Improvements in Starting, Stopping, Steering, Braking, and similar Devices for Power Driven Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 9th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 16th Oct., 1897
DIONAL
Improvements in Starting, Stopping, Steering, Braking, and similar
Devices for Power Driven Vehicles.
I, JOIN BIRTWISLE, of 4 York Street, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide means to enable the driver of a power
driven vehicle to effect the starting and stopping, steering, braking or the like of
the vehicle by means of a single handle from which the hand need not be moved,
and so that any one of these operations may be effected at any time without inter-
fering with the others or so that they may all be effected at one and the same.
In carrying these improvements into effect a tube or its equivalent is hinged
upon the side or upon any convenient part of the vehicle and occupies the place
of the ordinary brake lever. The brake gear is attached to this tube and the
brake is applied by moving the tube or tubular lever forwards or backwards in
the usual manner. The tube is pivotted to the vehicle by a projection below its
bottom end.
Contained within the first tube and capable of rotation therein is a second tube
projecting both above and below the first or brake tube. The lower end of the
second tube carries an arm or wheel by means of which the steering is effected.
At a point above this arm or wheel and opposite to the centre upon which the brake
tube is pivotted the second tube is provided with a universal joint or equivalent
device, which enables the second tube to move freely with the brake tube and to
be rotated at the same time. The lower part of the second tube which carries the
steering arm or wheel is so mounted as to only rotate, or the arm or wheel itself
is so mounted, so as not to partake in any other motion of the upper part. The
upper end of the second tube is provided with a crank arm or wheel by means of
which it may be rotated or partly rotated and the steering effected.
If desired the brake tube may be replaced by a hinged bracket in which the
second tube is mounted, or the second tube itself may be hinged, and the brake gear
may be either attached to the bracket or to the second tube.
The handle by means of which the second tube may be rotated is movable in or
upon the crank arm or wheel and is preferably mounted in a slot so that it may be
moved away from or towards the centre of rotation. Attached to the handle are
devices by means of which a rod, cord, or the like which passes through the centre
of the second tube may be moved up or down to effect the stopping, starting,
reversing, or the like of the vehicle or motor. This movement is preferably
effected by slotting the upper end of the second tube and mounting thereon a crank
lever one arm of which is within the tube and has attached to it the rod or cord.
The other arm of the lever is connected by a link to a part of the handle which
projects through the crank arm or wheel. If a rod or the like is employed it is
provided with a flexible part where it crosses the brake tube pivot and the universal
joint. The lower end of the rod or cord is connected to the valve, clutch, or

page_text: equivalent device. The handle automatically locks itself in any position in which
it is placed, but it may be released by a small lever which is pivotted to the handle
and inay be embraced by the fingers to disengage the lock. It is preferred to
provide the rod or cord which passes down the second tube with a swivel or the
like so that any twist or rotary motion imparted to the upper part is not necessarily
communicated to the lower part.
By the one handle, then, the second tube may be rotated to effect the steering,
and moved to apply the brake; and the handle itself may be moved to stop, start,
reverse, or regulate the speed of the motor or vehicle.
It will of course be understood that each one of the devices herein described,
may, instead of the function ascribed to it, fulfil one of the others, but I prefer the
arrangement set forth as the action of putting on the brake is the one at present
generally employed in vehicles, and as the steering by moving a crank arm or wheel
to the right or left is a natural motion..
The handle may be provided with a projecting movable stem which may be
depressed by the thumb to sound a bell or other signal, and the tube or tubes
which is or are moved to apply the brake may be provided with a catch so that it
or they are held in any position, the catch being released when required, as, for
example, by downward pressure of the arm or elbow,
If desired the device may be constructed and employed to perform only some of
-the operations herein mentioned, as for example steering and braking.
Means, such as a strong spring, may be provided for holding or assisting to hold
the steering arm in any position.
Dated this 7th day of November 1896.
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Starting, Stopping, Steering, Braking, and similar
Devices for Power Driven Vehicles.
I, JOHN BIRTWISLE, of 4 York Street, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
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:-
The object of this invention is to provide means to enable the driver of a power
driven vehicle to effect the starting and stopping, steering, braking or the like of
the vehicle by means of a single handle from which the hand need not be moved
and so that any one of these operations may be effected at any time without inter-
fering with the others or so that they may all be effected at one and the same
time.
