Improvements in or relating to Self-propelled Road Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left 20th Anc 1897 Accented. 19th June. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Self-propelled Road Vehicles.
I, CHARLES THOMAS CROWDEN, Engineer, of Messrs. Humber & Company,
Limited, Beeston, in the County of Nottingham, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to self-propelled vehicles, the primary object being the
ready conversion of existing horse vehicles to the requirements of a self-propelled
vehicle.
In carrying out the invention I provide the fore-carriage of the vehicle with
suitable steering gear and to the fore-carriage I connect a preferably tubular pole
or framework extending backwards underneath the vehicle. At the end of the
pole I pivot a castor wheel which may either be used for steering purposes by
turning it about its own steering head as in the case of cycle steering, or the fore-
carriage may be used for steering and the castor wheel used merely for trailing
purposes. The pole is hinged or jointed at its connection with the fore-carriage
so that the castor or steering wheel can adapt itself to any inequalities of the
ground.
The motor is carried by the pole or framework and may be of any suitable type,
oil, steam, electric, or other gearing being preferably employed to connect the
motor with the wheels of the fore-carriage which may either be driven indepen-
dently or may be secured upon an axle-with or without balance or equivalent
gear-which would be driven by the motor.
The storage batteries, oil and water tanks, steam boilers, or other appurtenances
could be carried in any convenient manner, by or upon the carriage, flexible pipes
or connections being used as required.
If preferred the castor wheel may be dispensed with and the end of the pole
supported in any convenient manner as for example by a quadrant upon the
carriage body or frame and anti-friction rollers or other form of connection may be
employed.
Dated this 19th day of June.1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Self-propelled Road Vehicles.
1, CHARLES THOMAS CROWDEN, formerly of Messrs. Humber & Company,
Limited, Beeston in the County of Nottingham, but now residing at Vernon Lodge,
Eastnor Grove Leamington Spa, in the County of Warwick, 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 self-propelled vehicles, the primary object being the

page_text: ready conversion of existing horse vehicles to the requirements of a self-propelled
vehicle.
In carrying out the invention I provide the fore-carriage of the vehicle with
suitable steering gear and to the forecarriage I connect a preferably tubular pole
or framework extending backwards underneath the vehicle. At the end of the
pole I pivot a castor wheel which may either be used for steering purposes by
turning it about its own steering head as in the case of cycle steering, or the fore-
carriage may be used for steering and the castor wheel used merely for trailing
purposes. The pole is hinged or jointed at its connection with the fore-carriage
so that the castor or steering wheel can adapt itself to any inequalities of the
ground.
The motor is carried by the pole or framework and may be of any suitable type,
oil, steam, electric or other gearing being preferably employed to connect the
motor with the wheels of the fore-carriage which may either be driven indepen-
dently or may be secured upon an axle-with or without balance or equivalent
gear which would be driven by the motor.
The storage batteries oil and water tanks, steam boilers, or other appurtenances
could be carried in any convenient manner, by or upon the carriage, flexible pipes
or connections being used as required.
If preferred the castor wheel may be dispensed with and the end of the pole
supported in any convenient manner as for example by a quadrant upon the
carriage body or frame and anti-friction rollers or other form of connection may be
employed.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1, is a diagrammatic side elevation of a motor vehicle constructed in
accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a similar plan of the same with the body of the vehicle removed.
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a motor vehicle showing a
modification.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
To the axle A of the front or steering wheels of a vehicle is hinged or otherwise
attached a framework or pole B which projects backwards. The wheels A' are
fixed upon the axle A so that they may be driven by the motor driving the axle
either directly or indirectly.
At the free end of the pole B is pivotted a castor wheel C. This wheel is free
to move about its pivot as the forecarriage of the vehicle is turned for steering
purposes.
To the pole B is suitably attached a motor D which in the arrangement shown
drives the axle A in any manner and through any suitable gearing.
In the modification shown in Figure 3 in place of the castor C upon the end of
the hinged "pole "B the latter is carried by an arc E attached to the underside
of the body F of the vehicle by brackets E or other suitable means.
The free end of the pole B in this case may be forked and provided with
rollers B or otherwise constructed in order to enable it to run smoothly over the
arc E.
The forecarriage of the vehicle may be steered in some well-known manner,
a convenient method being to turn the castor wheel C about its pivot. This may
be accomplished by means of rods, chains or the like connecting a cross piece or
pieces on the steering head of the castor wheel with a cross piece or pieces arranged
to be turned about the vertical axis around which the fore-carriage itself tùrns, in
..this manner the fore-carriage is steered indirectly. Other suitable steering gear
may be employed for the same purpose..
If desired in the mcdification shown in Figure 3 steering may be accomplished
by drawing the free end of the pole B to one side or other of the vehicle over the
arc E after the manner of the tiller of a boat.
The body of the vehicle may be mounted upon springs or otherwise as found
convenient and the fore-carriage may be arranged to turn as ordinarily in fact the

page_text: vehicle may be as above stated an ordinary horse-drawn vehicle with the pole or
frame carrying the motor attached to the front axle on which the wheels have
been fixed.
It is obvious that in place of hinging the pole directly on the axle of the front
wheels as shown in the drawings it may be attached to a suitable part of the fore-
carriage, the driving gear being arranged accordingly. Also it is not essential
that the pole should be hinged to the fore-carriage as it may be found convenient
to attach it rigidly to the latter.
It is to be understood that the word "pole" as used in the foregoing specification
and appended claims is to be taken to include any suitable form of frame
attached to the fore-carriage and adapted to carry the motor in the manner above
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be perforined, I declare that what I
claim is :-
"
1. In a motor vehicle the combination with the fore-carriage of a "pole
frame such as B projecting therefrom and carrying the motor substantially as
described.
2. The combination with the fore-carriage of a motor vehicle, of a "pole,
frame such as B and a castor wheel such as C in the rear of the leading wheels
substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. Driving a motor vehicle by means of a motor carriage upon a "pole" or
frame such as B attached to the fore-carriage substantially as described.
4. In a motor vehicle the combination with the fore-carriage of a castor wheel
upon the end of a reversed "pole" or frame such as B which carries the motor
substantially as described.
5. In a motor vehicle the combination with the fore-carriage of a steering wheel
upon the end of a "pole" or frame such as B carrying the motor substantially as
described.
6. Steering a motor vehicle by means of a castor wheel operating in conjunction
with the fore-carriage substantially as described.
7. Steering a motor vehicle by means of a castor wheel at the end of the motor
carrying "pole" or frame such as B attached to the fore-carriage substantially as
described.
8. Converting a horse-drawn vehicle into a self-propelled vehicle by attaching a
"pole" or frame such as B carrying the motor to the fore-carriage substantially as
described.
9. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete motor
vehicle substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of
the accompanying drawings.
Dated th:
1.1002
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.