Improvements relating to Handles or Devices for Controlling the Mechanism of Motor Cars.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 23rd June, 1900
Improvements relating to Handles or Devices for Controlling the
Mechanism of Motor Cars.
I, MARTIN HENRI RUMPF, fils, of 14 Rue des Croisades, Brussels, in the King-
dom of Belgium, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to the handles or levers to be operated by the driver,
in order to change the speed or the direction of motion of motor cars, and it
more especially relates to mechanism in which a lever or handle may be turned
in a given plane, so that the rotation of this handle or lever to various positions
operates a change of speed of the vehicle or change of motion from forward
to rearward or the stopping of the vehicle.
The object of this invention is to provide a handle of this kind in which each
of the positions of rotation (such as stop, forward, or rearward) and also each of
the positions of its displacement corresponding to a different speed, may have
means for locking the lever and also so that a change of direction of movement
can only take place when its position is that corresponding to the slowest speed.
This mechanism is constructed as follows. On a central shaft which forms the
axis of rotation is placed a tube, the upper end of this tube is threaded on a
ring in which the centre axle can turn. For a certain length, the upper part of
the tube is placed in a long tubular sleeve, sliding on the tube. This outer
tubular sleeve (hereinafter called the lower sleeve) is terminated at its upper part
in a ring which abuts against a flange of the first mentioned ring on the afore-
said tube. The lower sleeve slides, on the other hand, on another ring fixed by
means of a screw on the tube and carries at its lower end teeth adapted to engage
in recesses in a fixed sector which is attached to some fixed part of the vehicle.
On the lower sleeve there is also fixed by means of a screw a collar which acts as
an abutment for the end of a helical spring, the upper end of which rests against
a ring on an outer tube. This ring on the outer tube carries recesses in which
engage the teeth of a sleeve (hereinafter called the upper sleeve) carrying a
handle or hand lever. This upper sleeve is hollow and adjusted on the centre
axle on which it may slide in a longitudinal direction, but without turning
thereon. The extremity of the axle is screw threaded and carries a nut and a
locking nut. Between these nuts and a flange on the lower end of the upper
sleeve, there is placed a helical spring, which is weaker than the helical spring
before mentioned.
This mechanism acts as follows:-Supposing that it is required to alter the
speed at which the vehicle is travelling by displacing the lever for the amount.
necessary in an angular direction in a plane to which its axis is perpendicular.
The lever is at this time fixed by the engagement of the teeth of the lower sleeve
n the sector, which is fixed to the vehicle; by now leaning on the handle the
upper sleeve presses by means of its teeth into the recesses of the aforesaid outer
ing. This ring is thus pressed downwardly pressing downwardly in its turn

page_text: the lower sleeve and bringing into compression the lower spring against its
abutment collar. The teeth at the lower extremity of the lower sleeve leave
the recesses in the sector and thus liberate the lever which may be moved in the
one or other direction. When the teeth meet the recess in the sector which
corresponds to the next speed the spring will automatically pull up the sleeve
and cause the teeth to engage the recesses of the sector; the lever is thus again
fixed. If, on the contrary it is desired to change the direction in which the
vehicle is moving or to bring it to a stand-still, it is necessary to pull up the
handle fixed to the sleeve. The upper spring will now be brought into com-
pression and the teeth of the upper sleeve will leave the recesses in the ring,
so that the handle may be turned by hand for the amount necessary to carry it
to the next recess, which is that of stopping, and to pass over that recess to the
recess which corresponds to rearward movement. The handle may then be
allowed to descend and the upper spring will cause it to be fixed in place.
As when this lever is employed on vehicles which may travel at a great speed
it is not desirable to change the direction of movement unless the vehicle is
moving at its, slowest speed. the following construction is arranged so that the
change of movement can only take place at the slowest speed. For this purpose
the upper sleeve and handle should be locked against upward movement at all
times except when it is in the position equivalent to the slowest speed. The
upper sleeve carries two projections corresponding to the teeth relating to the
forward movement and the rearward movement respectively. The ring at the
end of the tube is surrounded by another ring held thereon by means of a screw
and adapted to turn on the ring for a certain distance as determined by a stop
pin fixed to the ring and sliding in a groove in the outer ring. The outer ring
carries a hook adapted to catch on the projections aforementioned, whenever
the handle is in a position corresponding to forward or rearward movement; in
this position therefore, it is impossible to lift the handle to disengage the
teeth of the sleeve from the recesses in the ring and the central axle cannot
therefore be put in rotation. But the outer ring before mentioned carries
another projection which, when the lever is brought back to the position which
corresponds to the minimum speed, comes against a stop piece or spring abut-
ment, fixed to the vehicle, and this causes the ring to be turned so far as is per-
mitted by the length of the groove which limits its movement.
