Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 14th Jan., 1898-Accepted. 19th Mar. 1898
venicies
I, ARTHUR WILLIAM BRIGHTMORE of Burford House, Knighton, in the County of
Radnor, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
A motor, steam, electric or otherwise, rotates, either directly, or at a reduced speed,
the front axle of the vehicle, being supported by means of a frame carried on the axle
by bearings, in which the axle rotates; each wheel is connected to the axle by means
of a ratchet wheel & double pawl, attached to the axle & wheel, one pawl being for
travelling forwards & the other for travelling backwards. Assuming the ratchets are
fixed on the axle & the double pawls pivotted on the wheels:-The frame, supporting
the motor, has, rigidly connected to it, a pin, which may be in two parts, which may
have sleeves surrounding it, preferably turning on it on ball bearings; springs or
india rubber cushions may be introduced at the bearing ends of the sleeves. The out-
side of the sleeves is other than circular in shape. A bracket which may have a joint
in it allowing of a twist in a vertical plane, parallel to the back axle, is attached to the
body of the vehicle, & carries a casing, into which the pin or sleeves fit & are then
secured. The frame, with the motor, is thus easily detached, & may be provided
with a removable third wheel to then facilitate moving it. In this or other way the
frame, with the front wheels, can turn with respect to the body of the vehicle. In
case of motors worked by steam or other vapours or gases the pin may be made hollow
& the connection of the motive fluid made through it to the cylinders. A brake is
provided for each front wheel which may be applied by means of levers, which may be
flexible, pivotted near the blocks, the other ends of the levers being near together.
A chain, or flexible cord or band which passes round a pulley to which it is attached
is connected to these ends of the levers, so that by turning a handle connected to the
pulley to one side or the other, the opposite brake is applied, or, the same thing may
be effected by cams, or other equivalent methods. The pulley or cam also can be
drawn back on its pivot to apply both brakes at once & is still capable of being
moved sideways. To this pulley or cam is connected the lever or handle or whatever
regulates the supply of motive fluid or electricity, so that when the handle is turned
or drawn back, the supply of motive fluid or electricity is reduced, thus when the
vehicle is run at a fair speed & one brake is applied, the momentum of the vehicle
causes it to turn to that side, & thus steering effected. But if the momentuin of
the vehicle is insufficient for the purpose, ie when the vehicle is moving slowly, it is
effected in the following manner -A pulley runs next to the ratchet wheel, near each
end of the axle, loose on it, but it turns on it with a certain amount of resistance. A
brake strap is fitted round each puiley, or an equivalent contrivance, which when
applied, when the vehicle is in motion, causes the wheel to gain upon the pulley.
[DQ77

page_text: The double pawls have two projections, such as pins, on the pulley side, near the end
of each pawl, and a third projection or arm, on the same side, central between the
pawls.
A cam is fixed on each pulley & may be formed by a projection, in the rim of
the pulley, notched at the centre. In this notch the arm between the pawis moves,
& by this or similar means, when the motor starts forward, the forwards pawls are
pressed into contact with the ratchet wheels &, when the motor staris backward,
the backwards pawls are similarly engaged. The cams attached to the pulleys lies
between the pins on the pawls, so that when the brake strap on the pulley is applied
& the wheel gains upon the pulley, the forwards pawl climbs the cam, which dis-
engages that pawl, so that the axle no longer drives that wheel of the vehicle; by
this means, or a modification of it, steering can be effected.
The pawls on both sides of the vehicle may be thus disengaged together for
running down hill, the steering being effected by the wheel brakes as described
above, the motive fluid or electric connection being for the time disconnected from
them.
When the reversing lever, or its equivalent, is used, the backwards pawls engage
with the ratchet wheels & the steering effected as described above.
The pawls are held in position, when engaged with the ratchet wheels, by means
of the pressure exerted on the central arins, by the cams on the pulleys, but for an
additional security, springs may also be used for this purpose.
Dated this 19th day of March, 1897,
I, ARTHUR WILLIAM BRIGHTMORE, of Burford House, Knighton, Radnorshire,
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 :-
The principal object of my invention is to facilitate the steering of a motor
roud vehicle by regulating and controlling the movement of the driving wheels, und
to so arrange and diposes the driving mechanism connected with such driving
wheels that the steering movement may be effected or assisted, when so desired, by the
utilisation of the momentum of the vehicle for this purpose; or, steering may be
effected without relying upon the help of the momentum of the vehicle.
