Improvements in Apparatus for Steering Motor Cars and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c., Act, 1883) as allowed by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 13th day of October 1898.
Date of Application, 29th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 2nd Apr.,
1898
Improvements in Apparatus for Steering Motor Cars and other
Vehicles.
I, MICHAEL HOLROYD SMITH, of Albany Buildings, 47, Victoria Street, West-
minster, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In motor cars as hitherto constructed the drivers suffer considerable incon-
venience and discomfort through the muscular energy expended in steering and
the vibration communicated to the hand through the steering lever, which is often
inconveniently in the way when the driver wishes to enter or leave the vehicle.
The object of my invention is to remedy these defects.
For this purpose I preferably employ the well-known arrangement of the
steering wheels (when two) being separately hinged upon a stationary axle bar or
frame, each wheel axle is provided with a bell-crank lever placed at such an angle
that when coupled together by a connecting rod the two wheels are parallel with
each other when the car is proceeding in a straight line but when it is desired to
turn the car their relation to each other changes in a degree proportionate to the
radius of the curve or curves to be traversed.
The wheel axles are provided with springs enabling each to have a seperate
movement independent of the axle bar or frame, and they are actuated by means of
an upright shaft, preferably held in a tube so clamped to the body or framework
of the car, that its height can be adjusted when desired, the bottom of this shaft
is provided with a lever or crank set preferably at right angles to the wheel axles,
and coupled to the bell-crank lever or connecting bar by an articulated rod per-
mitting free vertical movement but operating the wheels when moved horizontally.
The vertical shaft passes through a bearing at the top of the tube and is fitted
with a forked heading which holds the trunnions of a rocking barrel, which lies
(in plan) in the same direction as the crank or lever at the foot of the shaft;
through this rocking barrel slides a hollow shaft or tube, the outer end being
provided with a stop terminal, the inner end with a convenient handle. On
this tube within reach of the thumb or finger of the hand grasping the handle is
placed a strong cycle or other bell.
The bearing on the standard is also provided with adjustable stops to regulate
the rocking of the barrel, the inner one is preferably adjusted so that the handle
when drawn towards the driver, may rest upon his knee, and the outer one so that
when the handle is lifted and the tube pushed forward or allowed to slide through
the barrel it may fall approximately parallel with the standard. Rubber or other
cushions are used to deaden the knock when these movements are made.

page_text: It will be seen by this arrangement that the length, height, and position of the
steering lever may be varied at will, and that by reason of the articulated con-
nections no vibration is communicated to the hand of the driver.
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Improvements in Apparatus for Steering Motor Cars and other
Vehicles.
I, MICHAEL HOLROYD SMITH, of Albany Buildings, 47, Victoria Street, West-
minster, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting 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: -
In motor cars as hitherto constructed, drivers suffer considerable inconvenience
and discomfort through the muscular energy expended in steering, and the vibra-
tion communicated to the hand through the steering lever, which is often incon-
veniently in the way when the driver wishes to enter or leave the vehicle. The
object of my invention is to remedy these defects, and will be more readily under-
stood by reference to the accompanying drawings of which, Figs. 1 and 2 are
side elevations and Fig. 3 is an end view of the head and barrel on an enlarged
scale.
My invention can be used to operate the swivelling axle of a carriage, the ends
of which form the bearings for the wheels; or single or double steering wheels held
in forks or otherwise, but I preferably employ the well-known arrangement of the
steering wheels (when two) being separately hinged upon a stationary axle bar or
frame, each wheel axle is provided with a bell-crank lever placed at such an angle
that when coupled together by a connecting rod, the two wheels are parallel
with each other when the car is proceeding in a straight line, but when it is desired
to turn the car, their relation to each other changes in a degree proportional to
the radius of the curve to be traversed.
My invention consists in the mechanism for operating the steering wheels, and I
employ an upright shaft A turning in a tube or standard B so held in a clamp C
or fixing on the car body or frame that its height can be easily adjusted when
desired.
The bottom of this shaft is provided with a lever or crank D whose normal
position is preferably at right angles to the wheel axles, or parallel with the central
axis of the car, the outer end of this lever can by an articulated rod E be coupled
to the crank, lever fork, connecting rod or whatever arrangement is used on the
wheel axles for operating them.
The vertical shaft A passes through a bearing F at the top of the tube, and is
fitted with a head G to which is hinged a rocking barrel H which lies (in plan)
in the same direction as the crank or lever at the foot of the shaft.
Through the barrel H slides a bar I preferably a weldless steel tube the outer
end being provided with a terminal J the inner end with a handle K of any con-
venient shape.
On the tube within reach of the thumb or finger of the driver can be placed a
bell of the cycle type or a clapper bell can be placed on the handle which can be
sounded by shaking the hand. An adjustable collar L is also placed on the tube
to regulate the distance it can be moved, and rubber rings M M or rings of leather
or other suitable material are interposed as shewn to prevent jar when the tube is
drawn to and fro in the barrel,

page_text: The heading at the top of the shaft A or the bearing G at the top of the stan-
dard B is provided with adjustable cushioned stops NN to regulate the rocking
of the barrel, the inner one N is preferably so set that the handle when drawn
towards the driver may rest upon his knee, and the outer one N₁ so that when
the handle is lifted and the tube pushed forward or allowed to slide through the
barrel it may fall to any angle (see Fig. 1), or parallel with the standard (see Fig. 2)
if so desired.
It will be seen by this arrangement that the height, length and position of the
steering lever may be varied at will, and that by reason of the articulated con-
nections no vibration is communicated to the hand of the driver.
This device is applicable to the rudders of boats or other purpose.
The handle may be made hollow having an elastic portion which if pressed
would by means of a pneumatic tube passed through the steel tube and connected
in any convenient way, be used to operate a pneumatic governor, for controlling
the engine.
The handle bar may be of various sections two or more tubes may be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1st. In steering or controlling gear or the like the combination of a standard, a
rocking and swivelling head, and a sliding handle bar, substantially as and for the
purpose described, and illustrated.
2nd. In steering gear such as described in Claim 1 the adjustable cushions or
their equivalent for regulating the slide, and tilt, of the handle bar substantially
as herein described and illustrated.
3rd. In steering gear the combination of a standard with a clamping base, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated.
Dated this 28th day of February 1898.
M. HOLROYD SMITH.