Improvements in Self-moving Road Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application. 27th Oct., 1899
Improvements in Self-moving Road Vehicles.
I, HENRY COURTEEN, of Eversley, Devizes, Wilts, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to self moving vehicles in which the two steering wheels
are provided with vertical axes actuated for steering purposes by levers connecting
them.
The object of this invention is to provide means for facilitating the steering
and stopping of the vehicle.
In my improved vehicle the down shaft which sets in motion the levers which
actuate the vertical axes of the steering wheels is provided with a toothed wheel
driven by a worm; this worm is caused to rotate by means of a crown wheel or
toothed segment driving a pinion on the worm shaft. Fixed to the crown wheel
or segment are handles for steering, or suitable fittings are provided for the attach-
ment of reins.
These reins may pass through a fixed guide or guides and through the eye or
eyes of a brake lever in such a way that when the reins are pulled tight, the
brake lever is operated and the brake applied.
J
In some cases the steering handles or rein attachment fittings are mounted
on a hinged bracket to which the brake is connected in such a manner as to come
into operation when the hinged bracket is pulled backward, or forward as may be
desired either by the reins or by the steering handles. In this case the down
shaft may be provided towards its lower end with a universal joint permitting it
to move with the hinged bracket; or the steering lever, or part carrying the rein
attachment fittings, may be connected to the crown wheel or toothed segment
by a flexible shaft. The hinged bracket is retained in its normal position by a
suitable spring.
The brake may be arranged to act upon the travelling wheels, on the motor, or
on intermediate gearing, and when desired I arrange simultaneously with the
operation of the brake and by the same movement to cut off the supply of steam
or gas to the motor.
I do not confine myself exactly to the forms described, as it is obvious that
modifications might be made in the means adopted for using reins or steering
handles as described for steering and brake purposes.
Dated this 26th day of October 1899
:

page_text: to be nerformed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement:-
My invention relates to self-propelled vehicles in which the two steering wheels
are provided with vertical axes actuated for steering purposes by levers connecting
them. The object of the invention is to provide means for facilitating the steer-
ing and stopping of the vehicle.
"1
According to the invention the links, connecting rods or levers which actuate
the vertical shafts of the steering wheels are operated by a toothed wheel or sector
driven by a worm; this worm is caused to rotate by means of a crown wheel or
toothed sector driving a pinion on the worm shaft and keyed to a steering shaft
having handles or suitable fittings for the attachment of reins for purposes of
steering.
Where reins are used they may pass through a fixed guide or guides in such a
way that when pulled tight, the brake lever is operated and the brake applied.
In some cases the steering handles or rein attachment fittings are mounted on
a hinged bracket to which the brake is connected in such a manner as to come
into operation when the hinged bracket is pulled backward or forward as may be
desired either by the reins or by the steering handles. In this case the steering
shaft may be provided towards its lower end with a universal joint permitting
it to move with the hinged bracket; or the steering lever, or part carrying the
rein attachment fittings may be connected to the crown wheel or toothed sector,
by a flexible shaft. The hinged bracket is retained in its normal position by a
suitable spring. Furthermore, the gear can be so arranged that the supply or
exhaust valve to the motor propelling the vehicle is cut off or varied or the
motor thrown out of gear simultaneously with the application of the brake.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the front portion of a self-propelled road
vehicle constructed according to the invention:
Figure 2 is a sectional front elevation thereof:
Figure 3 is a plan of the forepart of the vehicle:
Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation illustrating a modified arrangement of
steering and brake gear:
Figure 5 is a front elevation of the front portion thereof :
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 of a further modification:
Figure 7 is a plan of the upper part of the same; and
Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 6.
a is the body of the vehicle, the said body being supported in the usual manner
upon the frame b.
c, c are the front or steering wheels of the vehicle, the said
wheels being mounted upon short horizontal axles c¹, c¹ connected to vertical
shafts 2, which are supported in bearings c³, c³ connected to the main frame b
of the vehicle as clearly shewn. d is the toothed sector which is adapted to actuate
the vertical shafts through the medium of the links or connecting rods e, e
connected at one end to armis d¹, d upon the said sector and at the other end to
the outer ends of arms e!, el, the inner ends of which are fixed to the vertical
shafts the sector d is mounted upon a vertical shaft. or spindle d² which
is held in the end of a bracket 3, secured to the main frame 6 of the vehicle.
Springs can if desired, be provided upon the vertical shafts c², 2 to allow of play
between the said shafts and the arms e¹, el controlling them for steering purposes.
f is the worm which meshes with the toothed sector d, the said worm being
loosely mounted upon the cross spindle f¹ held in bearings in brackets f² fixed
to, or forming part of, the frame b. as clearly shewn in Figure 3. g is the bevel
or crown wheel which actuates the worm f through the medium of the bevel'
pinion carried by the worm f. This bevel wheel is keyed upon the lower end
of the steering shaft h rotatably mounted in a bracket constructed and arranged
as hereinafter described.
By employing worm gear to transmit the motion of the steering, shaft to the

