Improvements in Auto-motor Carriages.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1897
Complate Cranifiantin
1
2000
DI BULL TUA JIUN.
•
Improvements in Auto-motor Carriages.
I, HENRY JOSEPH MARIE PIE CAMUSAT DE RIANCEY of 18, Rue Duphot, Paris,
France, Engineer; do hereby declare the nature of this. Invention to be as
follows:
:
This Invention relates to an auto-motor quadricycle which is more particularly
characterized by the special arrangement of motor-driven fore-carriage, clutch,
and variable speed gear.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 a front view, Figure 3 a
rear view, and Figure 4 a plan of the quadricycle.
The quadricycle is constructed essentially of two principal parts viz:-the
carriage proper and the driving and steering fore-carriage. The side frames of
the carriage are each composed of an outer and inner member a and b, the two
side frames being braced together by cross rods and m and supporting the seat
frame c.
The upward rear extensions of the frame are each provided with a shoe d
resting upon springs e fixed respectively upon the axle of the two carrying
wheels 9, said shoes d being united by a cross bar f. The forward extensions of
the frames are united and support a socket through which passes a spindle
to which is connected the steering handle o.
The members a of the frame are connected at their front ends to a
plate on the socket h against the underside of which plate a disc k
mounted on the fore-carriage is fitted to turn freely for which purpose
anti-friction balls may be introduced between the two surfaces j and k. The
stemi i is guided in a ball bearing p attached to the lower turning plate k and also
by a similar ball bearing q
The fore-carriage comprises:
5.P
(1) The axler on which are mounted the fore wheels s and also the clutch and
speed gear t and sprocket wheel u;
(2) The frame which carries friction gear a, the motor y, and the four tubular
pillars which connect the axle with the rotating plate k.
t
The mechanism may be grouped under three heads iz:-A steering; B clutch
and speed gear; C brake.
(A) Steering Motion.-The steering handle is pivoted on a bracket b¹ carried
by a socket a¹ on spindle i so as to turn the rotary disc from right to left or left
to right and with it the fore-carriage which is fixed thereto, the spindle i during
this movement being free to turn in a collar c¹.
(B) Clutch and Speed Gear. To throw the clutch into gear the foot is caused
to act on a lever k¹ pivoted at on an arm connected to plate j, the lever k¹ acting
directly upon the collar c¹ sliding on stem i. To this collar is jointed a lever j
actuating the lever 21 terminating at its lower end in a fork provided with friction
rollers engaging with a collar on the boss of the clutch and speed gear. By
depressing lever k¹ the collar acts on levers j¹¹ forming a bell crank lever which
expand the segments of the friction clutch and throw the parts into gear, the reversé

page_text: motion being effected by a spring. This motion is independent of the change
speed gear. The change of speed is effected by raising or lowering the steering
handle o after unlocking the latch e¹ from the toothed sector f'. By oscillating
lever on its pivot dit raises or lowers spindle i to the lower part of which is
jointed a bell crank lever z engaging by a fork with a collar on the clutch and
speed gear. When steering handle o is raised or lowered the clutch and speed
gear is moved along the axle r. The motor works at a constant speed and drives
sprocket wheel u loose on the axle which is only driven when the clutch is thrown
into gear.
(C) Brake. The brake levers 11 m² act on a steel band n¹ encircling a grooved
pulley o in one with the hub of one of the wheels g, the lever l¹ being pivoted
on b.
The petroleum or other motor employed is represented at y but it, together with
the carburetter and other adjuncts, may be placed at any convenient point on the
vehicle. The vehicle is provided with a mud guard pl.
The improved clutch and variable speed mechanism is separately represented on
a larger scale in Figures 5 to 8. Figure 5 is a face view, Figure 6 a side view,
and Figure 7 a plan of said mechanism. Figure 8 is a detail section of the inner
member of the clutch. It consists essentially of two friction discs grevolving
freely in fixed bearings and maintained in constant contact with an intermediate
wheel in one with the sprocket wheel. The wheels g³ and fa may be geared
together frictionally or by means of teeth or equivalent gear. The disc d² slides
on and turns with axle a².
