Improvements in a Combined Brake and Starter Apparatus for Tramway Cars and other similar Vehicles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in a Combined Brake and Starter Apparatus for
Tramway Cars and other similar Vehicles.
I, RALPH CLEGG of Wellington Place Longsight, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention may be described as a modification of the brake & starter
apparatus for which Letters Patent were granted me dated January 28th 1890) and
numbering 1451.
In the above mentioned Patent, I employ gearing which is in constant action
when the vehicle is running. In the present invention the gearing is only in action
when the brake is in use and may be termed stationary when the vehicle is running
free although revolving with the axle. In this invention I employ two bevil wheels
or pinions. One of the bevil wheels, or pinions is fast on the axle of the vehicle
and the other is fast or connected to the brake or spring disc which is loose on
the axle.
Particulars of the brake or spring disc are given in the before named Specification
and need not be enumerated here. The said two bevil wheels or pinions are
connected to each other by one or more pairs of bevil wheels or pinions.
These bevil wheels or pinions may be cast together or keyed separately on short
shafts, or they may work on studs or pins. These short shafts, studs, or pins are
carried in a bracket having a boss encircling the axle and free to revolve thereon.
Encircling this bracket carrying the short shafts, studs, or pins and pairs of bevil
wheels or pinions is a ring with the axle concentric thereunto.
On the periphery of this ring is a double row of ratchet teeth, oue row pointing
opposite to the other, or a single row may be so shaped as to be available in either
direction. I will presume the action of the brake or spring disc is known as set
forth in the above mentioned Specification. Fixed to the carriage or vehicle in a
convenient position is a pawl which may be double winged and at times acts in the
teeth of the before mentioned ring, one particular wing of which is allowed to act
therein according to the direction in which the vehicle is running.
When the vehicle is running free, that is to say with the brake out of action, the
bracket carrying the before mentioned pairs of bevil wheels or pinions, along with
the ring, which may now be called the ratchet wheel, revolves with the axle and
therefore the gearing connecting the first mentioned two bevil wheels or pinions
is not in action. So long as the bevil wheels or pinions are arranged so that the
one fast to the brake or spring disc is of less diameter than the one fast on the
axle, the effect of the invention is gained. When the vehicle is running and
the brake or spring disc arrested, the spring therein is wound up and at the same
time the ratchet wheel before mentioned is rotated forward quicker than the axle.
The ratchet wheel will after that have a backward tendency, but is prevented from
rotating backward by the catch or pawl before mentioned. When the brake or
spring disc is released with the spring inside charged, the bevil wheel or pinion
fast to the brake or spring disc, by reason of its being smaller in diameter than the
one fast on the axle, communicates, through the gearing, a forward power to the
latter bevil wheel or pinion in addition to overcoming the recoil which is necessarily
created.
As soon as the spring has discharged itself the ratchet wheel will again revolve
with the axle, carrying with it the gearing which will now be stationary while the
vehicle is running.
Do0th 1
han 1001

page_text: .
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in a Combined Brake and Starter Apparatus for
Tramway Cars and other similar Vehicles.
I, RALPH CLEGG, of Wellington Place Longsight, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, 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 :-
My invention may be described as a modification of the brake and starter for
which Letters Patent were granted me dated January 28th 1890 & numbered 1,451.
In the above Patent, I employ gearing which is in constant action when the
vehicle is running. In the present invention the gearing is only in action when the
brake is used and although revolving with the axle when the vehicle is running
free, may be termed stationary or quiescent. Accompanying this description are
drawings which may be referred to and I use the same figures as far as practicable
as those used to certain parts in the previous Specification.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of part of the carriage of a tram car. Fig. 2 a plan of
same and Fig. 3 an end view. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are enlarged views showing
in detail the working parts of the apparatus.
It is necessary in order to fully comprehend the action of the spring and brake
disc, to refer to the above mentioned Specification, and I will presume therefore
that the object of the wheel or pinion D fast on the side of the brake disc B, is
sufficiently understood.
The peculiar construction of the brake disc enables the apparatus to act in either
direction.
