Year: 1897

page_text: I, ARTHUR VON BONSTETTEN, of 3 Lampenstrasse Berne, in Switzerland, 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
statement:
This invention relates to a motor car with a power transmitting mechanism in
which, instead of transferring the power of the motor to the driving wheels by means
of a "Gall" chain, which runs on two toothed wheels, there is a device used which
consists of the combination of a pulley and toothed wheel gearing in which the
advantages of the strap (noiseless transinission and quiet working, as well as the
avoidance of shocks) are shown, whilst the chief inconvenience of strap transmissions
that is the sliding of the strap on the pulleys (in consequence of its becoming loosened
by the influence of the weather) cannot happen, as in the present device the strap is
stretched automatically and in proportion to the power to be transmitted.
An example of construction of a motor car with such a mechanism, in connection
with a special device for changing the transmission proportions, consequently the
speed, and with a steering device for the purpose of saving power, combined with
greater security during steering is shown in the annexed drawing where
Figs 1 and 1 show a longitudinal section of the carriage.
Figs 2 and 2 are plan views of the same, the bottom and the front box being
imagined transparent.
Figs 3 and 34 are cross sections on line 2-2.
Fig 4 is a cross section on the line 1-1.
Fig 5 is a cross section through the front axle.
Fig 6 is a diagram referring to the transmission.
Figs 7, 8 and 9 are a front view, side view and plan view of the steering device.
(Details of the motor parts and brakes, which are of the construction already known,
are left out with exception of a band brake in Fig 1).
A motor M of any construction operates the shaft W with the fly wheel S lying
in the longitudinal axis of the car and having a rotary movement. The fly wheel S
carries on its surface facing forwards a number of conical concentric toothed
rings s¹² 83, the inclination of which is measured for proper engagement with
the teeth of the wheel U and the latter are so curved on the periphery of the wheel U,

page_text: .
85
that each tooth possesses all the inclinations belonging to the toothed rings 81 82 83 84,
passing over successively into one another, that is to say the common generating
lines of the engaged teeth pass about through the point of the intersection of the
shaft u.with the shaft. W."
The shaft u the position of which is rectangular to W, has an edged surface and
the toothed wheel U is keyed on a socket U¹, which allows a displacement on the
shaft in its longitudinal direction, but which by the revolution of the toothed
wheel operates the shaft u. The different concentric toothed rings on the fly wheel S
are for the purpose of transferring to the wheel U a different speed according to its
engaging one or the other of these toothed rings. In order to be able to guide the
wheel U securely from one of these toothed rings into the next following one, the
smooth surfaces of the fly wheel lying between the toothed rings form the transition
surface and have an inclination to the axis of the shaft W, which forms the transition
from one of the inclinations of the toothed crowns to the other. Accordingly the
form of the surface of the fly wheel S is a surface formed by the revolution of a
generating line which within the limits coming into consideration is approximately
a parabola.
In order to move the wheel U each time to the proper position, the shaft u is
seated vertically to its axis and movably on carriages V, which are in connection with
the lever Z by means of the rods .¹ x². In order to effect a displacement of the
carriages V and consequently also of the shaft u which is parallel to the longitudinal
axis of u and which forces the wheel U to slide over the surface of the fly wheel S
a guiding rod Y is required in which a slot y1 y2 runs parallel to the curve 81 82 83 84, §6.
In the slot y1 y2 there is a small roller the axle r of which is connected firmly by
arms (the ends of which surround the socket U¹ by means of rings) with the
socket U1 (regulating its longitudinal movement, and thus also of the wheel U.
When the shaft u moves towards the fly wheel, U will reach into the toothed
ring s' and by means of the guide y¹ y² it will pass the other toothed rings
and will also touch the wheel surface.
The guiding rod Y is turnable round the point y3 and is kept in position at
the opposite end by a spring. By means of the lever 3 and the rod i in
connection with the pedal t the wheel U can be disengaged at any position by
pressing the pedal down.
On the shaft u there can be carried when necessary a differential mechanism D
(Figs 2, 2 and 4), also opposite to the wheel U a second conical toothed wheel, for
backward movement without reversing the motor. On the lever Z there is
provided a second lever ¹ which loosens the catches p' p² of the carriages V by
means of the rod xx and which diminishes the tension of the straps by influencing
the frame N, before the nose n' disengages the lever Z and allows its movement for
the purpose of displacing the shaft u.
By the above described device a quiet sliding transition from one speed into another
is attained without disengagement or stoppage.
It is evident that the transmission of movement can also be attained by means of
a fly-wheel S displaceable along its axis, and a fixed shaft u.
"
Instead of providing the shaft u at its ends with toothed wheels according to usual
constructions, so as to transmit the power to the driving wheels by means of "Gall
chains, the chain transmission, which causes noise and the chains of which are easily
liable to breakage, is here replaced by a device with strap and toothed-wheel gearing,
and the power is transmitted from the shaft u, which is seated on the spring
suspended carriage framing, in such a manner to the shaft of the driving wheels,
that no disturbances can take place in the engagement of the teeth in consequence
of spring-operation.
The shaft carries for this purpose at each of its ends a pulley P, which by means
of a strap transmits the revolution to the pulley O and to the small toothed wheel Q
seated on the same shaft, the teeth of this wheel Q engage in those of the larger toothed
wheel R. The toothed wheels R are keyed on the axle or on the nave of the
.corresponding driving wheel, or screwed to its spokes, Figs. 3 and 3ª.

