Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 11th May, 1889
We WILLIAM PARKS AKERS, of Jacksboro', Jack County, State of Texas, United
States of America, Farmer and JOHN COLLIER LINDSEY jr. also of Jacksboro' aforesaid,
Cowboy do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved starter adapted for all
kinds of cars and vehicles, being specially of great value on grades.
On the wheel axle is a loose sleeve having at one end a ratchet wheel engaged by a
pawl pivoted to the car frame and connected by a link to a hand lover. On the face
of the ratchet wheel is a spiral cam with which engages a bolt fitted to slide transversely
in a wheel secured to the axle, the bolt being engaged by annular flange formed on a
lever acted on in one direction by a spring so as to hold the bolt up to the spiral cam.
The upper end of the lever is connected to a brake staff to be operated by the operator
whenever it is desired to utilize the force of the spring to make the car run backward.
The other end of the sleeve is geared with an epicycloidal wheel on a shaft mounted
in bearings carried on a disc loose on the sleeve. To the disc is secured a ratchet
wheel also loose on the sleeve and between the said ratchet wheel and disc is a
coiled spring fastened by one end to the disc and by its other end to the sleeve.
The ratchet wheel is engaged by a spring jointed pawl, the spring tending to keep
the two parts of the pawl in line, and the pawl is connected with a hand lever
whereby it may be disengaged from the ratchet wheel when required. The shaft of the
epicycloidal wheel before mentioned is geared by bevel gear with a screw rod turning
at one end in a bearing secured on the disc and at the other end in a threaded block
fitted to slide radially on the disc. This block engages a wrist pin held adjustably
in a crank arm fast on the wheel axle. Said wrist pin is adapted to engage a notch
formed in the periphery of the disc in line with the radial slide block. The wrist pin
is fitted to slide in a slot in the crank arm, and a coiled spring tends to press it
inwards towards the axle. On the extreme outer end of the wrist pin is a plate
having an inclined edge, the bottom of the plate resting on a detent arm at the end of
a spring secured to the crank arm. Said plate is also adapted to engage a notch
formed in the said arui of the spring and the extreme outer end of the said spring

page_text: arm forms a bevel adapted to be engaged by the face of a ring formed on a lever
fulcrumed on a fixed bracket, a spring holding the ring out of contact with the bevel.
The lever is connected with a hand lever on the car-platform.
The operation is as follows:-When the wrist pin is held by the arm of the spring
out of engagement with the notch of the disc, the crank arm rotates idle with the axle.
Now, when it is desired to wind up the spring barrel on a descending gradient for
instance, the detent is, by the connections above referred to, disengaged from the wrist
pin which is forced inwards by its spring until the outer end of the wrist pin is brought
in contact with the periphery and engages the notch of the disc. The latter is then
rotated with the crank arm whereby the spring is coiled up and a return movement of
the disc is prevented by the pawl and ratchet wheel connected with the said disc.
When the disc commences to rotate, the epicycloidal gear wheel also commences to
rotate in rolling around the gear wheel on the now stationary sleeve, thereby
imparting through the bevel gear and screw rod an outwardly sliding movement
to the radial slide block. When the spring is wound up, the radial slide block
lifts the wrist pin from the notch of the disc and the wrist pin is again held by its
detent out of engagement with the disc and rotates idle, as before. The spring is
held wound up as the disc is prevented from a return movement by the pawl before
mentioned and the sleeve to which the other end of the spring is secured, is also
prevented from rotating its pawl and ratchet wheel. When the car now travels up a
grade, or is starting after having stopped, and it is desired to utilize the force of the
wound up spring, the last mentioned pawl and ratchet is disengaged so that the coiled
spring by exerting its pressure against the sleeve causes the latter, as the disc is
held stationary, to rotate and as the said sleeve is connected with the axle by the
bolt engaging with the spiral cam or ratchet, whereby a forward movement is given to the
car. By the unwinding of the spring, the radial slide block is returned to the inner
position. When the car runs backward and the force of the wound up spring is to
be utilized to assist in running backward, then the bolt is disengaged from the spiral
cam or ratchet, thus permitting the car to run backward without hindrance. The
operator then brings the wrist pin into close contact with the periphery of the disc but
does not engage its notch because it moves backward over it. The pawl is then
disengaged from the ratchet wheel of the disc so that the latter may be turned backward
until the notch engages the wrist pin thereby assisting to the extent of the full force
of the spring in the backward movement of the car. When however it is desired to
wind up the spring on this backward movement of the car, the bolt is engaged with
the spiral cam whereby the spring is wound up. It is understood that any desired
number of such devices may be employed on one axle or on both axles as desired.
Dated this 24th day of January 1889.

page_text: Improvements in Car Starters.
