Year: 1896

page_text: I, WALTER JOHN PERRETT, of Oakdene, Romford, in the County of Essex,
Engineer (a communication from Louis Lockert, 26 Place Dauphine, Paris, in
the French Republic, Engineer) do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
My invention relates to that class of vehicles in which the driving power is
supplied by a motor fixed upon the car and it has for its object the providing of
simpler means for controlling the motion of the car.
My invention consists of improved mechanism in which the operations of start-
ing, stopping, reversing, accelerating speed, and steering, may be simply attained,
and it may be applied to a car fitted with any type of motor.
In carrying my invention into effect according to one modification as applied
to a four wheeled vehicle, I arrange the motor and controlling mechanism on the
front axle. This axle is made in three parts, axially concentric and in line with
cach other, thus forming a composite shaft. The central portion of the axle is
driven directly by the motor, while the portions on either side are mounted in
suitable bearings connected to the carriage body in the usual manner by springs.
On the outer ends of this composite shaft or axle the carriage wheels are fixed.
It is evident from the above construction that the motor and the two carriage wheels
could revolve independently of each other. The motion from the motor to the
carriage wheels is communicated as follows:-Mounted on and forming part with
the motor portion of the axle are two discs, one on either side of the motor: while
similar discs are mounted on and form part with the carriage wheel portions of
the axle, a disc on each portion. There are thus two discs on each side of the
motor; a short space being left between each pair of discs. Immediately in
front of each pair of discs, a single disc is placed, its plane of revolution is parallel
with the axle and one side has a friction bearing upon the two discs; the axial
centre of this disc beng placed centrally relative to the planes of the two discs.
The bearings supporting the single discs are carried on a screwed spindle parallel
with the composite shaft, the carriers being nuts fitting the screwed spindle.
The spindle itself is carried on bearings fitted in any approved manner to the frame
work of the car and the screw is made right hand on the part passing through
one carrier nut, and left hand on the portion passing through the other carrier
nut. Fixed on this screwed spindle is a small mitre wheel which gears into a
second mitre wheel caried on a bracket supported in turn by a vertical spindle.
This vertical spindle passes upwards through the carriage body superstructure
and is supported in suitable bearings. On the upper end of the vertical spindle
a bracket is fixed carrying a small horizontal spindle having at one end a hand
steering wheel and at the other end a small chain wheel. A chain from this

page_text: wheel passes down to a chain extension wheel forming part of the second mitre
wheel.
On the mitre wheel fixed on the screw spindle is an extension having two
collars turned on it and a cam extension from the second mitre wheel projects
out and lies between these two collars.
The operation of the hereinbefore described mechanism is as follows:-The
motion from the motor is communicated to the discs mounted on its portion of
the axle, these discs in turn communicate the motion to the single discs opposite them
by friction at one side of their faces; these discs again in turn communicate the
motion of the discs mounted on the other portions of the axle and so drive the
car wheels. As long as the single discs are axially central between the pairs of
opposing discs the motion of the carriage wheels is constant.
By rotating the steering wheel its movements are communicated by the chain
and the mitre wheels to the screwed spindle; and the single discs being mounted
on screwed carrier brackets are either drawn together or pushed apart an equal
amount, according to the direction of rotation, of the steering wheel. The single
discs thus shift from their axially central position between the opposite pairs of discs
on the axle and therefore the radius of the frictional contact changes so that
the relative speed of the discs on the carriage wheel portions of the axle, compared
with the speed of the discs on the motor portion increase or diminish as the screwed
spindle is made to push apart or draw together the single discs. By this device
the speed of the car may be varied at will and may be decreased until stopped
and then reversed providing that the single discs are of sufficient diameter. If
instead of rotating the steering wheel it is deflected to one side or the other so
as to partially rotate the vertical spindle, the cam extension on the mitre wheel
carried at the foot of this vertical spindle pushes against the collars on the extension
of the mitre wheel on the screwed spindle and thus moves the screwed spindle
with its carrier brackets and single discs either to the left or to the right; the
result of this is that the single discs give a positive acceleration to the speed of
one of the discs on the carriage wheel portion of the axle and an equal negative
acceleration to the disc on the other portion. The result of this simultaneous
increase of speed on one carriage wheel and decrease in the other; causes the
carriage to turn in the direction of the slowest revolving wheel. As soon as the
turning movement has been effected the steering wheel is brought back into its
normal position and the carriage proceeds in a straight line.
