Improvements in or relating to Autocars and the like, and Motors for the same.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Autocars and the like, and Motors
for the same.
We, FRANCIS LEIGH MARTINEAU, of Grove Cottage, Ladies Hills, Kenilworth,
Warwickshire, Engineer, FRANCIS PHILLIPS, of 126, Much Park Street, Coventry,
Warwickshire, Brewer, and EDWARD PHILLIPS, of 20, Much Park Street, Coventry
aforesaid, Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention relates to autocars and the like and motors for the same and it
consists in the improvements hereinafter described.
We preferably construct the autocar with two front steering wheels and one
central rear driving wheel, though two rear driving wheels may be employed if
desired. The main frame consists principally of four horizontal parallel tubes
arranged in two horizontal and two vertical planes and these tubes are preferably
utilised to carry oil for the burner of a suitable steam generator. These tubes are
suitably connected and near the front, brackets project to carry two rearwardly
inclined parallel sockets, one at each side of the vehicle. In each of these sockets
is mounted a rotatable stem and from the lower end of the stem a stud axle projects
outward horizontally. The steering wheels are mounted on these stud axles. The
rotatable stems are connected with a centre pin mounted in a central socket, located
preferably somewhat below and in front of the two side sockets, by a differential
arm and link device of usual construction. The steering stem is mounted in a
fourth socket set parallel to and forward of the other three sockets and is also
preferably supported in suitable brackets towards the right side of the vehicle.
stay preferably connects the lower ends of the central and fourth sockets. The
steering stem is provided with a suitable handle at the top whereby it may be
rotated and the rotary motion is imparted to the centre pin by chain or other suit-
able gearing and thence to the stems and steering wheels by the arm and link device
before referred to.
A
Two seats are preferably arranged side by side in front and extend over the
steering wheels, the deflection of such wheels being allowed for in the construction
of the frame and splash boards et cetera. A third seat may be arranged back to
back with the two front seats, and a fourth seat arranged over the driving wheel
may face the third seat.
The steering stem is tubular and contains an internal rotatable spindle. On the
lower end of the said spindle is mounted a bevel wheel which gears with a similar
wheel mounted at a suitable angle thereto on the forward end of an approximately
horizontal rod. The said forward end of the rod is carried by the lower, horizontal
portion of an angle bracket, the upper, vertical portion of which is secured to the
lower end of the steering stem, so that the bracket and rod partake of the motion
of the steering stem around its (the steering stem's) axis; and the rod may be

page_text: rotated around its (the rod's) axis by rotating the internal spindle. The rear end
of the said rod is connected to the device for regulating the valve movements and
preferably carries a tangent screw gearing into a toothed sector of a suitable valve
regulating device. The rod is provided with telescopic and universal joints to allow
it to work independently of the variations in distance and directness between its
two ends.
The motor is suspended from the frame tubes by four bolts and these bolts are
preserved from taking any of the driving strain of the engine in the following
manner. The crank axle rotates in two ball or other suitable bearings. Each of
these bearings is attached to the foot of a vertical shaft mounted in suitable sockets
carried by the frame tubes. The shafts are preferably allowed a small amount
of vertical play and may be bored axially for the passage of oil into the bearings.
The driving wheel axle is also mounted in suitable brackets depending from the
frame tubes, and the thrust of the engine is consequently taken by the parts of the
frame tubes intermediate between the sockets carrying the said vertical shafts and
the brackets carrying the said driving wheel axle, together with the said sockets,
shafts and brackets.
The crank axle and wheel axle are preferably carried as close up as possible to
the lower frame tubes to decrease the bending strains on the parts.
The condensing tanks are arranged on each side of and under the main frame
and enclose the motor and form the sides of the vehicle. The tanks are divided
horizontally the lower division contains water and forms the primary condenser.
The exhaust steam from the engine is first led over the water along the tank from
the front to the back. The steam thus cooled rises into two tubular air condensers
arranged at the rear of the vehicle where it is partially condensed and whence it
descends into a water collecting chamber at the rear of the tanks. There is a small
opening connecting the water in the collecting chamber with that in the primary
condenser so that the two bodies of water always remain level. The quantity of
water in the primary condenser is maintained by a small cock with handle which
communicates with a water tank arranged over the lower tank or primary con-
denser: The water gauge is placed within view from the front seat and suitable
means are provided for conveying the condensed steam and other feed water to
the boiler.