By this movement the hook liberates the one or the other projection before
mentioned so that the handle can be now lifted and displaced through the angle
necessary to bring its teeth into the grooves corresponding to the stop position
or further to that corresponding to rearward movement, in which position the
second projection will in its turn come into the position necessary to be engaged
by the hook.
Dated this 17th day of July 1899.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.
Improvements relating to Handles or Devices for Controlling the
Mechanism of Motor Cars.
I, MARTIN HENRI RUMPF, fils, of 14 Rue des Croisades, Brussels, in the King-
dom of Belgium, Manufacturer, 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 the handles or levers to be operated by the driver,

page_text: in order to change the speed or the direction of motor cars of the kind in which
a displacement of the lever in a given plane changes the speed, and a rotation
of said handle causes a change of motion of the vehicle from forward to backward
or the stopping of the vehicle.
The object of this invention is to provide a handle or lever of this kind which
may be locked in each of its positions of rotation (such as stop, forward, and
rearward) and also in each of the positions of its displacement corresponding to
a determined speed, by means of only one handle, contrary of the usual, well-
known levers of this kind which all require two handles at least to effect the
operations indicated. The invention also relates to means for locking the lever,
so that a change of direction of movement can only take place when its position
is that corresponding to slowest speed.
The invention consists essentially in joining the single handle to the lever by
the medium of a sleeve, sliding slightly on the lever, but carryng the latter
with it in its revolutions and controlled by the action of a spring in such a
manner that a pull on the handle disengages the same from a clutch ring locking
device in order to allow its rotation and thus also of the lever, this clutch ring
being also controlled by the action of a spring which can be compressed by a
push exerted on the handle to allow the displacement of the lever in a given
plane.
Referring to the annexed drawings:
Fig. shows a front elevation of a lever provided with a handle constructed
according to my invention.
Fig. 2 shows said lever in side elevation, a push being exerted on the handle
to disengage the locking device from, a sector and to allow the displacement of
the lever in the plane of the said sector.
Fig. 3 shows the lever in section.
Fig. 4 shows it in a front elevation, a pull being exerted on the handle to dis-
engage it from the locking device, thus allowing the rotation of the lever.
Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the lever showing a detail of construction.
In these figures (Fig. 3) 1 represents a lever according to this invention. This
lever which forms the axis of rotation is surrounded by a tube 2; in order to be
fixed in place in each of the required positions, the upper part of the lever is
constructed as follows:-
The upper end of the tube 2 being connected to the lever 1, is threaded on a
ring 3 in which the central shaft 1 can turn. For a certain length, the upper
part of the tube 2 is placed in a long tubular sleeve or tube 5 sliding on the
tube 2 this outer tubular sleeve 5 terminates at its upper part in a ring 6,
which abuts against a flange 7 of the before mentioned ring 3 on the tube 2.
The lower sleeve or tube 5 slides, at its lower end on another ring 8 fixed by
means of screws or the like on to the tube 2 and carries at its lower end teeth 9
and 10 adapted to engage in recesses in a fixed locking sector 11 which is
attached to the vehicle in the usual manner.
On the sleeve or tube 2 there is also fixed by means of screws or the like a
collar 12. Between this collar or ring and the lower part of the ring 6 surmount-
ing the tubular sleeve or tube 5 is interposed a strong helical spring 13.
The upper part of the ring 6 has recesses made therein, for instance, two,
(see Fig. 5) in one of which the tooth 14 of a sleeve 15 engages, said sleeve
carrying the handle or hand lever 16. The said sleeve 15 is hollow and adjusted
on the central axle 1 on which it may slide in a longitudinal direction, but
without turning thereon, being held by a cottar or key 17.
The upper extremity of the axle 1 is screw threaded and carries nuts and
locking nuts 18, 19, respectively. Between these nuts and the flange on the
lower end of the sleeve 15 is placed a helical spring 10 which is weaker than the
helical spring 13.
The lever so constructed acts as follows:-
Supposing that it is required to alter the speed of the vehicle, the lever must.

page_text: be displaced along the sector 11 (Fig. 2) fixed to the vehicle, each of the recesses
in said sector corresponding to a known or determined speed; and to alter the
direction of travel of the vehicle the lever must turn on its own axis.
