Improvements in Electrically-propelled Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 9th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 9th Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrically-propelled Vehicles.
We ERNEST JOHN CLUBBE and ALFRED WILLIAM SOUTHEY both of
16, Elm Street, Gray's Inn Road, London, W.C., Electrical Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to electrically-propelled vehicles and it has for its object
to enable the motors to participate in the play of the vehicle springs interposed
between the axle of the wheels to be driven and the part of the vehicle by which
the motors are supported, and yet to maintain the axis of the motors at a constant
radial distance from the axis of the driven wheels and so maintain constant the
tension or proper working relation of the driving chains or other gear by which
motion is transmitted from the motors to the wheels.
With a view to obviate the varying working relation of the gearing which would
ensue from the play of the springs, it has heretofore been proposed to mount the
motors upon a rigid frame pivoted on the wheel axle and supported by the vehicle
body, but with this arrangement the motors are liable to sustain shocks due to the
hammering action of the wheels on a rough road.
To obviate this, we support the motors on the framework of the vehicle which
is supported on springs whereby the transmission of shocks is diminished but the
motors may also be mounted on special supporting springs, with a view to still
further diminish the transmission of shocks.
In carrying out the invention, the motors are mounted upon a bed plate which is
supported on the framework of the vehicle and is free to slide or move thereon
under the control of a radial link or links extending between and maintaining at a
constant radial distance apart, the axis of the wheels to be driven and that of an
intermediate gear wheel mounted on the same movable bed plate with the motor
and driven from the shaft thereof.
The said intermediate axis carries the sprocket or other wheel which is geared
by endless chain or other gear with a toothed rim attached to the rim of the
travelling wheel.
By this means the working of the gearing is unaffected by the play of the
springs.
Improvements in Electrically-propelled Vehicles.
We, ERNEST JOHN CLUBBE and ALFRED WILLIAM SOUTHEY, both of
16, Elm Street, Gray's Inn Road, London, W.C. Electrical Engineers, do hereby
0 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 electrically-propelled vehicles, and it has for its object

page_text: to maintain constant the tension or proper working relation of the driving chains
or other gear by which motion is transmitted from the motors to the driving wheels
of the vehicle, notwithstanding that springs are interposed between the axle of the
driving wheels and the part of the vehicle by which the motors are supported.
With a view to obviate the varying working relation of the gearing, which would
ensue from the play of the springs, it has heretofore been proposed to mount the
motors upon a rigid frame pivoted at one end on the wheel axle and supported at
the other by the vehicle body, but with this arrangement the motors are liable to
sustain shocks due to the hammering action of the wheels on a rough road.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming part of this
Specification, wherein
Figure 1 is a part sectional side elevation of an electrically-propelled vehicle
embodying our invention, and.
Figure 2 is a detail rear elevation of one of the motors and links.
In carrying out the invention, each of the motors A is mounted upon the same
bed plate B with an intermediate shaft C driven from the motor shaft, and the bed
plate B is free to slide horizontally to and fro in the longitudinal direction of the
vehicle in dovetailed guides d on a base plate D supported on the floor framing of
the vehicle body. The intermediate shaft C is coupled, by a radius link or links E,
with the axle F of the driving wheels G, said intermediate axis C carrying the
sprocket or other wheel H which is geared by endless chain I or other gear with a
toothed rim K attached to the rim of the travelling wheel G, each wheel G being
preferably driven by its own motor. The radial distance between the shaft C and
axle F is maintained constant by the link or links E which are journalled about C
and F, so that the up and down motion of F, consequent on the play of the vehicle
springs, is converted into a longitudinal sliding motion of the motor in its bed
plate guides. By this means the working of the gearing is unaffected by the play
of the springs.
The motor or motors should be placed well in advance of the axle F in order to
diminish, as far as possible, the upward thrust, to resist which the dovetailed
guides are provided.
Instead of coupling the link E directly to the intermediate shaft C, it might be
coupled to the bed plate B, but with less advantage. Both the wheels G might,
however, be driven by the same motor, in which case the intermediate shaft C
would extend quite across the vehicle and be made in two lengths coupled by a
balance gear. The bed plate B would also extend across the vehicle and be
coupled, by a link E at each end, with the axle F, provision being made to prevent
side binding of the bed plate in the guides d, by reason of the two sides of the bed
plate not moving simultaneously.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is :-
In an electrically-propelled vehicle, mounting each motor and an intermediate
shaft driven direct therefrom, to slide or move together upon the vehicle body,
and coupling the said intermediate shaft or its support to the axle of the wheels to
be driven, by a radius link or links whereby to maintain constant, or approxi-
mately so, the distance between the intermediate shaft and axle, notwithstanding
the play of the springs interposed between the axle and body, substantially as
specified.
Dated this 9th day of January 1895
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.