Improvements in Driving Gear for Motor Road Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Driving Gear for Motor Road Vehicles.
We, LA SOCIÉTÉ FRANÇAISE D'AUTOMOBILES; of No. 1, Quai National. ú.Puteaux
(Seine), in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
This invention relates to a novel arrangement of the driving gear for motor
cars and the like in which the connection between a petroleum or similar motor
of speed
and the wheels comprises a train of gear wheels permitting the ratio
between the motor and the wheels to be varied; it likewise relates to a special
device for preventing the motor from racing when thrown out of gear.
With the systems hitherto employed, this defect has not been obviated in cases
where a governor is dispensed with; in fact during the period of time required
for passing from one speed to another, (an operation which necessitates the motor
races to use the expression commonly
being thrown out of gear) the motor
employed.
The present invention consists in effecting the different changes by simply
rotating a handle attached to a shaft, the various angular positions. of which
correspond to the engagement of the different gears, and between each such
engagement to a complete disengagement during which the admission of the gases
to the motor is interrupted or at least diminished in such a manner as to prevent
the motor from racing.
1
In carrying the invention into practice the motor shaft is continued or extended
by means of a shaft which may be driven, as is frequently the case, by means of
bevel gearing or by means of any other suitable means of transmission. Upon
the extension shaft are arranged several gear wheels hereinafter for convenience
termed the 1st 2nd and 3rd gear wheels which are loose upon this shaft and in
constant engagement with three corresponding toothed crowns also distinguished
as the 1st 2nd and 3rd toothed crowns which are rigidly connected with the box
of the differential mechanism, the shaft of which is connected with the wheels by
means of a chain or in any other suitable manner,

page_text: The 1st and 2nd gear wheels are arranged some distance apart and between
them is placed a sleeve sliding upon the extension shaft but caused to rotate with
such shaft by means of a key. The sleeve is provided upon each side with toothed
clutch gearing whereby it is enabled, upon being displaced along the shaft either
to one side or the other, to engage with the 1st and 2nd gear wheels which are
likewise provided with toothed clutch gearing. On the other hand, the 3rd gear
wheel may in the same manner be engaged by means of a second sleeve which,
as it has only to actuate this wheel need only be provided with one set of teeth.
The sleeves may be displaced upon the extension shaft by means of forks turning
upon axes.
The arms of these forks engage in the grooves of cams mounted upon
an upper shaft to which a certain movement of rotation may be imparted by
means of a lever.
:
The three shafts are suitably journalled in a frame. The upper shaft carries
in addition a cam actuating an arm oscillating around a point and connected by
means of two arms or rods to a throttle valve arranged in the inlet of the gases
to the motor, which throttle valve may be the valve ordinarily arranged upon
motors either upon the admission or exhaust pipes, suitably modified so as to
enable it to be operated either by hand or by the mechanism above described, or
a second throttle valve may be specially provided.
The grooves of the cams are of such a form that for a rotation of a certain angle
given to the upper shaft and consequently to the cams, the following positions
are reached in succession, starting of course from a position corresponding to
disengagement of the motor:
0 Disengagement.
No. 1-Engagement of the 1st gear wheel.
0--Disengagement.
No. 2-Engagement of the 2nd gear wheel.
0-Disengagement.
No. 3-Engagement of the 3rd
gear wheel.
By increasing the number of toothed wheels it is obvious that a greater number
of different engagements than three may be provided for.
On the other hand, the cam actuating the throttle valve is such that each time
the lever occupies the position corresponding to disengagement, the throttle valve
is closed sufficiently to prevent the motor from racing if such motor is not pro-
vided with a governor, or to diminish its speed if it is provided with a governor;
the cam must likewise be such that, upon each engagement taking place, the
valve will open in order to permit the motor to run at the normal speed. The
advantage resulting from the interruption of the supply of the gases during
the time the motor is out of gear has already been explained.
As regards the method of actuating the gear wheels, which has been described,
its advantages will be readily understood, because by a single movement the
motor may be thrown into or out of gear without the necessity of operating
separate, parts. Our method of transmission and of actuating a throttle valve by
means of the transmission gear itself having thus been fully described and
explained, we should state that we reserve the right to introduce any alterations
of detail not affecting the principle of our invention. Thus, for instance, we do
not limit ourselves strictly to the arrangement shown and it will be understood
that we may apply our method of actuating the throttle valve, with the intro-
duction of certain constructional details, to trains of gearing arranged in a
manner different from that above described.
Dated this 15th day of March 1898
HASELTINE. LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Driving Gear for Motor Road Vehicles.
We, LA SOCIETE FRANÇAISE D'AUTOMOBILES, of No. 1, Quai National a' Puteaux
(Seine), in the Republic of France, 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 novel arrangement of the driving gear for motor
cars and the like in which the connection between a petroleum or similar motor
and the wheels comprises a train of gear wheels permitting the ratio of speed
between the motor and the wheels to be varied; it likewise relates to a special
device for preventing the motor from racing when thrown out of gear.
With the systems hitherto employed, this defect has not been obviated in cases
where a governor is dispensed with; in fact during the period of time required
for passing from one speed to another, (an operation which necessitates the motor
being thrown out of gear) the motor races to use the expression commonly
employed.
"
The present invention consists in effecting the different changes by simply
oscillating a handle attached to a shaft the various angular positions of which
correspond to the engagement of the different gears, and between each such
engagement to a complete disengagement during which the admission of the gases
to the motor is interrupted or at least diminished in such a manner as to prevent
the motor from racing.
In order that this invention may be readily and clearly understood, reference is
to be had to the accompanying drawing in which :-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation shewing the method of transmission adapted.
for a motor car driven by a petroleum or similar motor.
Figure 2 shews the different positions of the operating lever for effecting the
various engagements and disengagements.
A is the motor the shaft of which is continued or extended by means of a
shaft B which may be driven, as is frequently the case, by means of bevel gearing
or by any other suitable means of transmission Upon the extension shaft B are
arranged several gear wheels C, C1, C2 which are loose upon this shaft and in
constant engagement with three corresponding toothed crowns D, D1, D2 which
are rigidly connected with the box of the differential mechanism E, the shaft E¹
of which is connected with the wheels by means of a chain or in any other
suitable manner.
The gear wheels C and C₁ are arranged some distance apart and between them
is placed a sleeve F sliding upon the extension shaft B but caused to rotate with
such shaft by means of a key b. The sleeve F is provided upon each side with
toothed clutch gearing f whereby it is enabled, upon being displaced along the
shaft B either to one side or the other, to engage with the gear wheels C and C
which are likewise provided with toothed gearing c. On the other hand, the gear
wheel C may in the same manner be engaged by means of a sleeve F which, as
it has only to actuate this wheel C, need only be provided with one set of teeth.
The sleeves F and F may be displaced upon the extension shaft B by means of
forks G and G¹ turning upon pivots 00. The arms g and gl of these forks engage
in the grooves of cams H and H¹ mounted upon an upper shaft I to which a
certain movement of rotation may be imparted by means of a lever i. The said
sleeves may if desired he operated by levers fixed upon a shaft.
The three shafts I, B and E' are suitably journalled in a frame L. The upper
shaft I carries in addition a cam Jactuating an arm i oscillating around a

