Patent GB-190526791-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Controlling Mechanism for Motor Road and Certain other Propelled Vehicles.
Filed: 1905-12-22
Granted: 1906-09-20
Abstract: 26,791. Humphreys, C. H., Scantlebury, V. J., and Scowen, Ltd. Dec. 22. Motor road vehicles; locomotives.- Relates to controlling arrangements for the driving- clutch and toothed change-speed gear of motor road and other motor - propelled vehicles, and comprises the construction of the mechanism described in Specification No. 16,498, A.D. 1905, by means of which the movement of the foot-pedal to disconnect the clutch operates the change-speed gear in such a way that, according to the setting of an indicator, each operation of the padal increases the speed one step at a time, while the speed can be decreased from the highest to the lowest by a single operation ; the present invention also comprises a modification of this gearing. Figs. 1 and 2 show part sectional elevation and plan respectively of the above mechanism, and Fig. 3 shows a transverse section on the line A-B, Fig. 2. The clutch pedal 8 is connected by a link 7 to a shaft 6, which slides in bearings in a casing containing the mechanism, and adjusts the similarlymounted shaft 12 longitudinally according to the speed required, the shaft 12 being connected either directly or through the link 15 with any type of change-speed gear requiring a forward and backward movement for its operation. The means for adjusting the shaft 12 comprises a collar 5 and steps 1, 2, 3, 4 arranged in different radial and longitudinal positions, the collar and steps corresponding respectively to the reverse, neutral, and three forward speed positions of the shaft 12. The shaft 6 is given a rotary adjustment from an indicator 8<a> according to the speed required by suitable means such as Bowden wires wound about a drum 11 loosely keyed upon the shaft. The collar 5 or any one of the steps on the shaft 6 is thus adapted to engage the collar 13 on the shaft 12 and move it, when the pedal is pushed right over, into the corresponding speed position. The shaft 12 is then held in position against the spring 14, when the foot-pedal is released, by the collar 13 engaging one of the notches 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 in a hinged plate 16 pressed downwards by a spring 24. The construction of the mechanism ensures that each movement of the pedal can only increase the speed by one step. The plate 16 is lifted each time the pedal reaches the end of its movement by the collar 5 engaging a notch 23. If the indicator is then set to give a lower speed, the shaft 12 is moved back by the spring 14 until stopped by the collar 13 coming in contact with one of the steps, according to the setting of the indicator. The modification referred to above is shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. Separate gear - operating shafts 30, 31, 32, 33, one for each forward speed and reverse, are arranged concentrically to the shaft 45, and are normally retained in their inoperative positions by springs. When the clutch is disconnected, the end of the clutch lever 46<a> moves the shaft 45 longitudinally against the action of the spring 50 into a position in which it can be given a rotary adjustment by means of an indicator 51, so that a projecting part 48 on the shaft can be set to engage one of the collars 35, 36, 37, 38 on the gearoperating shafts. When the clutch is again put into gear, the shaft 45 is returned by the spring 50, and operates the particular gear-operating shaft to which the projection 48 has been set. The shaft 45 cannot be given a rctary adjustment for the purpose of changing speed when the clutch is in gear, except by moving the projection 48 into the neutral position 34.