US672030A - Motor-vehicle. - Google Patents

Description

No. 672,030. Patented Apr. I6, l90l. D. T. CLARK.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

(Application filed Oct. 8, 1900.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

maman No. 672,030. Patented Apr. I6, |90I.

- D. T. CLARK.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

(Application tiled Oct. 8, 1900.;

(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2.

TH: Norms PETERS co.. woraumo,A wAsNmmon D c due to jolting or jarring of the vehicle will- UNITED STATES DANIEL T. CLARK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION for-ming part of Letters Patent No. 672,030, dated April 16, 1901.

Application iled October 8, 1900. Serial No. 32,362. (No model.)

and particularly to the running-gear thereof. Primarily the object of the invention is the n production of a running-gear frame of improved construction whereby the gearing for actuating the driving-axle of the vehicle may be supported in such a manner that it will be kept in correct engagement notwithstanding the character of the road-bed over which the vehicle is traveling and whereby it willmot be -aected by the jolting, swerving, or tilting.l

of said vehicle. V

A further object of the invention is the provision of yielding connections between the running-gear frame and the frame or other part for sustaining the motor, the cons'truction being such that the gearing of the driving-axle and the motor will be prevented from disalinement, all movements of the parts be compensated for and taken up, andthe Weight of the motor will not be borne by the axle.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a truss-frame of peculiar construction for supporting the motor in such a Imanner that its weight will not be sustained by the axle.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a motor-vehicle with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view partially in section. Fig. 3 is kan end View of a portion of the vehicle, showing the improved truss-frame, and also illustrating the sectional driving-axle and its universal joints. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4, Fig. 3, looking in the direction ofthe arrow. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a compensating gear, showing a manner in which power may be applied to the sectional driving-axle. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but drawn to a smaller scale, illustrating multiple motors for operating the vehicle.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the body of a motor-vehicle which may be of any desired kind, but is shown as of the steam variety, 12 representing a steamgenerator located in said body.

' The numeral 13 designates in a general way the running-gear frame of the vehicle, which is composed of a front axle or cross-bar 14, reach-rods or lside bars 15, and an improved truss-frame (designated in a general Way by 16) for supporting the motor and the parts cooperating therewith. This truss-frame, as illustrated, is composed of three curved rods or tubes, preferably the latter, shown triagonally disposed and merging in tubular end portions 17 17', containing sockets for the reception of the reaches and serving as bearings for the driving-axle; but while this arrangement is preferable these rods may be differently disposed and the number thereof may be varied, as desired.

Suitable steering mechanism (designated by 18) and under the control of the operator by means of a lever or handle 19 is employed, and this steering mechanism consists in the exemplication given of links 18 182, connected to levers 2O 20', for actuating the swiveling hubs of the steering-wheels 21.

Depending from the steam-generator 12, or it may be from any other suitable generator for the motive fluid, is a pipe 12' for conveying steam to the motor, and this pipe is articulated at 122 to another pipe 22, leading to the cylinder of said motor.

Suitable springs 23 23 are employed for sustaining the body of the vehicle in a Well-known way, and the usual air and fuel tanks 24 are located in the body of the vehicle, a pipe 25,

controlled by a suitable valve, leading from one of said tanks to the vburner of the steamgenerator.

The rear or driving axle of the vehicle is designated by the numeral 26, and it is composed of sections which are united to each other by universal joints 27, for a purpose hereinafter explained, the driving-wheels 28 being fastened to said axle in the ordinary way. Two of these joints are carried by sleeves 27, splined to and fitted for sliding movement upon the axle, whereby the sections of said axle will be permitted to telescope and conform to the movements of the motor when the wheels are passing over an uneven surface-as, for instance, when one side of the vehicle is raised higher than the other.

Sleeved upon two of the truss-rods 162 163 are fittings 28' for the reception of bolts 29, and on each of these bolts is mounted a coiled or spiral spring 30.

The numeral 31 designates a motor-carrying frame (shown as a casing) provided at each of its sides with a pair of laterally-projecting perforated lugs 32, through which the bolts 29 pass, these lugs resting upon the top of the spiral spring 30, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. Surrounding said rod above the perforated lugs 32 of the frame 31 are springs 33, the tension of which may be regulated by nuts 34.

Located within the frame in the construction illustrated is a motor 35, which may be of any desired kind, but is shown as a triplecylinder engine, the piston-rods of which are connected with a crank 36 on a shaft 36, journaled in said frame, and also carried by this shaft is a gear 37 in mesh with the gear 38 of a compensating gear 39 of common construction and connected with the sectional axle, where it accomplishes the usual result.

Connecting the curved rods or tubes 16 162 163, constituting the truss-frame 16, are inclined tie-rods or tubes 40, which serve to brace said frame and render it rigid and un` yielding, and also connecting the rods or tubes 162 16S are horizontal tie-rods or tubes 40', which brace the frame at the bottom and hold the sections thereof rigidly in place.

Vllile a steam-motor is illustrated, it is distinctly to be understood that my invention is not limited thereto, for it includes within its purview hydrocarbon, electric, and other forms of motor suit-able for operating the driving-axle of the vehicle.

