[1]Patented June 9, 1931 1 8 0 8 , 7 6 6 UNITED @S@ 'T'A T E S PATENT @OF':FICE RAYX@OND bE FILIPPIS. OF BROOKLYN, NL'W YORK VEHICLE Applicati_oii :61ed @a@uary 291.1930. Serial No. 424,157. This invention rolites to -v6hiclos aiid Nvhile it is d6sign@ed parti-eii'ltrl3T for develop%ir,eiit aloiig the !iT-i6s 6f m4@chlinical toys or toy vehi-cles, I wisli it to bi2@ Linderstood that th-5 scope of @the invention is @not to be iiiiiitecl ti,nnecoss.irL,-Y to toys@, for certain f6attires of the improven-ieiit are capable of emp'Loy-ient iii: other t-@pes@ of vehicles. to provide a, vel-iielo having in -iprov6d means for' re ati-ve movemeiit of the ivheels.in riding over a rough ro-a,dway, so that all the wheels wi',l cont,,Lct th-, roadway, ai-id al,@@'o to shift the ceiiter of gravity of tl-ie vehicie @in r)5 na,,tkiiig ,t turn so, as t6 stabilize the same' -@Vith the 'Loi-egoing and other objects in view th@e inventi-On consist I s @i i the @rrangei@mop.g the -objeel-s of tlie, in@ i,ention is to i-nei-it and conibinttioii of Darts hereinafter delo provicle a vehicle @vith iiiaproved meaiis @ii- sci,ibed and clail).-.ied, aiid'while the inveiition to cludip.g automatic Leeri@ii-c, gear so @devised is -Tiot restrietecl to the extet det,,iils of@ c6n,ind constrtictecl as to pt,oclitee t stru ion disclosed or siio,@-ested herein, still a varic y o:c et results ts to direction of mo-veinent or be- ior the purpose of ill,-istrL-ting a practical einliavior of the vehicle' accorclin to ,t co-nsid- bodin-ient thereof referen'ce is had to @ the 9 1,5 ercible r'ange or v,,trietv of -,tdiLis@un-ients, the accomp.anvin-- etrav@,ing@ in whiel-i iiiw Tefel@- 6r) -vehigle be'lil,g xd,,tpted to operated by ence chara&ters desio-nate the s@iiye Parts in any Silitable species of power. the several vieivs, lincl in Nvhicl-i--LAn6ther object of tlfe iniention is to im- Figure I is a side elevation of a preferred I)ro-ve the %Xle@ aiid chass'is cdii'@str-Liction so ei-abodili'lent of the iiive,@'itioii as -'Pplied to 20 as to. .@l@iefease the re'lia;bility of the tradtive the vehicle chassis and trftetion with 70 e:ffect of- power vehicles',, :i@ us: to in- parts ii@i, section on tlib lin'e of Fi@n, 2. erelIL'se, the cILirabili,ty of the i achine, Itnd Fio, 2 is a bott6m plii-i &T@ tbe con-, the comfort-incicieiit to the-riclin!@y, in or Lil@)QP struction' of rA i@. I, fl@ii li-hes indi@atiqg, one slich machine@ i3articLilEt@rly riclinu over a @idjusl@-inent @ of the steering iiiecliarlism, for@ @5 Irouglit ro-,tdway.. straight 1-i-iovement, a@n . cl.:bro@-e.Ti liiie indicat- 75 More speciiica;ll@y,@ o-ne, of the o4jeQt@8 @of iiig change o,f positi-on@ of tl-ie steelip o- m--6hsni - v@hile t inae the invention is tq i:)r6vide @an a u-toma,tica,lly 11 Iiine is i'lla,kiho- a ri@ht front tii t Lirn. steer--d vehicle hai, cl rear a@cles, a pair of iylieels on 6ach A-nd im,proved Fi o, 3' is A rear @elev7atioii of f@he i,ihproved 30 connections bet.'ween ;he a:xles and the chl'issis rear axl,e con@-iecti6n ine@ha;i@ism on an@ en- 8(l th-.it ivill idsure n(it only the@ desired r6t,,ttive largecl. 8cale.11 fl,c,.xibility @of the ii!op@-.t a:ile but' o@lso th6 ca- IA'ig@: 4 is a- side ele-vatio-,i@ 6f @ the @s@Lme ith I w pability of rel',t,tii,e rbel-,i@no, ihov'emeht be- part,,s 'In section oii the line 4----@4 of Fio,, 3.