Improvements in Means for Supporting Front or Steering Wheels of Motor Road Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1897-Accepted, 7th Aug., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Supporting Front or Steering Wheels of
Motor Road Vehicles.
I, ALBERT AUGUSTUS POPE, of Cohasset, in the County of Norfolk, in the State
of Massachusetts, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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: -
This invention relates in general to the construction of motor-vehicles of that
class which are intended for use as road-vehicles or horseless carriages and it has
for its object to improve and perfect the construction of such vehicles so that they
shall be better adapted for their intended use. The invention relates more es-
pecially to the construction and arrangement of the means for supporting the
front or steering wheels with respect to the front axle or running gear, with a view
to reducing the liability to skidding of the wheels or to possible break-downs in
turning sharp corners at a high rate of speed and to improving generally the sup-
ports and bearings of these wheels.
In the accompanying drawings, wherein the improvements are illustrated,-
Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section,
of a motor vehicle to which the improvements are applied.
Figure 2 is a front view of the running gear, illustrating the means for support-
ing the front axle and the front wheels.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a partial side view, illustrating the means for supporting the front
wheels with respect to the front axle.
Figure 5 is a detail view in section on a plane indicated by the line 5-5 of
Figure 2, but on a larger scale.
Figure 6 is a detail view, partly in vertical section, illustrating a modified form
of the supporting devices for the front wheels.
Figure 7 is a section on the plane indicated by the line 7-7 of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a partial view in section on a plane at right angles to that of Figure 6,
illustrating more clearly a detail of construction.
Figure 9 is a side view of a portion of a wheel and its support, showing a further
modification of the construction presented in Figures 6 and 7.
Referring first to the construction represented in Figures 1, 2 and 3 it will be
seen that the frame of the running gear comprises, as usual, side bars a a and front
and rear cross bars a¹ a³, these bars being preferably tubular in construction.
The rear cross bar a² has depending arms or hangers as which support the rear
axle c¹³ and the front cross bar a furnishes support for the front axle 6 in a manner
hereinafter described. Between the two side bars a a extend usual carriage
springs a, which support the carriage box or body x, and carriage springs a³,
which support the motor platform y.
The front axle 6 is supported in such a manner as to be capable of oscillating
to a limited extent upon a horizontal pivot so that the four wheels of the vehicle
may be at all times in contact with the ground notwithstanding the inequalities

page_text: of the surface. It is preferred to support the axle as represented in Figures 2,
3 and 5. As there shown, the axle b is secured in the lower portion of a U-shaped
frame or yoke b¹ which, in the upper ends of its arms, has bearings 62 62 for a
hub b, in which the front cross bar a¹ is secured, so that the frame b' and with it
the front axle b, can oscillate upon the hub 62, the axis of which is substantially
horizontal and extends from front to rear. Inasmuch as the front wheels are
mounted so as to swing with respect to the front axle, the latter is not arranged
to swing upon a vertical pivot but is held from movement in a horizontal plane
by braces which are secured to the front cross bar a¹ and extend downward
in rear of the front axle, having vertical bearing faces 65 65, against which the
front axle is supported and at the same time is free to oscillate in a vertical
plane.
:
Each of the front wheels c c is so supported as to be capable not only of rotating.
upon a horizontal or substantially horizontal axis but also of swinging or oscillat-
ing upon a substantially vertical axis to permit of the turning of the vehicle to
one side or the other. This axis of oscillation may be either in the plane of the
wheel or at one side of but substantially parallel with the plane of the wheel and
is preferably in rear of the axis of the wheel and inclined somewhat to the rear of a
vertical line, so that as the wheel is turned to one side or the other, it shall at the
same time be inclined somewhat from a vertical plane and thus be enabled to with-2
stand better the side strain, which is most serious, especially in a wire wheel.
The means for attaching the front wheels to the axle may be variously arranged
and, although I prefer on some accounts the construction and arrangement shown.
in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, I will first describe the construction indicated in the
general view represented in Figure 1 and shown more fully in Figures 2, 3 and 4.
As there represented, each end of the front axle is formed with or has secured
thereto a yoke, the plane of which is preferably inclined somewhat to the rear,
as shown clearly in Figure 4. Each wheel c is mounted upon a stud axle c¹ which
is secured to or forms a part of a bent arm. The latter has pivot stads which
are seated in the arms of the yoke. As the arm is oscillated upon its pivots
it is obvious that the wheel will be turned or swung, to one side or the other and
at the same time, by reason of the inclination of the pivotal axis, will be tipped
more or less in. one direction or the other according to the direction and extent of
its swinging.
It is evident that provision should be made whereby the two wheels shall be
oscillated, or swung in the same direction at the same time and it is also desirable
that the inside wheel, or the wheel which traverses the arc of the circle of smaller
radius in turning a corner, shall be oscillated or swung through a wider angle
than the other so that the tendency of the wheels to slip upon the ground shall
be obviated. At the same time, however, the wheels are inclined from the vertical
in parallel planes, which reduces the liability to break-downs. These results are
accomplished by the arrangement presently to be described. The arms are ex-
tended to the rear of the axle and are connected by links to the steering
mechanism which is disposed between them. As represented in Figure 5 the
yoke of frame has rearwardly extended arms 6 which support a short shaft 67.
The latter has secured thereto an arm 68, through which connection is established
to the hand operated devices carried on the body of the vehicle, and has also secured
thereto a triangular plate or yoke 69, to the opposite corners or extremities of which
the links are severally pivoted, as at 60 and 6". It will be readily understood
that when the shaft 67 is partially rotated to one side or the other, one of the points,
as 610 while moving in the are of a circle towards the point directly in rear of the
axis of the shaft 67, will produce an angular movement of the corresponding arm c³
greater than the angular movement of the other arm which is produced by the
movement of the point 611 away from the point directly in rear of the axis of the
shaft b, thereby effecting the greater angular movement of the inside wheel.
The construction which I have represented in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive, is prefer-
able to that just described not only on account of its greater strength for the same

