Improvements in or relating to Tramcars and in Motors therefor.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 25th June, 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Tramcars and in Motors therefor.
A communication by JAMES MORRIS O'KELLY, 11, Van Dam Street, of New
York, in the County and State of New York, United States of America,
Mechanical Engineer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool & 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, & 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates primarily to a new and improved method of supplying
tramcars or street cars with independent means of propulsion whereby the power
can be generated in each car and the engine and its appurtenances utilised for
traction purposes.
The invention secondarily consists in a novel braking apparatus which is adapted
to utilise the weight of the car-body for braking weight and impetus of the car-
body, and it consists specifically in the mode of mounting the car-body upon the
parts of the braking-gear, whereby, when the braking lever is applied, the brake
shoes and the car-wheels will be made to sustain the weight of the car-body and
the momentum of the car will be incidentally utilised at the same time.
The invention thirdly relates to means for heating and lighting the car, whereby
the gas from the main reservoir can be conducted in any location desired and
ignited with the employment of a heating or lighting device as may be preferred
and as may be desired.
The invention fourthly relates to novel means for cooling the gas-engine through
the medium of a circulation of cold water together with a method of circulating the
said water and cooling it.
The invention fifthly relates to means for derailing the car at any desired point
and, providing independent carrying wheels adapted to be turned in any direction
and travel on any suitable road-bed.
The invention also relates to an improved mechanism for recording the passenger
trips and is intended to register on a moving tape the exact distance which each
passenger, travels.
The invention also relates to a novel advertising device.
In carrying the invention into effect, a stairway may be provided leading from
the platform to the top of the car and on the top are placed seats having reversible
backs and staples in which are supported awnings which may be removed when
desired. Push buttons are provided which are adapted to operate a signal for
notifying the conductor to stop the car. On the uprights, pins are provided in
which the double bracket arms can be supported by inserting the pins in the openings
in said bracket-arms and these bracket arms when thus supported are adapted to
receive the eyes of awnings or curtains. When the weather justifies, however,
these awnings can be pulled further down and the eyes can be slipped over the
receiving fingers or pins at the bottom of the car. This will enclose the entire car
body and render it proof against inclement weather.
A. gas engine is provided with fly wheel mounted in the forward part of the car.
The gas is carried in the storage tank at the top of the car and just beneath the
roof, and is supplied through the medium of a pipe provided with a stop cock.
The gas engine may be of any approved type, and is connected by gearing to the
clutch upon the axle of the car, the gearing constituting part of said clutch. The

page_text: clutch has also another member which consists of a flanged disc in which sliding
blocks operate through the medium of cams connected to an annular collar keyed
by means of a pin to the axle of the car and adapted to be operated by a lever
through the medium of a pivot. The lever is swivelled to a frame of the car body
and is operated through the medium of a lever which is provided with a pin sliding
in the slot of the lever. The lever is operated by means of handle, the latter lever
being extended up into the engine cab.
Suitable means for applying brakes to the peripheries of the wheels of the
improved tramcar are provided. The frame is provided with anti-friction rollers.
The car body, which is mounted upon the ordinary spring bolsters of the truck
frame, also rests upon said rollers, and the frame has suspended from it brake-
blocks which are adapted to press against the peripheries of the wheels and are
adapted to this purpose in the following manner :-
A cross bar is provided having a centrally located pin which connects with an
endless sprocket chain, which sprocket chain works in connection with two sprocket
wheels. The forward sprocket wheel is mounted on a rotating axle and is con-
nected to the engineer's cab through the medium of the lever so that when the
lever is drawn backward the shaft will be turned, thereby rotating the sprocket
drums and drawing sprocket chain and consequently the cross bar forward, thus
applying the brakes.
A novel advertising device may be employed consisting of endless chains having
mounted between them cards which are adapted to travel around on the sprocket
wheels and rollers and are connected by shafts, bevel gearing and other suitable
connection to the axles of the cars so that, as the cars are travelling, the above
described mechanism will operate and the endless chains carrying the advertising
cards will move suddenly, thus exposing each advertising card in order of rotation.
