Improvements in Driving Mechanisms, applicable to Motor Driven Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 20th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Mechanisms, applicable to Motor Driven
Vehicles.
CHARLES WILLIAM HOLLIS, of 33, Glasshouse Street, Nottingham, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in driving mechanisms applicable to
motor driven vehicles, the said improvements being particularly applicable
to vehicles in which the motor is constantly running at an uniform speed.
Now the object of this invention is the provision of means by which the speed of
the vehicle may be varied relatively to the speed of the motor; means by which the
motor may be disconnected from the driving wheel or wheels of the vehicle, and also
means whereby the above mentioned means may be operated from or by the same
handle. This invention also has as a further object the provision of means whereby
the brake may be applied simultaneously with the disconnecting of the motor from
the vehicle wheel or wheels, and means whereby any of the above mechanisms may be
operated from the motor driving shaft, and means for connecting and disconnecting
the last mentioned means.
According to this invention the driving shaft of the motor is coupled to the
vehicle wheels by a friction driving mechanism which comprises a leather or similarly
covered roller on the motor driving shaft coupled to a similar roller on the shaft.
driving the vehicle wheels by means of two discs which are pressed upon opposite
With a
sides of both rollers by a spring acting through an antifriction ball bearing.
driving mechanism of this description the speed of the driven shaft is varied relatively to
the speed of the driving shaft by varying the relative positions of the discs and
rollers, and this may be done by moving the discs or rollers as may be most
convenient.
According to one method of carrying out this invention the discs of the frictional
driving mechanism have flat faces and are carried by a lever which is suitably
fulcrumed and provided with means for holding it in any placed position. The said
lever carries the fulcrum of another lever capable of moving in a plane at right angles
to the plane of the motion of the main lever, and this secondary lever is so connected
to levers, slides, screws, or similar inechanism that when the secondary lever is
operated the discs of the frictional driving mechanism are moved from each other
and the coupling between the rollers destroyed. The secondary lever is also coupled
to the brake and so arranged that when the discs are separated the brake is applied.
A similar arrangement of levers may also be used when the discs revolve on a fixed
shaft and the variation in speed obtained by moving the rollers. The levers may be
operated direct or by means of one or more screws which may be actuated from the
same or different hand wheels.
In another arrangement with flat dises the speed of the vehicle is varied by
changing the relative position of the discs and rollers as in the first arrangement
but the motor is connected to the friction driving mechanism by a clutch which
may be thrown in or out of action by mechanism carried by or operated from the

page_text: lever used for moving the discs or rollers. The clutch may be used for reversing the
direction of the motion and for this purpose it may be used in connection with
any of the herein described arrangements.
In another arrangement the centre part of the discs is recessed and the motor
is disconnected from the vehicle by moving the discs or rollers until one roller is in
the recessed part of the discs and the other roller outside the edges of the discs.
Additional rollers are used to prevent the discs being brought too close together
when the motor is disconnected from the vehicle, and these rollers are free to revolve
on the axles carrying the same. In this arrangement the movement of the discs
or rollers for varying the speed and disconnecting the motor from the vehicle, and
applying the brake is obtained from the same mechanism which may be fitted to
move in one plane only.
A further part of this invention applicable to the above described arrangements
comprises means for enabling the discs and other mechanisms to be operated from
the motor driving shaft which is for this purpose fitted with gear wheels clutches or
the like which may be put into action singly or collectively from one or more
handwheels. Means are also provided to automatically separate the motor shaft
from the parts operated when the said parts arrive at determined positions.
Dated this 18th day of February 1897.
W. H. POTTER, M.I. Mech. E.,
Patent Agent, Nottingham.
Improvements in Driving Mechanisms, applicable to Motor Driven
Vehicles.
CHARLES WILLIAM HOLLIS, of 33, Glasshouse Street, Nottingham, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in driving mechanisms applicable to motor
driven vehicles, and has for its object the provision of means by which the speed of
the vehicle may be varied relatively to the speed of the motor; means by which the
motor may be disconnected from the driving wheel or wheels of the vehicle, and also
means whereby the above mechanisms may be operated from or by the same handle.
