Starting-gear for Tram Cars and other Vehicles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Oct., 1891-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Starting-gear for Tram Cars and other Vehicles.
AMOS MORONY VEREKER Wellington Place, Dublin Gentleman, STEPHEN
MITCHELL YEATES 2 Grafton Street, Dublin Optician, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
up
An automatic arrangement which acting as a break to stop the car stores the
momentum available for starting the car again when required, for this purpose we
fit on to one axle of a tram car or other vehicle two pairs of ratchet wheels or
friction clutches, the ratchet teeth of each pair being in opposite directions, one
ratchet wheel or clutch of each pair (preferably the inner one) runs free on the
axle, & the outer one of each pair is feathered on the axle & slides freely thereon,
so that it can be thrown into or out of gear at pleasure by suitable levers provided
for that purpose & such as already described in our Specifications-16748/86
& 14412/88.
A strong spiral or helical spring is coiled round the axle but quite detached from
it & having its ends fastened one to each of the loose ratchet wheels, these loose &
inner ratchet wheels are provided with a second set of ratchet teeth fitted with
retaining pawls attached to the car frame in opposite directions.
When both the outer ratchet wheels are thrown into gear no matter which way
the car is running, the one having its teeth opposed to the motion of the car winds
up the spring which is retained in that position by its pawl until released by the
driver or the horses when wishing to start.
Dated this 31st December 1890.
A. M. VEREKER.
S. M. YEATES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Starting Gear for Tram Cars and other Vehicles.
AMOS MORONY VEREKER Wellington Place, Dublin Gentleman STEPHEN
MITCHELL YEATES 2 Grafton Street Dublin Optician 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 :-
An automatic arrangement which acting as a break to stop the car, stores up the
momentum available for starting the car again when required; for this purpose we
fit on to one axle of a tram car or other vehicle two pairs of ratchet wheels, or friction
clutches, the ratchet teeth of each pair being in opposite directions-one ratchet
wheel or clutch of each pair (preferably the inner one) runs free on the axle & the
outer one of each pair is feathered on the axle and slides freely thereon, so that it
can be thrown into or out of gear at pleasure, by suitable levers provided for
that purpose and such as already described in our Specifications 16,748-'86
and 14,412-88-a strong spiral or helical spring is coiled round the axle,
but quite detached from it, and having its ends fastened on to each of the loose
ratchet wheels, these loose and inner ratchet wheels are provided with a second set
of ratchet teeth, fitted with retaining pawls attached to the car frame in opposite
directions; when both the outer ratchet wheels are thrown into gear, no matter
which way the car is running the one having its teeth opposed to the motion of the
car winds up the spring, which is retained in that position by its pawl until released
by the driver or the horses when wishing to start.
In order to explain more fully the nature of our invention and the manner in

page_text: which the same is to be performed, we subjoin a drawing representing an inverted
plan of the car frame in which A. & A' are the outer ratchet wheels feathered and
sliding on the car axle, B & B are the inner ratchet wheels running free between
collars on the car axle, and locking in the ratchet A. & A'. The wheels B. & B¹
are provided with a second set of ratchet teeth R & R'. The outer ratchet
wheels A & A' are always retained in gear with B. & B' by the pressure of the
springs S. & S. The pawls P & P are fixed to the car frame and are thrown
into action by the spring S² & S² actuated by the draw rod D & D. The pawls P
& P are held out of action by a bayonet catch and foot spud, only partly shewn
in the drawing but similar to that fully described in our Patent 16748/86. M. is the
motor spring coiled round the axle and having its ends fastened, one to each of the
loose ratchets B & B. (This may be a helical spring as shewn in the drawing, or
a spiral spring or several springs. Either helical or spiral may be attached in the
same way.) In the figure the pawls P. & P are shewn out of action, in which
case the car axle runs quite free, carrying all the ratchet wheels and springs round
with it.
The action is as follows. Suppose the car running in the direction of the arrow,
the driver wishing to stop simply knocks the foot-spud to the left with his toe, this
throws both pawls P & P into action, the pawl P which is opposed to the motion
of the car prevents its ratchet wheel B' and consequently the end of the spring M
from evolving, while the other end of the spring is carried round by the ratchet A,
the pawl P and the ratchet wheel A' slipping past B & R' and thus the spring M
is wound up. It is held in that state by the pawl P until released by the horses
or the driver pulling out the pawl P when the spring immediately uncoils, moving
the car on in the direction it had been running.
This it will be seen acts equally from either end of the car.
Having shewn a helical spring in the drawing it must be understood that we do
not confine ourselves to that or any form of spring power.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is —
A combination of the double ratchet gear and levers in connection with a spring
motor (or other source of power) substantially as described.
Dated this 1st day of October 1891.
A. M. VEREKER.
S. M. YEATES.