Improvements in Driving Gear for Use with Motor Vehicles and for other purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug., 1899-Accepted, 30th Sept.,
1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Gear for Use with Motor Vehicles and for
other purposes.
I, HERBERT AUSTIN, Works Manager to The Wolseley Sheep Shearing Machine
Company, Limited, of Sydney Works, Alma Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its objects (1) to facilitate the alteration in the relative
speeds of the driving travelling wheel or wheels a motor vehicle, or of opera-
tive parts of other machine, or of any driven portion of mechanism, and of the
prime mover, or of a portion of mechanism driven thereby (2) to facilitate the
reversal of a motor vehicle or operative parts of other machine; and (3) to
enable each of the above operations to be readily performed while the prime
mover is continuously running.
In order to enable the speed of the driving travelling wheel or wheels of a
motor vehicle, or operative parts of other machine, or of any driven portion of
mechanism, to be varied in relation to the speed of the prime mover, a train of
wheels is introduced between the driven-shaft, or driven portion of mechanism,
and the prime mover. Each of these wheels is mounted loosely upon an axle
so that it may be capable of being turned independently thereof, and on each
axle is mounted a worm wheel. Worms mounted on a shaft which is transverse
to the axes of the train of wheels gear, respectively, with the worm wheels. The
shaft carrying the worms may be the motor shaft, or may be an intermediate
shaft between the motor and "the worm wheels. Each worm wheel, and conse-
quently each axle of the train of wheels, is thus driven direct from the worm
shaft. Clutch mechanism is applied in connection with each wheel of the train by
means of which it may be interlocked with its axle or released therefrom at will, and
thus the power of the motor may be conveyed through any wheel of the train,
as desired, to the driving travelling wheel or wheels of the motor vehicle, or to
operative parts of other machine. and by forming the worm wheels of varying
diameter the relative speeds of the driving travelling wheel or wheels of the
motor vehicle, or operative parts of other machine, and of the motor may be
correspondingly varied. If friction clutches are used, as is preferred, any wheel
of the train may be readily thrown into gear while the motor is running, what-
ever may be the velocity, and thus while the motor is continuously running at
a given velocity the speed of the travelling wheel or wheels of the motor vehicle,
or of the operative parts of other machine, may be varied within the limits pro-
vided therefor by the variation; in the diameters of the worm wheels.
If it is intended that, unless the motor is reversed, the driving shall be always
in the same direction whichever wheel of the train is interlocked with its axle,
the alternate worm wheels will have their teeth the opposite way to those of the
others; but if it is desired to reverse the shaft or axle which is driven through
the medium of the train of wheels, without reversing the motor, a wheel or wheels
are provided in the train of wheels which, or each of which, has mounted on its
axle a worm wheel having the teeth thereof either right or left hand as may be
required for the purpose in view having regard to the position or positions of
the corresponding wheel or wheels of the train in relation to other wheels of the

page_text: train. One reversing wheel in the train only is needed, of course, if it is desired
to reverse only at one speed, and if more reversing wheels are used the corre-
sponding worm wheels are varied in diameter to admit of reversing at varying
speeds.
In lieu of making the worm wheels aforesaid of varying diameters to enable
the speed of the driving travelling wheel or wheels of a motor vehicle, or of
operative parts of other machine, to be varied in relation to the speed of the
prime mover, the wheels of the train of wheels may be varied in diameter, or
the pitch of the teeth of the worm wheels and the pitch of the worms may be
varied, or any two or all of such means may be used in combination for the
purpose.
In lieu of applying the clutch mechanism to the wheels of the train, such wheels
may be fixed upon their spindles, and the worm wheels be mounted loosely on
such spindles and the clutch mechanism be adapted for use in interlocking the
worm wheels with the spindles.
Mechanism such as above described is capable, as will be obvious, of a wide
application. Amongst other purposes for which it may be used may be men-
tioned that of varying the speed of the feed mechanism in lathes and other
machines. In the case of varying the speed of the traverse feed of a lathe, the
worms for gearing with the worm wheels which are carried by the spindles of
the train of wheels are carried by the longitudinal spindle by which it is usual
to carry the worm which is ordinarily employed as a portion of such feed
mechanism.
Dated this 4th day of November 1898
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.
CALLUMIM DICITICATIUN.
Improvements in Driving Gear for Use with Motor Vehicles and for
other purposes.
I, HERBERT AUSTIN, Works Manager to The Wolseley Sheep Shearing Machine
Company, Limited, of Sydney Works, Alma Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturers, 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 has for its objects (1) to facilitate the alteration in the relative
speeds of the driving travelling wheel or wheels of a motor vehicle, or of opera-
tive parts of other machine, or of any driven portion of mechanism, and of the
prime mover, or of a portion of mechanism driven thereby; (2) to facilitate the
reversal of a motor vehicle or operative parts of other machine; and (3) to
enable each of the above operations to be readily performed while the prime
mover is continuously running.
