An Improved Draught Attachment or Coupling for Connecting a Motor Vehicle to a Road Carriage to be Hauled.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 29th Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 29th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Draught Attachment or Coupling for Connecting a
Motor Vehicle to a Road Carriage to be Hauled.
a
I, JULES LOUIS DIDIER, of 26, Parc Montretout, St. Cloud (Seine et Oise),
France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a draught attachment or coupling for enabling
mechanically propelled vehicle, a motor-tricycle for example, to be yoked to a
carriage for the purpose of hauling it, the draught attachment or coupling being
80 constructed as to permit of motion of the hauling vehicle in three different
directions relatively to the carriage hauled, viz.: (1) About the perch-bolt as a
centre; (2) in the vertical plane about a horizontal axis transverse to the carriage;
(3) in the transverse plane about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
carriage.
The draught attachment or coupling comprises a universal joint block or cross-
head having lateral gudgeons upon which are pivoted and secured by nuts or
cotter pins) the shafts of the carriage hauled so that relative motion of the
crosshead and shafts about the transverse axis is freely permitted. In the cross-
head is journalled a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the transverse axis and
about which the crosshead can turn freely (the crosshead being secured between
a shoulder and a locknut or cotter pin). The longitudinal axis is provided with
a knuckle which is jointed between a forked. pair of knuckles on a yoke attached
to the frame of the hauling vehicle, the joint pin being vertical and forming the
perch-bolt. The yoke may be replaced by draw or suspension rods to which the
forked joint knuckles above referred to may be rigidly or pivotally connected
the draw or suspension rods being splayed and working on transverse bolts by
which they are connected to the frame.
My system of coupling thus permits of the motor-tricycle and the vehicle coupled
thereto to turn relatively to each other and to accommodate themselves to the
irregularities of the ground, without these movements of the one causing any
strain upon the other. To limit flexure about the transverse horizontal axis of
the universal joint, the shafts of the vehicle hauled may have forked ends in
which play arms projecting laterally from the forked knuckle piece above referred
to so as to act as stops to prevent the vehicle from upsetting in consequence of
sudden shock, whilst permitting sufficient play to allow of the vehicle tilting

page_text: within ordinary limits independently of the motor-tricycle and accommodate itself
to the unevenness of the ground.
Dated this 29th day of October 1897.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
An Improved Draught Attachment or Coupling for Connecting a
Motor Vehicle to a Road Carriage to be Hauled.
I, JULES LOUIS DIDIER, of 26, Parc Montretout, St. Cloud (Seine et Oise)
France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in wha
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
-
This invention relates to a form of draught attachment or coupling for
enabling a mechanical motor mounted on road wheels to be connected to a
carriage or vehicle.
The compound vehicle thus formed comprises a motor-part or boggie with a
trailing-part of any form to carry passengers etc. attached.
The coupling enables the motor-part, tricycle or the like, to move in three
different directions relatively to the car to which it is attached, viz::
1. To pivot about the vertical axis of the main pin.
2. To move in a vertical direction about a transverse horizontal axis.
3. To move in transverse direction about an axis parallel to the longitudinal
axis of the car.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a part sectional plan of the coupling device and
Figure 2 an elevation of the same with a portion removed.
Figure 3 shows a modified system of attaching a tricycle.
Figures 4 and 5 show in plan and elevation, a modification of the device.
Figure 6 is an elevation of another construction.
Figure 7 is a section of the same on the line 7-7 of Figure 8.
Figure 8 is a plan of the same.
Figure 9 is a plan of a modification.
Figure 10 is a sectional elevation of the same on the line 10-10 of Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a plan of yet another modification.
Figure 12 is a plan of yet another construction, and
Figure 13 is a sectional elevation of the same on the line 13-13 of Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a perspective view of a vehicle coupled to a motor tricycle.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The coupling comprises a block A having two pins B which pass through the
two shafts C of the carriage. The latter are held on the pins B either by nuts
and lock nuts or by pins or the like, the block A being thus capable of freely
rotating about the pins B.
The block A, the dimensions, shape and material of which vary according to
requirements, has a pin D running through it at right angles to the pins B, the
pin D being arranged so that the part A can turn freely about it.
The pin D is provided with a shoulder D¹ and retained in the block A by a
nut and lock, nut or by a pin. At the opposite end is a flattened portion E, to
which is connected a flattened fork F attached to the frame of the motor tricycle.
A pin G passes through the parts E and F.

