Improved Contrivance for Varying the Rate of Speed, especially applicable to Automotor Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1898-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Contrivance for Varying the Rate of Speed, especially
applicable to Automotor Vehicles.
A communication from abroad by LA SOCIÉTÉ DILIGEON ET COMPAGNIE, of
48, Rue de Malte, Paris.
I, WILLIAM DOWNHAM ROWLINGSON, of 7, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, 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 a contrivance or arrangement for varying the rate of
It consists in the
speed, and is especially applicable to automotor vehicles.
construction, arrangement and combination of parts described hereafter, with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 represent one
form of the invention in elevation and plan respectively; Figure 3 illustrates a
modification of the contrivance; Figure 4 is a detail shewing a variation in the
construction and Figure 5 shews the manner in which, by a combination of two
contrivances, the same result may be obtained as with differential gear...
On the motor shaft (A) are keyed or otherwise fixed a series of discs (b) (61) (62)
and on the receiving shaft (C) a series of discs (d) (d') (d²). The diameters of the
discs (6) (6) (62) and (d) (d¹) (d2) are suitable for furnishing the desired rate of
speed. In the circumferences of the said discs are formed V shaped grooves in
which a roller (f), with a suitably formed periphery, engages. Supposing that
the roller is in engagement with the discs (b) and (d) for example (Figures 1 and 2)
" wheel
these discs (bd) and the roller (f) constitute what is called a "quoin
gearing, which possesses the property of automatically proportioning the roller's
adherence to the discs to the force transmitted when the mechanism is in action. .
It is not intended, in this application, to claim the "quoin" wheel gearing,
generally, or the combination of several elements, comprising a motor wheel, a
roller and a receiving" wheel, these elements being placed in juxtaposition
on common shafts and forming, for example, a group analogous to a graduated
cone gearing.
"
This invention consists chiefly, in the employment of a single roller for the
whole series of "quoin" wheels, this roller being so arranged that it may first
be raised or put out of contact with the two wheels between which we will suppose
it to be "quoined" and then moved laterally, and finally be lowered or replaced
in contact with two other corresponding wheels. This novel application of means
already known produces the working effects hereinafter explained.
The roller (f) is carried by a forked arm (g) which is capable of moving on its
axis (h) supported in a frame (1), capable of sliding laterally on the square portion
of a bar or rod (7) and forming part with a cylindrical rack (k) which engages
with the pinion (7) of a shaft (m) the rotation of which is effected by an operating
lever (n) through the medium of one or more connecting rods or levers as required.
The oscillation of the rod or bar (j) and consequently that of the frame (i) and

page_text: of the forked arm (9) is effected by means of a pedal (o) with the assistance of
the necessary connecting rods or levers.
The operation of the invention is as follows:-
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"
""
Supposing the roller (f) to be quoined between the discs (b) and (d)
Figures 1 and 2, and further, that the mechanism is working; the motor shaft (A) &
transmits the rotary action to the "receiving" shaft (C) by means of the disc (b),
the roller (f) and the disc (d). The difference of speed between the "receiving
and the motor shaft is determined by the difference of diameter of the discs (b)
and (). If now it be desired to vary the speed of the "receiving" shaft the
following course is taken: the pedal (o) is pressed down; the effect of this opera- 1
tion is to cause the frame (i) and the arm to be moved upward and consequently
to put the roller. (f) out of contact with the wheels (b) and (d). As soon as this
. disengaging of the roller is effected, the operating lever (n) is moved by hand in
a suitable direction, and to a suitable extent, in order that, by means of the
connecting rods or levers, the shaft (m) and its pinion may be rotated so as to
act on the rack (k) and cause it with the frame (i) with which it forms part to
slide, on the square portion of the bar or rod (), in the direction and to the
exent suitable for bringing the roller (f) exactly opposite to another pair of wheels
or discs (62) (2), for example. When the said pedal (o) is released, the roller (f) will
descend by reason of its own weight (and the parts connected therewith) into the
grooves of the wheels (62) (²), where it is automatically "quoined" proportionally
to the power, transmitted by its intermediary. At this moment the speed of the
receiving" shaft (C) will be modified conformably to the difference of diameter
of the discs (¹) (62).
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It will be seen that in consequence of its particular shape, the rack (k) allows
of the oscillation of its axis () without ceasing to engage with the pinion ().
It will also be readily understood that by the employment of dises in suitable
number and arrangement any desired rate of speed may be obtained and any
desired value be given to the difference in the rate.