One of the wheels or pinions H is fast on the axle A of the vehicle and another
wheel or pinion D is fast to the side of the brake or spring disc B which is loose on
the axle.
Encircling the axle and free to revolve thereon is a boss C carrying one or more
brackets or bosses G. G, in each of which bosses is a short shaft g. g.
Wheels E. E.
each mounted fast upon one of the short shafts g. g. are caused to gear into the
wheel D and wheels F. F. each mounted fast upon one of the short shafts g. 9. are
caused to gear into the wheel H. When I use the term wheels, it may mean either
bevil or spur wheels. It will thus be seen that the wheels H and D are connected
to each other by the wheels E. E. F. F. Encircling the boss or bosses G. G. is a
ring J, concentric with the axle. On the periphery of this ring are ratchet teeth
so formed as to act in either direction, or a double row of teeth may be employed,
one row pointing in one direction and the other row in the opposite direction.
When the brake disc and with it the wheel D revolves with the axle, the other
wheel H, being fast on the axle A, the short shaft or shafts and with them the
wheels E. E. F. F. are carried round with the axle, and therefore the teeth of the
wheels are not in action. When the brake disc B is retarded by the blocks L. L.
and the axle revolved, the ring J is impelled forward in the same direction as the
axle, faster than the axle itself, and it is then that the short shafts g. g. and
wheels E. E. F. F. are in action.
may
Immediately over the ring or ratchet wheel J is a catch or pawl O, which
be double winged, or two or more pawls or catches may be employed, pointing in
opposite directions to each other. In place of the pawls or catches some other
agent may be employed for the same purpose.
For the sake of illustration I have only shown in the drawing a double winged
pawl or catch O so that the object may be the more easily understood. For the
purpose of controlling the action of the pawl O, sliding bars P. P' are used having
projections p. pl. When the vehicle is running in the direction of the arrow R.
Fig. 1, the projections p. pl on the sliding bars P. P' are in the positions as shown
in Figs. 4 & 5. The projection p¹ being out of the path of the wing w¹ of the

page_text: pawl O allows the said wing to descend at times when necessary as will hereinafter
be explained. The other projection p arrests the descent of the wing w and prevents
it coming in contact with the ratchet wheel J. Connected to the ratchet wheel .J
by the arms j. j. is a boss N. Encircling this boss, is another boss N' from which
projects the lever M, the object of which will presently be described. Carried in
the boss N is a block Y, pressed down on to the boss N by the spring U, so as
to produce a slight friction sufficient for influencing the lever M in the same direc-
tion as the ratchet wheel may take. The double winged pawl O is carried by a
short shaft O¹ on which it is fast. This short shaft O is carried and capable of
rocking in a bracket T fixed to the carriage of the vehicle. Fast on this shaft O'
is a lever V. At the end of this lever V is a stud or projection . which is
embraced by the lever M. Now when the brake disc is arrested by the blocks L. L
and the axle revolved, the spring S. will be charged and at the same time the
ratchet wheel J will be rotated in advance of the axle, and the lever M, through
the frictional boss N₁ being influenced in the same direction, and acting on the
lever V. holds the wing wol of the pawl O out of touch with the teeth of the ratchet
wheel J. When the brake disc is liberated by releasing the blocks L. L. the
ratchet wheel will have an opposite movement to that of the brake disc itself and
therefore the lever M will also have the same movement and cause the wing w¹ of
the pawl O to descend on to the ratchet wheel and arrest its further backward
movement. When the ratchet wheel is thus arrested, the power caused by the
spring S having been charged, is by the agency of the wheels EE & F F. trans-
mitted to the wheel H and therefore drives the axle. As soon as the spring S. has
discharged itself, the ratchet wheel J will again revolve with the axle and the
frictional lever M will again lift the wing w¹ of the pawl O out of the path of the
ratchet wheel teeth. When it is desired to run the vehicle in the direction opposite
to that of the arrow R. Fig. 1. the projection p. on the sliding bar P is withdrawn
from its present position out of touch with the wing in and the other projection pl
is placed in position to check the descent of the wing w' and the operation is
repeated on the wing wo in the same manner as on the other.