page_text: The part F is connected to the frame of the motor by means of some suitable
device, such as for instance a part H connected to the frame of the tricycle
(Figure 1). This part F can also be connected to the tricycle by means of ties H₁
hinged to the frame of the latter. As shown in Figure 3 the ties H₁ can freely
rotate about attachment bolts I, and the part F is either rigidly connected to the
two ties H or pivotally connected by a bolt J.
The system of coupling according to the present invention enables the tricycle
and the car which is attached to it, to turn and follow the inequalities of the
ground without either of the two vehicles exercising undue strain on the other.
Figures 4 and 5 show a modification in which the two shafts C terminate in a
fork C between the branches of which is a pin F1 secured on each side of the
part F, in this case not forked, but held in the jaw shaped end Ds of the bolt D.
These pins F prevent excessive rolling motion of the vehicles relative to each
other. The distance between the arms of the forks C is sufficient to enable the
carriage to become laterally inclined, within reasonable limits, independently of
the tricycle, according to the nature of the ground.
In a construction shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 the coupling is modified to
prevent it falling below its appointed level in the event of any forward movement
on the part of the occupant of the carriage which is drawn. With this object
the pins B which project laterally from the block A are flattened as at B₁ where
they pass through the shafts C. The holes C' in these shafts are formed approxi-
mately rectangular to receive the flattened portions of the pins which have
sufficient play to allow of slight but not excessive vertical movement of the joint.
In the construction shown in Figures 9 and 10 the block A has attached to it
a shaped piece A¹ whose arms come in contact with the shaft C and limit the
movement of the joint in a downward direction.
In Figure 11 the block A is provided with two curved arms A2 which come in
contact with the shaft C and limit the downward motion of the joint.
In Figures 12 and 13 the end of the bolt D is extended as at D so as to lie
above a cross piece C³ which connects the shafts C; the extended piece D' by
coming in contact with the cross piece 12 prevents the joint from falling below the
desired level.
Figure 14 is a perspective view of the motor-part K, in this case a motor
tricycle, attached by means of the coupling above described to a trailing-part L,
suitable for the conveyance of passengers. The motor K' is mounted within the
frame H to which the joint is attached. Both the motor K¹ and the frame H may
however be separately secured to any convenient part of the tricycle K. The
shafts C are conveniently secured to the fore-part L of the vehicle L the ends
furthest from the vehicle being adapted for attachment to the coupling as herein-
before described.
It will be understood that the desired forms of coupling may be variously
applied, the shape being modified according to requirements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The duplex vehicle comprising a motor part and a trailing part connected
together substantially as described.
2. The combination of a motor vehicle and a trailing vehicle with a joint for
connecting the two vehicles so constructed that it cannot fall below its appointed
level.
3. The combination with a motor vehicle and a trailing vehicle of a joint for
connecting the two so arranged as to prevent excessive rolling motion of the
vehicle relative to each other substantially as described.
4. In a coupling device for motor vehicles the combination with a block A
having pins B of vehicle shafts C having forked ends C¹ with a fork ended bolt I)
and connecting piece F and lateral pins F' substantially as described.

page_text: 5. In a coupling device for motor vehicles the combination with a block A
having pins B to which the shafts of the vehicle to be drawn are pivotted of a
swivel bolt D passing through the block and pivotally connected to a motor vehicle
substantially as described.
6. In a coupling device for motor vehicles the combination with vehicle shafts 5
pivotted to a block such as A of projections such as A or A2 which carried by a
block A come in contact with the shafts and limit the downward movement of
the joint substantially as described.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete coupling
device substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or in Figure 3 1
or Figures 4 and 5, or Figures 6, 7 and 8 or Figures 9 and 10 or Figure 11 or
Figures 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated thi. 20th
Jaf At 1000
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.