Improvements in or relating to Steering Mechanism for Self-propelled Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Steering Mechanism for Self-propelled
Vehicles.
I, ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, of 27, Walnut Tree Walk, Kennington, in the
County of Surrey, Coach Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the steering mechanism of self-propelled vehicles
where the steering wheels are carried upon short axles or steering ends pivotted
to the fixed axle which extends across the vehicle, or to some other suitable
fixed support. In a gear of this kind it is very desirable that the vertical axis
about which the wheel has to be turned for steering purposes should pass through
the plane of the wheel thus in ordinary gears of this description commonly known
as Ackerman steering this vertical axis is some distance to one side of the wheel
and suffers from the consequent draw-backs. According to the present invention
the vertical axis lies in the plane of the wheel, this result being obtained in the
following manner:
.
I will describe the use of ball bearings as I prefer to employ them for all the
working parts, but I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the
use of ball bearings and can employ plain or other bearings if preferred. The
invention may be applied to wooden wheels, or wheels with wooden spokes, or
to metal wheels or to tension wheels with wire spokes; I will describe it as
applied to a wheel with wooden spokes.
The fixed axle which extends across the vehicle or an arm extending from
and properly secured to the vehicle terminates in a jaw through which passes a
vertical pin or pivot the axis of which lies, as already stated, in the plane of the
wheel. In this jaw and pivotted upon the vertical pin is a short arm the outer
portion of which forms the journal or bearing for the wheel and is preferably
constructed as an ordinary ball bearing with two ball races, cones, lock-nut etc.
This short arm beyond its pivot has another extension which may work in a
slot or extension of the jaw in the main axle, this also preferably running between
balls top and bottom in a circular arc, the wearing faces of which can be
adjusted by screws or other devices. This extension of the arm has a piece
extending horizontally by which the wheel can be steered.
The box or hub of the wheel may be made of cast steel or other suitable metal
with fixed and movable flanges between which the wooden spokes can be bolted
upon a backward portion of the hub extending over the vertical pivot so that
the latter may lie centrally with the spokes if the latter lie straight in the
plane of the wheel, but if a dished wheel be used then the position of the
vertical pivot may be altered as will be well understood.
The outer portion of the box may be closed in by a screwed cap, the inside
of the box being provided with supporting collars or flanges which may forin
part of the ball races or against which the ball races, cups etc. may be
laced

page_text: The socket in the arm through which the vertical pin passes may form or be
provided with ball races the corresponding cones or cups being screwed into the jaws
of the main axle and secured in any desired manner a suitable arrangement
being to drop the ball in from the top and provide it with a head which can be
screwed so as to lock the upper cup or cone, a nut screwing on to the other end
of the bolt and also preferably into the jaw for the same purpose.
There will be one of these complete fittings at each end of the axle, one for
each wheel. In the case of a tension wheel, the construction will be substan-
tially the same, but the box would be externally adapted to receive the wire
instead of the wooden or other spokes.
1
L
1900
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Steering Mechanism for Self-propelled
Vehicles.
I, ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, formerly of 27, Walnut Tree Walk, Kennington,
but now of Holland House, 2, Grove Road, Clapham Park, in the County of
Surrey, Coach Builder, 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 the steering mechanism of self-propelled vehicles
where the steering wheels are carried upon short axles or steering ends pivotted
to the fixed axle which extends across the vehicle, or to some other suitable
fixed support. In a gear of this kind it is very desirable that the vertical axis
about which the wheel has to be turned for steering purposes should pass through
the plane of the wheel while in ordinary gears of this description commonly known
as Ackerman steering this vertical axis is some distance to one side of the wheel
and suffers from the consequent draw-backs. According to the present invention
the vertical axis lies in the plane of the wheel, this result being obtained in the
following manner :-
I will describe the use of ball bearings as I prefer to employ them for all the
working parts, but I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the
use of ball bearings and can employ plain or other bearings if preferred. The
invention may be applied to wooden wheels, or wheels with wooden spokes, or
to metal wheels or to tension wheels with wire spokes; I will describe it as
applied to a wheel with wooden spokes.
The fixed axle which extends across the vehicle or an arm extending from
and properly secured to the vehicle terminates in a jaw through which passes a
vertical pin or pivot the axis of which lies, as already stated, in the plane of the
wheel. In this jaw and pivotted upon the vertical pin is a short arm the outer
portion of which forms the journal or bearing for the wheel and is preferably
constructed as an ordinary ball bearing with two ball races, cones, lock-nut etc.
This short arm beyond its pivot has another extension which may work in a
slot or extension of the jaw in the main axle, this also preferably running between
balls top and bottom in a circular arc, the wearing faces of which can be
adjusted by screws or other devices. This extension of the arm has a piece
extending horizontally by which the wheel can be steered.
The box or hub of the wheel may be made of cast steel or other suitable metal
with fixed and movable flanges between which the wooden spokes can be bolted