page_text: weight. and its neater appearance, but also because it permits the axis of oscillation.
of the wheel to lie wholly in the plane of the wheel itself, thereby reducing to a
minimuin the liability of the wheel to be thrown to one side or the other when.
it meets an obstruction in the road and rendering the steering of the vehicle so
much the easier. As represented in said Figures, the hub of the wheel is.
mcunted to rotate upon a secondary hub . The latter is swiveled or mounted to
oscillate upon the end of the axle 6 by means of a stud c7 which engages the.
hub and is received in a suitable head on the end of the shaft b. A sleeve c
is mounted to slide upon the shaft and is connected to one side of the hub c
by a suitable link co so that as the sleeve is moved longitudinally upon the shaft
fin one direction or the other the hub e will be swung in a corresponding direction,
carrying with it the wheel which is mounted thereon. The link c is provided
with a yoke e to engage the sleeve and is connected to the steering mechanism
as before. In order that the wheel shall tip or incline to one side or the other as
it is swung upon its swivel axis, I prefer to place the stud c' in rear of the vertical
diameter of the hub and to incline it rearwardly, as represented in Figure 9.
It will be obvious that whether the front wheels are supported with respect
to the front axle in the manner represented in Figure 3 or in that represented in
Figure 6, the necessary oscillations of the front axle upon its horizontal pivot will
be permitted without interference with the steering mechanism by reason of the
interposition of the links etc, the connections of the latter at their ends being
sufficiently loose to permit the proper amount of play. It will also be evident that
so far as concerns the selection of one form of wheel supporting devices or the
other, it is immaterial what means are employed for enabling the operator to effect
the desired movements of the shaft b7 and the parts.actuated thereby.
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 vehicle having a running gear frame, a front axle, a horizontal axis
for said axle supported by said running gear frame, and front wheels carried by
said axle, braces (such as 6) secured to said running gear frame and having
vertical bearing faces for contact with the rear side of said front axle to support the
same with freedom to swing in a vertical plane, substantially as shown and des-
cribed.
2. In a vehicle having a running gear frame with a front cross bar, and a front
axle, a yoke (such as b¹) to which said front axle is secured, and a hub (such
as b) having front and rear bearings in the arms of said yoke, the front cross
bar being secured in said hub, whereby it may swing in a vertical plane, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
3. In a vehicle, the combination with a running gear frame having a rear
member and supports for the rear axle, a front axle, a horizontal axis for said
axle supported by the running gear frame, a body independent of the running gear
frame and supported by springs thereon, and wheels, of supports upon which said
wheels are free to rotate, and a pivotal connection between each of said supports
and the front axle, the axis of said pivotal connection being in rear of the axis
of the wheel, substantially as shown and described.
4. In a vehicle, the combination with a running gear frame having a rear
member and supports for the rear axle, a front axle, a horizontal axis for said
axle supported by the running gear frame, a body independent of the running gear
frame and supported by springs thereon, and wheels, of supports upon which said
wheels are free to rotate, and a pivotal connection between each of said supports
and the front axle, the axis of said pivotal connection being in rear of the axis
of the wheel and inclined to the rear of a vertical line, substantially as shown and
described.
5. In a vehicle having a running gear frame, a hub (such as c6) mounted to
oscillate with respect to said frame and formed with ball bearing cases at its ends,

page_text: the axis of oscillation being within the hub, a wheel mounted to rotate upon said
hub with corresponding ball bearing cones and balls interposed between said cones
and cases, substan..ally as shown and described.
6. In a vehicle, the combination with the front axle and a head carried by said
axle, of a stud having a bearing in said head, a hub carried by said head to oscillate a
thereon, a wheel mounted to rotate upon said hub, a sleeve mounted to slide on
said axle, and a link connecting said hub to said sleeve, substantially as shown and
described.