Improvements in Driving Gear for Motor Cars and other Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Gear for Motor Cars and other Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM SYDENHAM, of 5 Ann Street, Union Square, Islington, FREDERICK
WATKINSON, of Prah Road, Finsbury Park, both in the County of Middlesex, and
ARTHUR SYDENHAM of 29 Clerkenwell Road in the City of London, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to drive all the wheels of the vehicle although their
axes can be made to radiate to a point for steering.
For this purpose the axle of each pair of wheels (which is driven in any convenient
manner) is divided into four parts. The two middle parts are connected together at
one end by differential gear (so that in turning the outer wheel revolves faster than
the inner one) whilst their other ends are each connected to one of the outer parts of
the axle by a universal joint.
at this lot der of December 180c
WM. SYDENHAM.
F. WATKINSON.
AR. SYDENHAM,
We, WILLIAM SYDENHAM, of 5 Ann Street, Union Square, Islington, FREDERICK
WATKINSON, of Prah Road, Finsbury Park, both in the County of Middlesex, and
ARTHUR SYDENHAM, of 29 Clerkenwell Road, in the City of London, 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:-
The object of this invention is to drive all the wheels of the vehicle although their
axes can be made to radiate to a point for steering.
For this purpose the axle (which is driven in any convenient manner) is divided
into four parts. The two middle parts are connected together at one end by
differential gear (so that in turning the outer, wheel revolves faster than the inner
one) whilst their other ends are each connected to one of the outer parts of the axle
by a universal joint.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section partly in elevation of the axle and
steering gear and Figure 2 is a plan.
These figures shew three of the four parts of the axle namely a a' a' the fourth
part which is not shown is to the right of the figures and is similar to a.
The parts a are free to turn in sleeves 6 and at their outer ends carry pins or
cross bars c engaging with slots on the hubs d' of the wheels d so that the
CD

page_text: wheels turn with the axles. The inner ends of the shafts a are connected by
"Hooke's" joints e to the outer ends of the shafts a¹ whose inner ends are
connected by differential gear f. The shafts a¹ work in bearings g¹ fixed to the
frame g of the machine. 92 is a fork also fixed to the frame at the top it carries a
bearing g³ and at the bottom a stud g¹.
The sleeves 6 have forks b¹ at one end carrying studs 62 working in the bearings g³
and also bearings 63 to receive the studs g. 6' are levers rigidly fixed to the studs 62
and connected by the rods h to the plate h' which can be turned about a pivot h² by
the hand wheel h³.
The arrangement above described is not suitable when it is desired to turn the
wheels through large angles and in such cases the Hooke's joint e may be replaced by
bevelled pinions as shewn in Figure 3 but we prefer to adopt the arrangements shewn
at Figures 4 to 10. Figures 4 and 5 being similar views to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 6
shewing some of the parts separately and Figures. 7 and 8 by a plan and side
elevation of the carriage.
In this arrangement the Hooke's joint is replaced by a special form of universal
joint consisting of rods jointed together in the form of a parallelogram each of the
sides of which is made in two parts free to turn axially the one upon the other. Figures 6
give two views at right angles to each other of each of the parts separated from
each other. These parts are pin jointed to each other at j k l m. The method of
turning the wheels is also modified. The studs 62 have fixed to them pinions b
gearing with racks ht on the rods h whose other ends carry rollers 5 engaging, with a
cam groove h7 on the plate which is provided with teeth h8 gearing with a
pinion he fixed to the shaft of the hand wheel h³. By this means the different angles
through which the two wheels have to be turned can be very accurately adjusted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. An axle divided into four parts the two middle parts being connected at one end
to each other by differential gear and at the other ends to the outer parts by universal
joints.
2. Driving gear for motor cars substantially as described and shewn in the
drawings.
Dated L
1005