page_text: The shaft q of the wheels O and Q runs in two bearings o which are carried by a
frame N, which is itself turnable (by means of a bearing) round the axle of the
driving wheels. Consequently the distance of the axle of 0 and Q from the axle of
the driving wheels remains constant, and thus movements of the shaft can only
take place concentrically round 1, the engagement of the teeth of Q with those of Ř
does not allow of any disturbances. When the carriage is stationary springs n serve
for holding the strap stretched. As soon as a forward movement is effected, the
toothed wheels Q, which turn in the direction of the arrow 1, try to roll off on the
toothed wheels R in the direction of the arrow 3, and consequently the straps are
stretched the more the greater the power to be transmitted (Fig. 1A.) Fig. 6
shows a diagram of the mutual bearing of the shafts u. q. 1 for two adjustments of
the shaft u, which are indicated by u and u¹ The carrying spring fixed on the
shaft is at one end m arranged turnable on the carriage framing and on the
other side connected with carrying bands. During operation of the spring there are
produced movements of the system u q m and l. In the diagram these movements
refer to m; moves relatively to m approximately radially. The movements of q
and q¹ are effected in small arcs radially round u, or u¹, therefore q¹q² and q₁¹ and q₂¹ are
small arcs, also 12. As these arcs are very small (exaggerated in the drawing) they can
be considered as short straight lines vertical to qu q¹ u¹ and I m. qu and qu¹ are
approximately parallel to 1m; as according to the nature of the case the differences
between and 12, q q¹ and q q², q¹¹ and q¹ q¹ are proportionally small, the
directions belonging to m (112), u (99¹ q²) and u¹ (11' 2) remain approximatively
parallel to one another and consequently the directions of the connection
lines
q¹, 12 q², or q¹, h₁ q₁¹, l² q¹² differ from one another only imperceptibly.
It results therefrom that during the spring operation of the carriage in the above
arrangement the frame N will move very approximately parallel to itself and that thus
no tearing and crushing will take place in the teeth between the wheels Q and R,
which keep their relative position.
1
I by
The shaft u, which according to Fig. 1 is in connection with the shaft
oscillating rods, can be displaced parallel to the shaft q without disturbing the driving
gear.
With the present strap and toothed wheel gearing, when as shown, each driving
wheel is driven independently from the other, the differential gearing D indicated in
Figs. 2 24 and 4 can be dispensed with, as in turning the exterior wheel will run
forward and thus the tension of the corresponding strap is interrupted for the duration
of the turning which allows the exterior driving wheel together with the shaft q to
move more quickly than the remaining mechanism.
Figs. 1, 2, 3 show a construction of the strap and toothed wheel gearing for the
case, when no displacement of the shaft u is required. Then the connecting joints
somewhat changeable in their length between the shafts u and q, which carry the
pressure springs n, can be dispensed with, and springs n with drawing effect can be
used. The wheels R are here arranged within the motor-frame, and the driving
wheels have, as is usual in the construction of cars, an inclined position converging
downwards.
For steering the carriage (Figs. 1. 2. 5. 7. 8. 9) a hand wheel F with its vertical
shaft is used which is held by the stand f¹ and which carries under its bottom a
bevelled toothed wheel G. The teeth of the same engage into those of a smaller
vertical toothed wheel H which is keyed on the spindle of a horizontal endless
screw h. With the threads of the endless screw engage the teeth of a worn-wheel I,
the axle of which carries the steering lever K; the same is connected with the steering
rods by means of two pins, which rods give the desired direction to the front
wheels of the carriage by means of the levers h¹. The axle of the front wheels is
secured at its centre when its position is oblique to the carriage, and carries (according
to usual constructions) at its ends, near the shoulder of the wheels, joints, round the
vertical axle of which the wheel axle can be turned with the wheels.
The springs
which are arranged vertically over the axles of these joints, are turnable with the
wheels round these vertical axles and are connected by pins with the supports g

