Improvements in Running Gear for Motor Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Running Gear for Motor Vehicles.
I, JOHN WASHINGTON EISENHUTH, of 40, Wall Street, in the City, County,
and State of New York, United States of America, 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 state-
ment:
My invention relates to improvements in running gears for motor vehicles
and it consists in a running gear comprising front guide wheel and rear wheels,
one or both of which may be employed for propelling the vehicle, the pro-
pelling wheels being provided with internal gearing, a pinion for engaging
said internal gearing and mounted upon a suitable shaft, whereby it may be
connected with any suitable means of propulsion, the construction being such
that dust or dirt is excluded from the gearing.
It also consists in a running gear comprising drive wheels and front guiding
wheels, the said guiding wheels being mounted upon independent shafts, seg-
mental gears secured to each of the said shafts and intermediate connecting
gearings provided with and operating means for moving the segmental gears,
simultaneously to turn the guiding wheels.
It also consists in certain other constructions, combinations and arrange-
ments of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 represents a top plan view of my improved motor vehicle running
gear, portions of the same being shown in section to better reveal the con-
struction of the parts.
Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section through the said running
gear upon a line passing through one of the steering heads.
Fig. 3 represents a front elevation of the steering apparatus.
Fig. 4 represents a top plan view of a portion of the said running gear
illustrating a different means for bracing the frame work thereof, and,
Fig. 5 represents a similar view showing the manner of strengthening the
said frame when it is designed for use upon heavy trucks.
1 in the drawings represents my improved motor vehicle running gear;
2 the rear wheels thereof, and 3 the front or steering wheels.
The rear axle 4 is mounted in a sleeve as 5 forming a part of the frame of

page_text: the vehicle. The axle 4 projects beyond the sleeve 5 at each end thereof and
carries the rear wheels 2 of the vehicle. The rear wheels 2 are preferably
formed with inwardly extending hubs as 6 between which and the axle 4, are
interposed roller bearings as 7. Anti-friction washers as 8, 8 are interposed
between the ends of the rollers in the said bearings and an anti-friction
washer as 9 is interposed between the hub 6 and the end of the sleeve 5. The
hub 6 is held in position upon the axle 4 by means of a nut as 10 engaging
suitable screw threads formed upon the ends of the axle. The ends of the
axle and the nuts 10 are preferably enclosed by a dust proof cap as 11 which
is screw threaded upon a portion of the hub 6.
The rim of each wheel 2
is preferably formed in two parts, one portion 12 of which is formed integral
with the web portion extending to the hub 6, while the other portion 13 engages
ball bearings which are interposed between it and a disc as 14 formed upon
the sleeve 5. The portion 13 of the rim is suitably joined and secured to the
portion 12, the two parts forming a peripheral groove to receive a tire prefer-
ably of rubber as 15, said tire being of any suitable or desired construction.
Upon the inner periphery of the rim 12 is formed an internal gear as 16 said
gear being located approximately upon the central vertical plane of the wheel.
The gear 16 is adapted to be engaged and actuated by means of a pinion as 17
which is secured upon the outer end of a shaft 18 mounted in the frame 1.
This shaft 18 finds bearings at its inner end at 19 in the frame of the running
gear and preferably has an end friction bearing as at 20 in the said bearing 19
to receive its end thrust. The shaft 18 also extends through the disc 14 and
is provided with a suitable bearing as at 21 formed therein. The shaft 18 may
be connected in any suitable manner with the motor for receiving power and
thus communicating the same through the pinions 17 to the internal gearing 16
or rotating the drive wheel or wheels and propelling the vehicle. It will be
noted that by examining Fig. 1 of the drawings, that the rim 13 is comparatively
small and extends only a short distance toward the axial point of the wheel.
The disc 14 upon the other hand is of considerable size and reaches to within
a short distance of the said rim portion 13, thus closing the internal gearing 16
entirely within the wheel and protecting it from dust or grit of any kind.