It will be seen that the frame 31, carrying the motor for operating the vehicle, is yieldingly supported by the springs 30 and 33 upon the bolts 29, projecting from the sockets 28 of the truss-rods 162 163, the lugs 32 of said frame beingintermediate said springs, so that should the vehicle in passing over uneven ground be jolted or jarred the frame and its contained motor will yield, and consequently there will be no tendency of throwing the driving mechanism out of engagement or of cramping the teeth of the gears. Furthermore, these springs take up the torsional strains applied when starting or reversing the motor. Any motion of the vehicle-frame is also compensated for by the yielding sections of the driving-shaft 26, the universal coup? lings 27 and sleeves or short telescopic sections 27/ permitting said shaft to conform to the movements of the motor and the vehicle. Moreover, as above stated, the weight of the motor and its frame is supported by the trussrods and is consequently taken olf from the driving-axle.

Should it be desired to increase the power for driving the vehicle or to decrease the size of the motors, multiple frames or casings 45 and 46 may be secured in the manner stated to the truss-rods and the power from the motors be applied directly' to the driving-axle without the use of compensating gears, in the manner above described.

It will be noticed by reference to Fig. 3 that the steam or other motive-fluid delivery-pipe 12' is connected by a swinging coupling 122 with the pipe 22, and said pipe is attached by another swinging coupling 12s to a pipe 124, leading to the motor-cylinders, in virtue of which construction as the casing moves up and down or otherwise conforms to the Inovement of the vehicle said couplings will turn and prevent breakage of the piping connections described.

Any form of compensating gear desired may be substituted for that shown without departure from my invention, and many of the details of the running-gear frame and truss connections thereof may be Widely varied and still be within the purview thereof. Moreover, the invention is not limited to the application of power to the rear axle, for with suitable modifications the truss-frame could be employed in connection with the forward or steering axle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a motor-vehicle, the combination,with a motor, of a frame on which said motor is mounted; a driving-axle composed of yielding sections and with which the motor is connected; and means for yieldingly supporting said frame connected with the driving-axle and independent of the body of the vehicle.

2. In a motor-vehicle, the combination,with a motor, of a frame carrying said motor; a driving-axle composed of yielding sections with which the motor is connected; means for yieldingly supporting the motor-frame connected with the driving-axle and independent of the body of the vehicle; and gearing connecting the motor and said driving-axle.

3. In a motor-vehicle, the combination,with a driving-axle, of a series of truss-bars; bearings carried by said truss-bars and in which the axle is journaled; a motor connected with said axle; and means for yieldingly suspending said motor between the truss-bars.

4. In a motor-vehicle,the combination,with a driving-axle composed of sections united by means of universal joints,of a series of curved truss-bars; a motor frame yieldingly suspended between said bars; a motor carried by the frame; and gearing connecting said motor With the driving-axle.

5. In a motor-vehicle,thecombination,with a motor, of means for supplying motive fluid to said motor; a rear driving-axle composed of yielding sections; a truss-frame having bearings in which the ends of said axle are supported; a frame yieldingly suspended be- IOO IIO

IZO

tween the truss-bars; a motor carried by said frame; and means for connecting said motor with the axle.

6. In a motor-vehicle,the con1bination,with a running-gear frame, of a series of trussbars connected to said frame at the rear end thereof; acasing yieldinglysuspend by said truss-bars; a motor carried by the casing and means connecting said motor with the driving-axle.

7. In a motor-vehicle,the combination,with a driving-axle, of a series of triagonally-disposed curved truss-bars constituting a frame; a motive-)duid generator carried by the body of the vehicle; a casing suspended between the truss-bars; a motor carried by the casing; and gearing connecting said motor with said driving-axle.

8. In a motor-vehicle,the combination,with a running-gear frame, of a series of curved truss-bars; bearings carried by said trussbars; a sectional driving-axle jonrnaled in said bearings; a casing having perforated lugs; rods projecting from the truss-bars and passing through said lugs; springs upon which the lugs are sustained; a motor carried by the casing; and means for connecting said motor with the driving-axle.

9. In a motor-vehicle,the combination,with the body thereof, of a motive-fluid generator supported by said body; a running gear frame; triagonally-disposed truss-bars constituting a part of said frame; a motor snspended between said truss-bars; and connections between said motor and the motive-fluid generator. V

10. In a motor-Vehicle, the combination, with the running-gear frame thereof, of a series of curved truss-bars located at the rear of said running-gear frame; a driving-axle composed of yielding sections journaled in bearings with which said truss-bars are connected; a casing having perforated lugs; rods projecting from two of the truss-bars and inserted through said lugs; springs supported by said rods above and below the lugs; and means connecting said motor with the driving-axle.

11. In a motor-vehicle, the combination, with the body thereof, of a running gear frame; a steering-axle and its wheels; steering mechanism; a series of curved truss-bars triagonally disposed at the rear of said frame; bearings at the ends of said bars; a sectional driving-axle journaled in said bearings and carrying the driving-wheels; a motor yieldingly suspended between the truss-bars; and gearing connecting said motor with the driving-axle.

12. In a motor-Vehicle, the combination, with the body thereof, of a running-gear frame; a series of curved truss-bars connected to the rear end of said frame; a driving-axle journaled in bearings connected to said trussbars; a casing yieldingly supported between the truss-bars; gearing carried by the casing; and means connecting said gearing with the driving-axle.

I3. In a motor-vehicle, the combination, with a driving-axle, of a series of triagonallydisposed tru ss-bars; tie-rods or tubes connecting the top and bottom truss-bars; tie-rods or tubes uniting the bottom truss-bars; aframe suspended between the truss-bars; and a m0- tor carried by said frame and connected with the drivin g-axle.

DANIEL T. CLARK. Witnesses:

JOHN W. FRANCISCO, E. H. BOHM.

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