Seats are provided having, at their sides, faces the inner layer of which is
made of copper, the middle layer being made of iron and the outer layer being
made of wood, and behind these portions gas pipes are placed provided with
exits which constitute burners and through which the gas can be fed and ignited.
The gas is applied through pipes from the main reservoir and gas jets are
employed which may be supplied from the same source.
Means are provided for conveying the gas to the various parts of the car from
the storage reservoir and for conveying the products of combustion from the
engine.
The heating device is adapted to keep the car warm during inclement weather
and may be regulated in any desired way, the metallic linings being adapted to
receive and conserve the heating energy to its fullest extent and the wood covering
from doing damage. The means for cooling the gas engine consist of a chamber
of water which is provided with pipes leading to the gas engine and with a pipe
leading therefrom which at its outer end terminates in flat discharge pipes. Fresh
air is admitted through the pipe and funnel, the air rushing in as the car progresses
and is discharged against the spray which leaves the flattened nozzle of the water
pipe. By this means the water is cooled and the air is led from the water chamber
by means of a pipe.
A seat pivoted to the frame is adapted to tilt in either direction and in such a
manner that, when a passenger is seated on one edge, it will assume a given position
and through the medium of arms draw down the card which connects at its other
end with a recording device having a pencil. The pencil is adapted to press against
a carbon sheet. In the rear of the carbon sheet is fed an endless strip or ribbon
which unwinds from a spool and winds onto a spool. These ribbons or tapes and
the recording pencils are adapted to suitably operate.
When it is desired to leave the tramway and to operate the car as a traction
carriage upon an ordinary roadway, a lever is thrown back which is pivoted to the
truck frame and pivotally connected at its lower end with the axle which is adapted
to slide in curved slots in the frame of the car and which serve to throw the
ordinary flanged wheels, mounted upon said axle, out of operative position and

page_text: permit the wheels which have flat bearing surfaces to come into play. These
latter wheels can be turned and controlled through the medium of a lever having
formed on its lower end the quadrant segment gear which meshes with a com-
plementary circle of gear teeth formed on the fifth wheel which is attached to
the axle.
71
تيمم
T
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Tramcars and in Motors therefor.
A communication by JAMES MORRIS O'KELLY, of New York, in the County and
State of New York, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Man-
chester both in the County of Lancaster & 323 High Holborn in the County of
Middlesex, Civil 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:-
This invention relates primarily to a new and improved method of supplying
tramcars or street cars with independent means of propulsion whereby the power
can be generated in each car and the engine and its appurtenances utilised for
traction purposes.
The invention secondarily consists in a novel braking apparatus which is adapted
to utilise the weight of the car-body for braking weight and impetus of the car-
body, and it consists specifically in the mode of mounting the car-body upon the
parts of the braking-gear, whereby, when the braking lever is applied, the brake
shoes and the car wheels will be made to sustain the weight of the car-body and
the momentum of the car will be incidentally utilised at the same time.
The invention thirdly relates to means for heating and lighting the car, whereby
the gas from the main reservoir can be conducted in any location desired and
ignited with the employment of a heating or lighting device as may be preferred
and as may be desired.
The invention fourthly relates to novel means for cooling the gas engine through
the medium of a circulation of cold water together with a method of circulating
the said water and cooling it.
The invention fifthly relates to means for derailing the car at any desired point
and providing independent carrying wheels adapted to be turned in any direction
and travel on any suitable road-bed.
The invention also relates to an improved mechanism for recording the passenger
trips and is intended to register on a moving tape the exact distance which each
passenger travels.
The invention also relates to a novel advertising device which together with
other features not herein before mentioned will be fully described in connection with
the drawings and specifically pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this Specification;
Figure I is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation of one of the improved
tramcars embracing the various improvements.
Figure II is an end view.
Figure III and Figure IV are detail views.
Figure V is a sectional view of the engine cab.
