IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUSUS APPLIED TO TRAMWAYS, PARTS OF WHICH MAY BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1874

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Courtney Cramp at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd
February 1874.
I, CHARLES COURTNEY CRAMP, of 87, Litchfield Rd., Grove Rd., Bow,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUSUS APPLIED TO TRAMWAYS,
PARTS OF WHICH MAY BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My Inventions consists of two improved forms of brakes, a ramp or car
deflector, an arrangement for using the back light of the lamps in
illuminating destination glasses, and a reflector the use of which will
tend to a better and more economical illumination of cars.
In the first form of brake the blocks are made to act on both sides of
the wheel simultaneously; attached to the driver's seat and working in a
quadrant a lever is placed so that the power applied by the driver is
that gained by pressing his back against the seat and thrusting the lever
forward with his hand; this acts through intervening levers upon a bell
crank, one end of which is made to act by a rod upon one end of a small
lever attached to the brake block; as that point is pulled forward an

page_text: equidistant point on the opposite side of the lever takes a backward
motion; this point and the other brake block are attached by a rod, thus
ensuring the wheel being firmly and simultaneously gripped by the brake
blocks. The quadrant is provided with a ratchet, whereby the power
having been applied may be continued at the pleasure and without
further effort on the part of the driver.
In the second form of brake I employ a long lever (the fulcrum at or
about its centre), one end of which is acted upon by suitable intervening
levers worked by the foot or hand, the other end carrying in a forked
bearing a loose pulley, two stout pins projecting from its side face; a
steel band or strap lined with wood (the ends of which are turned on the
pins) passes round a fast pulley (having two diameters) on the driving
axle; that part of the fast pulley having the smaller diameter is embraced
by the strap, the larger part being roughed so that when the lever is
raised, the small loose pulley is brought down on to its curved surface,
and a winding or tightening of the strap commences, the result being the
stoppage of the driving wheels. The loose pulley is provided with holes
to allow the pins being re-arranged.
The form of ramp I employ for deflecting the cars from the rails or
ruts formed by rail and stones is as follows:-The base of the ramp
thakes that form of section which will best admit of its filling up the
groove and overlapping the tread and inside part of the rails; the front
is thinned down wedge-like, so that the flange of the wheel may readily
pass on to it; grooves are formed on the ramp to right and left, separated
by a guide piece, against which the back face of the wheel passes; the
back of the ramp is filled with a wrough iron stop, which also serves as
a handle for lifting it out of the groove or rut.
In the method I adopt for utilising the light at the back end of the
tar for illuminating destination glasses an ordinary panel at each end
of the car is used, having each a semicircular opening, the back of which
is fitted with a panel in which is cut or framed an opening large enough
to admit of being exhibited a destination glass or an ordinary bull's eye,
fitted again behind this and swung upon a centre at the top of the panel
is a sector of a circle, having cut or framed in its surface two openings
of a similar form to that cut in the before-mentioned panel, and carrying
one a coloured glass, the other having the destination of the car written
thereon, at the back of the opening thus formed is fixed an ordinary

page_text: lamp in front of which is a white bull's eye or condenser, which serves
to illuminate either the destination or coloured glasses. At the end of
cach journey it is simply necessary to turn a small handle connexion
with the centre of the panel to bring the required glass into position,
which retains its place by means of a small spring or catch.
The reflector with which I propose to illuminate the bull's eyes back
and front, by a single lamp suspended in the centre of the car, partakes
of the following arrangement:-In the sides of the carriage openings are
made, opposite the light in which are set mirrows at angle of 45° to the
incident rays, the reflected rays are conducted along a tube or passage
to the bull's eyes. The mirrow may be cut into facets to ensure the light
being visible at any angle.
The novelties of these Inventions consists of, in the first place, the
unlimited power thay may be applied by causing the brake blocks to grip
both sides of the wheel.
In the second form of brake, the ease with which the car may be made
to use up its own energy in overcoming it.
The destination boards will prove of great utility at stations or
termini, where cars are started for different routes, making it apparent to
the passenger that the right car is entered.
In the case of the reflector, the lamp being fixed in the centre of the
carriage all the rays of light are used and most effectually; the cutting
of the mirrow into facets will ensure the bull's eye being seen at any
angle, while the position of the lamp in the car will prevent accidents
from rain or wind.