This invention also has, as a further object the provision of means whereby the brake
may be applied simultaneously with the disconnecting of the motor from the vehicle
wheel or wheels, and means whereby any of the above mechanisms may be operated
from the motor driving shaft, and means for connecting and disconnecting the above
mentioned means with the motor shaft.
According to this invention the driving shaft of the motor is coupled to the vehicle
wheels by a friction driving mechanism which comprises a roller on the driving shaft
coupled to a similar roller on the driven shaft by a pair of discs which are pressed
upon opposite sides of both rollers by a spring or springs acting through antifriction
ball bearings. The variation in the speed of the driven shaft is obtained by varying
the relative positions of the discs and rollers, and this may be done by moving the
discs or rollers as is most convenient.
According to one method of carrying out this invention the discs of of the friction
driving mechanism have flat faces and are carried by a pivotted lever to which a
secondary lever is so pivotted that it can be moved in a plane at right angles to the
plane of the motion of the first lever, 'and also move with the first lever as if the two

page_text: were a single lever. The secondary lever is fitted with rollers by which the discs may
be separated and the coupling between the discs and rollers be destroyed and it is
so connected to the brake that this is applied when the discs are separated. The
secondary lever is also used for moving the discs relatively to the rollers and the
various movements may be obtained by screws or other means, which may be actuated
from the same or separate handles. A similar arrangement of levers may be used
when the discs revolve on a fixed shaft and the variation in speed is obtained by
moving the rollers relatively to the discs.
In another arrangement with flat discs the speed of the vehicle is varied by changing
the relative positions of the discs and rollers as in the first arrangement, and the
motor is connected to the friction driving mechanism by gear wheels and a clutch so
arranged in conjunction with the brake that the motion may be reversed or stopped,
and when stopped the brake is applied. The lever operating the above mechanism
is also used for varying the speed.
In another arrangement the centre part of the discs is recessed and the motor is
disconnected from the vehicle by moving the discs or rollers until one roller is in the
recessed part of the discs. Additional rollers are used to prevent the discs being
brought too close together when the motor is disconnected from the vehicle and such
rollers are free to revolve on the axles carrying the same. In this arrangement the
variation in speed, the disconnecting of the motor, and the application of the brake,
are obtained from the same mechanism which may be fitted to move in one plane
only.
In other arrangements the movements of the above described mechanisms are
obtained from the motor shaft through suitable gearing and clutches.
In the accompanying drawings which are referred to in the following detailed
discription.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation with one disc removed, of a friction driving mechanism
according to the first arrangement.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1, partly in section showing the means for
separating the discs.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation of Fig. 1 showing the brake mechanism.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation, with one disc removed, of a friction driving mechanism
according to the second arrangement.
Fig. 5 is an end elevation of Fig. 2 showing the brake mechanism.
Fig. 6 is an end elevation of Fig. 2 showing the clutch mechanism
Fig. 7 is a front elevation, with one disc removed, of a friction driving mechanism
with movable discs and means for reversing the direction of motion of the driven
shaft, means for driving the screw for moving the disc and means for operating the
brake mechanism.
Fig. 8 is an end elevation of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is an elevation similar to that shown in Fig. 7, but with movable rollers
instead of discs, and
Fig. 10 is a sectional plan of recessed discs and rollers. Referring to the arrange-
ment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the driving shaft 1 is fitted with a roller 2 which
communicates motion to a roller 4 on the driven shaft 3 by means of a pair of
discs 5 and 6 which are pressed upon opposite sides of both the rollers 2 and 4 by a
spring 7 through an antifriction ball bearing 8. The disc 6 is fastened to the axle 9
while the disc 5 is free to revolve thereon, and the axle is fitted to revolve in a bearing
on a lever 10 which is fulcrumed to the fratning 11 which also carries the bearings
for the shafts 1 and 3.
For separating the discs 5 and 6 and thus destroying the connection between the
shafts 1 and 3, the lever 10 is fitted with a secondary lever 12 which is fulcrumed 'at
13 and is so arranged that it moves with the lever 10 as a single lever, and can also
be moved on its own axle in a plane at right angles to the plane of the motion of the
lever 10. The end of the lever 12 is forked to fit both sides of the lever 10 and each
side of the fork is fitted with two trucks 14 so arranged that when the lever is in the
position shown the discs are pressing upon the rollers 2 and 4 and when the

page_text: lever 12 is moved to the other side of the vertical, the trucks 14 are brought
into a horizontal line and the discs are forced apart, thus destroying the coupling
between the shafts 1 and 3.