Since the rim portion 13 moves with the wheel 2 and the disc 14 is stationary,
I employ roller bearings as 22 which are interposed between the peripheral
grooves formed in the said rim 13 and the disc 14. These grooves form seats
or bearings in which the balls may run. In order to protect these bearings
from dust or other foreign substances. I form an over-hanging flange as 23
upon the disc 14 as seen in Fig. 1. Both of the rear wheels 2 may be con-
structed in the manner above described in which case a second shaft like the
shaft 18 will be employed and connected with a source of power for communi-
cating movement to the wheel upon the other side of the vehicle.
The steering mechanism also forms an important feature of my invention.
The front wheels 3 are mounted upon short shafts as 24, roller bearings as 25
being interposed between the said wheels and the said shaft to reduce the friction.
To the inner ends of each of the short shafts 24 are secured vertical guide-
spindles as 26 which find suitable bearings in the guide heads 27 formed upon
each side of the vehicle. Each of the steering heads 27 is formed so as to
receive upper and lower ball bearings as at 28 and 29 which engage the said
spindle 26 and support the same in its vertical position. The lower balls rest
against a peripheral shoulder as 30 formed upon a spindle 26 and engage a
race way as 31 formed in the lower end of the head 27. The upper balls 28
run in a suitable race way as 32 also formed in the head 27 and both of the
ball bearings thus formed are adjusted and held in place by means of a cone
is
as 33 secured in place upon the spindle 26.
cone 33
held in
of
place by means
а
washer 34 and
a
nut 35. A binding
nut 36 holds the cap nut 35 against accidental displacement. It will
thus be seen that each of the wheels 3 is mounted so as to turn freely and in
This
or
cap

page_text: such a manner that there is little chance for friction between the parts. To
the lower end of the spindle 26 and just inside of the inner ends of the short
shafts 24 are mounted segmental gears as 87, 37, the said segmental gears 37, 37
being semi-circular in shape. Interposed between the segmental gears 37,37
and meshing with each of them, is an actuating pinion or gear wheel as 38
secured to the lower end of a vertical shaft 39. The shaft 39 engages bearings
as at 40 in the frame of the vehicle and extend upwardly to a suitable height,
being provided at its upper end with a hand operating wheel as 41 by which
it may be turned to actuate the guiding wheels. If desired, the hand wheel 41
may be replaced by means of a hand lever without departing from the spirit
of my invention. The steering heads 27 27 are preferably braced with respect
to each other by means of rods or tubing as at 42 42. These steering heads 27
are also braced with respect to the frame 1 by means of diagonal tubing 43, 43.
The said tubing is connected at the front of the vehicle to each of the heads 27
and at the rear to bearings 21 upon the disc 14. The central portion of this
bracing structure is held in place by a coupling as 44. By crossing the tubing
thus in the center of the vehicle a larger space is allowed for the turning of
the wheels 3 upon their spindles. I also mount upon the coupling 44 anti-
friction rollers as 45 which limit the inner movement of the wheels 3 and
prevent them from coming in contact with the braces.
In some forms of
vehicles, where it is not necessary to use such heavy bracing, the tubing may
be replaced by means of diagonally arranged cables as 46, 46 as illustrated in
Fig. 4 of the drawings. In making strong trucks for very heavy work, it
is sometimes necessary to further brace the frame-work of the vehicle to withstand
the strain and in this instance, I employ brace rods 47 shown in Fig. 5 of the
drawings. When the braces 47 are employed, the diagonal braces may be used
or not as desired. The bearing 19 is braced with respect to the bearing 40
by means of a longitudinal brace rod or tube as 48 and the said bearing 19
may also be braced with respect to the sleeve 5 by means of a rod or bar as 49.
