W, LANCA,

AUTOMOBLE,
APPLICATION FLED Now, 21, 1919.
1,372,148. Patented2 SHEETS-SHEET
Mar, 22, 1921.
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 W, LAN CA,
AUTOMOBLE,
APPLICATION FLED NOW, 2, 1919,
1,372,148. Patented2 SHEETS-SHEET
Mar, 22, 1921.
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 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
VINCENZO LANCIA, OF TURIN, ITALY.
AUTOMOBILE.
1,372,148. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 22, 1921.
Application fled November 21, 1919. Serial No. 339,743.
To all whom it may concern; metal as above described said seats may be
Be it known that I, VINCENzo LANCIA, a integral with the shell and in any case the
subject of the King of Italy, and residing at frames 8 of said seats form transverse parts
Turin, Italy, have invented certain new and The coöperate
which to stiffen the shell.
bottom of shell 3 is provided with a 60
useful Improvements in Automobiles, of longitudinal channel 11 and with a trans
which the following is a specification.
The present invention relates to motor cars verse channel 12 obtained by stamping the
in which the front and the rear axles are sheet metal and intended to provide spaces
connected together by the body of the car for the transmission shaft 9 and the dif
ferential case 10 as well as for the rear axle
0 riage which consists of a rigid shell afford
ing space for the engine and the seats. 2; said channels may extend upwardly up to 65
The object of the present invention is to sible of lowering ortherefore
the seat level and it is made pos
construct a carriage body so that it may be of the shell and therefore thedown
bringing the axis
nearer the ground and yet enable the various seats and of the shell bottom toplane the
of said
most re
5 parts to be easily accessible and at the same
time increase the rigidity of the body. duced distance from the road ground with 70
According to the invention the carriage regard tolongitudinal
the wheel axes.
body is formed of a shell of stamped sheet beSaid obtained by
channel 11, which may
stamping the sheet metal
metal which is provided on its underside
20 with a longitudinal channel to clear the driv forming the bottom of the shell, gives rise to 75
ing shaft between the engine and the rear ainglongitudinal rib stiffening and strengthen
axle, and with a transverse channel to clear free space left withinmaterially
the shell without reducing the
the shell said rib being
the rear axle and differential gear. located at the middle of the shell between
The annexed drawings show by way of ex the adjacent side seats.
25 ample a construction of automobile accord
ing to this invention and Figure 1 is the side structioninvention
This provides a very light con 80
of vehicles as the same requires a
view of the same; Fig. 2 is the longitudinal
section: Fig. 3 is the plan view; Fig. 4 is the single member or shell instead of the sepa
rate frame and body of usual automobiles
front view; Figs. 5 and 6 are the transverse and said shell may be made of thin metal
30 sections on a-ae and f-y (Fig. 2) respec
tively. and have any proper shape to secure the 85
As shown by said figures to front axle 1 stability offeredof the vehicle and to reduce the re
and rear axle 2 is suspended a stiff shell 3 sistance by air; further said con
which preferably is made of stamped steel struction provides facilities in mounting and
35 sheet and forms at the same time the vehicle upholding the several automobile parts and 90
frame and body. devices.
Said shell is suspended in a resilient man What I claim as my invention and desire
ner to the axles by means of springs as shown toSsecure by United States Letters Patent
in the drawing; in said construction the shell 1. In a motor car, a carriage body formed
40 3 is provided at its front end with a stirrup
4 to which is secured a semi-elliptical sprin sideby a shell of stamped sheet metal, the under 95
5 lying above the front axle 1 and connecte dinalofchannel which is provided with a longitu
to clear the transmission shaft
by its ends with said axle by means of links between the engine
5’; further said shell is provided with 2. In a motor car,and the rear axle.
a carriage body formed 00
4.5 swinging rods 7 suitably connected to shell
3 and to axle 1 and intended to hold said axle by a shell of stamped sheet metal, the under
in the proper position. side of which is provided with a longitudinal
At the sides of shell 3 are secured the blade channel to clear the transmission shaft be
tween the engine and the rear axle, and a
springs 6 connected by their ends with the transverse
rear axle 2. channel near its rear end to clear
50 Within said shell 3 are located the driv the rear axle and differential gear. 05
ing and controlling devices for the automo In testimony whereof I have signed my
bile as well as the pissengers' seats; in the name to this specification.
WINCENZO LANCIA,
case said shell is grade of stamped sheet