Improvements in or relating to Motor-propelled Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 31st May, 1897-Accepted, 24th July, 1897.
IDIONAL DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Motor-propelled Vehicles.
I, HENRY JOHN LAWSON, of 40 Holborn Viaduct, in the County of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to motor-propelled vehicles, its principal object being the
construction of improved motive apparatus applicable to road and other vehicles of
ordinary or of special type, and capable of being readily attached to and detached
from the vehicles like a draught animal; another object of this invention is the
construction of clutch-mechanism and its appurtenances for motor-propelled vehicles
so that the motor can be readily thrown into or out of gear, by the foot of the driver,
with the pedals or the road-wheel or other driven part of the apparatus.
According to this invention the improved motive apparatus above 'referred to may
comprise a road wheel, two forks or members radiating from ball or other bearings
for the axle thereof, and connections between the outer ends of those two forks or
members, the whole preferably so disposed as to form a triangular frame. An
explosion-engine or other motor is attached to the frame or may itself serve as one of
the members of the same; it is coupled directly to the road-wheel axle or otherwise
placed in operative connection with that axle, which is also under the control of pedal
driving gear of Crypto type otherwise for example, the motor may operate a chain
wheel journalled at one angle of the frame and coupled by a chain to another chain
wheel fixed to the hub or axle of the road-wheel, which latter would be journalled at
one of the other angles of the frame.
A seat for the driver, and pedal driving gear suitably disposed in relation to the
seat are provided upon the frame.
It is not essential that the frame should be triangular, nor that it should be
constructed in the manner suggested above by way of example; it may have auxiliary
wheels, or pneumatic rollers or other devices to render it stable when standing alone,
these devices being preferably adapted to be lowered to the ground or raised up from
it as may be desired.
The frane is preferably provided with clainps, couplings, pintles, or equivalent
devices to engage it with a vehicle or with different vehicles, either rigidly or in a
manner which will allow it to be moved laterally by a hand-lever or by a worm-gear
mechanism or otherwise, so as to steer the vehicle.
This improved motive apparatus inay advantageously be employed as a limber for
artillery, or for other military purposes.
The improved clutch apparatus according to this invention being under the control
of the driver's foot has the advantage anong others, that it enables hand-gear which
had to extend from a point near the driver's hand to t'e clutch more or less distant
from that point, to be dispensed with.
A convenient clutch for the purposes of this invention is one in which a detent
when moved in one direction couples the motor shaft and driver chain wheel
together, and when moved in the opposite direction frees the driver chain wheel
from the motor shaft; for example, the detent may be a bolt sliding in guides in or

page_text: upon a disc attached to one shaft and adapted to engage with the teeth of an
internally toothed ring secured upon the other shaft.
In addition to the clutch proper, this invention comprises control apparatus of a
sort which is especially. advantageous when employed in conjunction with the
improved clutch aforesaid, or with any type of clutch which by the protrusion into its
path of an elastic or other projection can be caused to disengage the drive shaft,
and caused to engage the driven shaft by the withdrawal of that projection, or
vice versa. A control device according to this invention comprises a slider movable in
or on guides and preferably spring-controlled, or otherwise loaded, and means for
moving the slider by the foot; the slider and guide may be provided with a
projection and a bayonet-joint slot, or with a ratchet and pawl, or equivalent means
which will enable the slider to be raised and lowered by the foot and also moved by
the foot into engagement with the retaining devices at one or both ends of its travel.
The slider or guide may be axially rotatable to facilitate this locking. The spring or
weight may be so disposed that the slider is automatically moved out by it and has
to be withdrawn against resistance by the driver's foot, or vice versa. As an
alternative construction a foot-operated lever provided with a suitable pedal can be
employed to operate an arm or cam so arranged that it normally keeps back the
slider, but when the pedal moves the arm or cam past a mean position the spring or
weight is able to move out the slider and keep it out.
