Improvements in or relating to Steering Apparatus for Cycles, Motor Vehicles, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug.,
1898
Complete Specification Left, 12th June, 1899-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Steering Apparatus for Cycles, Motor
Vehicles, and the like.
I, ROBERT CHARLES AYTON, Engineer, of 5, Richmond Terrace, Cox Street,
Coventry, in the County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to steering apparatus for cycles, motor vehicles and the
like, and has for its object to so mount the steering wheel or wheels that increased
facilities are afforded for guiding the vehicle.
According to this invention the hub of each wheel is made of sufficiently large
diameter to allow of the inner or fixed portion being in the form of a sleeve
within which are arranged bearings for the accommodation of vertical bearing
pins formed upon the main axle, the axis of these pins being at right angles to
that of the axle. With this arrangement the wheel turns upon the axle about
a centre situated in or about the central plane of the wheel.
Where two steering wheels are employed as in some forms of vehicles, the inner
non-rotatable sleeves of the wheels are connected together in some suitable.
manner so as to enable the two wheels to be turned simultaneously. It is to be
understood, however, that any suitable device may be employed for actually
bringing about the guidance of the wheel or wheels, the manner of mounting
above described giving facility for great variation in this direction.
Improvements in or relating to Steering Apparatus for Cycles, Motor
Vehicles, and the like,
I, ROBERT CHARLES AYTON, Engineer, of 5, Richmond Terrace, Cox Street;
Coventry, in the County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention 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 steering apparatus for cycles, motor vehicles and the
like, and has for its object to so mount the steering wheel or wheels that increased
facilities are afforded for guiding the vehicle.
According to this invention the hub of each wheel is made of sufficiently large
diameter to allow of the inner or fixed portion being in the form of a sleeve
within which are arranged bearings for the accommodation of vertical bearing

page_text: pins formed upon the main axle, the axis of these pins being at right angles to
that of the axle. With this arrangement the wheel turns upon the axle about
a centre situated in or about the central plane of the wheel.
Where two steering wheels are employed as in some forms of vehicle, the inner
non-rotatable sleeves of the wheels are connected together in some suitable
manner so as to enable the two wheels to be turned simultaneously. It is to be
understood, however, that any suitable device may be employed for actually
bringing about the guidance of the wheel or wheels, the manner of mounting
above described giving facility for great variation in this direction.
It has before now been proposed to pivot a wheel internally somewhat after
the manner proposed in the present specification, but upon the end of a shaft.
In such a construction, however, the drawbacks inseparable from an over-hung
axle were incurred and the possibility appertaining to my invention of carrying
the wheel in a fork or in the centre of a long shaft would not exist, consequently
I make no broad claim to the pivotting of wheel inside its hub.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the hub of a wheel con-
structed and mounted in accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is an end view of the same.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The axle A whose ends are suitably attached to the framework of the vehicle
is provided with pivot pins A¹ whose axis is at right angles to the axis of the
axle. The hub B of the wheel is made of larger diameter than is usual and
provided with ball races B¹ at either end of some convenient construction.
Within the hub B is arranged a sleeve formed in two parts C C₁, each of which
has an internal flange C. In the latter are formed semi-cylindrical recesses C³
for the reception of the pivot pins A', the two parts CC when brought together
and connected by bolts C+ embracing the pivot pins in the manner shown in the
drawings. Webs C serve to strengthen the flanges C2 where the recesses are
formed. Each portion of the sleeve C C is provided with a ball race C6.
The ends of the axle A may be mounted on springs or otherwise as found
convenient.
If preferred the construction above described may be modified by forming the
sleeve CC in one piece and providing it with pivot pins adapted to engage with
sockets formed in a two-part sleeve mounted upon the axle.
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
I claim is:
-
1. The combination with a wheel axle supported at both ends of a casing upon
which the wheel rotates pivoted upon the axle between its ends substantially as
and for the purpose described.
2. The combination with a wheel axle supported at both ends and having pivot
pins such as A¹ of a two-part bearing casing such as CC1 C2 C3 enclosing the pivot
pins and carrying the wheel substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The combination with a wheel axle supported at both ends of a two-part
sleeve upon it carrying sockets for the reception of pivot pins formed on the
interior of a bearing casing upon which the wheel rotates substantially as and for
the purpose described.
4. The complete pivotal mounting for a vehicle wheel substantially as and for
the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings."
Total 101
T1900
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.