Patent GB-189810020-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Motor Vehicles, or Self Propelling Road Carriages.
Inventor: WHITNEY GEORGE ELIE
Filed: 1898-05-02
Granted: 1898-12-31
Abstract: 10,020. Whitney, G. E. May 2. Motor road vehicles.-Relates to the detailed construction of light vehicles with tubular framing which may be propelled by any suitable motor, but is illustrated as fitted with the steam engine and liquid-fuel heated boiler described in Specification No. 6947, A.D. 1898. The invention comprises mainly the construction of the frame, and of the driving and balance gear ; the mounting of the steering-wheels and the gear in connection therewith ; the provision of controlling-gear by which the speed can be regulated, the motor reversed, started, and stopped, and the brakes applied through the medium of a single handle ; and the mounting and disposition of the motor and the various tanks &c. auxiliary thereto. (1) Frames. The main frame, Figs. 1 and 3, is composed of longitudinal members a, transverse members a<1>, a<2>, a<3>, and oblique braces a<8> by which are stayed the vertical members at the rear end carrying the axle bearings of the hind wheels. The front end rests on a pivoted braced axle c<x> connected to the main frame by jointed ties a<19> and provided with forks at the ends, in which the swivelling axles of the steering- wheels are pivoted. The vehicle body is supported at the front on a transverse elliptical spring, and at the rear on two similar side springs. The motor is mounted on bearers in the body so as to be easily removable as a whole, and is inclined so that the engine shaft is directed towards the rear axle. (2) Driving-gear. Motion is transmitted from the engine shaft to the axles through a shaft o with a Hooke's joint at one end and a modified form of Hooke's joint, shown separately in Figs. 1<a> and 1<b>, at the other end. The modified joint is designed to permit of a certain degree of longitudinal freedom, the arms o<12> of the intermediate member not being rigid, but being separately pivoted in one pair of jaws o<14> and ball-jointed in the other pair o<8>. The shaft o drives a bevel pinion b<16>, Figs. 1 and 3, gearing with the driving-wheel B<1> of the balance gear. The lateral pressure on the wheel B' is sustained by a friction roller h<19>, which is furnished with means for taking up wear. The tubular axle b of the road wheel B passes through into that of the wheel B<x>, the two being prevented from separating by a central tie-rod b<7> passing through from side to side. If further variation of power than that afforded by regulating the engine throttle be desired, the two-speed gear shown in Figs. 24 and 25 may be provided in the line of the shaft o. This is an epicyclic gear, the wheel b<101> being fixed; and in the position shown reduces the speed one-half. The other wheels may, however, be slid out of engagement with the wheel b<101>, and at the same time locked together by means of the clutches shown. The motion is then transmitted without reduction. (3) Steering. The swivelling axles c<4>, Fig. 3, of the steering-wheels are adjusted by linkage in which the joints are made so as to permit of sufficient freedom of movement to allow for the swaying of the carriage body on its springs. The construction of the joints is shown in Fig. 6. The links are provided with ball heads c<13>, c<14>x embraced by divided spherical caps c<10>, n<10>. Dustexcluding caps are provided for the various pin joints c<10>, n<10>. (4) Handles. The steering-head, Fig 1, is supported on a pillar so'as not to be interfered with by the relative movements of the carriage body and the frame. The handle is made to serve not only for steering but, by different movements, for effecting the entire control of the motor and the application of the brakes. Several modifications of this controlling-apparatus are described in the Specification, differing in detail but alike in their general features. In the example shown in Fig. 1, steering is effected by moving the handle horizontally to the right or left. By a rotary movement, transmitted through flexible or equivalent connections through the curved portion, a rocking shaft is operated by which the steam-supply valve or throttle is regulated. By further rotation after the steam is entirely shut off, steam is admitted to the brake cylinder. Reversal of the direction of travel is also effected by the same handle. For this purpose the handle is either drawn out or pushed inwards, whereby the motor valve gear is reversed. (5) Tanks, condensers, &c. The boot of the carriage body contains water tanks, in one of which is lodged the fuel reservoir. The exhaust, after passing through a silencer, is conducted into a sinuous condenser pipe, a portion of which is disposed in the forward one of the two tanks. Uncondensed vapour may be discharged into the boiler funnel or delivered by waste pipes with their orifices near the wheel treads.