Improvements in Apparatus for Steering and Braking Motor Cars.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1899--Accepted, 20th Jan., 1900.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Steering and Braking Motor Cars.
I, EMIL LUNDQUIST, of Oudenarder Strasse 23/30, Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement;―
My invention relates to that class of steering gears for self propelled vehicles
or motor cars, in which a change in the direction of travel is effected by turning
the plane of rotation of a pair of wheels. The relative position between the
axis of the two wheels may be either a fixed one, as in case of two wheels mounted
on an axle or a variable one, when the wheels are separately pivoted but are
made interdependent by a system of levers.
The object of my invention is to provide an efficient way of facilitating the
work of changing the plane of rotation of the steering wheels. The propelling
force of the vehicle has to supply the power for steering, and in such a way,
that it may be applied, controlled or thrown out of action by some simple move-
ments of the operator's handle. I also propose to utilise the principle" parts
of the steering gear as a brake for checking the speed of the vehicle. "
it.
This I accomplish by introducing a device for checking the free rotation of
either of the steering wheels and connecting this device to the operator's handle.
This checking device which may most conveniently consist of a friction brake
or clutch interposed between the nave of the wheel and the adjacent part of the
axle, causes the wheel on which it is brought into action to turn with more
difficulty, thereby unbalancing the propelling force of the vehicle on the steer-
ing, wheels, so that the axle of these wheels swings round its pivot at a rate of
speed proportional to the speed of travel and grip of the friction clutches..
To throw the steering gear out of action and maintain a given direction of
travel, the operator's lever is connected to a device, most suitably a friction
clutch placed at the point where the steering axle is swivelled, by means of which
the axle may be fixed or released at will.
When the steering device is to be used as a brake for checking the speed of
the vehicle, the friction clutches are connected to the operator's handle in such
a way that the clutches on both wheels at the same time or one of them in con-
nection with the clutch for locking the axle in a fixed position is brought into
action.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a front view of the steering
axle and the wheels of a vehicle.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same parts, while Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal
section through the same.
In the drawings like letters represent like parts.
In Fig. 1A A are the two wheels rotating independently of each other; B
is the steering axle of the vehicle; C and D forming together a swivel, C-being
a swivel plate fastened to the axle and D being carried by the frame of the

page_text: vehicle. On the nave of the wheels A A are fitted the friction clutches, the
friction drum E being fastened to the wheel and the brake strap F carried on
the axle B by brackets G G, which are clamped to the axle.
These friction clutches or brakes are connected through a series of levers H H
and connecting rods II in a suitable way to the shaft K, to which is secured
the operator's handle L; M is a friction cluteh by means of which the plate C
may be firmly locked together with the upper swivel part D, but may be readily
released at any time.
In Fig. 2 the operator's handle L, the steering rod K, the connecting rods I I
and the levers H H are represented.
Fig. 3 shews details of the friction clutch M; O is a guiding socket preferably
mounted on the platform or bottom of the vehicle, serving as a guide for the
steering shaft; N is a continuation of the guiding socket O, but rotatable on
the same and provided with a bracket, on which the operator's handle Lis
secured by means of a link R; P is a helical spring serving the purpose of lock-
ing the swivel in any position whenever the operator's lever L is left free, thus
securing the steering axle in any desired position.
The operation of the device is as follows:
Suppose the vehicle is to turn in
a certain direction, by pushing the lever L so as to tend to point in the desired
direction, the brake on one of the wheels is applied. This braking effect on
the wheel retards its movement on the axle and causes the axle to swing round
the swivel C.
The handle L follows the movement of the axle, thus indicating at any time
the position of the same.
As soon as the vehicle is turned in the desired direction, the lever L is released
and by the action of the spring P the friction clutch M is tightened and the
steering axle is fixed in the position to which it was moved.
From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that the real
work of steering is done by the propelling force of the vehicle, while the opera-
tor by a comparatively slight pressure on the handle gives the direction. A
great advantage of this system of steering over other systems, is the absence of
any translating device, so that steering can be done instantaneously without
intervention of transmission gear.
In the class of steering gears, when the operator's handle is directly connected
to the swivel, the power required for steering is very great and shocks caused
by unevenness of the road, are directly imparted to the handle. By interposing
reducing gear wheels and pinions, chains and sprockets or similar devices, the
time required for turning the axle, forms a serious objection, whereas the time
element in my steering device is under perfect control of the operator, as it
depends only on the amount of pressure given to the handle and the speed of
travel.
Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal section of a modification.
Fig. 5 is a plan of the same modification, and Fig. 6 is part of a front view
of the same.
These three figures are to shew how the steering device illustrated by Figs. 1,
2 and 3 can also be made to serve as a brake for the vehicle.
In Fig. 4, X is a bell crank mounted on the steering lever L; W is a link
connecting one arm of the bell crank to a cam lever V, by means of which, the
rod U can be locked at any time, the same otherwise remaining free. TT is
a toggle joint, which on its centre is connected to the lower end of the rod U,
while the links of the toggle T are jointed to the levers S S. Z is a supporting
bracket fastened to the steering shaft K and serves as a guide for rod U.
The operation of this braking device is as follows:-
As soon as the brake is to be brought into action to check the speed of the
vehicle, the two braking straps F F (see Figs. 1 and 2) are drawn tight by a
pressure exerted on the steering lever L and the bell crank X attached to lever L.
By pressing down the bell crank X towards the lever L, the cam lever V locks

page_text: the rod U, so that when the lever L is depressed the rod U is moved upwards,
thereby forcing the links of the toggle joint against the levers S S. These
levers transmit the motion imparted to them equally in both directions to the
braking device.
Although I have in the annexed drawings and the above description taken as
an example the case of two steering wheels connected by a rigid axle, it is to
be understood that I do not limit my invention to this particular construction.
It applies equally to the steering gears in which dependent wheels have straight,
broken or to one another relatively movable axles.
The construction of the friction devices, arrangement of controlling levers and
details may be varied to meet the conditions without departing from the spirit
of my invention.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A steering gear for self propelled vehicles or motor cars, in which control-
lable devices checking the free rotation of one or other of the steering wheels
cause the propelling power of the vehicle to change the plane of rotation of the
steering wheels, thus producing a change in direction of travel.
2. A steering gear for self propelled vehicles or motor cars as specified in
Claim 1 provided with a friction clutch or other suitable device, by means of
which the plane of rotation of the steering wheels may be fixed or set free to
move, for the purpose of fixing the steering axle in any desired position during
a determined time.
3. A steering gear for self propelled vehicles or motor cars as specified in
Claim 1, provided with a suitable device by means of which the mechanism of
the steering gear may be used as a brake to check the speed of the vehicle.
Dated this 24th day of November 1899.