We, WILLIAM Parks Akers, of Jacksboro', Jack County, State of Texas, United
States of America, Farmer, and JOHN COLLIER LINDSEY jr., also of Jacksboro'
aforesaid, Cowboy, 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 object of this invention is to provide a new and improved starter adapted for
all kinds of cars and vehicles, being specially of great value on grades.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specifi-
cation, in which figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a car provided with
the improvement, parts being in section. Figure 2 is an end elevation, and figure 3
a plan view, of the same. Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the
same, on linea a figure 1. Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of the improvement,
on line y y figure 2. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the crank arm; and
figure 7 is a sectional end elevation of part of the improvement, on line z z
figure 3. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
figures.
The car or vehicle A, of any approved construction, is provided with the usual
axles B B carrying the wheels CC. On the rear axle B is a loose sleeve D
having at one end a ratchet wheel D₁ engaged by a pawl E pivoted at E¹ to the
car frame A and connected by a link E to a hand lever F fulcrumed on the car
frame A. On the face of the ratchet wheel D¹ is formed a spiral cam D³ with
which engages the bolt G fitted to slide transversely in a wheel 'G' secured to the
axle B. The outer end of the bolt G is provided with a shoulder G³ engaged by the
annular flange H' formed on the lever H, fulcrumed on the bracket H attached to
the car frame A. A spring H³ is located between the lever H and the bracket H' and
serves to press the flange H' against the wheel G' so as to hold the bolt G up to
the spiral cam.
To the upper end of the lever H is attached a rope or rod H
for moving the lever towards the bracket H' to disengage the bolt G from the
cam D. The rope or rod H* extends to a brake staff to be operated whenever it
is desired to utilize the force of the spring to make the car run backward.
end of the sleeve D is geared, by a gear wheel I, with a wheel J fastened on a
shaft J mounted to rotate in bearings K carried on the inner face of the disc L
mounted to rotate loosely on the sleeve D. To the disc L is secured a ratchet wheel N
which has its bearing on the sleeve D and between the said ratchet wheel N and the
disc L is held a coiled spring O fastened by one end to the said disc L and by
its other end to the sleeve D. The ratchet wheel N is engaged, by a pawl N¹,
pivotally to the arm N fulcrumed on the car frame A. On the pawl N¹ is pivoted
a semi-circular arm N³ which passes through the arm N, the centre of the said
semi-circular arm N³ being in the pivot of the pawl N' and the arm N'. A spring N'
The other

page_text: is coiled on the said semi-circular rod or arm N resting at one end against the said
pawl N¹ and at its other end against the said arm N' and having the tendency to
hold the said pawl N¹ at its other end against the said arm N° in a straight position,
as shewn in figure 5. The arm N2 is connected by a link No to a lever No fulcrumed
on the car which lever serves to raise said arm so as to disengage the pawl N' from
the ratchet wheel N whenever the operator desires to do so. The shaft J before
mentioned carries a bevel gear wheel P which meshes into a bevel gear wheel Q
secured on a screw-rod R turning at one end in a bearing K' secured on the disc L
and the other end of the said screw-rod R engages a throaded block S fitted to slide
radially in a suitable groove L' formed on the disc L. The block S is adapted to
engage a wrist pin T held adjustably in the crank arm U fast on the axle B. Said
wrist pin T is adapted to engage a notch L³ formed in the periphery of the disc Lin
line with the groove L' in which the block S slides. The wrist-pin T is fitted to
slide in a slot in the crank arm U, as is plainly shewn in figure 6, and the outer end
of the said wrist pin is provided with an outwardly extending arm T against which
prosses one end of a coiled spring T2 pressing with its other end against the
projection U formed on the crank arm U. The coiled spring T has a tendency to
press the wrist pin T inward. On the extreme outer end of the wrist pin T is
secured a plate T provided with one inclined edge, as shewn in figure 6. The
bottom of the plate T is adapted to rest on an arm V₁ formed on the upper end
of a spring V secured to the crank arm U Said plate T3 is also adapted to engage
a notch V formed in the said arm V₁ of the spring V, and the extreme outer end
of the said spring arm V₁ forms a bevel V3 adapted to be engaged by the face of
a ring W formed on a lever W fulcrumed on a bracket W secured to the car A.
A spring W³ is placed between the bracket W and the upper end of the lever W so as
to hold the ring W' out of contact with the bevel V³. A cord or rod W is connected
with the upper end of the lever W and extends to the hand lever on the car platform.
The operation is as follows:-When the plate T3 of the wrist pin T rests on the
arm V₁ of the spring V, as illustrated in figure 6, the said wrist pin T is disengaged
from the notch L of the disc L. When the car A now travels in the direction of
the arrow a¹, the crank arm U rotates with the axle B without engaging the disc L
by means of its wrist pin T so that the latter with the sleeve D remains inactive.