The steam generator is preferably arranged under the front seats and the engine
between the front and rear wheels.
It will be readily understood that certain parts of our invention are applicable
to other autocars and the like than those driven by steam motors and that
modifications may be made without exceeding the limits of our invention.
1011
1 1907
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry, 75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
49, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, Patent Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in or relating to Autocars and the like and Motors
for the same.
We, FRANCIS LEIGH MARTINEAU, late of Grove Cottage, Ladies Hills, Kenilworth
Warwickshire, but now of Clydesdale, Solihull, Warwickshire, Engineer, FRANCIS
PHILLIPS, of 126. Much Park Street, Coventry, Warwickshire, Brewer, and EDWARD
PHILLIPS, of 20, Much Park Street, Coventry aforesaid, Surgeon, do hereby declare

page_text: 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:
Our invention relates to autocars and the like and motors for the same, and it
will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,
Figure I is a view in side elevation of an autocar constructed according to our
invention.
Figure II is a plan of the same, certain of the upper parts being removed, or
indicated by dotted lines only, for clearance.
Figure III is a view in side elevation of the rear part of the frame.
Figure IV is a vertical section of one of the crank axle bearing hangers.
Figure V is a vertical section of certain parts of the steering device and parts
connected therewith.
Figures VI and VII are plan and side views respectively of the condensers.
Various scales are employed in the drawings. Like reference numerals indicate
like parts throughout the drawings.
We construct our autocar with two front steering wheels 2, 2, and with prefer-
ably one central rear driving wheel, as shown in full lines, though two lateral
rear driving wheels may be employed, as indicated in dotted lines, if desired. The
main frame consists principally of four horizontal, parallel tubes, 4, 5, arranged
in two horizontal and two vertical planes, and these tubes are preferably utilized to
carry oil for the burner of a suitable steam generator. The said tubes are suitably
connected by cross and vertical stays 6 and near the front two brackets 7 project
from each side to carry two rearwardly inclined parallel sockets 8 one at each side of
the vehicle. In each of these sockets is mounted a rotatable stem 9 and from the lower
end of each stem a stud axle 10 projects outward horizontally. The steering wheels 3
are mounted on these stud axles 10. The rotatable stems 9 are connected with a
centre pin 11 mounted in a central socket 12, (which is located preferably some-
what below and in front of the two side sockets,) by a differential arm and link
device 13 of usual construction. The steering stem 14 is mounted in a fourth
socket 15 set parallel to and forward of the other three sockets 8, 8 and 12 and is
also preferably supported in a suitable bracket 54 towards the right side of the
vehicle. A stay 16 preferably connects the lower end of the central (12) and
fourth (15) sockets. The steering stem 14 is provided with a suitable handlebar 17
at the top whereby it may be rotated and the rotary motion is imparted to the
centre pin 11 by chain or other suitable gearing 51 and thence to the stems 9,9
and steering wheels 2, 2 by the arm and link device 13.
The steering stem 14 is tubular and contains an internal rotatable spindle 22.
On the lower end of the said spindle 22 is mounted a bevel wheel 23 which gears
with a similar wheel 24 mounted at a suitable angle thereto on the forward end 25
of an approximately horizontal rod 26. The said forward end of the rod is carried
by the lower portion 27 of an angle bracket 28 the upper portion 29 of which
is secured to the lower end of the steering stem 14, so that the bracket 28 and
rod 26 partake of the motion of the steering stem 14 round its (the steering stem's)
axis; and the rod 26 may be rotated around its (the rod's) axis by rotating the
internal spindle 22 which is provided with a small wheel or handle 53 for the pur-
pose. The rear end of the rod 26 is connected to the device for regulating the
valve movements. The rod 26 is provided with telescopic (30) and universal (31)
joints to allow it to work independently of the variations in distance and directness
between its two ends. Two seats 18 are preferably arranged side by side in front
and extend over the steering wheels, the deflection of such wheels being allowed for
A third seat 20 may be
in the construction of the frame, splash boards 19, &c.
arranged back to back with the two front seats; and a fourth seat 21, arranged
over the driving wheel, may face the third seat.
