Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Sept., 1899-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1899
HARRY JOHN LAWSON, 40, Holborn Viaduct, London, E.C., Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object the simplification of motor car construction
so as to enable a cheaper frame to be used with a simpler system of self steering
in carriages which may be so formed as for the riders to sit side by side. The
motor, or motors, is situated at the end of the frame either in front, or at back
and drives either directly or by saw teethed chain or pinions direct on to the
back wheel or axle. The framing is light channel steel in two bars sc arranged
that one bar comes underneath and between the feet of one of the riders. A lid
is formed in the platform which may be raised or lowered with a catch piece to
get at the pedals which are combined with a ratchet and ball clutch, or similar
substitutes. The steering may be directed and the machine may be arranged
so that the riders may face any other direction in relation to the front of the
motor. If arranged for two wheels at the back the springs which carry the body
may form the principle part of the framing so as to carry both front and back
axles.
T
1
1 1
1
1000
I, HARRY JOHN LAWSON, of 40, Holborn Viaduct, London, E.C., Engineer, 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 has particular reference to the frame and driving mechanism
of motor vehicles and has for its object cheapness and simplicity of construction.
The main part of the frame is preferably formed in one piece, comprising two
longitudinal members preferably parallel to one another being integral at one end
of the vehicle with a transverse member. The free ends of the U-shaped frame
thus formed are curved outwards and connected by a cross or transverse member
upon which the steering wheels may be mounted. Between the two end trans-
verse members mentioned above any convenient number of struts or ties may be
arranged to give the frame its necessary rigidity, and either the main part or
the whole of the frame may be constructed of channel steel.
One or more motors may be mounted either upon the front or rear end of the
[Price 8d.]

page_text: frame and such motor or motors may be arranged to drive the front or rear axle
either direct or through intermediary gear. When driving "direct" the motor
may be geared to the axle it is to drive by tooth gearing, but when driving through
intermediary gear the toothed gearing is carried by an auxiliary shaft, in which
may be mounted sprocket or other driving wheels for carrying chains, belts or
the like for driving the road axle.
Any convenient form of body may be placed on the frame described above, the
same being preferably arranged for two persons seated side by side so that one
of the longitudinal members would come directly beneath and between the feet
of one of the riders. When thus arranged the body of the vehicle may carry a
detachable portion in its floor beneath which may be arranged pedal mechanism
mounted on one of the longitudinal members of the frame for starting, and,
when necessary, moving the vehicle.
The speed gear through which the vehicle is driven may be made for any
desired number of speeds, and, if necessary, may drive through differential gear.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation of one arrangement of a frame and driving
mechanism for a vehicle constructed according to this invention,
Figure 2 is a plan of the same,
Figure 3 is a similar plan showing a modified construction of driving mechanism,
and
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of framing.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The main frame comprises two longitudinal members A integral with the third
transverse member A¹ the free ends A2 of the longitudinal members A, being
curved outwards. The ends A2 are connected by a transverse member or strut B
which may be bolted, brazed or otherwise secured to the members A. Any
number of transverse struts or stays B¹ may be arranged between the members A,
parallel to the members A and B to give the necessary rigidity to the frame.
Upon the ends of the member B are mounted steering wheels C arranged to be
operated by the well-known form of "Olympic" steering mechanism. The
motor D, which is of the well-known De Dion type, is secured to the member B
by any convenient arrangement of brackets D¹, and at a suitable distance from
the motor is mounted a countershaft E carried preferably in ball bearings E¹
on the members A of the frame. A toothed wheel F is mounted fast on the
shaft E and gears with a pinion D2 on the driving shaft of the motor D. The
shaft E also carries free upon it two sprocket wheels F¹, either of which may
be operatively connected with the shaft when desired by a clutch mechanism Fa
of well-known construction. The driving axle G, which in this case is the rear
axle of the vehicle is carried in suitable bearings G¹ upon the members A. On
the axle G are arranged sprockets G2 which drive the axle through any well-known
form of differential gear G³. A chain H, either of metal or leather, connects
the sprockets G2 on one side of the vehicle, and a second chain H¹ connects
the sprockets F G on the opposite side of the vehicle. As it is necessary that
the axle G should be made in two parts in order that the driving may be effected
through differential gear, additional stays 132 may be arranged between two
of the transverse members of the frame to support the central portion of the axle
by means of suitable bearings through which the axle may be passed.
For starting the motor or for moving the vehicle if necessary with or without
the aid of the motor, pedal mechanism J is mounted on one of the members A
of the frame so that one pedal is on each side of the frame, the pedal mechanism
being operatively connected by a chain wheel J', chain J2 and second chain
wheel J3 to the auxiliary or countershaft E.
The operation of this device is as follows:-
The motor is started by revolving the pedal mechanism J, directly over which
one of the riders is seated, access to the pedals being had by removing any
conveniently detachable portion of the floor of the vehicle body. The pedal