In order to enable the speed of the driving travelling wheel or wheels of a
motor vehicle, or operative parts of other machine, or of any driven portion of
mechanism, to be varied in relation to the speed of the prime mover, a train of
wheels is introduced between the driven shaft, or driven portion of mechanism,
and the prime mover. Each of these wheels is mounted loosely upon a separate axle
so that it may be capable of being turned independently thereof, and on each
axle is mounted a worm wheel. Worms mounted on a shaft which is transverse
to the axis of the train of wheels gear, respectively, with the worm wheels. The
shaft carrying the worms may be the motor shaft. or may be an intermediate
shaft between the motor and the worm wheels. Each worm wheel, and conse-

page_text: quently each axle of the train of wheels, is thus driven direct from the worm
shaft. Clutch mechanism is applied in connection with each wheel of the train by
means of which it may be interlocked with its axle or released therefrom at will, and
thus the power of the motor may be transmitted through any wheel of the train,
as desired, to the driving travelling wheel or wheels of the motor vehicle, or to
operative parts of other machine, and by forming the worm wheels of varying
diameters the relative speeds of the driving travelling wheel or wheels of the
motor vehicle, or operative parts of other machine, and of the motor, may be
correspondingly varied. If friction clutches are used, as is preferred, any wheel
of the train may be readily thrown into gear while the motor is running, what-
ever may be the velocity, and thus while the motor is continuously running at
a given velocity the speed of the travelling wheel or wheels of the motor vehicle,
or of the operative parts of other machine, may be varied within the limits pro-
vided therefor by the variation in the diameters of the worm wheels.
If it is intended that, unless the motor is reversed, the driving shall be always
in the same direction whichever wheel of the train is interlocked with its axle,
the alternate worm wheels will have their teeth the opposite way to those of the
others; but if it is desired to reverse the shaft or axle which is driven through
the medium of the train of wheels, without reversing the motor. a wheel or wheels
are provided in the train of wheels which, or each of which, has mounted on its
axle a worm wheel having the teeth thereof either right or left hand as may be
required for the purpose in view having regard to the position or positions of
the corresponding wheel or wheels of the train in relation to other wheels of the
train. One reversing wheel in the train only is needed, of course, if it is desired
to reverse only at one speed, and if more reversing wheels are used the corre-
sponding worm wheels are varied in diameter to admit of reversing at varying
speeds.
In lieu of making the worm wheels aforesaid of varying diameters to enable
the speed of the driving travelling wheel or wheels of a motor vehicle, or of
operative parts of other machine, to be varied in relation to the speed of the
prime mover, the wheels of the train of wheels may be varied in diameter, or
the pitch of the teeth of the worm wheels and the pitch of the worms may be
varied, or any two or all of such means may be used in combination for the
purpose.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I have illustrated, by
way of example, two practical applications or modifications thereof, which I will
now proceed to describe.
The drawings on Sheet 1 illustrate an arrangement in which the wheels of the
train are of equal diameter, and in which the worm wheels, also, are of equal
diameter. Of these drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken on line a
of Figure 2, but shewing the worms and worm shaft in elevation and also the
portions of the worm wheels which are indicated by full lines. The wheels of
the train, and portions of the worm wheels, are indicated in this view by broken
lines only. Figure 2 is a transverse section, taken on line y y of Figure 1; and
Figure 3 is a plan of the mechanism.
A A A² are the wheels of the train, of which the wheel A gears with the wheel
or pinion B which is fixed upon the driven shaft C. The wheels A A¹ A² are
mounted to be capable of turning loosely upon their spindles a a¹ a², respectively,
but may be each put independently into gear with its spindle by means of a
clutch D. This clutch may be of any convenient character. In the illustrations
each clutch is shewn as of a friction type of which the movable portion is set
forwards in a well known manner against the pressure of a spring by which it
is automatically thrown out of gear again when released. Worm wheels E E E²
are fixed, respectively, upon the spindles a a¹ a², and worms F F F³, fixed upon
a driving shaft G. gear, respectively, with the worm wheels E E E². In the
illustrations, the worm wheels E E E² are shewn to be of equal diameter, but
the worm wheel E¹ is of a finer pitch than that of the other two, and the worm Fi

page_text: is consequently of a finer pitch than the worms F F2. The worms F1 and F2
are shewn to have their threads the opposite hand to the threads of the worm F.
If the wheel A is in gear with its spindle, while the wheels A1 and A2 remain
out of gear with their spindles, the shaft & drives the shaft C through the medium
of the worm F, worm wheel E, spindle a, wheel A, and wheel or pinion B. If
the wheel A is in gear with its spindle, while the wheels A and A2 are out of
gear with their spindles, the shaft C is driven from the shaft G through the
medium of the worm F', wheel E¹, spindle a¹, wheel A¹, wheel A (which in such
case is merely an idle wheel) and wheel or pinion B; but, as the pitch of the
worm wheel E is finer than that of the worm wheel E, the shaft C is, for a given
velocity of the shaft G, driven at a slower speed than when the driving is through
the worm F. The direction of rotation of the shaft C is, however, the same
whether the driving is through the worm For through the worm F1, as these
worms are the opposite hand. The worm F2 is for driving the shaft C in the
opposite direction of rotation to that in which it is driven by either of the worms F
or F1, as the worm 12 is the same hand as the worm F. The pitch of the worm
wheel E, being the same as that of the worm wheel E, the shaft C is, for a given
velocity of the shaft G, driven by the worm F2 at the same rate of velocity as
it is driven by the worm F. If it should be desired to provide also that, with
a given velocity of the shaft G, the shaft C may be driven at the same velocity
as when driven by the worm F¹, but in the reverse direction, an additional
wheel may be added to the train of wheels, an additional worm wheel be fixed
on the spindle thereof of the same pitch as the worm wheel E', and an additional
worm, carried by the shaft G, be geared therewith, in which case the worm wheel
and worm would be the opposite hand to the worm wheel E' and worm F1. It
will readily be seen that, by providing a sufficient number of wheels in the train,
with the corresponding worm wheels and worms, any desired variations of speed,
and if desired in both forward and backward running without reversing the. motor,
may be provided for.
