively with the clutch boxes 27, 26, the first mounted on the shaft 20 carrying the pinion 21, and the second mounted on the concentric tubular shaft 23 carrying the pinion 24. The split rings in the clutches are expanded by having forced between their extremities the lenticular ends of levers 37, 40, which are actuated by a collar 15 sliding on the shaft 16 and operated through the lever 13 by the rod 12. A modified form of clutch is shown in Fig. 16. In this, the collar 15 carries at the end of an arm 38 an antifriction pulley 52, which can be brought under the extremity of the lever 50. The resulting movement of the lever about its pivot 51 expands the split ring 47 against the internal wall of the clutch box.