The variation in the relative positions of the discs and rollers is obtained by a
screw 19 which is fitted to turn in a bearing 20 carried by the lever 12 on
centres 23 on a lever 17 which is connected to a lever 18 by a bar 16 which passes
through a slot in the lever 12. The lever 17 is used also for applying the brake
through a lever 24 which is pivotted to a bracket 25 and connected by a lever 26 to
the free end of the brake band 27 the fixed end of the same being attached to the
axle of the levers 24 and 26. The lever 12 is thus capable of movement in planes
parallel to, and at right angles to the plane of the discs and when moved in the latter
plane in one direction it separates the discs and applies the brake band to a pulley 28
on the shaft 3, and when moved in the opposite direction it takes off the brake and
allows the discs to be pressed upon the rollers 2 and 4.
In the second arrangement shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the discs and rollers,
and the mechanism for changing the relative position of the same is similar to that
described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and the corresponding parts in the two
arrangements are indicated by the same reference numbers.
In the second arrange-
ment the roller 2 instead of being fixed upon the driving shaft is carried by a short
shaft which is fitted with a bevil wheel 30 which is geared into other bevil wheels 31
and 32. These latter revolve in bearings in the framing 11 and are coupled to the
driving shaft 1 by a clutch 33 which is fitted to slide upon and rotate with the shaft 1.
In this arrangement the lever 18 is fitted to carry the nut 22 of the screw 19 and is
coupled to another lever 34 which is fulcrumed at 35 and and provided with a
pin or glut for operating the clutch 33. The lever 18 is also connected to the lever 17
by the bar 16 which passes through a slot in the lever 12 as in the first arrangement.
The lever 17 is fitted at its upper end with a sliding block 36 which carries a pin 37
and its position on the lever is adjusted by a screw 38. The pin 37 works in a slotted
slide 40 suitably guided by the arm 39 and connected to the brake band 27 by the
levers 24 and 26, and the link 41.
The variation in speed is obtained by the screw 19 through the lever 12
which is fulcrumed on the lever 10, and the motor is connected to, and dis-
connected from the vehicle by moving the lever 12 on its own fulcrum. This
operates the clutch and enables the direction of motion to be changed according
to the direction of movement of the lever 12 which is so arranged that when in
a vertical position the motor is disconnected from the vehicle and the pin 37 being
then in its highest position has lifted the slide 40 applied the brake. The screw 38
is used for regulating the position of the brake mechanism, and also for applying
additional pressure if required.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the friction driving mechanism is
fitted with means for reversing the direction of motion of the vehicle, and the
disc screw is actuated from the driving shaft. The driven shaft 3 is fitted with
a roller 4 which is driven by a pair of discs on the shaft 9, and such discs are
fitted in the same way as the disc described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
The roller 2 for driving the discs is mounted on a short spindle which is driven
from the driving shaft 1 by a clutch 33 and gear wheels 30, 31, and 32 in the same
manner as described with reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6. In this arrangement
(Figs. 7 and 8) the disc shaft 9 is carried by a bearing 43 which is fitted to
slide on a square or rectangular bar 44 and is actuated by a screw 45 which has a nut
attached to the bearing 43. The screw 45 at its outer end is fitted with a bevil
wheel 46 which gears into other wheels 47 and 48 on a shaft 49 which is geared
to the shaft 1 by wheels 50 and 51. The wheels 47 and 48 are loose on the
shaft 49 and either of them may be connected thereto by a clutch 52 which
is actuated by a lever 53 pivotted to a bar 54ª on the framework 11. The
lever 53 is extended upwards and fitted with a spring 54 which works on the
face of a segment 55 carried from the framework and made with recesses from
the spring to enter and hold the lever in the centre or either end.

page_text: The clutch 33 is actuated by a lever 56 which is fulcrumed at 57 and also actuates
the brake band 27 through a pin 58 and slotted slide 40 which is guided and con-
nected to the brake lever similarly to the brake mechanism described with reference
to Figs. 4, 5 and 6. In the arrangement shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the link 41 is
provided with a coupling nut for adjusting its length and regulating the action of
the brake, and there may also be a screw for putting on extra pressure. The lever 56
is fitted with a spring 59 which acts similarly to the spring 54 on the lever 53, but
other known mechanisms may be used instead of the springs 54 and 59.