The relative speeds between the shafts G and C, and the reversal of the shaft C
in relation to the shaft G, may be effected, as will be obvious, while the motor iş
continuously running.
The drawings on Sheet 2 illustrate an arrangement in which the wheels of the
train are of equal diameter, and the worm wheels and worms of the same pitch,
but in which the worm wheels vary in diameter. Of these drawings, Figures 4,
5, and 6, correspond, respectively, with Figures 1, 2, and 3 shewn upon Sheet 1
of the drawings, and the corresponding parts of the mechanism are indicated by
the same letters, or letters and numbers. In this instance, the shaft C is driven
through the medium of the worm F and worm wheel E¹ at a higher velocity
than when driven through the medium of the worm F and worm wheel E, owing
to the worm wheel E having a less number of teeth than the worm wheel E.
The worm wheel is in this instance shewn as somewhat smaller in diameter,
that is to say with a less number of teeth, than the worm wheel E, and therefore
when the shaft C is driven through the medium of the worm Fit runs with a
greater velocity than when driven through the medium of the worm F, but in
the reverse direction. In this case, each clutch D is shewn to be set forwards
by means of a knob handle H screwed upon the corresponding spindle, instead
of by a lever arrangement as shewn in the modification illustrated upon Sheet 1.
The knob is a common form of device for setting up a friction clutch. In this
case, also, any number of wheels may be added to the train, with their corre-
sponding worm wheels and worms, so that any number of variations in speed
between the driving and driven shafts may be provided for, and, if desired, in
both directions of rotation.
In lieu of applying the clutch mechanism to the wheels of the train, such wheels
may be fixed upon their spindles, and the worm wheels he mounted loosely on
such spindles and the clutch mechanism be adapted for use in interlocking the
worm wheels with the spindles.

page_text: Mechanism such as above described is capable, as will be obvious, of a wide
application. Amongst other purposes for which it may be used may be men-
tioned that of varying the speed of the feed mechanism in lathes and other
machines. In the case of varying the speed of the traverse feed of a lathe, the
worms for gearing with the worm wheels which are carried by the spindles of
the train of wheels are carried by the longitudinal spindle by which it is usual
to carry the worm which is ordinarily employed as a portion of such feed
mechanism.
Mechanism operating substantially in the manner above described may be
varied considerably as to the precise combination and arrangement of parts, as
will be obvious, the essential combination comprising a train of wheels each
mounted upon a separate axle, and in connection with each axle a worm wheel
and worm, the mechanism being so arranged that the driving can be effected at
will through any one of such axles and the wheel and worm wheel connected
therewith.
"
The expression "train of wheels' in this specification is intended to include
two wheels geared together as well as a greater number gearing into one another
successively.
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. The improvements in driving gear for use with motor vehicles and for other
purposes, which comprise a train of wheels each mounted upon a separate axle,
and in connection with each axle a worm wheel and worm, the mechanism being
so arranged that the driving can be effected at will through any one of such axles
and the wheel and worm and worm wheel connected therewith, substantially as
described.
2. The improvements in driving gear for use with motor vehicles and for other
purposes, which comprise a train of wheels each mounted upon a separate axle,
and in connection with each axle a worm wheel and worm and clutch, the
mechanism being so arranged that the driving can be effected at will through
any one of such axles and the wheel and worm and worm wheel connected there-
with, substantially as described.
3. The improvements in driving gear for use with motor vehicles and for other
purposes, which comprise a train of wheels each mounted upon a separate axle,
and in connection with each axle a worm wheel and worm, the mechanism being
so arranged that the driving can be effected at will through an axle of such train
and the worm and worm wheel connected therewith, in one direction of rotation,
and through another axle of such train in the opposite direction of rotation,
without reversing the motor, substantially as described.
4. Improvements in driving gear for use with motor vehicles and for other
purposes, which comprise a train of wheels each- mounted upon a separate axle,
a worm wheel mounted upon each of such axles, a shaft carrying worms which
gear, respectively, with the worm wheels, and mechanism by means of which
the driving can be effected at will through any one of the axles, substantially
as described.
5. Driving gear for use with motor vehicles and for other purposes, substantially
as described and shewn by the drawings herewith.
Dated this 31st day of July 1899.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.