Improvements in Power Propelled Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 12th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 5th June, 1900
Improvements in Power Propelled Vehicles.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM LANCHESTER, of Ladywood Road, Birmingham, War-
wickshire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in power propelled vehicles and in part
refers more particularly to light vehicles designed to run on rails and in part to
a special form of change gearing.
The objects of this invention are firstly to provide a neat and compact form of
gearing whereby two forward speeds and one reverse speed may be obtained,
applicable to any ordinary type of motor vehicle, and secondly to provide means
whereby the body of a motor propelled tram or other light vehicle may be arranged
to swivel about a central vertical axis carrying with it the motor and controlling
mechanism in order that its running direction may be reversed at a terminus or
otherwise.
In carrying the first portion of this invention into effect I arrange on a hollow
shaft and in suitable bearings what will be hereinafter referred to as an inter-
mediate gear wheel. This hollow shaft is axially in line with the crank shaft or
one of the crank shafts of the motor, and a direct clutch is arranged in order to
gear with the motor to produce a first speed ratio. The intermediate gear wheel
drives directly or indirectly on to the road wheel axles. The gear may be of
worm, spur or other form. An extension of the motor shaft is provided passing
through the hollow shaft which carries the intermediate gear wheel and on its
extremity are fitted two pinions. The first of these pinions is arranged as the
centre element to the epicyclic motion, the outer element of which consists of
an internally toothed brake drum. The planet wheels in gear with these two
elements are carried by pins projecting from a face plate rigidly attached to the
tubular shaft. The ends of these pins carry a further internal toothed ring which
forms the outer element of a second epicyclic train of which the second pinion
fitted to the extension of the motor shaft forms the internal element. The planet
pinions of this set of gear are carried by pins attached to a brake drum which
rides freely on the extremity of the crank shaft extension. Brakes of any well
known form are arranged to be applied to the two brake drums herein before men-
tioned and suitable operating levers and mechanism bring these brakes under the
direct control of the driver.
It will be seen by carefully following the description that when the brake is
applied to the drum which forms the external element of the first train of gearing
a slow motion will be imparted by the motor to the intermediate gear wheel in
the same direction as if the direct clutch were employed. It will in like manner be
seen that by operating the brake which actuates on the planet wheels of the
second train of gearing a reverse rotation will be imparted to the intermediate
gear wheel.
It will thus be seen that there are two speed ratios in the forward and one in
the reverse direction.

page_text: In carrying the second portion of this invention into effect as applied to tram
car vehicles constructed in a similar manner to that of the swivel type of horse
tram in common use, that is to say, the sub frame is arranged as a single bogey
and the body is mounted on this about a vertical axis with suitable locking
arrangements to secure it in position. The motor and gearing as hereinbefore
described are arranged on the driver's platform with the crank shaft placed longi-
tudinally. The intermediate gear wheel in this arrangement actuates a gear
wheel placed below it and mounted on a shaft having a parallel axis. In the
rearward extremity of this shaft is mounted a slotted cylinder adapted to form
one of the elements of a jointed shaft coupling such a described in Patent
No. 10044 of 22nd April, 1897, already granted to the present applicant.
Worm gearing is arranged centrally on the two road wheel axles and the worm
elements of the gearing are arranged in line with one and another and are
operated by a single shaft passing right through from end to end of the bogey.
Both ends of this shaft are fitted with slotted cylinders both adapted to form
shaft couplings and a coupling shaft is arranged connecting from one of the
cylindrical couplings on the bogey to that on the car body. This coupling shaft
is fitted with a collar whereby it may be given a longitudinal movement by a
lever under the control of the driver.
It will be seen that the power transmission takes place either by the direct
clutch or one of the gear trains to the intermediate gear wheel and thence to the
lower shaft, thence through the coupling to the worm shaft, the driving being
effected by both pairs of wheels.
When it is desired to turn the car body round the driver actuates the lever
which slides the coupling shaft forward and thereby disconnects it from the worm
shaft, a locking bolt is then removed, the car body is turned round end to end
and the driver slides the coupling shaft back into its place.