page_text: mechanism has the ball and ratchet or other clutch by which the motor is per-
mitted to over-run it when once started. So long as the clutch 2 remains in
the position shown in Fig. 2, the motor will run idle, revolving the shaft E only,
but when the clutch is brought into operation by sliding it along the shaft E so
as to engage with either of the sprocket wheels F, the vehicle is immediately
propelled forward by means of the chain H or H¹ and the gearing with which
each is connected. The steering mechanism may be operated by any known
device not shown in the drawings, and the vehicle may be made to run in such
a manner in either direction so that the steering wheels form either leading or
trailing wheels.
Figure 3 shows an arrangement by which the motor D is made to drive "direct"
upon the road wheel axle G. To effect this the motor is secured by means of its
brackets D' to the transverse member A¹ at the rear of the vehicle and may be
further supported by means of one of the stays 12. The motor shaft is extended
and in addition to the pinion D2 carries a pinion D³. Pinions D2 D3 may be
made integral with one another or mounted fast on a common sleeve in such a
manner that they are free to slide in a longitudinal direction upon the motor
That end of the shaft
shaft, whilst being compelled to revolve with the same.
remote from the motor is conveniently supported in a bearing carried by the
member B on that side of the vehicle, and the pinions D2 D3 are connected to
or integral with a collar D adapted to receive a fork operated by any convenient
lever or other mechanism by which the pinions may be moved in a longitudinal
direction upon their shaft. Two gear wheels K K respectively are mounted on
the external casing of the differential gear G³, the wheel K being larger than the
wheel K¹, so that when the axle G is driven through the medium of the former
its speed is less than when driven by means of the latter. The operation of this
device is as follows:-
When the pinions D2 D3 are moved into a central position so that neither pinion
gears with the wheels K K', the motor may be started by means of pedal mechanism
such as that shown in Figure 2, or by any other means. If then the pinions are
moved longitudinally upon the motor shaft by means of the mechanism engaging
the collar D so that the wheel D³ engages with the wheel K, as shown in the
drawings, the motor will be propelled forward through the medium of the
differential gear D³, axle G, and the road wheels carried by the same at its high
speed, but by sliding the pinions D2 D3 in the opposite direction so that the
wheel D² engages with the wheel K, the wheel D3 being brought out of engage-
ment with the wheel K³, the vehicle will be propelled forward at its low speed.
Figure 4 shows a modified construction of framing, the arrangement of the
motor and its gearing being preferably the same as that shown in Figure 3.
In this construction the longitudinal members A of the frame are not continued
beyond the transverse member B¹ nearest the driving axle G, but are replaced
by springs A3 secured at one end in any convenient manner to the framing by
which the motor is surrounded, whilst their free ends rest upon the axle of the
steering wheels C. The fore-part of the framing with its motor gearing and
driving wheels thus forms a kind of bogie or fore-carriage, to which the rear or
steering wheels are connected as described, by means of the spring members A³.
That part of each of the members A³ which rests upon the axle of the steering
wheels C is extended upwards and curved over at A to serve as a support for a
seat or saddle L. The springs may be secured to the axle of the steering wheels C
by any convenient means, and may be provided with any suitable number of
transverse stays A5; and a foot board may be arranged transversely across the
spring members A³. Any convenient form of steering mechanism may be used
to operate the ordinary well-known Olympic steering device shown in the drawing,
and pedal and chain gear, or a handle connected to the motor shaft through the
medium of bevel gear may be provided for starting the motor.
It is obvious that any of the vehicles described above may be constructed to
drive in either direction, though preferably with the motor in front, as the

page_text: principal object in having the motor mounted at the extreme end of the frame
is that it is thus more fully exposed to the current of air created by the motion
of the vehicle, so that the cylinder is cooled without the aid of water or means
other than radiating plates; also that the chain and sprocket wheel gearing
shown in Figure 2 may be replaced by belts and pulleys, or by gearing of the
Acatène type.
Having now particluarly 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 motor vehicle a frame comprising two parallel longitudinal members A
curved outwards at A2 and integral with a transverse member A¹ and connected
by struts or ties B B the whole preferably constructed of channel steel sub-
stantially as described.
2. In a motor vehicle the combination with a frame of the kind described in
the first claiming clause of a motor mounted on one end of the frame for the
purpose stated and arranged to drive one of the road wheel axles either direct'
or through intermediary gear substantially as described.
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3. In a motor vehicle the combination with a frame comprising two longitudinal
members connected by transverse members of pedals mounted on one of the longi-
tudinal members so as to come immediately beneath or between the feet of one
of the riders for starting and other purposes substantially as described.
4. The complete frame for a motor vehicle comprising side frames A³ formed
of laminated springs bent over as at A' to receive saddles or seats and connected
to rigid frames to carry the driving and steering mechanisms substantially as
described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. The complete frame and motor driving mechanism for a vehicle substantially
as described or illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated thin 99nd of
1000
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.