page_text: upon a backward portion of the hub extending over the vertical pivot so that
the latter may lie centrally with the spokes if the latter lie straight in the
plane of the wheel, but if a dished wheel he used then the position of the
vertical pivot may be altered as will be well understood.
The outer portion of the box may be closed in by a screwed cap, the inside
of the box being provided with supporting collars or flanges which may form
part of the ball races or against which the ball, races, cups ats. may be
placed.
The socket in the arm through which the vertical pin passes may form or be
provided with ball races the corresponding cones or cups being screwed into the jaws
of the main axle and secured in any desired manner a suitable arrangement
being to drop the bolt in from the top and provide it with a head which can be
screwed so as to lock the upper cup or cone, a nut screwing on to the other, end
of the bolt and also preferably into the jaw for the same purpose.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of one construction of steering mechanism accord-
ing to this invention and
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A is a
portion of the fixed axle' which extends across the vehicle or an arm
extending from and properly secured to the vehicle. It terminates in a jaw A¹
which accommodates an overhung arm B which forms the journal or bearing
for the wheel. This arm B is pivotted in the jaw A¹ by means of a vertical
bolt C which passes through a hole B² and is provided with cones C¹ forming with
cups B3 ball races for ball bearings 1 on which the arm B turns. The cones C₁
are screwed into the jaws A and are locked in place by the bolt C, the head of
which is screwed as at C2 and enters the upper portion of the jaw A¹, while a
lock nut C3 screws upon the lower end of the bolt C and also engages with the
internal thread on the lower part of the jaw A¹.
The arm B is provided beyond the pivot C with an extension B, which works
in a slot A2 of the jaw A. Arc-shaped ball races 15 are provided on the top
and bottom surfaces of the extension 3 to acccommodate balls B6 which run
between them and cups 137 in screws 138 in the jaw A'. By adjusting the
screws 138 wear in the races B5 may be compensated for. The function of the
extension B of the arm B is to prevent the strain upon the pivot pin C which
would otherwise occur owing to the wheel being carried on the overhung
arm B.
The extension B is provided with an arm 139° (Figure 2) extending horizontally
by means of which the wheel may be steered.
D) is the box or hub of the wheel; spokes D¹ are secured to it by clamping
them between a fixed flange 12 and a movable flange D3 by means of bolts I)*.
The hub D is provided with internal cups E which rest against shoulders D
and act in conjunction with cones E' upon the arm B to form races for balls E².
The outer cone E¹ is locked upon the threaded portion of the arm B by means
of a lock nut E³ and a cap F screws on to the outer end of the hub D and
closes it.
There will be one of these complete fittings at each end of the axle, one for
each wheel. In the case of a tension wheel, the construction will be substan-
tially the same, but the box will be externally adapted to receive the wire
instead of the wooden or other spokes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a steering mechanism the combination with a fixed axle of an arm such
as B B carrying the wheel and pivotted within its plane substantially as
described.

page_text: 2. In a steering mechanism the combination with a fixed axle having a
fork A of a pivot bolt or pin Clying within the plane of the wheel and an arm
such as B B upon which the wheel is pivotted substantially as described.
3. In a steering mechanism the combination with an overhung movable arm
such as B pivotted in the plane of the wheel which is carried by and rotates upon
it of an extension such as 131 substantially as and for the purpose described or
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a steering mechanism a wheel carrying movable arms such as B B¹
pivotted in the plane of the wheel and carrying three sets of ball races one set
for the pivot about which it turns another set for the bearing upon which the
wheel rotates and a third set upon the extension all substantially as described
or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. The complete wheel bearing and steering device substantially as described
or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dotal this 7th day of June 1900
ALEXANDER MACKENZIE.
Boult, Wade & Kilburn,
Agents for the Applicant.