IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELED VEHICLES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELED VEHICLES." A communication
from abroad by Peter Herdic, of the City of Philadelphia, in the State of
Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, Merchant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st May 1881.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey.
WHEELED VEHICLES." A communication from abroad by Peter Herdic, of the
City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, one of the United States
of America, Merchant.
The Invention as applied to four wheeled vehicles relates to that class of vehicles
having cranked rear axles, and especially pertains to the connections between the
front and rear axles, to the springs by which the body of the vehicle is connected
with and supported upon the axles, to the draft attaching devices, and to the
connections between the front wheels and their axle.
In vehicles of the same class generally considered as that to which this Invention
belongs, that is to say, in a vehicle having a rear cranked axle and a non-turning
front axle-tree or axle proper, provided at its ends with jointed axle arms or
turning stud axles, and in which the rear axle and front axle-tree are maintained
always parallel with each other, the front wheels swinging with their axle-arms;
in turning, as usually constructed, the parallelism of the axles is maintained by
means of a rigid braced reach or perch connection between the axles.
Now the object mainly is to dispense with the reach proper or rigid connection
between the axles of such four-wheeled vehicles, and to connect the front and rear
axles by a suitable vehicle bed or body and supporting and bracing springs, thus
maintaining the axles in proper relative positions while avoiding injurious effects
incident to the employment of a rigid reach or perch due chiefly to its unavoidable
vibration, resulting in constant strains and in the loosening and wear of parts.
In accordance with the Invention the rear main supporting springs are clipped

page_text: or firmly mounted upon the cranked axle close to its upright portions or cranks,
and are jointed respectively at their front ends to the opposite ends of a cross-bar
or plate upon which the vehicle body rests. Other and lighter or weaker bracing-
springs, which may be termed "half springs," as they are of about half the length
of the main supporting springs, are rigidly connected at their rear ends respectively
with the respective cranks of the axle, and at or near the tops or upper ends
thereof, while at their front ends these tension and thrust or two-way acting brace
springs connect by joints with the tops of angle trusses or brackets at points
respectively above and about in the vertical planes of the respective jointed front
ends of the main supporting springs. Instead of bracing springs, braces consisting
the rear.
of bars jointed at their ends to the trusses and axle cranks may be employed. A
second cross-bar for the body to rest upon is secured in front of and parallel with
that one to which the fronts of the supporting springs are jointed. The trusses or
brackets connect these two cross-bars firmly; or instead of two cross-bars one
broad bar or plate might be employed. A third cross-spring connects the rear
ends of the two main-springs; or instead of this cross-spring a simple bar may
have the rear ends of the two main springs jointed to its ends. A supporting
piece on top of the cross-spring serves to connect with the vehicle body or bed at
The vehicle body is supported upon the front axle, and the front axle-
tree or axle proper is connected with the body and rear axle by means of four
springs or "half springs" arranged in pairs, one pair serving as brace-springs,
which are located above the other pair; or jointed bar-braces may be substituted
for the pair of spring braces. The lower springs are respectively rigidly connected
at their rear ends to or near the opposite ends of the before mentioned front cross-
bar, and at their front ends are respectively jointed to the axle-tree near its
opposite ends. The upper or bracing-springs are jointed to the axle above the
jointed connections therewith of the lower springs, and at their rear ends each of
these bracing-springs is firmly and rigidly connected with the vehicle body. The
front and the rear bracing-springs are located respectively in or about in the
respective horizontal planes of the axle-arms or wheel-journals of the front and
rear axles, and the draft strain is thus brought centrally, or nearly so, upon the
wheels of the vehicle.
The Invention also relates to minor improvements in various parts of four
wheeled vehicles.
The subject-matter claimed, will hereinafter be designated after first fully
describing the improvements in connection with the accompanying Drawings. On
Sheet 1 are shown those parts of a suitable four wheeled vehicle which are deemed
sufficient for illustrating and describing the Invention as preferably applied.
