Improvements in Electrically Propelled Vehicles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrically Propelled Vehicles.
I, MARK WESLEY DEWEY, of the City of Syracuse, in the County of
Onondaga, in the State of New York, United States of America, Electrician, do
hereby declare the nature of my 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 certain improvements in electrically propelled vehicles.
The object of my invention is to electrically guide or steer a self-propelled
wheeled vehicle easily, accurately and while being propelled at a high speed, and
this without great exertion or rapid and long movement.
The object of my invention also is to provide more efficient steering apparatus
for my fire engine patented February 17th, 1891, No. 2862.
Another object of my invention is to obtain the power, necessary for guiding the
carriage, from the propelling electric motor or from a motor in continuous operation
without reversing its movement or changing its speed.
To this end my invention consists in the combination with a wheeled vehicle,
having two axles, and one of said axles adapted to turn on a vertical axis to steer or
guide the vehicle, of a circular rack connected to the axle, an electric motor
mounted upon the vehicle, two loose pinions on a shaft geared to said rack and
driven in opposite directions by the motor, a clutch between the pinions to clutch
either pinion and to turn the shaft, and means to operate the clutch.
My invention consists also in the combination with the steering axle or wheels of
a vehicle, of an electric motor, a suitable clutch to connect the motor with the
axle, electro magnets in a circuit to operate the clutch, and a switch to control
the current in the circuit.
My invention consists further in the combination with the steering axle or
wheels of an electrically propelled vehicle, of an electric motor, connected to the
said axle or wheels, and controlling mechanism for said axle or wheels having
movable parts, one of said parts adapted to be moved by hand and the other part
arranged to be moved by the motor or steering axle.
And my invention consists still further in certain other combinations of parts
hereinafter described and specifically set forth in the claims.
Referring briefly to the drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electrically propelled vehicle equipped with my
invention,
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same somewhat differently arranged to show the
invention more clearly and completely, and
Figure 3 is an enlarged modified form of my steering apparatus.
In the drawings A is the rear or driving axle, A¹ is the front or steering axle,
B is a frame extending between and supported by said axles, C is the electric
motor for propelling and steering the vehicle supported in front of the rear axle by
the same and the frame, D is a receptacle on the vehicle containing a storage or
secondary battery for supplying the said motor with current and D is the circuit
containing the battery and motor.
The motor C is shown connected to the rear wheels through a suitable com
pensating gear E to allow the relative movement of the wheels when turning a
corner.
The frame B has a raised portion at b and is so shaped to allow the wheels on
the steering axle A¹ to be cramped under said frame to permit the vehicle to
make short turns while being propelled.
Above the steering axle A' and fixed thereto is a fifth wheel or circle A"
having a rack a for a screw or worm to work in on about half of its periphery.

page_text: a is the screw or worm on a shaft d extending crosswise of the vehicle and to
be suspended from the frame thereof. At one end of said shaft is a clutch
mechanism, shown more clearly in Figure 3, consisting of two mitered gear wheels e
mounted loosely upon the shaft and with cones on the sides facing each other, and
a sleeve e on the shaft between the said gear wheels, with ends shaped to receive
the cones thereon.
The said sleeve is capable of movement between the gear wheels lengthwise of
the shaft and is connected to the shaft by a spline and groove so that the shaft will
be turned therewith. When the sleeve is moved lengthwise on the shaft in either
direction, a cone on one of the gear wheels is pressed against the end of the sleeve
and the said gear wheel is forced against a collar fixed to the shaft on the opposite
side of the gear wheel.
The gear wheels on the shaft d are continuously revolved in opposite directions
by means of a third mitered gear wheel in mesh with them and turned by a
shaft g at right angles to the shaft d.
Motion is transmitted from the motor shaft to the gear wheel ƒ by an irregular
line of shafting g and mitered gear wheels. I do not limit myself to the specific
connection shown between the motor and the steering axle as any other suitable
mechanical connection may be employed to transmit power from the motor to said
axle.
The said mechanical connection is journaled or supported by the frame. B and
has a raised portion at corresponding to the raised portion of the frame to
permit the front wheels of the vehicle to pass under.
