Improvements in or applicable to Automotive Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1899
Complete Snacification Loft 29th Don 1800 Accented 10th Feb. 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Automotive Vehicles.
I, JOSEPH GREFFE, of 34, Rue Philippe de Girard, Paris, France, Manufac-
turer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the present invention is an automotive vehicle with fore-carriage
tractor capable of being easily detached or rendered independent from the rest
of the vehicle, comprising a new method of suspension of the motor, which
assures the turning of the vehicle in the smallest radius without it being neces-
sary to make the axle in parts, and assuring, by the mode of suspension of the
motor, the working of the wheels of the fore-carriage without in any case the
spindle of the motor mechanism ceasing to be parallel to the vehicle axle.
The fore-carriage comprises a rectangular frame carrying, as well be herein-
after described, the motor and its accessories; this frame is carried by the
intervention of springs by an axle on which are keyed two wheels. The motor
is carried by a fork the extremities of the branches of which, in the form of
eyelets, hinge on the axle, whilst a stem or rod terminating the fork at its other
extremity, can slide in a disc which works in a circular guide on the frame,
the whole being so arranged that the motor can follow the variations in the
height of the axle during the progress of the vehicle, and that the toothed
gearing which transmits the motion from the motor to the axle may always be
in gear.
If movable wheels are employed on the axle, the motor will be
suitable for directly actuating these wheels.
Four uprights secured to the frame of the fore-carriage, carry the driver's
seat. Under this seat is fixed a pin which turns in an eyelet situated at the
extremity of a straight rod constituting the prolongation of the frame of the
vehicle; the fore-carriage together with the seat can therefore turn on this pin
as axis. A curved rack, having the axis of the pin for its centre, is fixed in
front of the frame of the vehicle: a rod secured to the rear of the frame of the
fore-carriage, and in its longitudinal axis, carries a spindle on which are keyed
a chain pinion and a small toothed wheel gearing with the said rack, and a
spindle on which turns a friction roller, which, whilst the said small wheel gears
with the rack, runs on the smooth side of this latter in such a manner that the
rack is engaged between the toothed wheel and the friction wheel. The
toothed wheel is put in action by a chain gearing with the pinion, this chain
receiving its motion from a pinion keyed on a shaft worked by means of a hand
wheel, by the driver; the rotation of the said small toothed wheel on the rack
determines the turning and the direction of the fore-carriage. The vehicle is
suspended on two kinds of springs: on two helical springs vertically arranged
and bearing on a base secured to the axle of the vehicle, and by two plate
springs thin enough to yield under the shocks communicated to the wheel
during progress, but having sufficient resistance to resist endwise strains of
traction or backing.
The motor may be of any suitable kind, say, for example, hydrocarbon, elec-
tric in the latter case. the accumulators which are placed under the frame

page_text: of the motor fore-carriage can easily be put in place by means of a winch
placed on the seat, worked by the conductor, and comprising a crank axle carry-
ing a worm gearing with a worm wheel keyed on a horizontal spindle, on
which can wind two cords of which the free extremities are provided each with
a buckle which can be connected with hooks secured to the accumulator bat- 5
teries to be placed: other hooks, secured to these batteries, are connected to
links of chains suspended under the frame of the fore-carriage.
Dated this 28th day of March 1800
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or applicable to Automotive Vehicles.
I, JOSEPHI GREFFE, of 34, Rue Philippe de Gerard, Paris, France, Manufac-
turer, 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 an automotive vehicle having a fore-carriage tractor
and a new method of suspending the tractor, rendering it possible to turn in
the smallest radius without it being necessary to make the axle in parts, offering
every desired resistance to endwise tractive or backing strains while neverthe-
less accommodating or allowing of the easy steering movements of the fore-
carriage, allowing the driver, by the arrangement and attachment of his seat to
the fore-carriage, to turn at the same time as the tractor and always to face
in the direction of the fore-carriage, permitting, by the method of suspending
the tractor and the disposition of the motor mechanism, to actuate the wheels
of the fore-carriage without in any case the axles of such mechanism ceasing
to be parallel to the fore-carriage axle, and also permitting the driver, by the
aid of a suitable winch, easily to manipulate the electric accumulator battery
or batteries, forming also a part of the fore-carriage, when this form of motive
power is used.
The accompanying drawings represent one form of carrying out the invention:
Figure 1, is a view in partial elevation of the fore-carriage showing the winch
above mentioned;
Fig. 2, is a part view of the same, in plan;
Fig. 3, is a part view of the same, in elevation, showing the method of sus-
pension of the motor mechanism;
Fig. 4, is a plan view of the vehicle, not showing all the parts;
Fig. 5, is a view of the same in partial elevation, showing the method of sus-
pension of the vehicle;
Figs. 6, 7, and 8, are various views of a joint used in the suspension of the
motor mechanism.
The fore-carriage tractor is fitted with two wheels, a¹, mounted on an axle, a,
provided or not with differential gearing, carrying a toothed wheel, 14, receiving
its motion from a motor, k, just as this latter could directly drive loose wheels
on the journals of the axle, by means of appropriate toothed wheels, r,,,
and comprises a metal frame, b, to which are secured springs, c, bearing on
the axle, the accumulators if there are any, the motor, k, arranged above or
below the frame, struts, ¹, supporting the driver's seat, e, the steering wheel, b²,
and the other mechanism of the tractor.
The fore-carriage tractor is adapted to turn about a pin or bolt, g, as a centre,