Figure 1 is a side elevation with the wheels partially shown in dotted lines;
Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the axles, springs, etc., or the running gear;
Figure 3 is a front elevation showing the front axle-tree and its independently
mounted stud-axles or short turning axle-arms; Figure 4 is an end elevation of
parts shown in Figure 3, the draft attachment being in part represented; Figure 5
is a view showing the front axle-tree and the vibrating draft-bar in section with
the vibrating strap, bracket, or device for attaching the shafts in elevation;
Figure 6 is a plan view of the vibrating strap-bracket for attachment of the shafts.
The rear cranked axle A is made of any suitable material, has diagonal struts or
braces a, a, for strengthening its upwardly projecting ends or cranks A¹, A', and
has main supporting springs B, B, mounted upon it near its cranks and connected
by joints at their rear ends with a third or cross spring B¹.
The front ends of the springs B, B, are jointed respectively to the opposite ends
of a cross bar C to which the vehicle bed or body D is suitably fastened. Lugs b, b,
on the underside of the bar C, serve to joint the springs to this bar. In advance
of the bar C there is a second cross-bar C¹ to which the body D is to be secured.
Obviously a single broad metallic plate or wooden bar might be used instead of the
two bars C, C¹, or any suitable provision be made for connecting the body and the
springs.

page_text: Suitable brackets or angle trusses E, E, firmly secured at their bases to both of
the cross-bars C, C¹, serve alone or by preference in connection with braces d, d, on
the under sides of the cross-bars to hold these bars rigidly in proper relative
position or parallel with each other. Each bracket E and its adjacent brace-bar d
may be made in one piece, the ends of the bracket base and the ends of the brace-
bar joining in loop form to adapt the combined bracket and brace to be slipped on
the ends of the cross-bars to be secured in obvious ways.
Suitable braces, in this instance spring braces or "half springs" F, F, are
respectively jointed at their front ends to or near the tops of the respective
brackets E, E, and each of these springs F is rigidly secured at its rear end to
its respective crank or upright portion A' of the rear axle near its axle arm or
journal The jointed connections of the front ends of the brace springs with the
trusses or angle brackets are made by lugs e, e, and pins or bolts.
The bracket supporting frame formed by the cross bars C, C¹, is connected with
the front axle tree or axle proper H by springs G, G, extending from the front
portion or bar C₁ of the bracket frame to lugs or ears on the axle tree to
which the front ends of the springs are jointed. These lugs h, h, are shown as
formed with the metallic portion of the axle tree on its under side and near its
ends. Each spring G is rigidly connected at its rear end with the bracket frame.
Two arms g, g, rigidly connected with and projecting from the front cross-bar C¹ of
the bracket supporting frame, one arm near either end of said cross bar, are shown
as provided for attaching the rear ends of the springs.
Above each spring G is a bracing spring I; each of these springs I, I, is jointed
at its front end to the axle tree H, while at its rear end it is rigidly attached to the
vehicle body, or it might be both to the vehicle body and cross bar C¹. By reference
to Figure 1 of the Drawings it will be seen that the brace springs I, I, connect by
bolts at their rear ends with the front of the vehicle body low down, and with a
cross bar I beneath the seat for the driver or in advance of the body proper of the
vehicle. The lugs h, h¹, by which the fronts of the bracing springs I, I, are pin-
jointed to the axle are shown as formed upon the upper metallic portion of the
axle trec. Intermediate the upper and lower metallic portion or bars J, J', there
is secured a wooden bar J. This axle tree may, however, be composed of any
suitable material or materials instead of being constructed exactly as
described. The springs I, I, it will be seen connect with the axle tree at about the
level of the axle arms or journals h, k, for the front wheels.
above
The axle arms k, l, are formed with or properly attached to turning posts K, K.
