Improvements in or relating to Road Vehicles adapted to be Propelled by Self-contained Motors.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 4th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 7th Mar, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Road Vehicles adapted to be
Propelled by Self-contained Motors.
I, JOHN JAMES HENRY STURMEY of No. 19 Hertford Street Coventry in
the County of Warwick, Journalist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to road vehicles adapted to be propelled by self contained
motors, which vehicles are also denominated horseless carriages or "autocars," and
it relates especially to autocars intended to carry a person or persons (rather than
goods), and it has for its principal object the construction of a light, strong and
rigid framework to carry the motor, seat and footboard.
In carrying out my invention, I employ to employ four wheels of comparatively
small diameter, but fitted with large pneumatic or other suitable elastic tyres. The
rear wheels are preferably both adapted to drive the vehicle and are connected by
any suitable form of mechanism well known in velocipede construction as a
"balance gear."
This mechanism provides for each driving wheel receiving a proper share of
power from the motor whether the vehicle be travelling in a straight line or in a
curve, The main axle, which may be in two parts, is preferably mounted in ball
bearings connected by suitable lugs to a bridge piece, which with the rest of the
main members of the frame I prefer to construct of weldless steel tube or the like
such as is employed in the construction of velocipedes. I prefer to construct the
exterior of each of the said ball bearings in the form of a partial or complete
sphere & to arrange the ends of the lugs carrying the said bearings as divided
clips having their interiors adapted to hold the said bearings. By these means
the difficulty of satisfactorily fitting several bearings to one axle is greatly
diminished.
I prefer to mount the front or steering wheels each in a separate fork or to
mount them on short axles projecting from vertical or approximately vertical
spindles fitted in sockets. The said sockets or the heads of the said forks are
preferably fixed or pivotted (as the case may be), to a tube extending across the
vehicle from one side to the other. The wheels may be steered in any convenient
manner but I prefer to connect their forks or spindles (as the case may be) by
short arms normally projecting parallel to the length of the machine and a trans-
verse rod uniting the ends of the said arms, so that by moving the said rod
lengthwise, each wheel is deflected to a degree suitable for following its own curve
around the point about which the vehicle is being turned. This arrangement of
steering is well known in velocipede construction in connection with the "Crypto "
& "Olympia tricycles.
"
I connect the bridge or rear cross tube to the front cross tube by, say four
preferably parallel tubes. And on the rear part of each of the said parallel tubes
complete a tubular triangle by two other tubes which approach or meet one
another at the top.
The apices of the triangles are connected by a third cross tube or otherwise as
may be suitable and convenient and are adapted to support the seat of the vehicle.
Two or any other suitable number of the parallel tubes are adapted to carry the
motor on the parts thereof which form the bases of the triangles; and the parts of
the said parallel tubes in front of the said bases are adapted to carry the footboard

page_text: of the vehicle. The front sides of the triangles are extended downwards below
the parallel tubes for a convenient distance or distances and the lower ends of the
extensions are tied to the ends of the parallel tubes or parts of the frame adjacent
thereto, thus forming a series of powerful girder supports to the frame.
Additional cross tubes or ties may be employed if desired; for example, the
lower ends of the said extensions may be connected by a cross tube. The ends of
which may be conveniently adapted to carry the steps. The frame may also be
braced diagonally from corner to corner by suitable ties or stays.
If desired, one steering wheel only may be employed, thus reducing the number
of wheels to three.
I prefer to mount such wheel in a fork and modify the steering accordingly. In
this case the tubes hereinbefore referred to as the "parallel tubes" converge in
front and the front cross tube is correspondingly modified or dispensed with
altogether.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1895.
W. BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Road Vehicles adapted to be
Propelled by Self-contained Motors.
I, JOHN JAMES HENRY STURMEY of No. 19 Hertford Street, Coventry, in
the County of Warwick Journalist 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:-
"
My invention relates to road vehicles adapted to be propelled by self-contained
motors, which vehicles are also denominated horseless carriages or autocars," and
it relates especially to autocars intended to carry a person or persons (rather than
goods), and it has for its principal object the construction of a light, strong and
rigid framework to carry the motor, seat and footboard.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood I will, in describing
the same, refer to the appended illustrative drawings which show the general
construction and arrangement of the parts which I prefer to adopt in carrying out
my invention; but I do not confine myself to the exact details shown therein as
they may be varied without exceeding the limits of my invention.
Figure 1 is a general diagrammatic view of a frame constructed according to my
invention for a four-wheeled autocar.
Figures II and III are respectively side & front elevations of the same fitted
with seat and footboard.
Figure IV is a detail view showing a front wheel carried by a spindle and socket
instead of a fork.
Figure V is a detail view partly in section drawn to an enlarged scale of a
bearing and clip.
Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In carrying out my invention I prefer to employ two front wheels 2, 2 and two
rear wheels 3, 3 all of comparatively small diameter, but fitted with large pneumatic
or other suitable elastic tyres 4. The rear wheels are preferably both adapted to
drive the vehicle and are connected by any suitable form of mechanism well known
in velocipede construction as a "balance gear" 5. This mechanism provides for
each driving wheel receiving the proper share of power from the motor whether
the vehicle be travelling in a straight line or in a curve.
The main axle 6. which
may be in two parts, is preferably mounted in ball bearings 8, connected by suitable
lugs 9, to a bridge piece 10 which, with the rest of the main members of the frame,

