Improvements in Motor Road Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 19th Feb., 1898
Improvements in Motor Road Vehicles.
I, CHARLES HENRY BARROWS, of 41, Bank Street, City of Willimantic, in the
County of Windham, and State of Connecticut, United States of America, Label
Cutter, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 improvements in motor road vehicles in which the entire
equipment for propelling the vehicle is carried by the wheel to which the power
is applied.
My present invention contemplates, mainly, a novel construction and combina-
tion of parts in which the motor is operatively connected to the propelling wheel
by positive gearing.
I also combine and organize the elements of the machine so as to counter-
balance the weight on the axle of the propelling wheel, thereby enabling the wheel
and motor to run without undue friction, wear and strain on the operative parts
of the machine. To enable others to understand my invention I have illustrated
embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
specification, and in which,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor road vehicle illustrating the general plan
of my invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view through the driving and steering
wheel, on a plane parallel to the axis of the wheel axle.
Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on a plane at right angles to Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a modification of my invention in which the driving wheel consists
of two rims spaced apart to accommodate between them the motor and appliances
for furnishing the power.
Like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
My invention resides principally in the front wheel of the vehicle which is
constructed and arranged to carry the motor and the batteries which generate the
current for operating the same when electric power is employed for the propulsion
of the vehicle. This front wheel has an arch or yoke 1, the extremities of which
are constructed to receive and support the ends of a non-rotatable axle 2, said
parts being united together in a substantial manner.
The width of this arch or
yoke between its extremities, and the length of the axle, are such that the traction
wheel 3 and two frames 4, 5, may be fitted to the axle and arranged within the yoke
or arch.
The traction wheel 3 consists of a hub, 6, the rim or felly, 7, the spokes, 8,
which unite the rim and hub together in a suitable manner, and an inflatable
tire, 9, fitted to the rim or felly, all of said parts comprising the traction wheel, 3,
proper being of any preferred or suitable construction.
The hub, 6, of said traction wheel is fitted on the axle, 2, at the middle portion
thereof and it is held thereon by any suitable means to cause the traction wheel
to maintain a position on the axle midway between the ends of the yoke while at
the same time the traction wheel, 3, is free to rotate on the axle,

page_text: The frames, 4, 5, are made of light metal and they are attached to the axle so as
to be suspended centrally therefrom; and these frames are prevented from swaying
and are held in their proper positions by braces or struts, 91, 911, which are fastened
to the yoke or arch 1 and extend toward the ends of the suspended frames, to which
said braces are fastened in any suitable way. The frame, 4, is suspended from that
part of the axle between one end of the arch and the side of the traction wheel
adjacent thereto, while the other frame, 5, is suspended on the other part of the
axle between the opposite end of the yoke or arch and the opposite side of the
traction wheel, the two frames being thus arranged on opposite sides of the traction
wheel and suspended from the axle in a manner to counterbalance each other.
In one frame, 4, I place the motor, 10, and a series of cells, 11, of the storage
battery, while in the other frame, 5, is arranged another series of cells, 12, of the
storage battery, the whole arranged to counterbalance and uniformly distribute
the weight.
The motor, 10, may be of any preferred type and its shaft is geared directly by
positive spur gearing to the traction wheel. This motor, 10, and the battery
cells, 11, in the frame, 4, are arranged on opposite sides fore and aft of the trans-
verse vertical center of the front wheel so that the weight of the cells, 12, may
balance, substantially, the weight of the motor. Said motor is attached to the
suspended frame in a suitable way as may be found desirable by a skilled
mechanic, and I arrange the motor in a position for its shaft to assume a position
radially to the non-rotatable axle, 2.
On the side or face of the traction wheel, 3, is arranged a gear wheel, 13, which is
fastened to the rim or felly, 7, by means of a series of brackets suitably attached
to the felly and the back face of the wheel, 13. The end of the motor shaft is
adjacent to the toothed face of this gear wheel, 13, and on said end of the shaft is
secured a driving pinion, 15, which meshes directly with the gear wheel, 13,
whereby the motor and traction wheel are geared directly together.
The series of cells, 12, which are carried by the frame, 5, extend substantially
throughout the length of said frame so as to balance the weight of the cells, 11,
and motor, 10, in the frame, 4, on the non-rotatable axle; and by arranging the
parts in the manner shown and described I not only provide large capacity for
storage of energy but secure distribution of the weight on the axle in a manner to
balance the heavy parts and maintain them in equilibrium on the axle, thus
preventing listing of the combined propelling and steering wheel of the machine.
The arch or yoke, 1, is provided at its top side with an upwardly projecting
central spindle or pintle, 15*, and on this pintle or spindle is loosely fitted the
head, 16, of the frame, 17, the latter extending backward so as to join with the
frame of the car or carriage, 18. The rear end of said car or carriage rests upon a
spring, 19, attached to a hind axle, 20; but the details of the car and the means
for sustaining the same may be varied within wide limits without departing from
the spirit of my invention.
The steering device is a forked bar or light frame arranged in a substantially
horizontal position to embrace the yoke or arch and this bar or frame is pivotally
attached at an intermediate point of its length to the yoke of arch by horizontal
pivots indicated at 22, thus connecting the arch and the steering bar in a manner
to insure the yoke turning on its vertical pintle with the bar, 21, to deflect the
vehicle either to the right or left but at the same time the bar is adapted to have a
limited tilting movement in a vertical plane. The forward end of the steering bar
carries a brake shoe, 23, arranged to press upon the tire of the traction wheel when
the rear end of the steering bar is raised, but on lowering said rear end of the
steering bar, the brake shoe is raised free from engagement with the traction
wheel. It will be seen that the steering bar or frame serves a twofold purpose,
first, as a means for turning the front wheel of the vehicle either to the right or
left to deflect the course of the vehicle, and as a means for adjusting the brake
shoe.