By a suitable motion the single discs may be taken altogether out of contact
with their opposing discs when the carriage is going down hill.
Dated this 25th day of Contambo 1900
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Motor Cars for Common Roads.
I, WALTER JOHN PERRETT, of Oakdene, Romford, in the County of Essex,
Engineer (a communication from abroad by Louis Lockert of 26 Place Dauphine, 4
Paris, in the French Republic), do hereby declare the nature of this invention

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to that class of vehicles in which the driving power is
supplied by a motor fixed upon the car and it has for its object the providing of
simpler means for controlling the motion of the car.
My invention consists of improved mechanism in which the operations of start-
ing, stopping, reversing, accelerating speed, and steering may be simply obtained,
and it may be applied to a car fitted with any type of motor.
The different modes of carrying my invention into effect are illustrated in the
acompanying drawings in which―
Figure 1 is a partial plan of my improved gear applied to the front or driving
wheels of a motor car.
Figure 2 is a partial front elevation of the improved gear shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a partial side elevation of the same modification.
Figures 4 and 5 are respectively part side and part end elevations of a motor
vehicle showing another modification of my invention also applied to the front
or driving wheels.
Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 are details of the modification shown in the preceeding
Figures 4 and 5.
Figure 10 is a side elevation and Figure 11 a plan of a further modification.
of my invention.
Referring to the modification shown on Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.
My invention is there shown as applied to the front or driving wheels of a four
wheeled vehicle and in the drawings only that part is illustrated. I arrange a
suitable motor of any type such as A immediately in front of the main axle B, C, D.
This axle is made in three parts axially concentric and in line with each other
thus forming a composite shaft. The central portion of the axle is driven
directly by the motor while the portions C, D, on either side are mounted in
suitable bearings F F connected to the carriage body in the usual manner by
springs. On the outer ends C, D, of this composite shaft or axle the carriage
wheels G, G, are fixed. It is evident from the above construction that the motor A
and the two carriage wheels G, G, could revolve independently of each other,
but to communicate the motion from the motor to the carriage wheels the following
methods are adopted. Mounted on and forming part with the motor portion B
of the axle are two discs H H one on either side of the motor, while similar discs II
are mounted on and form part with the carriage wheel portions C, D, of the axle,
a disc on cach portion. There are thus two discs H, I, on each side of the motor A
a short space being left between each pair of discs. Immediately in front of cach
pair of discs H, I, a single disc J is placed, its plane of revolution is parallel with
the axle B, C, D, and one side has a friction bearing upon the two discs; the
axial centre of each disc J being placed centrally relative to the planes of the two
discs H, I, when in their normal position. Again behind each pair of discs H, I,
another disc J is placed similar in action and construction to that opposite it,
so that in describing the mechanism used to operate these discs J only one set
will be referred to. The bearings K K supporting the single discs J Jare
carried on a screwed spindle L parallel with the composite shaft, the carriers M M
being screwed as nuts at their lower portion where they fit on the spindle L while
the spindle itself is carried on bearings N N fitted in any approved manner to
the frame-work of the car. This spindle L is only screwed for a short distance
at either end where it passes through the nuts M M and these screws are made
right hand on the portion passing through one carrier nut and left hand on the
portion passing through the other carrier nut. The controlling arrangement con-
sists of a pillar made up of an inner rod and two outer sleeves P and Q the
whole supported in suitable bearings attached to the car frame-work and so arranged
that either O P or Q may be rotated by their respective hand wheels O P Q¹.
The inner rod O is screwed at its bottom end into a lever pivoted at the opposite
end R¹ which in turn bears on tail levers T T that form part of the carriers M M

page_text: by means of the pins T T¹ so that the discs J J may be lifted out of gear when
desired and the car stopped. The inner sleeve P has a helical gear wheel U fixed
on its lower extremity which gears into a single wheel V fixed to the spindle L
so that upon rotating the hand wheel P the spindle L is revolved and the right
and left hand screws travel the carrier nuts M M and with them the discs J J
a similar distance out or in to vary the speed as hereinafter described.
On the bottom of the outer sleeve Q a helical gear wheel W is fixed which gears
with a similar wheel X mounted upon a bracket I attached to the spindle L the
wheel being screwed and fitting on the screwed spindle Z carried in bearings
on the bracket Y thus when the wheel Q is rotated the wheel X revolves and by
its screw forces the spindle L bodily to one side or the other moving the discs J
at the same time and giving differential motion to the driving wheels when
steering, all as hereinafter described. The motions to the duplicate set of discs J J
and spindle L on the opposite side may be transmitted by a link or other device.
