Improved Means Applicable for use in Arresting and Changing the Direction of the Motion and the Speed of Motorcars and similar Self-propelled Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means Applicable for use in Arresting and Changing the
Direction of the Motion and the Speed of Motorcars and similar
Self-propelled Vehicles.
I, CHARLES MARTEL, of 46, Rue de Provence, Paris, in the French Republic,
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 relates to driving mechanism for motorcars and similar self-pro-
pelled vehicles, and has for its object to provide simple and effective means for
arresting the motion of such vehicles, for reversing such motion and for varying
the speed of running; the said driving mechanism being more especially applicable
for use with vehicles propelled by means of petroleum.
It is known that in self-propelled petroleum vehicles whereof the driving wheels
are actuated through the medium of chains, the motor cannot directly attack the
shaft pertaining to the driving chain wheels; the said motor revolving in fact
at a continuous and substantially constant speed in one direction, while the driving
chain wheels should be capable of revolving at different speeds (which depend upon
the inequalities of the ground traversed), either forwards or backwards, and of
stopping and re-starting. It is with these diverse conditions that my improved
driving mechanism complies in the most simple manner.
Fig. 1 of the annexed drawings is a diagrammatical view in perspective of one
mode of carrying out my invention applied, by way of example, to a self-propelled
petroleum vehicle mounted on four wheels. [In the diagram, the stationary shafts
or axles, and the fixed points are marked with crosses (+)] A is the motor-
shaft and B is the shaft of the driving chain wheels (the latter shaft being broken
away for a portion of its length for greater clearness). In the example illustrated,
these two main shafts are parallel to each other, and have keyed thereon respectively
the spur-wheels a, b, (the latter carrying in its centre the device, well known under
the name of differential gear). The spur-wheels a, b gear respectively with the
pinions c, d which are keyed on the secondary parallel shafts C, D respectively;
the pitch lines of the said pinions and spur-wheels (indicated in broken lines

page_text: 8
separated by a dot) are still as in the example chosen (for it might be otherwise)-
of the same diameters, both as regards the said spur-wheels a, b and as regards the
said pinions c, d. The shaft C is stationary, while the shaft D is capable of oscillat-
ing about the axis of the shaft B, the spur-wheel band the pinion d remaining
however constantly in gear and forming thus an epicyclic gearing during the oscil-
lations of the said shaft D, This latter shaft is, for these purposes, mounted so
as to be capable of rotary movement in the lower sleeves of the pendant arms d, d
which in turn are capable of rotary movement by means of their upper sleeves about
the shaft B. (In the practical embodiment of the driving mechanism in question,
the same aforesaid parts d', d² must be connected to each other so as to undergo
strictly equal angular displacements in the same direction.) The arm & is
furnished with a laterally extending twice-cranked lever d³, forming a pedal, and
actuated by a spiral spring d. Upon the shafts C, D are keyed two speed-
cones C, D, the cones pointing in opposite directions; each cone comprising three
convex pulley-rims of different diameters joined together by two truncated coup-
ling parts, the middle pulley-rims being-still with regard to the example illustrated
(for it might be otherwise)-of the same diameters, while the diameters of the
terminal pulley-rims are such that the respective sums of the diameters of the said
terminal pulleys are equal to the sum of the diameters of the middle pulleys. A
strap E which is maintained in a state of tension by the action of the spring
passes around the cones C, D¹ and may (owing to the above-mentioned truncated
coupling parts) be readily brought on to anyone of the three pairs of rims through
the medium of "striking gear," which, in the present instance, comprises the fork e
which, with the aid of the handle el, may be moved along the guide-rods e². (In
the example shown, the cones C, D are set to three speeds, but it goes without
saying that such cones might be constructed for a greater number of speeds.)
Lastly, upon the shafts C, D are keyed two wheels C, D2 whereof the wheels C²,
of smaller diameter, is formed of circular washers of leather, or other suitable
material, arranged in juxtaposition to each other and firmly maintained in position
so as to present a cylindrical surface, while the wheel D2, of larger diameter, is
constructed of metal and likewise presents a cylindrical surface on its periphery.
From the foregoing it follows that, supposing the several parts occupy the positions
indicated in Fig. 1, the shafts A, B will revolve in the same direction by means
of the intermediate gearing above described, to which it should be added-still
on the assumption of the above hypothesis as to the relative positions of the several
parts that the interval between the wheels C, D is considerably less than the
free space between the cones C¹, D¹. This being clear and assuming that the
strap E occupies the position shown in Fig. 1 (upon the pair of middle rims), it
will be seen that the shafts A, B will rotate at the same speed, which will be the
medium speed. If it is desired to proceed at a greater or a lesser speed, it will
suffice to slightly press the foot upon the pedal of the lever so as to slacken
slightly the strap E which may then be carried on to the pair of left-hand or right-
hand terminal rims according to whichever way the fork e is operated; the latter
being moved either directly by hand with the aid of the handle e, or through the
medium of suitable mechanism. If it be desired to arrest the motion of the vehicle,
whatever may be the position occupied by the strap E on the cones, it is simply
necessary to depress the foot-lever d³ a little further, thereby considerably slacken-
ing the strap E, the shafts A, C meanwhile continuing to revolve but without rotating
the shafts D, B. In order to start again, it will be sufficient to gradually restore
the tension of the strap E; and, if it be desired to reverse the motion of the vehicle,
the foot-lever ³ must be depressed to a greater extent than previously in order to
gradually bring the wheel 12 into contact with the wheel C2 and to maintain it
in that position for the requisite period. The said wheel D2 is thus rotated by the
friction of the wheel C and the shafts A, B are caused to revolve in opposite
directions without restriction by the strap E, the said strap for the time being
remaining completely slackened, and no longer operating the cones C', D¹, which
latter, in accordance with the indication given above, still remain separated to a

