IMPROVEMENTS IN SUPPLYING AND WORKING VEHICLES WITH COMPRESSED AIR AND IN APPARATUS FOR SAME
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Richard Stevens at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March 1883.
CHARLES RICHARD STEVENS, of 56 Loampit Vale, Lewisham, Kent, Mechanical
Engineer, IMPROVEMENTS IN SUPPLYING AND WORKING VEHICLES WITH
COMPRESSED AIR AND IN APPARATUS FOR SAME,"
"1]
My invention relates to improved methods of distributing compressed air in
metal pipes or tubes preferably of wrought iron, over the route to be run, with
valves for supplying special receivers on the vehicle distributed and fixed at
suitable places along the route and protected by gratings and frames which are
opened by an operator on the car, by lowering-suitable mechanism to fill the
receivers, the pipes or tubes being charged by one or more pumping stations
supplying the compressed air. Also the invention relates to erecting at suitable
places holders or receivers, either close to the pumping station or distributed along
the route, so as to store the compressed air, so that the pumping of air can go on
continuously; combined with suitable valves for shutting off or for disconnecting
in case of repair or leakage, or for supplying as may be required. Also the
invention comprises providing suitable holders on the cars or vehicles combined
with machinery or apparatus for propelling the cars or vehicles and suitable
apparatus to open the grating and valve of the tubes in the route so as to quickly
fill the car receiver, the receiver being filled at frequent intervals the weight
thereof is considerably reduced as it is not required to be strong or large and the
pressure can be greatly reduced.
My invention having for its object improved methods of utilising compressed air
by the means of distributing the same to where it may be required in pipes.or
tubes with suitable valves for fitting a receiver on the car at various places on the
route, and in arranging suitable machinery on the carriage to propel same and also
in arranging convenient apparatus for connecting and disconnecting the supply pipe
from the receiver or the car so as to be able to reduce the gross weight to be
propelled to the smallest amount possible. Also the invention comprises arranging,
preferably under the carriage or car, the crank-shaft separate from the axle of the
wheels and having gear with small and large wheels on the axle and crank shaft
so that by shifting them with suitable levers the speed of the axle shaft can be
increased or decreased, so that on ascending a hill, or in starting, the large wheel

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on the axle shaft would be geared into the small one on the crank shaft so as to
get great power, but on a level road or when very little power is required it would
be just the reverse, the large wheel ou the crank shaft would be geared into the
small one on the axle so as to economise the compressed air.
In order to carry out my invention I take say a tramway carriage supported on
flanged wheels and fit it with suitable compressed air engines of the very lightest
construction consistent with strength. The receiver or compressed air holder I
prefer to make of a number of tubes or pipes and distributed about the car in
suitable places under the seat, at the sides on or near the roof or underneath the
carriage or car and connected together so as to be strong and tight; for this purpose
I have at the two ends of the carriage or car running cross-way two tubes of
larger diameter than those running lengthways the smaller tubes running length-
ways to be connected into the larger one at their ends underneath the car, and
connected with the tubes formning the holder, with suitable valves or telescopic
apparatus, and worked with convenient levers from either end of the car so as to
raise and lower the valves or telescopic apparatus when it is necessary to fill the
holder from the compressed air mains, the telescopic apparatus being provided with
a ring round the bottom edge, of some suitable material preferably indiarubber, so
that when it is pressed down on to the upper face of the valve, it will form an air
tight joint, inside same is provided a pin or rod that will press on the valve and
open it and the pressing of the air from the mains will then force open the valve
to the holder till it is filled, by raising the telescopic apparatus with the levers the
valve on the compressed air mains loosens of itself by the pressure in them and the
same with the valve to the holder: The grating or covering to the valve is
provided with a frame and suitable apparatus so that in lowering the telescopic
apparatus it will open the frame to allow of the apparatus descending on to the
valve, afterwards by moving the car a projecting arm will close same.
I propose
having one or more pumping stations for compressing the air with suitable
machinery and air pumps worked either by steam or windmills or any other motor..