Improved Driving Mechanism for Motor Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Driving Mechanism for Motor Vehicles.
1, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Build-
ings, in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to me
from abroad by Aachener Stahlwaaren Fabrik vormals Carl Schwanemeyer, of
Aix la Chapelle, Germany, Manufacturers,) to be as follows:―
This invention relates to a construction of improved driving mechanism for
motor vehicles in which the driving motor is connected directly with the
differential coupling gear and the driving axles. This is effected by arranging
all the parts which serve for the propulsion of the vehicle as a self-contained
whole, whereby such mechanism can readily be applied to any ordinary vehicle
so as to convert it into a motor vehicle.
As is known, existing motor vehicles require a specially constructed under-
frame, to various parts of which the several parts of the propelling mechanism
are applied, such as the motor with its power generator, the arrangement, whereby
the great speed of rotation of the motor is transmitted in a reduced ratio to the
driving road wheels, and whereby also this ratio of transmission can be varied
between certain limits according to the load on the vehicle and the nature of the
ground; furthermore, the device whereby the driving motor can be rapidly put
in and out of action and finally an apparatus (differential coupling) for enabling
the two driving road wheels to be driven at different speeds, as may be required
for steering &c.
In order to prevent the concussions to which the road wheels are subject owing
to inequalities of the road, from being transmitted to the body of the vehicle
this requires to be connected to the road wheels by springs; this necessitates
the employment of elastic or flexible means of transmission between the motor
and the road wheel axis, and this has heretofore been accomplished by the use
of articulated shafts in combination with bevil wheels, chains or belts.
The improved construction forming the subject of the present invention also
avoids the necessity for such elastic transmission devices, with all its disadvan-
tages the power being transmitted from the motor to the driving axle at the
required speed-ratio by means of spur wheel gear while the improved construction
and mode of connection of the parts is such as to allow of the interposition of
springs between the body and the road wheels as in existing constructions.
In the improved construction all the parts serving for the propulsion. from the
source of power to the differential coupling are arranged round about the latter,
and are enclosed in a casing which serves both to protect such parts, and as an
oil bath therefor.
I will proceed to describe the said invention with reference to the accom-
panying drawings where the source of power is assumed to be a benzene motor.
Figs. 1 and 2 shew respectively a part longitudinal sectional elevation and a
cross section of the motor car Fig. shews an enlarged longitudinal section of
the mechanism, and Fig. 4 shews a sectional plan of the same.
The two driving road wheels are mounted on a divided axle aa, the two halves
of which are situated within tubular casings 6 that are connected on the one hand

page_text: with the motor car frame by means of springs e and on the other hand are
screwed to a divided casing d d which contains the other parts of the driving
gear.
The driving axles a extend with their ends into this casing and have there
fixed upon them, bevil wheels e e, which, together with the bevil wheels f f
gearing therewith constitute the differential coupling. The wheels ff are
mounted on pins g that are screwed into the central part h of the casing of the
differential coupling, as shewn at Fig. 4.
The flanges ii of this casing are made to constitute parts of frictional couplings,
being provided at their outer periphery with two spring coupling bands kk
consisting of a steel band covered with leather, whose ends are formed hook
shaped as at Fig. 3.
With these hooks can engage a lever pivotted to a pin m screwed into the
flange of the casing.
If one of the levers is turned in the direction of the arrow Fig. 3 it will
contract the band k by means of the hook, so that it is moved out of contact with
the internal surface of the rim of the toothed wheel n or o as shewn at Fig. 3
and the lower side of Fig. 4.
The movement of the lever 7 is effected by a ring p which can be shifted to
the right or left hand upon the casing of the differential coupling by means of
the fork p¹ shewn in Fig. 3. This ring is bevilled off to a wedge shape
on its
two sides as shewn at Fig. 4, so that when shifted it can slide under the rollers g
mounted on pins on the arms of the levers so that such arm is raised and effects
the turning of lever / so as to contract the band k either of the wheel n, or of o,
as the case may be.
