Improvements in the Construction of and Method of Applying Power to Motor Driven Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Loft 1st Jan 1898 Accented 12th Mar. 1898
Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left 1st lan 1898 Accepted 12th Mar.. 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of and Method of Applying Power
to Motor Driven Vehicles.
We, JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, of Rokeby, Oldfield Road, Altrincham, in the
County of Chester, Manufacturer, and JAMES POLLARD LEA, of 7, Southbank,
Renshaw Street, Altrincham, in the County of Chester, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of applying the power developed
by a motor to propel a vehicle. Such vehicle, when in travelling order, being
supported on four wheels which revolve on their respective axles independently of
each other. The power of the motor is transmitted direct or through suitable
gearing to a fifth or driving wheel which is suitably held in a frame or fork, hinged
with regard to the body of the vehicle and of suitable stiffness and strength.
Between such frame or fork and the body of the vehicle is placed an elastic cushion
or equivalent device by means of which a considerable part of the load of or in
the body of the vehicle may be transmitted to the axle of the driving wheel so as
to obtain sufficient adhesion for it to do its work.
The said motor and driving wheel may be permanently connected with the
vehicle to be driven but it may be arranged that such motor and driving wheel
may be detachable from and attachable to each of several vehicles and when so
attached in each case the motor and driving wheel forms with the vehicle and its:
supporting wheels (two or four as the case may be) a motor car practically the
same in its essential features as the power driven car before described.
For applying the power in this manner any suitable motor is supported on a
frame or carriage which itself is supported on, advantageously, three wheels. Two
of these wheels may be (and for application to a two wheeled vehicle they are)
mounted on one or on separate (but simultaneously worked) swivelling devices so.
as to form a steering apparatus. The power is transmitted to the third wheel.
In applying a motor so mounted to a two wheeled vehicle, such as a dogcart.
for instance, the shafts, which may be shortened so as not to project unduly, may
be supported in brackets, adjustable for height attached to the frame supporting
the motor. The said shafts need not be held rigidly but may rest in air cushions
or other convenient device to minimize the transmission of vibrations or jolts.
The pull due to the tractive effort of the motor may be transmitted to the vehicle
by short traces or chains. The two steering wheels are in situation near the shafts
supports and in forward motion lead the combination. The steering apparatus
may be brought under control of the person operating by suitably guided leather
bands or other suitable connections. The driving wheel would come wholly or
to a considerable extent under the body of the vehicle and about centrally between
the two wheels of the vehicle. A sufficient part of the weight of the vehicle and
load therein is transmitted to the driving wheel in similar manner and for the
purpose herein before described.

page_text: Other means for controlling the combination for stopping, starting, reversing
etc. may be brought properly under control of the person in charge seated in the
vehicle by suitable connections. The wheels of such vehicles are generally fitted
with suitable brakes and gear for operating them would be within reach of the
operator but if desirable the driving wheel may be fitted with a suitable brake
and an operating gear controllable by the person in charge.
In a generally similar manner a mounted motor and driving wheel may be
applied to a four wheel vehicle and in such case if the two wheels of the motor
carriage other than the driving wheel be not dispensed with, when properly con-
nected to the said vehicle they may be held clear of the ground and need not be
revolved or worked when the said vehicle is running.
The driving wheel may be fitted with a wooden tyre so constructed as to present
at all times the end grain of the fibre to the wear and the other wheels of the
combination may have indiarubber, pneumatic or other suitable class of tyre.
Dated this 6th day of April 1897.
Improvements in the Construction of and Method of Applying Power
to Motor Driven Vehicles.
We, JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, of Rokeby, Oldfield Road, Altrincham, in the
County of Chester, Manufacturer, and JAMES POLLARD LEA, of Worsley Mills,
Hulme, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, late of 7, Southbank,
Renshaw Street, Altrincham, in the County of Chester, 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 is designed to provide suitable means for driving vehicles and
for connecting the motor parts with the vehicle whereby the weight of the load is
more or less directly applied as may be required to the driving wheel of the
apparatus.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. Side elevation showing the invention as applied to a two-wheeled vehicle.
Fig. 2. Plan of same..
Fig. 3. Front elevation of same.
Fig. 4. Side elevation of four wheeled vehicle.
The body A of the carriage is of any ordinary shape or construction supported
as in Figs. 1-3 on two wheels B of ordinary construction for road vehicles or sup-
ported as in Fig. 4 on four wheels B¹.
The motor C which is also of any ordinary or suitable construction (actuated by
steam, oil, gas, hot air or vapour) is mounted on a framing D constructed to
.carry it.
The framing D is hinged or pivoted at one end so as to admit of sufficient move-
ment at the other carrying the driving wheel to follow any inequalities of the road.
The framing D carries a driving or propelling wheel E journalled upon a spindle
or shaft F firmly attached to the frame D and is connected to the body of the
vehicle at one end by a spring or springs G. The spring. G may be made of steel
and of volute or other form or may be an inflated rubber cushion and is provided
with spring or other adjustment whereby the tension or compression of the spring
is adjusted to correspond with and transmit any required portion of the weight
of the vehicle or the load within it to the driving wheel.