Dated this 24th day of July 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, HENRY JOHN LAWSON, of 40 Holborn Viaduct, in the County of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to motor-propelled vehicles, its principal object being the
construction of improved motive apparatus applicable to road and other vehicles of
ordinary or of special type, and capable of being readily attached to and detached
from the vehicles like a draught animal; another object of this invention is the
construction of clutch-mechanism and its appurtenances for motor-propelled vehicles
so that the motor can be readily thrown into or out of gear, by the foot of the driver,
with the pedals or the road-wheel or other driven part of the apparatus.
According to this invention the improved motive-apparatus above referred to may
comprise a road-wheel, two forks or members radiating from ball or other bearings for
the axle thereof, and connections between the outer ends of those two forks or
members, the whole preferably so disposed as to form a triangular frame. An
explosion-engine or other motor is attached to the frame or may itself serve as one
of the members of the same; it is coupled directly to the road-wheel axle or
otherwise placed in operative connection with that axle, which is also under the
control of pedal driving-gear of the Crypto type or otherwise. For example, the
motor may operate a chain-wheel journalled at one angle of the frame and
coupled by a chain to another chain-wheel fixed to the hub or axle of the road-
wheel, which latter would be journalled at one of the other angles of the
frame.
A seat for the driver, and pedal driving-gear suitably disposed in relation to the
seat are provided upon the frame.

page_text: It is not essential that the frame should be triangular, nor that it should be
constructed in the manner suggested above by way of example; it may have
auxiliary wheels, or pneumatic rollers or other devices to render it stable when
standing alone, these devices being preferably adapted to be lowered to the ground
or raised up from it as may be desired.
The frame is preferably provided with clamps, couplings, pintles, or equivalent
devices to engage it with a vehicle or with different vehicles, either rigidly or in a
manner which will allow it to be moved laterally by a hand-lever or by a worm-
gear mechanism or otherwise, so as to steer the vehicle.
This improved motive apparatus may advantageously be employed as a limber for
artillery, or for other military purposes.
The improved clutch-apparatus according to this invention being under the control
of the driver's foot has the advantage, among others, that it enables hand-gear which
had to extend from a point near the driver's hand to the clutch more or less-distant
from that point, to be dispensed with.
A convenient clutch for the purposes of this invention is one in which a detent
when moved in one direction couples the motor shaft and driven chain wheel
together, and when moved in the opposite direction frees the driven cbain wheel
from the motor shaft; for example, the detent may be a bolt sliding in guides in or
upon a disc attached to one shaft and adapted to engage with the teeth of an
internally-toothed ring secured upon the other shaft.
In addition to the clutch proper, this invention comprises control apparatus of a
sort which is especially advantageous when employed in conjunction with the
improved clutch aforesaid, or with any type of clutch which by the protrusion into
its path of an elastic or other projection can be caused to disengage the driven shaft,
and caused to engage the driven shaft by the withdrawal of that projection or
vice versa. A control device according to this invention comprises a slider movable
in or on guides and preferably spring-controlled, or otherwise loaded, and means for
moving the slider by the foot; the slider and guide may be provided with a projection
and a bayonet-joint slot, or with a ratchet and pawl, or equivalent means which will
enable the slider to be raised and lowered by the foot and also moved by the foot
into engagement with the retaining devices at one or both ends of its travel. The
slider or guide may be axially rotatable to facilitate this locking. The spring or
weight may be so disposed that the slider is automatically moved out by it and has
to be withdrawn against resistance by the driver's foot, or vice versa. As an
alternative construction a foot-operated lever provided with a suitable pedal can be
employed to operate an arm or cam so arranged that it normally keeps back the
slider, but when the pedal moves the arm or cam past a mean position the spring or
weight is able to move out the slider and keep it out.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of motor and cart arranged in accordance
with this invention.
Figure 2 is a plan partly in section on an enlarged scale of the clutch mechanism
shewn in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing details of chain driving gear.
Figure 4 is a perspective view, and
Figure 5 a section of a modified form of clutch.
Figure 6 shows a modification of Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a perspective view partly broken away of another form of vehicle.
