IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION of Tramway CARS AND IN Brakes therefoR.
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Henry Betteley, Engincer, and Thomas
Sharer; Gentleman, both of Gracechurch Street, in the City of
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
of Tramway CARS AND IN Brakes therefoR.
Scaled the 9th February 1875, and dated the 10th August 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Henry Betteley
and Thomas Sharer at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 10th August 1874.
We, JOSEPH HENRY BETTELEY, Engineer, and THOMAS SHARER,
Gentleman, both of Gracechurch Street, in the City of London, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAY CARS AND IN BRAKES THEREFOR," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
tramway cars.
First. In constructing the brake as follows:-To each of the axles
we fix a friction drum, the periphery of which may be turned or covered
with leather or other suitable material. About half the circumferenco
of the said drum is encircled with a metallic band, which band may be

page_text: t
lined with leather or other suitable material. One end of the band is
fixed underneath the car over or a little. beyond. the radius of the drum,
and the other end by a chain, rod, or otherwise to a cross lever, the
fulcrum of which is situated in the centre thereof and centre of the car.
The ends of the aforesaid lever are connected by rods and chains with
drums on spindles or other suitable mechanical arrangement placed at
each end of the car, the object of which is to tighten the metallic bands
round the friction drums by means of the aforesaid cross lever, rods, and
chains, in order to make it act as a brake. That end of the metallic
band not fixed to the car is furnished with a back spring in order to
assist in taking off the brake. Another mode of tightening the metallic
band partly round the friction drum consists in attaching a chain to the
free end thereof, to the centre of which is fixed a sheave, round which
passes another chain, which after passing round a second double-sheaved
block attached to the bottom of the car runs to a drum on a spindle or
other suitable mechanical arrangement placed at each end of the car.
Secondly. In a new mode of arranging the platforms at each end of
The platforms constructed according to our said Invention
are hinged to the car near the doors, and the steps for entering,thë car
are placed at the end instead of the sides of the platforms, as is now tho
One or more ladders for mounting on the top we propose to
place on each side of the doors of the car, or one in the centre of the
car, where two entrances to the inside are preferred, and hinge them at
the top of the car also to fix hooks or other suitable appliance at the
bottom of the said ladders for supporting the platforms, and for keeping
the said ladders in proper position. Chains terminating with springs
may be also attached to the platform in order that it may be pulled up
and kept in place when out of use, or the platform may, slide in suitable
grooves under the flooring of the car. The driver's seat is placed at;
the top of the car at each end thereof. The object of the aforesaid
platforms is to allow them to be turned up against the car or disposed
underneath-when-not-required-on-the-driving end-thereof, thus bringing
the horses nearer to the car, serving also as kicking boards, also to
shorten the car, and prevent passengers entering or leaving by the
driving end.
the cars.
case.
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ર
"
Thirdly. In a new mode of arranging the axles and axlo boxes for
facilitating the turning of curves. Instead of fixing the axle boxes to
the car we make them so that they will slide in suitable slightly curved

page_text: guides fixed to the car, and we unite the axles by means of a bar or bars
with suitable sockets lodging in the centre of the axle. A frame is also
attached to each axle extending therefrom to each end of the car, and
in that side of the frame opposite to the axle. These frames have a
part mortised out in their centre in order to allow the polo to be passed
through. By this arrangement when the car is describing a curve the
wheels inside the said curve will come nearer together, and those
outside the curve will separate further from each other. Another mode
of uniting the axles is to join them by means of bars provided with
springs, which expand and contract when the car is describing a
curve.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Henry Betteley and Thomas Sharer in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th February 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOSEPH
HENRY BETTELEY, Engincer, and THOMAS SHARER, Gentleman, both of
Gracechurch Street, in the City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Joseph Henry Betteley and Thomas
Sharer, Her special licence that we, the said Joseph Henry Betteley
and Thomas Sharer, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Joseph Henry Betteley and Thomas Sharer, our
exccutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TEAMWAY CARS AND IN BRAKES THEREFOR,”
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Joseph Henry
Betteley and Thomas Sharer, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the

page_text: .said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months. next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
4
i
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Joseph Henry Betteloy and
Thomas Sharer, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is
to say:----
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
tramway cars.
First. In constructing the brake as follows:-To each of the axles
we fix a friction drum, the periphery of which may be turned or covered
with leather or other suitable material. About half the circumferenco
of the said drum is encircled with a metallic band; which band may be
lined with leather or other suitablo material. Ono end of tho band is
fixed underneath the car over or a little beyond the radius of tho drum,
and the other end by a chain, rod, or otherwise to a cross lever, the
fulcrum of which is situated in the centro thereof and centre of the car.
The ends of the aforesaid lever are connected by rods and chains with
drums on spindles,, or other suitable mechanical arrangement placed at
each. end of the car; the object of which is to tighten tho, metallic bands
-round the friction drums by. means of the aforesaid cross lever, rods, and
chains, in order to make it act as a brake. That end of the metallic
band not fixed to the car is furnished with a back spring in order to
assist in taking off the brake. Another mode of tightening the metallic
band partly round the friction drum consists in attaching a chain to the
free end thereof, to the centre of which is fixed a sheave, round which
passes another chain, which after passing round a second double-shcaved
i block attached to the bottom of the car runs-to-a drum on a spindle.or
other suitable mechanical arrangement placed at each end of the car.
.
Secondly. In a new mode of arranging the platforms at each end of
the cars. The platforms constructed according to our said. Invention
aro hinged to the car near the doors; and-the steps-for-entering-tho.car
are placed at tlio-end instead of the sides of the platforms, as is now the
case. One or more ladders for mounting on the top we propose to
place on each side of the doors of the car, or one in the centre of the
car where two entrances to the inside are preferred, and hinge them.at

page_text: the top of the car, also to fix hooks or other suitable appliance at the
bottom of the said ladders for supporting the platforms, and for keeping
the said ladders in proper position. Chains terminating with springs
may be also attached to the platform in order that it may be pulled up
and kept in place when out of use, or the platform may slide in suitable
grooves under the flooring of the car. The driver's seat is placed at the
top of the car at each end thereof. The object of the aforesaid platforms
is to allow them to be turned up against the car or disposed underneath
when not required on the driving end thereof, thus bringing the horses
nearer to the car, serving also as kicking boards, also to shorten
the car, and prevent passengers entering or leaving by the driving
end.
"
Thirdly. In a new mode of arranging the axles and axle boxes for
facilitating the turning of curves. Instead of fixing the axle boxes to
the car we make them so that they will slide in suitable slightly curved
guides fixed to the car, and we unite the axles by means of a bar or bars
with suitable sockets lodging in the centre of the axle. A frame is also
attached to each axle, extending therefrom to each end of the car, and
in that side of the frame opposite to the axle. These frames have a
part mortised out in their centre in order to allow the pole to be passed
through. By this arrangement, when the car is describing a curve, tho
wheels inside the said curve will como nearer together, and those
outside the curve will separate further from cach other. Another mode
of uniting the axles is to join them by means of bars provided with
springs, which expand and contract when the car is describing a
curve.
And in order to explain our said Invention more fully we will now
proceed to describe the means by which it may be carried into practical
effect, reference being had to the illustrative Sheet of Drawing accom-
panying these Presents, and to the numeral figures and letters of
reference marked thereon respectively as follows :—
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is an under side view, and Figure 2 a sectional elevation
through the line A, B, of Figure 1 of the framework of a tramway car
furnished with our improved brake.
A, A', are the axles; B, B', friction drums keyed on the said axles,
and having their periphery turned or covered with leather or other

page_text: suitable material; C, C¹, are metallic bands, which may be lined with
leather or other suitable material. Theso bands are fixed at one end
at D, D, and jointed at the other end to rods or chains E, E', the length
of which may be regulated by ordinary regulating screws F, F'. These
rods or chains are attached to a cross lever G actuated in the usual way
by rods H, H', chains K, K¹, and spindles L, L', by means of which the
bands O, O', are tightened round the drums to make them act as brakes.
M, M', are springs, the object of which is to assist in separating the
bands C, C¹, from the drums B, B', when the brake is taken off.
Instead of having the two springs M, M', one spring acting against the 1
cross lever G in any suitable way will answer the purpose.
Figuro 3 shows a sectional view of a friction drum made with one or
more V grooves N, into which is forced by means of the metallic band O
a block O of made of wood or other suitable material.
Figure 4 is a plan, Figure 5 an clevation of a tramway car furnished 1
with our improved platforms.
A is the platform hinged at B as it would appear when in use; A' is
the other platform hinged at B' turned up, and out of use, in which
position it serves as a kicking board, and also to prevent egress and
ingress. To these platforms and on one side thereof are hinged the 2
ladders C, C¹; that marked C is represented as it would appear when in
use, and that marked C' when out of use. These ladders are attached
to and slide up and down bars or rods D, D¹, D", D™. The seat for the
driver is situated on the other side of the door at E, E¹, the foot-
boards F, F', being made so that when out of use they may be turned 2
up and shown at F. The ladders C, C', serve as supports for the
platforms, which may also be connected with each other by chains or .
cords G, so that when one of the platforms is let down it will pull the
other up against the end of the car, and secure it in that position, the
pole part of which is shown at H fits into sockets K, K², having their
fulcrum at L, L³, moving in slides M, M².
Figure 6 is a plan, and Figure 7 a sectional olevation through the
lino A, B, of Figure 0 of our new mode of arranging the axles and axlo
boxes shown in detail at Figures 8, 9, and 10 for facilitating the turning
of curves.
A is part of the pole, which fits into a socket B, B', moving in
slides O, C¹, having their fulcra at D, D³, and having arms E, E', E“, E™,

page_text: extending on cach side and connected by rods F, F', F", F, with the
axles G, G'. The two sockets B, B³, are connected together by the
„rods H, H³, H". The axle boxes K with the springs L, L', Figures 8
and 9, move in slide M fixed to the side of the car. These slides are
made with a slight curve for the curvilinear motion of the axle boxes
when turning curves.
The action of the above arrangement is as follows:--When the pole
deviates from the straight line in order to take the car round a curve,
or in taking points, the arms E, E', E“, E™, will be thrown at an angle,
which motion will be communicated to the axles G, G¹, by means of the
rods F, F, F, Ful
Instead of making the axle box and springs move in a slide, as above
described, the springs L, L, may be fixed to the car, and the axle box K
made to slide under them, as shewn at Figure 10.
Having now described and set forth the nature and object of our said
Invention for "Improvements in the Construction of Tramway Cars and
in Brakes therefor," and the means whereby it may be carried into
practical effect, we would remark in conclusion that what we claim as
our Invention and desire to secure by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The improved construction of brake, substantially as described
and represented at Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Secondly. Constructing tramway cars with movable platforms, sub-
stantially as described and also as represented at Figures 5 and 6.
Thirdly. Constructing tramway cars with movable axles for facilitating
the traversing of curves, substantially as described and represented at
Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Sharer, one of the parties
hereto, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of