page_text: The driving or propelling wheel E is preferably provided with a rubber tyre (or
other suitable tyre) and is driven from the motor by a chain e or other suitable
gearing. It is in all cases placed under the body of the vehicle so as to directly
receive the weight the springs G determining the amount of pressure by which it
is pressed against the ground the vehicle wheels B sustaining the rest of the
weight and load.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 the invention is shown applied to a two-wheeled
vehicle such as a cart or gig, the shafts H of the vehicle having been shortened
so as not to project unduly. In this case the frame D) is provided at the back with
the driving wheel E and at the front with an axle or spindle K with two wheels L
to which it is pivoted. The wheels L rotate on the axles K' which swivel upon
the pivots connected to the axle K to allow the wheels to swivel for the purpose of
steering or turning the vehicle. The axle K carrying the axles K¹ and steering
wheels L is attached to the shafts H by stays d which are pivoted at both ends on
the pins h to permit of them being adjusted to the height of any vehicle the
brackets h being also adjustable on the upright rods d¹. To the rear end of the
frame 1 two jointed levers or bracket arms M are attached by one end the other
end of the levers M being attached to the axle N or other part of the vehicle.
Between the two ends each of the jointed levers M is inserted the volute spring G
Instead of
the tension of which is adjusted by the screw O and hand wheel o.
volute springs a pneumatic cushion may be employed as shown in Fig. 4. The
driving wheel E is actuated from the motor C by the chain e and the steering
wheels L are moved to right and left as required by the handle P.
front steering wheel may be substituted for the two wheels L.
A single central
Referring to Fig. 4 the invention is shown applied to a four wheel carriage the
body of which may be of any shape or design. In this case the frame D pro-
vided preferably with only the single driving wheel E as the front wheels of the
carriage serve for steering and turning. One end of the frame D is connected to
the back axle by connecting rods or links d" and the other end is attached to the
body of the vehicle by the two jointed levers or bracket arms M and one end of
the levers M being attached to the frame D and the other end to the vehicle.
Between the ends of each of the jointed levers M is inserted a pneumatic spring G
the tension of which is regulated by the amount of inflation. Instead of the
pneumatic spring a volute spring as in Fig. 1 may be employed. For four wheeled
vehicles we prefer the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 but if desired the position of
the frame 1) may be reversed as shown in Fig. 1 the levers M being connected with
the back axle. The driving wheel is actuated from the motor C by the chain e or
other gearing. The vehicle is steered by the two front wheels B₁ which are
swivelled by a quadrant S which is rotated in either direction by a pinion rod s and
handle or lever P a hand lever R and connecting rod r control the motor C and a
brake lever T operates the brake t¹.
In either arrangement the said motor and driving wheel may be permanently
connected with the vehicle to be driven or it may be arranged that such motor
and driving wheel may be detachable from and attachable to each of several
vehicles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: :―
1. A motor driven vehicle constructed with a driving wheel (such as E) carried
by a hinged or pivoted frame so placed beneath the vehicle that a considerable
portion of the load of or in the vehicle may be transmitted to the wheel to give
the desired amount of tractive force substantially as described.
2. In a motor driven vehicle the combination with the body A of any ordinary
or convenient construction of a frame I) placed underneath the body of the vehicle
and connected thereto by a pivoted connection at one end and a spring connection
alt the other, a single driving wheel E to which any desired portion of the load

page_text: can be applied by the spring G and a motor C both carried by the frame D sub-
stantially as described and shown.
3. A motor driven vehicle having the several parts constructed and arranged
in combination substantially as described and shown with reference either to
Figs. 1 to 3 or Fig. 4 of the drawings.
Dated this 30th day of December 1897
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.