GB521280A - Improvements in vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

521,280. Motor vehicles. MACHRAY, G., and DAVEY, J. Nov. 11, 1938, No. 32831. [Classes 79 (iii) and 79 (v)] An electric or other motor vehicle is provided with a substantially vertical tiller 8 pivotably mounted at its lower end so as to move in a transverse plane for steering the vehicle, in a longitudinal plane to control the brake, and having a knob 16 or the like for controlling the power switch of the driving motor or engine. In the construction shown the steering wheels 3 swivel on posts 2 and are controlled by a cable 6 passing through guide tubes 8<SP>1</SP> or over pulleys to a quadrant 7 to which it is secured, the quadrant being oscillatable about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The quadrant is rocked to steer the vehicle by the lateral movement of a tiller 8 carried by the quadrant. The tiller is pivoted at 9 to the quadrant and backward and forward movement of the tiller about the pivot controls a brake on the driving wheel 12 through a link 10. The tiller can be locked in position with the brake applied by means of a pawl 19 pivoted at 24 and adapted to engage a segmental rack 29 on the quadrant 7. The pawl is released by pressing on a spring-loaded knob 16 in the tiller handle. When the tiller is in the brake-released position shown depression of the knob 16 rocks the pawl 19 until a lug 21 thereon operates the plunger 25 of a switch 26 and energises an electric motor 13 driving the wheel 12, when the knob is released the switch 26 is opened by a spring. A stop 28 on the rack 29 is engaged by the end 27 of the pawl 19 and prevents the tiller from being moved to apply the brake while the pawl is holding the motor switch closed. The stop 28 also prevents the pawl from being rocked to close the motor switch while the tiller is in a braking position. The pawl may be used to control an internal-combustion engine driving the vehicle instead of an electric motor.