According to this invention a steam, electric, or other motor, rotates the front
axle of the vehicle, being supported by means of a frame carried on the axle by
bearings in which the axle rotates. Each wheel is connected to the axle by means
of a ratchet wheel and double pawl attached to the axle and wheel, one pawl being
for travelling forwards and the other for travelling backwards. The ratchet wheels
are fixed on the axle and the double pawls pivoted on the wheels: The frame is
attached to the body of the vehicle by means of a pin, much the same as the
attachment of the front wheels to an ordinary four wheel conveyance.
The pin may
be made hollow and the connections made through it to the motors. A brake is
provided for each front wheel and is connected by means of levers and a chain or
Hexible cord or band to a pulley, by turning which to one side or the other the opposite
brake is applied; or the same thing may be effected by cams or other equivalent
methods. The pulley or eam also can be caused to slide on its pivot to apply both
brakes at once and is at the same time capable of being moved sideways, which
tends to release one brake. To this pulley or cam is connected the device which
regulates the supply of motive fluid, so that when the handle is turned sideways

page_text: or drawn back, the supply may be reduced. In the case of electricity the handle
first draws out through an outer casing in order to allow to be made the connec-
tions for the different speeds ahead, for no current, reversing, or for the wheels, to
work the motor; but when going forward by means of the notor, when the handle
is turned sideways the speed may be reduced to the next lower. When the handle
has been drawn to the end of the casing and is further pulled back, (whatever
motive power is used), both brakes are applied together but the handle can still
be moved sideways so as to take off one brake. Thus when the vehicle is being
run at a fair speed and one brake is applied, the momentum of the vehicle
But if the momentum
causes it to turn to that side, and thus steering is effected.
of the vehicle is insufficient for the purpose, that is when the vehicle is moving
slowly, steering is effected in the following manner: A pulley runs next to each
ratchet wheel on the axle, but turns on it with a certain amount of resistance.
A brake strap, or an equivalent contrivance is fitted round each pulley, which
when applied when the vehicle is in motion, causes the wheel to gain upon the
pulley. The double pawls have two projections, such as pins, on the pulley side,
near the end of each pawl and a third projection, or arm, between the pins, on the
same side. Centrally between the pins a cam is fixed on each pulley and may be
formed by a projection in the rim of the pulley, notched at the centre. In this
notch the arm between the pawls moves and by this or similar means, when the
motor starts forward, the forwards pawls are pressed into contact with the ratchet
wheels and when the motor starts backwards, the backwards pawls are similarly
engaged. The cams attached to the pulleys lie between the pins on the pawls,
so that when the brake-strap on the pulley is applied and the wheel gains upon
the pulley, the forwards pawl climbs one horn of the cam, which causes that pawl
to become disengaged, so that the axle no longer drives that wheel of the vehicle;
by this means, or a modification of it, steering can be effected in this case.
pawls on both sides of the vehicle may similarly disengage themselves for running
down hill the steering being effected by the wheel brakes, as described above, the
motive fluid or electricity being for the time disconnected. The horn on the forwards
side of the cam on the rim of the pulley is held in position by a spring so that
if it is desired to make the wheels work the motor going down steep hills, the
pulley brakes are applied and the backwards pawl is caused to engage,-the pin being
able to get past the horn when the latter is moved against its spring.
The
When the reversing lever or its equivalent is used, the backwards pawls engage with
the ratchet wheels and the steering is effected by the pulley brakes.
The pawls are held in position, when engaged with the ratchet wheels by means of
the pressure exerted on the central arms, by the cams on the pulleys, but, for an
additional security, springs may also be used for this purpose.
The accompanying drawings show one method of carrying out this invention.
Fig. 1. shows a plan of the frame which supports the motor and is carried on the
front wheels by bearings and connected to the body of the vehicle by a pin.
Fig. 2 is a section through Fig. 1 at 2, 2.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation with parts removed for clearness and showing the brake
pulleys with levers, which may be worked by the foot rests shown, for applying the
brake straps.
Fig. 4 shows the double pawl and ratchet wheel.
Fig. 5 shows the brake pulley with its projecting cam.
Fig. 6 is a section through the latter and an elevation of the double pawl and ratchet
wheel, showing their position relatively to one of the front wheels of the vehicle.
Fig. 7 shows the pulley to which the cord from the brake levers is attached in the
case of motors worked by steam, other vapours or gases. The various manipulations of
driving are performed by controlling this pulley by a handle, and
Fig. 8 shows the same thing when electricity is the motive power.
In the drawing Y indicates the body of the vehicle. K is a pin connecting the fore
carriage to the body of the vehicle and at W the front part of the body slides on the
fore carriage.