page_text: The rear end of the steering bar or frame carries a suitable handle 24 arranged
within convenient reach of the occupant.
The cells of the storage battery are coupled with the motor in any usual or
preferred way and they are included in a circuit with a switch, 25, which is
mounted on the steering bar or frame adjacent to the handle, 24, thus placing the
means for regulating the motor within easy reach of the vehicle's occupant and
enabling him to control the motor to start, stop, and regulate the speed of the
vehicle, to steer or guide the vehicle, and to apply or release the brake all from
the same place.
In Figure 4 of the drawings, I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention
especially designed for vehicles of a comparatively larger and heavier character
than the structure shown by Figures 1 to 3. In this embodiment of my invention
I employ the arch or yoke, the non-rotatable axle, the carrying frames for the
battery and motor mounted on the axle, and a duplex wheel; but, as shown,
the duplex wheel has its members mounted on the axle close up to the sides of the
yoke or arch and are thus spaced thereon to enable the frames, battery and motor
to be placed between the members of said duplex wheel. I preferably arrange one
frame above the axle, and the other frame below the axle, and the two frames are
braced and stayed by rods attached to the arch and the frames. In the upper frame
is mounted the motor and a number of cells of the battery so as to balance each
other approximately, and on the lower frame is placed the remaining battery
cells forming part of the electrical equipment.
While I have shown and described my motor vehicle as equipped with an electric
motor and with a storage battery, I do not limit myself to the employment of such
motor and battery because I am aware that motors of other kinds for operation
by compressed air, gasoline, gas or other fluid power may be substituted for the
electric motor without departing from the principle of my invention.
Neither do I restrict myself to the details of construction or form and propor-
tion of parts herein shown and described as the preferred embodiment of the
invention as the same can be changed within wide limits by a skilled mechanic.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a motor road vehicle, the combination with a yoke, of an axle mounted
therein, a traction wheel, and a motor supported directly on said axle and
operatively connected by direct positive gearing to said traction wheel inde-
pendently of the tire thereon, for the purposes described, substantially as set forth.
2. In a motor road vehicle, the combination with a steering yoke and means
for controlling the same, of an axle mounted in said yoke, a traction wheel, and a
motor carried directly on said axle and having its motor shaft connected by direct
positive gearing independently of the tire thereon, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
3. In a motor road vehicle, the combination with a steering yoke, and an axle
therein, of a traction wheel, a motor carried directly on said axle and having its
motor shaft connected by positive gearing to said traction wheel, a steering bar
or lever independent of said motor and connected with said yoke, and motor con-
trolling devices carried by said steering bar or lever, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
4. The combination with a steering yoke, an axle, and a traction wheel, of a
power equipment independent of the steering devices and arranged to be carried
entirely by said axle and embracing a motor, the shaft of which is operatively
connected by direct positive gearing with the traction wheel, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
5. The combination with a steering yoke, an axle, and a traction wheel, of a
frame or frames supported directly by said axle, a power equipment carried by
said frame or frames and embracing a motor the shaft of which is geared positively

page_text: and directly to the traction wheel, and a steering bar or lever independent of said
power equipment and carrying the motor controlling mechanism, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
6. The combination with a yoke or frame, an axle, and a traction wheel, of a
gear attached to the traction wheel, a frame supported by said axle, and a motor
carried by the frame and having its motor shaft provided with a pinion which
meshes with the gear on said traction wheel, as and for the purposes described.
7. The combination with a yoke or frame, an axle, and a traction wheel, of a
frame carried by the axle, an electric motor mounted in said frame and having its
shaft geared positively by spur gearing to the traction wheel, and a battery also
supported by said frame and arranged to balance the motor.
8. The combination with a yoke or frame, an axle, and a traction wheel, of a
power equipment frame supported by said axle, an electric motor and a battery
therefor carried by said frame to balance each other, and the shaft of said motor
geared directly by positive spur gearing to the traction wheel independently of
the tire thereon, a steering bar, and motor controlling devices carried by said steer-
ing bar, for the purposes described substantially as set forth.
9. The combination with a yoke or frame and an axle, of carrying frames
supported by said axle, a traction wheel fitted loosely thereon, an electric power
equipment having a battery carried by said frames and a motor geared to the
traction wheel by positive spur gearing, and a steering bar or lever carrying
circuit controller which is included in an electric circuit with said battery and
motor of the electrical power equipment, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
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10. In a motor road vehicle, the combination with a suitable vehicle or carriage,
of a yoke or frame pivotally connected therewith and carrying a non-rotatable
axle, a traction wheel fitted on said axle, a power mechanism sustained by said
axle and embracing a motor which has its shaft operatively connected by direct
spur gearing to said traction wheel, a steering bar or lever independent of the
power equipment and connected to said yoke or frame, and motor controlling
devices carried by said steering bar or lever, as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 24th day of September 1897.
CHARLES HENRY BARROWS.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.