The accompanying drawings illustrate apparatus constructed to embody these
improvements, Figure 1 representing it in side elevation and Figure 2 showing
part of it at right angles to Figure 1.
A is a tubular bracket or its equivalent which is pivotted or hinged to the side
or any convenient part of the vehicle in such a manner as to be capable of being
moved to and fro. The brake gear a is attached to this bracket and the brake
is applied by the to and fro movement of the bracket.
Contained within the tubular bracket A and capable of rotation therein is a
tube B which projects both above and below the bracket. The lower end of this
tube carries an arm or wheel C by means of which the steering may be effected.
At a point above this arm and wheel and opposite to the centre upon which the brake

page_text: bracket is pivotted the tube B is provided with a universal joint or equivalent
device D which permits it to be moved freely with the brake bracket or tube and
at the same time to be rotated. The lower part of the tube B which carries the
steering arm or wheel is so mounted in the bearing E as to only partake in the
rotary motion of the upper part and not in the to and fro motion.
The upper end of the tube B is provided with a handle crank arm or wheel F
by means of which it may be rotated or partly rotated to effect the steering. The
handle G by means of which the tube may be rotated is movable in or upon the
crank arm or wheel as for example by being pivotted thereon at g.
Attached to
the handle or an extension therefrom are devices by means of which a rod, cord
or the like H which passes through the centre of the tube B may be moved up and
down to effect the starting, stopping, reversing or the like of the motor or the
vehicle. This movement is preferably effected by slotting the upper end of the
tube B and mounted thereon a crank lever J one end of which is within the tube
and has attached to it the rod or cord H. The other end of the lever is connected
by a link K to the projecting part of the handle. If a rod or the like H be employed
it is provided with a flexible part where it crosses the brake bracket pivot and the
universal joint. The lower end of the rod or cord is connected to the valve or
equivalent device. The handle automatically locks itself in any position in which
it is placed, but may be released by a small lever L which is pivotted to the handle
and may be embraced by the fingers to disengage the lock when required in any
usual and well known manner. Instead of being pivotted to the crank arm the
handle G may be reciprocated in a slot therein or be capable in other ways of
relative motion thereto.
It is preferred to provide the rod or cord which passes through the tube B with
a swivel or the like so that any twist or rotary motion imparted to the upper part
is not necessarily communicated to the lower part.
As will be seen on reference to Figure 2 the brake bracket is pivotted by a
cranked or other part M so as to leave a free passage for the tube B.
The handle G may be provided with a movable stem N which may be depressed
by the thumb to ring a bell O or to sound any other convenient alarm, and the
brake bracket or the tube B may be adapted to engage with a rack or the like
to hold the brake in any position, as is at present usual with ordinary vehicles.
By the one handle, therefore, the whole apparatus may be moved to and fro
to apply or release the brake, the crank arm may be moved to the right or left
to rotate the tube B and effect the steering, and the handle itself may be moved
relatively to the crank arm to start, stop, reverse, or regulate the speed of the
motor or vehicle.
It will be understood that each one of the devices herein described may, instead
of the function ascribed to it, fulfil one of the others, but I prefer the arrangement
set forth as the action of putting on the brake is the one at present generally,
employed in vehicles, and as the steering by moving a crank arm to the right or
left is a natural motion.
If desired the apparatus may be constructed and employed to perform only
some of the operations herein mentioned, as for example, steering and braking.
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. A starting, stopping, steering, braking and similar apparatus for power
driven vehicles, consisting of a bracket or the like to which the brake gear may
be attached, a tube mounted within the bracket so as to be capable of rotary motion
and by means of which the steering may be effected, and a movable handle which
may be connected to the valve or equivalent device, all constructed arranged and
operated substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and as
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2. In the apparatus hereinbefore described the combination with the operating
handle of a movable stem or the like by means of which an audible signal may
be operated, substantially as herein before described and as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
3. In the apparatus herein described the combination of a brake bracket and
a rotary tube or the like provided with a universal joint in its length, constructed
arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore set forth and as illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
4. An apparatus for starting, stopping, steering, braking and similarly con-
trolling or manipulating power driven vehicles, constructed arranged and operating
substantially as herein before described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.