These posts are by preference made solid and provided with rounded or semi-
circular top and bottom bosses l, l, from which project short threaded studs 11, 11,
and the turning posts are supported at both ends in diagonal struts or braces j, j',
arranged in pairs and projecting above and below the plane of the axle tree. These
struts are formed by the ends of the metallic bars J, J. At their ends the struts
have rounded bearing seats or sockets to receive the bosses on the turning posts,
and the threaded studs 1, 1, of the posts pass through openings made through the
tops and bottoms of the strut ends and communicating with the centres of the
sockets or seats therein. Nuts upon the threaded ends of the studs 1, 1, serve to
hold the parts together.
A vibrating draft attachment bar M is pivoted at its ends to the front ends of
the forwardly projecting braces N, N¹, N, N¹, which are formed with or rigidly
attached to the turning posts K, K. A vibrating bracket or forked strap is
pivoted to the axle tree H and to a lugged clip P thereon by a bolt passing through
the axle, and through the lug at the top of the clip, as well as through the
lugs p, p, which embrace the axle and enable the one bolt O and nuts o, o, on its
threaded ends to secure the lugged clip in place and pivot the bracket thereto.
This bracket Q is provided with three arms or forks, two of them q, q, being
horizontal and pivotted at their joined rear ends on top of the lugged clip, while
the other arm gq is diagonal, extending back downwardly and terminating at its
rear end beneath the axle tree where it is pivoted between the axle and the

page_text: bottom lug p¹ of the clip P. At front the bracket is bolted to the bar M, and has
perforated open lugs or sockets m, m, into which engaging lugs of shafts fit loosely
and are pivotted so as to be free to vibrate vertically by means of one through bolt
or pin, or two bolts, one for each lug, as will readily be understood. The shafts, it
will be seen, are in this way prevented from swaying horizontally except with the
movements of the sway bar M in turning the vehicle, and they may quickly be
attached or removed. A tongue provided with lugs to engage the socket lugs m, m,
may be employed instead of shafts when desirable.
Instead of constructing the front axle tree and its struts precisely as above
described, and as in part represented by dotted lines in Figure 3, the parts may be
modified somewhat, as, for instance, by making the struts j, j, j¹, j', longer and the
axle tree correspondingly shorter, as represented by full lines in said Figure. In
this way the turning posts K, K, may be adjusted in place by springing apart the
struts if it be deemed desirable to so insert them, and the axle tree and struts may
be made wholly of steel or of iron if preferred. Tubular turning posts and through
bolts may be employed in connection with the doubly strutted axle tree.
Details of construction and arrangement of parts may be modified in various
ways without departure from this Invention. For instance, the springs may be
altered in form; the springs G, G, be extended back by shanks or arms beneath
the cross bar C, and secured to it as well as to the bar C¹; the cross-bar arms g, g,
dispensed with, and the springs I, I, connected with the truss frame or cross bar Ci
by means of suitable brackets, instead of being fastened at their rear ends in the
manner shown.
When suitable bar or rod braces are employed in lieu of the springs F, F, and
I, I, such braces would be jointed in place at both ends, and would, as will be
readily understood, occupy the same or substantially the same positions in which
the preferably employed spring braces are shown by the Drawings. Whether
springs or bars are employed the braces have the same functions to perform.
The Invention is also applicable to two wheeled vehicles in which the bodies are
supported by springs upon cranked axles, and especially to passenger vehicles or
cabs of this class.
By the improvements in the springs, the manner of mounting the vehicle body
upon them, and the manner of connecting the axle, the springs, the body, and the
shafts, a strong, light, easy running vehicle is produced.
On Sheet 2 there is shown a two wheeled vehicle with the improvements
applied.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a four passenger vehicle, the shafts being in part
broken away.
Figure 2 is a plan or top view showing the shafts, driver's seat, and a portion of
the front of the body.
Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the running gear, or the axle, springs, etc.
A cranked axle A shown as provided with struts or braces a, a, for strengthening
its upright ends or cranks B, B, is made of any suitable material or materials.
Body supporting or main springs C, C, are clipped or firmly connected midway
their lengths to the axle near its cranks.
Bracing springs D, D, above the main springs are rigidly connected at their rear
ends to the cranks B, B. Bar braces may be used.
