Year: 1895

page_text: independently of each other is shown separately in Figures 4 and 5. It comprises
a wheel m¹ provided with teeth for a chain. Four small bevel wheels m² are
mounted on the arms of this wheel and revolve freely on their axes. These bevel
wheels gear on the left with a bevel wheel m³ keyed on the shaft d and on the
right with a bevel wheel m* loose on said shaft, the bevel wheel m* being formed in
one piece with a chain wheel m. At the other end of the shaft d is a second
chain wheel u keyed on the shaft. The two chain wheels m³ and u receive the
driving chains n n of the rear wheels. The loose wheel m¹ is operated by the
motor and in turn operates the shaft d by means of its connection with the fast
bevel wheel m³.
In moving in the ordinary manner in a straight line, the parts m³, m³, m², m³,
having the same angular speed (that of the shaft d), there will be no relative
displacement of these parts relatively to each other and they will revolve like a
single wheel, the speeds of the rear wheels being then equal. But if by any
circumstance whatever, for instance when travelling on a curve or when turning,
the speed of one of the rear wheels has to be varied, this variation is transmitted
by the corresponding chain n or n¹ to the shaft d. Then the angular speed of the
bevel wheel m³ keyed on the shaft is no longer the same as that of the wheel m¹
operated by the motor. The result of this is that the small bevel wheels m'
revolving on their axis pass over the teeth of n³ which serves them as a point of
support and operate the gearing of the chain wheel m. The speed of the wheel
corresponding to m' is thus modified.
These relative differences between the speeds of the two rear wheels are regulated
as may be seen automatically whatever may be the difference between these speeds.
The vehicle may thus traverse any winding of any road with the greatest facility
and accomplish any evolutions without the conductor having to occupy himself with
anything else except the steering of the front wheels.
Each of the front wheels is mounted on the end of an axle c c¹ which is hinged
or jointed at c² ² and these pivoted ends of the axle are provided with lever arms c³
directed normally (that is to say when the carriage is travelling in a straight line)
towards the centre of the rear axle. The ends of these levers are connected by a
rod to which is pivotally connected a fork v embracing a nut which can move on
a threaded spindle 2. This latter is turned by means of bevel gearing by the
steering lever t² and it is evident that by moving the hand wheel of this lever in
one direction or the other the conductor can simultaneously cause the two front
wheels to turn to the right or the left. The advantage of this method of steering
by screw and nut consists principally in the fact that the conductor does not
require to constantly hold the lever in his hand, the direction once fixed
cannot deviate accidentally which gives every security to the movement of the
vehicle.
The tension of the chains operating the rear wheels is regulated by means of two
stirrups s forming nuts on threaded bars s s² (see Figure 2) and enabling the shaft d
and the axle b to be moved further apart or approached one to the other.
It is needless to state that the steam carriage herein described may be made in
various sizes and of various powers, or that it may travel on the road by itself or
may draw one or more other vehicles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a motor-vehicle or steam carriage for use on roads the combination with
the boiler (e) and the motor (f) of an intermediate shaft d, operated by a chain
and transmitting the movement equally by chains to the rear wheels; an arrange-
ment for automatically changing the speed m mounted on the shaft b; a mechanism
for operating the steering wheels; brakes (o and p) applied to the driving wheels;
and means (s) for stretching the chains, substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described and shown in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2. In a motor-vehicle or steam carriage such as described the means for ensuring
independent speeds for the driving wheels comprising the application on a shaft (d)
of a fixed chain wheel (u) and a system of rotary bevel wheels (m), substantially
as herein before described and shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. In a steam driven road carriage such as described, the front wheels mounted
on axle ce jointed at c³, in combination with levers c³ rod », and a fork v¹ connected
to a movable nut on a screwed spindle 2, the latter being operated by means of
bevel wheels by a manipulating lever 12, substantially as hereinbefore described and
shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 28th day of November 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.