The driving spur wheels n, o, are not fixed on the axles a, but can turn upon
the same either with ball bearings as shewn, or otherwise. They are driven by
means of two smaller spur wheels s and t on the shaft r, which are either driven
directly by the motor engine so that the shaft r becomes the motor shaft or,
as shewn in the drawing, the shaft r of wheels s and t may be driven from
the special motor shaft u by means of the two spur wheels and w.
If the source of motive power be a four-stroke cycle internal combustion engine,
as shewn on the drawings, the use of a special motor shaft u affords the advantage
that the intermediate shaft ?", which is made to run at half the
speed of the shaft u, can serve at the same time as the cam shaft for the valve
motions.
Also, in using the shaft r as an intermediate shaft running at half the speed
of the engine shaft, the diameters of the driving spur wheels n, o, can be made
smaller than would otherwise be possible, so that they are not only cheaper
and lighter, but also the entire casing and consequently the complete driving
mechanism will be smaller, lighter and of less cumbrous appearance.
As shewn on the drawings the two large spur wheels n, o, and their pinions t, s,
are of different diameters so that their speed will also be different, and con-
sequently the road wheels of the vehicle will be driven at a quicker or a slower
speed, according as o or n is put in gear with the axle by means of the friction
coupling.
When the sliding ring of the coupling is situated in the middle position,
neither of the driving wheels n and o are in gear with the axle so that the motor
car will be stationary while the motor engine may continue to run.
If the casing d were made of sufficient greater width and the shaft were
correspondingly lengthened, it will be evident that one or more additional sets
of transmission wheels might be employed for affording a correspondingly
increased range of speeds at which the vehicle can be driven.
Dated this 15th dor of December 1800
ABEL & IMRAY.
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improved Driving Mechanism for Motor Vehicles.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Build-
ings, in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to me
from abroad by Aachener Stahlwaaren Fabrik vormals Carl Schwanemeyer, of
Aix la Chapelle Germany, Manufacturers,) 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 a construction of improved driving mechanism for
motor vehicles in which the driving motor is connected directly with the
differential coupling gear and the driving axles. This is effected by arranging
all the parts which serve for the propulsion of the vehicle as a self-contained
whole, whereby such mechanism can readily be applied to any ordinary vehicle
so as to convert it into a motor vehicle.
As is known, existing motor vehicles require a specially constructed under-
frame, to various parts of which the several parts of the propelling mechanism
are applied, such as the motor with its power generator, the arrangement whereby
the great speed of rotation of the motor is transmitted in a reduced ratio to the
driving road wheels, and whereby also this ratio of transmission can be varied
between certain limits according to the load on the vehicle and the nature of the
ground; furthermore, the device whereby the driving motor can be rapidly put
in and out of action and finally an apparatus (differential coupling) for enabling
the two driving road wheels to be driven at different speeds, as may be required
for steering &c.
In order to prevent the concussions to which the road wheels are subject owing
to inequalities of the road, from being transmitted to the body of the vehicle
this requires to be connected to the road wheels by springs this necessitates
the employment of elastic or flexible means of transmission between the motor
and the road wheel axis, and this has heretofore been accomplished by the use
of articulated shafts in combination with bevil wheels, chains or belts.
The improved construction forming the subject of the present invention also
avoids the necessity for such elastic transmission devices. with all its disadvan-
tages the power being transmitted from the motor to the driving axle at the
required speed-ratio by means of spur wheel gear while the improved construction
and mode of connection of the parts is such as to allow of the interposition of
springs between the body and the road wheels as in existing constructions.
In the improved construction all the parts serving for the propulsion. from the
source of power to the differential coupling are arranged round about the latter,
and are enclosed in a casing which serves both to protect such parts, and as an
oil bath therefor.
I will proceed to describe the said invention with reference to the drawings
accompanying my Provisional Specification where the source of power is assumed
to be a benzine motor.
Figs. 1 and 2 shew respectively a part longitudinal sectional elevation and a
cross section of the motor car, Fig. 3 shews an enlarged longitudinal section of
the mechanism and Fig. 4 shews a sectional plan of the same.