It is of course understood that the means referred to for effecting the disengage-
ment of the roller and its lateral displacement are not the only ones we can make
use of. Whatever such means may be, we consider them as coming within the
scope of our invention, if they enable the result to be obtained which consists in
successively disengaging the roller, displacing it laterally and, putting it again
into engagement.
If instead of arranging the axis (5) parallel to the axes (A) and (C) of the
discs (b) (61) (62), (d) (d¹) (d²), we arrange this axis parallel to the generating lines
of contact of the cones determined by the group of discs, we shall not require to
link the suspending supports of the roller (f) as shewn in Figure 1; a simple
sleeve (p), sliding on the bar (2) Figure 3, and carrying the arm (g) will suffice.
In this case, it is necessary for effecting the disengagement of the roller to raise
the bar () then to cause the sleeve to slide along the bar to the extent desired and
finally to cause the bar to be lowered again.
The idea of employing only a single roller and a single arm consequently for
the whole group of discs and causing it to move in the ways specified leads to the
extremely important result that the discs having the same axis may be closely
juxtaposed one against the other so that an arrangement securing a large number
of different rates of speed may be placed in a very small space, which is impossible
when a special roller is employed for each pair of wheels, in consequence of the
thickness of the arms for carrying the rollers. The arrangement just described
renders it possible to pass direct from any one rate of speed whatever to another,
dispensing with any intermediate rate or rates.
In a case where considerable power is transmitted, and, in consequence of the
exigencies in regard to available space several groups of discs of small diameter
may be possibly employed, it will be necessary that the axes of the rollers should
rotate not in circular hearings but in oblong slots so that the rollers may be
freely suspended and be able to lodge in the "quoin" wheels all at the same time

page_text: notwithstanding the material imperfection of the work, this arrangement still has
the advantage that so great an effort is not required for "unquoining" as this
is effected successively for each roller.
As a constructional modification we would point out the arrangement shewn
in Figure 4 where the discs are not grooved but hevelled on the periphery. This
allows the discs to be made as in the case of circular saws; in such case, as a
matter of course, the groove is formed in the roller, and as there is but a single
roller for the whole arrangement the tempering and rectifying are limited to a
single grooved piece.
In Figure 5 the motor shaft (A) carries two groups of discs (A¹) and (A²). The
group (A) actuates by means of a single roller (F) the group (B¹) of a part (C)
belonging to a divided shaft, and which may form the axle of the vehicle wheel or
actuate such wheel for example by means of a chain as shewn in the drawing.
The group (A) on its side actuates by means of a single roller (F) the group (B2)
of the other part (C) belonging to the divided shaft, which, in the same manner,
actuates the other wheel of the vehicle.
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"
It is clear that if, for any reason whatever, one of the wheels of the vehicle
should rotate less rapidly than the other, or should have a tendance to do 80, this
tendency or relaxation will be transmitted to the corresponding receiving
disc and consequently the roller in contact with that disc will tend to " un-quion
automatically and proportionally to the relaxation so that in reality the double
arrangement just described acts in the same manner as a differential gearing.
"
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:
Firstly. A contrivance or arrangement for varying the rate of speed, consisting
of two series of "quoin" wheels and of a single intermediate roller, such roller
being put out of engagement, then displaced laterally and put into engagement
again with either one or the other of the pairs of wheels.
Secondly. In a contrivance for varying the rate of speed mentioned in the
preceding claim and in which the engaging and disengaging movements of the
roller are effected by a pedal with the assistance of levers and connecting rods
acting on an oscillating frame bearing the arm for carrying the roller and in which
the lateral displacement of the roller is effected by the working of an operating
lever, which through the medium of connecting rods and levers actuate a shaft
and its pinion the engagement of which with a rack forming part of the oscillating
frame carrying the roller, causes the said frame to slide longitudinally on its axis.
Thirdly. In a contrivance for varying the rate of speed mentioned in the first
ciaim and in which the roller is carried by an arm capable of being displaced
longitudinally on a bar parallel to the generating lines of contact of the cones
formed by the group of discs of the "receiving" and motor shafts.
Fourthly. The combination of two contrivances for varying the rate of speed as
mentioned in the first claim in an automotor vehicle for the purpose of forming
differential gear for the two wheels of the vehicle.
Fifthly. The construction of the discs with bevelled edges and of the grooved
roller for the purpose specified and substantially as illustrated in Figure 4.
Dated the 3rd day of December 1898.
W. D. ROWLINGSON,
7, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.