Like letters indicate like parts thronghout the drawings.
The road wheel A is connected by a fork B to an approximately triangular frame
consisting of the tubes CCCC. The tube C forms the steering head, the steering
tube passing through it and being connected with the handle bar D. A motor E is
fixed onto the bottom tube C2 of the frame by clamps or otherwise and drives the
shaft El journalled in a bracket C, the latter forming the joint between the
tubes C² and C of the frame, the tube being forked at the bracket end. Rigidly
connected to the shaft E' is a fly wheel E and a bevel wheel E. Motion is

page_text: transmitted from the motor to the road wheel by means of the bevel wheels E3 and E
which gear together, the shaft E, the bevel wheels E', E, E, the shaft E' and the
bevel wheels E10, E. The bevel wheel E7 which gears with both the bevel
wheels EE runs loosely on the steering tube and shaft. E is journalled in brackets
or lugs B¹ B upon the steering tube and fork respectively; the bevel wheel E" is
connected to the hub A¹ of the road wheel A. The tube C5 which forms a bearing
for the intermediate shaft E' is pivotted at C C7 to the frame tubes CC for the
purpose hereinafter described.
A tube C8 forms a saddle support for the driver and pedals A2 are fitted.
reservoir G and battery G' if the motor has electric ignition are also provided.
An oil
In order that the motor may be used when detached from the cart K two small
wheels H are constructed capable of being raised as shown when the cart is attached.
The dotted lines show the wheels in use. The wheels H each run in a fork H¹
hinged at H² to the frame and connected together by the stay H. A quadrant H
is fixed to the frame and passes through a slotted piece H carried by the stay H³ and
provided with a thumb screw H' bearing upon the quadrant H4, by this means the
forks H' and wheels H are held securely in the desired position.
Clamps M are provided at each side of the rear part of the motor frame in a
convenient position to embrace the shafts K¹ of the cart. Additional clamps M²
connected with the seat tube C by stays M³ M engage with the front ends of the
shafts K¹ thus forming a rigid connection between motor and cart.
The clutch apparatus, of which Figure 2 is an enlarged view is operated by the
driver's foot pressing upon the pedal N. This pedal is pivotted upon a pin N¹
attached to the lower part of the seat tube C³. A connection is made between the
arm N at right angles to and rigidly connected with the pedal and one arm N³ of a
bell crank lever by a link N. The other arm N' of the bell crank lever has a slotted
end No with which engages a pin N rigidly fixed to the bearing N of the shaft E'.
The bearing N is free to move laterally in grooves in the bracket (except insofar as
it is controlled by the pin N and lever N. Two stops N° N formed upon the bracket
limit the movement of the lever N' and therefore of the bevel wheel E. When the
pedal N is pressed down by the foot the link N' is drawn forward; the arm N' of the bell
crank lever presses against the stop N' and the bevel wheel E is brought into gear with
the bevel wheel Es; when the pedal is released the spring C, one end of which connects
with the tube C³ and the other with a collar E12 upon the shaft E', pulls over the shaft
and draws the bevel wheels out of gear. The pedal is locked in its lower position by a
catch N" pivotted to the tube C. In order that the shaft Es may move freely laterally
the pivotted bearing C³ before described is provided. Fig. 3 shows a method of driving
with a chain. The crank shaft E1 carries a chain wheel E¹s which is connected with a
chain wheel E" journalled on the steering head by means of a chain E". A bevel
wheel E10 is rigidly fixed to the chain wheel E and drives
the bevel wheel E17 which runs freely on the steering head; this in its
turn drives the bevel wheel E18 which is journalled on the fork B and with
which is rigidly connected a chain wheel E which drives a chain wheel E20 fixed to
the hub A through the chain E2. The frame and motor are somewhat differently
arranged from those in Fig. 1 but do not need any special description.
