Improvements in and oonnected with Brakes for Stopping and Starting Tramcars and like Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and oonnected with Brakes for Stopping and
Starting Tramcars and like Vehicles.
I EDUARD VON HULSEN, of 7 Schillerstrasse Charlottenburg in the German
Empire Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be BB
follows:-
A brake constructed or arranged according to this invention is mainly designed
for retarding or stopping and for assisting the starting of tram-cars but is not
limited thereto.
The brake operating spindle is connected by a chain or its equivalent to an arm
projecting from a rock shaft which is provided with another arm or with other
arms which by the rotation of the brake operating spindle may be caused to act on
the brake block to force it into contact with oue of the wheels of the vehicle.
When a brake operating spindle is required at both ends of a vehicle as in a
tramcar for instance the rock shaft is provided with an additional arm to which
the additional operating shaft is attached.
When the operating spindle is rotated in the direction to release the brake the
brake block may be forced out of contact with the wheel by a suitable spring.
The brake block consists preferably of a conical disc mounted loosely on one of
the axles of the vehicle, and caused to engage in a conical recess in the inner side
of one of the wheels on the axle or on a piece fixed on the said wheel the said
conical disc or block and the recess constituting a conical friction-clutch.
To collect power, when applying the brake for use in starting the vehicle there
is connected to the brake block or friction disc a chain-wheel round which passes a
chain from another chain-wheel, of larger size, mounted loosely upon another axle
of the vehicle the boss of which chain wheel constitutes a drum or barrel to which
is attached one end of a chain, strap or belt, the other end of which is connected
to a power-accumulator such for instance as a spring or an air compressing device
so that when the chain wheel and drum are rotated when applying the brake the
chain is wound on the "drum" or barrel and the air compressed in the air
compresser or the spring wound up or expanded as the case may be ready to be
used to assist in starting the vehicle when the brake is removed.
In order to provide for the coupling or engagement of the barrel and chain
wheel with the carriage-wheel with a view to deriving full advantage from the
power or energy stored up in the accumulator, an eccentric pulley or cam may be
adapted to turn on an eccentric pin, in close proximity to the periphery of the
chain-wheel and caused when the brake is applied to slide on, or in contact with a
friction-pulley rigidly attached to one of the wheels of the vehicle or to one of the
axles thereof.
The yoke by which the chain of the power accumulator is attached to the
barrel has a projection carrying two flexible or resilient arms from the ends of
which chains lead to the end of a shaft or spindle whereon is mounted the cam or
eccentric.
While the brake is out of action a certain tensile strain is permanently displayed
by the power-accumulator which tends to draw the yoke to which the accumulator
chain is attached towards the said accumulator whereby the said yoke and through

page_text: the medium of the arms and chains the eccentric or cam is retained in its central
or intermediate position so that it is out of contact with the friction pulley fast on
the axle of the vehicle. When however the brake is applied and the power-
accumulator chain is wound upon the druni, or barrel, the yoke is swung round, or
reversed, by the "pull" of the said chain with the result that the cam is caused
to come into contact with the periphery of the friction pulley to produce the
requisite brake action.
Whilst the brake is being applied the cam will with slight friction slide along
the periphery of the friction pulley, but when after the brake has been fully
applied, the brake-spindle is turned in the reverse direction, the conical brake
block or disc being thereby released and under the action of the spring herein-
before described forced out of engagement with its recess and at the same time the
drum or barrel yielding to the tension exercised by the power-collector, the chain-
wheels will turn in the direction opposite to that in which they were turned
previously.
The eccentric or cam which until then, had moved in slight frictional contact
with the friction pulley, now becomes tightly pressed, or locked against it, and as
the vehicle starts afresh, causes the accumulated power or energy to be transmitted
to the wheel of the vehicle, thereby more readily imparting the fresh initial
impulse to the same.
When the accumulator has thus yielded up all the power it had collected, the
eccentric resumes its intermediate or "neutral" position, in consequence of the
slight tension permanently exercised by the said power-accumulator, as before
stated.
This power-storing brake may be combined with a brake of the usual
construction.
The eccentric may be somewhat hollowed out at the part of its periphery which
is to come into contact with the friction pulley, so as to correspond to the periphery
of this pulley in shape, while its upper periphery, or surface may be flattened or
cut away.
If desired, brakes may be arranged to operate on both sides of the vehicle.
Dated this 22nd day of April 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in and connected with Brakes for Stopping and
Starting Tramcars and like Vehioles.
I, EDUARD VON HÜLSEN of 7 Schillerstrasse, Charlottenburg in the German
Empire Engineer, 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 :-
A brake constructed or arranged according to this invention is mainly designed
for retarding or stopping tram-cars or like vehicles aud for storing up energy to
re-start the said vehicles.
I will describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 of which is a side elevation and Figure 2 a plan of the improved
brake mechanism;
Figures 3, 4 and 5 represent modifications of part of the apparatus.
1, 2, are the front and rear axles of a vehicle on one of which axles (1) is
mounted loosely a conical friction dise 3 for engaging in a conical recess formed in

page_text: one face of the wheel 4 or in an internally coned ring or disc o secured to the said
wheel.
6 is the brake operating spindle connected by a chain, wire rope or the like 7,
to an arm 8 projecting from a rock shaft or spindle 9 carried in a bracket 10 fixed
to a suitable part of the vehicle-other arms 11 projecting from the rock shaft 9
being caused to act on the conical disc 3 to force it into the recess in the disc 5 to
retard or stop the vehicle. For tramcars and like vehicles arranged to travel in
either direction a brake operating spindle is provided at each end of the vehicle
in which case an additional arm 12 is provided on the rock shaft 9 to which
additional arm the brake spindle 13 is connected by a chain, wire rope or the
like 14 so that the brake can he operated from either end of the vehicle.
By turning either the spindle 6 or 13 so as to wind thereon the chain which is
connected to it the rock shaft 9 is partially rotated in the bracket 10 and the
arms 11 caused to press on the side of a chain wheel 15, attached to or formed in
one with the conical disc 3, so as to force the said disc into the recess in the ring 5
and so apply the brake as hereinafter described.
When the brake operating spindle is turned in the direction to release the brake
the conical disc 3 may be forced out of contact with the conical ring 5 by a
spring 16.
Passing round the chain-wheel 15 is a crossed chain or the like 17 which also
passes round a chain wheel 18 of larger size loose upon the axle 2 of the
vehicle.
To the boss 18* of the chain wheel 18, which hoss constitutes a drum or barrel,
is attached one end of a chain, strap belt or the like 19, aud the other end of the
said chain belt or the like is connected to a power-accumulator 20 which may be an
air compressing device as shewn or a spring or the like. When the brake is being
applied the friction of the disc 3 with the conical ring 5 causes the disc and with it
the chain wheel 15 to turn with the axle 1 and through the chain 17 impart
rotation to the wheel 18 whereby the chain band or the like 19 is wound onto the
boss of the wheel 18 and tension is accordingly applied to the power accumulator 20
in readiness to assist in starting the vehicle when the brake is released.
To obtain the full advantage of the power thus stored up in the accumulator 20,
for starting the vehicle there is provided on the chain wheel 18 near the periphery
thereof an eccentric pulley or cam 21 arranged to turn as the brako is being applied
80 88 to come into contact with a friction-pulley 22, attached to or formed on the
wheel 23 or to the axle 2 carrying the said wheel.
Round the axis of this eccentric pulley or cam passes a chain cord or the like 24
the two ends of which are connected respectively to resilient or flexible arma, 25, 26,
on a spindle 27 mounted in bearings on the boss 18* and having a third arm 28
to which the chain band or the like 19 connected to the accumulator 20 is
attached,
While the brake is out of action, a certain tensile strain is exerted by the power-
accumulator 20, tending to turn the arm 28, to which the accumulator chain 19, or
the like is attached towards the said accumulator whereby-through the medium
of the arms 25, 26, and cbain 24-the eccentric or cam 21 is retained in its central
or normal position, out of contact with the friction pulley 22.
When the brake is being applied, and the chain 19 wound upon the boss or
drum 18", the spindle 27 is turned in its bearings by the "pull" of the said chain 19
and accordingly causes the arms 25, 26 to be drawn over, and the eccentric or
cam 21 turned through the medium of the chain 24 with the result that the cam 21
comes in contact with the periphery of the friction pulley 22 and the requisite
brake action ensues.
Whilst the brake in being applied, the said cam 21 will, with slight friction, move
along the periphery of the friction pulley 22, the said cam turning in the direction
opposite to that in which the chain-wheel 18 rotates. When the brake has been
fully applied-the brake spindle 6 or 13 is turned in the reverse direction,
whereupon the couical disc 3 being released from the pressure of the arms 11 is,

page_text: under the action of the spring 16, forced out of contact with the conical ring 5,
and at the same time the chain wheel 18 yielding to the tension exercised by
the power-collector 20 'will turn in the direction opposite to that in which it was
previously turned.
The eccentric or cam 21, which, until then, bad moved in alight frictional contact
with the friction pulley 22, now becomes tightly pressed, or locked, against the
said pulley, and, as the vehicle starts afresh, causes the accumulated power or
energy to be transmitted to the wheel 23 thereby imparting impulse to the said
wheel to assist in starting the vehicle.
When the accumulator has yielded up all the power it had collected, the cam 21
resumes its intermediate or "neutral" position, in consequence of the slight
tension permanently exercised by the said power-accumulator, as before stated.
This power-storing brake may be combined with a brake of ordinary construction,
by winding the chains 7. 14 hereinhefore described in the direction opposite to that
in which are wound the chains 7* 14* connected with the ordinary brakes, so
that according to the direction in which the brake-spindle is turned, either one
or the other of the brake eystems will come into operation..
The eccentric 21 may be somewhat hollowed out at the part of its periphery
which is to come into contact with the friction-pulley 22, so as to correspond
in shape to the periphery of this pulley while its upper periphery, or surface,
may be flattened as shewn in Figure 3.
If desired, brakes may be arranged to operate on both sides of the vehicle.
Instead of the arrangement hereinbefore described for engaging the cam or
eccentric 21 with the friction disc 22 the arrangement illustrated by Figure 4
may be employed in which two friction pulleys 21 are carried in slotted links 29
pivotted to the disc or cam 21 and connected together by a spring 30 so that
when the cam or disc 21 is turned by the chaiu 19, one or other of the pulleys 21*
according to the direction in which the disc 21 is turned, is moved from its
normal position and the spring extended the other pulley being thereby brought
into contact with the periphery of the friction disc 22 between which disc and
.the cam 21 it acts as a wedge to retard or stop the vehicle. Or the disc 21
may be mounted eccentrically on a stud 29" aud carry friction pulleys 21* as
shewn in Figure 5 one or other of which friction pulley's will be brought into
frictional contact with the frictiou dise 22 according to the direction in which the
stud 29* is turned and so retard or stop the vehicle as before.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In or connected with brakes for tramcars and like vehicles the combination of
a power-storing device, a cam or eccentric actuated by the brake operating
mechanism nud a friction pulley or disc ou one of the axles or on one of the wheels
of the vehicle, hetween which friction pulley or disc and the cam or eccentric
frictional contact is effected when the brake is being applied, and the power storing
device operated so as to store up power to be used on restarting the vehicle
substantially as hereiubefore described.
2. In or connected with brakes for tramcars and like vehicles the combination of
a frictional coupling on one of the axles of the vehicle; means for forcing the
members of the coupling device into frictional contact with each other, a chain
wheel connected to one member of the friction coupling device a chain wheel on
another of the axles of the vehicle, a chain ennnecting the chain wheels so that
when one chain wheel is rotated, rotation is imparted to the other chain wheel, au
eccentric or cam mounted in a bearing on one of the chain wheels a friction diso or
pulley on the axle carrying the said chain wheel, means for turning the cam or
eccentric into position to bear against the friction disc or pulley on the axle, by the
act of applying the lake; a chain band or the like couuecting a drum on the axle
or the boss of the chain wheel which carries the cam or eccentric, to a spring or

page_text: other power storing device so that when the chain wheel is rotated on applying the
brake the power storing device will be operated to store up power to be used in
restarting the vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The combination of parts constituting the power storing brake for tramcars
and like vehicles substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1897.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.