Tramcar Starter.
Year: 1887

page_text: JOSEPH YATES Engineer 30A Pimlico Road London, S. W. do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A ratchet fixed to or forming part of the center of the Axle with a lever attached
thereto to work the ratchet and a connecting rod from the pole to work the lever also
a spring to pull back the lever so that when the Horses start the immediate strain
comes direct on the lever and turns the wheels and when the Horses stop the spring
pulls back the lever ready for restarting.
Tramcar Starter.
I JOSEPH YATES of 30A Pimlico Road S.W. Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to that kind of starter for vehicles in which the draught of
the horse at starting applies leverage upon a ratchet wheel attached to the axle of two
I JOSEPH YATES of 30A Pimlico Road S.W. Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to that kind of starter for vehicles in which the draught of
the horse at starting applies leverage upon a ratchet wheel attached to the axle of two

page_text: of the bearing wheels, and partly consists in an improved means to enable a projection
or fixed pawl attached to a lever to engage and disengage the ratchet wheel.
To enable my invention to be properly understood I will proceed to more fully
describe the same with aid of the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 plan of frame of Tramcar shewing my invention applied.
Figure 2 sectional side elevation of same.
Figure 3 front view drawn to an enlarged scale of part embodied in preceed figures.
A, represents frame of a tramcar, B, standing board for driver, C, ratchet wheels
keyed on axles, D, E, draw-bars connected to axles by means of two slotted eyes F,
arranged one on each side of ratchet wheel C. The slotted eyes have connected to
them arms G, between which the draw bar E, is pivotted at one end: between these
arms is arranged a fixed pawl H, which engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The
draw bars are brought back by suitable spring when the eyes F, become pendant from
top of axle allowing the fixed pawl H, to fall upon and engage teeth of ratchet wheel;
when this has been turned about one quarter of a turn by the draw of the horse, the
eyes rise on axle the length of slot freeing pawl H from teeth of ratchet wheel, which
remains free from pawl, so long as the draught continues: see figure 3. The draw-bar
is fitted with a stop I, to take the pull and prevent the bottom of eyes F, from being
drawn against axle. A stop J, or a step K, is provided to hold back the draw bar at
what is the end of the car for the time being. Or in place of stop J, or step K, the
draw bar may be jointed by a link to enable the projecting part to be turned over B,
when not in use.
The invention will be found particularly useful for cars when ascending inclines as
it acts as a positive back brake if the draught of horse is taken off.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
1. The combination of working parts to assist the starting of a tramcar and to offer
no impediment after starting while draught continues, as hereinbefore described and
represented in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a tramcar starter, the combination with a ratchet wheel attached to axle of
bearing wheels, of the slotted eyes F, having connected a pawl H, as and for the
purposes described.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1887