Improvements in Mechanism for Facilitating the Starting of Tram Cars Drawn by Animal Power.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1894-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Facilitating the Starting of Tram
Cars Drawn by Animal Power.
I, CHARLES CASMAN, of Wilsele-lez-Louvain, Belgium, Industrial, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to mechanism for facilitating the starting of tram cars
drawn by animal power by which the pull required to start the car is lessened
and the severe strain usually put on the horses in making a start is considerably
reduced.
According to this invention instead of the whole force exerted by the horses
being directly applied to pull the vehicle forward part or all of such force is
during a limited interval diverted and applied to (preferably) two of the wheels
in such manner as to make them rotate and start or assist in starting the
vehicle.
In order to accomplish this the car is fitted with a draw bar which has a
limited longitudinal movement and until this bar is drawn out to its fullest extent
the pull reaches the car only through the mechanism connected with the wheels,
but when this mechanism has been operated and the draw bar has reached its
forward limit of motion the pull comes direct on the car in the usual manner.
The mechanism is fitted to the two leading wheels and comprises for each wheel
an arm rigidly attached or keyed to the end of an axle placed preferably
excentrically in relation to the axle of the wheel and so that the free end of the
arm describes part of a circle within but smaller than, and excentrically to, the
wheels.
On the inner surface of the felloe of the wheel or on a ring attached thereto, are
a series of teeth with which the before named ratchet gears when brought into
action.
The axle carrying this arm, or pair of arms, is fitted with quadrant, or pulley, or
segment of a pulley or the like which may conveniently enclose the axle of the car
wheels between its arms or spokes and its rim and is connected with the draw bar
in such wise that when the draw bar is drawn forwards the axle is rotated and the
ratchet which when the apparatus is at rest is clear of the cogs, is brought against
the cogs and forces the wheel to rotate a short distance thereby starting the car
after which as the car continues to move the ratchet rises and allows the cogs to
pass under it.
A spring or weight restores the parts to their first position when the pull on the
draw bar ceases.
The apparatus is duplicated in each car a like apparatus being fitted to each end
of the car in connection with the pair of wheels corresponding therewith to provide
for traction with either end of the car first.
Dated the 1st day of January 1894.
DDAWNE
NEWNHAM
AM BROWNE,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Facilitating the Starting of Tram
Cars Drawn by Animal Power.
I, CHARLES CASMAN of Wilsele-lez-Louvain, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Manufacturer 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 relates to mechanism for facilitating the starting of tram-cars
drawn by animal power, by which the pull required to start the car is lessened and
the severe strain usually put on the horses in making a start is considerably
reduced.
The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation as applied to a tram-car,
Figure 2 an end elevation of same;
Figures 3 and side elevations showing the action of the pawl device;
Figures 5 and 6 details of the pawl device;
Figure 7 side elevation showing the invention applied to an ordinary road
vehicle;
Figures 8 and 9 end views of same.
According to this invention, instead of the whole force exerted by the horses
being directly applied to pull the vehicle forward, part or all of such force
is, during a limited interval, diverted or applied to (preferably) two of the
wheels in such manner as to make them rotate and start or assist in starting the
vehicle.
In order to accomplish this, the car is fitted with a drawbar A, Figure 1, which
has a limited longitudinal movement, and until this bar A is drawn out to it
fullest extent, the pull reaches the car only through the mechanism connected with
the wheels, but when this mechanism has been operated and the drawbar A has
reached its forward limit of motion at L, the pull comes directly on the car in the
usual manner.
In the case of ordinary tram-cars (Figures 1 to 6), the mechanism is fitted to the
two leading wheels, and comprises for each wheel an arm or pair of arms F rigidly
attached or keyed to the end of an axle E, placed preferably eccentrically in
relation to the axle of the wheels and so that the free end of each arm, provided
with a pawl G, describes part of a circle within, but smaller than and eccentrically
to, the wheels. On the inner surface of the felloe of the wheels or on a ring
attached thereto, are a series of teeth M with which the beforenamed pawls G gear
when brought into action.
The axle E carrying this arm or pair of arms F, is fitted with a quadrant,
or pulley or segment of a pulley D or the like, which may conveniently enclose the
axle of the car wheels between its arms or spokes and its rim, and this segment D
is connected with the drawbar A by a chain or cable C in such a manuer that when
the drawbar A is drawn forwards, the axle E is rotated and the pawls G, which, 4
when the apparatus is at rest are clear of the cogs M, are brought against the cogs
and force the wheels to rotate a short distance thereby starting the car, after which
as the car continues to move, the pawls G rise and allow the cogs M to pass under
them.
A spring R or a weight restores the parts to their first position when the pull on 4
the drawbar A ceases.
The apparatus is duplicated in each car, a like apparatus being fitted to each
end of the car in connection with the pair of wheels corresponding therewith to
provide for traction with either end of the car first. But in tram-cars or omnibuses
rolling on ordinary roads having no rails, the mechanism is provided to the rear- 5
wheels only. In this case (see Figures 7, 8 and 9) the chain or cable C is guided

page_text: along by pulleys or rollers I and H, and is fastened to an articulated segment A
connected with the whipple-tree. A single lever D (Figures 7 and 9) may then
take the place of the segment of pulley D (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4) and the cogs M
may be taken off. In this case the pawls G are provided with hooks P (Figure 9)
so as to grip directly the felloe of the wheel. K are small chains to hold the
pawls G back to allow of the car being backed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
:-
A mechanism for facilitating the starting of tram-cars drawn by animal power,
by which the first pull exerted by the horses is directly applied to the felloe of the
wheels by means of a drawbar or articulated segment A, a chain or cable C
(guided if desired by pulleys or rollers I H) a pulley, or segment of pulley or
single lever D, an axle E, pair of arms F, pawls G (provided or not with hooks P)
and cogs M placed on the inner surface of the felloe of the wheels substantially as
described and illustrated.
Dated his 20th Inc. of 1004
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.