Improvements in Controllers for Motors and Brakes of Electric Cars.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Controllers for Motors and Brakes of Electric Cars.
I, ADOLPHE GROSSMAN, Merchant, of 205, South Peters Street, New Orleans, in
the Parish of Orleans, and State of Louisiana, United States of America, 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 controlling the motors and brakes of
electric cars, and will be fully understood from the following description and claims
when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which :
Fig. 1, is a perspective view of my improved mechanism as applied to an electric
car.
Fig. 2, is an enlarged, longitudinal section through the same.
Fig. 3, is a perspective view, partly in section, illustrative of the brake staff and
its appurtenances; the latter being shown as separated.
Fig. 4, is an inverted perspective view of the lower end of the brake crank, and:
Fig. 5, comprises perspective views of the upper portion of the shaft of the
electric switcb or rheostat and the parts employed thereon.
In the said drawings, similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of the
several views, referring to which:
A, designates the front of an electric car to which a suitable shelf or support B,
is connected; C, designates a plate on the support B, which is provided with
stops a, b, and may also be provided with a suitable index (not illustrated);
D, designates a brake staff which extends through the shelf or support and is
designed to be connected with the brake or brakes of the car by a chain or other
suitable means (not illustrated), and E, designates the shaft of the rheostat or
switch of an electric-motor; the said rheostat and motor not being illustrated
because they form no part of my invention.
The brake staff D, is provided in its upper end with a socket c, which is designed to
receive the interior journal d, of a crank F, and said staff is also provided at its
upper end with beveled teeth e, designed for engagement of the interior teeth f,
of the crank (see Fig. 4), whereby it will be seen that when the crank is turned in
the direction of the arrow, the staff will turn with it, while, when said crank is
turned in the opposite direction, the staff will remain idle, thus enabling the
motorman to manipulate the crank in the usual manner when applying the
brake.
My invention contemplates utilizing the rotation of the brake staff to apply and
release the brakes and also to stop and start the electric motor. To this end, the
brake staff and rheostat shaft E, are equipped with sprocket wheels G, H, and a
sprocket chain I, is employed to transmit motion from the wheel G, to the wheel H.
The sprocket wheel G, is provided at its under side with a clutch face g, which
engages a corresponding face h, on a clutch member i, fixed to and mounted on a
spring plate j, whereby it will be seen that, when idle, said wheel G, will be held
against casual rotation for a purpose presently described. The wheel G, is also
provided, on its upper side, with an interiorly toothed, annular flange k. This

page_text: flange k, is designed for the engagement of a detent lever J, which is fulcrumed on
the crank F, (see Fig. 2,) and is normally held out of engagement with the flange k,
by a spring . To enable the motorman to readily place the lever J, in engagement
with the flange k, and thereby lock the sprocket wheel G, to the crank, the plunger
or push-pin K, is provided. This plunger or push-pin K, is normally held in the
position shown in Fig. 2, by a spring m, interposed between its enlargement n,
and the diaphragm p, in the handle, and it is designed when depressed to place the
lever J, in engagement with the flange k, and when released to return to its normal
position so as to enable the spring to disengage the detent lever from said
flange.
The sprocket wheel H, of the rheostat shaft E, is also loose on said shaft, for a
purpose which will presently be described. This sprocket wheel H, has a clutch
face q, on its upper side designed to engage a corresponding clutch face r, on the
under side of a plate L, which is fixed on the shaft E, so as to turn therewith and
yet have a slight vertical movement thereon. The said plate L, which has an
arm M, is normally held in engagement with the sprocket wheel H, by a spring
plate N, which is mounted on and preferably keyed to the shaft E, and is interposed
between a nut P, on the shaft and the plate L, as shown.
In the practice of the invention, the rheostat on the shaft E, is so arranged that
when the arm M, of the plate L, rests against the stop b, the full electric current is
supplied to the motor while when said arm M, rests against the stop a, the current
is cut off. Said rheostat is also so arranged that the resistance to the current will
be gradually increased as the arm M, moves in one direction and will be gradually
diminished as said arm moves in the opposite direction, thus insuring the gradual
stopping and starting of the motor.
In the operation of the mechanism, when the car is running at full speed, and it
is desired to stop the same, the motorman presses on the plunger K, so as to lock
the sprocket wheel G, to the crank F, and turns said crank in the direction of the
arrow. This, as will be observed, rotates not only the brake staff but moves the
plate L, and shaft E, so as to stop the motor. When the arm M, of the plate L,
reaches the stop a, and the current is cut off from the motor, the motorman
releases the plunger K, so as to release the sprocket wheel G, from the crank and
continues the rotation of the said crank toward the right until the car comes to a
full stop or its speed is reduced to the extent desired.
When it is desired to start the car, the brake staff is turned in the opposite
direction to the arrow until the brakes are released. The plunger K, is then
depressed so as to force the detent into engagement with the toothed flange k, of
the sprocket wheel G, and the movement of the crank is continued until the arm M,
of plate L, rests against the stop b. From this it will be seen that the motorman
is enabled, by turning the crank F', in one direction, to release the brakes and
start the motor, and by turning said crank in the opposite direction, to stop the
motor and apply the brakes, which is an important advantage.
When the sprocket wheel G, is released from the crank F, it will be seen that
the clutch member i, will hold said wheel G, against casual rotation and will thus
prevent it from moving the sprocket wheel H, and plate L, and thereby casually
start or stop the motor.
It will also be seen that in the event of the motorman forgetting to release the
plunger K, when the arm M, of plate L, reaches either one of the stops a, b,
the continued rotation of the crank F, to the right or left, according to whether
the car is being stopped or started, will du no damage because the clutch teeth
of the wheel 1, will ride over those of the plate L, when the arm of said plate
reaches the stop to which it is moved.
I prefer to use sprocket wheels and a chain for transmitting motion from the
brake staff to the rheostat shaft, because such gearing is well adapted for the pur-
pose. I do not desire however to be understood as confining my self to the same as
any gearing or connection suitable to the purpose of my invention may be employed.
I also prefer to use the construction shown and described whereby the sprocket

page_text: wheel G, is clutched to the support and the sprocket wheel H, is clutched to
the shaft E. I do not desire however to be understood as confining myself to
such construction as any construction which will serve the purpose described
may be employed.
Various changes in the construction and relative arrangement of the several parts
of my improved mechanism may also be made in practice without departing from
the scope of my invention.
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
1. A mechanism for controlling the motor and brake of an electric car, comprising
a rotary brake staff, a handle so connected with the staff that it will turn in one
direction with said staff and in the opposite direction loose on the same, a gear
wheel loosely mounted on the staff, a suitable means for holding said gear wheel
against casual rotation, suitable means for detachably connecting said gear wheel
with the handle, and a rheostat or switch shaft connected by gearing with said gear
wheel, substantially as specified.
2. A mechanism for controlling the motor and brake of an electric car,
comprising a suitable support, a rotary brake staff, a crank for turning said staff, a
gear wheel loosely mounted on the staff and clutched to the support, means for
fixing said gear wheel to the crank, and a rotary rheostat or switch shaft connected
by gearing with the gear wheel on the brake staff, substantially as specified.
3. A mechanism for controlling the motor and brake of an electric car,
comprising a support, a rotary brake staff, a stop on the support, a rotary
rheostat or switch shaft provided with means for engaging said stop, and a gear
wheel loosely mounted on and clutched to the rheostat or switch shaft and
connected by gearing with the brake staff, substantially as specified.
4. A mechanism for controlling the motor and brake of an electric car, com-
prising a support, a rotary brake staff, a rotary rheostat or switch shaft, stops
arranged on the support at opposite points with respect to the rheostat shaft, a gear
wheel loosely mounted on the rheostat or switch shaft and connected by gearing
with the brake staff, a plate mounted on the rheostat shaft so as to turn therewith
and adapted to engage the stops on the support, and coacting clutches on said
plate and the gear wheel, substantially as specified.
5. A mechanism for controlling the motor and brake of an electric car, comprising
a suitable support, a rotary brake staff, a crank for turning said staff, a gear wheel
loosely mounted on the staff and clutched to the support, means for fixing said gear
wheel to the crank, a stop arranged on the support, a rotary rheostat or switch
shaft provided with means for engaging said stop, and a gear wheel loosely mounted
on and clutched to the rheostat or switch shaft and connected with the brake staff,
substantially as specified.
6. A mechanism for controlling the motor and brake of an electric car, comprising
a suitable support, a rotary brake staff, a crank for turning said staff, a sprocket
wheel loosely mounted on the staff, an adjustable device for detachably fixing said
sprocket wheel to the crank, coacting clutch faces on the support and sprocket
wheel, a rotary rheostat or switch shaft, stops on the support at opposite points
with respect to said shaft, a sprocket wheel loosely mounted on the shaft, a plate
mounted on said shaft so as to turn therewith.and alapted to engage the stops on
the support, coacting clutch faces on said plate and sprocket wheel, and an endless
chain connecting the sprocket wheels of the brake staff and rheostat shaft, sub-
stantially as specified.
7. A. mechanism for controlling the motor and brake of an electric car, comprising
a rotary brake staff, a rotary rheostat or switch shaft, a wheel loose on the brake
staff and connected by gearing with the rheostat shaft, a handle for turning the
brake staff and ineans for detachably fixing said handle to the loɔs wheel, sub-
stantially as specified.
8. A mechanism for controlling the motor and brake of an electric car, comprising

page_text: a rotary brake staff, a rotary rheostat or switch shaft, a wheel loose on the brake
staff and connected by gearing with the rheostat shaft, a crank for turning the
brake staff, and a detent on said crank for engaging the loose wheel and fixing
it to the crank; said detent being normally held out of engagement with the
wheel, substantially as specified.
9. A mechanism for controlling the motor and brake of an electric car, comprising
a rotary brake staff, a rotary rheostat or switch shaft, a sprocket wheel on said
rheostat shaft, a sprocket wheel loose on the brake staff, a handle for turning the
brake staff, means for detachably fixing said handle to the sprocket wheel, and an
endless sprocket chain connecting the sprocket wheels of the brake staff and
rheostat shaft, substantially as specified.
10. A mechanism for controlling the motor and brake of an electric car,
comprising a rotary brake staff, a rotary rheostat or switch shaft, a wheel loose on
the brake staff and connected by gearing with the rheostat shaft and having an
interiorily toothed annular flange on its upper side, a crank for turning the brake
staff, a spring pressed detent lever fulcrumed on the crank and normally held out
of engagement with the toothed flange of the gear wheel, and a plunger arranged
in the crank and adapted when depressed to hold the detent lever in engagement
with the toothed flange of the gear wheel, substantially as specified.
11. A mechanism for controlling the motor and brake of an electric car,
comprising a brake staff, a stop, a rheostat or switch shaft provided with means for
engaging the stop, whereby said stop is enabled to arrest its rotation, and a gear
wheel so connected with the rheostat shaft that it will turn with said shaft until the
.rotation thereof is stopped and will then turn thereon; said gear wheel being also
connected by gearing with the brake staff, substantially as specified.
12. A mechanism for controlling the motor and brake of an electric car,
comprising a support, a rotary brake staff, a rotary rheostat or switch shaft, a stop
arranged on the support, a plate mounted on the shaft so as to turn therewith and
having an arm to engage the stop and also having a clutch face, a gear wheel
loosely mounted on the shaft and having a clutch face engaging that of the plate,
a spring for pressing said plate and gear wheel together, and a connection between
the gear wheel and brake staff, substantially as specified.
13. A mechanism for controlling the motor and brake of an electric car,
comprising a support, a rotary brake staff, a rotary rheostat or switch shaft, a gear
wheel loosely mounted on the brake staff and having a clutch face, a clutch member
fixed on a spring connected to the support and having a clutch face engaging that
of the gear wheel, and a connection between said gear wheel and the rheostat
shaft, substantially as specified.
14. A mechanism for controlling the motor and brake of an electric car,
comprising a support, a rotary brake staff, a rotary rheostat or switch shaft, a stop
on the support, a plate mounted on the support so as to turn therewith and having
an arm to engage the stop and also having a clutch face, a sprocket wheel loosely
mounted on the shaft and having a clutch face engaging that of the plate, a spring
for pressing said plate and sprocket wheel together, a sprocket wheel loosely
mounted on the brake staff and having a clutch face, a clutch member fixed on
a spring connected to the support and having a clutch face engaging that of the
sprocket wheel, a sprocket chain connecting the sprocket wheels of the staff and
shaft, a crank for turning the brake staff and means for detachably fixing the
sprocket wheels of the staff to said crank, substantially as specified.
15. A mechanism for controlling the motor and brake of an electric car,
comprising a stop, a rheostat or switch staff provided with means for engaging
the stop whereby said stop is enabled to arrest its rotation, a gear wheel so
connected with the rheostat shaft that it will turn with said shaft until tho rotation
thereof is stopped and is then free to turn thereon, a brake staff, a gear wheel loosely
mounted on said staff and connected with the gear wheel on tho rheostat shaft, a
handle so connected with the brake staff that it is adapted to turn in one direction
with the staff and in the opposite direction on the same, and a suitable means for

page_text: detachably connecting the handle with the gear wheel on the brake staff, substantially
as specified.
Dated this 7th day of Danombor 1907
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.