page_text: F
The front axle V of the vehicle is driven through suitable gearing from a shaft U
rotated by the motor which is supported on the fore carriage in which the axles U V
rotate, The front wheels R of the vehicle are mounted to rotate independently of
the axle V but are put in gear therewith by means of the double pawls B
pivotted on the wheels, and ratchet wheels A fixed to the axle. On the axle V adjacent
to each ratchet wheel, is mounted a pulley C which normally rotates with the axle V
being held thereon by friction blocks P whose pressure on the axle is regulated by
springs S acted upon by screw studs T but which can be held stationary while the
shaft moves if sufficient force is applied to the pulley to overcome the friction
between blocks and shaft.
The pulley C has on its periphery a double horned cam O formed by a notched
projection, one of the horns being also formed on a pivotted arm Q shaped to catch
hold of the pin L, and acted upon by a spring X. The double pawls B have two projec-
tions L M on the pulley side near the end of each pawl and a third projection or
arm N between the pins L M on the same side. The arm N moves between the horns
of the cam O and the horns of the cam are in a position between the pins L M of
the pawl B. When the motor is started to propel the vehicle forwards and the shaft V
rotated and with it the pulley C one of the horns on the cams 0 comes against the
arm N of the pawls B and the forwards pawls are forced into gear with the ratchet
wheels and when the motor is reversed the backwards pawls act in a similar way.
Steering of the vehicle is effected, at slow speeds, by acting on the pawl B through
the pulley C to throw either of the front wheels R out of gear with the axle V. For
this purpose a brake band acting on the periphery of the pulley is attached at one
end to the frame of the fore carriage and at the other to a lever E pivotted at G so
that when the free end of one of said levers is depressed by the foot rest Z the
brake band is tightened on the pulley C retarding its rotation so that the wheel R
gains on the pulley and the forwards pawl is raised out of gear by the cam. Either
of the wheels R is thrown out of gear by this means and it will be readily understood
that the vehicle can thus be caused to turn in either direction.
In cases where the momentum or the speed of the vehicle is great as in going
down hills the pawls on both sides of the vehicle are disengaged and the steering
effected by the wheel brakes as hereinafter described the motor being disconnected.
When descending steep hills the wheels may be caused to work the motor by apply.
ing the pulley brakes, and causing the backwards pawl to engage thé ratchet wheel,
the horn on the spring-controlled arm Q allowing the pin L to pass. The horn on the
arm Q is shaped to catch hold of the pin L when said pin mounts that side of the cam
when the brake is not applied to the pulley, but when the brake cord is applied, and
the vehicle has sufficient momentum, the pin L moves the arm Q against the spring X
and the cam moves the double pawl over into the backwards position. A brake block
acts on each front wheel and is actuated through levers D pivotted at F, and flexible
cords connected to the levers D and passing round a pulley H to which they are also
attached. On rotating pulley H in either direction by means of a handle, either one
or the other of the brakes is applied to retard either of the wheels R to steer the
vehicle, or both brakes are applied at once by sliding the pulley H backwards on its
pivot.
To facilitate the steering and prevent mistakes on the part of the driver the levers E
connected to the bands of the pulleys C are hent and cross each other so that when
the free end is depressed by the foot rest Z the vehicle turns to the same side as when
the handle of the driving pulley is moved that way.
In Fig. 7 rods connected to pins in the steering pulley are shown working the
levers I which reduce the amount of motor fluid when the handle is turned to either
side. When the pulley H is drawn back on its pivot to apply both brakes together,
the levers I shut off the motor fluid altogether and the amount of side movement of
the handle necessary for steering does not turn it on again.
In Fig. 8 the handle can draw the rod J through the enclosing casing attached to
the pulley H² so as to be able to make the various electrical connections without

page_text: applying both brakes until it is drawn out as far as the casing allows.
turned to either side, in any position, for steering purposes.
It can be
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a motor road vehicle, mounting the combined driving and steering wheels
loosely upon the driving axle, and transmitting the motion in a controllable manner
to one or both of the wheels from such axle, by means of two ratchet wheels and two
double pawls, such pawls being controlled and reversed by a brake or friction pulley
and levers connected to the brake, substantially as and for the purposes described.
The combination-of-means-for-steering-a-vehiele-by-means-of-the-driving-wheels by
the ntilization-of-the-momentum-of-the-vehicle-s-and-a-menus of-steering when the
motor-is-not-working, and a--mechanical-means--for-effecting the steering-at-slow
speeds-when-the-momentum-is-not-available, substantially-us-described.
2. The arrangement and construction of apparatus for steering motor road vehicles
substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 14th day of January 1898
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE
40 Chancery Lane London, W.C. Agents.