@ t-@veen the- front 6r re@a;r axle ft-nd the e'liassis Fi-g. 5 is ,t fragmeiitary view 6,f @ a iiiodifie'a95 a,16n :,iiii axi-, I s . LibstqntiilIV D,)rallel, to tl-iie tion of the inveiitio 85 9 I.i.i!6 of .noveiiient of the vo@icle. Fi g 6 is ,t frag'm,2ntar.v: view i-n side eleOther obj'e6ts ai-e to @proV]'.cle a de-Vice, of vation of d m6dification of the iiiventi6n. the n@,',tir6 @et forth, in whiel-i the@ stoerin Fig. @ is a I)ottom la vieiv thereo,f. 9 p -v@,heels, the steerin(,y c@ftis, ancl the means co- Fila. .8 is a -'rapiiientary top pl%n view of 40 orclinatii-ig. the same, have an im@ i)rovecl i@ela- -,t Oetail of tlie in -v6nt4ioli. 40 tioti, 'L,teilit,,ttino- the inter-connectioil with Fi(y @9 is ,t iLr4L@ment,,try vio,@,7 iii levb:ti on tho diffepent c,@ibs ii-i a, simpl-ified m4nner; of a ii@oclifica'u-'Ion of the invention'. also to provide improved act-Liation for the Fio,4. 10 is a top @lan @yiew ti@'ereof. said olc)-ordingting meins Ref r'rin- ore sodeifictlly to the e g iiow m I 9 5 .t5 A ftirther ob"!,ect of the i-nvonti6n is to pro- clrawing ,@ I indicate as reDr6sentiitive of vid@'e for irfiproved positiv6 ad,jtistriaiblit of the J)ower operated iehi6le chassfs, a p@ir of side cep-ter pf gta'vity coincident ivith@tho,@ tLI.Tn- bars 10 between whicli e@Ktend a@ series o'f e'rbss v -iae be auto- a es or bracket z Ing of tho ehicle, ivhether the sai br ;s 11, 12 13 ' I 1, dnd 15. The nia,-ti,c oi,. otherwise. nuniber. of -the8e cross pieces i@ay be greoter the ontio is or'less and@the ar 'ge ent thereof di-Hor 1010 $till' a ftifthef obj,,@et of iii-V n rcin m eiit
[2]2 1,808,766 from that indicated in the d raw ings @vithout departing frolii the spirit of @he inve-ntioii. The front ,ixle 16 is jouinaled adjacent to the wheels in be,Lrin,gs 17 fixed to or colistituting parts of the bol,-,ter IS haviilg vei-tical center bearing at 19 throl-i-h a li:ing pin 20 with the bracliet 11. This beariiig 19 is so designed as to permit not only the usuil rotation ar6und th- @tx-i-s of the l@iiig pi.,i, but 10 also a C'ertain Iii-iaited timouiit of lfl@uei-al rockIng of the f rolit axle and bolst'er wit]--i respect to the chassis. Ext--ndiD.g f 0,,- Wtrd I-rom the .,bolster IS @ind constitliting in eltec'u 8, ri 'd 91 part,thereof is an arr@i!-)@l 1-iaving a forward-, ti b 0 d and.e f6r co-operation ve holes a, , I I with a pin 38 carried by a steering lever 39 whose fornvard end ctrries a pivot 40 operating in the slot 22, while th@ rear end of the lever has a, pin 41 co-operatiiio,, with any se- 70 lectecl "'roove Tormed in the surf ace of the, disk 37. The connection of the front end of the lever 39 with the frodt axle struct-Lire is permanent althoulyh the pin 40 is dapted to a glid-e f orward and rearward alon- tlle slot 75 22 during @adilistment and operation of the machine. The pin 41 at the rear el'id of the lever, however, may be withdr@,wn freely from any groove in which it may be located and - nt n tid pl Like ise, th ly directed.slot 22, the c er li e of s, acod in any other groov@. w e 80 slot being perpehdicular to tl-ie center line. pin 38 at the same time may be placed in of the a,xle 16, but indicgted as being below . any one of the bearing holes a: to e inclusive. the horizonfal plane of the axle. The rear axle 23 is journaled in bearings "O 24 adj,,icent to tl-ie wheels aiicl constituting a part of the rear bolster 25. Whereas the us]Lial arrangement is for a rear axle to be igidly fixed to t -ie rear portion more or less r' -e the bolster 25 of@ the chassis ' in this instgn, 25 is fr@e at i.ts end-. froin the chassis ancl.is connected by center supporti iig means i ncluding a short stiirdy shaft 26 mouiited up6n the brackets 15 -and in -, I)Iane pargllel to and midway betiveei-i the relcir wheels. The shaft 30 9,6 is clamped to the br,,tckets 15 and has journalecl between the brickets a sleeve or beering 27 constituting a. part of the bolster strticture. @A f6rwardly alid do