Patent GB-995751-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to vehicles having steerable wheels
IPC: B60B15/26
Filed: 1962-03-12
Abstract: 995,751. Vehicles; steering and control. FABRIQUE NATIONALE D'ARMES DE GUERRE S.A. March 12, 1962 [March 10, 1961], No. 9343/62. Headings B7D, B7H and B7J. An open framework vehicle comprises a single front wheel carried by a chassis unit A having a transverse wheel supporting member 1 as described in Specification 962,692 and two rearwardly extending frame members 2, 3 which inter-engage in a clamping unit C with two forwardly extending frame members 108, 109 of the rear section, as described in Specification 963,042, which is supported by a pair of wheels driven by a power unit incorporating the features of Specification 960,525. The vehicle is provided with a folding seat for four occupants, the outermost seats being outside the vehicle frame members 2 and 3 and which comprises a lower frame 87-93 to which is pivoted at 100 members 95, 99 of the back frame which also includes a tubular cross member 94 and sheathed cords 101, 102 restricting the rearward movement of the backrest. Fabrics 107 are stretched over the frames. Lugs 114, 115 are provided on the seat frame members 91 and 93 and are inserted in slots in the vehicle frame members 108, 109, the seat being retained in place by spring clips 110, 111 engaging over the frame members 108, 109, Fig. 20. The front wheel bearing assembly, Fig. 10, comprises a vertical pivot pin 11 carried by a tubular member 10 attached to the front frame, a ring 18 being located on the pin 11 with the aid of a pair of bearing blocks 12, 13 and thrust washers and forms the inner support for the wheel bearing 23. A pair of lugs 35, 36 on the ring 18 co-operates with the vehicle frame to limit the angular movement of the assembly about the pin 11 and a further lug 24 is connected to a link 27 of the steering assembly which also comprises a link 29, Fig. 8, connected to a rack member 31, Fig. 12, which slides within a tube 38 attached to the vehicle frame and cooperates with a pinion 45 integral with a short shaft 44 enclosed within a casing 40 secured to the tube 38. The steering wheel 47 is connected to a square section tubular shaft 49 within which slides a shaft 46 of similar section connected at its lower end by a universal joint to the shaft 41. A cylindrical collar 52, Figs. 15, 16 and 17, is secured to the shaft 49 and may be engaged in a block 58 attached to a portion 5<1> of the vehicle front frame member and retained in the operating position of the steering wheel by the engagement of a spring-loaded bolt 53 in a groove 50 in the collar. The column may be readily dismantled by withdrawing the bolt 53 and removing the collar 52 from the block 58 which enables the shaft 49 to be withdrawn through an open side of the block (Fig. 17) and the steering column may then be rotated to a stowed position. The control pedals 63, 84, 79 of the vehicle are mounted on plates 61, 62 which connect the front transverse member to the side member 3 of the vehicle frame, tubular members 65 and 75 being connected to the plates 61, 62 (Fig. 11) and the clutch pedal 63 being secured to a collar 64 pivotable about the tube 65 and retained by a clip 72. A lug 66 on the collar 65 (Fig. 13) co-operates with an adjustable stop 69 to limit the movement of clutch pedal 63. The brake pedal 73 is similarly mounted on the tube 75 and the accelerator pedal 79 extends through the tube 75 and is attached by a square section insert 81 to a crank arm 84. The pedals 63 and 73 and the crank arm 84 are attached by flexible cables which pass through the tubular frame member 3 to their respective controls. The gear shift lever 121, Figs. 4 and 20, is pivoted to a pair of lugs 118, 119 attached to the seat member 87 and is pivotally connected by a quick release fastening 123 to a rod 122 connected by a further quick release fastening 124 to the gear shift mechanism to enable rapid dismantling. The engine cowling 133 is connected by a pair of brackets 127, 128 to a frame member 126 at the rear of the vehicle. A pair of handles 134 is provided upon the frame for manhandling the vehicle.