Improvements in Apparatus by which Mechanical Propelling Power can be Applied to the Four Wheels of a Road Vehicle.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 4th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 29th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus by which Mechanical Propelling Power
can be Applied to the Four Wheels of a Road Vehicle.
I, JULIEN GANDON, of 9, Rue Jean de Beauvais, Paris, in the Republic
of France, Carrier, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object improved apparatus by which a uniform
distribution of the load upon the floor of a carriage or other vehicle can be effected
by means of a vertical central pin on which the fore-carriage turns, of iron or steel
and having a central opening from end to end so as to allow the passage through it
of a hollow spindle through which pass rods or bars actuating the brake and
disengaging clutches; and of an external fixed socket through which the hollow pin
last mentioned passes.
This improved method of making the turning pin hollow allows traction to be
applied to all four wheels whilst the brake can be applied to those in front without
interfering with the movement of the carriage in any direction.
The improved arrangement of apparatus consists of four bevilled toothed wheels
arranged under the floor of the carriage and of a transverse shaft arranged in front
and carried under the front carriage, two engaging and disengaging clutches being
arranged on this shaft.
In an opening in a cross bar fixed under the floor of the carriage is arranged
horizontally one of the four bevilled toothed wheels which is keyed to the upper
part of the inner hollow spindle already described. It is driven by a corresponding
toothed pinion actuated by a suitable motor, and drives a similar bevilled toothed
wheel at the lower end of the hollow spindle which itself drives a bevilled toothed
pinion on a short transverse shaft.
The central spindle is hollow in order to allow the passage of rods or bars
actuating the brake and the clutches already described.
The spindle can turn freely in the outer hollow central pin in which it fits
which is itself firmly fixed to the frame of the carriage, whilst the outer
socket through which this hollow pin passes is itself fixed to the bar of the
fore-carriage.
A nut at its lower end prevents the hollow pin from rising out of the exterior
socket.
Upon the axis which carries the bevilled toothed pinion last described is fixed
a chain wheel driving by an endless chain a similar chain wheel fixed upon the
transverse shaft carrying the clutches already described. At the ends of this shaft
are fixed two toothed wheels having on their faces angular teeth engaging with the
clutches.
The two toothed wheels last described run loose upon the transverse shaft, to
which, however, either of them can be coupled as desired by means of one of the
clutches in the ordinary way.
A similar transverse shaft, fitted and actuated in the same way is arranged to
operate the back wheels of the carriage.
If now, by any convenient arrangement of levers or the like, the clutches are
engaged or disengaged the movement in the required direction is transmitted to the
wheels of the carriage by means of endless chains passing round the chain wheels

page_text: upon the clutches at the ends of the transverse shaft and also round corresponding
chain wheels firmly fixed to the spokes of the carriage wheels which are, therefore,
set in revolution.
In the arrangement described the motor which drives the whole of the
mechanism is arranged below the back of the carriage leaving the whole of the
latter free for its load. If desired, however, it may be placed under the seat of
the conductor or in any other desired position, the necessary alteration of the gear
being made.
Dated this 6th day of June 1906
Improvements in Apparatus by which Mechanical Propelling Power
can be Applied to the Four Wheels of a Road Vehicle.
I, JULIEN GANDON, of 9, Rue Jean de Beauvais, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Carrier, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, and accompanying drawing, that
is to say:
This invention bas for its object improved apparatus by which a uniform
distribution of the load upon the floor of a carriage or other vehicle can be
effected. The improved apparatus consists essentially (as shown in the accom-
panying drawing, which is in illustration of my invention) of a vertical central
pin 6 (on which the fore-carriage turns), of iron or steel and having a central
opening from end to end so as to allow the passage through it of a hollow
spindle a through which pass rods or bars actuating the brake and disengaging
clutches; and of an external fixed socket c through which the hollow pin last
mentioned passes.
This improved method of making the turning pin hollow allows traction to be
applied to all four wheels whilst the brake can be applied to those in front without
interfering with the movement of the carriage in any direction.