Weiv ,ardl-@ ldro35 )ecting bearing arm 28 is aiiother part of th6 same structutre. Any suitable ineans may be providecl for thib application of power to the,. traction, wheels of the vehicle. As sl-iown herein the rear wheels @ 6nly are propelling wlieels and 40 a pair of. miter gears@ 29, connect th6.reir txle 23 -%vith the drivii@g shtft 30, the latter being jo ri-i,,iled in the, bearing 28 @,t the rear end and in the bracl@et 14 at the f orward end. A -cciinter sliaft 9,1 is j o-Lirnal--d in the bracl@:- 45 et 13, and a pair 6f spur gears 32 fixed to the shafts 30 @ al'id 31 transmit power froni one to the other. The shaft 31 is shown herein ts being driven by mea-.i.,3 of a, gear 33 fixecl t6 -the forward end 6f the c6unter shaft tnd meshincy witli a, crown aear 34 adat)ted to be actuat@-d b-v n-ieans of a spii-,,tl spridz 35 or its eqLiivalent, tl-ie power in which is @to--ed by rotation of a IKey or cra-nk shaft 36 in any well ktiown mahner. A ste,-rin(@ disk 37 is ountpld below the gearing ve described m a 0 and. coaxial of the crown gearinly. 'Suitable pawl and ratchet ineclianis-rn is - @rovicled for connecting the disk 37 operatively with @the spring mechanism so that the disk 37 Nvill Go rotate in uni-son with the er4Dwn gear -Liiicler the influence of the sprin- and synchro-.ioiisly with the ,tetuation of the gearing betnveen the crown gear and the drivinz mechanism. The bot,tom portion 12a @f the bracket 12 @is flat and provided with a series of selecA '@p . @ @ _., ring 42 connected to the lever 39 a-nd engagi@ng over the upper surface 6f the ;flat portion 12a of the bracket 12 is effective to 85 hold the pins 38 and 41 acecrding t6 the adjustl'l'lent desired. -wii provided with series The disk 37 is sho a of four 6r five grooves all Of which are grouped around tlie center or@ axis of the 90 drivinc@ mechanism. These orooves are int-I dic,,ited @ at 43, -44, 45, and 46, and all of them are of coiiipolind curvature or in the nature bf cams except the last mentioiied but this one is pre,-vided with an off-shoot 417, mak-,95 in(y in effect two grooves instead@of one adjacent to lbhe periphery of the disk. , The '@roove 46@ consideied I' a one, is concentric and eireular, while all @ the ot-hers are eccentric and a6t as cams for at least a portion of the rotation of the, disk. The groove 43 c-omprises two parts, aii inner con'centric portion 43a of, short radius,. nnd an outer. cone@ntric -port-ion, 43b (@f longe@ radius. These two arcs 43a and 43b@ are conn6eted by cam grooves so,as to r@a,,tke one@continuous roove 43. With the front wheels 9 and axle in norma.1 straight-away position and the pin 38 adjusted in the bea,ring hole a 110 and with the pin 41 adjusted in the g@oove 43' the driviiig meehaiiism being in ()perat.io@ and the disk caused there,by to be rot@ct6d, the vehicle will be inoved straight: forward diirino, the period corresp6ndino, to@ the tin'le for half rotation of 'the, 4isIc. 'ih@ pin -41 will then enter one of the cam' poftions of the groove 43 and the lev,ei-- 39 will b6 swllng Outward from the center of tile aisIK:, pivotin@,Y a,-olind the axis of the pin 38 and ca,usliig a right turn of 120 the v6hicle,, a condition cotrespondilig to that showii in broken lines- in Fiu. 2. This ri6,ht t,uri@ will codti-n-iie while tbe- machine a hllf eircl6 oii tl-i@, floor or roadway by which time th- pin 41 will have returnecl; to the portion 43a: of: the'125 (,@oove, the result beina that'the riiachine ;Till then malce a return strgiaht moveni for a period of t-ime correspondin@ to th6 -Lirn of the disk 37@ wlien it ivill a,g half t ain @130 mali:e a half eir@ele tlirn to the right. The 'ad-
