Improvements in Mechanically Propelled Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanically Propelled Vehicles.
I, ARTHUR CONSTANTIN KREBS, of 32 Rus de Ranelagh, Paris, France, Chief of
Infantry Battalion, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows -
This invention relates to certain improvements in mechanically propelled vehicles,
hereinafter called motor cars, and it has for objects to ensure independence between
the frame that supports the motor mechanism, and the frame of the car; to ensure
stability of direction by means of a special arrangement of fore-carriage, that is to
say, to re-establish automatically the parallelisin of the two axles of the vehicle
when there is no tendency to keep them in any other direction, or after a temporary
effort has caused them to diverge from said parallelisın; to prevent the vibrations of
the fore-carriage from being transmitted to the steering spindle and to the handle
bar; to effect the coupling of the several change gears with the motor shaft for the
purpose of obtaining the desired changes of speed and also rearward movement, by
means of an electro-magnetic apparatus controlled by an electric commutator; and
to produce by electrical means the automatic disconnection of the motor mechanism
for stopping the car by means of a pedal which also serves to operate the brake.
The frame of a car constructed in accordance with my invention is composed of
two sides which are extended in front by means of an arrangement resting upon the
fore-carriage, and are connected together transversely by the several parts that
constitute the body of the car. To these sides (which receive the attachments of the
springs of the hind axle or driving axle) I fix or suspend at three points provided
with pivoted joints, the motor mechanism which is thereby placed out of the
influence of the deformations to which the frame of the car is liable to be subjected
during motion.
The arrangement which forms the forward extension.. of the sides of the frame of
the motor car, carries an upper turntable and a pivot pin for the reception of the
turntable of the fore-carriage, or lower turntable, which it maintains in a position
concentric with the other turntable. The axle of the fore-carriage is situated a
suitable distance behind the projection of the axis of the pivot pin in order to ensure
the stability of direction above referred to.
Upon the turntable of the fore-carriage is fixed a toothed sector in which engages
a pinion mounted on the upper turntable and whose axle carries a toothed wheel
situated in a box connected by two tubes to the box of the car. A second toothe d
wheel mounted on the steering spindle is connected to the first one by means of a
chain passing through these two tubes.
coiled springs, are substituted for the links
the said tubes. By this means the chain is
Elastic rods, consisting for example of
of the chain in the straight portions of
always taut and the springs neutralize

page_text: the vibrations transmitted to the chain by the jolting of the fore-carriage and so
prevent the said vibrations from being transmitted to the steering spindle.
The motor, which may be of any suitable kind, such for instance as an engine
worked by steam, spirit, petroleum, gazoline, gas, hot air, or electricity, is carried in
the rigid frame above referred to, in such a manner that its shaft is parallel to the
axle of the driving wheels. This motor shaft is supported near its centre in bearings
situated on either side of the driving: crank or cranks, and at each end in a bearing
having a ball and socket step.
In the framing there is mounted parallel to the motor-shaft, a second shaft
comprising two parts connected together by differential gearing and carried by a
central ball and socket hearing and by two end bearings projecting beyond the frame.
The distance between the driving wheel axle and the second shaft is maintained
constant by means of distance rods mounted at one end on the said end bearings and
at the other end on the driving wheel axle.
On the driving shaft are loosely mounted four discs on which are fixed four
pinions. Three of these pinions correspond to forward movement and are always in
gear respectively with three toothed wheels mounted on the second shaft by means
of a pawl mechanism which operates only when the corresponding pinion is in gear
with the motor shaft and moves its wheel round in the direction of forward.
movement, but allows this wheel to revolve idly on the shaft in the opposite direction.
The three trains of gearing constituted thereby allow of varying the speed of
progression by reason of the different ratios of their toothed wheels and their pinions.
The fourth pinion, for producing rearward movement is arranged like the other
three, but its corresponding wheel is keyed on the second shaft and gears with its
pinion only through the medium of a second pinion brought into position at the
proper time.
In order to throw any desired one of the four pinions into gear with the motor
shaft, I employ an electro-magnetic device formed of two double iron-clad electro-
magnets keyed on the said shaft and whose discs carry the pinions serving as
armatures. The electric current necessary for exciting the electro-magnets is
produced by a sinall dynamo driven from the motor shaft and it is led to the exciting
bobbins by means of brushes rubbing on insulated rings provided on the cylindrical
surfaces of the said electro-magnets.
