Improvements connected with Vehicles to Facilitate Turning Within a Very Narrow Compass, and in Brakes for Use therewith.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL DELTA
Improvements connected with Vehicles to Facilitate Turning
Within a Very Narrow Compass, and in Brakes for Use
therewith.
I, HARRIETT CARMONT, of Helmsdale, Kingston on Thames Surrey,
Gentlewoman do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to certain improvements connected with vehicles to
facilitate the turning movement within a very narrow compass, which is effected
by causing an inclination of the angle of the wheels with relation to the body of
the vehicle, so that they describe an arc of a circle, when travelling, and the pole
or drawbar of the vehicle is turned towards either side.
For the purpose of my invention the wheels are mounted upon short axles with
sleeves which slide upon vertical tubular shafts, having spiral springs arranged for
taking up the vibration or jolting motion of the vehicle.
The vertical shafts are provided with short cranks at their lower ends which
extend under the body of the vehicle and are connected together diagonally by
levers in the form of a cross, viz.: the near side fore wheel is coupled diagonally
to the off side hind wheel, and the off side fore wheel to the near side hind
wheel.
The hind wheel cranks are also fitted with rods which extend to the front of the
vehicle where they are attached one on each side of a rocking lever pivotted on a
vertical shaft which at its upper end carries the pole or drawbar of the vehicle, so
that when the pole is moved over to either side the rocking lever pulls forward
one connecting rod and pushes back the other, causing the wheels to assume
angles which will describe an are of a circle around which the vehicle travels,
corresponding with the distance the pole or drawbar is moved towards one side
or other.
In some cases I may utilise the existing fore wheels and axles of a vehicle where
there is a lock under carriage as with buggies, and like vehicles; my wheels with
vertical pivotting shafts and cranks being theu only fitted at the back. In this
case the locking under carriage is attached by rods to the cranks of the hind
pivotting wheels, and are thus actuated whenever the forecarriage is moved on
either side.
I employ a special arrangement of brake mechanism in connection with my
pivotting wheels, consisting of a brake support attached to or on the sleeve of the
vertical wheel shaft above mentioned, with an arm which carries the brake lever
pivotted to it, one end of the brake lever being connected by rods and bell crank to
the brake handle near the driver's seat.
In connection with my pivotted front and hind wheels I may employ a central
pair of fixed wheels, mounted on guides on a pair of vertical shafts with which an
ordinary brake may be employed.
Dated this 19th day of July 1904
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for H. Carmont.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Vehicles to Facilitate Turning
Within a Very Narrow Compass, and in Brakes for Use
therewith.
I, HARRIETT CARMONT, of Helmsdale, Kingston on Thames, Surrey,
Gentlewoman, 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 certain improvements connected with vehicles to
facilitate the turning movement within a very narrow compass, which is effected by
causing an inclination of the angle of the wheels with relation to the body of the
vehicle, so that they describe an are of a circle when travelling and the pole or
drawbar of the vehicle is turned towards either side.
For the purpose of my invention, the wheels are mounted upon short axles with
sleeves which slide upon vertical tubular shafts having spiral springs arranged for
taking up the vibration or jolting motion of the vehicle. The vertical shafts are
provided with short cranks at their lower ends which extend under the body of the
vehicle and are connected together diagonally by levers in the form of a cross viz.:
the near side fore wheel is coupled diagonally to the off side hind wheel and the
off side fore wheel to the near side hind wheel.
The hind wheel cranks are also fitted with rods which extend to the front of the
vehicle where they are attached one on each side of a rocking lever pivoted on a
vertical shaft which at its upper end carries the pole or drawbar of the vehicle, so
that when the pole is moved over to either side the rocking lever pulls forward
one connecting rod and pushes back the other causing the wheels to assume
angles which will describe an arc of a circle around which the vehicle travels
corresponding with the distance the pole or drawbar is moved towards one side
or other.
In some cases, I may utilise the existing fore wheels and axle of a vehicle where
there is a lock under carriage as with buggies and like vehicles, ny wheels with
vertical pivoting shafts and cranks being then only fitted at the back.
