GB503273A - Improvements in motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

503,273. Motor vehicles; driving-gearing ; engine turning-gear. FORD MOTOR CO., Ltd. Feb. 18, 1938, No. 5093. Convention date, May 13, 1937. [Classes 79 (ii), 79 (iii), and 79 (iv)] In a transmission system of the kind in which the engine 13 is at one side of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the flywheel 41 and change-speed gear 60 are at the other side and the differential gear 24 is central, the engine drives the clutch 48 through a crank-shaft extension shaft 42 passing freely with some clearance through a return transmission sleeve 52 mounted in bearings in the gear housing 18. Thus any small lack of alignment between the crank-shaft and the flywheel or clutch shaft is allowed for bv flexure of the extension shaft without affecting the transmission sleeve. The flywheel 41 forms part of the clutch and its hub 39 is splined on the extension shaft 42 and is mounted in bearings 40 in the housing 18. The driven member of the clutch is splined on a sleeve 47 which drives the transmission sleeve 52 through the change-speed gear, the usual direct drive being provided. The sleeve 52 drives the road wheels through spur gearing 55, 36, the differential gear.24, constant-velocity universal joints 34. and axle shafts 31. Roller bearings 53 are provided between the sleeves 47. 52. The engine casing 15 is fixed to a housing 16 secured to the housing 18, the three housings forming a block mounted on the chassis frame by three rubber pads at 22, 23. The axle shafts 31 are enclosed. in half-axle tubes 35 oscillating about the centres of the universal joints 34. The armature 45 of the starting motor and generator is fixed to and forms part of the flywheel 41, the field winding 46 being fixed to a stationary sleeve 38. Thus the weight of the starting motor assists in counterbalancing the engine at the other side of the vehicle.