Pedal Whistle for use on Tramcars and other Vehicles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 25th Oct.,
1890
PROVISIONAL, SPECIFICATION.
Pedal Whistle for use on Tramcars and other Vehicles.
WO, JOHN ASHTON of 114 Shawside, Shaw near Oldham in the County of Lancaster,
Gentleman, ABRAHAM HENRY WORMALD 8 Napier Street West in Oldham aforesaid,
Tailor & Draper and ALBERT ASHTON of 114 Shawside aforesaid Mill Furnisher do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
Heretofore when the driver of a tramcar or other vehicle wished to call attention to
the approach of his vehicle it has been necessary to disengage one hand from the reins
to be able to take hold of his whistle. His command of the horses has therefore been
less complete, and in the case of two or more horses descending a steep gradient has
greatly increased the risk and danger to life and property.
The object of this invention is, to obviate the said danger by rendering it unnecessary
to disengage his hand as aforesaid.
In carrying out our invention we attach small bellows (or other suitable contrivance)
to or underneath the footboard, and to the bellows a whistle similar to those now in
use by drivers of tramcars, or such other whistle as may be preferred.
The bellows are actuated by the foot of the driver pressing down a lever that com-
presses the bellows and expels the air with sufficient force to sound the whistle with
the required loudness. The bellows are automatically distended by a spiral spring or
other suitable arrangement.
The advantages of the invention are
1. Greater convenience to the driver.
i havens
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Pedal Whistle for use on Tramcars and other Vehicles.
We, JOHN ASHTON of 114 Shawside Shaw near Oldham in the County of Lancaster,
Gentleman, ABRAHAM HENRY WORMALD of 8 Napier Street West in Oldham aforesaid,
Tailor & Draper and ALBERT ASHTON of 114 Shawside aforesaid, Mill Furnisher 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:-
Heretofore, when the driver of a tramcar or other like vehicle has found it necessary
to call attention to the approach of his vehicle he has had to disengage one hand from
the reins to take hold of his whistle. In doing so his command of the horses has been
less complete, and in case of two or more horses descending a steep gradient it has
greatly increased the danger to life and property.
The object of this invention is to obviate the said risk and danger by making it
unnecessary to disengage his hand as aforesaid.
In carrying out our invention we attach a small bellows Fig. 1 or cylinder and
piston, or other suitable contrivance, to, on or underneath the driver's footboard A,
and to the vent pipe B Fig. 2 of the bellows, cylinder or other suitable contrivance.
we attach a whistle C similar to those now in use by tram drivers or such other whistlo
ns may be preferred.

page_text: The bellows, piston, or such other contrivance as may be adopted, are actuated by
the foot of the driver pressing down a lever or spindle D Fig. 1 that compresses the
bellows or the piston or such other adopted contrivance, and the air is expelled with
the force necessary to sound the whistle with the required loudness.
The bellows are automatically distended or the piston in the cylinder raised by a
spiral spring inside the bellows or attached to the lever or spindle D that is actuated
by the foot of the driver, or by the movable part of the bellows being undermost
and weighted.
The bellows will be the least costly and may be cylindrical and about five inches
diameter and five inches stroke or a cylinder of the same capacity modified to suit the
user.
The valve or valves for the inlet of air to the bellows or cylinder may be of any of
the many
effective forms in use, but it is recommended to have the valve piece G
Figs. 1&2 detachable for ready repair and to have three or four smaller openings a b c d
Fig. 2 rather than one large opening and the clacks or flaps slightly weighted to
ensure a quicker closing when the air is expelled.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is -
The invention and application of a means of enabling a driver of a tram-car or
other like vehicle to blow or sound his whistle by a movement of his foot and
without disengaging his hands from the reins substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described.
Dated this Fifteenth day of August 1900.
JOHN ASHTON.
ABRAHAM HENRY WORMALD.
ALBERT ASHTON.