Dated this 10
1
T
1000
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London. W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and 25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM LANCHESTER, of Ladywood Road, Birmingham, 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 improvements in power propelled vehicles and in part
refers more particularly to light vehicles designed to run on rails and in part to
a special form of change gearing.
The objects of this invention are, firstly, to provide a neat and compact form
of gearing whereby two forward speeds and one reverse speed may be obtained,
applicable to any ordinary type of motor vehicle; and secondly, to provide means
whereby the body of a motor-propelled tram, or other light vehicle may be
arranged to swivel about a central vertical axis, carrying with it the motor and
controlling mechanism in order that its running direction may be reversed at
a terminus or otherwise.
The invention is illustrated in the
which:-
accompanying 3 sheets of drawings, in

page_text: Figure 1 represents in section the variable speed and reversing gear.
Figure 2 is an end view of one of the brake drums fitted with a brake strap.
Figure is a section on the line a, b, of Figure 1, shewing the other brake
drum fitted with brake blocks, and,
Figure 4, is a section on the line c, d, of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a section of the wheel frame and floor of a vehicle constructed
according to the invention, and fitted with the gearing illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a detailed view of the flexible coupling for the power transmission
shafting between the motor gearing and the wheel axles, and,
Figure 7, is a section on the line e, f.
Referring to Figures 1 to 5, A is a hollow shaft which is fitted with a gear
wheel B hereinafter referred to as a transmission wheel. This shaft is arranged
upon a shaft C which may be an extension of, or one of, the motor shafts and the
transmission wheel B forms one of the elements of a clutch by means of
which it may be coupled to the shaft C so as to obtain the first speed ratio of the
gear. The gear wheel B drives indirectly on to the wheel axle through a gear
wheel 1), and transmission shafting to be hereinafter described: but it is obvious
it might also be arranged for direct driving and that the gear might be worm, spur,
or other form. On the extremity of the shaft C are fitted two pinions F, and G:
the first of the pinions is arranged as the central element of an epicyclic train,
the outer element of which consists of an internally toothed brake drum H,
loosely sleeved upon the hollow shaft A. The planet wheels J, revolve ou pins J¹.
projecting from a face plate K. constituting the intermediate element of the train,
and rigidly attached to the tubular shaft A. The outer ends of the pins J' carry
an internally toothed annulus L, which forms the outer element of a second
epicyclic train, the planet wheels M of which are mounted on pius M', carried
by brake drum N, and gearing with the central pinion G. An extension P of the
shaft C, supports the brake drum N, and a collar Q is provided to hold the drum
in position.
Ridges R, R, are formed upon the brake drums to prevent the lubricating
material on the gearing from splashing on to the brake drums, thereby rendering
the brakes inoperative.
The brake illustrated in Figure 2 is of the ordinary band form, and the brake
shewn in Figure 3 consists of two levers h, h, pivoted at one end and fitted with
brake blocks h¹h¹. Pressure is applied to the blocks by means of the rod k
which is provided with right and left handed screw threads working in the
nuts . It is obvious, however, that any suitable brake may be employed for
retarding the motion of the drums H, and N.
In an alternative arrangement of the gearing above described, the portion P of
the driving element, is made of larger diameter, and together with F and G,
is bored through. In place of the collar Q. a gear wheel driven by the motor
is provided, securely keyed to the hollow shaft P. The portion of the driving
element C, is cut away right up to the pinion and the brake drum of the outer
element of the first train of gearing is carried by and keyed to a shaft which
runs clear through, and projects beyond the hollow shaft P, where it is connected
to a driving coupling, whereby motion is communicated to the vehicle.
driving coupling also carries one element of a direct clutch (of the cone or other
type) the other element of which is attached to the gear wheel replacing the
collar and actuated through a corresponding gear on the motor shaft.
