Improvements in and connected with Motor Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 27th Nov., 1897
Improvements in and connected with Motor Vehicles.
I, CHARLES M JOHNSON of Broad Street House, New Broad Street, in the
City 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:-.
My invention relates to motor vehicles propelled by petroleum or other explosive
material or gas.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings
Fig. 1 is a sectional plan shewing the general arrangement.
Fig. 2 is a section through the fore carriage shewing the ball race.
Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 Fig. 1.
Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views to an exaggerated scale shewing an arrangement to
prevent the driving wheels from skidding.
The motor vehicle frame A is supported on springs on one or two guiding wheels B
and two driving wheels C. The driving wheels C run loosely on an axle D which
revolves in bearings E sliding between horn plates A¹ on the carriage frame A. The
bearings E carry springs which support the carriage frame A. In order that the
driving wheels may not skid when running round curves, owing to one wheel
revolving more quickly than another, power is conveyed from the axle I) to the
driving wheels Cby means of clutches CD¹, the former forming part of or being
secured to the hubs of the wheels C and the latter being provided with a feather
sliding in a feather way on the axle D. The clutches D¹ are connected by chains F1 F2
or their equivalents to the axle of the guiding wheels B or to some other suitable part
of the fore-carriage or fifth wheel. The clutch D¹ on the "near" side of the motor.
vehicle being connected by means of the chain F to the "off" side of the fore carriage
or axle of the guiding wheels and the clutch D¹ on the "off" side being similarly
connected by the chain F2 to the "near" side of the fore carriage. By this
arrangement when the fore carriage is caused to revolve on its pivot so that the motor
vehicle may turn to the right the chain F draws the clutch D¹ on the "off" side
out of gear with the clutch C on the "off" wheel C allowing said wheel to revolve
independently of the axle D. In the same manner the "near" wheel C can revolve
independently of its axle D by the similar action of the chain F' when the motor
vehicle is caused to turn to the left. On the motor vehicle again running a straight
course the clutches D₁ are brought into gear with the clutches C¹ on the driving
wheels C by means of springs D2 on the axle D between the clutches D¹ and the
bearings E. The chains F F pass over pulleys D3 attached to loose collars on the
axle D.
In order that the motor vehicle may more easily be steered by hand the fore
carriage or fifth wheel as shown in Fig. 2 is provided with a ball race G thus
diminishing friction to a minimum. A steering wheel H is provided suitably
connected by a chain or otherwise to the fore carriage.
The motor K, secured to the frame A, is provided with two cylinders K³ one on
either side of the crank shaft L and arranged on a common axis. The cranks are so
set that both pistons arrive at the end of their strokes simultaneously and therefore

page_text: receive the explosive impulse also simultaneously. By this arrangement the shock of
the explosion in one cylinder is neutralised by the shock of the explosion in the other
cylinder. In order that the connecting rods of the two pistons as these near the crank
shaft L on the inward stroke, may clear one another one of the connecting rods K' is
forked.
The crank shaft L is extended on either side of the motor K and is provided with
bearings K in the frame A.
At one end of the crank shaft L is keyed a chain wheel or band pulley 1 which
carries a straight chain or band driving a chain wheel or pulley M³ mounted loosely at
one end of a countershaft M running in bearings M on or underneath the frame A.
At the other end of the crank shaft L is keyed a toothed wheel L gearing with
another toothed wheel M³ mounted loosely on the corresponding end of the
countershaft M. Thus the chain wheel or band pulley M¹ will revolve in a direction
opposite to the direction of revolution of the toothed wheel M³ and by alternately
connecting the countershaft M to one or another of these two wheels it is obvious
that the said countershaft will revolve in either direction.
For this purpose both the wheel or pulley M' and the wheel M³ are provided with
a clutch of the following construction. On the countershaft. M is secured a cross bar
or collar M4 affording fixed pivots M5 equidistant from the centre of the countershaft
for two or more levers. The ends Me of these levers form a pocket or jaw into each
of which is loosely inserted a roller M7 see Fig. 3. The other ends Ms of these levers
are bevelled and are operated by a cone M9 sliding on the countershaft M and
provided with a feather which takes into a featherway on the said shaft. The ends
M of these levers are normally kept apart to the required extent by a spring or
springs M. On both the chain wheel or pulley M and the toothed wheel M³ are
provided cylindrical bosses M upon which revolve the rollers M' in the jaws or
pockets M. The action of this clutch is as follows: the cone M is driven between
the ends M of the levers expanding these and closing in the jaw or pocket ends M
compressing the spring or springs M and compressing the rollers M7 between the
bottom of the jaws or pockets and the boss M until the friction on the rollers and
between the lever ends M8 and the cone M is sufficient to revolve the countershaft M.
On withdrawing the cone Mº the spring or springs M' expand, opening out the lever
ends M and thus allowing the rollers M' to revolve freely on the boss M. The
two cones Mº are operated simultaneously in such a manner that, both cones may be
out of gear, or one only in gear, with their respective lever ends Ms at the same time.
A convenient means of attaining this object consists of two forked levers N1 N2 taking
into grooves provided on the cones M being pivotted on the frame A at N N
respectively and connected together by a connecting rod No. The forked lever N²
is bell cranked to receive a connecting rod No which is carried to the front part of
the vehicle and operated by a vertical pivotted reversing lever N provided with a
quadrant (not shown).
The axle D may conveniently be driven at slow and quick speeds from the
countershaft M in the following manner. On the countershaft M are keyed two chain
wheels or band pulleys M12 M18 which drive respectively by means of chains or bands
two chain wheels or band pulleys D D mounted loosely on the axle D provided each
with a clutch.
The axle D is driven at either rate of speed by means of a double sliding clutch D
provided with a feather taking into a featherway on the axle D which may
conveniently be put into gear with one or the other of the two chain wheels or band
pulleys D D5, or thrown out of gear with both by means of a bell crank lever D7
suitably pivotted on the frame A. The lever D7 may be operated from the front by
means of a connecting rod Ds and a vertical pivotted reversing lever D provided with
a quadrant (not shown).
In order to prevent the driving wheels C from slipping they are provided with a
suitable number of links C2 of any desirable section which take over the tyres of the
wheels C and normally are flush with said tyres, but, when required and while the