page_text: I prefer to construct of weldless steel tube or the like, such as is employed in the:
construction of velocipedes. I prefer to construct the exterior of each of the said
ball bearings 8 in the form of a part of a sphere and to arrange the ends of the
lugs 9 carrying the said bearings as divided clips 11 having their interiors adapted
to hold the said bearings as shown in Figure V. By these means the difficulty of
satisfactorily fitting several bearings to one axle is greatly diminished, as the
bearings automatically align themselves (except as to distance from the bridge) on
the clips being tightened.
I prefer to mount the front or steering wheels 2 each in a separate fork 12 or to
mount them on short axles 13 projecting from vertical or approximately vertical
spindles 14 fitted in sockets 15. The said sockets 15 or the heads of the said
forks 12 are preferably fixed or pivotted (as the case may be), to a tube 16
extending across the vehicle from one side to the other. The wheels 2 may be
steered in any convenient manner, but I prefer to connect their forks or spindles
(as the case may be), by short arms 17 normally projecting parallel or approxi-
mately parallel to the length of the machine and a transverse rod 18 uniting the
ends of the said arms. If the arms 17 project backwards, as shown, they are
preferably arranged so that the joints between their ends and the connecting rod 18
lie nearer together than the steering centres of the wheels 2, 2; and if the arms
project forwards the said joints preferably lie further apart than the said steering
centres, so that by moving the rod 18 lengthwise each wheel is deflected to a degree
suitable for following its own curve around the point about which the vehicle is
being turned. This arrangement of steering is well-known in velocipede con-
struction in connection with the "Dublin,"
3766
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Singer's Challenge," Crypto" and
"Olympia" tricycles. To operate the steering I may mount a rod 34 iu suitable
brackets 35 on the frame so that it lies parallel to the steering lines of the front
wheels and so that it may rotate on its own axis. The upper part of the rod 34,
I provide with a suitable handle 36 and the lower part with one or preferably two
transverse arms 37 which are jointed to two corresponding arms 38 projecting from
the fork, forkhead, or socket spindle of one of the steering wheels, so that turning
the handle 36 to right or left causes both wheels 2, through the connections, to
steer correspondingly to right or left. Other suitable connections may be
substituted for conveying the motion of the rod 34 to the said steering wheels.
The rod 34 may be arranged in other positions if desired, but as shown it is
conveniently situated to be operated by the right hand of a passenger sitting on
the "off" side of the vehicle.
I connect the bridge or rear cross tube 10 to the front cross tube 16 by, say
four, preferably parallel tubes 19. And on the rear part of each of the said
parallel tubes I complete a tubular triangle by two other tubes 20, 21 which
approach or meet each other at the top. The apices of the triangles are connected
by a third cross tube 22, in duplicate or otherwise as may be suitable and
convenient, and are adapted to support the seat 23 of the vehicle. I prefer to
unite the tubes 20, 21 and 22 in joints 25 having flat tops or otherwise adapted to
carly springs such as 24 on which is mounted the seat 23. Two, or any other
suitable number, of the parallel tubes are adapted to carry the motor 26 either
directly on or suspended from the parts thereof which form the bases of the
triangles; and the parts of the said parallel tubes in front of the said bases are
adapted to carry the footboard 27 of the vehicle preferably ou springs as shown.
If a petroleum motor be employed the oil tank may conveniently be carried in the
upper parts of the triangles under the seat. The seat and footboard may be formed
of, or be connected by, suitable woodwork 33. The front sides of the triangles are
extended downwards preferably in the form of separate short pieces of tube 28,
below the parallel tubes for a convenient distance or distances and the lower ends
of these extensions are tied to the ends of the parallel tubes or parts of the frame
adjacent thereto by suitable tubes or rods 29, thus forming a series of powerful
girder supports to the frame. Additional cross tubes or ties may be employed if
desired; for example the lower ends of the said extensions 28 may be connected by

page_text: a cross tube 30 the ends of which may conveniently be adapted to carry the
steps 31, and a similar connection 39 is preferably employed where the tubes 19
intersect the tubes 20, 28.
The frame may also be braced diagonally from corner to corner by suitable ties
or stays.
If desired, one steering wheel only may be employed thus reducing the number
of wheels to three. I prefer to mount such steering wheel in a fork and modify
the steering accordingly. In this case the tubes hereinbefore referred to as the
parallel tubes" conveige in front and the front cross tube is correspondingly
modified or dispensed with altogether.
66
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 I make
no claim to the employment of a balance-gear, the construction & fitting of the
ball bearings, or the steering arrangements herein described, as they contain little
if any novelty, but what I do claim is,-
1. For road vehicles adapted to be propelled by self-contained motors or
"autocars," the improved framework, adapted to carry the motor, seat and
footboard, substantially as set forth.
2. An autocar framework comprising a bridge or rear cross tube such as 10;
four or other convenient number of tubes such as 19 adapted to connect the bridge
or rear tube to a cross tube such as 16, if any, to carry the motor and a series of
triangles or the like on the rear part thereof and the footboard of the vehicle on
the front part thereof; triangles such as formed by the tubes 20, 21 adapted to
carry the seat of the vehicle; extensions such as 28 adapted, with ties such as 29,
to support the frame; with or without additional cross tubes such as 22, 30 and 39
and diagonal braces; all combined, arranged and operating substantially as set
forth.
3. In an autocar framework comprising a cross tube such as 30, the employment
of the ends thereof to carry the steps such as 31, substantially as set forth.
4. The improved framework for autocars substantially as herein described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of February 1896.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18 Hertford Street, Coventry, Agent for the Applicant.