page_text: sufficient degree, in spite of the great relative amplitude by the shaft D, as the
result of its oscillatory movement. (If, for any reason, the shaft A should have to
be arranged at right-angles to the direction which it assumes in Fig. 1, it would
only be necessary to substitute bevel-gearing for the spur-wheels a, c.)
Fig. 2 of the annexed drawings is a perspective diagram of my improved driving
mechanism, illustrating, as an example, the application of the device to a three-
wheeled self-propelled petroleum vehicle (voiturette); [in this fig. the stationary
shafts or axles and the fixed points are also marked with crosses (+)]. In the class
of vehicles under consideration, and which is generally characterised by the employ-
ment of a steering wheel, the speed of the petroleum motor is considerably greater
than in the class of vehicles to which the foregoing special example pertains, so
be
that the secondary shafts and the corresponding trains of gear-wheels may
omitted, and, as in this construction, reversal of motion may be easily obtained
without resorting to the power of the said petroleum motor, the friction-wheels may
also be dispensed with. A is the motor-shaft and B is the shaft of the driving
wheels, the latter being disposed, in the example chosen, at right-angles to the
former. C is an intermediate shaft arranged parallel with the shaft A and con-
nected to the shaft B by the bevel-gearing ex, 6 (whereof the pitch-lines only are
indicated by broken lines separated by a dot). The shaft A is made in two parts,
so connected-in the example shown, by means of a universal joint a that the
left-hand portion of the said shaft A may, whilst continuing to turn, oscillate
slightly in the plane determined by the same aforesaid shaft A and by the shaft C*.
(Inasmuch as the amplitude of these oscillations is always of a restricted character,
it is possible, where the shaft A is long enough, to cause the petroleum motor itself
to oscillate with the said shaft A which, in that case, is constructed in one piece,
the universal joint a being accordingly dispensed with.) The moveable
end of the shaft A is drawn in one direction by the spiral spring a¹,
and in the other direction by a flexible part a² which is connected
(after being carried over pulleys if necessary) with an operating foot-
lever. On the shafts A, C are keyed two speed-cones A¹, C, similar in con-
struction to those previously described, around which is passed the strap D°; the
latter being kept in a state of tension by the action of the spring a; similar
striking gear to that above described being provided, viz. the fork e, operating
handle e, and guide-rods e2. (In the example selected, the cones A', C
arranged to give two speeds, but it will be understood that a greater number of
speeds may be provided for.) This being clear, it will be readily perceived that,
in order to proceed at the greater or at the lesser speed, it will be simply necessary
to depress the foot-lever so as to put a tension upon the flexible part a² and con-
sequently to very slightly slacken the strap Do, after which the said strap D° may
readily be moved on to the left-hand pair of rims of the cones (i.e., to the positions
shown in Fig. 2) or on to the right-hand pair of rims by operating the fork e by
hand, directly or indirectly. When it is desired to stop and then to re-start, the
method of operation will also be the same as above described.
are
As the shafts carrying the cones are always moving at high speeds, a com-
paratively considerable power may be transmitted by means of cones of small
diameter and with the aid of a light strap. The tension of the strap being obtained
by means of a spring (rendered adjustable if required), the said strap may be formed
in one piece without any fastening hooks, and the shafts whereon are fitted the
cones may be brought very close together; besides, the said tension remains con-
stant notwithstanding the extension to which the said strap is submitted, and also
irrespective of the hygrometrical variations of the atmosphere. The construction
is. moreover, very compact and extremely simple in operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim ;-
1
moved moans for arresting and changing the direction of the motion.

page_text: and the speed of motorcars and similar self-propelled vehicles, constructed and oper-
ating substantially as herein described, same comprising a pair of parallel secondary
shafts capable of revolving at greater speeds than do the main shafts, i.e., the
mctor-shaft and the shaft of the driving chain wheels, one of the said secondary
shafts revolving in stationary bearings while the other is mounted so as to oscillate
about the axis of the corresponding main shaft; each secondary shaft being
furnished with a speed-cone and a friction wheel, a strap passing around the speed-
cones and capable of being shifted upon the above-mentioned speed-cones; and a
spring-actuated foot-lever for controlling the oscillatory shaft.
2. The herein described improved means for arresting and changing the speed
of motor-cars and similar self-propelled vehicles, same comprising a divided, or
undivided, motor-shaft, a pair of speed-cones, one of the cones being mounted on
the said motor-shaft and the other on a secondary shaft, the latter imparting motion
to the shaft of the driving chain wheels by means of bevel-gearing, while the strap
on the said speed-cones is maintained in a state of tension or slackened by means
of a spring and of a flexible part operated by a foot-lever, substantially as set forth.
3. The improved driving mechanism for motor-cars and similar self-propelled
vehicles, constructed and operating substantially as described with reference to
Fig. 1 or to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.
his gnd day of December
LOVO.
For the Applicant,
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
Clun House, Surrey Street, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.
For the Applicant,
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
Clun House, Surrey Street, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.