page_text: provided on the carriage and transfer the movement of the levers h¹ acting on them
to the wheels. By means of this steering device and the endless screw, the influence
of uneveness of the ground on the hand of the driver is obviated and steering will be
essentially facilitated as the driver has only to correct the direction, but for keeping
the direction no effort will be required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An improved motor car characterized by a device for transferring the power of
the motor to the driving wheels by means of a strap gearing and then by toothed
wheels, whereby a toothed wheel connected firmly with the driving wheels or their
shaft is operated by a second toothed wheel the shaft of which is so seated in a
frame, that a movement concentric to the axle of the driving wheels is possible, &
carries a pulley which is driven by means of a strap by a second pulley, which is so
seated that the resistence of the carriage against forward movement giving a tendency
to the second toothed wheel to run on the first one, must effect tension of the strap,
also wherein the shaft carrying one of the toothed wheels and a pulley is in such a
manner under the effect of elastic means, that the strap is also stretched when the
carriage is stationary.
2. In a motor car as in claim 1 the arrangement of the spring extended rods
constituting the said elastic means, so that they are pivoted at one end directly on
the axle of the driving wheels, and connected at the other end one so as to be
longitudinally displaceable with the frame, whereby the connection line of the ends
of the spring extended rods runs nearly parallel with the connection line from the
axle of the driving wheels to the axles of the pulleys.
3. In a motor car as in claim 1 a mechanism for speed varying, consisting of a fly
wheel, on the surface of which conical toothed rings are arranged concentrically in
such a manner that the right engagement of the curved teeth of a toothed wheel,
which is carried by a shaft lying vertically to the axle of the fly wheel, can take place
in each toothed rim of the fly wheel in such a manner that the common generating
line of the teeth passes approximatively through the point of intersection of the axles
of both shafts, whereby, for the passage of the toothed wheel from one toothed rim
of the fly wheel into the next one, the toothed wheel which is displaceable
longitudinally on its shaft but operates the same in its revolution, is to be displaced
on its shaft for the radially measured distance of both toothed rings, whilst on the
other hand the distance of the toothed wheel with its shaft from the fly wheel is to be
changed for the distance of the two toothed rings measured parallelly to the axle of
the fly wheel, by means of movement of the one part relatively to the other one.
4. In a motor car as in claim 1 a device for guiding the toothed wheel mentioned
under claim 3, which receives the power from the toothed rings of the fly wheel, so
that the same by the displacement of its shaft in the direction of the axle of the fly
wheel follows with its teeth the surface of the same and runs successively through the.
toothed rings; consisting of a guiding rod fixed turnably on one end and secured by a
spring on the other end with a slot curved so as to be parallel to the horizontal
section of the fly wheel surface and a roller movable in this slot, the axle of which
roller guides by means of two arms a socket connected firmly with the toothed wheel
and displaceable longitudinally on its shaft, by means of rings turning round the
.socket whereby the corresponding position of the toothed wheel for each position of
the shaft with regard to the fly wheel is determined, also wherein the shaft of the
toothed wheel is seated on carriages movable in the longitudinal direction of the car,
and its displacement is effected from the driver's seat by means of a lever, which
is connected by means of rods with the carriages. Also within reach from the
driver's seat a pedal, which is connected by means of a connecting rod and a lever
with the movable end of the before said guiding rod, in order to remove the toothed
wheel from the fly wheel and to disengage thus the driving mechanism by moving
the guiding rod round on its turnable end.
.

page_text: 5. In a motor car as in claim 1, a steering device consisting of a hand wheel in the
reach of the driver's seat, with a vertical shaft, the under end of which carries a
horizontal conical toothed wheel, the teeth of which engage with those of a vertical,
conical toothed wheel, which is connected with the shaft of a horizontally seated endless
screw, and of a horizontal worm wheel, the teeth of which reach into the threads of
the endless screw, and the axle of which carries a lever, from which two steering
rods operate by means of two levers on the direction of the front wheels, the axles of
which are turnable horizontally near the shoulder round vertical joints, for the purpose
of steering the carriage.
Dahad the f
1
c
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London, Agents to Applicant.