To the extent above described, the axle and springs employed are the same as or
substantially similar to the corresponding parts shown and herein before described
in connection with four wheeled vehicles.
The bracing springs D, D, have pivotted connection at their front ends with the
bed or body D¹ of the vehicle, in this instance through or by way of a cross bar E
securely fastened to the under side of the front projecting frame bars F, F, of the
body skeleton or frame work. This cross bar E or its equivalent, such for instance
as a suitable bracket or brackets, might be attached directly to the vehicle body
low down at front, or both to the frame bars and body. These frame bars F, F,
extend forward to support the driver's seat G and dash board, and have the

page_text: shafts H secured to them at their sides or edges in suitable way, as by the cross-
bars or braces h, h, h, of the framing F, F, and bolts and nuts, as plainly shown in
the Drawings.
F
Each spring D connects with its projecting end of the cross bar E by a lug e
and pin or bolt. When brace bars are employed they are jointed at both ends.
The main springs C, C, have jointed connections at their front ends with the
vehicle body by rigid hangers or firmly secured pendent brackets I, I, fastened to
the ends of the cross bar E. Lugs i, i, at the lower ends of these brackets serve
to joint to them the front ends of the main-supporting springs. Braces J, J,
connect the brackets with the shafts, or, if preferred, with the bars F, F. Each
bracket is shown as formed in one piece with its diagonal brace J, and as provided
at top with lips or flanges to embrace the vertical edges of the cross bar, to which
it is secured by the bolt which fastens the lug e in place.
Each main spring C has a jointed connection at its rear end with the vehicle
body by way of broad brackets or plates K, K, securely fastened to the bed or
bottom of the vehicle body. Rearwardly projecting narrow portions or arms k, l,
of these brackets connect by pins or bolts with the ends of the springs C, C. A
single cross bracket, plate, or bar, might be substituted for the brackets K, K.
Two wheeled vehicles designed for passengers and constructed in accordance
with this Invention may have any suitable number of seats, say, two to six
inclusive, and the seats may be arranged crosswise of the vehicle, though they are,
as in this instance, preferably arranged longitudinally with a space or passage way
between the rows.
The vehicle is provided with a suitable rear step M and a door or doors L,
preferably controllable by the driver.
Various modifications may be made in the improvements without departure
from the Invention; for instance, the shafts, instead of being fixedly connected
with the scat, platform, or projecting front frame bars of the vehicle body, may be
rigidly but removably secured in place; any suitable kind of vehicle body or bed
may be employed; instead of the particularly described pivotal connections
between the front ends of the two sets of springs C, D, C, D, a double cross head
bar may be substituted for the cross bar E, and the bar or rod braces or bracing
springs and main springs be pivotted respectively to the upper and to the lower
arms of the cross head at the ends of the double cross head bar, said bar being
firmly connected in place intermediate its cross-head ends in the same way that the
bar E is secured.
I claim,―
First. The combination of the cranked axle, the main supporting springs
secured thereto, and the braces located above said springs and having connection
with the axle cranks and the vehicle body, substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore set forth.
Second. The combination of the cranked axle, main supporting springs rigidly
secured thereto, and two way acting bracing springs located above said supporting
springs and rigidly connected at their rear ends with the axle cranks, substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
Third. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the vehicle
bed or body, trusses or brackets having rigid connection therewith, the cranked
axle, the main supporting springs secured to said axle and having jointed
connection at their front ends with the vehicle body, and the braces or bracing-
springs connected with the axle cranks located above the main supporting springs,
and having jointed connection at their front ends with the vehicle body through
or by way of the said trusses or brackets, for the purpose described.
Fourth. The combination of the cranked axle, the main supporting springs, the
trusses or brackets, the frame or cross bars to which these brackets are secured, and
with which frame said springs are jointed at their front ends, and the bracing
springs rigidly connected at their rear ends with the axle cranks and jointed at

page_text: their front ends to the brackets or trusses, substantially as and for the purpose
herein before set forth.