The operation of applying the brake blocks L. L. is effected by any ordinary
means as at present used on tramway cars.
The controlling of the position of the sliding bars P. P₁ is also effected by
a lever or some other convenient means at the disposal of the driver or
conductor.
A further part of my invention is the means by which I am enabled to lock the
spring or brake disc to the axle so that when the brake is applied, the apparatus
acts as an ordinary brake only and prevents the spring S being charged and so
prevents the apparatus having any effect so far as starting is concerned. This
arrangement is useful when going down an incline and at times when starting is not
desired.
This is shown in Figs. 1. 2. 3. 5 & 8. The arm K is fast on the axle, but to this,
I attach a flange K' having one or more slots or recesses 2. 2. On the boss Z is
another boss Z from which project arms 3. 3. These arms 3. 3 are supported or
carried in the slots 4. 4 formed in the side of the brake disc and are capable of
sliding therein. These arms 3. 3. at times when it is desired to lock the brake disc
to the axle engage into the slots or recesses 2. 2. formed in the flange K' Figs. 5
& 8. and at once act as a powerful stay, converting the brake disc into a fast instead
of a loose one.
The arms 3. 3 are worked in and out of the slots or recesses 2. 2 by a fork W. Figs. 1.
2 & 3, working in the groove 5. formed on the boss Z'. This fork W. is carried by
the sliding bar Q and is acted upon in one direction by the levers 1. 1. Figs. 2 & 3,
and in the other direction by the springh Fig. 3. It will be understood that when
either of the projections p. pl on the sliding bars P. P is out of the path of its
respective wing of the pawl O, the arms 3. 3. will be clear of the flange K' as
shown in Fig. 5.

page_text: The movement of the sliding bars P. P' causes the movement of the arms 3. 3.
Thus, when both projections p. p confront their respective wing as shown in
Fig. 7, the brake disc will become locked to the axle as shown in Fig. 8, the move-
ment of the levers 7.1 giving the spring liberty to throw the arms 3. 3 into the
recesses 2. 2 in the flange K.
Although I have shown the manner in which the various parts are controlled,
it by no means follows that I confine myself to the precise details of the same
as they may be varied to produce the same effect.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
1st. In a combined brake and starter for a tramway car or other similar
vehicle, gearing which is stationary or quiescent when the vehicle is running
free and consisting of the bevil wheel or pinion D, carrier wheels E E and F F,
bevil wheel or pinion H, ratchet wheel J and double winged pawl O, constructed,
arranged, employed and operating substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described in reference to and illustrated in and by Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying
drawings.
2nd. In conjunction with a combined brake and starter for a tramway car or
other similar vehicle, the hereinbefore described means for controlling the direc-
tion in which the combined brake and starter shall move the vehicle and
consisting of the sliding bars P. P having projections p. p and constructed,
arranged, employed & operating substantially as hereinbefore described in
reference to and illustrated in and by Figs. 4. 5. 6 and 7 of the accompanying
drawings.
3rd. In the hereinbefore described combined brake and starter for a tramway
car or other suitable vehicle the hereinbefore described arrangement by means of
which the pawl O is caused to be in or out of contact with the teeth of the ratchet
wheel J for the purposes above stated and consisting of the boss N which is
connected to the ratchet wheel J, the additional boss N' from which projects
the lever M, the block Y with the pressure spring U and lever V, all arranged
employed and operating substantially in the manner hereinbefore described in
reference to and illustrated. in and by Figs. 4. 5 & 6, of the accompanying
drawings.
4th. In the hereinbefore described combined brake and starter for a tramway
car or other similar vehicle, the herein before described means by which the brake
or spring disc is locked to the axle and consisting of the projections or arms 3. 3.
boss Z' Hunge K recesses or slots 2. 2 and fork W all arranged, employed and
operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes above described in
reference to and illustrated in and by Figs. 1. 2. 3. 5 and 8 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of September 1892.