Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-26
BY FREDERICK c. erERHLIcn.


One of the hardest problems which
the earlier designers OF automobiles
had to solve was that of steering. and
thus OF the design Of the front axle.
Previous 10 the automobile. all We
hiclcs were turned by turning the en-
tire front axle. which axle was solid
and could turn or pivot at its middle
or what was termed nth wheel.
In Fig. show this construction.
Imagine for a moment that you had
while travelling a, a fifteen to twenty
mile rate. one wheel fell into small
hole or struck small obstruction in
he strong enough to prevent the front
axle, the wheels Of which are nearly
two and half feet. from the pivot
from turning? Or. if the design was
such tina; you could. what would hap
pen when the various parts OF the
steering apparatus became worn SO
think that because of the innumerable
irregularities OF the road the car
Would take a zig-zaE course Here;
turning tyne OF front axle viii not do.
Problem of Steering.
What about steering such an axle?
What would you have 10 accomplish?
Why. you would have TO push one
wheel forward a foot or two. depend
ing upon the radius OF the turn, and
pull the other back this amount. This
ratus would have to he so designed
that 1t would be necessary to give the
hand wheel two or three complete
turns when going around an ordinary
curve. or il would require strong
man at the wheel. Here then is an
other reason why the solid axle. which
turns at its middle. will not do
You Will note that the fault OF tho
solid axle is that the wheels are so
i ihn away from their pivot obviously
the wheels brought in TO the pivot
which would be a thrce-wheel car. or
to bring the pivot out to the wheels,
y,..t rt, .t, SN,,
shown in Fig 9
The three-whecl vehicle is unstable
and viii torple over too easily 10 be
practical for an auto.
While constructing the front axle,
as shown IN Fig. >, seems to solve the
problem, another serious problem is
brought into consideration by so con-
StructinE II. When 4 wheel is travel
i ing IN a circle it must always be
case because the axle does not turn.
AS does the solid axle. tho wheel will
have to take the position shown in
Fig. 3. Here you will notice, that
the inner wheel CA) has had to he
thrown more than tho outer wheel (B).
me wheels not being parallel When
Will have to he thrown more than
Here is real problem. and it is the
Writers opinion that failure to solve
auto not being developed sooner than
Solution of Problem.
solved az" 'his proDicm was
;. STUDY for a momer~ the circle A.
fig; T. Here i have laid off on the
nave drawn parallel lines up 10 the
.,rcie; Notice this that at the top of
NE NE circle the arcs r and S are nearly
me same lengths as the spaces T. while
me arcs become longer and longer as
they approach the sides. Thus the arc
y Is much longer than T.
IL: now, We have the wheels and
IL. Fig. ., pivotcd at c and u and
n moved ny the arms and l.. which are
amount. say equal to Il, the end If The
arm r moving the top OF the circle
the eef Wheel ,ne are is w,,T nearly equal to z.
slightly, while Ghc end OF arm f. novt
ing toward the sid" OF the circle where
Wheel p VIII aTg greater than ~ the
IMAM a. the wheels taking the nosiiion
SnGwn $3.50 ey the dotted lines This, you
as rso, Ttegulred when turning in one di-
,ection, Il being thrown more than
rir,, me ROD G Is moved toward the
which viii he the condition reouirnS
when turning in The other direction.
~. nus ms steering problem is solved
HH,n nts at an angl" to one another,
Wheh they are placed in the roar NJ
me axle they point toward the center
out when placed ina. front,of the axle
from the center.
The amount OF the angle dencnds
upon me wheel base OF the car, and is
such that lines drawn through them
woula ihterScct in the middle of the
rear axle This is shown in figure :
by the lines NJ and y.
We nave seen how. by having the
pivot OF me wheel close to the steer
ms is made easier and that it will also
ne easier 70 make .ie car hold the
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sS to 1850 of ON all standard
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