The mechanism consists of (1) a disc d² which on being slid upon the axle is
caused to make contact wheel and thus acquire the speed possessed by said
wheel (2) four segments 12 united by links na on the one hand to disc and on
the other to a sleeve c³ sliding on the boss 62 of said disc with the aid of the means
hereinafter described. The links ² are capable of expanding or contracting the
segments for coupling or uncoupling according as the sleeve c³ is moved in the
one or other direction. The segments 12 are preferably faced with leather, rubber,
or other material o² suitable for increasing their adhesion to the friction discs g*
and which may be made either in strips corresponding to each segment or formed
of a continuous band but without preventing the segments from closing together
by leaving sufficient space between them to receive the leather or india-rubber
when doubled. The forward or coupling movement of the disc d² is obtained by
means of a lever h² whose forked end which is provided with friction rollers engages
in a sleeve sliding on the sleeve 62 of disc d². The variable speed is produced
by lever the forked end of which, also provided with friction rollers, engages
in a sleeve e fast on the boss 63 of disc d³. These two levers may
be either connected or rendered independent of one another, according to
the use to which they are to be applied. For this purpose the speed
lever is bell cranked and made to oscillate on a fixed point . The
levers m², h are united by a joint 72 situate in the same line as that of joint 12.
When acting on the speed lever 12 the oscillating at 12 is nil, and the same is
the case for levers m2 h. From this it results that the distance between the two
sleeves e² and 2 is constant thus allowing the gear to be adjusted for speed without
coupling. On the other hand when it is desired to throw the clutch into gear it
is necessary that the variable speed motion should be fixed.
In this case
levers m² h³ are operated, which are fulcrumed at kon levers n¹ ja said levers
in their motion expanding the four segments and throwing the clutch into gear.
The spring p serves for automatically throwing the clutch out of gear.
The clutch and variable speed gear may also be arranged as shewn in Figures 9,
10, and 11; Figure 9 represents a longitudinal section of the apparatus, Figure 10
a face view of the segment disc, and Figure 11 a face view of the sliding coupling.
The same letters of reference denote like parts in these three Figures.
a is the clutch and variable speed disc carrying the segments 6 with their
packings which are pressed against the friction discs by means of elbow levers de

page_text: pivoted at to disc a and at g to the sleeve. It will be seen from the drawing
and from the foregoing description that the nearer the lever e approaches the
I vertical the greater will be the diameter of the circle of segments, thus throwing
the clutch into gear and conversely. The segments slide in radial grooves k formed
5 in disc a. The other parts of the apparatus remain the same as those before
described, i being a spiral spring for returning the sleeve h to its normal out of
gear position when the apparatus is not in action.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1897
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
I, HENRY JOSEPH MARIE PIE CAMUSAT DE RIANCEY of 18, Rue Duphot, Paris,
France, Engineer; do hereby declare the nature of this Invention and in what
5 manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This Invention. relates to an auto-motor quadricycle which is more particularly
characterized by the special arrangement of motor-driven fore-carriage, clutch,
and variable speed gear.
Reference is to be had to the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specifica-
tion wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 a front view, Figure 3 a
rear view, and Figure 4 a plan of the quadricycle.
The quadricycle is constructed essentially of two principal parts viz:-the
carriage proper and the driving and steering fore-carriage. The side frames of
the carriage are each composed of an outer and inner member a and b the two
side frames being braced together by cross rods and m and supporting the seat
frame c. The upward rear extensions of the frame are each provided with a shoe d
resting upon springs e fixed respectively upon the axle of the two carrying
wheels g, said shoes & being united by a cross bar f. The forward extensions of
the frames are united and support a socket h through which passes a spindle i
to which is connected the steering handle o. The members a of the frame are con-
nected at their front ends to a plate j on the socket h against the underside of which
plate a disc k mounted on the fore-carriage is fitted to turn freely for which purpose
anti-friction balls may be introduced, between the two surfaces j and k. The
stem is guided in a ball bearing p attached to the lower turning plate k and also
by a similar ball bearing q
The fore-carriage comprises:
(1) The axler fast with the fore-wheels s and on which are mounted the clutch
and speed gear t and sprocket wheel u;
(2) The frame v which carries friction gear, the motor y, and the four tubular
pillars which connect the axle with the rotating plate k.
The mechanism may be grouped under three heads viz:-
and speed gear; C brake.
-A steering; B clutch
(A) Steering Motion.--The steering handle o is pivoted on a bracket b¹ carried
by a socket a¹ on spindle i so as to turn the rotary disc k from right to left or left
o right and with it the fore-carriage which is fixed thereto, the spindle i during
his movement being free to turn in a collar c¹.
(B) Clutch and Speed Gear.—The clutch is thrown into gear by a pedal lever k¹
ivoted at on an arm connected to plate the lever k¹ acting directly upon the
oller sliding on stem i. To this collar is jointed a lever j actuating the lever s¹

page_text: terminating at its lower end in a fork provided with friction rollers engaging
with a collar on the boss of the clutch and speed gear. By depressing lever
the collar acts on levers forming a bell crank lever which expand the
segments of the friction clutch and throw the parts into gear, the reverse
motion being effected by a spring. This motion is independent of the change
speed gear.