page_text: steering wheels, the important advantage is obtained that no back movement is
possible, that is to say, that the steering wheels are not affected by the vehicle
striking against obstacles or by inequalities in the road.
In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the steering shaft h is
mounted at its lower end in a bracket h keyed upon the spindle f¹; the end of
this spindle f which projects beyond one of the brackets has keved upon it an
arm the lower end of which is connected by means of a rod to a brake lever
and by means of a rod 3 to a lever controlling the supply (or exhaust) valve
of the motor A. The upper end of the steering shaft . has fitted upon it a grooved
sector ha and reins or the like j are passed around the said grooved sector so that
by pulling the one or the other end of the reins the shaft h is turned in one or the
other direction, thereby causing the sector d and consequently the steering
wheels c of the vehicle to be turned in the desired direction. To apply the brake
to the vehicle both reins are pulled towards the driver thus swinging the steering
shaft h and the bracket h¹ together with the spindle f¹ so as to turn the arm i in
the direction of the arrow Figure 1 and apply the brake, this movement also
operating the supply valve (or exhaust) of the motor. ho is a spring for returning
the shaft hand connected parts to their normal position when the tension on the
reins is relieved.
Figures 4 and 5 shew the arrangement wherein the shaft is formed at its lower
end with a universal joint and wherein the bracket his fixed. In this arrange-
ment the upper part of the steering shaft his rotatably carried in the bracket h
which is fixed at its lower end upon a spindle carried in the bracket h¹ and
arranged with its axis in the central plane of the universal joint. In this case
when the reins are pulled in the manner above described the upper part only of
the steering shaft is pulled towards the driver carrying with it the bracket h³
and turning the shaft h which carries the arm i thus operating the brake and
supply (or exhaust) valve as above mentioned.
In Figures 6, 7 and 8 I have shewn an arrangement wherein the steering shaft h
is mounted in a bracket h5 which is an extension of the bracket h¹ fixed to the
frame and carrying the worm gear. In this case the reins themselves actuate
the brake directly when both ends are simultaneously pulled by the driver. The
ends of the réins j, after passing around on either side of the grooved sector /²
attached to the shaft h, are passed over guide pulleys 1,7 mounted in a bracket /¹
secured to the upper part of the bracket h and thence downwards and over the
guide pulleys m, m mounted in the ends of arms m³, m¹ keyed upon a shaft m²
rotatably mounted in a bracket m³ secured to the bracket h¹; the shaft m² projects
beyond the bracket m³ and is provided at its projecting end with the downwardly
extending arm i which controls the brake and supply (or exhaust) valve. After
passing around these guide pulleys the reins are continued upwards and over
guide pulleys 12, 12 mounted in the bracket and thence to the hand of the driver.
In this arrangement the spring 4° is attached at one end to an arm m on the
shaft m² and at the other end to the bracket h¹.
With this arrangement the steering wheels c, c are actuated in a manner similar
to that described with reference to the preceding modification, by pulling one or
the other end of the reins. To apply the brake both reins are also simultaneously
pulled the simultaneous pull upon the reins draws upwards the pulleys m, m
thus turning the arms m¹ and shaft m² so as to pull the arm in the direction.
of the arrow shewn in Figure 6 and apply the brake band or blocks or operate
the supply (or exhaust) valve.
It will be obvious that the steering shaft could be arranged to actuate, through
the medium of its bracket, a lever designed to throw the motor out of gear. This
arrangement could be used in lieu of controlling the supply or exhaust valve.
Although I have described and shewn the steering shaft h as operated by means
of reins it will be clear that the said shaft can be controlled by means of handles
or a steering wheel if desired,

page_text: 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 self-propelled road vehicle of the kind described, the combination with
the steering shaft of means whereby a brake or the supply or exhaust valve of
the motor can be operated or the motor thrown out of gear by the said shaft, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In self-propelled road vehicles of the kind described in Claim 1, controlling
the steering shaft by means of reins, substantially as herein before described.
3. In a self-propelled road vehicle of the kind described actuating the steering
wheels by means of a toothed sector meshing with a worm loosely mounted on a
spindle carrying an arm actuating the brake and motor valve, the said worm
having a pinion gearing with a toothed wheel upon the steering shaft which is
mounted in a bracket fixed upon the worm shaft, .substantially as hereinbefore
described.
4. In a self-propelled road vehicle of the kind described, actuating the steering
wheels by means of a toothed sector meshing with a worm carried in a fixed
bracket and having a pinion gearing with a toothed wheel upon the lower part of
the steering shaft, which is jointed to the upper part thereof carried in a bracket
keved upon the shaft of the arm actuating the brake and motor valve, substan-
tially as hereinbefore described.
5. In a self-propelled road vehicle of the kind described, actuating the steering
wheels by means of a toothed sector meshing with a worm which is actuated by a
steering shaft rotatably mounted in a fixed bracket and adapted to be actuated
by reins or the like passing over a grooved segment or the like provided at its
upper part, around guide pulleys mounted in the upper part of the steering shaft
bracket and around lower pulleys mounted upon arms keyed upon the shaft
actuating the brake and motor valve, substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. In a self-propelled road vehicle the combined steering and brakd or stopping
apparatus herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the
accompanying drawings.
7. In a self-propelled road vehicle the combined steering and brake or stopping
apparatus herein before described and illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the accom-
panying drawings.
8. In a self-propelled road vehicle the combined steering and brake or stopping
apparatus hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8 of the
accompanying drawings.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, Londor, Agents for the Applicant.