When
To alter the speed, and consequently displace the lever along the sector 11,
pressure is exerted on the handle 16. The upper sleeve 15 (Figs. 1 and 2) is
thus pressed into the corresponding recess of the ring 6 of the tube 5, by means
of its tooth 14 and the said ring 6 and consequently the tube 5 are thus pressed
downwardly and bring into compression the lower spring 13 (Fig. 3) against its
abutment collar 12. The teeth 9 and 10 at the lower extremity of the said
sleeve 5 leave the recesses in the sector 11, as shown in Fig. 2, and thus release
the lever which may be removed in the one or other direction (Fig. 2).
the teeth 9 and 10 meet the recess in the sector which corresponds to the next
speed, the spring 13 (Fig. 3) will automatically pull up the sleeve or tube 5 and
cause the teeth 9, 10 to re-engage the corresponding recesses 11 and the lever
is thus again locked. If on the contrary it is desired to change the direction
(which necessitates a rotation of the shaft 1 on its own axis), it is sufficient as
shown in Fig. 4 to pull up the handle fixed to the sleeve 15; the upper spring 20
will now be brought into compression and the tooth 14 of the sleeve 15 will leave
the recess in the ring 6 (Fig. 4) so that the handle 16 may be turned by hand
for the amount necessary whether to stop the vehicle or to reverse it, the rotation
of the lever acting to this effect on an appropriate friction clutch.
When it is desired to reverse the motion of the vehicle the handle 16 is turned
until the tooth meets the next recess of the ring 6 (Fig. 4). The handle may
then be allowed to descend and the upper spring 20 will cause it to be fixed in
place.
To facilitate the mounting of the various parts, the sleeve or tube 5 may be
slotted for a certain part of its length as indicated in Figs. and 3.
When the lever described is employed on vehicles which are capable of travel-
ling at a great speed, it is not desirable to change the direction of travel, (that
is to say to make the shaft 1 turn on its own axis) unless the vehicle is moving
at its slowest speed. The following construction is therefore arranged so that the
change of movement can only take place at the said slowest speed.
The sleeve 15 (Fig. 2) carries two projections 21 and 22 corresponding to the
teeth relating to the forward and rearward movement of the vehicle respectively.
The ring 6 at the end of the tube 5 is surrounded by another ring 23 held thereon
by means of screw threads 24 and adapted to turn on the ring 6 for a certain
distance determined by a stop pin 25 fixed to the ring 6 and sliding in a slot 26
in the ring 23 (Fig. 2), this ring 23 carries a hook 27 adapted to catch on the
projection 21 or 22 (Fig. 2), whenever the handle is in a position corresponding
to forward or rearward movement. In each of these positions, it is impossible
to lift the handle 16 to disengage the tooth 14 of the sleeve 15 from the recess
in the ring 6, in which the said tooth is engaged; and the central shaft cannot
therefore be put in rotation. The ring 23 however carries another projection 28
(Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5) which, when the lever is brought back to the position which
corresponds to the minimum speed, comes against a stop piece 29 (Figs. 2 and 4)
or spring abutment, fixed to the vehicle. The meeting of the hook 28 with this
abutment 29, causes the ring 23 to be turned so far as is permitted by the length
of the groove 26; by this movement of the ring 23 the hook 27 liberates the
projection 21 or 22 as the case may be, so that the handle 16 can now be lifted
(Fig. 4) and displaced through the angle necessary to bring the tooth 14 into
the groove corresponding to the stopping position or further to that correspond-
ing to rearward movement, in which position the second projection 22 will in
its turn come into the position necessary to be engaged by the hook 27.
In the construction of the stop mechanism described, the depth of the grooves
in the ring 6 or the height of the teeth 14 must of course, be sufficient to allow
the passage of the projections 21, 22 below the hook 27 when the handle 16 is
lifted. :

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;-
1. In a lever for the purpose of changing the speed and direction of motor-
cars, in which a change of speed is effected by the displacement of the lever
along a sector and the direction of travel is changed by the revolution of the
lever on its own axis, an arrangement consisting thereof, that in order to operate
by means of one handle, the locking of the lever, both in the rotary and dis-
placing sense, the handle of said lever slides with slight friction on the said
lever and carries the said lever with it in its rotary motion, the said handle being
provided with a stop 14, which engages recesses in the stationary clutch of a
tube 5 locking the lever upon the locking sector 11, the said handle being
retained by a stop in one of the recesses of the clutch ring, by the action of a
spring, while the tube fixed to said ring is also held in the locking sector by the
action of another spring, in such a manner that on pulling the handle the clutch
ring is disengaged and the lever revolves, while pressure upon the said handle
has the effect of disengaging the tube from the sector and of thereby permitting
the displacement of the lever.
2. In combination with the handle described in Claim 1 the arrangement of
two or more stops or projections for the purpose of only permitting the lifting
of the handle and the rotation of the lever when the latter occupies a position
determined by its sector, the said stops or projections resting against a hook
fixed to a ring which can revolve a certain distance upon the upper ring of the
outer tube, the revolution of the said ring the purpose of which is to release the
said projections or stops being effected by the meeting of a projection on the said
movable ring and a fixed stop, when the lever is moved into the position relating
to minimum speed.
Dated this 17th day of April 1900
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.