Axle for Cycles, Horseless and other Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1899
Completo Inanification Loft 16th July 1000 Accented 22nd Sent
1000
Axle for Cycles, Horseless and other Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM SMITI, Trinity Terrace, Radford Road, Coventry. Engineer &
Draughtsman, WILLIAM RADFORD, Walsgrave-on-Sowe, Cycle Works Manager,
ARTHUR EDWARD TOMLINSON. Cheriton House, Cox Street, Coventry, Cycle
Draughtsman, in the County of Warwickshire, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention be be as follows:-
For axles for cycles, horseless and other vehicles. This invention consists in
constructing and arranging and working in the manner herein and after described.
We will describe our invention as arranged on a tricycle, at each end of the
axle there is a free wheel or so called clutch hub in the centre or there abouts
of the axle there is a fixed chain or other wheel for transmitting power or motion
to the axle, or there could be placed in the centre or there abouts of such
axle a free or so called clutch chain or other wheel for transmitting power or
motion to the axle. It is to be understood that such axles could have fixed or
running free on same, one or more wheels for driving same, in any position
desireable on axle, for driving by means of gearing from any kind of motor or
engine also that the chief part of this invention is being able by free wheels or
so called clutch hub wheels to do away with the well known differential gear,
and being able by
of
means
free wheel or wheels or so called
clutch hub wheel
wheels to differentiate the movement of the
wheels. We will now describe the before mentioned parts as working
on a tricycle using an axle with a free wheel or so called clutch hub at each
end and a fixed chain or other wheel in the centre or there abouts of same;
by revolving the fixed chain or other wheel on the axle it would give motion
to the axle which in turn would revolve the wheels at each end by means of the
free wheel or so called clutch hubs, but the instant the driving power is stopped
the clutches cease to engage and driving wheels are allowed to run free, at the
same time the differential movement of wheels is allowed to take place by means
of the clutches in place of the usual forms of differential gearing.
Ja of Ontahan 1200

page_text: WILLIAM RADFORD, of Walsgrave-on-Sowe, Warwickshire, Cycle Works Manager,
and ARTHUR EDWARD TOMLINSON, of Cheriton House, Cox Street, Coventry
aforesaid, Draughtsman, 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:
"
Our invention relates to axles for cycles, motor cars and other suitable vehicles
and has for its object to provide for the efficient driving and steering of such vehicles
without the use of differential gear. And our invention consist's essentially in the use
of a continuous, driven axle on the ends of which the driving road wheels are
mounted in such a way that, by means of free wheel clutch devices, the
forward rotation of the axle is necessarily attended by forward rotation of the
road wheels at at least an equal speed, and the said wheels are free to over
run the said axle in the forward direction; while the part of the transmission
mechanism centred about such axle may be rigidly (or by a clutch or the like)
fixed to an intermediate part or parts thereof.
And in order that our invention may be properly understood we will describe
the same with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein
Fig. I is a broken elevation, partly in vertical section showing our invention
applied to an ordinary tricycle axle."
Fig. II is a similar view of a motor tricycle axle.
Fig. III is a vertical section on the line III-III in Fig. 1.
Fig. IV is a similar view on the line IV-IV in Fig. II.
Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to Figs. I and III the driven or main axle 2 is continuous through-
out, though it may for the sake of lightness be built up of a tubular centre 3,
with solid ends 4 to carry the hubs 5 of the road wheels, which are preferably
mounted on ball bearings, as shown. Between the hubs and the axle are intro-
duced clutches each of which is adapted to grip when the axle tends to rotate
forwards faster than the wheel to which it is applied, but is free at other times.
In the drawings we have shown roller clutches, such as are commonly fitted
to "free-wheel" bicycles, consisting of an inner cam ring fixed to the axie 2
an outer ring 7 having a true circular inner periphery and forming a flange on
the hub 5, friction rollers S which are normally forced up the inclines 11 of the
cam ring into contact with the outer ring by springs 9 confined between pro-
jections on the cam ring and guiding blocks (10 abutting against the said
rollers. It will be observed that the inclines 11 rise in the direction opposite
to that in a free wheel clutch for a bicycle as in the present case the propelling
force is applied through the inner ring instead of through the outer ring.
Any other clutch producing similar results may be employed if preferred. The
transmission gear wheel 12 is fixed direct to the axle 2 at or about the middle
thereof. The said axle may be carried in the frame member 13, which may
consist of two parts connected by a suitable apertured box 14 enclosing the
wheel 12. Ball bearings 15 are preferably provided at the ends of the member 13
and these may be supplemented by one or two additional bearings 16, 17 in the
centre, as shown. Brake bands 18 may be adapted to operate on the exterior
of the flanges 7 or on drums 19 carried thereby, by any suitable means.
Referring to Figs. II and IV, the driven axle 2 is continuous throughout and
the hubs 5 are mounted preferably on ball bearings, on the ends thereof. The
clutches may be of the roller type above described or of any other suitable con-
struction. The sprocket and spur transmission wheels 12, 121 are shown as
both fixed rigidly to the axle though the sprocket wheel may be conveniently
fitted on a roller clutch so that the chain will be idle while the machine is being
driven by the motor (20) through the spur wheel 121. The axle 2 is, in this case,
preferably carried on bearings 22 on hangers 21 from the frame member 13.
Band brakes may be applied to flanges 23 on the hubs, the said flanges being
recessed to receive the clutch rings 7.
In each case, on the axle 2 being rotated forward by the transmission gear

page_text: the clutches will bite and the hubs 5 and road wheels will be carried round
forward and the machine propelled. On steering the machine out of a straight
line the clutch of the inner road wheel will continue to bite and the wheel
will still be driven, but the clutch of the outer wheel will release and the said
outer wheel will over run the axle to a greater or less extent according to the
curve described. The machine is thus enabled to be driven on curves though not
fitted with a balance gear. On the propulsive effort being discontinued both
clutches will be thrown out of action, both wheels rotating forward faster than the
said axle.
It will be understood that a series of spur wheels, belt pulleys or the like may
be mounted in any suitable positions on the driven axle for the purpose of
providing changes of speed or otherwise, and other detail modifications may be
made without departing from our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed; we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A driven axle for cycles, horseless and other vehicles constructed, arranged
and adapted to operate substantially as set forth.
"
2. In a cycle, horseless or other vehicle, the combination with the transmission gear
and the road wheels of a continuous driven axle, hubs for the road wheels mounted
on the ends of the said axle, free wheel clutches introduced between the said
axle and the said hubs, and part of the transmission gear connected rigidly or
by means of a clutch or the like to an intermediate part or parts of the said
axle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. A tricycle axle constructed substantially as herein described with reference
to Fig. I of the accompanying drawings.
4. A motor tricycle axle constructed substantially as herein described with
reference to Fig. II of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of July 1900
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, M.Cy.E.I.,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry,
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, and
87, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agent for the Applicants.