It will be evident from the above description that I am enabled to produce
a running gear which is particularly adapted for motor vehicles and one in
which the driving gearing can be completely enclosed to protect it from dust
or other foreign substances, which are detrimental to the same. It will also
be observed that the steering mechanism is of a simple yet effective construc-
tion and that it can be readily controlled from the vehicle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A running gear for motor vehicles comprising guide wheels and drive
wheels mounted upon a suitable frame, the drive wheels being formed with a
main rim having internal gears, an auxiliary rim moving therewith a stationary
enclosing plate, a bearing interposed between the said plate and the auxiliary
rim, pinions engaging the said internal gears being mounted upon suitable
shafting which may be connected with any source of propulsion, the construc-
tion being such that the gearing may be completely enclosed and protected,
substantially as described.
2. A vehicle running gear comprising a suitable frame-work, steering wheels
and driving wheels for supporting the same, the said driving wheels being
provided with internal gears mounted near the peripheries thereof pinions for
engaging the said gearing to rotate the wheels and connected with any suitable
source of power, and discs secured to the said frame and enclosing the internal
gears of the wheel, and ball bearings interposed between the said discs and the
peripheries of the wheels, substantially as described.
3. A running gear for vehicles comprising a frame mounted upon suitable
wheels, the driving wheels being formed with internal gears and having rims
formed of divided rim portions, the inner rim portions having annular bearing
grooves enclosing discs secured to the said frame, and having peripheral bearing

page_text: grooves and intermediate balls interposed between the grooves upon the rim
portion and the grooves upon the disc for forming an anti-friction joint
between the two, a pinion for engaging the internal gearing, and means for
driving the said pinion to rotate the driving wheels, the construction being such
that the driving gearing may be entirely enclosed within the drive wheels and
protected thereby from dust and foreign substances, substantially as described.
4. A running gear for motor vehicles comprising a suitable frame mounted
upon guiding and driving wheels, the driving wheels being formed with hubs
mounted upon the ends of a suitable axle, roller bearings interposed between
the said axle and the said hubs, anti-friction washers mounted between the
roller bearings, the said wheels being also formed with internal gears above
their peripheries, a sleeve surrounding the said axle and provided at its ends
with discs extending toward the peripheries of the wheels, ball bearings inter-
posed between the said discs and the peripheries of the wheel, and means for
actuating the internal gears, the construction being such that the said internal
gearing is entirely enclosed and protected, substantially as described.
5. A running gear for motor vehicles, comprising a frame having a sleeve,
an axle mounted in the said sleeve and projecting beyond the ends thereof,
driving wheels mounted upon the ends of the said axle and having peripheral
portions for holding a suitable tire, one of the said peripheral portions being
provided with annular bearings, discs formed upon the ends of the said sleeve
and extending toward the peripheral portions, anti-friction balls mounted
between the said disc and the said peripheral portion, and an overhanging
flange for excluding dirt and foreign substances from said bearings internal
gears formed upon the inner peripheries of the rims of the wheels, a pinion for
actuating the said gears secured upon the ends of the shafts, the said shaft
passing through the disc and finding a suitable bearing in the frame of the
vehicle the construction being such that the gearing is entirely enclosed and
protected from dust and foreign substances, substantially as described.
6. In a running gear for vehicles, the combination with a suitable frame,
of vertical journal bearings or steering heads formed therein comprising a
hollow cylindrical body portion having upper and lower ball run-ways, vertical
spindles or bearings secured to the skeins of the guiding wheels and extending
upwardly through the said hollow body portions, balls interposed between the
said spindles and the said body portions, cones for holding the balls in place,
cap nuts for closing the tops of the hollow body portions and holding the cones
in position, binding nuts for holding the spindles and the caps in place, and
means for rotating the spindles so as to guide the steering wheels, substantially
as described.
7. A running gear for vehicles, comprising a frame having suitable guide
wheels, each of said wheels having independent shafts provided with vertical
spindles engaging suitable steering heads, means for bracing said steering heads
with relation to the frame of the vehicle, comprising diagonally arranged rods,
a central coupling holding said rods in place and anti-friction rollers mounted
upon each side of the coupling to prevent the said wheels from engaging the
said bracing structure, substantially as described.
Dated this 5th day of October 1899.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of G, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.