The operation of the hereinbefore described mechanism is as follows:-The
motor A drives directly the shaft 13 and the discs H H, and these discs H H com-
municate the motion by friction to the single discs J J opposite them which in
turn communicate the motion to the discs I I mounted upon the portions C D
of the composite axle and so turn the wheels G G and propel the car and as long
as the single discs J J are axially central between the discs H I the motion is con-
stant. To increase or decrease the speed of the car the wheel P is revolved either
to the right or the left this causes the shaft L to revolve as already described
and as the single discs J J are mounted on the screwed carrier brackets M M
they are either drawn together or pushed apart an equal amount according to
the direction of rotation of the wheel P. The discs J thus shift from their axially
central position between the opposing pairs of dises H I on the axle and therefore
the radius of the frictional contact changes so that the relative speed of the discs
on the carriage wheel portions C D of the axle, compared with the speed of the
discs on the motor portion B increases or diminishes as the screwed spindle L
pushes apart or draws together the single discs J, and thus by this device the
speed of the car may be varied at will and may be decreased until stopped and then
reversed, providing that the single discs J J are of sufficient diameter. In steering
the vehicle the wheel Q is rotated either to the right or the left as desired and this
operating through the gearing already described moves the shaft L laterally to
one side or other of the vehicle carrying bodily the brackets M M and discs J J
in that direction; the result of this is that the single discs J J give a positive
acceleration to the speed of one of the discs I in the carriage wheel portion of
the axle and an equal negative acceleration to the disc on the other portion. The
result of this simultaneous increase of speed on one carriage wheel and decrease
on the other causes the carriage to turn in the direction of the slowest revolving
wheel and as soon as the steering has been effected the steering wheel P is
brought back into its normal position and the carriage proceeds in a straight line.
Referring to the modification illustrated at Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 the com-
posite driving axle B C D is precisely similar to the last described modification
and has a central part B with discs H H driven by any suitable motor and outer
parts CD with discs II and carrying the carriage wheels GG, all suitably
mounted in bearings attached to the carriage frame, but in the drawings only
one end D is shown the other end C being similarly constructed. The single
discs J for transmitting the motion from H to I rotate in ball bearings upon
the lever arms a and these discs though not used in pairs as in the previously
described modification have the same functions in steering, stopping and revers-
ing; the devices to secure these ends only being modified.
A vertical pivot shaft b resting in the footstep bearing e is secured to the car
in any suitable manner and this shaft has fixed to it two forks d and e which
embrace at their outer ends sliding blocks carrying a second vertical shaft f.
This vertical shaft is capable of three distinct movements and these three move-

page_text: ments control the vehicle and are as follows;-1st. When the hand wheel g
attached to the head of the shaft f is rotated, the bevel wheel à rotates the bevel
wheel fixed to the spindle L and as this spindle has right and left hand screw
threads in its outer ends which go through nuts on the lever arms the single
discs J are either pulled nearer the centre of the vehicle or pushed further away
and the vehicle's speed correspondingly altered. 2nd. When the hand wheel j
is rotated its screwed spindle k operating on the nutcifclosed but sliding within
the fork e causes the shaft b and both forks d and e to swivel and these forks
acting upon the blocks in their jaws at their outer ends which contain the vertical
shaft f cause that shaft to move bodily to the right or left and as at the bottom
end it is fastened to a block m which is attached to the screw shaft L that shaft
is moved in the direction of its length and therefore moves at the same time
the discs J. A pin n held between extension arms pp fastened to the lever
arms a is embraced by an eye bracket o fastened to the shaft and acts as an
additional guide when the above movement is taking place. The variation in the
driving wheel's speed obtained in this manner is used in steering in the manner
hereinbefore referred to. 3rd. The whole shaft f fastened at (although rotating
in) its extremity to the piece m can swivel backwards or forwards through a
slight are, and this is effected by the rotation of the wheel q by its screwed spindle
acting on a nut s enclosed within a jaw piece t attached to the top fork as shown
in the drawing at Figures 4 and 9. When the shaft f is swivelled forwards the
eye bracket and the pin a carry forward the side pieces pp and depress the
bracket a thus moving the disc J'away from the discs II and I and stopping the
car.