page_text: '
point and connected by means of two arms or rods, j³ to a throttle valve K
arranged in the inlet of the gases to the motor, which throttle valve may be the
valve ordinarily arranged upon motors either upon the admission or exhaust
pipes, suitably modified.s
1.so as to enable it to be-operated either by hand or by
the mechanism above described, or a second throttle valve may be specially
provided.of. 15
The grooves of the cams H and H¹ are of such, a form that for a rotation of a
certain angle given to the upper shaft I and consequently to the cams, the
following positions are reached in succession, starting of course from a position
corresponding to disengagement of the motor:
0-Disengagement.
-:
No. 1 Engagement of the gear wheel C.
0-Disengagement.
No. 2--Engagement of the gear wheel C¹.
0-Disengagement.
No. 3 Engagement of the gear wheel Ca.
..
..
....
.476.
By increasing the number of toothed wheels it is obvious that a greater number
of different engagements. than three may be provided for...
On the other hand, the cam J actuating the throttle valve K is such that each
time the lever occupies the position 0 corresponding to disengagements, the
valve K is closed sufficiently to, prevent the motor from racing if such motor is
not provided with a governor, or to diminish its. speed if it is provided with a
governor; the cam J must likewise be such that, upon each engagement, taking
place, the valve will open in order to permit the motor to run at the normal speed.
The advantage resulting from the interruption of the supply of the gases during
the time the motor is out of gear has already been explained..
As regards the method of actuating the gear wheels, which has been described,
its advantages will be readily understood, because by a single movement the
motor may be thrown into or out of gear without the necessity of operating
separate parts. Our method of transmission and of actuating a throttle valve by
means of the transmission gear itself having thus been fully described and
explained, we should state that we reserve the right to introduce any alterations
of detail not affecting the principle of our invention. Thus, for instance, we do
not limit ourselves strictly to the arrangement shewn and it will be understood
that we may apply our method of actuating the throttle valve, with the intro-
duction of certain constructional details, to trains of gearing arranged in a
manner different from that above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A method of transmission by means of gear wheels between a driving shaft
and a shaft to which it is intended to impart various pre-determined speeds,
characterised by the employment of engaging devices of any suitable kind
engaging wheels mounted loose upon this shaft, the said wheels gearing with
other wheels connected with the parts to be actuated; these engaging devices
being operated by means of forks actuated by grooved cams or by levers rigidly
fixed upon a shaft in such a manner that by causing this shaft to rotate through
a suitable angle, the engagement of the different gear wheels is effected in
succession, and this whilst automatically effecting a complete disengagement
between each such engagement, as above described and specified with reference
to the accompanying drawing.
2. In combination with the method described in Claim 1 when employed with
a petroleum or similar motor, a device enabling either the total or partial closing
cf a throttle valve arranged in the inlet of the gases, essentially consisting of a
cam or lever rigidly fixed upon the shaft actuating the engaging devices, the

page_text: said appliance operating an arm connected with the throttle valve, which is so
arranged that at each position of disengagement it effects the closing of the valve
and that at each position of engagement it opens such valve, as above described
and specified with reference to the accompanying drawing.
3. The combination as a whole and the different constructional details above
described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 13th day of December 1898
HASELTINE LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.