Improvements in Electrically Propelled Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrically Propelled Vehicles.
We, The Honourable REGINALD THOMAS DUDLEY BROUGHAM, Gentleman, of
22A, Dorset Street, Portman Square, and WALTER CHARLES BERSEY, Electrical
Engineer, of 28, Victoria Street, Westminster, both in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to vehicles having two of their wheels (generally the
hind wheels) independently driven by separate motors.
In such cases it is desirable to cease driving the inner wheel when the vehicle
is being turned.
For this purpose we provide a rotary switch so arranged that when in its central
position it supplies current to both motors but when turned in one direction it
cuts off one motor and when turned in the other direction it cuts off the other,
in both cases however continuing to supply current to one motor.
This switch carries three pins and when the switch is in its central position,
the middle pin lies in the path of two arms projecting from the fore carriage
(or other part which is rotated in steering the vehicle) whilst the two outer pins
lie just outside the path. When the vehicle is not turning the arms are equi-
distant from the middle pin but when they have been turned through a certain
angle to one side or the other one of them comes against the pin and its continued
motion throws over the switch. This movement of the switch carries the middle
pin out of the path of the arms and brings one of the outer pins into the path
so that when the arms are turned back again one of them comes against this outer
pin and brings the switch back to its central position at which point the pin
escapes from contact with the arm.
The switch is provided with a spring so arranged that it tends to throw the
switch rapidly over to one side or the other immediately it is displaced from its
central position.
Dated this 18th dor of Nov. 1900

page_text: Engineer, of 28, Victoria Street, Westminster, both in the County of Middlesex,
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:―
This invention relates to vehicles having two of their wheels (generally the
hind wheels) independently driven by separate motors.
In such cases it is desirable to cease driving the inner wheel when the vehicle
is being turned.
For this purpose we provide a rotary switch so arranged that when in its central
position it supplies current to both motors but when turned in one direction it
cuts off one motor and when turned in the other direction it cuts off the other,
in both cases however continuing to supply current to one motor.
This switch carries three pins and when the switch is in its central position,
the middle pin lies in the path of two arms projecting from the fore carriage
(or other part which is rotated in steering the vehicle) whilst the two outer pins
lie just outside the path. When the vehicle is not turning the arms are equi-
distant from the middle pin but when they have been turned through a certain
angle to one side or the other one of them comes against the pin and its continued
motion throws over the switch. This movement of the switch carries the middle
pin out of the path of the arms and brings one of the outer pins into the path
so that when the arms are turned back again one of them comes against this outer
pin and brings the switch back to its central position at which point the pin
escapes from contact with the arm.
The switch is provided with a spring so arranged that it tends to throw the
switch rapidly over to one side or the other immediately it is displaced from its
central position.
Figure 1 is an underside view and Figure 2 a vertical section of an apparatus
constructed according to this invention.
a is the switch plate or arm pivotted at b and carrying the conducting strip c
separated from the body by the insulating strip d.
ef and g are three spring contacts in the form of split rings fixed to the frame
by screws h and embracing the strip c.
The centre contact f is connected to the source of current and the contacts e
and g to the two motors. The plate a carries four pins i j k and the latter being
connected by the spring m to the lug n on the frame. Directly the switch is
displaced from its central position it is rapidly thrown over to one side or the
other by the spring m until arrested by one of the stops o o. p. is a ball pressed
downwards by the spring and entering a small hole in the plate a when the
latter is in its central position and tends to keep it there.
rands are arms projecting from the fore carriage t. If in steering the fore
carriage be turned sufficiently to bring the arm r into contact with the pin j
and thus displace the switch from its central position the spring m at once carries
the switch further in the same direction until it is arrested by the stop o¹. This
movement carries the strip c out of contact with the contact springs and cuts
off the current from one of the motors but as the springs e and f are still in
contact with the strip c current is still conveyed to the other motor.
i
When the fore carriage is turned back again the arms comes against the
pin carrying it with it until the switch is brought back to its central position
whereupon the arm escapes from the pin and the ball p dropping into its hole
holds the switch. When the fore carriage is turned in the other direction the
action is similar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:.
1 A switch rotated by steering the vehicle normally supplying current to

page_text: two motors but when turned cutting off the current from one motor and con-
tinuing to supply the other.
2. The combination with the subject matter of Claim 1 of means for holding
the switch in its central position and a spring tending to draw it away from
that position.
3. The combination with the subject matter of Claims 1 and 2 of three pins
on the switch and two arms (on a part rotated by steering) engaging with the
pins.
4. Apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.
REGINALD T. D. BROUGHAM,
WALTER C. BERSEY.