Improvements in Driving Gear for Vehicles.
Year: 1895

page_text: .
Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 4th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL ST DUIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Gear for Vehicles.
We, HYMEN LEVETUS, Manufacturer and WALTER ROWBOTHAM, Electrician,
both of 47 Vittoria Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in driving gear for vehicles and is more
particularly intended for use on road vehicles driven by motive power.
According to our invention the driven shaft or rotary axle carrying the vehicle
wheels is divided into two parts, each of which is provided with a comparatively
large disc having bevel teeth on its periphery. The aforesaid divided portions of
the driven shaft or rotary axle are connected together by differential bevel wheels,
the intermediate pinions of which are carried by one of the said discs. This disc
drives the axle while the other disc merely revolves loosely thereon. The purpose
of the differential gearing will be hereinafter explained.
Located between the aforesaid two discs is a horizontally arranged friction
driving wheel which bears at its periphery on the inner surface of the discs, and is
adapted to slide to and fro on a rotary or driving shaft. This shaft extends in a
direction radially from the driven shaft or rotary axle and carries at its outer end
a loose bevel pinion which is in constant engagement with two intermediate bevel
pinions located on opposite sides of its periphery and mounted to turn loosely on
pins carried by a fixed sleeve or socket through which the aforesaid radial or
driving shaft passes. These intermediate bevel pinions gear with the circum-
ferential bevel teeth of the before mentioned discs. The frictional driving wheel
and the bevel pinion that is loosely mounted on the radial or driving shaft are
furnished with suitable means for enabling them to be locked together when the
said frictional driving wheel is slidden a sufficient distance along its shaft to bring
it into contact with this pinion. For the purpose of enabling the frictional driving
wheel to be shifted to and fro along its shaft without ceasing to revolve, it may be
connected thereto by a groove and feather and its position be altered and controlled.
by means of a suitable device actuated from a lever handle which is under the
control of the operator.
The inner faces of the before mentioned discs are formed with circular grooves
or channels near their peripheries, so that when the frictional driving wheel comes
into a position in which its circumference is opposite these grooves or channels it
is out of contact with the discs.
When the frictional driving wheel occupies its innermost position its circum-
ference bears upon the central portion of the inner faces of the discs, and the latter,
and consequently the vehicle, axle are revolved at their highest speed in a direction
to propel the vehicle forward. By shifting the frictional driving wheel further
away from the centre of the discs the speed of revolution of these latter is reduced
and, when the said frictional driving wheel is brought opposite to the circum-
ferential channels or grooves in, the discs, no motion of the discs takes place owing
to the frictional driving wheel being out of contact with them. The vehicle then
ceases to be propelled.
So long as the frictional driving wheel is not brought into engagement with the
before mentioned bevel pinion loosely mounted on the radial driving shaft, this
pinion and the intermediate pinions engaging with it, revolve loosely on their axes

page_text: and do not therefore affect the revolution of the discs. When however the said
frictional driving wheel is brought into engagement with the aforesaid loose
pinion, it is no longer free to revolve independently on the driving shaft, but is
locked thereto through the frictional driving wheel and consequently now drives
the discs through the intervention of the intermediate bevel pinions and circum-
ferential bevel teeth on the discs, the frictional driving wheel being at this time
out of contact with the discs. The direction of the revolution of the discs is then
reversed and the vehicle is driven slowly in a backward direction.
It will thus be seen that by our gearing we are able to start, stop or back the
vehicle or vary its speed of propulsion by merely operating a lever handle.
The differential gearing before mentioned consists of two bevel wheels keyed on
the contiguous ends of the divided axle these bevel wheels gearing with intervening
bevel pinions mounted loosely on axes that project inwardly from the hub of the
aforesaid driving disc. In this manner when the vehicle is progressing in a
straight course the driving disc will revolve both portions of the vehicle axle at
the same speed by reason of the intermediate bevel pinions being rotated around
the axle without revolving on their axes. When however the vehicle is turning a
corner or otherwise altering its straight course, the revolution of one or other of
the portions of the vehicle axis is reduced relatively to the other with the result
that the driving is then effected through the revolution of the intermediate bevel
pinions.
