Patent GB-190812591-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Mechanical Power Storage Apparatus.
Inventor: FREUND EDWIN
Filed: 1908-06-11
Granted: 1909-06-11
Abstract: 12,591. Freund, E. June 11. Brak e s. - Relates to means for winding springs which may be employed for act uating vehicle brakes &c. A coiled spring d<1> is attached at its ends to wheels c<1>, c<9>, Figs. 1 and 2, which are loose on a shaft b<1>. This shaft may be the cross brake-shaft of a tramcar or the like. The wheel c<1> gears with a pinion f on a countershaft f<1>, which may be held by a band-brake g<2> acting on a fast pulley f <3>. Energy may then be stored in the spring d' by winding its end d<3> through the rotation of the power-supplying shaft (not shown), as follows :- Fixed to a sleeve s on the shaft f<1> is a ratchetwheel h<8>, which is driven by a pawl h<6> carried by a pin between two levers h<2>, h<3> pivoted on the sleeve s. These levers are reciprocated by means of a connecting-rod m<3> and an eccentric, when the powersupplying shaft turns. Rotation of the sleeve s is transmitted to the wheel c<9> by the pinion h<1> fixed to the sleeve. The ratchet h<8> has a click for preventing back - motion. To obviate overwinding, means are provided, as shown in detail in Fig. 4, whereby the driving-pawl h<6> is automatically disengaged from the ratchet h<8> at the required time. An extension of the sleeve s has a screw-thread h<9> which engages with a thread on a sleeve f<5> feathered on the shaft f<1>. As the ratchet h<8> and its sleeve s are rotated, the sleeve f is thereby traversed along the shaft f<1>, carrying with it a slide k<1>, which works in guides in a small cylinder i<1> fixed to the lever h<2>. The slide co-operates with a hollow plunger i<2> in the cylinder and with a pin i<6> having a spring- pressed collar i<8> inside the plunger, the pin being held down by the slide until the sleeve f <5> has been traversed the requisite amount. The device is so adjusted that when the sleeve s has been sufficiently rotated to wind the spring d<1> to the proper tension, the pin i<6> is freed and springs upwards. raising an arm connected to the pawl h<6>, whereby the latter is disengaged from the ratchet h<8> during the backward stroke of the levers h', h<3>. The stored power of the spring d' is transmitted to the shaft b<1> through epicyclic gearing, when the band-brake g<2> is released. A wheel c<2>, secured to the sleeve of the wheel c', gears with wheels b<7>, b<9> which are carried by arms b<10> fixed to the shaft b<1> and gear with the annular wheel c<3>. The annular wheel is mounted on the boss of the wheel c<2> and is surrounded by the bandbrake c<5>. The brakes g<2> and c<5> are interconnected so that, when one is applied, the other is disengaged. On releasing the brake g<2> the wheel f<2>, and thereby the wheel c', is free to rotate. Since the annular wheel c<3> is then held by the brake c<5>, the spring d' causes the shaft b<1> to rotate, through the wheels c<1>, c', b<7> and the arms b<10>. Owing to the rotation of the shaft f the sleeve f<5> is shifted backwards, allowing the pawl h<6> to re-engage the ratchet-wheel h<8> at the required time, in order to rewind the spring d'. The energy stored in the spring is expended through the levers b<2>, b<3> fixed to the shaft b<1>, which levers may be connected to track brakeshoes in the usual way. An arm of the double lever b' is connected to the frame-work by a spring b<5> which reverses the shaft b<1>, when required to a small extent, when the brake c<5> is released. This back-motion is limited by a ratchet and pawl n<1>, n<4> the ratchet having a projecting arm n<2> which engages with and has an adjustable amount of play in a recess in the lever b<2>. Instead of the coiled spring d', a weight hung from a pulley slung in an endless chain, may be used. The chain passes over sprocketwheels fastened concentrically to the wheels c', c<9>. With this arrangement, the relative positions of various parts of the apparatus have to be altered.