Figures 4 and 5 show a modified form of clutch which may be used either for chain or
bevel gearing. The bracket C has a slot formed in it in the direction of its length
through which a pin O passes. The end of the pin O inside the bracket carries a head
or T-piece in which are pivotted two rollers 0 so arranged as to be capable of each
engaging with one side of a ring or disc 02 carried upon the crank shaft E. This ring
is forced to rotate with the shaft by a feather ( on the shaft which engages with a
slot in the ring 02 but it is free to move laterally when pressed by either of the
rollers. A detent O' is rigidly fixed to the ring. A sleeve O fits upon the shaft but
is not fixed to it so that the sleeve and shaft can turn freely with respect to each other.
The chain wheel E¹ is keyed or otherwise fixed to the sleeve 0s; and between the
sleeve and bracket are ball bearings. In the end of the sleeve nearest the ring 02
notches 0 are formed with which the detent O' engages when required.

page_text: A pedal N is connected to the top of a rod or slider P which moves in a tube P1
firmly fixed to the tube C' by bracket P or otherwise, the slider P is provided with a
projection Ps and the tube 1" with a bayonet joint slot 1. The slider is divided
horizontally at P' so that the upper part can rotate without the lower. A spring P
one end of which is attached to the tube P¹ and the other to the lower end of the
slider P, keeps the latter in its upper position when the projection P is free, A
pin P upon the lower end of the slider P engages with a slot Ps in the arm P of a bell
crank lever pivotted upon the lower end of the tube C, the other arm
P of the lever is connected by a link P with one arm P12 of a similar lever
pivotted upon the bracket C, the other arm P of this lever is slotted and the pin O
engages with it.
In the drawings the clutch is shown out of action the crank shaft E' being free to
move with respect to the chain wheel E13. To put the clutch in action the pedal N is
pressed downwards and the projection Ps on the slider P is caught in the bottom of
the bayonet joint slot P by a small rotation of the pedal; the movement is transmitted
through the bell crank levers P P and the link P to the pin O which slides
towards the chain wheel carrying the ring O* along with it; the detent O' is forced
into one of the slots O' and the chain wheel E13 begins to rotate. When the clutch is
to be disengaged the projection Ps is freed and the spring P returns the mechanism into
the position shown in the drawings.
Figure 6 shows an alternative method of coutrolling the slider P. The pedal N is
pivotted at P to a slotted extension P" of the guide tube P'. A can Q is rigidly
fixed to the pivot end of the pedal N and works in the slot. The cam Q has two
faces Q'and Q, the distance from the pivot P to the face Q' being greater than that.
to the face Q. The rest of the clutch apparatus is identical with that described and
illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. In the position shown the top of the slider P is in
contact with the face Q1 of the cam and the slider being in its lower position the
clutch is in action; when the pedal is rotated upwards by the foot of the driver the
face Q of the cam comes in contact with the slider P and the spiral springs P draw
the slider upwards and the clutch is disengaged. The .cam is so shaped that the
pressure of the slider upon either face keeps it in the position required.
The vehicle illustrated in Fig. 7 is of the "Olympia" tandem type, the front rider
however being the driver and steerer of the vehicle and being provided with pedals A*
for starting purposes. Means for stopping and starting the motor and throwing it out
of gear are suitably arranged but are not illustrated in the drawing. The motor E
drives the rear wheel through suitable gearing. A cab such for example as indicated in
dotted lines may be fitted over the hinder portion of the vehicle, the occupant being
provided with a suitable seat.
If preferred this arrangement may be reversed, the driver of the vehicle being
seated overthe rear wheel while the cab is arranged in front.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The detachable traction motor substantially as described.
2. The traction motor having a single driving road wheel and two or more temporary
supporting wheels, the whole adapted to be readily attached to or detached from the
shafts of a vehicle substantially as described.
3. The foot-operated clutch for the motor of a motor vehicles substantially as
described.
4. The combinationand arrangement of parts constituting the complete detachable
traction motor substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the
accompanying drawings.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete foot-
operated clutch substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, or
Figures 4 and 5 or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 6. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete motor
vehicle substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 7 of the accompanying
drawings.