Improvements in Apparatus for Stopping and Starting Railway and other Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 30th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 25th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Stopping and Starting Railway and
other Vehicles.
I, RICHARD SCHRODLEIN, of Kuscha near Leitmeritz, Bohemia, Austria,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for stopping and starting
railway and other vehicles the object of which is to utilize the vis viva of the said
vehicles in an advantageous manner for restarting the said vehicles, which has
heretofore been destroyed by the brakes used for stopping the train or vehicle.
The apparatus is therefore suitable for employment in place of the ordinary brakes,
and in particular may be used in place of continuous air-pressure or vacuum brakes.
By means of apparatus according to this invention the power required to be exerted
by the engine for restarting the train or the vehicle can be considerably reduced.
The apparatus differs essentially from the so-called power-storing brakes in that
instead of springs being placed under strain when breaking as is usual in such
brakes, air, gas or liquid is compressed or is subjected to an increased pressure
whilst braking, and is afterwards used to work a motor for restarting the vehicle.
The essence of the invention is this: When it is desired to. apply the brakes,
the air, gas, or liquid is compressed or subjected to increased pressure by means
of pumps, or it may be motors acting as pumps, which deliver the said air or
its equivalent into a reservoir, and then, when it is desired to restart the train,
or it may be assist the locomotive to start the train, compressed air, gas or
liquid is allowed to pass from the reservoir into special motors, or it may be
into the motors above referred to (which previously acted as pumps), so that
the pressure of the compressed air, gas, or liquid operates the pistons of said
motors which then rotate directly or indirectly the axle of the vehicle. In
order that the action of the apparatus as a pump and as a motor may take
place, there is provided a special distributing device which is located under
each vehicle fitted with the apparatus; the distributing devices of the several
vehicles may be connected together by suitable means, such as chains, ropes,
conduits or the like.
A mode of carrying out this invention in the case of a railway vehicle is illustrated
in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a plan of the new apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line A A, Fig. 1, through the air-compressing
pumps.
Fig. 4 is a cross section through the working cylinder on the line B.B Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the reservoir.
On the wheel-axle a (which, rotates during the motion of the train) is keyed a
grooved friction wheel which causes a similar wheel upon a counter shaft e to
rotate when another bevel-edged wheel c is caused to engage with the two grooved
wheels. The counter shaft e actuates by means of cranks two air-compressing
pumps g. The latter comprise cylinders h, pistons with delivery valves i, and
admission valves 1. The air-compressing pumps g draw in air and deliver the same
through a check valve m into an air-reservoir n.
When the vehicle is running on the track and is not being stopped, the wheel c is
placed out of gear. The said wheel is suspended by means of guide rods c¹ and a
rod, which is operated by a reciprocating rod o. The rod o is situated in the
longitudinal direction below the framing of the vehicle. The rods o of the several
vehicles are coupled together in a similar manner to the distributing devices.
When the rod o is moved in the direction of the arrow I, Fig. 2, the wheel d will

page_text: be caused by means of the wheel c, the rod e², and the guide rods c', to be operated
by the wheel b, and the two pumps will be worked and air delivered into the
reservoir n. The rod o is moved in the direction of the arrow I, when it is desired
to retard or stop the vehicle.
In the construction shown in the drawings, another axle a¹ of the vehicle is
provided with a wheel b' which is driven from the wheel d¹ on the counter shaft e¹
by means of a wheel c³ when the wheel c³ is in gear with the two wheels d' and b².
