Improvements in Driving and Steering Gear for Electrically Propelled Motor Road Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving and Steering Gear for Electrically
Propelled Motor Road Vehicles.
We, ERNST KÜHLSTEIN, Manufacturer, and JOSEPH VOLLMER, Engineer, both
of Salzufer No. 4, Charlottenburg, in the Empire of Germany, 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:-
-
In steering and driving-gear provided with a lever which when moved forward
or backward regulates the driving gear, and when rotated regulates the steering
gear, there exist the defect that a divided operating lever, fitted with a universal
joint adapted to be locked or disengaged by a locking pawl or hook, is difficult
to manipulate and restricts the action of the steering mechanism.
According to this invention the above mentioned disadvantages and defects
are obviated by the adoption of a combined rotary lever rod and tube connected
with the steering wheels by articulated lever mechanism and adapted to be
placed and retained in various forward and rearward positions without the inter-
vention of special locking or disengaging devices.
In order that the said invention may be readily understood we will describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation illustrating our invention.
Figure 2 is a modification hereinafter referred to.
Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 1, and
Figures 4 and 5 represent a modified form of Figures 1 and 3.
In carrying our invention into practice the vertically arranged tube S
Figure 1, fulcrumed at A, is moved in the longitudinal direction to the vehicle
either forward into the positions from 0 to 1, 2 or 3, as may be required for
the purpose of moving the driving switch from its zero position into the
corresponding go-ahead positions 1, 2, or 3 and to this end the tube S is by a
lug a connected to a link hinged to the operating lever c of the driving
switch F. Thus the vehicle will move in a forward direction with a speed corre-
sponding to the position occupied by the switch-lever.
By moving the tube backward beyond its 0-position into 0 0, 1 and 2 the
switch is also placed in corresponding positions 0 0, 1 and 2, thereby apply-
ing first the brake at 0 0, and then backing the vehicle at 1 or 2.
Evidently the switch-lever c may, if desired be replaced by a rack and
pinion gear Z as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
In the tube S is mounted the steering rod B rigidly connected to the handle
bar L and carrying at its lower extremity a lever & Figures 1 and 3. This
lever operates an articulated divided draw- or pusher rode which is connected
to the steering-bars of the fore-carriage R arranged in any known manner.
It will be clear that by turning the handle-bar L in one direction for instance
from 0 to 01, Figure 3, the entire steering mechanism and fore-carriage is
caused to move likewise in the same direction as indicated by dotted lines.
If thereupon the tube S is moved the lever & will be caused to perform a

page_text: slight rotary motion around the fulcrum A which it is enabled to do by the
divided and articulated arrangement of the rod e.
The tubular lever S may be secured in any position corresponding to the
required position of the switch F by means of a self-locking or automatic
mechanism E. To this end the tube S is provided with a stud i adapted to
slide over corrugations or rounded teeth provided upon a sector E or locking
mechanism. This sector is secured to the body of the vehicle by means of a
hinge joint while its other end is acted upon by a spring in such a manner as
to keep it pressed against the stud i without however preventing the movement
of the tube S into another position whether forward or backward.
Obviously this locking mechanism may be arranged with a rigidly disposed
sector E and spring-controlled stud i.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
"
1
1. In driving and steering gear operated by a single lever, the arrangement
of mechanism characterized by a tubular lever S fulcrumed at A and operating
the driving switch F with automatic means for securing the lever S in its
various positions, and fitted with an independently operated steering rod L B
with lever d in such a manner as to afford the greatest facility for manoeuvring
the vehicle.
2. In the arrangement claimed in Claim 1, the automatic locking mechanism
comprising a spring-controlled (or if desired rigid) sector E having corrugated
recesses in which engages a rigid stud (or spring controlled stud) i provided
upon the tube S, the purpose being to obviate locking levers or the like.
Dated this 21st day of September 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.