Patent GB-609501-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in automotive vehicles
IPC: B62D21/02
Filed: 1945-12-03
Abstract: 609,501. Motor-vehicle driving and steering gear. WILLYS-OVERLAND MOTORS, Inc. Dec. 3, 1945, No. 32660. Convention date, Dec. 2, 1944. [Classes 79 (ii), 79 (iii), 79 (iv) and 79 (v)] An automotive vehicle comprises a frame consisting of a pair of spaced enclosures joined by a pair of transverse tubular members, and pairs of road wheels arranged at each end of the enclosures, each wheel being driven by mechanism contained in the enclosures and at least one pair of wheels being steerable. All four wheels may be steerable. As shown, the vehicle comprises a frame made up of a pair of tubular members 10, 11 transversely spaced by the front and rear axle casings 17 and 24. The vehicle supports a body or platform 50 and is mounted on four wheels 240 without any form of springing. The vehicle is driven by an engine mounted at the rear comprising two cylinders enclosed within a cowling 28 and cooled by an engine-driven fan drawing air through an opening 30 in the cowl. Power is transmitted to 'the rear wheels by the engine shaft 115, Figs. 9 and 10, through a friction clutch 117, 118, 123, a gear-box, the output shaft 130 of which is provided with a gearwheel 134. This wheel meshes constantly with a second gear-wheel 135 mounted on a shaft 136. The inner end of the shaft 136 supports a bevel-wheel 138 which meshes with another bevel-wheel 139 secured to a transverse shaft 143, 144 connected to the rear road wheels. The outer end of the shaft 136 is provided with a universal joint 162 to which is connected a propeller shaft 165, Fig. 7. The other end of the propeller shaft is connected to a universal joint 166 connected to similar gearing for the front wheel drive. The differential gearing is provided in either of the front or rear drive mechanisms. Each wheel is provided with a hub reduction gear in the form of gears 190, 194, Fig. 11, and is adapted to swivel on king- pin components 177, 178 mounted on taper roller bearings 174, 175. All four wheels are steerable simultaneously, the rear wheels being interconnected by rods 223 and the front wheels interconnected by rods 214, the rods 223 and 214 being interconnected by swivel arm 22, rod 220 and swivel arm 216, the latter being connected by its arm 219 and rod 225 to the tiller steering lever 238. Gear changing is effected by a lever 262, Fig. 5, operating control rods 264, 265, the clutch being operated by a lever 270 attached to the gear lever; operation being effected by cable means. Braking of the vehicle is effected by a pair of shoes 246, spaced on either side of a disc 242, said disc being part of and located in the transmission system, so that when the brake lever 253 is applied, the shoes are brought to bear on the disc. A petrol tank 71 and tool box 77 are mounted on the chassis. In an alternative arrangement, the clutch and throttle controls are foot-operated and the brake foot and lever operated. Fig. 13 shows a tubular framework 951 mounted in the front of the vehicle adjacent the tiller and driver's seat and is provided with a cross-bar 280 on which is mounted the clutch pedal 281 and accelerator pedal 287. The brake lever 300 is mounted on a bracket adjacent the driver's right hand.