The wheel is suspended by guide rods and is connected by a rod c with the
rod o. The wheel dis by means of the cranks f¹ operated by the motors gl in
the following manner. The cylinders of the said motors are provided internally
with pistons kl. The latter are operated by the compressed air from the reservoir n
when the valve p in the reservoir n is raised and allows the compressed air to pass
out through the passages q and r¹ to the cylinders h. The valve p is raised by
means of a wedge-shaped projection o¹ on the rod o, when the wedge wheel c¹ is
brought into gear with the wheels 6 d. The cylinders gl are provided with
automatically distributing pistons of the following construction:-
The pistons are formed with oblique passages which, when in the position
shown in Fig. 1, connect the inlets ¹ of the air-passages and the channels & which
lead to spaces t at the rear of the pistons . The passage is of annular form
and communicates at the opposite side to the inlet with the inlet 2 (Figs. 2
and 4). If now after opening the valve P, the compressed air has passed
through, and s to t, and thereby moved the piston k¹ forward, the piston k' in
its travel comes into a position such that the oblique passage l' communicates with
the second channel s¹ of the cylinder (which channel s' is situated at the opposite
end, and at the opposite side, of the cylinder to the channel s). The compressed
air then passes from the inlet through the passage into the channel s¹ and
thence into the space t¹ at the end of the cylinder.
In the position shown in Fig. 1, the air exhausts from the space t' through the
passage u into the atmosphere. When the piston k¹ is in a position such that the
passage communicates with the channel s¹, the air which has completed its work
exhausts from the space t through the passage u¹ into the atmosphere.
Compressed air having been delivered in the manner described into the reservoir n
during the application of the brakes, the apparatus operates to start or aid in
starting a train as follows:-The steam-valve on the locomotive having been
opened so that the train commences its movement and the axles of the vehicles
begin to rotate, the rod o is moved in the direction of the arrow I, Fig. 2, thereby
causing the wheel c³ to gear with the wheel and to transmit an initial movement
to the wheel d' and crank shaft e¹.
But by moving the rod o in the direction of the arrow II the valve p.is opened
at the same time by reason of the arrangement of the wedge-shaped projection o¹.
The valve p allows the compressed air to enter the passages of the working
cylinders, and in consequence of the automatic distribution of the pistons ¹ the
compressed air enters behind or in front of the pistons and acts upon the same,
thereby effecting the further rotation of the countershaft e¹ and the transmission
of movement to or the increase of the movement of the axle a¹ and its wheels.
By this means the work of the locomotive itself is considerably lightened. The
proper direction of rotation of the counter-shaft e¹ is ensured by the initial motion
imparted to it by the vehicle through the axle a'.. Owing to the automatic dis-
tribution of the pistons k¹ described above they continue to operate in such a
manner as to rotate the countershaft e¹ in the direction initially given to it by the
axle a¹.
The apparatus may also be modified by arranging a single cylinder or a
number of similar cylinders to act simultaneously as pump cylinders and as motor
cylinders.
The apparatus described may be applied to one or more vehicles of a railway
train or to vehicles of any kind, and may act either alone or in combination with
ordinary or continuous brakes.

page_text: The operation of the rod o may be effected either by the guard from the interior
of each single vehicle or the rods o of separate vehicles may be connected and
operated simultaneously by the driver on the locomotive.
Dated this 10th day of September 1892
R. SCHRODLEIN,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Stopping and Starting Railway and
other Vehicles.
I, RICHARD SCHRODLEIN, of Kuscha, near Leitmeritz, Bohemia, Austria,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for stopping and starting
railway and other vehicles the object being to utilize the vis vica of the said
yehicles in an advantageous manner for restarting them instead of destroying it;
as is commonly done by the brakes ordinarily used for stopping the vehicle.
The apparatus is therefore suitable for use in lieu of the ordinary brakes, and
in particular may be used in place of continuous air-pressure or vacuum brakes.
By means of such apparatus therefore the power required to be exerted by the
engine for restarting the train or the vehicle can be considerably reduced. The
apparatus differs essentially from the so-called power-storing brakes heretofore
proposed in that instead of springs being placed under strain when braking as
is usual in such brakes, air, gas or liquid is compressed, or is subjected to an
increased pressure whilst braking, and is afterwards used to work a motor for
restarting the vehicle. Thus it is to be understood that when it is desired to
apply the brakes, the said air or other fluid (hereinafter referred to as air) is
compressed or subjected to increased pressure by means of pumps, or it may be
motors acting as pumps, which deliver the said air into a reservoir and then,
when it is desired to restart the train, or it may be to assist the locomotive
after the starting of the train, compressed air, is allowed to pass from the
reservoir into special motors or it may be into the motors above referred to
(which previously acted as pumps), so that the pressure of the compressed air,
operates the pistons of said motors which then rotate directly or indirectly the
axle or axles of the vehicle or vehicles. In order that the apparatus may act
as a pump or as a motor, as may be required, there is provided a special
distributing device which is located under each vehicle fitted with the apparatus.