In Fig. 9 there is shown an arrangement in which the variation in speed is
In this arrangement the
obtained by moving. the rollers instead of the discs.
rollers 2 and 4 are fitted to revolve with, and slide upon their respective shafts, such
sliding motion being obtained by gluts 60 which fit grooves in the rollers, are guided
by a bar 61 and actuated by a screw 62. The clutch, brake, and screw driving
mechanisms are exactly the same as these described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8.
In Fig. 10 there is shown an arrangement in which the discs 5 and 6 are made
with a recess 63 and the motor is disconnected from the vehicle by moving the discs
or rollers until the driven roller 4 is opposite the recessed part of the discs. To
prevent the discs closing and to enable the roller 4 to be easily moved into contact
with the faces of the discs, there is an additional roller 64 which revolves freely on
the bearing of the driven shaft. The rollers or discs may be moved for varying the
speed of the driven shaft and such movement may be obtained by levers, screws, or
modifications of the mechanisms herein described and the brake may actuated by
the same mechanism.
The antifriction ball bearing 8 consists of two plates with ball races and a ring of
balls between them, and the pressure of the spring 7 is regulated by a nut on the end
of the shaft 9. Instead of the brake herein described the ends of the band may be
connected by a screw, or a brake block may be used instead of the band, and the gear
wheels may be toothed or friction.
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. In a friction driving mechanism applicable to motor driven vehicles the
combination of a roller on the driving shaft with a roller on the driven shaft, a pair
of discs pressed upon opposite sides of the said rollers by a spring acting through an
anti-friction ball bearing, a lever carrying the said discs and a secondary lever which
bas trucks for separating the discs, and a screw for moving the discs, brake mechanism
and connections between the brake and secondary lever, constructed, arranged and
operating substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the
accompanying drawings.
2. In a friction driving mechanism applicable to motor driven vehicles the
combination of a roller on a shaft connected to the driving shaft by gear
wheels and a clutch, a roller on the driven shaft, a pair of discs pressed upon
opposite sides of the said rollers by a spring acting through an anti-friction ball
bearing, a lever carrying the said discs and a secondary lever, a screw for moving the
discs relatively to the rollers, a brake mechanism, a slotted slide, connections between
the secondary lever and brake nechanism whereby the brake is applied when the
driving shaft is disconnected from the driving roller, a clutch and clutch lever
operated from the secondary lever, constructed arranged and operating substantially
as herein described with reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
+
3. In a friction driving mechanism applicable to motor driven vehicles the
combination of a roller connected to the driving shaft by gear wheels and a clutch, a
roller on the driven shaft, a pair of discs pressed upon the opposite sides of the said
discs by a spring acting through an anti-friction ball bearing, a bracket carrying the
said discs, a guide for the said bracket, a screw for actuating the said bracket and
discs, gear wheels and a clutch for connecting the screw to the driving shaft, a lever

page_text: for operating the said clutch, a lever for operating the clutch on the driving shaft,
brake mechanism and connection between the driving shaft clutch lever and brake
mechanism, constructed arranged and operating substantially as herein described with
reference to Figs. 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a friction driving mechanism applicable to motor driven vehicles the
combination of a roller fitted to rotate with and slide upon the driven shaft, a roller
with to rotate with and slide upon a shaft connected to the driving shaft by gear
wheels and a clutch, a guide carrying. gluts for moving the said rollers on their
respective shafts, a screw operating the said gluts, clutch operating mechanism screw
driving mechanism and brake mechanism constructed arranged and operating
substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying
drawings.
5. In friction driving mechanism applicable to motor driven vehicles and comprises
a driving roller, a driven roller, discs pressed upon the said rollers by a spring acting
through an antifriction ball bearing, the discs having part of their faces recessed to
allow of the driven roller being moved out of contact with the driving faces of the
discs, and a loose roller for maintaining the distance between the discs when the
roller is in the recess, means for operating the said discs and rollers, brake mechanism
and clutch mechanism constructed arranged and operating substantially as herein
shown and described.
Dated this 10th day of Dovember 1907