Fifth. The combination, substantially as herein before set forth, of the vehicle
bed or body, trusses or brackets having rigid connection therewith, the cranked
rear axle, the main supporting springs secured to said axle and having jointed
connection at their front ends with the vehicle body, the braces or bracing springs
connected with the axle cranks located above the main supporting springs and
having jointed connection at their front ends with the vehicle body through or by
way of the trusses or brackets, the non turning front axle tree or axle proper, the
front supporting springs jointed to the axle tree and having rigid connection at
their rear ends with the vehicle body, and the front braces or bracing springs
having connection with the vehicle body located above the front supporting springs
and having jointed connection at their front ends with the axle tree, for the purpose
described.
Sixth. The combination of the non-turning front axle tree or axle proper, the
turning-posts provided with axle arms, the front supporting springs jointed to the
axle-tree, the front bracing springs also jointed to the axle-tree, and the vehicle
body with which all of said springs have rigid connection at their rear ends,
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
Seventh. The running gear, substantially as herein before set forth, consisting of
the combination of the rear cranked axle, the rear supporting and bracing springs,
the bracket frame or cross bars, the brackets or trusses thereon, with which frame
and brackets the front ends of said supporting and bracing springs are respectively
jointed, the non turning front axle-tree or axle proper, the supporting and bracing-
springs jointed to said axle tree at their front ends, and at their rear ends
respectively connected firmly with the bracket-frame or cross bars, and adapted as
described for rigid connection with the vehicle body.
Eighth. The combination of the axle tree or axle proper, having the pairs of
struts or braces at its ends provided with bearing seats or sockets, and the axle-
arm carrying turning-posts formed with the rounded or semi-circular bosses at both
ends fitted in the strut sockets, and secured in place, substantially as described.
Ninth. The axle arm carrying turning-post provided with the bosses, and the
threaded studs at both ends, as and for the purpose described.
Tenth. The vibrating bracket Q, having the arms or forks q, q, ql, and perforated
lugs or sockets m, m, as and for the purpose described.
Eleventh. The combination of the vibrating draft bar, the forked bracket Q
connected therewith, the lugged clip P and the bolt O by which to connect the
bracket and clip to the axle tree, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Twelfth. The combination of the non turning axle tree or axle proper, its pairs
of struts or braces, the axle arm carrying turning posts, the vibrating draft bar, the
turning-post braces with which said bar is jointed at its ends, the vibrating
bracket and the lugged clip, by which to pivot the bracket to the axle tree,
substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the
vehicle body, the shafts, the cranked axle, the main springs secured to the axle,
and having pivoted connection at both ends with the vehicle body, and the
bracing springs (or their specified equivalents) secured at their rear ends to the
axle cranks, and having pivotal connection at their front ends, with the body of a
two wheeled vehicle.
Fourteenth. The described running gear for two wheeled vehicles, consisting
essentially of the combination of the cranked axle, the main springs secured thereto
at or about their middles, the braces or bracing springs located above the main
springs, and secured at their rear ends to the axle cranks, the cross bar with which
the front ends of both sets of springs have pivotal connection, and the bracket or
brackets to which the rear ends of the main springs are jointed.
Fifteenth. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the
cranked axle of a two wheeled vehicle, the main springs, the braces or bracing
-

page_text: springs, the cross-bar to which the braces or bracing springs are jointed at their
front ends, and the pendent brackets secured to said bar, and to the lower ends of
which the main springs are jointed, for the purpose described.
Sixteenth. The combination of the body of a two wheeled vehicle, the shafts, the
cross bar and the braced pendent brackets, substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore set forth.
Seventeenth. The improvements in four-wheeled vehicles, substantially as
hereinbefore described and as illustrated in Sheet 1 of the Drawings.
Eighteenth. The improvements in two wheeled vehicles, substantially as herein-
before described and as illustrated in Sheet 2 of the Drawings,
In witness whereof, I, the said Sydney Pitt, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
SYDNEY Dimm
2
SYDNEY DITT
1444
(L.S.)