For the purpose of ensuring a satisfactory frictional contact between the
frictional driving wheel and the discs, the said frictional driving wheel may be
provided with a pneumatic or cushion tyre or other suitable rim; and the surfaces
of the discs may be formed with radially disposed shallow cavities or slight
projections or with other roughened surfaces to further ensure good frictional
contact between these parts.
Dated this 4th day of November 1905
i
Improvements in Driving Gear for Vehicles.
We, HYMEN LEVETUS, Manufacturer, and WALTER ROWBOTHAM, Electrician,
both of 47 Vittoria Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, 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 driving gear for road vehicles driven by motive power
and is more particularly intended for use with horseless carriages.
The invention comprises a pair of comparatively large discs or bevel wheels
which are driven by means of a movable friction wheel located between the said
discs and acting on their inner surfaces, one of the said discs being mounted loosely
on the driven shaft or axle and the other fast thereon. These discs or bevel wheels
are geared together by loose pinions one of which is capable of being coupled to the
aforesaid friction wheel for the purpose of reversing the direction of the revolution
of the discs. A circular groove is formed in the inner surface of each of the,
aforesaid discs near its periphery so that when the said friction wheel occupies a
position between these grooves it will be out of contact with the said discs and
consequently will cease to drive them.
By this driving.gear we can start, stop or back the vehicle or vary its speed of
propulsion by the operation of a single hand-wheel or levér-handle.
In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried

page_text: into effect we will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which':-
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the driving gear and
Figure 2 another vertical section thereof taken at right angles to the preceding
figure.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan of the frictional driving wheel.
Figure 4 is an elevation of a modification of our driving gear.
Cis
A A¹ are the large discs or bevil wheels, the former being loosely mounted on
the driven axle which, in the example illustrated, is intended to receive the road-
wheels of the vehicle and is divided into two portions B B connected together by
means of differential gear-wheels 6, for the purpose hereinafter statel.
the friction driving wheel which is located between the aforesaid discs A A¹ and
is adapted to slide on a driving shaft C. This shaft extends outwarily from a
foot step bearing C carried by a bracket C³. c', c, c³ are bevil pinions gearing
together the pair of discs A A¹, the intermediate pinion being mounted loosely
on the driving shaft C' and having a conical recess c¹. The other bevil pinions el c
are mounted loosely on pins or studs d d carried by a socket D through which the
driving shaft C' passes to the motor on the carriage. The said driving shaft C
is formed with a groove C and the friction wheel is provided with a feather C
that engages with the said groove so that the driving wheel can be shifted to and
fro along its shaft without ceasing to revolve. The friction wheel has a conical
projection c* adapted to fit the aforesaid conical recess in the bevil pinion o
when the latter is to be locked to the driving wheel. For the purpose of shifting
the driving wheel we may employ a long screw E carrying a nut E¹ which is
provided with a fork e engaging with a groove in the hub of the friction wheel.
The upper end of this screw may be furnished with a hand-wheel situated within
convenient reach of the driver of the carriage so that he can readily revolve the
screw in either direction to control the position of the friction wheel.
When the friction wheel occupies its innermost position as represented in the
drawings, that is to say with its periphery bearing upon the central portion of the
inner faces of the discs, the latter and consequently the carriage axle B B¹ are
revolved at their highest speed in a direction to propel the carriage forward. By
revolving the screw E to shift the driving wheel further away from the centre of
the discs the speed of their revolution is reduced and when the said driving wheel
is shifted outwardly far enough to bring its periphery opposite the circumferential
grooves A A in the discs as shewn by the dotted lines in Figure 1, the said
driving wheel although itself still revolving fails to drive the discs, and the
carriage consequently ceases to be propelled. So long as the driving wheel is not
shifted beyond this position, the bevil pinions e¹ cc all revolve loosely on their
axes and do not therefore affect the revolution of the discs. When, however, the
said driving wheel is shifted a short distance further outwardly its conical pro-
jection ex is brought into engagement with the conical recess in the pinion c.
