An Improved Universal Joint applicable to Autocars, and for other Purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Universal Joint applicable to Autocars, and for other
Purposes.
I, EMILE JEAN MONTEILLET, of 11, Cité Bertrand, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Cartwright, 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 more particularly to an improved arrangement of universal
joint applicable for motor cars and other like purposes.
In the example shown in the accompanying drawings this joint is applied to
an autocar under conditions which allow of the motive power being applied to
the steering axle. In this manner the use of differential gear is avoided and the
vehicle is dragged instead of being pushed, and any desired form may be given to
the box or body of the vehicle without being impeded by the arrangement of the
motor and its accessories.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a front view in elevation of the car or carriage;
Figure 2, a plan view;
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are views on an enlarged scale, Figure 3 being a section
of the universal joint through the axis of the front axle, Figure 4 a section
at right angles to this axle, and Figure 5 a section along the axle showing the
front wheel in an inclined position.
There is nothing particular to point out as regards the box or body mounted
on the rear axle. All the invention relates to the fore part of the vehicle.
The front axle a carries a wheel b which is both driving and steering wheel.
Said wheel revolves in two lateral supports cc connected at their upper part by
a cross bar d. This latter by means of a vertical support sustains a shaft e
having at one of its ends a chain wheel f and at the opposite end a pulley g
A motor m of any suitable kind is fixed to the side frame c. Its toothed wheel h
transmits movement by a chain to the wheel f and consequently to the shaft e.
This movement is transmitted by a belt from the pulley to a pulley i keyed on
the axle a. The cross bar d is adjustable on the lateral uprights c c¹ so as to allow
its position to be varied in height in order to regulate the tension of the chain.
With the same object the steering fork ; is mounted to slide freely in tubular
arms k k while the belt itself is subjected to the action of a stretcher which is not
shown in the drawing.
The wheel is mounted on the motor axle a in the following manner;-
The axle passes at its centre through a metallic sphere with which it forms one;
the sphere is encased by bearings o fixed to the hub proper p, whilst r are the
spokes of the wheel. Four grooves parallel to the axle and diametrically opposite
one another are formed partly in the sphere 7 and partly in the bearings o
and receive four balls which connect the wheel band the axle
77
Owing to this arrangement the wheel is carried along in the move-
ment of rotation of the axle and becomes the driving wheel, but
a.

page_text: on the other hand it may freely assume oblique positions in different
planes as regards this axle as shown more particularly in Figure 5, which allows
of it being used as a steering wheel. The rods k k¹ carry two fixed collars qq
which embrace the extremities of the hub and form ball bearings for the wheel,
see Figures 3, 4 and 5.
Figure 2 shows the steering arrangement formed of a rod support v, pivotted
levers stand u and a handle.
The vehicle shown in the drawing is merely shown as an example of the applica-
tion of my improved universal joint. Of course the application of this arrangement
of joint may be applied to any suitable mechanism of transmission in order to
replace the Cardan joint.
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 whai
I claim is―
1. The improved arrangement of universal joint hereinbefore described and
with reference to the accompanying drawings, both in its application to autocars
or in any other mechanical application.
2. An autocar provided with the universal joint herein before described in
which the steering axle is at the, same time the driving axle, differential gear
being dispensed with and the rear axle supporting the box or body of the car
being entirely independent of the motor, substantially as set forth."
Dated this 19th day of December 1898.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of G, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.