Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 4th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 12th Oct., 1888
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that description of apparatus for starting tramway cars,
gas motor engines &c. wherein the braking or stopping of the car or engine is caused
to wind up a spring so as to store up a certain amount of motive power which is
afterwards utilised for starting the engine again.
For this purpose the wheel-axle of the car or the engine shaft carries a ratchet
disc loose thereon which can be made to revolve therewith by a clutch and which is
prevented from revolving in the contrary direction by a pawl that can be released by
a pull on a rod, so that a spiral or helical spring having its one end attached to the
said disc while its other is attached to a fixed point, is wound up on gearing the dise
with the axle or shaft by the clutch, and effects the turning of the shaft when the
pawl that holds the disc is released.
The present improvements relate both to the ratchet and pawl mechanism, to the
friction clutch, and to the coiled spring and its connection with the disc.
The pawl mechanism is so constructed that a very slight pull upon the same will
effect the disengagement thereof from the ratchet disc.
Referring to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings there is mounted upon ar

page_text: axis B a double ended lever A, or there might be two single armed levers fixed on the
axis. The axis carries a counter weight which tends to move the lower end of
the lever A downwards towards the ratchet disc. The upper end of the lever A to
which the pulling rod D is connected, bears with an adjustable screw e against the
underside of a fixed stop E, whereby the weight C is prevented from moving the 5
lever over beyond the position shown. The lower end of the lever has pivotted
thereto one or more pawls F which is or are pressed into the teeth of the ratchet
wheel G by means of the weight H. It is preferred to make the ratchet wheel with
two sets of teeth and pawls as shewn, the one set of teeth being situated half a tooth
in advance of the other, whereby a stronger connection is obtained and the shock of i
the pawls on entering the teeth is reduced. A greater number of sets of teeth and
pawls may he used. When the parts are in the position shown, the centre of the
pivot of the pawls is slightly below the straight line connecting the centre of the
axis B and the point of the pawl, so that a thrust against the latter exercised by
the ratchet disc tends to turn the lower end of lever A downwards. On exercising a
pull on the rod 1) the lower end of lever A is raised until the centre of the pivot of F
is in line with the centre of B and the point of F, whereupon the pressure exerted by
the ratchet disc upon the pawl will force the pivot still higher, and the pawl, losing
its abuttment, will then yield to the pressure and allow the ratchet disc to rotate so as
to carry the axle K round by means of the action of the spring thereon. By adjusting
the position of the pawl's pivot relatively to the before mentioned straight line by
means of the screw e, the strength of pull required for disengaging the pawl can be
regulated.
Instead of effecting the connection of the ratchet disc with the axle K by a conical
friction clutch as heretofore, which requires a considerable thrust to be exerted to
bring it effectually into gear, the clutch is constructed of three blocks P bearing
against the inner face of a rim on the ratchet disc, and having stems sliding in
grooves in a guide O fixed on the axle, the said stems being connected by adjustable
links N to a sleeve M that can slide on the axle K, so that by pushing the sleeve M
inwards, the links N are made to move outward the blocks P so as to bite against
the rim of the ratchet disc.
There are two ratchet discs with their pawl and clutch mechanisms, each disc being
made to operate in a direction contrary to that of the other one, and the sleeves M. M
are so connected by a system of levers, that on pushing the one inwards for bringing
its clutch in gear, the other is pushed outwards so as to bring its clutch out of gear.
Between the two discs are one or more helical springs, one end of which is connected
to the one disc and the other end to the other disc. This connection is effected by a
spring pawl shewn at Figs. 3 and 4 pivotted to the end of the spring and taking
into ratchet teeth on a ring R fixed on the ratchet disc G, these teeth being also in
reverse directions on the two discs.
Thus when the disc G is rotated in one direction for winding up, it carries the end
of the spring with it by the pawl Q, thereby winding up the spring, the other end
thereof being held stationary by its connection with the other ratchet disc, whil
should the disc be rotated in the contrary direction, the pawl of the spring will slid
over the ratchet teeth, and thus the straining of the spring in the wrong direction wil
be prevented.
From the above construction it will be seen that for stopping the car or engin
when running in a certain direction, the one sleeve, say M, is moved so as to brin
its ratchet disc in gear, and thus wind up the spring, which is then prevented fro
unwinding by the pawls E of both ratchet discs, preventing these from turning i
the direction required for unwinding. If now it be required to start the car
engine again, this is effected by first moving the sleeve M₁ so as to bring its clutch
gear with the ratchet disc while the clutch of M is at the same time. moved out
gear, and then disengaging the pawl, F of the former, whereupon the spring will
free to effect the rotation of the disc and axle in the same direction as that in whi
this was moving before it was stopped.

page_text: If the axle or shaft is rotating in the contrary direction, then the sleeve M' is
actuated for stopping, and M for starting again.
Should the spring become entirely unwound before the disc G has been uncoupled
from the shaft, its pawl Q will simply slide over the teeth R of the disc.
Dated this 28th day of January 1888.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Starting Tramway Cars, Gas Motor
Engines, and the like.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, 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 relates to that description of apparatus for starting tramway cars, gas.
motor engines &c. wherein the breaking or stopping of the car or engine is caused to
wind up a spring so as to store up a certain amount of motive power which is after-
wards utilised for starting the engine again.
For this purpose, the wheel axle of the car or the engine shaft carries a ratchet disc
loose thereon which can be made to revolve therewith by a clutch and which is
prevented from revolving in the contrary direction by a pawl that can be released by
pull on a rod so that a spiral or helical spring having its one end attached to the
said disc while its other is attached to a fixed point, is wound up on gearing the disc
with the axle or shaft by the clutch, and effects the turning of the shaft when the pawl
that holds the disc is released.
a
The present improvements relate both to the ratchet and pawl mechanism, to the
friction clutch, and to the coiled springs and its connection with the disc.
The pawl mechanism is so constructed that a very slight pull upon the same will
effect the disengagement thereof from the ratchet disc.
Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification
there is mounted upon an axis B a double ended lever A or there might be two single
armed levers fixed on the axis. The axis carries a counter weight which tends to
move the lower end of the lever A downwards towards the ratchet disc. The upper

page_text: end of the lever A to which the pulling rod D is connected, bears with an adjustable
screw e against the underside of a fixed stop E, whereby the weight C is prevented
from moving the lever over beyond the position shown.
lever has pivotted thereto one or more pawls F which is or are pressed into the
The lower end of the
teeth of the ratchet wheel G by means of the weight, H.
It is preferred to make the ratchet wheel with two sets of teeth and pawls as
shewn, the one set of teeth being situated half a tooth in advance of the other,
whereby a stronger connection is obtained and the shock of the pawls on entering
the teeth is reduced. A greater number of sets of teeth and pawls may be used.
When the parts are in the position shewn, the centre of the pivot of the pawls is
slightly below the straight line connecting the centre of the axis B and the point of the
pawl, so that a thrust against the latter exercised by the ratchet disc tends to turn
the lower end of lever A downwards. On exercising a pull on the rod D, the lower end
of lever A is raised until the centre of the pivot of F is in line with the centre of Band
the point of F, whereupon the pressure exerted by the ratchet disc upon the pawl will
force the pivot still higher, and the pawl, losing its abuttment, will then yield to the
pressure and allow the ratchet disc to rotate so as to carry the axle K round by
incans of the action of the spring thereon. By adjusting the position of the pawl's
pivot relatively to the before mentioned straight line by means of the screw e the
strength of pull required for disengaging the pawl can be regulated.
Instead of effecting the connection of the ratchet disc with the axle K by a
conical friction clutch as heretofore, which requires a considerable thrust to be
exerted to bring it effectually into gear, the clutch is constructed of three blocks P
bearing against the inner face of a rim on the ratchet disc; and having stems
sliding in grooves in a guide O fixed on the axle the said stems being connected
by adjustable links N to a sleeve M that can slide on the axle K so that by
pushing the sleeve M inwards the links N are made to move outward the blocks P
so as to bite against the rim of the ratchet disc.
There are two ratchet discs with their pawl and clutch mechanisms, each disc
being made to operate in a direction contrary to that of the other one, and the
sleeves M. M' are so connected by a system of levers that on pushing the one
inwards for bringing its clutch in gear, the other is pushed outwards so as to
bring its clutch out of gear. Between the two discs are one or more helical springs
one end of which is connected to the one disc and the other end to the other disc.
This connection is effected by a spring pawl shewn at Figures 3 and 4, pivotted
to the end of the spring, and taking into ratchet teeth on a ring R fixed on the
ratchet disc G these teeth being also in reverse directions on the two discs.
Thus when the disc G is rotated in one direction for winding up, it carries the
end of the spring with it by the pawl Q, thereby winding up the spring, the other
end thereof being held stationary by its connection with the other ratchet disc,
"while should the disc be rotated in the contrary direction, the pawl of the spring
will slide over the ratchet teeth and thus the straining of the spring in the wrong
direction will be prevented.
From the above construction it will be seen that for stopping the car or engine
when running in a certain direction, the one sleeve say M is moved so as to bring
its ratchet disc in gear, and thus wind up the spring which is then prevented from
unwinding by the pawls F of both ratchet discs, preventing these from turning
into the direction required for unwinding. If now it be required to start the car
or engine again, this is effected by first moving the sleeve M. so as to bring its
clutch. in gear with the ratchet disc while the clutch of M is at the same time 5
moved out of gear, and then disengaging the paw! F of the former, whereupon
the spring will be free to effect the rotation of the disc and axle in the same
direction as that in which this was moving before it was stopped.
If the axle or shaft is rotating in the contrary direction, then the sleeve M³ is
actuated for stopping and M for starting again.
5
Should the spring become entirely unwound before the disc G has been uncoupled
from the shaft, its pawl Q will simply slide over the teeth R of the disc.

page_text: 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. In starting apparatus for tramway-cars, gas motor engines and the like, the use
of pawl and ratchet mechanism wherein the pawl or pawls is or are pivotted to a lever,
rendered adjustable in position by a screw so that the pivot of the pawl may be made
to assume a greater or less angular position relatively to its point and the fulcrum of
the lever, and thus the power required for moving it out of gear be made adjustable,
substantially as herein described.
2. In starting apparatus for tramway-cars, gas motor engines and the like, the use
of clutch apparatus for putting the ratchet discs in and out of gear with the axle or
shaft, consisting of radially sliding friction blocks made to bear against a cylindrical
rim on the ratchet disc, and connected by pivotted links to a sliding sleeve on the
axle or shaft, substantially as herein described.
3. In starting apparatus for tramway-cars gas motor engines and the like, the use
of one or more helical springs connected at each end to the ratchet discs by means
of spring pawls on the ends of the spring, gearing with ratchet teeth on the discs,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 4th day of September 1888.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.