IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLES FOR Loco- MOTION
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Griffith Brewer, of Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLES FOR Loco-
MOTION." A communication from abroad by Paul Letalle, of Paris (France).
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Griffith Brewer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd November 1877.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
" IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLES FOR LOCOMOTION." A communication from abroad
by Paul Letalle, of Paris (France).
The chief object of this Invention is to relieve the load from the influence of
the action of the inequalities of the ground.
The following advantages are obtained by this novel system of locomotion :-
First. Joltings are in a great measure suppressed, and consequently wear and
injury of the parts of vehicles are retarded or diminished.
Second. The mechanical work necessary to overcome the obstacles resulting from
the roughness of the ground is partially restored; that is, there is a partial re-
couperation of the work of elevation of the load to enable the wheels to pass over
obstacles of small size.
Third. Reduction of draught, which can at great speed be lowered to a third of
what it is with the ordinary system of locomotion.
Fourth. The possibility of increasing the actual speed of vehicles running on an
ordinary road.
These advantages are obtained by suspending the load below the centre of the
wheels, and which may be accomplished in several ways. Two modes of carrying
the Invention into effect are hereafter described, viz., by bending or cranking the
axles, as shown in Figure 1.
a is the nave of the wheel; b, b', that part of the axle which supports the load,
and which can turn in the bearings c, c¹; or, as shewn in Figure 2, a, a¹, straight

page_text: axle; a, b, and a¹, 61, suspension connecting rods; d, c, and d³, c¹, supports for the
load, or by any other equivalent mechanical means that will accomplish a similar
result.
According to this system of locomotion the traction acts on the vehicle in such
manner that motion is given to the wheels from the points of rotation c and c¹
below the centres of the wheels.
These novel arrangements produce the advantages above indicated for the
following reasons:-Supposing, as an example, a road, the exaggerated surface of
which is, as represented in Figures 3 and 4, and taking into consideration what
will take place in consequence of its course at a slow speed by the wheel R fixed
on the axle A carrying any suitable load, it is easy to see that the centre A of the
wheel R will follow the line A, B, C, D.
According to this system of locomotion, the motion being communicated to the
wheels by the lever a, b, Figures 1 and 2, the centre' E, Figure 4, of the lower
point of articulation will follow the undulating line E, F, G, H, at the same time
the centre of the wheel will follow the line A, B, C, D; thus the point E with its
load, instead of travelling a broken line to the points A, D, will follow an undulating
line, all the elements of which will be brought to a level by insensible degrees.
If other similar obstacles are encountered at equal distances, the undulating. line
will continue indefinitely. This refers to a very slow speed; but in proportion as
the speed increases the undulating line will approach a straight line tangent to the
parts F, G, of the undulating line. Besides, in the ordinary system of locomotion,
when the wheel comes in contact with the obstacle indicated at O, on Figures 3
and 4, there is a shock to the wheel and load; but according to this Invention,
there would be only a stop to the wheel, consequently from that the point E of the
load is free so continue its motion round the curve, turning about the point A.
It will be understood that the joltings of the load are considerably reduced, and
also all results thereby entailed, such as reduction of draught, and so forth.
25.
The Invention is applicable to all kinds of vehicles having wheels revolving on
ordinary roads or railways, to traction engines or machines running on roads, fields,
railways, military carriages and gun carriages, and generally to all objects employed
on ordinary roads.
The Invention is also applicable to fore carriages, no longer necessitating the
parallelism of the axles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Edward Griffith Brewer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st May
1878.
«
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLES FOR LOCOMOTION." (A communication from abroad
by Paul Letalle, of Paris, France.)
The chief object of this Invention is to relieve the load of a vehicle from the
influence of the action of the inequality of the ground over which it is travelling.
For this purpose the load is carried by parts below the centre of the wheel axle or
axles, so as to permit the free oscillation of the load in both directions, while at
the same time limiting the transverse oscillations, and maintaining the parallelism
of the axles, so as to avoid all zig-zag movement.
According to this Invention the axle is made straight, and the load is supported
therefrom by means of suspension connecting rods or links, all as herein-after
described.
WV).. "
11jx, 'A
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is an end view, and Figure 2 a side
view of an under carriage with springs; and Figures 3 and 4, side view and end
view respectively of an under carriage without springs.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, E, E, are supports for the load, and are by the
staple bolts B, B, and plate or lugs on a bent bar C, united to the springs A, A, of
the vehicle.
The springs A, and hence the load of the vehicle resting thereon, are connected
to the axle A by means of suspension connections as follows:-E is a bent sus-
pension rod jointed to the bar C by means of pins or bolts D, and at its lower
part jointed by a pin or bolt F to a fork connection G, which by a bolt M, serving
as the longitudinal axis of oscillation of the axle H, is jointed to the links K, K ;
these latter are by the pins L and N jointed to the square column J, which by
staple bolts I is fixed to the axle H. The bolt L fits in a round hole in the links K,
but the bolt N can work in arched slots in the links K, as shewn at Figure 1,
thus permitting a certain amount of free play, while limiting the transverse move-.
ment of the axle. The arc X, Y, Figure 2, indicates the direction of movement
round the pin F and the arc Z, N, the direction of movement round the pin M,
the slots O in the links K limiting the amount.
It will be observed that the axle always moves in parallel lines, thus avoiding
all vibrations during its progress.
The two systems of suspension, one at each end of an axle H, are firmly united
by means of the bolts D, as indicated in Figure 2ª.
To prevent the joint bolts from getting loose, and falling out, they should all
be provided with split pins, not be fitted very tightly, in order to give liberty of
action.
.
Sometimes the position of the links K may be reversed, that is, by placing the
bolt N, which serves to limit the transverse oscillation of the axle in the fork.
piece G, instead of fixing it in the column J.
In Figures 3 and 4 is shewn the application of this Invention to a carriage
without springs. In this case the bar C is not required, and the supports E, E,
are simply by nuts, or in any other suitable way, fixed to the framing of the
carriage. In other respects it will be seen that the construction is similar to the
first arrangement described.
The following advantages are obtained by this Invention, viz. :-
Firstly. Joltings are in a great measure prevented, and hence also wear of and
injury to the parts of vehicles.
Secondly. The mechanical work expended in overcoming the obstacles or roughness
of the ground is partially restored.
Thirdly. A considerable reduction of draught power, especially at great speed.

page_text: Fourthly. The facility offered for an increase of speed of vehicles running on
ordinary roads.
This Invention is applicable to all kinds of wheeled vehicles, to traction engines
or other machines running on roads, fields, or railways, to military carriages and
gun carriages.
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this Invention, I
declare that I am aware that suspension of the load below the axle of a carriage
has heretofore been proposed to be applied; but I claim the mode of and means for
suspension described, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, according to
which the framing or springs of the carriage are united to the axle by a system of
links permitting the free longitudinal and transverse parallel movement of the axle,
'the joints being so that the transverse oscillations are limited partly by the
smallness of the radius of the arc of displacement, and partly by the employment
of stop appliances for limiting the maximum extent of same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, have hereunto set
iny hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
E. G. BREWER.
(L.B.)