US1290007A - Joseph c - Google Patents

Description

ED TE OFFICE- osnrn c. zuuwntr, or oLarqnn'rnn nsnnnsxa.

arracnrmm F R EIHGLES.

To all may concern "Be it knovvn that I, Josnrn C. ZUMWALT,

a,.nitizen of the United States, residing at I motor ears.

7 Theprimary object of the invention vis to produce a means for causing-the automobile or other vehicle to hold a straight course without the assistance of the driver.

-A still further object of the invention is to generally improve upon devices of this character by the provision of an extremely simple, strong,.durable and inexpensive construction, and one which will be very .eflicient and reliable in operation, and well adapted to the purposeifor which "it is designed.

\Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain fdetailsbf construction and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the application, andin which similar reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a top plan view;

Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical transverse sec tiogs on the lines 2-2 and 33 of Fig. 1; an

Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal setion on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly tothe drawings, the numeral 1 designates, as a whole, an anchor member which comprises a substantially flat rectangular base plate 2 having openings in its four corners. This plate 2 1s secured in place by U-bolts 3. whose threaded ends 4 extend through the openings in the corners of said plate and are provided with clamping nuts 5. By-this construction the two portions of the clamp 1 are adjustably connected with each other in order that. they may be brought into ef- Spec fication ,0: uneasin s 'e ucanonapa February 1a, 1911. Berta-11o. 149.590.

' Pa entes De -31,19,1 3-

fective engagement with the axles of automobiles or other vehiclesof difi'erent sizes.

Formed integrally with the upper face of the plate 2 is an upstanding lugfi, having an openingfi" which receives the 'front end of a longitudinal spring 8, said spring being secured insaid opening by a set screw 7 The spring 8 ispreforably in the form of a straight coiled spring,-the adjacent convolutions of which contact with' each other to form a substantially cylindrical body.

The diameter of the spring 8 is substantially etplial to the diameter of the openingfi, and

w en'its :front'end is disposed in 'the latter it fits eomparativelysnuglyto assist'the set screw 7: in firmly anchoring it therein.

The relFerenee numeralEQ designates a second clamp, one of the portions of which is composed 'of a plate 1 0 having a boss 11 on one side thereof; The outer side of the boss 11 is of concave configuration and is provided with a plurality of ridges or corrugations 12 which extend longitudinally with respect to the plate 110. On the oppositesides of the boss "11 and extending throu 'fthe plate 10 are suitable openings through whiche-xtend the opposite ends of the U-bolt"' l3,:the latter cohst tu'ting-"the other portion of the clam ,9 and having its externally threaded en s" provided with clamping nuts 14.

One end of the plate 10 is provided with a ring-shaped guide member or eye 15, the latter being substantially circular in cross section and being adapted to loosely or slidably receive the other end of the spring 8.

In using a device constructed as above described, the clamp 1 is applied to the front axle A of a vehicle such as an automobile or the like, -the spring 8 projecting rearwardly toward the steering knuckle connecting rod B, that is, the rod connectin the steering knuckles C of the front wheels. The clamp 9 is applied to the steering rod B at such a position'that the spring 8 will extend through the eye 15 without being bent when the wheels of the automobile are positioned so that the car will run straight ahead.

Whenever the steering rod B is shifted toward the right or left by the driver of the car, the eye 15-or guide will likewise be shifted, thus causing the spring 8 to be bent into substantially S-shape and put under tension, so that when the car has made the i 05, of patent be obtained for ave cents each, hyaddreulng the "Commissioner of hteatg,

walhington, I). Q." y

turn or after pressure is released from the, wheel thereof, thesteering rod B will be and will-prevent the steering rod from accidental shifting, should the driver take his hand from the steering'wheel. It is of comparatively simple construction, and ismade l adjustable so that it can be connected readi'ly 'to various types of -cars. f Erom the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawr' mgs, the construction, use and operation of the invention will bereadily understood. i

As numerous changes in form, propor tlon, and n' thBI'DIIIOI details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of this invention, 3 18 to be without breakage.

understood that I do not wish to be limited to the construction herein shown and describedother than as claimed.

1 claim opposite said anchor member, and a longiuseful, as it tudinally disposed coiled; spring secured rigidly at one end to said anchormember and having its other end received in said eye, the convolutions of said spring being adapted to spread to permit abrupt bending without breakage.

2. A steering attachment for automobiles comprising an anchor member and means for securln it to the front axle, a gulde eye and means or securing the same to the steering knuckle connecting rod, and a coiled spring rigidly secured at one end to saidv anchor member, the other endof said spring being receivable in said eye; the convolutions of said spring being adapted to spread to permit abrupt bending without breakage. 3. r A steering attachment for automobiles I comprising a base plate, meansfonclamping it to the front axle, said late having an 1ntegral vertically extend i having one end positioned theopening'of ,saidlug, a set screw threaded throu h said lug, provided i with an opening, a straig tcoiled spring, 1 i

lug for securing said springulin p ace, a

guide eye in w oh the other; end of the spring is received, and means for securing said eye to the steering knuckle connecting red, the convolutions of said sprin being i adapted to spread to permit abrupt In testimony whereof I. have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing v a v I witnesses. I r 1. In combination with the front axle and a the steering knuckle connecting rod of an F automobile; "an anchor member secured to 5 said axle, a guide v eye secured to said rod SAMUEL, D. Boar, E. A. Bmz'rox.

nding JOSEPH CJ-ZUMWALT,

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