او تاج
Referring to the modification shown at Figures 10 and 11, any suitable motor
such as a drives a composite shaft B C D, with discs H H and II similar in
action and functions to the previously described modifications. A pair of single
discs J J are pivoted on a knuckle joint frame-work u the joint being at v
and the spring w regulating the tension so that any desired friction may be
applied between the discs J J and the discs H I. The motor A drives the portion B
of the shaft by chain, ropes or strap on the drums y and z. A composite shaft
for controlling the vehicle is arranged similar to the first described modification
and consists of an inner rod 0, with two outer sleeves P and Q. When starting
the car the lever Q' is rotated and this causes the outer sleeve Q to turn the worm a¹
formed on its bottom extremity and revolve the worm wheel b₁ which in turn
by means of the link e pivoted eccentrically on it, elevates the jockey pulley d¹
and by putting tension on the belts or straps starts the vehicle. To alter the
speed of the carriage the lever O is turned and with it the rod O which has a
bevel wheel el gearing into another bevel wheel f¹ fixed on a short shaft h¹ so
that the rotation of this short shaft h¹ by the spur gear
rotates the spindle L which is screwed right and left hand where it
gear rotates the spindle L which is schewed right and left hand where it
passes through the pivot knuckles of the framework carrying the dise J J. The
effect of this is the simultaneous outward or inward movement of the discs J J
and therefore as in the previously described modifications regulation of the car's
speed. In steering the vehicle the hand wheel Pt is turned and with it the inner
sleeve P having the worm fixed on its lower extremity which gears into a worm
wheel carrying a link m' pivoted eccentrically on it. The other end of this
link is fixed or attached to a collar n¹ on the shaft L so that the rotation of the
hand wheel P causes the link m' to pull the shaft L either to the right or left
carrying with it the discs J J on their frame-work, thus giving the required
differential motion to the driving wheels G G as in a similar manner to the
previously described modifications. The final drive on to the road wheels is by
means of the pinions X' acting on the internal spur gear or a chain drive may be
adopted.
Instead of the composite controlling shafts with, the inner rod and two outer
tubes I sometimes adopt the following arrangement. Fixed on the screw spindle L.

page_text: is a small mitre wheel which gears into a second mitre wheel carried on a bracket
supported in turn by a vertical spindle. This vertical spindle passes upwards
through the carriage body superstructure and is supported in suitable bearings.
On the upper end of the vertical spindle a bracket is fixed carrying a small
horizontal spindle having at one end a hand steering wheel and at the other end
a small chain wheel. A chain from this wheel passes down to a chain extension wheel
forming part of the second mitre wheel.
On the mitre wheel fixed on the screw spindle is an extension having two collars
turned on it and a cam extension from the second mitre wheel projects out and
lies between these two collars...
By rotating the steering wheel its movements are communicated by the chain
and the mitre wheels to the screwed spindle L and the spindle discs J being
mounted on screwed carrier brackets are either drawn together or pushed apart
an equal amount according to the direction of rotation of the steering wheel.
If instead of rotating the steering wheel it is deflected to one side or the other
so as to partially rotate the vertical spindle, the cam extension on the mitre wheel
carried at the foot of this vertical spindle pushes against the collars on the exten-
sion of the mitre wheel on the screwed spindle L and thus moves the screwed
spindle with its carrier brackets and single discs J either to the left or to the
right.
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. In mechanically propelled vehicles in combination, discs mounted on either
end of a central shaft driven by any suitable motor, similar discs mounted upon
the inner ends of two short shafts co-axial with the central shaft and carrying
the driving wheels of the vehicle upon their outer ends; and as a means of
transmission of the motion from the central motor shaft to the outer ends, discs
placed at right angles to the driving shaft's common axis and acting as friction
gear substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
2. In niechanically propelled vehicles in which the motion from the motor
is transferred from a central shaft by friction discs acting on discs placed on
two exterior co-axial shafts and discs on the central shafts, varying the speed,
steering, stopping and starting the vehicle by altering the relative position of the
friction discs substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
3. The improved mechanism for controlling mechanically propelled vehicles
herein before described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompaying
drawings.
4. The improved mechanism for controlling mechanically propelled vehicles
hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the accom-
panying drawings.
5. The improved mechanism for controlling mechanically propelled vehicles
herein before described with reference to Figures 10 and 11 of the accompanying
drawings.
Datad this 25th dor of Tune 1807
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.