SPECIAL APPARATUS FOR STARTING TRAM-CARS & OTHER VEHICLES BY THE PULL OF ANIMAL OR OTHER DRAFT-POWER
Year: 1885

page_text: AVA
by the Pull of Animal- or other Draft-power.
I, STEPHEN BOURNE of Abberley, Wallington in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my invention for A SPECIAL
APPARATUS FOR STARTING TRAM-CARS & OTHER VEHICLES BY THE PULL OF
ANIMAL OR OTHER DRAFT-POWER to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a mechanism whereby the draft-power is first communi-
cated to one or more of the axles of the car or other vehicle to be started &
substantially in the following manner:—
A ratchet wheel is keyed or otherwise secured to the axle and on either side of
it a swing-link, is so hung by means of a clip or bearing, that the axle is free to
revolve in it & at the other end of these links & between them a lever of the
1st order is pivoted. At the end of this lever nearest to the axle is a pawl, so
arranged as to engage with the ratchet-wheel, a suitable stop being provided to
prevent its falling, so that this does not take place, & about midway between the
pawl & the pivot or fulcrum of the lever another stop is placed, so that it shall
come in contact with the swing-links on either side & thus limit the vibration of
the lever. At the outer end of this is an eye or other suitable arrangement to
which the end of a chain or other communication is attached. This chain passes
over pulleys suitably placed & its other end is attached to the draw-bar of the car
or vehicle & a spring & stop are provided to control the action of the draw-bar.
One end of another spring is also attached to the pawl before mentioned the
other end being fixed to the body or framing of the car & a stirrup or hanger is
further provided embracing the ends of the swing-links in such a manner as
to prevent their falling when the chain is not in tension & the action of the
combination is as follows:-
When the draft is not applied to the draw-bar the swing-links will rest on the
stirrup, or hanger & the pawl will be held out of engagement with the ratchet
wheel by the spring attached to it & the car, but when the draft is applied the
first effect will be to swing the lever round on its centre or fulcrum when the pawl
will engage with the ratchet-wheel & about the same time the stop fixed midway
between it & the centre will come in contact with the swing link & prevent its
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page_text: further independent movement. As the draft continues the end of the lever & the
swing-link with it will be raised & the pawl will then turn the ratchet-wheel & by
means of it the axle & the wheel of the car, thus starting it, but as the car moves
forward & the ratchet-wheel turns with the axle, the pawl will be released & the
spring attached to it will raise it out of gear with the ratchet-wheel, thus
preventing any noisey click as the car travels & about the same time the stop on
the draw-bar comes in contact with a suitable keep or abutment which then takes
the strain of the draft.
When the draft is released the spring on the draw-bar above mentioned, &
which, if preferred, may also be suitably applied to the outer end of the lever,
comes into action & forces the draw-bar back, so that the lever is once more free
& falls with the swing-links on to the lower part or cross bar of the stirrup or
hanger already described & the apparatus is once more in position for starting the
car or vehicle.
It, will be understood that there will be a car-starting mechanism as above
described connected with one or more axles & the draw-bars at each end of the
car, for action in starting the car in opposite directions of travel & the car-starting
mechanism out of use will be free from noise, & will not interfere with the action
of the starter in use at the other end of the car.
If desired the swing-links may be supported at the forward end otherwise than
on the axle, but the construction described is preferred. With modifications
which will readily suggest themselves my improvement may be applied to any
vehicles travelling on wheels.

page_text: showing the parts of the car starter in the positions they assume when the draft
strain is not applied to move the car.
Fig. 2. is a section view with the parts of the car-starter in the positions they
take when the draft is first applied to the car.
Fig. 3. is a section view with the parts of the car starter in the positions they
assume when the draft strain is fully applied and the car is moving.
Fig. 4. is a sectional plan view of the main parts of the car-starter, and a part
of the car axle.
A ratchet-wheel D is keyed or otherwise secured to the axle C and on either
side of it a swing link E is so hung by means of a clip or bearing e, that the axle
is free to revolve in it, and at the other end of these links, & between them a
lever F of the first order is pivoted. At the end of this lever nearest to the axle
is a pawl G, so arranged as to engage with the ratchet wheel D, a suitable stop g.
being provided to prevent its falling, so that this does not take place, & about
midway between the pawl G and the pivot f. or fulcrum of the lever, another
stop S is placed, so that it shall come in contact with the swing-links E. on either
side & thus limit the vibration of the lever F. At the outer end of this is an eye
or other suitable arrangement to which the end of the chain J or other communi-
cation is attached. This chain passes over pulleys K, suitably placed, & its other
end is attached to the draw-bar L. of the car or vehicle and a spring R. and a
stop P. are provided to control the action of the draw-bar L. One end of another
spring H. is also attached to the pawl G before mentioned, the other end being
fixed to the body or framing of the car, A. & a stirrup or hanger I is further
provided embracing the ends of the swing links E in such a manner as to prevent
their falling when the chain J is not in tension, & the action of the combination is
as follows:-
.
When the draft is not applied to the draw-bar L, the swing links E. will rest on
the stirrup or hanger at i & the pawl G. will be held out of engagement with the
ratchet wheel D. by the spring H attached to it & the car A, but when the draft is
applied the first effect will be to swing the lever Fnd on its pivot or fulcrum f.
when the pawl G. will engage with the ratchet-w. D. & about the same time
the stop S. fixed midway between it & the pivot f. win come in contact with the
swing-link E. & prevent its further independent movement. As the draft con-
tinues, the end of the lever F. & the swing link E will be raised & the pawl G.
will then turn the ratchet-wheel D & by means of it the axle C & the wheel B of
the car A, thus starting it, but as the car moves forward, & the ratchet wheel D.
turns with the axle C, the pawl G. will be released & the spring H. attached to it
will raise it out of gear with the ratchet wheel D. thus preventing any noisy click
as the car travels, & about the same time the stop O. on the draw-bar L comes
into contact with a suitable keep or abutment N. which then takes the strain of
the draft.
I also employ other methods of preventing the click of the pawl & ratchet, but
shew by preference this one in the drawings herewith.
When the draft is relaxed, the spring R on the draw-bar L above mentioned, &
which if preferred, may also be suitably applied to the outer end of the lever as
shewn at P¹, comes into action & forces the draw-bar L back, so that the lever F
is once more free & falls with the swing links E on to the lower part i or cross bar
of the stirrup or hanger I already described & the apparatus is once more in
position for starting the car or vehicle.
It will be understood that there will a car-starting mechanism as above described
connected with one or more axles & the draw-bars at each end of the car, for action
in starting the car in opposite directions of travel, & the car-starting mechanisin
out of use will be free from noise, & will not interfere with the action of the
starter in use at the other end of the car.
If desired the swing links E may be supported at the forward end otherwise
than on the axle C, but the construction described is preferred. With modifications

page_text: which will readily suggest themselves my improvements may be applied to any
vehicles travelling on wheels.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
invention, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is.
1. In a car-starter the combination substantially as hereinbefore described
consisting of a ratchet wheel fixed to the car-axle, a lever pivoted to a swinging
support and carrying a pawl adapted to engage the ratchet wheel, a chain or
coupling connecting the lever to the draft-bar of the car, and a stop S. placed
between the lever & its swinging support.
2. In a car-starter the combination substantially as herein before described
consisting of a ratchet-wheel fixed to the car axle, a lever pivoted to a swinging
support & carrying a pawl adapted to engage the ratchet wheel, a retracting
spring connecting the pawl with a relatively fixed part of the Car, a chain or
coupling connecting the lever to the draft-bar of the car & a stop S. placed
between the lever & its swinging support.
3. The combination in a Car-starter of the ratchet wheel D. arm E. lever F.
stop S. pawl G. spring H. draft chain J. and draft-bar L. substantially as herein
set forth..
4. The combination in a car-starter of the ratchet-wheel D. arm E, lever F.
stop S pawl G. spring H. draft-chain J. draft-bar L and the hanger support I
substantially as herein before described.
5. In a car-starter the combination of the ratchet wheel D. arm E. lever F.
pawl G. chain J. & draft-bar L. supported in keepers M. N. & having the
shoulders O. P. and the spring R substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
6. In a car starter the combination substantially as hereinbefore described
consisting of a ratchet-wheel attached to the car axle, a lever pivoted to one end
of a swinging support, which support is pivoted at its other extremity to the car
axle, one or more pawls carried. upon said lever adapted to engage the ratchet
wheel, a stop S between the lever & its swinging support, a retracting spring H.
or P¹ connecting the pawl with a relatively fixed portion of the car or draft chain,
the hanger support I, chain J pulley K. and a draft-bar L. supported in keepers M.
N. & having the shoulders O. P. and the spring R.
7. In a car starter suitable means of preventing the click of the pawl G on the
ratchet-wheel D.