[3]mpppr justm@ent of the, lev-er' 39, w@ith, the pin 38 in thesecond@holeb,aiidthepin;4-lintho_ o,,e I Ire or 44 will: produce a, continuous fig 't fi@gure@ equivalent t6i twoe eireles@ - externalf'@y tangent ' to each other. To procl-Lice this@ result the disk will@ be so @ posifioll6cl ti-tat witii the fi@@ont axle in the positl':on shown, in ftill lines in Fig. 2-, the pin: 4-1 will@ occupy',t pos-'t.tion substtntially at the,point 44a, Rotatioii of tbe@ disk.will ca.Lise t,he pin 4-1 to,approach t,he center of the disk and so cause the whee":'s to niake a swinoing movemen'u correc;po-Tic@iing to a., left@turn@ 6f- the, vehiel6@ Thi-s @turnvement will be con@pleted;,,tt aibout the 'ng mo' it) time the@pin r-oaches the point 44b anclf will be: contintiod untili the.point 44c is P,@ached@ at wli:ich tinie,, the pin 41 will bb Tftovabl@6. O"ft.l ward-I f@om@the ax-is of the disk and compli?,I-,ing one of the tivo eircles at about the point 20 44d,. it being. understo'od@ that@ tlle: sta@rtin(y point of tlie floure w'll,'oe at:the poiiyt of @tan@ gi@ney of, the tw-o@@ circles or where ttie two corapouncl' curves ofoss. eqi,,h@ otlier. By thi-time the wheels are ";traight again tnd reailv 23 to bo given: ai right ttirn -while the pin@ 41 pt@sses oiiward@ ove@r-'L,,he crest of th-e,@ caiii, alicl into the concentric portioni 44e iof the@ groove 44 where it will @ reniain until tlie, seconc[ cii-clo wil-l@ be' dese,!,ibed,b)7the,,MachlT-ie qn,- l tii@n i3o reti-irn(,d again to its'orig-l-nal staiting point 44a@ Iiwillthusbetapparentthatwhiiet-he two;arc-@or,portions of the o-_-roove 44-tl-i,%t ar-c h.. e,,tth (!oiicontric iv@ith , disk are% cli:ffereiit ipex.@tenti they are, practimii@v ec, Llivale-Lit as to I @ -5 angular ovemenf of t-he4 disli@ so: thit their m tifties n,,re equal and the resliltin@ fi,-ure wil-I ,be a perfect 8 or,two equal tang@ent cireles. Likewise t-he aclj_ustment of the levv@r 39 so as to brino, the pin! 38 in the, th'Ird'@ ho,@ea@,@i-q tn 40 the pin 41 in the groove 45, a@,condition w@ill obtain acdordino@ to, the showing in full@l lines ilir Fig. 2-, and with, the vebiclo,- wla;ki-ng a straig.ht-forwa,rdmovement. TI-iegr6ovez@15 includes an inner citcula-,r -part 45a, ancl@ an. other- o-Liter eireiilar part concentiic thopp-with. The transitiori, @ howovep, f@r6iii@ one p,,irt to the next is through a; calial@ c6nneeLion, hence, W:Lth the@ r-ot@ation@ of the disk, the, Ve.7 hicle will, make a hal.f tiirn a@ter..tbe,, pinf 41 passesiout of- the gtoove 45a in.wliieh it is@at present located the, turniiig of the vehielb takiii place while the pin 41 operates! along 9 the' ol!ter portion or the- gLibst,,vntia:l eqtiivvl@nt -of one qutrter f the@ disk. @A-@. the enet of @this groove@ o-Liter gro vo, th@ -pini wilil be 0 .draw@n inward toward- the center of, the: disIK and, iinto @the -roove@45a @andi the machine-wi@ll make@ a-notlier stralight,@run duriii@4 the period Of time corresponding to one quai!ter rotation@ of the disk and so@ on. The@ grooves 13 and 45 are similar in this that; each;, of @tlieni prod'ac,eg a; cer@t,,tin@ -,tr,%llght-a-w-ay@ and; t@hen t hivlf turn, of,the vehicle and then again, a st:tai,ght-awqy, but the -roov6 45 prodtic6s @ttirns. on ed. twice ag many asthe e:fira,describ The dire6tions for 't-hel operation@ 6f tills nachine or toy contempl@te:,t@hat in the aclo justment f the steei.-ing,lplver with respe et to the fulcrum braeket 12 andi disk 37 tl-iel fi-ont ,txle@ sh,,vll be app@oximately i 11 o shown: in; full lines; in Fi,)- ;2.1 y with the adjustment ve of i-,'e le, 7 38@ in the foiirth hole d, @ an @p i 4,1 e gi-oove 47,@ the wheels@ ma.y for straight-@ away, but imtnedi.ately after the niachine sta;rts. to iiiove the pin 41@ will eiiter the,, eircu@ lar tnd@ continiious _aroove @46's'o that the@;lua;'chine will make a; constant unif or.In eirc-l'o. In e:ffect while the machine is oi)eratin 'the 9 pin 38 has: a fixed position while the@ in 41 io p in most instances 1 mova@le inw,,ird or outwtrd with respee.t tot,,he@ axis of the disk. Also the frcnt a.-xle is caused to s-wing alrouncl its v@ert-ical@ axis d-Lirin.- the sw,in(rino, I movet5 ments of 't-he lever 39. Thetefore it is essen- st,@ t ial that the slbt 22 be provided@ to accon-Anodat6@ the @ more or less forward and rearward movement@ of. the pin 4'0,, su6h movements howe*e@, being secondary t the I'ateral 0 swingi.n(y mo@vement for., the t-Lirninor @f th front @ axle for, steering purposes-. To automqtically rettirn ihe@ f@roht steerinig - ,v@heels to: gtra@ibht-away positioli a teiftsion spring iii-a,:mw,@be provided, the, purp6se of einwhich will be'particularly indicated her ' )i) a,@fter in connection witl@@ the i@aodific-,tti,-oli shown in Fig . 6@t,o-81in whicli it has a. special advanta ge. In the operatio-Ti of poiver cl@,ri-ven or trac@ - tion@ vehicles, it is essential that both of@ the ioo driving: wheels be maintained iii friet@ional contact With the, brali:e@.or roadway a,t @,1,1 tiiiies@ so as to prevent the spinnin- of ei@tlier wheel when. runniiig idly, oi-it@ of contact with ,i rt i oi5 tl-ie traek ol-- roadii,,,ty. A-.Iso@ for the,con-i'o of th! e - riders, in t,,I-ie@ veh@icre' 'or safety 6f t@he vehicle' itself@ or lo,,td car,-ied@ thereby iit is importan t@ th@Lt @the driv,ing iix1e.'shall@ be fr-ee to til-t l@terdly@ with respect to t.!-i6 bocl.,y of the@vehicle aiici ar . ound a I n@ axis -parallel @ to I o 'he. line, of@ @moveiyent. @Tor this enc-I l@ i-noiint the rear@ axl'e 23 and@ bolster 25 -,is @describecl abov..e -Li,,:)on th6 -axle 6r @shaft 26 which -b--rmits the rear I axle t6 tilt as,.just specified'alnci without clisturbing mate'riali. the no)ri-@ial i i;3 y position, or act@ioti@ 6f' the vehicle body oiframe an@t@ als6 wit-l-ioiit cT--st,-Lirbino,.- essentivlly the driviiig@ nieclianism which is aTi@,iiige@ci in, the sa;iiae vertical@ for@e tnd @ft plare as the axle,and sha-'u olitn, in 1,20 A2' 26. Th6 me hanisrq ch Figs@ 3 a-,id 4 is a,, car!-yin,- forwarot of the same i-del and illugtr,,tte,d as a@p.l,:)Iilca@Ol@; to praceical passei@gei- or trLialK@ co..qstruct@-",o S In@ these fio-,u es ti-le rear ftxle 23@t is provided; with a housinu 9,3b for,the diff@rontial rie-,h- I -,5 anism not E@hoivn aiid wil@-h@@ which coi inects the fore@a,.qd :.ITt, cl@ivino- sha;ft' 30(t. ASI%Oc@,ated with the axle and- h6using, is a, bols ,,ter 25a shown, as split or divided and embra 'ng th e housi@nu 23b @on.@opT)o@ite@ sides@ ai@d@ colli-
[4]1,808,766 nected therewith thro-Ligh anti-frictioii b6arinoIS25b. Asshowiltheentireconnectionbet ween the bolster@@and the axle structure is alono, a line coincidep-t with the axis of the shaf@ 30a and inidway between tl-ie pai-alle-1 to the planes of the ivheels. it follows therewheels ar e coindonvn arou-Tid tiie dssurin- that the in friet@on-,ti contact with the roadway at ,ill times anct will. relieve the veh@.cle body from a'great cleal of the effect of i,o-L,,gh or uneven roacls. To a:fford the n-iaxin-ium st:ibility to. the vehicle in iiaaking -a t Lirn, the center of ur@vn ity of the same i-s shil-ted ii-I any siiitable manr iia,@ually oper ne atitoiiiatically, or by r atecl mechanism. This result obt,,tins r,e(yardless of the clirecti n of'the tlirn. I T 0 -t may @tlso be made to vary with the sharpiiess of the turii. In causing the shift-Lng of the center of gravitv, the means. h-'reinbefore described where@y all ti-i-e wheels of the vehicle mi,y remaii-i constantly@ Oil t]@-e roadway despite ,:5 aiiy@uneienness on the surface thereof,@o ary r equivalent means, ina-y be utilized and coni@ bined with tiiiy suitable part of the steering inechanisni. for autoinaticall chaiigi-iag the y lcenter of @r,,tNTity, Wliile It-he moveme-a-t of f@( the wheels, as, I!or example, those of tl-ie a3ile may res@ond to the, nature of th-,- r6,tiway .in straight-away driving t in the 'c-Lirning ) ypof the vehicle, such inoveli'lent becomes positive and predeterinined. :35 One embodiment of.thes-el:fettures of the invention may inclu,de a, bar' 50 pivotally connected at 51 with the froiit ste6rino@ exle 16 of the vehi'cle. This bar i-nay be offse't at 52 to clear cerl.-ain@I)ortion@, and has pivotally coneio nec-ted thereto at.153 a, inember 54 wliich is I-lidgbly ii@ounted- for reciprocating D@ovement in a oiiide 55. @ The inembl@ 54 actuates I zn c -n 56. @ The eam I operate w s a al s bet een @ roller @Ll 58 catried on a bracl@et 59 that is rioidly sej cured to the member 25. The caiii 56 has a centra,l:narrollv or rece@sed por@lion 60, froiii lyhich the larger can-i portioiis 61, 62 extend svmi-netrically iipward and downw,@ird at an ,Lngle to the axle 23. LI 0 The operati , on of the devioe will now: be c@learly appar--nt. @ Wh6n'the vehicle is drivin@ straioht ahead the@ c6ntral cain portion 60 l@s bet -ween @the @rollers . 59, but O-Lit of con,tact there-witl-i. This permits the rear -axle 55 23 io 6scillate about its horizontal axis to i.esp6ncl to irregularities in the siirface of 'uhe ro@id. When the @,ehicle turns the can'l @ 56 is moved in@a corresponcling dire&@,-Lon br'iDO"i:n@ one of the can-i portiot-is -61 or 62 into p I)i eno-agement wlith the rollers and 6 itively itiovino- the I rear ,txle abolit its hori@6ntal axis to shift the center of grvyity for stabiliZ7 i:@g the vehicle duiing the turn. in Fig. 5 is shown a modificat;.On of the ,0iniention in which the said cam 66@@is dire6tly co-ordinated with the automat.i6 steerin@y means 37. This may be accoinplished by, the prov@sion 6f a men-iber that may coactwith any of the steeriiig grooves, to operate the@ cam 56 in entire uniformity therewith. I For 70 example, the pin 41 may have @ c'on,-iected thereto a movable, part @uch as a bell 6rank lever 63 *hich is mo@inted on a@ Iixed piirot 64. Conlie--ted to the bell craiilk: 16ver. is a, bar 52a, analo-ous t6 the bar 52., To permit adjustmer-t in.length of the bar@ 52a, the latter milty have coactino, means such as the slot connection 65, with a @ thliinb screw 66, fo@ easy adjustment. In operation, the inember:39 which is pivso oted at 38 oso,illttes the bell cranli: lever@ and hence the @56 the I-,Ltter the bar 52a, and cam dui-ing the turnino, of the- vehicle., When the pi-n 41 1 s chanue(ffrom one steering groove 'to another, tb7e len-th of th@ ;bar 52a is change(i by the adjustable connection 65. The latter may tali:e@-various possible forms for ,tutoinatic or inanual, adjustment as shown.: In F igs 6 to 8 is shown a, ilaodificatioii in, 00 which the steerin,- mecharlism is adju ed C, St -'Lron-i the top of the vehicle by a handla 70 to coact witl-i any one of the@ cams 71 72, 73 or 74. The vehicle ;is generally coiistructed aloiig the same prihc.iples as that hereinbefore 9 -described,, and the fraine 75 thereof carries a vertical pivot 76 for mounting an axle 717 'Lor the front wheels 78. A spring 79 mountecl in any suitable manner tends to:@retain 'the -axle 77 in normal@ straight away driv.ing 100 position. The cams 71 to 74 inay be mounted in any suitable maiiiier and may coact with the front axle 77 by a connection such as 50 hereinbefore described. for operdting the rear axle abo-Lit a horizontal pivoi.- . To steer the -105 front wheels, a, lever means SO.acts.between a bracket 81 6f@the axle 77 and any one of the e ever 80 has a pin -82 cams 71 to 74. Th 1 selectively following th6 cam. grooves and also a pin 83 slidingly engagect in a slot 84 110 of the bracket 81. The.pivot 85 of the,le-@er is provided by ,t vertical element 86 extendin- to the top of the vehicle. G.uiding e th element. 86 are@ horizontal meiiabers 87, 88 at the bottora and@top of the'vehicle resp ectively. 115 These men-ibers have areliate slots 89 and@ 9.0- -which coincide with eaeh @;other. The slot 89 is narrow to receive iin undercut p6rtion 91 of;the element 86 and has spaced@-holes@92 to receive the eleinent, in. a, manner h 6rein- 1?0 after described. - At the upper portion of said elemeiit- is a compression: spring 93 acting on a shoulder 94 to tend to eleiate said element.,@ The latter has at its@lo e d a 'h acl w, r en e 95 carrying the, lever -80@ th6 same@ lyi ng @125 agaiiist the member 87. To stop the cams:at a predetermined angu@ lar position; a suitable brake 96 i@ pivotally mounted at 97 to engage a stop I-Lig 98 on the means carryi the c S. iig am When:the brake i3o
[5]is move,d counter clook@vise in Fig.,71 the, drive mechanism is free to rotate, but when movecl into the position shown it stops the cains 7 and the vehicle halts. But thd.cams@always stop in the sain6 anglilar position,,a fe,,tture which is of importance,,as @will be slibseq-Liently expl-,tined. When the cams a,rl-l stopped by the bralKe.,th,-y,ai-e in.such relation to the steering means@that the,latter is alwo@yjs 10 in straioht a,-v@7ay driviiig position as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The co-ordination @between Ithe.cams, t@,he front wheels and the pivot 85 is such tl-iat the lever 80 may be moved into. engagement,with 1,5 any cam an . d the element 86 will:be in a, correspondinghole92. Thisisbeca-Lise@tl-iecams are stiitably related at their stopping position due to brake 96 and also becauseithe axle.@77 returns to -normal,position. 2( The brake 96 may be of any. suit,,tble type, and in the @form -shown, includes a head 96a having a notch 96b for receiving the stop;lug 98) to:e:ffect locking engagemen'u @therewith. The said head may.be carried by an arm 96c 2,5' which may be resilient to @permit release of the,lug from the head 96a. To permit the, toy vehicle to be readily stopped while in motion, element 96d extends upward into a position whereby,it@ may 3o be moved by a hdnd or foot of the operator, which may be disposea to@stril@,e or ablit said element. For this reason the,element 96d extends to, a suitable elelvation relative to @the body of the vehicle. -35 lif;the vehic-le-is.permitted@to run until the spring 35 unwinds and the vehicle stbps through lack of power the wheels 78 may be -,it. an angle to tlie, alined position. To avoid this reslilt, an automatic -4op is provided 40 which is constructed in any suitable@manner to stop the vehicle before the sprin.g.has fully -LinwoLind, and in stieli@ specific relation that the ste(@rin- wheels are in alined posifion with thevehict@' Thereforethe@cam.shifteanbe 45 operated as hereinbefore set forth in connecI 9, tion with the @brake 96 @ and: stop, u .98. -A gear tt.ain mav be u-sed'for the above purpose, b,Lit pref6rably I em]p,loy a fing@r 101@moLinted onanarm@102secure@dtothepin@97. Thesaid 50 fM be geri.sclisposedaijacent,t@o@thespri4gto act as th.--,spring ' ndsand uated @t]@ereby unwi r r(@ increases in diamete . -For the cep,tion of th' e, f@nger 101 the spring may be s]p@ced,Troin the circumferential wall @of its casing, the @55 outer e I nd of said.spring being.seeiired to the casing for example at 1 103. in' operation, when the -s ri g has uAp n, wotmd to @a sufficient @extent in drivino, @the @@60 vehicle, it contacts the, finger 101, whichturns the pin 97 aDd throws, the brake, 9,6 into,,en. . - -, ;@ - , , gaging positiQn, @ to @ abut the stop ljg 98. Any, suitable device @raay be:used ifor a@,suri4g a @,quick- - 1-ocking ,or unloc@king , of the @ bra,ke, with respect @tothe axis of the pin 97 u a:di@nd center.@ This device.may be readily n @qsed i @,tlie structure sho*n:in Fios 1 to 3@@the cams in the same bein a. Simiiarly related and tl movement of the pin 38 lbein@ -@an@l@(, Return 6f the axle 77 to the normal pqsitioii is catised by @t]@ie cl,msl.whille the - ,sp,riiigs 1-la and @79 a;fford an added asstiran6e, that s ch aetion will occur, thus rendering,the slii-fting . 7r) of the lever entirely relable. springs ma:y also retu@n the @steeriilg.ineans independently of the@ cams'lespecially as,the lever is disengaged tl-ietefroin Wlien shifting from, one cam to an6ther. 80 @In. operation, to, cliatige,the path o.f the hicle, the handle @O is depl@essed, bripging,O.l ip-to registry with slot @50. Then th h ' dTo e@ an is,iT)- oved laterally according@to@suitable,Mf%r-ji:-@ ings.100 atthesfot9Oaiid.released. -,,T,4eiele- 85 ment 86 then engages in a proider hole,@92 and the pin 82 in the required cam. -roove, all under the actuttion of the s.pring.93 It will be uilderstood that the, stecring ea ms ma-y also be mounted at,,the @ippqr @@art -.of go the vehicle. and constructed @nevertheless @ac-. cord'Ing tto the.principle of the invention. In Figs.@'9 and 10 is shown..a MoAific-,iiion@ of the invention whidh@.embodies,,th.e.prinel95@ t is. arrange-n a-m I ent the c plate @106 ig positi6ned above the spring motor 107 and iolos I ely, adj acei@t to 100 the fram 108 6f tlievehicle. The spring@moe tor includes. a winding sh@ft @109 which@- 'm extend downward. Th-e cam plate is con-. iiected in @ alinement with @the 8prinz,motOr. A lever-ar'm 110 f6r.steeri,,io,the @f@ro:r@t wlieels los of the vehicle is provided"@with a,.pivot . in p iii alnci a follo-wet,pin-@1,12 for, select'v,@ely@,COaetino, with the cams of thle cam -plate.- -Se@ cure@,l@lto the @underside @of'the friime@ 1-08 -are a plurality oJr la,tes iOSa and,108b @th.e.@latt,@,,r 110 ha@ina.apluraityoflholes 13f or rec.eiving tho, ivo pin. The plate 108a.is-above,-,the plate iOSb, an as a slot 114,which.provicl@s a counters@nk f6r @the pi@vot -pin ill@ in moving th'e s@a m one@@hole il3@to@@a-fioih- 1-1-5 e@r pivot hole. ;@ S6cul-ed @toi flae, fr@m@. @@ plate -w 1-4g 108a is. a bar 1,15. , ith@,which a. leaf s@r' 116 attached to' the @ lever 110 @@LLa@ - abuttiiig, and slididg, coi@taet. An arin 11,@ is if a@ten.6@l @to t'lle saia leve@r,, whereby ;the , lever - in@v be l@20 a sed io l@ft,the.pivoi pin 1,1@lan r i d shla the tme, the -spring@116 yieldin6@ and,4thei@, ac'iuS. @n ating the lever do.@v.ii -to retaiii -,the,pivo't,pin in eiigagement - @ith@th@ required,hole 113. To' siop th6 -vehicle with.@the front. wh.eels @l-i@5 in alined p,6sition, a lug 118 is@ fornied,.on @'the h@@leiver@@li.9 a -vab ;cdtc cam plate@to abut mo le: )ivdtally m6-Linted @at 120 . andi JiaviLg a n4 -up w ard exteiicli,.ug -ac Liato lb 121. A,-finor , OL-r - .. I . @ t:@ @. er @-65 as, for example, a spring 104 @.which acts 1,22 is;mpve,,d,- by.-.the:s r@iiig@107,w4i@n.it,hAs 1-30 - P