In this case the locking under carriage is attached by rods to the cranks of the
hind pivoting wheels and are thus actuated whenever the fore carriage is moved on
either side.
I employ a special arrangement of brake mechanism in connection with my
pivoting wheel consisting of a brake support attached to or on the sleeve of the
vertical wheel shaft above mentioned with an arm which carries the brake lever
pivoted to it, one end of the brake lever being connected by rods and bell crank to
the brake handle near the driver's seat.
In connection with my pivoted front and hind wheels, I may employ a central
pair of fixed wheels mounted on guides on a pair of vertical shafts with which an
ordinary brake may be employed.
Figure 1 of the annexed drawings is a side elevation of an omnibus mounted on
pivoting wheels and vertical shafts according to my invention,
Figure 2 being an under plan showing the diagonal levers and connecting rods
attached to the rocking lever or crosstree.
Figure 3 is a plan of the special brake mechanism.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of an omnibus mounted on four small pivoting wheels
and two large non-pivoting wheels, Figure 5 being an under plan of same.
Figure 6 is an under plan of a buggy mounted on an ordinary locking fore
carriage with wheels on a horizontal axle and two hind pivoting wheels.
According to Figure 1, the vehicle A (which is here represented as an omnibus)
is fitted with wheels B, B, having short axles C, C, attached to or in one piece

page_text: with sleeves D, D, sliding (but not turning) on vertical tubular shafts E, E,
which pivot in upper and lower bearings F, F, secured to the side of the vehicle.
The vertical movement of the sliding sleeves D, D, on the tubular shafts E, E,
is controlled by spiral springs G, G, which effectually take up the vibration or
jolting motion of the vehicle and as the point of suspension is near the centre of
gravity, the vibration is reduced to a minimum.
The sleeves D, D, and the springs G, G, may be placed inside the tubular shafts
with the short axles working in slots.
H, H. Figure 2 are the cranks for turning the pivoted shafts, and I, I, the
diagonal levers. J, J, the connecting rods, and K the crosstree pivoting on the
vertical shaft L to which the pole or draw bar M of the vehicle is attached.
The sleeve D carries the brake support N (Figures 1 and 3) serving as a
fulcrum for the brake lever P, the brake shoe Q being attached on one end,
and the other end connected by rods R, R, and bell crank S to the brake
handle T.
In Figures 4 and 5, the central non-pivoting wheel U is mounted on the
slide V which rides on the vertical fixed shafts E', E', and controlled by the
springs G, G.
2
Figure 6 my pivoting arrangement is employed only for the hind wheels of a
vehicle (say a buggy) and their connecting rods J, J, are attached to the axle W
of an ordinary locking fore carriage X, the fore wheels being mounted on the axle
in the usual way.
In this case, the front body of the vehicle requires to be cut
away to allow of the lock action of the fore carriage but with the other examples.
described and shown, the full depth of the vehicle can be utilised.
By my invention, I am enabled to employ wheels of large diameter which
ensures easy motion when travelling over set stones and rough roads, and by the
turning action of the wheels inwards and outwards the vehicle can be driven round
corners without coming in contact with the curb or a post, if one be there.
The suspension of the vehicle is at the sides instead of under the vehicle and this.
is an additional means for ensuring comfort to passengers.
The invention is particularly applicable to furniture vans which are sometimes.
required to be slung for the purpose of transport by railway.
Having now 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. The improvements connected with vehicles to facilitate turning movement.
within a narrow compass by the means herein described operating in the manner
set forth.
2. Mounting the wheels of vehicles on sleeves sliding on vertical pivoting shafts,,
fitted with spiral springs, said pivoting shafts being actuated by diagonal
connecting levers and pull rods from a rocking crosstree moved by the pole or
draw bar of the vehicle in the manner described and substantially as shown in the
drawings.
3. The combination of pivoting and non-pivoting wheels described with reference
to Figures 4 and 5 of the annexed drawings for the purpose set forth.
4. The arrangement of pivoting wheels in connection with the ordinary locking
under carriage of a buggy or like vehicle as described with reference to Figure 6.
of the drawings.
5. The special construction of brake mechanism for use with pivoting wheels,.
substantially as shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Harriett Carmont.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Harriett Carmont.