Improvements in Starting and Stopping Tramcars and other Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1895-Accepted, 27th July, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Starting and Stopping Tramcars and other
Vehicles.
GORDON GILCHRIST One hundred and eighty-nine (189) St. Andrews Road
Pollokshields Glasgow Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention is to reduce to a minimum the starting effort exerted by the
horses or motor by an arrangement of lever and nipping pawl whereby the starting
effort is directed to the end of the lever and not through the centre of the axle.
The nature of the invention is as follows:-
On each axle of the vehicle I fix a cast iron disc the rim and bosses of which are
turned smooth and true. On each side of the discs there will be fixed a flat link,
an eye at one end of links fitting easily on the boss of the disc. The other end
of links will have a smaller eye through which a steel pin will pass at a short
distance beyond the rim of the disc. This pin will form the fulcrum of the
starting lever the short end of which will nip or bear on the rim of the disc at
such an angle that it will grip tightly when the lever is pulled forward but will be
loose and free on being let back or when the axle and disc are going in a forward
direction.
At the end of the longer arm of the lever there will be attached a light
chain or wire rope which will be carried under the framework of the vehicle and
fixed to the drawhook. A light spring being also connected to the drawhook to
keep it in its normal position when the vehicle is at rest, and, by allowing the pawl
to drop, preventing any back drag on the vehicle on the release of the brake on an
incline. Or I may fix a small snatch pulley on the drawchain near the gripping
lever round which pulley I will pass a wire cord or light chain carrying the ends
direct to the drawstraps of the horses in such a way that the first starting effort is
conveyed to the axle through the lever at a reduced stress on the horses until the
limit of the travel of the lever is reached when the moving load is taken up by
the drawhook in the ordinary way. The levers of the forward axle only will be in
use at one time, those of the rear axle will be lifted out of gear but may be
dropped at will to form an auxiliary brake in event of the ordinary brake failing
to act.
Dated this Ninth day of August 1894
UUMI LEIE
Improvements in Starting and Stopping Tramcars and other
Vehicles.
GORDON GILCHRIST of Glasgow (189 St. Andrews Road, Pollokshields) in the
County of Lanark, 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 :-
The said invention has reference to an improved method for reducing to a

page_text: minimum the strain incurred in starting vehicles with revolving axles; also for
utilizing the same for braking or stopping for which purpose I use a new or
improved form of drawgear which is shewn on accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of my arrangement together with a half section
of an ordinary tramcar underframe. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
The dotted lines shew the position of the usual brake pull rods or chains. A is a
cast iron or other metallic disc, the rim of which is turned smooth or it may
be slightly corrugated transversely or it may be fitted with a tyre of hard
indiarubber.
The projecting bosses of the disc will be truly turned and may with the disc
be in halves, bolted together and keyed or bolted to the axle of the car; or they
may be of a piece with the axle forging. B. B. are two flat links with eyes, the
main eyes may be in halves; bolted or keyed together and will fit easily on the
turned bosses of the disc. The outer eyes of the links will extend and radiate
about the rim of the disc. Into those eyes a double shouldered stud or steel
distance pin G will be firmly fastened with nuts.
The
Fig. 3 shews a modification of the radial links with adjustable fulcrum.
stud or distance pin G forms the fulcrum for a short lever or pawl D which will
work freely between the links. The outer end of the pawl may have a radius
from the centre of the main axle equal to the radius of the car wheels. The pawl,
together with the radial links may be of sufficient weight to ensure the sliding
back of the drawcords, on the release of the pull, or a steel spring or stout elastic
band may be used for this purpose, being attached to the framework of the car at
the most convenient part. To outer end of pawl D a light wire rope or chain E.
will be attached and carried over a pulley or roller F, the bearings of which will
be firmly bolted to the car framing. The rope will extend under the floor, where,
passing through an intermediate crossbeam it will be connected to the centre of a
crosstree C from the ends of which light wire ropes, chains, or straps H H will
extend to the end of the car, passing freely through guide rings or brackets I I
terminating in draw-rings J J at points opposite centres of ordinary crosstrees KK;
the crosstrees being connected to the centre swiveltree L with short links M M.
From the central eye of each crosstrée K a hook N will hang, which, on being
hooked into the draw-rings J J a connection will be formed so that the starting
effort will be brought to bear on the end of the pawl D which must travel towards
the pulley F setting the car in motion with a reduced effort before the ordinary
drawstraps come into action. O is a light wire or other cord attached to outer end
of radial links or fulcrum pin G and carried over pulleys or guide rings underneath
the flooring and up inside the front fenceboard of the car terminating in a ring or
, bandle P convenient to the driver who may, during, a long run, raise the ring or
. handle to a hook or knob fastened to the fence board keeping the lever or pawl D
out of gear, ready to be dropped again before stopping; and thereby forming a
perfect skid against backward movement without the use of the brake.
of stopping on an incline the car being ready for restarting without the usual
drawback resulting from the release of the ordinary brake or the tendency to
retreat downhill. In non-reversible cars the various parts and arrangement of
parts already described will be applicable to both ends, in which case the lever or
pawl at rear end will be constantly suspended out of gear.
In event
The conductor or attendant may, at will in the event of a runaway drop the pawl
into gear thereby completely skiding the rear wheels.
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
.
:
1st. The arrangement or combination of parts from which the leverage is
obtained substantially as herein described and illustrated...
....2nd. The arrangement or combination of parts forming the drawgear substantially
es herein described and illustrated.
...

page_text: 3rd. The arrangement of parts from which the starting power is obtained to be
also used for braking or stopping substantially as herein described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I the said Gordon Gilchrist have hereunto set my hand
this Eighth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and ninety-five.
GORDON GILCHRIST.