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Miracle Drive

Creator: n/a
Date: January 1934
Publication: The Polio Chronicle
Source: Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation Archives


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Very shortly there will be offered on the market what will be to hundreds of thousands of physically incapacitated persons a simple, positive and safe attachment to nearly any automobile, which will enable the car to be driven in a normal way. Eminent automotive engineers have spent upwards of four years in perfecting this device, and during the period of its development it has had a hearty approval and enthusiastic reception, not only from non-interested nationally known engineers but also from such of the public itself as has been privileged to drive a car so equipped.

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An automobile with the Miracle Drive may be driven by either foot or either hand, as will be explained below in connection with a reference to the photograph shown on this page. For easy reference we refer to the drawing herewith and shall attempt to give a simple explanation of the operation of the Miracle Drive.

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(A) is the conventional right-foot accelerator in the normal position and connected in a normal way to the common throttle rod (F). (B) may, if, desired, replace, (A) should the driver be unable physically to operate a right-foot accelerator. (C) and (D) are optional hand throttles operating to the common throttle rod (F). (E) is another type of hand-operated throttle which in this case is affixed to the gear shift lever. It also operates the rod (F). The common throttle rod (F), to which each of the above lettered units may be attached, operates the valve (G), which in turn controls a series of valves within the valve box. The operation of these valves is selective, automatic, and synchronous. (H) is a vacuum brake cylinder with which is a piston which has, as is clearly shown, an auxiliary device attached thereto. This device locks the brake in the "off" position when the car comes to a stop or when the motor is shut off. This function is automatic. (I) is the vacuum clutch cylinder within which is also a piston. The cylinders (H) and (I) are directly connected by copper tubing to the valve box, which in turn is connected by one line to the intake manifold of the motor. The motor creates the vacuum within the cylinders (H) and (I). This power is normally wasted energy within the motor and is no strain to the motor itself.

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To operate a vehicle so equipped only requires the use of any one, but not all, of the several control devices, i.e. (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E). Let us assume that the driver is unable to use either of his legs. He may then select either (C), (D), or (E), depending upon his physical ability. By using the control (C), he simply opens or closes the throttle which in turn opens or closes the valve (G), which also in turn through the vacuum power created in cylinders (H) and (I) automatically at the right moment releases the brake, and after it the, clutch, and enables the driver to shift his car into gear without any depressing of either clutch or brake pedal. The car now being into gear, a further movement in the same direction of the band throttle (C) accelerates the motor and the driver is on his way. To shift gears throttle (C) is turned back to a neutral position, clearly felt by the driver, which releases the clutch and enables a shift into the second gear. The same operation follows for high gear. When the driver wishes to stop the car, he simply returns the throttle (C) to original position, which in the process of its movement decelerates the motor and when it reaches the clutch range automatically throws the clutch out, and a further movement on the part of the throttle applies the brakes. The brakes may be applied rapidly or slow pending upon the will of the driver and the movement of the hand throttle. If the car is to be stopped and parked, the driver simply returns the throttle to its "off" position, at which time the locking device on cylinder (H) holds the brake in an "on" position, even after the motor is turned off.

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The same operations take place whether the foot accelerators (A) or (B) are in use or the combination gear shift dash accelerator (E) is used. It does not matter whether the driving is going up or down hill or on level road. The operation is equally positive and the driving is done in the same manner. The vacuum power exerted through cylinders (H) and (I) is greater than is possible through foot application, and in the Miracle Drive the release of the clutch and the application of the brake is done with the slightest effort.

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In addition to accomplishing the utmost in driving luxury and taking the chore completely out of driving; it has the added advantage of being a positive safety device in that the moment the motor is decelerated, the brake commences to apply. To make a quick stop, therefore, the driver needs only to quickly shift the throttle from the "on" position to the "off" position and the car comes to a quick, positive, smooth stop. This is accomplished much more quickly than would be possible in the conventional drive where foot pedals are used.

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