The two driving road wheels are mounted on a divided axle a a, the two halves
of which are situated within tubular casings b that are connected on the one hand
with the motor car frame by means of springs and on the other hand are
screwed to a divided casing d d which contains the other parts of the driving
gear.
The driving axles a extend with their ends into this casing and have there

page_text: fixed upon them, bevil wheels e e, which together with the bevil wheels f f
gearing therewith constitute the differential coupling. The wheels ff are
mounted on pins g that are screwed into the central part h of the casing of the
differential coupling, as shewn at Fig. 4. The flanges ii of this casing are made
to constitute parts of frictional couplings, being provided at their outer periphery
with two spring coupling bands k consisting of a steel band covered with leather,
whose ends are formed hook shaped as at Fig. 3.
With these hooks can engage a lever / pivotted to a pin m screwed into the
flange of the casing.
If one of the levers is turned in the direction of the arrow Fig 3 it will
contract the band by means of the hook, so that while it is drawn close to
the flange i-it is moved out of contact with the internal surface of the rim of
the toothed wheel n or o as shewn at Fig. 3 and the lower side of Fig. 4.
The movement of the lever is effected by a ring p which can be shifted to
the right or left hand upon fhe casing of the differential coupling by means of
the fork shewn in Fig. 3. This ring is bevilled off to a wedge shape on its
two sides as shewn at Fig. 4 so that when shifted it can slide under the rollers
mounted on pins on the arms 1 of the levers so that such arm is raised and effects
the turning of lever / so as to contract the band either of the wheel n, or of o,
as the case may be.
The driving spur wheels n, o, are not fixed on the axles a, but can turn upon
the same either with ball bearings as shewn, or otherwise. They are driven by
means of two smaller spur wheels s and t on the shaft r, which are either driven
directly by the motor engine so that the shaft becomes the motor shaft or,
as shewn in the drawing, the sleeve on the shaft r of wheels s and t may be driven
from the special motor shaft u by means of the two spur wheels and w.
If the source of motive power be a four-stroke cycle internal combustion engine,
as shewn on the drawing the use of a special motor shaft u affords the advantage
that the sleeve on the intermediate shaft r, which is made to run at half the
speed of the shaft w, can serve at the same time as the cam shaft for the valve
motion.
Also, in using the sleeve r as an intermediate shaft running at half the speed
of the engine shaft, the diameters of the driving spur wheels n, o, can be made
smaller inan would otherwise be possible, so that they are not only cheaper
and lighter, but also the entire casing and consequently the complete driving
mechanism will be smaller, lighter and of less cumbrous appearance.
As shewn on the drawings the two large spur wheels n, o, and their pinions t, s,
are of different diameters so that their speed will also be different, and con-
sequently the road wheels of the vehicle will be driven at a quicker or a slower
speed, according as o or n is put in gear with the axle by means of the friction
coupling k.
When the sliding ring 2 of the coupling is situated in the middle position,
neither of the driving wheels n and o is in gear with the axle so that the motor
car will be stationary while the motor engine may continue to run.
If the casing d were made of sufficiently greater width and the shaft r were
correspondingly lengthened, it will be evident that one or more additional sets
of transmission wheels might be employed for affording a correspondingly
increased range of speeds at which the vehicle can be driven.
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 driving mechanism for motor vehicles, a spur wheel or spur wheels
driven by the motor and mounted free on the differential gear of the axle of
the road driving wheels, and means for coupling such spur wheel or wheels with
the differential gear, the whole mechanism together with the motor mechanism
being contained in the same casing, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. In a driving mechanism for motor vehicles such as is referred to in Claim 1
the arrangement of the shaft which carries the gear wheels transmitting the
motion from the motor shaft to the driving axle as a cam shaft for the valve
motion of the motor engine, substantially as described.
3. In a driving mechanism for motor vehicles such as is referred to in Claim 1
a device for coupling and uncoupling the spur wheel or wheels with the differential
gear consisting of a ring p which can be shifted on the casing of the differential
gear, substantially as described.
Dated this 14th day of September 1900.