Improvements in Steering Mechanism for Motor Carriages.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steering Mechanism for Motor Carriages.
We, BORIS LOUTZKY, of 49, Französischestrasse, Berlin, W., German Empire,
Managing Director, and THE GESELLSCHAFT FÜR AUTOMOBILWAGENBAU, at the
same place, a company incorporated according to the laws of the Kingdom of
Prussia, do hereby declare the nature of our invention to be as follows:
-
In motor carriages-whether driven electrically or by means of explosive
mixtures--a series of regulating operations have to be performed. At the very
least (in the case of electro-motors), one device for varying the speed, one for
reversing the direction of motion, one for actuating the brake, and one for
steering, have to be kept under control; while in vehicles propelled by "explosion"
motors the number of these appliances has to be increased by the interposition
of differential gearing, of means for regulating the composition of the mixture
and for kindling the same; and also of apparatus for controlling the charges
supplied.
Hence it is desirable that means should be devised as far as feasible to facilitate
the driver's (or rider's) task of properly manipulating these several contrivances;
and this purpose is attained by a steering device being either a flexible tube or a
freely movable rod with handle forming the subject of the present invention; for
whereas, hitherto, the different parts--which, though flexibly connected, were
rigid in themselves compelled the operator's hand to preserve an unvarying posi-
tion, the novel flexible steering tube or rod, one end of which is freely movable,
admits of the unimpeded motion and change of situation of the controlling hand,
which is thereby exempted from undue fatigue.
The main feature which characterizes its construction is that a flexible tube
(which may consist of a length of india rubber hose lined with wire, or of spiral
spring inserted in any flexible tube), or any equivalent device, is twisted, so that
by means of a pinion, whose backward motion is checked by suitable pawl and
ratchet mechanism, the several wheels are turned and their relative position to
each other is accordingly varied.
The same result may be arrived at, by using a rigid rod, freely movable in all
directions and capable of rotation of a fixed point by means of the arrangement
of Hook's point.
With the flexible steering tube or movable rod may be combined an electrical
switch or <<
contact breaker," concealed within the handle and operated by the
pressure of the thumb, which serves to cut off the current (necessary for pro-
pelling in the case of an electro motor, or for igniting the explosive mixture in
the case of explosion motors); so that the operations of the motor may at any time
be arrested.

page_text: Improvements in Steering Mechanism for Motor Carriages,
We, BORIS LOUTZKY, of 49, Französischestrasse, Berlin, W., German Empire,
Managing Director, and THE GESELLSCHAFT FÜR AUTOMOBILWAGENBAU, at the
same place, a company incorporated according to the laws of the Kingdom of
Prussia, do hereby declare the nature of our invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
In motor carriages-whether driven electrically or by means of explosive
mixtures a series of regulating operations have to be performed. For instance
in the case of electro-motors, a device for varying the speed, another for reversing
the direction of motion, another for actuating the brake, and yet another for
steering, require control; while in vehicles propelled by explosion" motors the
number of these appliances is increased by the interposition of differential gearing,
means for regulating the composition of the mixture and for igniting the same;
and also of apparatus for controlling the charges of explosive supplied.
Hence it is desirable that means be devised to facilitate the driver's (or rider's)
proper manipulation of these contrivances. To this end we have devised a steer-
ing device embodying either a flexible tube or a freely movable rod or an equiva-
lent flexible member with handle. Hitherto, although the different parts may
have been flexibly connected, they were rigid in themselves-and this rigidity
involved the operator's hand preserving an unvarying position, whereas our
improved and novel flexible steering tube or rod, one end of which is freely
movable, admits of the unimpeded motion and change of situation of the con-
trolling hand, thereby avoiding undue fatigue, or cramp.
The main feature which characterizes our improved construction is a flexible
tube (which may consist of a length of India rubber hose lined with wire, or of
spiral spring inserted in any flexible tube.) or any equivalent device, is twisted,
so that by means of a pinion, whose backward motion is checked by suitable pawl
and ratchet or clutch mechanism, the several wheels are turned and their relative
position to each other is accordingly varied.
The same result may be arrived at, by using a rigid rod, freely movable in all
directions and capable of rotation on a fixed point by means of the arrangement
commonly known as a Hook's joint.
The accompanying drawings show (by way of example) arrangements adapted
to carry out our invention.
Fig. 1 and 2 representing the steering mechanism, actuated by a flexible
tube, and
Fig. 3 the same mechanism actuated by a rigid rod.
By means of a handle a (Fig. 1) the flexible readily movable tube b may be
twisted and with it the worm c which operates a corresponding worm wheel d, may
be turned out of its initial position. Rigidly connected with this wheel is the
levere which by means of connecting rods i similarly varies the position of the
wheels y revoluble upon the vertical spindles f.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 the worm wheel d is secured to a rigid
frame which ends in axles that carry the wheels g. By twisting the flexible tube
and so operating the worm wheel the position of the whole frame with the wheels
is varied.
In the arrangement of Fig. 3 the steering arrangement of the wheels by means
of a worm wheel, connecting rods, lever, or the rigid frame may be the same as
described with reference to Fig and 2, hence these parts are omitted in the
drawing. The flexible tube, however, is substituted by a universal joint here

page_text: shown as a (Hook's joint) & arranged on the axle of the worm, around which the
telescopically extensible steering rod may turn in all directions. By a groove
in the extensible tube and corresponding projection on the rod b provision is made
against the parts turning within each other without turning the worm, or the rod
may be given a prismatic or other form suitable to slide within the tube without
turning therein.
With the flexible steering tube or movable rod may be combined an electrical
switch or
"contact breaker," or the like concealed within the handle and operated
by the pressure of the thumb, which serves to cut off the current (necessary for
propelling in the case of an electro motor, or for igniting the explosive mixture
in the case of explosion motors); so that the operations of the motor may at
any time be arrested.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a steering mechanism for motor carriage the use of a flexible tube or
equivalent flexible connection, having its one, or handle end freely removable
from place to place within limits without necessarily operating the steering
mechanism and its other end in operative connection with the steering wheels,
so that any torsional strain put upon the said flexible connection will be imparted
to the operative connection and thereby to the steering wheels substantially as
described and shown by the drawings.
2. In a steering mechanism constructed as and for the purpose set forth in
Claim 1, the combination of electrical switch mechanism, or controlling means
for the supply of current, or power for driving the motor, as set forth.
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1 1
البسي
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1004
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.