page_text: which turns in an eye, 63, formed at the end of a forward prolongation, f¹, of
the vehicle frame, 6º.
A rear extension, f, of the tractor frame is fitted with a small grooved
roller, c¹, and also with a spindle, h³, carrying pinions, p, m, which, by means of
the steering wheel, 63, spindle, a, pinion, a³, and chain, r, cause the tractor
to rotate about its axis, when the hand-wheel, 6ª, is actuated, the pinion, m,
and roller, c, engaging with a rack, h, made in the form of an arc of a circle
having the axis, 9, as its centre, and fixedly secured to the lower forward part
of the vehicle frame, 61, the pinion, m, gearing with the rack, and the roller, c¹,
rolling on its rear plain surface.
The vehicle is suspended by two kinds of connected springs, n, v, bearing on
each side on plates, n, connected to the axle, permitting of the flexibility of
the vehicle vertically, the horizontal springs, n, made of wood or other suitable
material, being thin enough to bend under the load, but having sufficient resis-
tance to resist backing or traction strains of the vehicle, being blocked at one
end, ¹, to the rear of the vehicle and at the other end to axle plates, q¹.
The fore-carriage is also provided with a metal fork, i, (Figs. 2, and 3,) having
eyes,,, at its fork ends hinged on the axle, a, or on the axle bushes secured
to the fore-carriage springs, c. The fork, i, terminates in a rod, o, which
slides in a ball, d, (Figs. 2, 3, 6, 7, 8,) enclosed in a socket, g¹, secured to the
fore-carriage frame in such a manner that the fork can vary its positions, either
in a vertical sense or by following the variations in elevation of the driving
wheels on the ground: an electric or other motor, k, having a train of
gearing, 1, 3, 3, suitable for the traction of the vehicle, completing the mechanism
which is secured all together on the fork, i.
If an electric motor be used, the winch for loading and unloading the accu-
mulators consists of a horizontal spindle, q, (Fig. 1,) turning in bearings secured
to each side of the drivers seat, having a toothed wheel, h¹, keyed on the
spindle, a worm, j, keyed on a vertical spindle, l, and engaging with the
wheel, h¹, and actuated by a handle, s, and two ropes, cords or the like, "
secured at one end to the spindle, q, and the other ends being looped and
attachable to hooks, u, on the accumulator, z, required to be loaded or unloaded.
After connecting the ropes, , to the hooks, u, it is only necessary to turn the
handle, s, to rotate the spindle, q, around which the ropes are wound, to raise
the battery until it is in its desired location, whereupon, the battery can be
located by its two other hooks, t, being slung into the links of chains, ³,
depending from the frame, b, whereupon the winch is reversed by the handle, s,
and the battery remains supported by the chains, ³, in place, leaving the two
ropes, 1, free for raising or lowering another battery or for other use.
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 what
I claim is:-
:-
(1). An automotive vehicle characterized by a fore-carriage tractor carrying
all the motor mechanism and the driver's seat and having steering means so
constructed that the driver always faces in the direction of the fore-carriage
tractor; by the described arrangement for suspending the motor permitting the
actuation of the wheels of the fore-carriage and assuring the constant paral-
lelism of the motor axles with the tractor axle as well as their constant distances,
and by the described arrangement of suspending the carriage by two kinds of
springs in combination.
(2). In an automotive vehicle as described in Claim, 1, the arrangement of
the driver's seat above the frame-work of the tractor, the whole pivoting on
a pin turning in the end of a bar which constitutes a continuation of the
carriage frame.
(3). In an automotive vehicle as described in Claim, 1, means for steering
or determining the direction of the vehicle, characterized by a rearward exten-

page_text: sion from the fore-carriage frame carrying at its end a toothed pinion and a
grooved roller, the pinion and roller being so arranged as to act on opposite
sides of a sectoral rack secured to the carriage or vehicle frame, and on which
rack acts the recoil or backing and the tractive forces and along which said
roller and pinion roll together so as to cause the turning of the fore-carriage
about a pivot or pin central in relation to the sectoral rack and connecting the
fore-carriage and the carriage frame.
(4). In an automotive vehicle as described in Claim, 1, the arrangement of
the motor mechanism, electric or other, on a forked rod having at the ends of
its branches eyes hinging on the axle of the tractor or on axle bushes secured
to the fore-carriage springs, so that the pinion or pinions for transferring motion,
gearing with the wheel keyed on the axle, or, where loose wheels are used, on
the axle arms, the toothed wheels actuating these wheels may always be at the
same distance from the axle.
(5). In an automotive vehicle as described in Claim, 1, the arrangement of
a rod constituting a continuation of the fork mentioned in Claim, 4, and sliding
in a ball turning in a socket secured to the rear of the fore-carriage frame, thus
permitting such frame to bend the suspension springs of the 'fore carriage in
a vertical sense and allowing the two driving wheels on the ground to accom-
modate themselves to its irregularities, without the motor mechanism -axles
ceasing to be kept parallel with the tractor axle and keeping a constant distance
between them.
(6). In an automotive vehicle as described in Claim, 1, an arrangement for
suspending the vehicle, characterized by two kinds of connected springs, one
set being vertical and bearing on the plates of the axle, and the other set being
horizontal and connected at one end to the rear of the vehicle and at the other
to the plates of the axle, these latter springs being of wood or metal and suffi-
ciently thin that they may bend under their load but being sufficiently resistant
to withstand endwise strains of traction or backing.
(7). In an automotive vehicle as claimed in Claim, 1, the described arrange-
ment of connecting the fore-carriage tractor to the vehicle permitting the fore-
carriage to be rendered independent of the vehicle by withdrawing a pivot bolt
connecting the tractor and the carriage and the spindle of the roller, c¹.
(8). In an automotive vehicle as described in Claim, 1, the disposition of the
points of attachment of the fore-carriage with the vehicle, distributing the
traction over two points: at one part by the pivot bolt at the upper part of
the fore-carriage, and at another part by the roller, c, at the end of the rod, f,
which roller, in rolling against the rack, turns about the pivot bolt, as its
centre.