Improved Draw Gear for Vehicles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1895-Accepted, 18th July, 1896
Improved Draw Gear for Vehicles.
I, HENRY STANBRIDGE of 136 Wellesley Road, Chiswick London W. 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:-
The power of animals pulling is automatically intensified or multiplied at the starting.
of vehicles in order thereby to overcome the dead resistance of a body.not in motion.
The wear and tear of the animals drawing vehicles is thus materially lessened.
According to my invention, the forward pull of the horses is made to act on a
movable splinter bar to which are attached levers pivotted on fixed points. These
levers in turn actuate pawls engaging the teeth of ratchet wheels attached to the
hub or axle of the front wheels of the vehicle. In place of the ratchet wheels,
ordinary wheels with teeth having a piece to drop in may if desired be used to
communicate the motion to the wheels. The limit of this multiplicator of power is
dependant on the length of the siiding part, having regard to convenience and safety
in manoeuvring the vehicle.
Suitable springs or equivalents return the parts and throw them out of gear when
pull is not on and the vehicle can be backed if necessary.
My invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings of the front of an omnibus
and tramcar respectively fitted with my gear.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are views respectively side, front and top of forecarriage, of
omnibus fitted with both vertical and horizontal levers-the fulcrum of the vertical
levers being in continuation of the axis or centre of the wheels.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views respectively side, front and top of forecarriage of:an
omnibus fitted only with vertical, levers-the fulcrum of these vertical levers being
between the centre and the periphery of the front wheels. The multiplication of
power by the horizontal levers is thus unnecessary.
Figs. 7 and 8, are side, and front views with details of the vertical levers of
Figs. 4, 5 and 6.
Figs. 9 and 10 are side and front views of my invention applied to the rotating
axle of tramcar wheels and such like vehicles.
Similar letters of reference on the figures represent similar parts.
In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 :-
A represents a bar to which are attached the traces.
At the extremities of this bar A are two bars Bhaving their ends; hinged to
horizontal levers C. These levers C are pivoted at a fixed point to the
forecarriage.
D are chains attached to these levers C at a and have their other ends attached
to vertical levers E pivoted on the axis or continuation of the centre of wheel O.
The levers E are drawn back by the springs and carry each a pawl F pivoted
at c which engages with a ratchet wheel G screwed on to the axle box g' of the
wheels R-see Fig. 8.
KK are stops which tilt the pawls F out of gear at the completion of the forward
and backward movement of the levers E.
The working of my invention is as follows:-
The horses attached by traces to the bar A on pulling draw forward the bar A,
the levers C follow and advance in turn the vertical levers E. The levers E move
forward the pawls F which in turn advance the ratchet wheels G and the wheels R.
Price 8d.1

page_text: The vehicle is thus advanced with less effort than if the traction power were first
applied direct to the vehicle instead of to the wheel.
In Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8-the forward movement of the sliding bar A held in
position by the guide slots b and the collars 61 is directly communicated to the vertical
levers E by means of the chains D'. The levers E' are hinged in the brackets M by
the pin m' and these brackets M are attached to the axle of the forecarriage by a
plate m² and the nuts m³.
The spring resting on the plate r² and held back by the pin 3 is compressed on
the forward movement of the levers E' by means of the cam incline 4. The expansion
of the spring returns the levers E¹.
Figs. 9 and 10 show the invention adapted to tramcars and like vehicles.
A is the sliding draw bar.
C¹ and Care horizontal levers connected to each other and pivoted at Q and Q³
under the platform of the tramcar.
The sliding draw bar A¹ and the sliding piece A2 carrying the pawl Fare also
connected to the, horizontal levers C and (2 at a¹ and a² respectively.
G is the ratchet wheel keyed or fastened on the axle of the front wheels O'.
KK2 are stops to throw the pawl out of gear.
r is the return spring.
Rare the wheels of tramcar.
The pulling out of draw bar A¹ advances the lever C¹ operating the lever C2 and
finally with a gain of power moving the sliding piece A2 which by means of the
pawl Facts on the ratchet wheel C and thus turns the wheels R' starting the
tramcar with less effort than by first applying the power of horses as usual to a
fixed point on the tramcar.
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 :-
1. The arrangement and combination of parts for starting vehicles substantially
as and for the purposes herein before described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3
of the drawings hereunto annexed.
2. The arrangement and combination of parts for starting vehicles substantially
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8
of the drawings hereunto annexed.
3. The arrangement and combination of parts for starting vehicles substantially
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 9 and 10
of the drawings hereunto annexed.
4. In draw gear for vehicles-the combination with the wheel of the vehicle of
a ratchet wheel such as G screwed direct onto the axle box of said wheel
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
5. The improved draw gear-for vehicles-arranged constructed combined and
acting substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1895.
HENRY STANBRIDGE.