New or Improved Protecting Apparatus for Tramway-cars and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Oct., 1899--Accepted, 9th Dec., 1899
COMILLIE DIEUITICATION.
New or Improved Protecting Apparatus for Tramway-cars and
similar Vehicles.
We, ALBERT THIELS, Mechanician, of 7, Spatenteich, Hamburg, and FRITZ JACOB
HENNINGSMEYER, Butcher, of 93, Eimsbüttelerstrasse, Altona, both in the Empire
of Germany, 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 consists of a protecting apparatus to be attached to tram-way
cars and similar vehicles, which whilst allowing small obstacles, such as stones
and such like to pass under the car, prevents however larger bodies such as men
or animals from getting under the wheels of the car. This is effected by providing
a number of catching bars or tongues with movable bearings and strong springs
which can be liberated in order that they can be lowered to the level of the tracks
by an easily actuated lever arrangement.
One method of carrying out this invention is illustrated in the accompanying
drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus, attaclied to a
car but out of action; Figure 2 a partial plan view of the apparatus in its normal
position, partly in section; Figure 3 a longitudinal section in the liberated posi-
tion; and Figure 4 a partial plan view of the liberated apparatus.
As may be seen from the drawing the catching bars or tongues b are movably
inserted in a carrier a which is attached in any convenient manner to the car,
the bars being limited in their movement or travel length-ways by means of
the wedges and springs d. The front ends of the catching bars are suitably
shaped in the form of a shoe and provided with yielding points e as may be seen
from Figure 3 of the drawings. To the carriera is hinged a plate f having at
its loose ends a slightly bent shoe g and adapted by means of one or more spiral
springs to place itself at right angles to the carrier a, when it is liberated.
This hinged plate f carries a connecting-piece i to which is attached a pin kas
may be seen from Figures 2, 3, 4. Underneath the foot-step boards or in other
convenient position there is mounted a striking bar n, on which guide tongues o
are arranged in suitable number and in appropriate distance from one another,
to serve as guides for the catching bars b. Also below the foot-step boards / are
mounted, one on each side of the car, an outwardly extending arm and lever q.
The lever is furnished at one end with a hook r, (see Figures 2 and 4 of the
drawing). The position of this hook coincides with that of the pin k when the
hinged plate f is in the turned down position. A spring s presses the hook r
inwards whilst a chaint draws the outer end of the lever q in an opposite direc-
tion, the chain forming a connection between the levers p and q, by means of
yielding but easily disconnected union pieces ue when the lever 7 engages with
the pink.
The catching bars are of special shape, rising in their middle part but hori-
zontal at their ends as shewn in Figures 1 and 3.
The action of the protecting apparatus is as follows:
The apparatus normally occupies the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the

page_text: drawings, the hinged plate f being pressed downwards against the resistance of
the spring and is locked by means of the pin k, the projection r of the lever q,
and the chain t. The depression of the hinged plate fcauses the catching bars b
to be raised so that their middle part is held above the catching rail and their
points above the surface of the ground. The body of the car can, under these
conditions, follow without hindrance, the rocking motions incidental to badly
laid rails or suddenly occurring gradients, without touching the pavement with
the protecting apparatus.
Supposing now that a large object, which might bring the car into danger, or
a person who might otherwise be run over, falls down at a short distance before the
car, it or he will come into contact with the chain, causing the union pieces u v
to be separated. At the same moment the spring s will cause the projection "
of the lever q to withdraw from the pin k and the spring will then press the
hinged plate f upwards. The catching bars 6 are thereby liberated and lowered,
(see Figure 3) in consequence of their weight to the surface of the ground so
that the body in question is caught up, and cannot get under the wheels. During
this operation the bar n regulates the travel of the apparatus, whilst the yielding
points e give way to slight irregularities in the pavement and greater inequalities
are prevented from interfering with the action of the apparatus by the upward
movement of the central curved parts of the catching bars b, after overcoming
the resistance of the springs d as is shewn somewhat exaggerated in dotted lines
in Figure 3. When it is desired to place the apparatus into position again the
chain union pieces and are again united, the hinged plate f is pressed down
by suitable gear operated by the driver for example, and the lever engages with
the pin k.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
First. A protecting apparatus for tiamcars and the like which consists of several
catching bars 6 lying side by side, adapted to be swung up or down and held in
their normal position by a hinged plate f, the said bars being adapted to be
liberated by a lever q through the medium of the body lying in the path of the
tramcar or other vehicle, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Second. In a protecting apparatus for tramcars and the like of the kind referred
to in the first claiming clause hereof the catching bars b, carrier a, hinged plate f,
locking lever q, arm p and chain t, the whole combined arranged and operating
substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Third. In protecting apparatus for tramcars and the like the catching bars b
the front ends of which are adapted to be pushed, against the action of springs,
into the body of the said bars to enable them to yield to inequalities of the track,
substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 19th day of October 1899.