The distributing devices of the several vehicles may be connected together by
suitable means, such as chains, ropes, conduits or the like.
A mode of carrying out this invention in the case of a railway vehicle is
illustrated in the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification, in which
Fig. 1 is a plan, and
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a cross section through the air-compressing pumps the section being
taken on the line A. A, Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a cross section through the working cylinder the section being taken on
the line B B Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the reservoir.
On the wheel-axle a (which rotates during the motion of the train) is keyed a
grooved friction wheel b which causes a similar wheel d fixed upon a counter shaft e
to rotate when another bevel-edged or friction wheel c is caused to engage with the
two grooved wheels. The counter shaft e actuates by means of cranks f two air-
compressing pumps g. The latter comprise cylinders h, pistons with delivery
valves i, and admission or suction valves 1. The air-compressing pumps g draw in
!.

page_text: air, and deliver the same under pressure through a check valve in into an air-
reservoir n.
When the vehicle is running on the track and is not being stopped, the wheel c
is placed ont of gear. The said wheel is suspended by means of guide rods c¹ and a
rod c, which is operated by a reciprocating rod o situated in the longitudinal
direction of the vehicle and below the framing thereof. The rods o of the several
vehicles are coupled together in a similar manner to the distributing devices.
The arrangement is such that when the rod o is moved in tlie direction of the
arrow 1, Fig. 2, the wheel d will be caused by means of the wheel c, the rod c³, and
the guide rods e to be operated by the wheel, and the two pumps will be worked
and air delivered into the reservoir . The rod o is moved in the direction of the
arrow, when it is desired to retard or stop the train.
In the construction shown in the drawings, another axle a of the vehicle is
provided with a wheel which can be driven from the wheel d' on the counter
shaft by means of a wheel when this latter is moved into frictional contact with
the two wheels d and . The wheel 3 is suspended by guide rods and is
connected by a rod c with the rod o. The wheel dis, by means of the cranks f
operated by the motors g' in the following manner. The cylinders of the said.
motors are provided with pistons which are operated by the compressed air from
the reservoirn, when the valve in the reservoir n is raised so as to allow the
compressed air to pass out through the passages 7 and to the cylinders. The
valve is raised by means of a wedge-shaped projection o¹ on the rod o, when the
wheel c' is brought into gear with the wheels d. The cylinders glare provided
with automatically distributing pistons A¹ of the following construction:
The pistons are formed with oblique passages which, when in the position shown
in Fig. 1, connect the inlets of the air-passages and the channels s which lead
to space at the rear of the pistons. The passage is of annular form and
communicates at the opposite side to the inlet with the inlet (Figs. 1 and 4).
If now after opening the valve p, the compressed air has passed through 1 l, andi
s to t, and thereby moved the piston forward, the piston in its travel will come.
into a position such that the oblique passage will communicate with the second
channels of the cylinder which channel s is located at the opposite end, and at
the opposite side of the cylinder to that of the channel s. The compressed air
will then pass from the inlet through the passage into the channel s' and thence
into the space at the end of the cylinder.
1
In the position shown in Fig. 1, the air will exhaust from this space through
the passage into the atmosphere. When the piston k is in a position such that
the passage
communicates with the channel s¹, the air which has completed its
work will exhaust from the space t through the passage u into the atmosphere.