I do not limit myself to operating the steering mechanism by the propelling
motor as a separate motor may be provided for steering, and this motor may be
mounted upon the front part of the frame beneath the steersman's seat F. In this
case the gear wheel may be mounted upon an extension of the motor shaft as
shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The sleeve e' may be moved on the shaft to
clutch the gear wheels on either side by means of a hand lever h alone, as shown in
Fig. 3, but it is greatly preferred to operate the lever electrically or by electro
magnets or solenoids as shown in Figure 2. In practice, however, the lever con-
nected with the sleeve is directly operated by the magnets and extends upward
from the sleeve e beneath the seat and both lever and magnets are enclosed, by
a box G as shown in Figure 1. But, for the sake of showing the electrical con-
nections with the magnets clearly, the lever is shown connected to the sleeve f by
a sliding bar h¹.
The lever may be maintained in a central position by springs s bearing against
both sides thereof.
The magnets i are placed on each side of the lever h with their poles facing the
same, and are connected in branches or parallel in a circuit around the motor C.
The magnets may be of high resistance or another resistance may be placed in
their circuit if required as indicated at ..
In front of the seat F is a switch having two parts, one part c capable of being
moved by hand and the other part c' arranged to be moved by the motor or the
steering axle of the vehicle.
The latter part is connected directly with or geared to the steering axle or its
operating mechanism as shown so that it will rotate with said axle in either
direction and stop in any position when the movement of the axle stops. This part
is shown in the drawings as a switch arm fixed to a vertical shaft geared
to a short vertical shaft fixed to the steering axle, and above the centre
thereof.
The part to be operated or rotated by hand is a semi-circular rim of non-
conducting material mounted to turn upon the shaft k below the arm c¹.
Upon the upper face of the rim and in the path of travel of the end of the arm
are two metal plates m one on each side with a space between, so that when the
arm c¹ is in its central position or extending lengthwise of the vehicle, its free end
will rest upon the insulating material of the rim between the said plates. Each

page_text: plate is connected to a branch of the circuit 7 containing one of the magnets i and
the arm c' is connected to the other terminal of the circuit.
When it is desired to cramp the axle in either direction while the motor is in
operation it is only necessary to revolve the part c on the shaft by means of the
handle in the direction and to the distance desired to move the axle, and then
stop the steering axle will closely follow the movement of the part c and stop at
the point where the part e stopped, as the switch arm e¹ will move with the axle
and when it reaches the insulation between the plates m on the rim the circuit will
be broken and the lever will return to its central position between the gear
wheels ee to remain until the part c is again moved in either direction when the
axle A will be moved likewise also.
The fifth wheel A" is shown cushioned in the drawings by cushions u to relieve
the gearing from sudden strains.
If the motor C is employed only for steering, and it is desired to break the
circuit D' when the lever is in its central position, it may be done as shown in
Figure 3 by connecting one terminal of the circuit with the fulcrum of the lever,
and the other terminal with stationary contact springs n with which the lever is
brought in contact when moved to either side from its central position.
The details of construction may be modified without departing from the spirit of
my invention.
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 what I
claim is :-
1-The combination with a wheeled vehicle having two axles, and one of said
axles adapted to turn on a vertical axis to steer or guide the vehicle, of a circular
rack connected to the axle, an electric motor mounted upon the vehicle, two loose
pinions on a shaft geared to said rack and driven in opposite directions by the motor,
à clutch between the pinions to clutch either pinion and to turn the shaft, and means
to operate the clutch."
2 The combination with a wheeled vehicle having two axles, and one of said
axles adapted to turn on a vertical axis to steer or guide the vehicle, of a circular
rack connected to the axle, an electric motor mounted upon the vehicle, two loose
pinions on a shaft to be operated by the motor relatively to each other, a clutch
mounted on said shaft, axially concentric therewith, and to turn the same, a
mechanical connection between the shaft and the rack, and suitable means to clutch
either of said pinions as desired.
3-The combination with a vehicle having an electric motor mechanically con-
nected with an axle or wheels thereof to propel the same, of an axle adapted to
turn on a vertical axis, wheels simultaneously driven in opposite directions by the
motor, and a suitable clutch whereby either and both of said wheels may be
clutched and connected to the latter axle for the purpose described.
4-The combination with the steering axle or wheels of a vehicle, of an electric
motor, a mechanical connection between the motor and said axle or wheels, a
suitable clutch in said connection for tying the motor to and releasing it from said
connection, electro magnets in a circuit to operate the clutch, and a switch to control
the current in the circuit.
