GB714921A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for providing instruction in the driving of road vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

714,921. Training drivers. LAMBERT, E. March 4, 1952 [March 5, 1951], No. 5214/51. Class 79(3) [Also in Groups VI and XXXVII] A machine for providing instruction in the art of controlling a road vehicle comprises hand or foot-operated control members similar to those in the vehicle, working models of propulsive mechanism representative of that found in the vehicle, a driven wheel associated with the models and representing a driven wheel of the vehicle, an endless web having thereon a representation of a roadway and moving at a speed proportional to the driven wheel and a marker suspended on the web from an arm traversed by movement of a steering wheel forming one of the control members, the arrangement being such that the pupil can see the effect of operating the controls. As shown the machine comprises a seat 11 opposite which are arranged the steering wheel 12, a gear lever 18, clutch brake and accelerator pedals, 19, 20, 21, a hand brake 22 and a dashboard 14. Mounted on the dashboard is a choke control 15, " ignition " key slot 16, " starter " pull switch 17 and oil pressure, speed and fuel gauges. Facing the seat 11 is a casing 23 on which is shown an illustration 24 of a motor vehicle, windows 25, 26, 55 being provided through which can be viewed the working models of the clutch, change-speed gear and back axle of the vehicle, and such models being arranged to drive the wheel 27. Above the illustration 24 is arranged a window 28 through which can be viewed the endless web 29 carrying the representaticn 29a of the roadway and a model 30 of a motor vehicle. Laterally of the window 28 are arranged imitation traffic lights 98 and a glass 85 marked " Choke ". The working models of the vehicle mechanism are adapted to be driven by an electric motor 32, the speed of which can be varied by means of a variable resistance 33 in series therewith and controlled by the accelerator pedal 21. The motor 32 drives a shaft 35 carrying the clutch 36, the movable plate of which is under the control of the pedal 19. The change speed gear is of the two speed sliding gear kind and the output shaft 46 carries a brake drum 86. the hand lever and pedal operating a brake shoe 87 to engage the drum. The shaft 46 drives a flywheel 56 which gives inertia assimilating the mass of the vehicle and whose shaft is connected to a spindle 57 to drive the endless web 29, the model 30 being laterally slidable over the web by the arm 31 under the control of the steering wheel 12. As shown in the circuit digram, Fig. 5, the motor 32 is supplied from batteries 68 through a main switch Sl and a micro-switch S2. The switch S2 and a further micro-switch S3, which is in series with a solenoid 75, are operated by a bar 69 under the control of the " ignition " key. Contacts 72, 73 in circuit with the switch S2 are adapted to be bridged by a conducting section 70 in bar 71 under the control of the "starter" switch 17; the bar 71 has a shoulder 71a adapted to be engaged by the spring urged armature 74 of the solenoid 75 when the switch 17 has been actuated. When it is desired to stop the motor 32 the " ignition " key is turned and removed thus actuating the switch S3 and hence the solenoid 75 which withdraws the armature 74 from the shoulder 71a, the bar 71 being then returned to the position shown in Fig. 5 by a spring 77. The solenoid 75 can alternatively be actuated by closing a switch S4 when an excessive torque occurs in the transmission of the models (i.e. when the brake 86, 87 is operative), thus assimilating an engine stall. The torque responsive member comprises two relatively rotatable parts 78 normally spring urged apart, excessive torque causing the parts to engage thus making contacts 80, 81 to operate the switch S4. The switch S5 is operable by the instructor and is arranged to produce a choke reminder system for the pupil. The switch S5 has two positions, 'hot' and ' cold ' and is arranged to return to the hot' position after a predetermined time. A two-way switch S6 having ' in ' and ' out' positions' forms the choke control 15. The system operates by the instructor telling the pupil that, for example, the car is cold and appropriately arranging the switch S5. If the pupil does not now pull out his switch S6, a lamp 84 behind the glass 85 flashes by its connection to the batteries 68 through an intermittent switch S7. After the predetermined time the switch S5 reverts to its hot' position and the lamp 84 flashes unless the switch S6 is not put to its ' in ' position. The machine may incorporate a reaction tester (see Group VI) operating on the' brake pedal 20. The invention may also be applied to a machine, Fig. 10 (not shown), for training motor-cycle drivers. the driver being sat astride a motor-cycle, the engine of which supplies power to the model transmission.