page_text: driving wheels C are revolving, may be caused to project beyond the surface of said
tyres in the following manner.
Referring to Figs. 1, 4 and 5 the links C are pivotted on one or both sides of the
felloe or of the spokes as shown upon the drawing and on the inner side of the wheel
are provided with an arm or extension C³. For each link are provided in the tyres
two slots (C. The slot C is of sufficient depth to permit of the link being flash
with the surface of the tyre while the slot C is of such a depth as to ensure the
link projecting the required amount beyond the surface of the tyre. A spring Cis
provided to draw the link into either slot C or C5 when it has passed a position
midway between the two slots and also to retain the link in either slot. Mounted
loosely on the axle D are two arms (which passing through the horn plates A¹ slide
therein above the bearings E. These arms extend upwards to the level of the top of
the driving wheels C and carry each two sliding pins 0 0 and a lever 03 pivotted
centrally at O' which operates said sliding pins. The lever 0³ may be provided with
a handle and moved directly or may be operated in any suitable manner from the
front of the vehicle. For example the lever O' may be keyed on a rod carried by the
arm O at 04 said rod being extended to the front of the vehicle and carried there by
a swivelling bracket and partially rotated there by a suitable handle or lever.
The links C normally rest in the slots C but when the driving wheels C begin to
slip the pin O¹ is pushed out towards the wheel C by means of the lever 03 thus
causing the pin Oas the wheels C revolve, to strike small projections (not shown) on
the tops of the links C2 throwing them out of the slots C towards the slots C³ the
springs causing the links to be seated in the slots C as already described. The
distance of the said projections on the tops of the links from the centre of the
axle D being greater when seated in slots Cs than when seated in slots C enables
the said projections to pass the pin 0¹ as the wheels continue to revolve.
When the wheels C no longer have a tendency to slip the position of the lever 03
is reversed drawing back the pin O¹ and projecting the pin 02 towards the wheel
causing said pin 02 as the wheel revolves to strike the extensions C³ of the links C²
thus throwing the links out of the slot 0 towards the slot O the springs causing
them to be seated in the slot C level with the periphery of the tyre whereupon the
extensions C³ are clear of the pin 02 as the wheel continues to revolve.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. A motor vehicle provided with two cylinders arranged opposite each other of
which the piston of one is connected to one of the cranks of a crank shaft with three
cranks, two of which are opposite to the third crank, while the other piston is
connected to the other two cranks in such inanner that both pistons receive a
simultaneous impulse and approach and recede from each other simultaneously and
so that the shok or vibration resulting from the impulse in one cylinder is
neutralized by the shock or vibration resulting from the impulse in the opposite
cylinder substantially as set forth.
2. A motor vehicle provided with two cylinders arranged opposite each other of
which the piston of one is connected to one of the cranks of a crank shaft with three
cranks, two of which are opposite to the third crank while the other piston is
connected to the two other cranks in such manner that both pistons receive a
simultaneous impulse and approach and recede from each other simultaneously,
gearing for communicating motion from the crank shaft to the road driving wheels,
clutches for putting said gearing in and out of gear for going forwards or backwards
or stopping. gearing and clutches for varying the speed of the road driving wheels
and means for steering the vehicle substantially as described and shewn.
3. A motor vehicle provided with two cylinders K³3 K³ arranged opposite to each
other of which the piston of one is connected by a connecting rod K to one of the
cranks of a crank shaft L while the other piston is connected by a forked connecting
rod K¹ to the other two cranks, gearing for communicating motion from the crank

page_text: shaft to the road driving wheels CC consisting of a chain wheel La chain and a chain
wheel M mounted loosely on a countershaft M and a spur wheel L2 gearing with a
spur wheel M³ also mounted loosely on the countershaft, two clutches sliding on and
revolving with the countershaft and connected together so that either may gear with
or not gear with the chain wheel M¹ or spur wheel M³ respectively to cause the
countershaft to revolve in either direction or not to revolve, two chain wheels
mounted on the countershaft and communicating motion by chains to two other
chain wheels D and D5 on the axle of the road driving wheels, a clutch De sliding on
and revolving with the said road driving wheels axle, means for causing the said
clutch for gearing with either or neither of the chain wheels D₁ or D³,
clutches D D¹ operated by the turning of the forecarriage to cause one of the road
driving wheels to be capable of independent revolution when the vehicle turns and
means for steering substantially as described and shewn.
4. In a motor vehicle the means for uncoupling one of the road driving wheels on
turning consisting of clutches DI D' connected by cords or chains F1 F2 to the
forecarriage substantially as described.
5. In a motor vehicle the means for permitting of giving the road wheels an
additional grip on the ground consisting of pivotted links C2 the outer surfaces of
which are normally flush with the periphery of the tyre provided with arms or
extensions C³ and means for causing the links to assume a different position on the
tyre of the wheel while it is revolving substantially as set forth.
6. In a motor vehicle the application to the fifth wheel or fore carriage of ball
bearings to render the turning thereof easy substantially as set forth.
7. In a motor vehicle the application of a roller friction clutch substantially as set
forth.
8. The construction of motor vehicle shewn on the drawing.
Dated this Twenty seventh day of November 1896
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.