For the purpose of operating the electro-magnetic clutch, I employ a commutator
arranged preferably under the handle bar and adapted to he operated in such a
inanner as to establish, according to five different positions, the electrical connections
that correspond respectively to:-rest; forward movement at low speed; forward
movement at medium speed; forward movement at high speed; and movement in
the rearward direction.
A pedal operating a band brake that acts upon a drum mounted on the second
'shaft, serves to automatically disconnect the pinions from the motor shaft, (without it
'being necessary to operate the commutator) by breaking the return circuit this being
effected by withdrawing a circuit-closing key interposed in the return lead, and
which, when the pedal is not being acted upon by the foot, is returned into the
closing position by the lever of the pedal so as to then re-establish the connection.
Driving pinions mounted on the ends of the second shaft transmit their motion
by means of chains to chain wheels carried by the driving wheels of the vehicle.
All the motor mechanism is enclosed in a protective casing fixed to the frame.
The reservoirs and the piping are situated in a space formed at the rear of the
vehicle, and suitable doors provided to allow of access to the various parts of the
mechanism for the purpose of inspection lubrication or other purpose.
1000
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, ARTHUR CONSTANTIN KREBS, of 32 Rue du Ranelagh, Paris, France, Chief of
Infantry Battalion, 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:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in mechanically propelled vehicles
hereinafter called motor-cars, and it has for objects to ensure independence between
the frame that supports the motor mechanism, and the frane of the car; to ensure
stability of direction by means of a special arrangement of fore-carriage, that is to
say, to re-establish automatically the parallelism of the two axles of the vehicle when
there is no tendency to keep them in any other direction, or after a temporary effort
has caused them to diverge from said parallelism; to prevent the vibrations of the
fore-carriage from being transmitted to the steering-spindle and to the handle-bar;
to effect the coupling of the several change gears with the motor shaft for the purpose
of obtaining the desired changes of speed and also rearward movement, by means of
an electro-magnetic apparatus controlled by a commutator; and to produce the auto-
matic disconnection of the motor-mechanism for stopping the car by means of a
pedal which also serves to operate the brake.
In order that my invention and the manner of putting it into practice may be
easily understood, I shall describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in longitudinal vertical section and partly diagrammatic,
showing the general arrangement of a vehicle constructed in accordance therewith,
the rear portion of the vehicle being supposed broken in order to save space;
Fig. 2 is a partly diagrammatic plan corresponding to Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, drawn to a larger scale and according to the line 3-3
of Fig. 1, of the part of the vehicle situated i minediately behind the seat of the
conductor and including all the motor and transmitting mechanism;
Fig. 4 is a cross section according to the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a partial section according to the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;.
Fig. 6 is a detail-view drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2 and in
section according to the line 6-6 of Fig. 7, of a part of the fore-carriage of the
vehicle;
Fig. 7 is a plan-view in which the upper half of the figure is represented in
horizontal section according to the line 7-7 of Fig. 6, the lower half being a plan
taken below the line 77 of Fig. 6-i.e., the upper turntable or ring of the fore-
carriage and all that is above the lower turntable or ring of the fore-carriage being
supposed removed;
Fig. 8 is a diagram of the electric connexions between the dynamo, the electro
magnetic couplings, and the five-direction commutator.
The sense in which each section is viewed is indicated in the corresponding figure
by small arrows placed near the numerals designating the plane of section.
The frame of a car constructed in accordance with my invention, is composed of
two sides aa which are connected together in the front portion of the vehicle so as
to form an extension resting upon the fore-carriage. The sides a are connected
together transversely by the several parts that constitute the body a² of the car and
they receive the attachments a³ (Fig. 1) of the springs at of the rear axle b carrying
the driving-wheels.
The rigid framing c, which supports the whole of the motor mechanism is indicated
diagrammatically in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. It is suspended from the sides a a

page_text: at three points ce provided with pivoted joints, each of which allows in a certain
degree the framing c to have an independent relative movement. It will therefore be
understood that since by this means the framing c is not fixed to the frame of the
carriage in an absolutely rigid manner, the framing is thereby placed out of the
influence of the deforinations to which the frame of the vehicle is liable to be
subjected during motion.