This
When the clutch () is in gear, the transmission wheel B is fast to the shaft ('
and consequently it revolves at the same speed and in the same direction as the
motor shaft. By tightening the brake on the drum H, the clutch O being out
of gear, the pinions J driven by the pinion F. are caused to travel round the
inside of the drum, thus driving the transmission wheel B, in the same direction
as, but at a slower speed than, the motor shaft C. When the brake on the
drum N is tightened, the pinions M driven by pinion G, cause the internally-
toothed annulus L, and consequently the transmission wheel B, to travel in the

page_text: reverse direction to. and at a lower speed than the motor shaft. It is obvious
that a further speed variation in either direction of motion may be obtained down
to the limits of speed with the respective drums absolutely stationary, by vary
ing the degree of pressure on the respective brakes, and thus allowing the drums
to slip to the required extent.
The above described arrangement of epicyclic and clutch gear thus provides
means whereby two speeds in the forward and one in the reverse direction may
be given to the vehicle.
Referring to Figures 5 to 7 the motor and gearing above described are arranged
on the driver's platform p', which forms an extension of the floor p of the
vehicle, the shaft driven by the motor 01 being supported in bearings B',
and B. The vehicle is of the swivel type of horse-tram-car in common use, in
which a sub-frame or bogie r carries the car body which is provided with rollers s,
attached to the floor p, so that it may swivel about a vertical axis on a turn-
table t. Suitable arrangements are provided for locking the car body to the
frame r. Power is applied to the wheel axles through worm wheels m² driven
by worms m on the shaft m which passes from end to end of the bogie. The
shaft is provided at its ends with slotted hollow cylinders m³, each adapted to
form one of the elements of a jointed coupling of the type described in my
Specification of Letters Patent No. 10011, dated 22nd. April, 1897. A similar
cylinder ; but of greater length, is provided on the rearward end of the counter-
shaft This countershaft, which carries the gear wheel 1) meshing with the
transmission wheel B above mentioned, is arranged parallel to the motor shaft
beneath the driver's platform p. The shafts and m, are flexibly connected by
the coupling rod or shaft n, (shewn on a larger scale in Figure 6). This rod is
provided at its ends with spherical enlargements n which are drilled trans-
versely to receive pins ², the ends of which are planed down to fit the slots ³
of the hollow cylinders, and slide freely therein. The coupling thus provided
between the shafts m and j affords the flexibility of transmission necessary on
account of the motion of the car body on its supporting springs. A hand lever
is provided, connected to the shaft n, in any suitable manner, so that a longi-
tudinal movement under control of the driver may be given to the said shaft. The
connection shewn consists of a U-slotted dise engaging between shoulders a²
and supported on pivots in the forked end of the hand lever u.
It will be seen that the power transmission takes place from the motor shaft
either direct through the clutch O, or through one of the epicyclic gear trains,
to the gear wheel B, and thence to the lower wheel 1), thence through the
coupling rod or shaft n to the worm shaft m, the driving being effected by both
pairs of wheels,
When it is desired to turn the car body round, at a terminus, for example, the
driver slides the coupling rod a forward, so that one end of it comes out of the
cylinder, while the other end enters further into the cylinder j', thus dis-
connecting the shaft ; from the shaft m. The locking bolt of the car body is
then removed, and the car body is turned round on its rollers, end for end, and
the driver slides the coupling shaft n into place with its end in the cylinder m³
at the other end of the wheel frame.
The running direction of the car can thus be reversed, and the motor gearing
coupled for driving in a very expeditious manner.
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
1 claim is-
-
1. In power-propelled vehicles, a change speed and reversing device, in which
the driving mechanism is alternatively operated by a direct clutch, or by one of
two trains of epicyclic gearing, the toothed annulus of the second train being
carried on the first, the whole being adapted to operate substantially as and for

page_text: the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accom-
panying drawings.
2.In power-propelled vehicles, a longitudinal transmission shaft. in combina-
tion with a swivel body carrying the motor mechanism and means of coupling to
either extremity of the said shaft, substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before set forth with reference to Figures 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of April 1900.
MARKS & CLERK.
18, Southampton Buildings, London. W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and 25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents.