No.

2,419, REISSUED DEC, 12, 1905,

E. CAN TONO,
ELECTRO MECHANICAL DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC TRACTION,
APPLICATION FILET MAYi, 1905,

S7

WITNESSES: VENTO
2-ee-?). A.424. 6.ucle '6a-zaa
//asy %e2./ &c. (3-
W2-ATTORNEY
 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
EUGENIO CANTONO, OF ROME, ITALY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE
ASSIGNMENTS, OF THIRTY-SIX FORTIETHS TO GIO WANNI MAZZACO
RATI, Two-FORTIETHS TO EDWARD DE RESZKE, AND TWO-FORTIETHS
TO PAUL M. HERZOG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.
ElectroMECHANICAL DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC TRACTION.
No. 12,419. Specification of Reissued Letters Patent. Reissued Dec. 12, too5.
Original No. 692,236, dated February 4, 1902, Application for reissue filed May 10, 1905, Serial No. 259,853,
To all, who, it toy concern: . tical shaft X’, having bearings in the casing.
Be it known that I, EUGENIo CANTONo, cap: C. To the shaft X is fixed a wheel F., by
tain of engineers in the Italian army, a subject which the mechanical steering power is trans 55
of the King of Italy, residing at Rome, in the mitted by a chain to a steering-wheel W., fixed
5 Kingdom of Italy, have invented certain im on the front axle. Springs R and S, sur
provements in Electromechanical Devices for rounding the shaft a' are interposed between
Electric Traction, (for which I have obtained the ends of the worm and copposite walls of
Letters Patent in the Kingdom of Italy, dated the casing C. In operating this mechanical
April 13, 1899, Reg. Att. Wol. 109, No. 55,) of steering mechanism the wheel a is turned in
O which the following is a clear and complete a left-handed direction if it is desired to turn
specification. the vehicle to the left. As the worm Q is
The present invention relates to improve slidably keyed on its shaft, the resistance
ments in electric-motor cars, and particularly offered through the wheel X results first in
the driving and steering devices thereof; and a longitudinal movement of said worm along
the invention embodies electromechanical its shaft to the right and the compression of .
switch devices which reduce the effort of steer spring S until the counter-action of the latter
ing on the part of the operator to a minimum is sufficient to overcome the resistance offered
in light motor-cars and in heavy ones greatly to the turning of the wheel X. If, on the to
facilitates it. other hand, the vehicle is to be turned to the
Orie object of the invention is to provide right, the wheel a will be turned in a right
means by which a vehicle may be steered by handed direction and the worm Q moved on
varying the excitation of the fields of two gitudinally on its shaft to the left, so as to
motors relatively to each other, said motors compress the spring R. The vehicle will 75
being geared independently to the driving therefore becaused to turn in the direction
25 wheels. - . in which the hand-wheel a is turned as soon
A further object of the invention is to com as either of the springs R and S, according to
bine the mechanical steering mechanism with the direction in which the worm Q moves,
the electric steering mechanism in such man reaches its limit of compression, so as to over
come the resistance offered through the wheel
ner that the latter shall be under the control X.
of the former, so as to render the steering It will thus be seen that a short interval
effort of the motors in perfect accord with of time elapses between the beginning of the
the mechanical action exercised by the driver turning of the wheel a and the beginning of
on the steering-wheel. . . . . the turning movement of the wheel X by the
The invention consists in the novel construc wheel (e. -
35 tion, arrangement, and combination of parts, The mechanical steering mechanism above
as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in described is utilized by me to control and to
the drawings, and pointed out in the appended automatically effect the desired variation of
claims. the intensities of the fields of the motors in 90
ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a general dia and ni. This variation may be utilized alone
grammatic view illustrating my invention. to effect the steering of the vehicle or in
Fig. 2 is a side. view, partly broken away, of combination with the mechanical means above
part of a vehicle, showing part of my inven described, in which case the manual effort to
tion combined therewith. Fig. 3 is a sectional steer exerted by the operator is reduced to a 95
plan view of the parts seen in Fig. 2. minimum in light vehicles and greatly facili
45 Referring to the drawings, the reference tated in heavy vehicles. This control of the
electrical steering is accomplished in the short
letters an and in designate two motors inde interval
pendently geared to the driving-wheels. of time between the turning of the
C designates a suitable box or casing, and handwheela and the turning of the wheel X,
follows: In the diagram of the circuits,
CO

mounted in bearings therein is a shaft a',

Fig. 1, A designates the battery; B, the re
5o adapted to be rotated by a hand-wheel a. versing-switch;
Slidably keyed to the shaft a' is a worm Q, steering; D, theC,, controller
the automatic switch for
to regulate the
which meshes with a wheel X, fixed to a ver-d
 isii) 2.
different speeds, and m, and n the electric mo field of the motors-that is, the polarity.
tors. The switch C is controlled by an arm
E, attached to the worm Q, which when the backward.thereof is reversed when the vehicle travels
latter is moved longitudinally on its shaft, as The switch Cisintended to operate the elec
above described, actuates the lever 2 of said tric control of the vehicle by means of the re
switch, said lever being pivoted at the point k. sistance
When the vehicle is traveling forward in a controllerZ.D and It acts in connection with the
works for the forward travel
straight line, the plates up and t of the switch as well as for the backward travel of the ve
O
C are electrically connected so as to insert a hicle and operates in the positions i , i. ill,
resistance Zhalf into the field of the motor on, oo, pp of the bridges MNOP of the con
and half into the field of the motor n. When troller D. Assuming that, the bridges M. N.
it is desired to steer in one direction or the OP
other, then the resistance of one of the mo h h and the of controller D stand in the position
the bridges G H I L of the switch B
tors must be thrown out of the field of that
5 motor and into the field of the other motor, in the position g g for the forward travel of
so that the total resistance Z must be wholly Ctheand vehicle, a lever pivoted at k in the switch
operated automatically is arranged so
in the field of one of the motors. It is also
necessary that the steering effort exerted by t,thatu, itorcan connect the plate w with the plate
ny. If now the plate to is connected
the motors shall correspond in direction with with
the mechanical effort exerted by the driver on tery the plate t, the negative pole of the bats
the mechanical steering mechanism. This cor bridge, with theconnected,
becomes by means of the
plate w, and the current coni
respondence is obtained, as will be hereinafter sequently passes to the plate t and to the cen
described, by the use of special connections
on the controller D, by which the different ter of the resistance Z at the point U. The
resistance is therefore inserted half in the
speeds are effected, and with a reversing field of the motor in and half in that of the
switch
speeds. . B, which is used
, for the backward motor . Forward motion in a straight line 90
"The bridges M N OP of the controller D,
which are connected mechanically with each
is thus obtained. c
Case 1. If now when the vehicle is travel
30 other, but insulated electrically, can take the ing forward it is desired to steer to the left, the
following positions: In the position ee the driver turns the hand-wheela in a left-handed 95
motors are excited and the brushes short-cir direction, causing the worm Q to move longi-, .
cuited, so that
..Inthere is a strongfifelectric brak 2tudinally to the right, thus moving the lever
ing action. the position the motors plate up with theCplate
35 are still excited and the brushes short-circuit
of the switch to electrically connect the
w, At such times the
armatures of the motors may be either in se ECO
ed with the resistance e for the motor m and ries or in parallel, according to the position
the resistanced for the motor n. The brak of
ing action is therefore weak. g g represent the brushes on the controller-drum, the
the starting-position of the car, the two motor effect of the excitation upon the fields of the
40 armatures being in series with the battery A. motors being contrary in the two instances,
and their excitation complete. In the posi but with the same result as to change in speed
is, when the vehicle is traveling forward Io5
'tion h h the armatures are in series and the that
with the motor-armatures in series and it is
exciting- current passes through the resist desired to turn to the left an increase in the . .
ance Z, intended for steering, the rhethod of
.45 operation of which will be hereinafter de excitation of the field of the right-hand motor
scribed. In the position the motor-arma is necessary in order to increase its speed. d
tures are also connected in series. The ex When, however, the motor-armatures are in
citing-current passes in this case also through parallel, with the same conditions of direction.
the resistance Z, and additional resistances of travel and steering, a decrease in the excita
So a b. are inserted in the field-circuits of the mo tion of the field of the right-hand motoris neces
tors. ll represent the position of the motors sary in order to increase its speed. The same
when they pass from the series connections to is true when turning to the right with the ve I 1.5
the parallel. o O represent the position in hicle traveling forward, except that the in
which the motors are in parallel. In the po crease or decrease of the excitation must be
55 sition pp the motors are likewise in parallel inas tothewhether
field of the left-hand motor, according
the motor-armatures are in se
and the resistances
circuits. . a b are inserted in the field
. ries or in parallel. In other words, when
The four bridges G H IL of the reversing steering to the left or right when traveling
switch B, insulated electrically and connected forward with the motors in series the increase
with each other by means of a lever pivoted of excitation must be in the field of that mor
at y, have three positions, as follows: 8, the tor on the side opposite to that of the direc I 25
position of interruption of excitation of the tion of turning in order to increase its speed,
fields of the motors; q, the position in which and when in parallel the decrease of excitation
the excitation operates the forward travel, must be in the field of that motor also on the
65 and the position in which the current of the side opposite to that of the direction of turning
to thereby increase its speed. Assuming now
 12,419. 8

that the brushes are in the position h or i i, sponding increase occurs in the excitation of
thus placing the armatures m, and n, in series, the field of the left-hand motor n, and conse
the plate up being connected with the battery quently an increase of its torque. The ve
A, the current flows from u to plate au, to the hicle will therefore turn to the right. If
switch B, and by means of the bridge L to the controller-brushes are in either of the po
the point T of the resistance Z, where it finds sitions omO and
or p p, then the armatures of the
two paths open, one to contact-platea', through motors n, will be connected in parallel.
By tracing the circuits it will be seen that all
bridge M, to the field of the right-hand motor of the resistance Z is now thrown into the
m, to battery; the other path from point T.
Io through all of the resistance Z. to contact left-hand motor n, thereby decreasing the ex 75
plate l', bridge N, to the field of the left-hand citation
of said
of its field and increasing the speed
motor. At the same time there oc
motorm, to battery. Thus the whole resist curs a proportionate
ance Z is inserted in the field of the left-hand tion of the field of theincrease in the excita
right-hand motor on.
motor n, while the current passes direct into
the right-hand motor no. This results in an and a decrease of its speed. The vehicle will
increase of the excitation of the field of the therefore turn to the right.
right-hand motor m, thereby increasing its Case 3. When steering in the backward
torque and said motor will pull more. A cor travel of the vehicle, the conditions are exactly
responding decrease of the excitation of the the reverse of those when steering in the for 85
field of the motor n occurs, thereby propor ward travel-that is, the motor which has
tionately decreasing its torque, and the motor its speed increased on the forward travel has
in will therefore pull less. The result of this its speed decreased when steering on the back
and vice versa. This is effected
variation in the excitation of the fields of the by thetravel,
ward
reversal of the current through the
two motors is that the vehicle will turn to the switch B. Assuming that the armatures of
left-that is, in the direction of the effort
made by the driver upon the mechanical steer the motors are in series and the lever pivoted
ing mechanism. If, on the other hand, the aty of switch B moved so as to lie in the
position r, in such case when it is desired
controller-brushes occupy the position o o or to turn to the left the driver turns the hand
p p, the armatures of the motors mand in will wheel he to the left, thus connecting the plates 95
be in parallel. The current can now be traced
from point Tone path being through the atasand it in the switch C in the same manner.
before described when traveling forward.
contact-platea', a diagonal connection to plate
d, bridge N, to the field of motor n, to bat Tracing the circuits, it will be seen that the
tery; the other path from T through all of current flows from battery A to plate at, to Od
35 the resistance Z to contact-plate l', a diagonal plate u, to the connection 8 of switch B, to
connection to platee', bridge M, to the field of W, where it finds two paths open, one di
motor m, to battery. Thus the whole resist rectly through the field of the left-handmo
ance is inserted in the field of the motor n, torn to battery and the other through the
while the current passes directly to the field resistance Z, through the field of the right
of the motor n. This decrease of the excita hand motor n, to battery. This results in
tion of the field of the right-hand motor in an increase of excitation of the field of the
results in an increase of the speed. of said motor n and an increase of the torque of said
motor precisely as effected by the increase of motor, so that it will pull more. At the same
the excitation of said field when the motor-ar time a proportional decrease of the excitation
of the field of the motor on, with a decrease
45: matures are in series. A proportional in
crease in the excitation of the field of the of its torque, will occur, and the motor in will
left-hand motor n occurs, with a resulting protherefore pull less and the vehicle will turn
to the left. With the armatures of the mo
portional decrease in the speed of that motor.
The vehicle will therefore turn to the left intors m, and n in parallel and steering to the 115
so harmony with the manual effort exerted by left in backward travel the conditions im
the driver on the hand-wheel a. . mediately above described are reversed, as
will be seen by tracing the circuits-that is,
Case 2. If we assume now that the vehicle the
is traveling forward and it is desired to turn fieldwhole resistance Z is inserted into the
of the left-hand motor n, resulting in a
to the right, the driver turns the hand-wheel decrease of the excitation of the field of said
gin a right-handed direction, and the worm motor and an increase in the speed of said
Q. moving longitudinally to the left will move motor.
the lever 2 so as to connect the plates us and . portionalAtincrease
the same time there occurs a pro
in the excitation of the
With the controller-brushes in either of the
positions hl. ii the armatures of the motors field of the motor m, with a decrease in the
m and n will be in series. By tracing the speed of said motor. The vehigle will there 25
circuits it will be seen that all of the resist fore turn to the left. .
Case 4. With the controller-brushes in the
ance Z is inserted into the field of the right positions h for i , so that the armatures of
hand motor m, resulting in a decrease of the the motors m and n are in series and it is de
excitation of the field of said motor, and con sired to steer to the right with the vehicle 130
65 sequently a decrease of its torque. A corre
 4.
18,419
traveling backward, the hand- wheel is connected, by increasing the excitation of the
turned to the right, thus moving the worm field and thereby increasing the speed of that
Q longitudinally to the left, so as to connect motor on the side opposite to that of the di
the plates w and v. By tracing the circuits rection of turning. . . . .
it will be seen that the whole resistance Z is 2. In a steering mechanism for vehicles the o
inserted into the field of the left-hand motor combination of a plurality of motors inde
n, resulting in a decrease of the excitation of pendently geared to the driving-wheels, means
the-field of said motor and a decrease in the for connecting the armatures of said motors
speed of said motor. At the same time the in series, and means for steering the vehicle
o
excitation of the field of the right-handmo to the left or right when traveling backward, 75
tor m and the speed of said motor are pro with the motors so connected by increasing
portionately increased, so that the vehicle the excitation of the field and thereby increas
will turn to the right. With the controller ing the speed of that motor on the same side
brushes in the positions oo or pip, so that as that of the direction of turning.
IS the motor-armatures are in parallel and it is 3. In a steering mechanism for vehicles the
desired to steer to the right on the backward combination of a plurality of motors inde
travel, the hand-wheel at is turned to the pendently geared to the driving-wheels, means
right. Tracing the circuits, it will be seen for connecting the armatures of said motors
that the whole resistance Z is inserted into in parallel, and means for steering the vehi
the field of the right-hand motor m, thereby cle when traveling forward, with the motors
decreasing the excitation of the field and in so connected, by decreasing the excitation of
creasing the speed of said motor. At the the field and thereby increasing the speed of
same time the excitation of the field of the that motor on the side opposite to that of the
left-hand motor n is proportionately increased direction of turning.
25 with a decrease in the speed of the motor n. 4. In a steering mechanism for vehicles the 90
The vehicle will therefore turn to the right. combination of a plurality of motors inde
In all of the above-described operations it pendently geared to the driving-wheels, means
will be noted that the lever 2 of the switch C for connecting the armatures of said motors
is moved by the longitudinal movement of the in parallel, and means for steering the vehicle
worm Q, and thus the variation of the inten to the left or right when traveling backward,
sities of the fields of the motors in and in ef with the motors so connected, by decreasing
fected before the mechanical steering through. the excitation of the field and thereby in
the rotation of the wheel X is effected. In creasing the speed of that motor on the same
light vehicles, therefore, the electrical steer side as that of the direction of turning.
35 ing mechanism may be sufficient for the pur 5. In a steering mechanism for-vehicles the OO
pose, requiring only the longitudinal move combination of a plurality of motors inde
ment of the worm Q by the driver, while with pendently geared to the driving-wheels, means
heavy vehicles it is obvious that the manual for connecting the armatures of said motors
effort of the driver to operate the mechanical either in series or in parallel, and means for
steering mechanism is greatly facilitated. In steering the vehicle to the left or right when ros
both cases the driver continues to turn the traveling forward by increasing the excitation
hand-wheel a in the direction in which he of the field and thereby increasing the speed of
started until the front axle of the vehicle is that motor on the side opposite to that of the
brought to the required angle for turning. direction of turning when the motors are in
45 When that is reached, the parts are restored series, and decreasing the excitation of the IIo
to their normal positions for traveling straight field of the same motor and thereby increas
forward. It is also to be noted that in all of ing its speed when the motors are connected
the steering operations the vehicle is caused to in parallel.
turn in the direction in which the hand-wheel 6. In a steering mechanism for vehicles the
at is turned-that is, the effort of the elec combination of a plurality of motors inde
trical steering mechanism corresponds in di pendently geared to the driving-wheels, means
rection with the manual effort exerted by the for connecting the armatures of said motors
driver on the mechanical steering mechanism. either in series or in parallel, and means for
It will be understood, of course, that the steering the vehicle to the left or right when
55 axle with which the steering is effected is piv traveling backward, by decreasing the exci
oted in the usual manner, so as to be permit tation of the field and thereby decreasing...the
ted to turn relatively to the vehicle-body. speed of that motor on the side opposite to
What I claim, and desire to secure by Let that of the direction of turning when the mo
ters Patent, is- - tors are in series, and increasing the excita
1. In a steering mechanism for vehicles the tion of the field and thereby decreasing the 125
combination of a plurality of motors inde speed of the same motor when the motors are
pendently geared to the driving-wheels, means connected in parallel.
for connecting the armatures of said motors 7. In an electrically-propelled vehicle the
in series, and means for steering the vehicle combination with a driving-axle, 'of a plural
65 when traveling forward, with the motors so. ity of motors independently geared to the I30
 12,419 to
driving-wheels, a switch included in the cir hand-wheel, a worm actuated thereby, a spi
rally-toothed wheel meshing with the worm,
cuits of the fields of said motors, a resistance driving-wheel on the shaft of the spirally
controlled by said switch so as to be inserted atoothed
wholly, into the circuit of either motor, a me the axle wheel, a steering-wheel mounted on
of the vehicle, a chain gearing the 45
chanical steering mechanism and means con
necting said mechanism and switch whereby steering-wheel
pin on the
and driving-wheel together, a
worm adapted to actuate the lever
the latter is controlled by the movement of of the steering-switch, and connections be
said mechanism. -
8. A steering mechanism for vehicles com tween the steering mechanism and the motors
motors connected independ and
ro. prising electric adapted to be actuated by the latter as set
forth.
ently to the driving-wheels, a switch, means ' 11. In a steering mechanism for vehicles the
controlled by said switch for varying the ex combination of a plurality of motors inde
citation of the fields of said motors, mechan pendently geared to the driving-wheels of the
ical steering mechanism connected with the vehicle, means for connecting the armatures 55
axle, and means controlled by said mechan of said motors in series, and means for steering
ical steering mechanism to actuate said switch, the vehicle to the left or right when traveling
the parts being so related that the switch will forward by increasing the excitation of the
be actuated before the steering by the me field and thereby increasing the speed of that
, chanical-mechanism is effected. motor on the side opposite to that of the di
2o. 9. In a steering mechanism for vehicles the
combination of electric motors connected in rection of turning, and reversing said condi
dependently to the driving-wheels, a switch, tions 12.
when traveling backward.
In a steering mechanism for vehicles
.
the
a resistance controlled by said switch so as to combination of a plurality of motors inde
be inserted wholly into the circuit of the field pendently geared to the driving-wheels of the
25. of either motor, mechanical steering mechan vehicle, means for connecting the armatures
ism connected with the axle, and means con of said motors in parallel, and means for steer
trolled by said mechanical steering mechan ing the vehicle to the left or right when trav
ism to actuate said switch, the parts being so eling forward by decreasing the excitation of
related that the switch will be actuated before the
the steering by the mechanical mechanism is the field and thereby increasing the speed of
motor on the side opposite to that of the
effected.
10. The combination with the motors, of a directionwhen of turning, and reversing said con
steering-switch comprising contact-blocks and ditions traveling backward.
a lever adapted to be brought into contact myInname testimony whereof I have hereunto signed
35. with said blocks, a resistance adapted to be witnesses.in the presence of two subseribing 75
brought into the magnetic field of the motors
or either of them to vary their speed accord Witnesses: EUGENIO CANTONO.
ing as the lever is brought in contact with the A. ROZZE,
different blocks as described, means for me Pio PRALDINO.
chanically actuating the lever comprising a