Figure VI is a plan view of the car.
Figure VII is a cross section of a clutch,

page_text: clutch.
elevation of the gas engine and its connections with the
Figure X is a detail view of the clutch applying mechanism.
Figure XI is a detail view of the braking mechanism.
Figures XII and XIII are detail views of the advertising device.
Figure XIV illustrates the method of heating the car.
Figure XV illustrates the method of illuminating the same.
Figure XVI is a detail view.
Figures XVII, XVIII and XIX are views illustrating the method of cooling
the gas engine.
Figure XX illustrates the mechanism for recording passenger trips.
Figures XXI and XXII are detail views further illustrating the same.
Figure XXIII is a side elevation of the passenger recording device.
Figures XXIV & XXV are detail views.
Figures XXVI to XXIX inclusive illustrate the method of removing the
ordinary car wheels which operate in connection with the track and substituting
therefor traction wheels adapted to run on ordinary roadways.
In Figure 1, 1 represents a car body provided with wheels 2. At 3 a stairway
is shown leading from the platform to the top of said car and on the top are
placed seats 4 having reversible backs 5 and staples 6 in which are supported
awnings 7 which may be removed when desired. At 8 push buttons are shown
which are adapted to operate signal 9 for notifying the conductor to stop the car.
At 10 on the uprights 11 pins are provided in which the double bracket arms 12
can be supported by inserting the pins 10 in the openings 13 in said bracket-arms
and these bracket-arms when thus supported as shown in Figures II and III are
adapted to receive the eyes 14 of awnings or curtains 15. When the weather
justifies, however, these awnings can be pulled further down and the eyes 14 can
be slipped over the receiving fingers or pins 17 at the bottom of the car. This
will enclose the entire car body and render it proof against inclement weather.
The pins 17 are removable and are made preferably in the form shown in
Figure IV.
In Figure V is shown the gas engine 18 provided with fly wheel 19 mounted in
the forward part of the car. The gas is carried in the storage tank 20 at the top
of the car and just beneath the roof, and is supplied through the mediu.n of a
pipe 21 provided with a stop cock as shown in Figure 1.
The gas engine may be one of any approved type, such as shown in Figure IX,
and is connected by gearing 22, 23, 24 to the clutch upon the axle of the car, the
gearing 24 constituting part of said clutch as shown in Figures II, VI, VII
and IX. The clutch has also another member 25 which consists of a flanged disc
in which the sliding blocks 26 operate through the medium of connecting links 27
connected to the annular collar 28 keyed by means of pin 29 to the axle 30 of
the car and adapted to be operated by lever 31 through the medium of pivot 32.
The lever 31 is swivelled to a frame 34 at 35 of the car body and is operated
through the medium of lever 35 which is provided with a pin 36 sliding in the
slot 37 of the lever 31. The lever 35 is operated by means of handle 38, the
latter lever being extended up into the engine cab as shown at 39 in Figure 5.
The means for applying brakes to the peripheries of the wheels of the improved
tramcar is shown in Figures VI and XI. In Figure VI, frame 40 is shown
provided with anti-friction rollers 41. The car body 42 which is mounted upon
the ordinary spring bolsters of the truck frame also rests upon said rollers and
the frame 40 has suspended from it brake-blocks 43 which are adapted to press
against the peripheries of the wheels 2 and are adapted to this purpose in the
following manner-
The pin 45 is attached to the cross bar 44. The cross bar 44 is a brake beam
and has at its ends brake shoes. The pin 45 intermeshes with the sprocket
chain 46 as shown in Figure VI, and when the sprocket wheels 47 are turned, the
chain will move, and through the action with the pin 45 move the brakė beam 44

page_text: thus applying brakes. As shown in Figure 6, the pin 45 extends vertically
through the brake beam 44 down into the lower section of the brake chain 46.
