Improvements in Mechanism for Steering Automotors and like Carriages
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 6th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 10th Apr., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIF
ΤΟΝ.
Improvements in Mechanism for Steering Automotors and like
Carriages.
We, COUNT ALBERT DE DION and GEORGES BOUTON both of Puteaux (Seine)
in the Republic of France Builders do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :—
Our invention relates to automotors or like carriages and consists of an
arrangement of steering gear for obviating the distortion of the mechanism and
parts connected therewith due to the yielding of the springs supporting the body
or frame of the carriage, such distortions being produced through the alteration in
angle of the rod or rods connecting the parts connected with the frame with those
connected with the axle.
When in consequence of a jolt in a carriage with steering arrangements as
hitherto arranged the end of the rod which transmits the angular movement of the
guiding arrangements on the frame to the wheels is depressed and as its other end
is connected to a rigid vertical axis which cannot be displaced laterally either the
lever operating the wheels or the mechanism carried by the frame is subjected to a
distorting strain.
According to our invention we articulate the post or pivot bar by which
movement is conveyed from the parts of the mechanism connected with frame to
the rod by which the steering wheel is operated by centering one end of the said
post or pivot bar to the frame and its other end to a swinging rod centred on the
axle portion of the vehicle the said swinging rod being of the same length as the
rod conveying the motion to the steering wheel. In this way whatever may be
the variation in distance from the frame to the axle the angular position of the
points of connection of the rod conveying motion to the steering wheel is not
affected.
Dated this 7th day of May 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Steering Automotors and like
Carriages.
We, COUNT ALBERT DE DION, and GEORGES BOUTON, both of Puteaux
(Seine) in the Republic of France, Engineers, 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:-
Our invention relates to improvements in mechanism for steering automotors and
like carriages the object being to prevent or minimise the distortion or disturbance
of such mechanism and the parts connected therewith consequent upon yielding of

page_text: the springs supporting the body or frame of the carriage, and due to the alteration
in angle of the rod or rods connecting the parts appertaining to the frame with
those attached to the axle.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect we will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which
Figure illustrates diagrammatically the arrangement of steering mechanism
usually employed, and
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a plan and elevation illustrating our improved
arrangement.
a is a portion of the carriage frame and b is a rotary vertical rod forming part
of the steering mechanism, this rod being provided with arms c and d to the former
of which the operating mechanism is connected while the latter serves to transmit
motion to the steering wheels. These wheels are mounted on radiating pivots e
turning on vertical spindles f carried in bearings in the ends of the axle or of
one axle, g of the vehicle. The pivots e are united to arms h inclined towards
each other and connected by a rod i which ensures the two pivots working together.
Motion is transmitted to the pivots by a rod k extending from the arm & to an
arm working on the upper extremity of one of the spindles f, the rod i aforesaid
serving to transmit such movement to the other arm.
In the ordinary arrangement as shown in Figure 1, the rod bis mounted in a
long tubular socket so that although it is free to turn it can only move in a
longitudinal direction as indicated in dotted lines when the carriage springs yield
and allow the body of the carriage to change its position relatively to the axle.
Moreover the rod k is connected to the arms d and by bolts passing through eyes
at the ends of the said rod and consequently when the rod b moves downward
longitudinally the ends of the rod k are bent and strained and the arm is twisted
as indicated in dotted lines.
Besides the liability to breakage which arises from this cause the twisting of
the arm acts on the steering wheels and throws the vehicle to one side or
the other, while sometimes the steering handle is wrenched out of the driver's
hand.
Now according to our invention we provide a ball and socket joint 62 at the
upper part of the rod b and we connect the lower end of the rod by a joint
of the same kind to a short rod 3 working in a ball and socket joint b secured
to the axle. The lower end of the rod 6 is also connected with the axle by a
rod m, of the same length as the rod k, working on a pivot pin m³ on the said
axle.
The result of this construction is that the parts readily accommodate themselves
to the movements of the carriage body and the objections previously referred to in
connection with the arrangement shown in Figure are obviated.
The operation of our improved steering mechanism may conveniently be effected
by a rack n connected by a rod n' with the aforesaid arm c, and actuated by means
of a pinion n² the shaft of which is operated by the steering lever or hand
wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
Our improved steering mechanism, for auto-inotors and like carriages, constructed,
arranged and operating substantially as herein described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.