Improvements in and relating to Sliding Coupling Mechanism for Auto-motor Cars.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1900
Improvements in and relating to Sliding Coupling Mechanism for
Auto-motor Cars.
A communication from abroad by THEODOR STORT, of Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany, Engineer.
"
I, ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES, of 55 and 56, Chancery Lane, in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
With regard to self propelling vehicles it is necessary that the wheels driven
by the motor should be independent of each other as far as their motion is con-
cerned, as, in passing over curves, differences of speed arise from the fact that the
wheels on the inner side of the curve move at a less speed than those located on
the outer side thereof.
Now in order to render the wheels independent of each other, differential gear-
ings, power couplings, clutches adapted to be released by a manipulation of the
steering device, or the like, have before now been inserted. All these arrange-
ments, however, have the disadvantage of being somewhat complicated; besides,
as they are, each and every one of them, moving parts of machinery and, as such,
are liable to wear, they not infrequently necessitate somewhat extensive repairs
ctcetera.
On the other hand those arrangements which are based upon the principle of
Uhlhorn's Power Coupling," and which are, comparatively speaking, the most
simple arrangements of the class, are yet attended with the drawback of being
merely one-sided in their operation, so they admit of no rearward motion.
In the driving gear the subject of this invention, there is interposed, between
the motor and each of the wheels it propels, a spring controlled sliding coupling
which so long as the course of the vehicle in motion is straight, operates as a
rigid connection; but the moment any obstacle tends to impede its progress on
either side, such, for example, as the resistance encountered in travelling over
curves, where the wheels can no longer move at an equal speed, a sliding move-
ment takes place in the couplings, the inner wheel lagging behind and the outer
wheel taking the lead. The setting, or adjustment, of the coupling to the par-
ticular degree of power, at which it is desired that the sliding movement should
take place, is effected by compressing the springs by means of nuts; and it will
be understood that it is necessary so to predetermine the degree of power in
question, that even the tractive power required for overcoming the maximum
gradient shall be below that degree; so that, in ascending gradients, no sliding
may occur.
Daial the 3rd day of March 1800
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Sliding Coupling Mechanism for
Auto-motor Cars.
I, ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES, of 55 and 56, Chancery Lane, in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication from abroad by Theodor Stort, of Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany, Engineer), and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
With regard to self propelling vehicles it is necessary that the wheels driven
by the motor should be independent of each other as far as their motion is con-
cerned, as in passing over curves, differences of speed arise from the fact that the
wheels on the inner side of the curve move at a less speed than those located on
the outer side thereof.
Now in order to render the wheels independent of each other, differential gear-
ings, power couplings, clutches adapted to be released by a manipulation of the
steering device, or the like, have before now been inserted. All these arrange-
ments, however, have the disadvantage of being somewhat complicated, besides,
as they are, each and every one of them, moving parts of machinery and, as such,
are liable to wear, they not infrequently necessitate somewhat extensive repairs
etc.
On the other hand, those arrangements which are based upon the principle of
"Uhlhorn's Power Coupling and which are, comparatively speaking, the most
simple arrangements of the class, are yet attended with the drawback of being
merely one-sided in their operation, so they admit of no rearward motion.
In the driving gear, the subject of this invention, which is illustrated in the
accompanying drawing by a view in plan-elevation, there is interposed, between
the motor and each of the wheels it propels, a spring controlled circumferential
sliding-coupling b which so long as the course of the vehicle in motion is straight,
operates as a rigid connection, but the moment any obstacle tends to impede its
progress on either side, such, for example as the resistance encountered in travel-
ling over curves, where the wheels can no longer move at an equal speed, a cir-
cumferentially sliding movement takes place automatically in the couplings b,
the inner wheel lagging behind and the outer wheel taking the lead. The setting
or adjustment of the coupling to the particular degree of power, at which it is
desired that the circumferentially sliding-movement should take place, is effected
by compressing the spring f by means of nuts g and it will be understood that it
is necessary so to predetermine the degree of power in question, that even the
tractive power, required for overcoming the maximum gradient, shall be below
that degree, so that in ascending gradients, no sliding may occur. The other
parts of the figure, as the axle a, the intermediate wheels c, d, and the running
wheels e will be easily understood without further explanation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
A circumferentially sliding-coupling for automobiles etc. arranged between the
motor and the running wheels, and adjusted by a regulating spring, in order to
admit independent movement of the running wheels, substantially as described
and for the purpose said.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.