This pinion is therefore no longer free to revolve loosely on the driving shaft C¹
but is locked thereto and consequently it then acts to drive the discs through the
intervention of the loose pinions c¹c and the direction of revolution of the said
discs is reversed; the carriage is then propelled slowly in a backward direction.
The differential gearing consists of two bevil wheels 61 63 keyed on the
contiguous ends of the divided axle B B', these bevil wheels gearing with
intervening pinions mounted loosely on axes that project inwardly from
the hub of the disc A'. When the carriage is progressing in a straight course the
disc A will revolve both of the bevil wheels b at the same speed, by reason of
the pinions rotating around the carriage axle B B', without revolving on their
axes. When however the carriage is turning a corner or otherwise altering its
straight course, the, revolution of the portion B or the portion B' of the carriage
axle is reduced relatively to the other portion with the result that the pinions b
will revolve about their axes in one or other direction according as the revolution
of the portion B or the portion B¹ of the axle is diminished, as is, well understood.

page_text: For the purpose of ensuring a satisfactory frictional contact between the
periphery of the driving wheel C and the discs A A1, we prefer to provide the said
wheel with a pneumatic or cushion tyre or other resilient rim c, and the icuer
surfaces of the said discs are formed with radially disposed shallow cavities or
slight projections or with other suitably roughened surfaces with which the eaid
resilient rim will engage. When employing a pneumatic or similar tyre we mould
or otherwise form on the inner circumference thereof a series of lugs c and we
.construct the wheel-body in two horizontal portions or halves which are firmly held
together by bolts c. Each of these portions or halves has recesses c formed
therein to receive the aforesaid lugs c³, these recesses being of such a depth that
when the halves of the wheel-body are bolted together, they will tightly nip the
said lugs so that the tyre will be prevented from shifting circumferentially on the
wheel-body and from becoming detached.
f
We do not however confine ourselves to this method of securing the tyre to the
wheel as any suitable means may be employed for the purpose.
Sometimes the axles B B are not provided with the road wheels, but a belt
pulley or gear wheel is mounted on the portion R¹ and drives the road-wheel axle
by belt or other gearing.
According to a modification of our invention illustrated in Figure 4, we provide
two friction wheels C which are both mounted on a sleeve C that is capable of
sliding to and fro on the driving shaft C¹ by any suitable means. This sleeve is
provided with a feather that works in a long groove C formed in the driving
..shaft C, whereby the said sleeve can be shifted without ceasing to revolve with
the driving shaft. The distance between the friction wheels is greater than the
diameter of the discs A A' so that when one friction wheel is in gear with the discs
the other is out of gear therewith. By these means the revolution of the said
discs can be reversed according as one or other of the friction wheels is shifted into
a position to gear with them. Or the said friction wheels can be brought into an
, intermediate position so as to be out of gear with both of the discs, as shown by
the dotted lines in Figure 4, and when in this position they do not revolve the
discs in either direction. In this construction the gear wheels c c care arranged
at the centre of the discs A. A' instead of at their peripheries, the pinions c¹ c²
being fast with the discs A A¹ respectively and the pinion e being loosely mounted
in a bracket C7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A pair of geared discs driven by a friction wheel whose radial position can be
varied in such a manner that the revolution of the said discs can be regulated,
stopped or reversed substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
2. The modification of the invention in which two friction wheels are employed
with a pair of geared discs substantially as described and for the purpose
.specified.
3. The frictional driving wheel provided with a pneumatic or similar tyre for
the purpose specified.
4. Driving gear constructed and adapted to operate substantially as described
with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 4th day of A norust 1896
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Sonthanipton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.