The forward sprocket-wheel is mounted on a rotating axle 48 and is connected to
the engineer's cab through the medium of the lever 49 shown in Figure 5 so that
when the lever 49 is drawn backward the shaft 48 will be turned, thereby rotating
the sprocket drums 47 and drawing sprocket-chain 46 and consequently the cross
bar 44 forward, thus applying the brakes.
In Figures I, XII and XIII, a novel advertising device is shown consisting of
endless chains 50 having mounted between them cards 51 which are adapted to
travel around on the sprocket wheels 52 and rollers 53 and are connected by
shafts 54, bevel gearing 55 and other suitable connection to the axles of the cars
so that as the cars are travelling, the above described mechanism will operate and
the endless chains carrying the advertising cards will move suddenly, thus
exposing each advertising card in order of rotation.
At Figure XIV are shown seats 4 having at their sides, faces 56, the inner
layer of which is made of copper, the middle layer being made of iron and the
outer layer being made of wood and behind these portions gas pipes 57 are placed
provided with exits which constitute burners and through which the gas can be
fed and ignited. The gas is applied through pipes 52, and 59 from the main
reservoir 20 and at 60 gas jets are shown which may be supplied from the same
source.
At 61 and 62 in Figure V are shown the means for conveying the gas to the
various parts of the car from the storage reservoir 20 (see Figure II) and for
conveying the products of combustion from the engine.
The heating device shown in Figure XIV is adapted to keep the car warm
during inclement weather and may be regulated in any desired way, the metallic
linings being adapted to receive and conserve the heating energy to its fullest
extent and the wood covering from doing damage.
In Figures XVII, XVIII and XIX means are shown for cooling the gas
engine. This consists of a chamber of water 63 which is provided with pipes
leading to the gas engine and with a pipe 64 leading therefrom which at its outer
end terminates in flat discharge pipes 65. Fresh air is admitted through the pipe
and funnel 66, the air rushing in as the car progresses and is discharged against
the spray 67 which leaves the flattened nozzle 65 of the water pipe. By this
means the water is cooled and the air is led from the water chamber by means of
pipe 68.
In Figure XX is shown a seat 4 pivoted at 69 to the frame 70 so that it will
tilt in either direction and in such a manner that, when a passenger is seated on
one edge, it will assume the position shown in Figure XX and through the medium
of arms 71 draw down the cord 72 which connects at its other end with a recording
device 73 having a pencil 74 pivoted at 75. The pencil 74 is adapted to press
against a carbon sheet 76. In the rear of the carbon sheet is fed an endless strip
or ribbon 77 which unwinds from the spool 78 and winds onto the spool 79. These
ribbons or tapes are shown in Figure XXIII and the recording pencils are adapted
to operate as shown in said figure.
Figures XXIV and XXV represent detail views of the pencil and Figure XXI
serves to illustrate the method of pivoting the seats so that they can be moved in
either or both directions.
When it is desired to leave the tramway and to operate the car as a traction
carriage upon an ordinary roadway, the lever 80 shown in Figures XXVIII
and XXIX is thrown back which is pivoted to the truck frame at 80 and
pivotally connected at its lower end 81 with the axle 30 which is adapted to slide
in curved slots 82 in the frame of the car 83 and which serve to throw the ordinary
flanged wheels 2 mounted upon said axle, out of operative position and permit the
wheels 84, which have flat bearing surfaces to come into play. These latter wheels
can be turned and controlled through the medium of a lever 85 having formed on

page_text: its lower end the quadrant segment gear 86 which meshes with a complementary
circle of gear teeth 87, formed on the fifth wheel which is attached to the axle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is-
1. The combination of a gas engine with a passenger car of any required horse
power of which it is a part thereof, propelling and working the same as described
and shown.
2. In combination with a passenger car, a storage gas reservoir with suitable
passage pipes, as shown.
3. A passenger car having seats 4 fixed on its outside with reversible backs 5,
and awning staples 6, in combination with a furling awning, upright stanchions and
furling cord, as shown.
4. In combination with a passenger car, friction blocks communicating motion to
axle of wheel, as shown and described.