The extension a' carries an upper turntable or ring d (hereinafter referred to as a
ring) and a pivot pin or king bolt e for the reception of the turntable
or ring of the fore-carriage, or lower ring f which it maintains
in a position concentric with the other turntable. The upper ring
d is fixed to the extension by bolts as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6
and 7, or in any other suitable manner. The lower ring f is fixed by means of
bolts (Figs. 2, 6, and 7) or in any other way to a crosspiece f fixed at its two
ends f, f (which rest upon the axle of the fore-carriage) to the springs f of the
fore-carriage. It will be seen that in this manner the axle f of the fore-carriage is
situated a suitable distance behind the projection of the axis of the king-bolt e with
the result of ensuring the stability of direction above referred to.
With a toothed sector g connected to the ring f of the fore-carriage or forming one
therewith or fixed thereto, there engages a pinion g' keyed on an axle y mounted to
turn in the upper ring d. Upon this axle g2 there is keyed a chain-wheel g³ situated
in a box g, which is fixed to the upper ring d or connected thereto and which is
connected by two tubes g' g to the body of the car. A second chain-wheel g
mounted on the steering-spindle g7 is connected to the first wheel g by means of a
chain passing through the two tubes g. Elastic tension devices or stretchers, of
which one is shown in detail in Fig. 7, are substituted for a certain number of links
in the two parts of the chain in the straight portions of the said tubes. Each of these
tension devices consists of a rigid tube capable of sliding very freely in the tube g³,
one of its ends being closed by a screw plug go to which is hooked one end of one
of the parts of the chain. In this tube g" is arranged a rod g" which is provided at its
inner end with a head g and has hooked to its outer end the corresponding end of the
other part of the chain. A coiled spring g' is interposed between the head g2 and a
serew-plug g" which closes the other end of the tube g and through which passes
the rod g, which is guided thereby. Two small guide-pulleys gs g's ensure the
proper guidance of the two parts of the endless elastic chain thus formed. In conse
quence of this, as will he seen, the chain is always taut, and the springs g neutralize
the vibrations transmitted to the chain by the jolting of the fore-carriage and so
prevent the said vibrations from being transmitted to the steering-spindle g.
It will nevertheless be understood that I do not strictly limit myself to this
construction of tension devices because others could easily be invented and employed
without departing from the spirit of my invention.
The motor, which may be of any suitable kind, such for instance, as an engine.
worked by steam, petroleum, gazoline, gas, hot air, and so on, is indicated
diagrammatically at h in Figs. 1 and 2. It is carried in the rigid framing c above
referred to, in such a manner that its shaft his parallel to the axle b of the
driving-wheels b¹.
It is obvious that this arrangement is not in any way final and I do not limit
myself thereto. Thus, for instance the motor, instead of being arranged so that its
shaft is parallel to the driving-axle b, might be arranged at right angles to the said
axle-that is to say, with the axis of its shaft parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
car; in such a case, suitable gearing, such as bevel-gearing would transmit the
motor of the motor shaft to a shaft such as h¹ parallel to the driving-axle b.
In any case, however, the notor shaft h¹ (whether it be the crank shaft of the
motor, as shown, or a shaft to which motion is transmitted from the motor by means
of any suitable gearing) is supported near its centre in bearings h2 h2 (Fig. 3) (which
in the present case are situated on opposite sides of the driving cranks) and at each
end in a bearing 3 having a ball-and-socket step.
In the framing & there is mounted parallel to the shaft h' a second shaft comprising

page_text: two parts i and i¹ connected together by differential gearing 2 which may be of any
known kind and which I shall therefore not describe in detail here. The shaft i
and it is carried by a central ball and socket bearing and by two end bearings
projecting beyond the framing c (see Fig. 3). The distance between this shaft and
the driving-axle is maintained constant by means of distance-rods in the usual
way.
с
On the driving shaft A' are loosely mounted four discs j,,, and, (Fig. 3), on
which are fixed four pinions k, k', and . Three (k and ) of these pinions
correspond to forward movement and are always in gear respectively with three
toothed wheels 1, 1, and 12 each of which is mounted on the second shaft i i¹ by means
of a pawl-mechanism of any suitable kind which is in gear therewith only when the
corresponding pinion k, k, or 2 is in gear with the motor-shaft h¹ by means of the
hereinafter described mechanism and moves its toothed wheel round in the direction
of forward movement (indicated by the arrows in Figs. 3 and 4) but allows this
toothed wheel to revolve idly on the shaft i il in the opposite direction. The three
trains of gearing constituted thus enable the speed of progression to be varying as a
result of the different ratios of their toothed wheels and their pinions.
The gearing kl corresponds to slow speed;
corresponds to medium speed; and
the gearing corresponds to high speed for forward travel.
