AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF VEHICLES OR WHEELED CARRIAGES WITH TRACTION AND DIRECTION COMBINATED
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lèon Dathis, of Rue de Copenhague, No. 4, at Paris,
Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF VEHICLES
OR WHEELED CARRIAGES WITH TRACTION AND DIRECTION COMBINATED."
Sealed the 14th January 1879, and dated the 17th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lèon Dathis at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th July 1878.
LEON DATHIS, of Rue de Copenhague, No. 4, at Paris, Civil Engineer.
"AN
IMPROVED SYSTEM OF VEHICLES OR WHEELED CARRIAGES WITH TRACTION AND
DIRECTION COMBINATED."
The present Invention has for its object to cause the axles of vehicles, whether
running on rails or on roads, to assume correct radial positions when running in
curves, and also when several vehicles having fixed axles are coupled together, as in
the case of ordinary railway carriages, to cause the angular or oblique position of
the front connecting link or draw bar to effect the adjustment of all the other
connecting links to corresponding oblique positions throughout the train.
For the first-named purpose, the traction pole or link is extended somewhat
backwards beyond the perch pin, and has its back end connected by links to one
arm of two lateral bell-cranks levers, the other arms of which are connected by
links to the axles or axle boxes or swivelling frame of the front wheels, so that on
the traction pole being made to assume a slanting or oblique position for running
in a curve, it causes the front axle to assume a corresponding radial position by
means of the said bell-cranks and links.
The front axle or the swivelling frame carrying the same is connected by diagonal
rods to the hind axle or swivelling frame, so that on the front axle assuming a
radial position, it at the same time causes the hind axle to assume a corresponding
radial position.
When two or more vehicles constructed as above described are coupled together,
the hind axle of each carriage is connected by the same arrangement of bell-crank

page_text: levers and links to the tail end of the traction link connecting it to the next
carriage, to the front axle of which the said traction link is in like manner connected
by bell-crank levers and links, so that on the axles of the front vehicle being made
to assume a radial position, they cause the axles of all the other carriages to assume
corresponding positions.
When the axles are fixed, as in ordinary railway carriages, the front traction link
is connected by the same system of bell-crank levers and links to diagonal rods, the
other ends of which are connected to a similar systein of bell-crank levers and links
at the hind end, which are again connected to the traction link of the next carriage,
and so on throughout the train, so that on the front traction link assuming an
oblique position, all the other traction links of the train are made to assume cor-
responding oblique positions.

page_text: are brought into converging attitudes, such that if extended they would meet at A
the centre of the curve on which the vehicle is travelling. For the bell cranks and
links may be substituted pullies and chains or cords, as shewn in Fig. 2 bis. Two
vehicles, arranged as in Fig. 1, are shewn coupled in Fig. 3, and Fig. 4 shews a
third vehicle coupled to them, the coupling traction bars serving in such cases to
give the due direction to the axles. In ordinary railway trucks or vehicles in
which the axles are kept always parallel, the traction bars may with advantage be
pivotted and connected by bell cranks and crossing links, as shewn in Fig. 4.
There will in such case still be the oblique slip of the wheels, but the line of traction
will be better directed, producing less side strain and oscillation.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim,—
First. Pivotting the pole shafts or traction bar of a four-wheeled vehicle as a
lever on a fulcrum, and connecting it by bell cranks and crossing links or their
equivalents to the axles, so that the oblique direction given to the lever when the
vehicle runs on a curve shall cause the axles to assume radial positions suited to
the curve, substantially as herein described.
•
Second. Pivotting the traction bars of coupled vehicles as levers on fulcra, and
connecting those at opposite ends of each vehicle by bell cranks and crossing links
or their equivalents, so that when the coupled vehicles run on curves the traction
bars shall take oblique directions suited thereto, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lèon Dathis, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
J. ARMENGAUD, Jeune,
of Paris,
Witness.
Bd. de Strasbourg, 23,
Civil Engineer.
LEON DATHIS. (L.S.)