5. In combination with a passenger car, a series of gearing having firmly fixed
to it a friction chamber for transmitting motion to any one of the car axles, as
described.
6. In combination with a passenger car, an axle having longitudinal keys affixed
in any convenient position.
7. In combination with a passenger car, a key grooved roller, having at its end
powerful friction blocks and a double flange affixed thereon, as shown.
8. In a passenger car, the combination of a lever pivoted at one end and having
a roller firmly fixed in a perpendicular position working and gearing into the
flanges of a key grooved roller and having an acute slot at its other end of any
required angle.
9. In combination with a passenger car, a lever pivoted at one end and having a
roller affixed in any suitable position and an angle slotted plate.
10. In a passenger car, two parallel bars carrying any required number of brake
blocks controlled and actuated by a chain at one end and springs at its other
end in combination with friction rollers attached to its upper surface travelling on
any suitable material.
11. In a passenger car, a drum centered in any convenient position carrying
a piece of tricycle chain in combination with a revolving drum and crank shaft
as shown.
12. In combination with a passenger car, a gas bag of any suitable material and
a gas reservoir.
13. In combination with a passenger car, an exhaust chamber constructed of any
suitable material with a gas engine and a gas reservoir.
14. In combination with a passenger car, a gas reservoir, a receiving inlet and a
supply pipe leading to the gas bag and thence to the gas engine affixed in any
suitable position.
15. In combination with a passenger car, a gas inlet control pipe and a gas outlet
control pipe emitting and receiving gas for propelling purposes.
16. In combination with a passenger car, a gas bag or its epuivalent and an
exhaust chamber with receiving and discharging arrangement affixed thereto.
17. In a passenger car, the combination of a fly wheel connected and attached to
a gas engine and any suitable gearing to the car axle.
18. In combination with a passenger car, levers affixed thereto in any suitable
position for communicating power of propulsion from a gas engine to any one of
its axles.
19. In combination with a passenger car, levers and drums with a tricycle
chain for applying brakes to the wheels and spring as shown for releasing the same
as described.
20. In a passenger car, the combination of a self-registering seat with wire rope

page_text: or any suitable material with a continually moving paper chart actuated by clock
work gearing.
21. In a passenger car, the combination of a metal pencil pivoted as shown and
thrown into action on the back of a piece of carbon pad by a passenger sitting
down and released by a spring, the whole operating as shown.
22. In a passenger car, the combination of a separate compartment set off
in the car wherein is situated a gas engine, fly-wheel and gas-bag and exhaust
chamber.
23. In combination with a passenger car, removable awning stanchions and
a separate compartment containing levers for applying brakes and coupling up to
engines.
24. In a passenger car, revolving advertising spaces with rollers pivoted in
suitable positions in combination with a toothed wheel geared to aud actuated by
any one of the car axles.
25. In combination with a passenger car, a fifth wheel carrying broad surface
wheels on its axles and controlled and operated by a tooth circle firmly fixed and
secured thereto and gearing with a quadrant shaped centre, a lever arm fulcrumed
in any position for operating the fifth wheel in any required direction.
26. In a passenger car, the combination of an ordinary flanged wheel centered
on an axle travelling up and down a suitable slot and raised and lowered by any
suitable mechanism in combination with surface rails and flat surface wheels
mounted upon suitable axles in fixed bearings whereby the car can be run either
upon rails or upon a common road bed as herein set forth.
27. In a passenger car, the combination of a gas reservoir, gas inlet, gas outlet,
driving wheels gearing into and actuated by a gas engine, brake blocks and
mechanism inside the passenger seats and outside of the said seats and a gas engine
with the described passenger's automatic register, advertisements and a suitable
connection between the gas reservoir on the car and gas supply, a rack, a lever
controlled fifth wheel and a lever controlled coulter wheel, the whole actuated and
operated as fully described and shown in the foregoing Specification.
28. In combination with a passenger car as herein before described, any suitable
means for lighting and heating the cars from the same gas supply.
Dated this outh Jan of T... 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.