The improved arrangement of apparatus consists of four bevilled toothed
wheels P, P, p, p', (Figures 1 and 2) arranged under the floor A of the carriage
(as shown in Figure 1) and of shafts L and L', one L arranged in front and
carried under the front carriage, and the other L' arranged at the back, two
engaging and disengaging clutches (Figure 4) being arranged on each of these
shafts. Also, of an arrangement of apparatus (Figure 3) consisting of a shaft a,
a hollow pin b, and a socket c, arranged and combined as shown in the figure.
Under the floor A of the carriage is arranged horizontally one of the four
bevilled toothed wheels P¹ which is keyed to the upper part of the spindle a
already described. It is driven by a corresponding toothed pinion P actuated
by a suitable motor, and the spindle carries a similar bevilled toothed wheel pat
its lower end, which itself drives a bevilled toothed pinion p' on a short transverse
shaft.
The central spindle a is hollow in order to allow the passage of rods or bars
actuating the brake and the clutches g, g' already described.
The spindle a can turn freely in the outer hollow central pin b in which it fits,
which is itself firmly fixed by the bar t to the frame of the carriage, whilst the
'outer socket c through which this hollow pin b passes is itself fixed to the bar
of the fore-carriage by a bar t'.

page_text: A nute at its lower end prevents the hollow pin 6 from rising out of the exterior
socket c.
Upon the axis K which carries the bevilled toothed pinion p, last described (as
shown in Figure 1, which is a plan of the mechanism) is fixed a chain wheel B
driving by an endless chain a similar chain wheel G fixed upon the transverse
shaft L carrying the clutches already described. At the ends of this shaft L are
fixed two toothed wheels E and E' having ou their faces two sets of concentric:
angular teeth engaging with the clutches. Figure 4 shows these sets of angular
teeth upon a larger scale.
The two toothed wheels E, and E', last described run loose upon the transverse
shaft L, to which, however, either of them can be coupled as desired by means of
one of the clutches g and g¹ in the ordinary way. One part of each clutch gl
revolves with the shaft L, but can move end ways along the latter for a certain<
distance upon the key. Upon the clutches g' are fitted the clutches g which can
move endways upon the former in the same way as those g¹ move upon L.
A similar transverse shaft L', fitted and actuated in the same way is arranged to.
operate the back wheels of the carriage.
As shewn in Figure 4, each clutch consists of a part running loose upon the
shaft L, this part consisting of a chain wheel and two concentric sets of angular
teeth pointing in opposite directions, that is to say, the outer set is used for
travelling forward and the inner set for travelling backward, according as the
shaft L is driven in one or other direction by the motor. These two sets of teeth.
and the chain wheel carried by them are driven by two similar sets, the outer one.
of which slides upon the inner one, and the inner one upon the shaft L, both sets.
being always driven by the shaft which carries them.
If now, by any convenient arrangement of levers or the like, the clutches on the
chain wheels E and E', are engaged or disengaged, the movement in the required
direction is transmitted to the wheels of the carriage by means of endless chains.
passing round the chain wheels and also round corresponding chain wheels D-
firmly fixed to the spokes of the carriage wheels R, which are, therefore, set in.
revolution.
In the arrangement illustrated in the drawing the motor X which drives the
whole of the mechanism is arranged below the floor at the back of the carriage,.
leaving the whole of the latter free for its load. If desired, however, it may be
placed under the seat of the conductor or in any other desired position, the
necessary alteration of the gear being made.
The two back wheels are driven by the pinion p² which gears with P₁
and drives by the shaft K¹ the chain wheel B', which transmits its movement.
by a chain to the wheel C' fixed upon the shaft L, which is in every respect
similar to L.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what mauner the same is to be' performed, I declare that what I.
claim is :-
The improved apparatus for allowing the application of mechanical traction to-
the four wheels of a vehicle, consisting of the combination of a hollow central pin
by means of which the transmission of the motive power is rendered possible, with.
two shafts carrying clutches, the four clutches driving either forward or backward,
by means of chain wheels and chains, the four wheels of the vehicle, substantially as.
described and illustrated.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant..