Improvements in and relating to Tramway Cars.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Jan., 1894-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tramway Cars.
I, ALLAN CURRIE of 9 Newhall Terrace, Bridgeton, Glasgow, Lanarkshire,
Power Loom Tenter, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the con-
struction of tramway cars, and especially in arrangements for preventing children
or objects falling in front of the vehicle getting injured, and for shifting the
vehicle from one line of rails to another without the use of movable points.
The improvements consist first in fitting two swivelling guard frames below the
supporting platform of the tramway car, one at the front end, and the other some
distance behind it in front of the forward wheels of the vehicle. These guard
frames would preferably each be formed of open laced metal work secured to
transverse spindles, carried by journal ends in bearings at each side of the car.
The back transverse guard frame would be fitted with two projecting catches in
front on which would press the free ends of blade springs or spring levers. The
back guard frame would also be fitted with two projecting arms with notched ends
which would pass through and engage with eyes on the ends of two spring plates
or levers that would bear close to or over the axle of the front wheels. In putting
these guard frames into operation the back guard frame would be pressed slightly
back and the front frame would be oscillated to a perpendicular position and in
moving into this position would depress the front ends of two parallel spring levers
so as to move the back catch ends of said levers and lock or retain the back frame
in its reclined or angled position.
When an object on the tramway line strikes the front guard plate it will oscillate
and press it up to a horizontal position, and the turning motion of this frame will
again act on the parallel spring levers to free their catch ends and then the other
set of blade springs or spring levers will act on the projections on the back guard
frame and bring it to a perpendicular position to keep the object in front and
prevent it getting near the wheels of the vehicle; while the greater the pressure
on this frame will make its back projecting arms act on the back spring levers or
blocks to press and act as a brake on the axle of the front wheels. These guard
frames would or may be actuated by hand as well as automatically by rod
connections from hand levers on the platform of the car.
To shift the car at crossings or from one tramway line of rails to another an
oscillating or swivelling loose frame would be fitted under the vehicle preferably at
or near the centre of its length between the front and back wheels, and flanged
wheels would be fitted on each end of this transverse frame. Rod connections
would be taken from this frame to a hand lever on the guards platform of the
vehicle, so that when the car is desired to be shifted at any crossing the turning of
this hand lever to the right or left will correspondingly act on the swivelling frame
and oscillate it to the one side to bring either the right or left hand roller wheel
into action on a central line of rails and turn the car on to the section or line of
rails in which it is desired that it should proceed.
The car would be formed with a flooring frame which would be placed over the
lower wheeled frame, and have recesses on its under surface to fit over a series of
blade or other springs or spring levers in the lower frame. The upper vertical
carriage frame of the car would be formed much as usual, but slightly rounded at
the front part with central and side windows, and with port holes for the lamps at
the rounded parts, and have a framed in part in front for the driver. A staircase

page_text: would be fitted at the back end of the car, on the opposite side to the car entrance
gate for the passengers ascending to, and descending from the upper platform on
top of car which would be fitted with a surrounding protecting rail. While a
sliding or movable shutter or semaphore would be fitted at the front part of the
entrance gate to car to indicate when the car was full and prevent the entrance of
further passengers. Longitudinal side seats would be fitted within the car, and also a
transverse seat at the front end for the passengers. While the seats used for the
platform on top of car would preferably bo chairs with spring hinged or actuated
covers which will automatically fall down after each passenger has risen and
protect the seat from getting wet in damp weather. The car would be fitted with
the usual longitudinal side windows, and also with a series of small segmental
windows over these mounted on a swivelling frame. This frame would be hinged
to swivel from below and come up, and by its glass windows close segmental
apertures formed in the sides of car, or open these up to any desired extent to
ventilate the interior of the car, and these swivelling window frames would be
actuated from the one end by the guard by lever, screw or other equivalent
adjusting mechanism.
Dated 21st April 1893.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tramway Cars.
I, ALLAN CURRIE, of 9 Newhall Terrace, Bridgeton, Glasgow, Lanarkshire,
Power Loom Tenter, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement in writing, that is to say :-
This invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction
of tramway cars and like vehicles and especially in arrangements for preventing
children or objects falling in front of the vehicle from getting injured and for
shifting the vehicle from one line of rails to another without the use of movable
points.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings in which the same reference letters are
used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tramway car as constructed and fitted in
accordance with one arrangement of my improvements.
Figure 2 is an inverted plan view corresponding to Figure 1, and looking on the
under surface of the car bottom frame.
Figure 3 is a vertical section showing my improved mechanism fitted at the front
part of the under frame of car; and
Figure 4, is a detached elevation showing the hand actuating levers of the point
shifting and brake mechanism.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 show detached views of the mechanism for actuating the
ventilators of car.
Figure 8 is an elevation showing the hinged cover weatherproof seats for top
of car. And
Figure 9 is a diagram plan view of the switch point connections of line of
tramway rails.
Referring to these drawings:-The improvements consist, first, in fitting two
swivelling guard frames A, B below the supporting platform C, of the tramway
car, one A at the front end, and the other B some distance behind it in front
of the forward wheels W of the vehicle. These guard frames A, B, would

page_text: preferably each be formed of open laced metal work, as shown in Figure 2, secured
to transverse spindles, A', B', carried by journal ends A", B" in bearings at each
side of the car. The back transverse guard frame B would be fitted with two
projecting catches B2 in front on which would press the free ends of blade springs
or spring levers C". The back guard fraine would also be fitted with two
projecting arms 6 with serrated or notched ends 61 which would pass through and
engage with eyes on the ends of two spring plates, blocks, or levers C¹ that
would bear close to or under the axle W₁ of the front wheel W. In putting
these guard frames into operation the back guard frame B would be pressed
slightly back and the levers 6 raised to remove their serrated teeth 6¹ from
contact with the lower end of the slots in the spring levers or blocks C³, and
the front frame A would be oscillated to a perpendicular position, and in moving
into this position would raise the front ends a of two parallel spring levers a
so as to depress the back catch ends a² of said levers a and lock or retain the
back frame B in its reclined or angled position, as shown in Figure 3.
When an object on the tramway line strikes the front guard plate A it will
oscillate and press it up to a nearly horizontal position, as shown in Figure 1,
and the turning motion of this frame A will again act on the parallel spring
levers a to free their catch ends a³, and then the other set of spring blades or
spring levers C", will act on the projections B' on the back guard frame B, and
bring it to a perpendicular position, as shown in Figure 1, to keep the object in
front and prevent it getting near the wheels W of the vehicle; while the greater
the pressure on this frame B, its back projecting arms b will correspondingly act
on the back spring levers or blocks C' to press and act as a brake on the axle W'
of the front wheels W. These guard frames A, B, may be actuated by hand as
well as automatically by ordinary rod connections from hand levers on the platform
I of the car.
To shift the car at point crossings or from one tramway line of rails to
another an oscillating or swivelling loose frame D D¹ would be fitted under the
platform of the vehicle, preferably at or near the centre of its length between
the front and back wheels, and flanged wheels D1 D2 would be fitted on each
transverse end D of this frame D, D₁. The part D₁ of frame would oscillate in
a bearing at D³, and a rod connection d would be taken from this frame D, D', to
a swivelling hand lever d fulcrumed at d" on the drivers platform of the vehicle
the end of rod d being preferably curved up at d' for the slotted end of lever d² to
engage same, so that when the car is desired to be shifted at any point crossing
the swivelling or turning of this hand lever d² to the right or left will correspond-
ingly act on the swivelling frame D, D', and oscillate it to one side to bring
either the right or left hand roller wheel D" or D' into action on a central line
of rails Z, Figure 9, and 'turn the car on to the section or line of rails Z', Z', or
keep it on the line Z", according as it is desired that it should proceed. An
ordinary brake lever G, would be fitted on the car with blocks G¹ at its ends over
the wheels W, and have a chain connection G to a hand operated lever G³,
much in a usual manner.
The car would be formed with a flooring frame which would be placed over the
lower wheeled frame C, and may have recesses on its under surface to fit over a
series of blade or other springs or spring levers in the lower frame C. The upper
vertical carriage frame E of the car would be formed much as usual, but slightly
rounded at the front part E' with central and side windows, and with port holes El
for the lamps at the rounded parts, and have a framed in part E, in front of the
driver. A staircase would be fitted at E³, at the back end of the car, on the
opposite side to the car entrance E' for the passengers ascending to, and descending
from the elevated platform e on top of car, which would be fitted with a surrounding
protecting rail e; while a sliding or movable bar or semaphore e³, Figure 1 would
be fitted at the front part of the entrance E' to car to indicate when the car was
full, and prevent the entrance of further passengers. Longitudinal side seats
would be fitted within the car, and also a transverse seat at front end E¹ for the

page_text: passengers; while the seats used for the platform e on top of car would preferably
be chairs e³, as shown in Figure 8, with spring hinged or actuated covers e* which
will automatically fall down, after each passenger has risen, and protect the seat
from getting damp in wet weather. The car would be fitted with the usual longi-
tudinal side windows E³, and also with a series of small segmental windows Fi
over these mounted on a swivelling frame F. This frame F would be hinged to
swivel from below at F1 and come up, and by its glass windows F¹ close segmental
apertures formed at E' in the sides of car, or open these up to any desired extent
to ventilate the interior of the car, and these swivelling window frames F, would
be actuated from the one end by the guard by lever, screw, or other equivalent
adjusting mechanism. This would be effected under one arrangement, as shown in
Figures 5 to 7, by having a link jointed at its lower end to the axis F" of hinged
frame F, and having its upper slotted end f1 engaging with a pin or rod f passing
through a slotted guide plate fl and connected to an internal screwed nut f³ which
would be mounted on a screw threaded rod g carried in bearings g', and as this
screwed rod g was turned by the milled head 9 in the one direction or the other it
would correspondingly travel the nut f³ to swivel the frame F and open or close
it against the apertures E° of car E.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The construction, or general arrangement and combination of the parts of
tramway cars and like vehicles, substantially as herein described in reference to and
shown in the accompanying drawings.
Second. In tramway cars and like vehicles, the fitting and use of a swivelling
guard frame in front of the forward wheels of the vehicles, to act in combination
with and be brought into action through spring or equivalent connections by another
frame or organ which comes first in contact with the object, substantially as herein
described, in reference to and by way of application shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Third. In tramway cars and like vehicles, the fitting and use of a swivelling
guard frame in front of the forward wheels of the vehicle, and having projecting
arms with serrated ends to engage with and press spring levers or blocks against
the wheel axle, substantially as and in the manner herein described in reference to
and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In tramway cars and like vehicles, the fitting and use of an oscillating
or swivelling wheeled frame operated by rod connections from a hand lever, to shift
the wheeled vehicle at point crossings from one line of rails to another substantially
as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In tramway cars and like vehicles, the fitting and use of a hinged or
swivelling window frame at the sides of vehicle operated by screw, lever, or
equivalent adjusting mechanism to ventilate the interior of vehicle, substantially
as herein described in reference to and by way of application shown in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated the 20th January 1894.