GB191976A - Improvements in supporting and propelling means for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

191,976. Nilsson, F. A. Feb. 25, 1922. Propelling by means other than adhesion driving wheels and racks.-In vehicles supported and propelled by reciprocating legs the operating mechanism for each leg includes a variable gearing controlled by the leg itself for giving a relatively quick return or non-operative movement. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper ends of the legs 1 are guided vertically by linkwork 2 and each carries intermediately a roller 7 which is adapted to follow round an internal cam surface 8 fixed to the vehicle frame 50 so that the foot 17<1> follows the path 18 relatively to the vehicle frame, the lower part of this path being straight. Motion is imparted to the leg by a toothed pinion 4 rotating in bearings on the frame 50 and engaging the outside of a toothed cam 3 fixed to the leg. Both the pinion 4 and the toothed cam 3 are formed with smooth roller faces 5, 6 to prevent too deep engagement of the teeth. The speed of the driving pinion 4 is varied so as to give, during the complete movement of the leg, a period of slow movement and a period of rapid movement corresponding respectively to the forward and return parts of the movement. This is effected by driving the pinion 4 from the chain sprocket 9 through an epicyclic gear, the sprocket 9 being connected to the sun wheel 10, the planet wheels 11 being connected to the toothed pinion 4 and the internal gear casing 15 being moved alternately in opposite directions by means of a toothed sector 17 which engages a toothed wheel 16 on the casing 15 and is carried on one arm of a bell-crank lever 18, the other arm being oscillated by a link 19 connected to the leg 1. The extent of movement of the casing 15 may be varied by adjusting the point of connection between the link 19 and the bell-crank lever. In a modification of this feature, the pivot of the bell-crank lever is adjustable. In a modified construction of the apparatus, the cam and sector mechanism operates on a lever which is connected to an intermediate part of the leg. Separate teams of gear of different ratio operating alternately may be employed instead of the epicyclic gear. The legs may be employed in pairs with the feet 17<1> overlapping as shown in Fig. 2 to obtain a narrow rack.