The change of speed is effected by raising or lowering the steering
handle o after unlocking the latch e' from the toothed sector fl. By oscillating
lever on its pivot dit raises or lowers spindle i to the lower part of which is
jointed a bell crank lever engaging by a fork with a collar on the clutch and
speed gear. When steering handle o is raised or lowered the clutch and speed
gear is moved along the axle r. The motor works at a constant speed and drives
sprocket wheel u loose on the fore axle which latter is only driven when the clutch
is thrown into gear.
(C) Brake. The brake levers
m¹ act on a steel band n¹ encircling a grooved
pulley o' in one with the hub of one of the wheels y, the lever being pivoted
on b.
The petroleum or other motor employed, which may be of any kind is
represented at y.
The vehicle is provided with a mud guard 71 and the seat C may be covered by
a hood. The fore-wheels are fast on their axle and the hind wheels loose on their
axle have rubber or pneumatic tyres.
The improved clutch and variable speed mechanism is separately represented on
a larger scale in Figures 5 678. Figure 5 is a face view, Figure 6 a side view,
and Figure 7 a plan of said mechanism. Figure 8 is a detail section of the inner
member of the clutch. It consists essentially of two friction discs revolving
freely in fixed bearings and maintained constantly in gear with an intermediate
wheel in one. with the sprocket wheel. The wheels g² and f may be geared
together frictionally or by means of teeth or equivalent gear. The disc d² slides
on and turns with the squared part a² of the axle.
The mechanism consists of: (1) a disc da which may be slid along the axle
until it makes contact with wheel f and is thus driven directly therefrom at the
same speed; (2) four segments 12 jointed to disc d2 and coupled by links n² to a
sleeve c² made to slide on the boss 62 of said disc for the purpose of expanding or
contracting the segments 2 and so putting them in or out of driving contact
with The segments are preferably faced with leather, rubber, or other
suitable material o² for increasing their adhesion to the friction discs 9. The
facing may be either in strips corresponding to each segment or formed of a
continuous band, sufficient space being left between the segments to receive the
folds of the leather or india rubber when the segments are contracted. A forked
lever carrying friction rollers engages the sleeve 2, and a forked lever also
provided with friction rollers engages a sleeve fast with the boss b² of disc d².
These two levers may be either connected or rendered independent of one another,
according to the use to which they are to be applied. For this purpose the bell
crank lever n oscillates on a fixed point 1. The lever 12 12 carries a joint 12
serving as a fixed point for lever h² and carrying it in its movement.
levers m² are united by a joint situate in the same line as joint 13. When
acting on the speed lever the oscillation at is nil and the same is the case
for levers m² 12. From this it results that the distance between the two sleeves e³
and is constant thus allowing the gear to be adjusted for speed without throwing
the apparatus into gear. When it is desired to throw the apparatus into gear the
variable speed mechanism must be fixed, then levers m³ ³ fulcrumed at kon
levers said levers in their motion expanding the four segments into gear
with discs g, the spring p³ producing the reserve action.
2
The
The variable speed and clutch gear may also be arranged as shewn in Figures 9,
10, and 11. Figure 9 represents a longitudinal section of the apparatus, Figure 10
a face view of the segment disc, and Figure 11 a face view of the sliding coupling.
The same letters of reference denote like parts in these three Figures.

page_text: a is the clutch and variable speed disc carrying the segments 6 with their
packings c which are expanded and pressed against the friction discs by means of
elbow levers de pivoted at f to disc a and at g to the sleeve h. The segments slide
in radial grooves k formed in disc a. The other parts of the apparatus remain the
same as those before described, i being a spiral spring for contracting the segments.
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 a motor car a fore-carriage carrying both the motor and steering gear and
comprising:
-
1st. The axle and fore-wheels s fixed thereon, this axle carrying the friction
clutch and speed disc t and sprocket wheel u;
2nd. The frame supporting the friction discs, the motor y, and the standards
carrying the turning plate k;
3rd. The steering spindle i of the fore-carriage and its handle o;
4th. The pedal lever k¹ and sleeve c¹ connected to the variable speed lever z';
the whole combined and arranged for operation substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawing.
2. In a quadricycle having a motor-driven fore-carriage as described, the clutch
and variable speed gear comprising a disc d² provided with segments 2 adapted to
be expanded against friction discs g² by means of links or elbow levers connected
to and operated by a sleeve for the purpose of being driven therefrom in com-
bination with mechanism for shifting the disc d towards or away from the centre
of the friction discs for varying the speed all as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 5th day of April 1897.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.