GB513741A - Improvements in and connected with the driving arrangements of motor road vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

513,741. Motor vehicles. DAIMLER-BENZ AKT.-GES. April 19, 1938, No. 11722. Convention date, April 20, 1937. '[Classes 79 (ii); 79 (iii) and 79 (iv)] In sports cars and other motor vehicles having a low set seat or seals between the engine and axle gearing carried by the vehicle frame, the propeller shaft is disposed laterally alongside the seat to leave the floor space in front of the seat clear. The engine and axle gearing may be mounted on the frame at the level of the seat whilst the seat may be at frame level and below the level of the wheel centres. The engine may be in its normal position and geared to the propeller shaft, or the engine and propeller shaft may be in line and obliquely disposed as shown. In the form shown, the drive is transmitted through bevel gearing g to a transversely arranged gearbox f rigidly or resiliently secured to the frame a behind the seat extending to the centre where the drive is transmitted. with or without a differential to jointed axle shafts h. The rear wheels may be carried by swinging half axles or, as shown, by a rigid axle k with a rearwardly extending arm or stay l pivoted to the rear end of the frame by a ball joint m, as described in Specification 457,147, the centre of the axle carrying shoes or rollers n engaging a guide flange extending upwardly from the gearbox. The front wheels are carried by parallel motion links y, the arrangement providing an axis of oscillation for the car which passes through a point on the ground level between the front wheels and through the rollers n, the car having a low centre of gravity located below the wheel centres and near to such axis. The gear drive consists of a changegear shaft driven by bevel wheels from the driving-shaft c, above which is located an intermediate shaft, both these shafts being below the wheel-axle shaft h and, if desired, located' forward or rearward thereof. The intermediate shaft drives the wheel shaft either directly or through a differential, the former arrangement allowing of more central distribution of the weight and the latter of more lateral disposition of the driving shaft. Cardan joints v are in each case provided on the wheel shaft. Specification 457,148 also is referred to.