13
The fourth pinion for producing rearward movement is arranged like the other
three, but its corresponding wheel gears with it only through the medium of two
other pinions m and m¹ keyed on the same axle m², one of which is in constant gear
with the wheel , and the other, with its pinion (see Figs. 4 and 5). The wheel
is loose on the shaft i, and is rendered fast therewith at the desired time by means of
gearing similar to that which I employ for the pinions of the motor shaft
and which I shall describe. Instead of that, the wheel might obviously equally
well be keyed on the shaft and gear with its pinion only through the medium of
a pinion such as my which would not normally be in gear with it, and would be
brought into position only at the required time. I reserve the right of also
employing this second arrangement.
In order to throw any desired one of the four pinions kkkk3 into gear with the
motor shaft AI employ an electro-magnetic device formed of two double iron-clad
electro magnets n n and m 2 respectively, which are keyed on the shaft A' and
whose armatures are constituted by the discs jjj respectively carrying the said
pinions. The windings o, o, o and o2 of these electro magnets are arranged in such
a manner that the magnetic fields generated in each of the halves n and n³ or n¹ and n
respectively of one and the same double armour-clad electro magnet will oppose each
other in such a manner as to facilitate the immediate detachment of one of the parts
of the electro magnet when the current is brought to the other part of the same
electro magnet.
The engagement of the wheel 3 with the shaft i is effected in an
analogous manner by means of a simple armour-clad electro-magnet which is fixed
on the inner face of the wheel and whose armature is formed by a disc j keyed on
the shaft. The electric current necessary for exciting the electro magnets is
produced by a small dynamo, which is not shown, but whose shaft is indicated
at p (Fig. 1) and which is driven from the motor shaft A' by the toothed wheels
or in any other suitable manner. The current is led to the exciting bobbins oo' 02 03 0
of the electro magnets by means of brushes qq 23' rubbing on conducting
rings
provided on the cylindrical surfaces of the said electro magnets and
insulated from the said surfaces.
p²
The current coming from one of the poles of the dynamo passes, through the
medium of the commutator hereinafter described, to the brush of the clutch which it
is desired to operate, and passes from thence to the conducting ring to which there
is connecte.l, as shown at Y (Fig. 3), one of the terminals of the bobbin of the
electro-magnet, whose other terminal is connected at to the mass, the other
terminal of the dynamo being also connected to the mass.
For the purpose of controlling the electro magnetic clutch, I employ a 5-way.
commutator s arranged preferably under the handle bar t (Fig. 1) and adapted to be

page_text: operated in such a manner as to establish, according to five different positions, the
electrical connexions that correspond respectively to rest, forward movement at lov
speed forward movement at medium speed, forward movement at high speed; and
movement in the rearward direction. All this is clearly indicated in the diagram
Fig. 8, in which P represents the dynamo, s represents the commutator,
and n, n', n², n³ and n4 represent the armour-clad electro magnets, one of the terminals
of which is connected to the mass at Z, the other being connected to the
contacts 1, 2, 3, 4 respectively of the commutator s, of which the contact 5 is insulated
and corresponds to the rest or stopping position. As shown, the two
electro-magnets n³ and nt corresponding to rearward motion, are "conjugated" and
both connected to the same contact 4 of the commutator so as to be excited at the
same time. A circuit closing key u is interpolated in the circuit that extends from
one of the terminals of the dynamo P to the arm s¹ of the commutator s. This key
is operated by a pedal (not shown) which operates a band-brake that acts upon a
druin (Fig. 3) mounted on the shaft i ¹ the arrangement being such that when
the brake is operated all the pinions are disconnected from the motor shaft (without
it being necessary to operate the commutator) by breaking the circuit at the point u.
When the pedal is relieved from the pressure of the foot, the said key is returned
into its closed position and re-establishes the connexion.
Driving mounted on the ends of the shaft i transmit their motion by
means of chains v¹ the chain-wheels 2 carried by the driving-wheels b¹ of the
-vehicle.
2
.The rear wheel 61 is acted upon by a hand-brake w, (Fig. 1) operated through the
medium of a lever w¹ which is pivoted at w² on the frame and which is capable of
being actuate by means of a hand-wheel w³ through the medium of bevel gear w' and
a screw-spindle w5.
All the notor mechanism is enclosed in a protective casing y fixed to the framing c
and doors y' are provided to allow of access to the various parts of the mechanism
for the purpose of inspection, lubrication, or other purpose...