5-The combination with the steering axle or wheels of a vehicle, of an electric
motor, a suitable clutch to connect the inotor with the axle, two electro magnets in
a circuit to operate the clutch and a switch whereby the current may be passed
through either of said magnets independently of the other..
6-The combination with the steering axle or wheels of a wheeled vehicle, of an
electric motor connected to the said axle or wheels, an electric circuit, means in the
circuit to control the movement of the axle, and a switch to control the movement
of said means and having parts adapted to move relatively to each other, one of
said parts adapted to be operated by hand and the other part operated by the motor
or axle for the purpose described.

page_text: 7-The combination with the steering axle or wheels of an electrically propelled
vehicle, of an electric motor, to operate the said axle or wheels, an electric circuit,
means in the circuit to control the direction of movement of the axle or wheels,
and controlling mechanism for said means having movable parts, one of said parts
adapted to be moved by hand and the other part arranged to be moved by the
motor or steering axle.
8 The combination with the steering axle or wheels of a wheeled vehicle, of au
electric motor connected to the said axle or wheels, to turn the same on a vertical
axis, a lever to control the movement of the axle adapted to turn on a vertical axis,
and means to cause the axle to conform exactly or closely to the movements of the
said lever.
9 The combination with a wheeled vehicle having two axles, and one of said
axles adapted to turn on a vertical axis to steer or guide the vehicle, of a circular
rack connected to the axle, an electric motor mounted upon the vehicle, a battery
on the vehicle in circuit with the motor, two loose pinions on a shaft geared to
said rack and driven in opposite directions by the motor, a clutch between the
pinions to clutch either pinion and to turn the shaft, and means to operate the
clutch.
10 The combination with the steering axle or wheels of a vehicle, of an
electric motor, a mechanical connection between the motor and said axle or wheels,
a secondary battery to supply current to the motor, a suitable clutch in said
connection for tying the motor to and releasing it from said connection, electro
magnets in a circuit to operate the clutch, and a switch to control the current in
the circuit.
11-The combination with the steering axle or wheels of an electrically propelled
vehicle, of an electric motor connected to the said axle or wheels, a battery to supply
current to the motor, an electric circuit, means in the circuit to control the move-
ment of the axle, and controlling mechanism for said means having movable parts,
one of said parts adapted to be moved by hand and the other part arranged to be
moved by the motor or steering axle.
12-The combination with a wheeled vehicle, of an electric motor mounted upon
the back part of the vehicle, a front axle and wheels adapted to be rotated on a
vertical axis in either and both directions, a frame for the vehicle shaped to allow
the wheels to pass thereunder, a mechanical connection between the motor and axle
arranged to allow the said wheels to pass thereunder and supported by the frame,
and means to control the movement of said axle.
13 The combination with a wheeled vehicle, of an electric motor mounted upon
the back part of the vehicle, and arranged to propel the same, a secondary battery
on the vehicle to supply current to the motor, a front axle and wheels adapted to
be rotated on a vertical axis in either and both directions, a frame for the vehicle
shaped to allow the wheels to pass thereunder, a mechanical connection between
the motor and axle arranged to allow the said wheels to pass thereunder, and
supported by the frame, and means to control the movement of said axle.
14 The combination with the steering axle or wheels of a wheeled vehicle, of
an electric motor to operate said axle or wheels, mechanism adapted to be moved
by hand and regulating apparatus for said axle or wheels affected by the movements
both of the axle or wheels and said hand mechanism, whereby variations in the
relative direction of movement of said axle or wheels and said hand mechanism
produce variations in the direction of movement of the axle or wheels.
15 The combination with the steering axle of a wheeled vehicle, of an electric
motor to cramp said axle, a lever adapted to be moved by hand, an electric circuit,
a contact carried by said lever and connected with said electric circuit, terminals
for said circuit adapted to be moved with the axle by the motor and to bear on said
contact, whereby when said terminals are removed from said contact the circuit is
broken and the movement of said axle is stopped.
16 The combination with the steering axle of a wheeled vehicle, of an electric
motor to cramp said axle in either and both directions, a rotating body adapted to

page_text: be moved by hand, a contact carried by said rotating body between which a circuit
to the motor is completed, and terminals for said circuit carried by the steering
axle and adapted to bear on said contact, whereby the reversal of the movement of
said rotating body changes the direction or path of the current and the direction of
movement of said axle."
Dated this 10th day of Narambor 1801
MARK WESLEY DEWEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.