Compressed air having been delivered in the manner described into the reservoir n
during the application of the brakes, the apparatus operates to start or aid in
starting a train as follows:-The steam-valve on the locomotive having been
opened so that the train commences to move and cause the axles of the vehicles to
rotate, the rod o is moved in the direction of the arrow II Fig. 2, thereby causing
the wheel to gear with the wheel and to transmit an initial movement to the
wheel d' and crank shaft e¹. But by moving the rod o in the direction of the
arrow II, the valve p is at the same time opened by reason of the arrangement of
the wedge-shaped projection of. The valve p then allows compressed air to enter
the passages of the working cylinders, and in consequence of the automatic dis-
tributing action of the piston k', the compressed air will enter behind or in front
of the pistons kl as the case may be, and act upon the same, thereby effecting the
further rotation of the countershaft e¹ and the transmission of movement to or
the increase of the movement of the axle a' and its wheels. By this means the
work required to be expended by the locomotive for restarting the train is con-
siderably lessened. The proper direction of rotation of the counter-shaft eis:
ensured by the initial motion imparted to it by the vehicle through the axle a
Owing to the automatic-distribution of the compressed air by the pistons ¹as.

page_text: described above the said pistons continue to operate in such a manner as to rotate
the countershaft e' in the direction initially given to it by the axle a¹.
The apparatus may be modified by arranging a single cylinder, or a number of
similar cylinders, to act simultaneously as pump cylinders and as motor cylinders.
The apparatus described may be applied to one or more vehicles of a railway
train, or to vehicles of other kinds, and may act either alone, or in combination
with ordinary or continuous brakes.
The operation of the rod o may be effected either by the guard from the interior
of each single vehicle, or the rods o of separate vehicles may be connected and
operated simultaneously by the driver on the locomotive.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Apparatus for stopping and starting railway and other vehicles, so constructed
and arranged that the vis viva of the vehicles is utilised when stopping them to
compress air or other fluid by means of one or more pistons and cylinders (acting
as a pump or pumps,) into a reservoir in which it is stored under pressure, and
from which it can be afterwards supplied to, and utilised in a motor cylinder or
cylinders, at the commencement of the restarting of the vehicles for the purpose
of driving the wheel axles of the vehicles as set forth.
2. In apparatus of the kind referred to in the preceding claim, the arrangement
of a rod o and wheels bd c and e³ in such a manner that by moving the rod o in
one direction as when it is desired to stop the train, the wheel c, will be thrown
into gear and the motion of a wheel axle of a vehicle will be transmitted to the
pump piston or pistons for the purpose of compressing the air or other fluid, and
that on re-starting the train and moving the rod o in the opposite direction the
wheel will be thrown into gear so that the motor piston or pistons will be coupled
with the said wheel axle or with a second wheel axle of the vehicle so as to rotate
the same substantially as herein before described.
3. In apparatus of the kind specified in Claim 1, the arrangement for each vehicle,
of a continuous rod o from which the wheels cand care suspended in such a
manner that when one of the said wheels c or c is in gear the other wheel will be
out of gear, substantially as herein before described.
4. The arrangement specified in Claim 3, in combination with a valve p for
controlling the exit of compressed fluid from the reservoir in which it is compressed,
the said valve being arranged to be opened for working the motor when the wheel c³,
which couples the motor with the wheel axle al is put into gear, substantially as
described and shown.
5. Apparatus of the kind specified in Claim 1 arranged in such a manner that
the engagement of the wheel and the consequent initial motion of the motor
pistons is effected by the train which is initially moved by the locomotive whereby
the direction of movement of the counter-shaft is determined by the direction in
which the train is started by the locomotive substantially as herein described.
6. In apparatus of the kind specified in Claim 1, the arrangement for effecting
the automatic distribution of compressed fluid to. the ends of the motor cylinder
according to which oblique passages in the interior of the motor piston k¹ are
used in conjunction with the annular inlet passager and its inlets r¹, r, the longi-
tudinal channels S, s at the ends of the motor cylinder ', and the exit passages u, u',
substantially as described and shown.
7. My improved apparatus for stopping and starting railway and other vehicles
constructed, arranged and operated substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 30th day of January 1893.
R. SCHRODLEIN,
By L. W., per F. B.