Finally, the circulating pump may be driven from the shaft h' by toothed wheels
and z¹ or in any other suitable manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a self-propelled vehicle, the combination, with the motor axle and the motor
mechanism' that actuates it, of a fore-carriage comprising an upper ring fixed to the
body of the vehicle, a lower ring fixed to the springs of the axle of the fore-carriage
and turning in the upper ring and a king-bolt connecting the two rings and keeping
them concentric to each other, the said lower ring carrying a toothed sector with
which gears a pinion put into movement by the steering spindle, substantially as
described and shown & for the purposes specified.
2. In steering mechanism for a self-propelled vehicle, the combination, with the
fore-carriage, a toothed sector mounted on the ring of the fore-carriage, and a pinion
engaging with this sector, of a chain wheel mounted on the axle of the said pinion
and connected with a second chain-wheel mounted on the steering-spindle by a chain
in the straight parts of which elastic rods are inserted substantially as described and
shown and for the purposes specified.
3. In steering mechanism for a self-propelled vehicle, the combination, with the
steering-spindle and a chain transmitting the movement of the said spindle to the
ring of the fore-carriage, of tension-devices interposed in the straight parts of the
chain and each consisting of two parts which are capable of longitudinal movement
relatively to each other, to which are respectively attached the ends of that part of
the chain in which they are employed in substitution for a certain number of chain-
links and between which there is interposed a spring, substantially as described and
shown and for the purposes specified.

page_text: 4. In a self-propelled vehicle, arranging the axis of the axle of the fore-carriage a
certain distance behind the projection of the pivot-pin, substantially as described and
shown and for the purposes specified.
5. In a self-propelled vehicle, the suspension of the rigid frame that carries all the
motor mechanism, from the sides of the carriage by means of three points of
attachment provided with movable joints each of which allows to a certain degree a
slight independent relative movement of the said frame, substantially as described
and for the purposes specified.
6. In a self-propelled vehicle, for transinitting the motion of the motor shaft to
the differential-inotion shaft that drives the driving-wheels, an electro-magnetic
clutch-gear substantially as described and shown.
7. In a self-propelled vehicle, for transmitting the motion of the motor to the
driving-wheels at varying speeds and in both directions so as to cause the vehicle to
travel either in a forward direction at varying speeds or in a backward direction, a
plurality of electro-magnetic clutch-gear substantially as described and shown.
8. In a self-propelled vehicle, the combination of a motor, a shaft parallel to the
axle of the driving-wheels and receiving its motion directly or indirectly from the
motor, pinions mounted loosely on the said shaft and carried by discs, double
armour-clad electro-magnets which are keyed on the said shaft and whose armatures
are constituted by the said discs, a second shaft parallel to the first shaft and composed
of two parts connected together by a differential gear, toothed wheels keyed on the
said second shaft and gearing respectively with the said pinions mounted on the first
shaft, a dynamo driven by the motor and supplying current to the said armour-clad
electro magnets, and an electric commutator by operating which the current from the
dynamo can be caused to pass into one or other of the said electro magnets for the
purpose of throwing the corresponding pinion into gear with the motor-shaft and of
thereby transmitting the motion of the motor to the said second or differential-motion
shaft, either for motion in a forward direction at varying speeds or for motion in the
rearward direction, substantially as described and shown.
9. In mechanism for transmitting motion by electro-magnetic clutch-gear, for a
self-propelling vehicle, the combination, with the motor shaft parallel to the driving
axle, a second shaft parallel to the first and provided with differential-gear and
motion-transmitting devices for forward travel at varying speeds, connecting the
motor shaft to the differential motion shaft, of a device for rearward travel
comprising a pinion mounted loosely on the motor shaft and carrying a plate or disc
serving as an armature for an armour-clad electro-magnet mounted on the said shaft,
a transmitting pinion gearing with the said pinion of the motor shaft, a second
transmitting pinion keyed on the axle of the first, a toothed wheel mounted loosely
on the said differential-motion shaft, engaging with this second transmitting pinion,
and carrying a plate serving as an armature to an electro-magnet keyed on the said
differential-motion shaft, the said two armour-clad electro-magnets being conjugated
so as to be brought into circuit or put out of circuit at the same time by a single
movement of a commutator, substantially as described and shown and for the purposes
specified.
10. A self-propelling vehicle constructed, arranged and operating substantially as
herein before described with reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 8th day of June 1897.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.