The motor 32 is suspended from the frame tubes by four bolts 33, 34; and these
bolts are preserved from taking any of the driving strain of the engine in the
following manner. The crank axle 35 rotates in two ball or other suitable bear-
ings 36. Each of these bearings is attached to the foot of a vertical shaft 37

page_text: The
(Fig. IV.) mounted in suitable sockets 38 carried by the frame tubes.
shafts 37 are preferably allowed a small amount of vertical play and may be bored
axially (39) for the passage of oil into the bearings. The driving wheel axle 40 is
also mounted in suitable brackets 41 depending from the frame tubes, and the
thrust of the engine is consequently taken by the parts of the frame tubes inter-
mediate between the sockets 38 carrying the said vertical shafts, and the brackets 41
carrying the said driving wheel axle, and by the said sockets, shafts and brackets.
The crank axle 35 and wheel axle 40 are preferably carried as close up as possible
to the lower frame tubes 5 to decrease the bending strains on the parts.
The condensing tanks 42 are arranged on each side of the main frame 4, 5 and
enclose the motor 32 and form the sides of the vehicle. The tanks are divided
horizontally; the lower division 43 contains water and forms the primary condenser.
The exhaust steam from the engine is first led over the water 44 along the tank
from the front to the back. The steam thus cooled rises into two tubular air con-
densers 45 arranged at the rear of the vehicle where it is partially condensed and
whence it descends into a water collecting chamber 46 at the rear of the tanks.
There is a small opening 47 connecting the water in the collecting chamber 46
with that in the primary condenser 43 so that the two bodies of water always remain
level. The quantity of water in the primary condenser 43 is maintained by a
small cock 55 which communicates with a water tank 50 arranged over the lower
tank or primary condenser. The cock may be provided with a regulating handle, or
better, a ball float valve 56 as shown. Any suitable means may be provided for
conveying the condensed steam and other feed water to the boiler.
The steam generator 52 is preferably arranged under the front seats and the
motor 32 between the front and rear wheels. It will be readily understood that
certain parts of our invention, such as the frame and condensers, are applicable to
other autocars and the like than those driven by steam motors, and that modifications
may be made without exceeding the limits of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In an autocar, a main frame consisting of four tubes arranged, connected and
adapted to operate substantially as herein described and illustrated.
2. In an autocar having two steering wheels arranged side by side and connected
by a differential device, the employment of a tubular stem such as 14 containing
an internal rotatable spindle such as 22 on the lower end of which is a bevel wheel
such as 23 gearing with a similar wheel 24 mounted on a rod such as 26 carried by
one portion of an angle bracket such as 28 another portion of which is secured to
the said steering stem, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In an autocar, the combined apparatus for steering and for regulating the
valves substantially as herein set forth.
4. In an autocar, having the motor suspended from the frame by bolts, preserving
the said bolts from taking the driving strain of the engine by the means herein
described and illustrated.
5. In an autocar, attaching the crank axle bearings to vertical rods mounted (with
or without vertical play) in sockets carried by the frame tubes, and mounting the
driving wheel axle in brackets depending from the frame tubes, substantially as,
and for the purpose, set forth.
6. In an autocar, arranging the condensing tanks on each side of the main frame
so as to enclose the motor and form the sides of the vehicle, substantially as set
forth.
7. Condensing apparatus for autocars, wherein the exhaust steam is adapted to be
led over water in the lower division of a horizontally divided tank, thence to rise
into tubular air condensers and to descend thence into a water collecting chamber
between which and the said lower division of the tank there is a small opening
serving to maintain the water level in both; the quantity of water in the said lower

page_text: division of the tank being maintained by a regulatable cock communicating with
a supply of water in the upper division of the said tank, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 15th day of January 1898.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry, 75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
9, Exchange Chambers, New Streety Birmingham,
Patent Agent for the Applicants.