Patent GB-777659-A (GB)
Title: Automotive vehicle
IPC: B60K17/30
Filed: 1955-08-08
Abstract: 777,659. Motor vehicles. WILLYS MOTORS, Inc. Aug. 8, 1955 [Aug. 23, 1954], No. 22752/55. Classes 79(2), 79(3), 79(4), 79(5). An automotive vehicle having a low centre of gravity and adapted for carrying heavy loads has a steering column of adjustable rake and coupled by bevel gears to a steering shaft, one of which rotates with the steering shaft about its own axis and also about the axis of the other bevel gear when the steering column is displaced, and a bar connected to the body of the vehicle by means of a plunger to maintain the steering column at any angle of rake. Steering mechanism. A steering wheel 182, Fig. 8, mounted on a shaft 160 acts through reduction gearing 157, 158, to rotate a shaft 145 which engages a stub shaft 109 by means of a tongue 147 and a slot 149. The stub shaft 109 rotates a metal wheel 105 on a shaft 86 through a gear 108 to turn a pitman 96 whose extremity carries the end of a drag link 102, Fig. 4, the other end of which connects on to an arm 56, pivoted to the frame 10 whose rotation urges laterally a tie rod 54 connected to the hubs of a pair of front wheels 32. A pair of rear wheels 34 may also be steered by the attachment of a rod 66 to the arm 56 which turns the rear wheels through the intermediary of a pivoted arm 60 and a tie rod 58. The rod 66 may be disconnected from the arm 56 and attached to a chassis member 11 by engagement of its pivot pin 68 in an opening 188 of a bracket 186, the rear wheels then being locked in the undeflected position. The steering wheel 182 and column 120, Fig. 7, can be rotated about the shaft 86 and fixed in any one of four positions to alter the rake. A bar 212 is pivotally connected to the column 120 and carries at its other end a plunger 218 which may be inserted in any one of four bushings 204, 205, 206 (the fourth is not shown) in a plate 202 to lock the column 120 in position. Frame and transmission. The frame 10, Fig. 4, comprises longitudinal members 11, 12 attached directly to axle housings 14, 16. The vehicle body 200 consists of a ribbed surface of uniplanar character carrying retractable retaining units and a folding and retractable seat. The engine 24 drives all four wheels through a clutch in a housing 21 and a gearbox ; a propeller shaft 306 transmits power to the front wheels whilst all wheels are driven through universal joints and gearing. Gear change mechanism. A gear change lever 336, Fig. 8, is pivoted about a pin 335 which is carried by a bracket 334 itself rotatable about a shaft 324 which is carried by a bracket 73 on a front frame member 70, Fig. 4. The four positions of lever 336 correspond to three forward gear ratios and one reverse gear ratio and are engaged by turning the lever 336 either clockwise or anticlockwise, as seen in Fig. 8, about the pin 335 until it engages a semi-circular slot in the top of either of arms 326, 327, to which are attached rods 328, 331, Fig. 4, passing to the gearbox. Movement of the lever about the shaft 324 effects longitudinal movement of one or other of the rods 328, 331 which serves to change gear. A lever 344, rotatably mounted on the shaft 324, is connected to a rod 347, Fig. 4, whose longitudinal movement engages an extra low gear. Clutch and brake controls. A framework 265, Fig. 4, carries foot pedals 295, 312, 317, which actuate respectively the brakes through a cable 297, the clutch by means of the rod 315 and the throttle by means not shown. As shown in Fig. 10, the cable 297 acts on a pivoted arm 302 to engage brake mechanism in a housing 304 which may also be operated by a hand lever 378 mounted adjacent to the gear change levers. The lever 378 which carries means 396 to disengage a retaining pawl 390 from a serrated portion 388, carries one end of a cable 362 passing to a U-sectioned lever 358 pivoted to the arm 302 such that the arm 302 is rotated on forward movement of the lever 378 although independent actuation of the brakes may occur through cable 297, the arm 302 and the lever 358 then rotating relative to one another.