Improved Mechanism for Varying the Speed of Automotor Vehicles, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improved Mechanism for Varying the Speed of Automotor Vehicles,
and the like.
We, LA SOCIÉTÉ DILIGEON AND CIE, of 48, Rue de Malte, Paris, 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 mechanism, for varying the speed of automotor vehicles
and the like, an important feature of which is the employment of graduated cones
attended with all the advantages inherent to this system of transmission.
In order to make the invention clear we append to the present description a draw-
ing in which is illustrated by a perspective view a form embodying our invention for
effecting an alteration of speed suitable for automotor vehicles.
The transmission of power from the motor to the shaft of the wheel or wheels of
the vehicle is effected through the medium of a graduated cone (A) operated directly
or indirectly by the motor machine and over which a belt (B) runs; this belt (B)
operates a second similar cone (C) arranged in a reverse position to the first. From
the cone (C) the motion is transmitted to the vehicle through the medium of any
suitable mechanism adapted for being employed in combination with the system of
altering speed which forms the subject of the present invention.
The belt guide (D) is composed of a bar (d) fixed in any suitable manner to the
frame of the vehicle and on which a slide (d*) is mounted, this slide consists of the
metal plates (d) and (¹) one of which acts on one edge and the other on the other
edge of the belt (B); as will be clearly seen from the drawing, the belt guide (D) is
arranged and constructed in such a manner that the plates (d) and (¹) always act
one or the other on the edge of the belt and draws or pushes the said belt one grade
higher on one of the cones and a grade lower on the other.
Experience has shewn that this way of causing the belt to pass from one grade to
the other is practically the best in this sense that it requires much less power and
is consequently effected more gently and with less jerking.
The driving cone (A) has a fixed shaft (a) whilst the reversing cone (C) is
mounted on a movable shaft (c) which is capable of being oscillated by the fixed
shaft (E) to which it is connected by any suitable means, for instance by the arms
(f) (f).
The shaft (a) and the shaft (E) are mounted in suitable bearings fixed to the frame
or body of the vehicle.

page_text: The reason for mounting the cone (C) on a movable shaft is as follows:-
Supposing that the belt (B) occupies on the graded cones (A) and (C) the position
indicated in the drawing, it then happens when it is desired to cause the belt to pass
from the grades where it may be on to the adjoining grades that by reason of the
tendency which the belt always has to ascend to the highest parts of the bodies
over which it runs the belt ascends the inclined plane (a) before descending the
inclined plane (c) and that this false position is then incompatible with its length.
The alteration of the position of the belt thus becomes so to say impossible unless the
distance of the shafts from the two cones (A) and (C) be reduced so as to allow the
belt to take this false position without its being compelled to stretch out beyond
measure. This is exactly what is obtained by making the shaft (c) movable in
a manner that allows of its being possible for it to come nearer to or remove further
from the shaft (a).
Thus when it is desired to cause the belt (B) to pass from one grade on to any one
of the other grades the shaft (c) is brought momentarily nearer to the
shaft (a) which causes the belt guide (D) to be moved in a suitable direction and as
soon as the said belt is in the new position the shaft (c) is immediately brought
back to its normal position in relation to the shaft (a).
Another characteristic feature of our invention lies in the arrangement for
effecting the displacement of the belt (B) and the momentary displacement of the
shaft (c) by means of a single operating lever (G).
In principle this arrangement is made as follows:-
The shaft (E) mounted in such a manner as to be capable of rotating in its bear-
ings carries a crank (H) which serves as a support to the lever (G). By moving
this lever (G) with the hand in the direction of the arrow (2) the said lever (G) is
caused to rotate as also is the crank support (H) around the axis of the shaft (E)
which thus rotates in the direction of the arrow (21) and consequently causes the
arms (f) (f) to oscillate in the direction of the arrow (22) so that finally the shaft (c)
is brought nearer to the shaft (a); by operating the lever (G) in the contrary direc-
tion the return of the shaft (G) to its original position is effected. Any suitable
device such as a pawl and rack can be used for keeping the arrangement in its
assigned or limited position.
The lever (G) is not rigidly connected with the crank support (H) but on the con-
trary is able to oscillate around a pivot (9) in a plane perpendicular to the plane
in which the part (H) can turn. At the end of the lever (G) opposite to the handle
(g) the lever is linked to a rod (K) this rod is connected to a lever (L) the axis of
oscillation (1) of which is fixed to the frame of the vehicle whilst the opposite end is
attached to a rod (M) which controls the slide (d) of the belt guide (D).
By this arrangement when the lever (G) is caused to oscillate in the direction of
the arrow (a) and made to occupy one or other of the positions (G³), (G2) (G³) the
rod (K) is drawn in the direction of the arrow (a) the lever (L) oscillates in the
direction of the arrow (2) the rod (M) is drawn in the direction of the arrow (23) and
finally the slide () moves from right to left on the guide bar (d) carrying with it
the belt (B) that is to say causing it to pass from one grade on to another towards
the left.
It is evident that if the lever (G) be caused to oscillate in the contrary direction
the belt will be made to pass from left to right.
In the same way as before the positions (G), (G¹), (G²), (G³) may be fixed by a
pawl and rack or by means of any equivalent arrangement.
In order to avoid confusion a suitable arrangement of any kind may be provided
which would render it impossible for the lever (G) to move out of the position in
which it is placed until desired. For controlling this arrangement a button or stud
(93) mounted in the end of the handle (g) and which by the medium of a rod lodged
in the lever (G) made hollow for the purpose acts suitably on the engagement.
For greater clearness the lever (G) is placed in the drawing rather far from the
crank (H) as the double motion of this lever might appear to be difficult for in
reality the two points (m) and (n) are virtually one and moreover as the joints can

page_text: be constructed in any suitable manner for securing easy working of the system in
the different desired directions this double movement is practically very easy to be
realized.
Finally it should be observed that the present illustration of the system of varying
speed as herein explained is given by way of demonstration and that the right is
reserved of applying to the mechanism for carrying out that system, any modifica-
tions in construction and arrangement which may be considered useful or advan-
tageous according to the particular application without in any way going beyond
the scope of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
Mechanism for altering the rate of speed intended specially for automotor vehicles
consisting of belt and graduated cone gear with inclined planes between the grades
in which with the assistance of a single operating lever movable in two perpendi-
cular planes the one over the other the shaft of the movable receiving cone is operated
so as to momentarily approach or move away from the fixed driving cone and a belt
guide is also operated which always acts on the edge or side of the belt whatever may
be the direction of displacement, substantially as described.
Deted the 15th day of October 1907
W. D. ROWLINGSON,
7. Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.