Now, when it is desired to wind up the spring O on a descending gradient, for
instance, the operator pulls on the rope or cord W so that the lever W swings and
causes its ring W₁ to press the bevel Vs outward so that the spring arm V' is moved
outward whereby the plate T3 passes into the notch V' and the spring T forces the
wrist pin T inward until the outer end of the wrist pin T is brought in contact with
the periphery of the lisc L and engages, finally, the notch L³ of the disc. The latter
is then rotated, by the movement of the crank arm U and its wrist pin T, in the
direction of the arrow b¹ whereby the spring O is coiled up and a return movement
of the disc is prevented by the pawl N engaging the ratchet wheel N connected with
the said disc L. When the disc L commences to rotate, the gear wheel J also
commences to rotate on account of being in gear with the gear wheel I on the now
stationary sleeve D. The rotary movement of the gear wheel imparts a like move-
ment to the gear wheels P and Q and to the screw rod R whereby the latter imparts
an outwardly sliding movement to the block S. When the spring O is nearly wound
up, the block S comes in contact with the wrist pin T and finally lifts the latter from
the notch L² of the disc L and the spring arm V' again assumes its former position
so that the bottom of the plate T3 rests on the top of the arm V₁ of the spring V, as
shewn in figure 6. The operator having previously released the rope or cord W, the
wrist pin T is then completely disengaged from the disc I and rotates with the crank
arm and the axle B without touching the disc L. The spring O is held wound up
as the disc L is prevented from a return movement by the pawl N' before mentioned
and the sleeve D, to which the other end of the spring O is secured, is also prevented
from rotating as long as the pawl E engages the ratchet wheel D' formed on the said
sleeve D. When the car now travels up a grade, or is starting after having stopped,
and it is desired to utilize the force of the wound up spring 0, the crank lover Fis

page_text: operated so that the pawl E is thrown out of contact with the ratchet wheel D¹. The
coiled spring O, by exerting its pressure against the sleeve D, causes the latter-as
the disc I is held stationary-to rotate in the direction of the arrow 6' and as the
said sleeve is connected with the axlo B by the bolt G in the wheel G' and against
the spiral cam D' of the ratchet D' the said axle B receives the force of the coiled
spring whereby a forward movement in the direction of the arrow a' is given to the
car A. By the unwinding of the spring O the radial slide block S is returned to the
inner position. When the car runs backward and the force of the wound up spring
is to be utilized to assist in running backward, then the operator pulls the rope H* so
that the lever H with its annular flange H¹ moves the bolt G outwardly until the
latter disengages the spiral cam D² on the ratchet wheel D', thus permitting the car A
to run backward without hindrance, as the movement of the wheel G¹ secured on the
axle B is not transmitted to the ratchet wheel D' on account of the block G being
disengaged from the ratchet wheel D¹. The operator then pulls the cord W which
causes the wrist pin T to come in close contact with the periphery of the disc L but
does not engage the notch L² on said disc because it moves hackward over it. The
pawl N is then raised out of the notch on ratchet wheel N which allows the disc L
to be turned backward until the notch L engages the wrist pin T, thereby assisting
to the extent of the full force of the spring in the backward movement of the car.
When, however, it is desired to wind up the spring O on this backward movement of
the car, the pull on the cord or rope H is slackened so that the spring H³ forces the
bolt G¹ inward to engage the cain D whereby the ratchet wheel D₁ and its sleeve
are turned in the inverse direction of arrow and the spring O) is wound up.
the force of the wound up-spring is to be utilized, the operator proceeds the same as
above described.
When
It is understood that any desired number of such devices may be employed on one
axle or on both axles as desired. When the spring O is unwound, the operator
drops the pawl E again into contact with the ratchet wheel DI and when the operator
again desires to coil the spring O he operates the lever W as before described and the
same operation is repeated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In a car starter, the combination, with a crank arm held rigid on the axle, of a
notched disc adapted to be engaged by the said crank arm, a coiled spring secured
by one end to the said disc, and a sleeve connected with the axle on which the other
end of the said spring is secured, said disc being held to rotate loosely on the said sleeve,
substantially as shewn and described.
2. In a car starter, the combination, with a crank arm provided with an adjustable
wrist-pin and held rigidly on the axle, of a notched disc adapted to be engaged by the
wrist-pin of the said crank-arm, a coiled spring secured by one end to the said disc,
a sleeve connected with the axle and on which the other end of the said spring.is
secured, a ratchet-wheel connected with the said disc, and a pawl engaging the said
ratchet-wheel substantially as shewn and described.
3. In a car-starter, the combination, with a crank-arm provided with an adjustable
wrist-pin and held rigidly on the axle, of a notched disc adapted to be engaged by
the wrist-pin of the said crank arm. a coiled spring secured by one end to the said
disc, a sleeve on which the said disc is held to rotate and on which is also secured the
other end of the said spring, a ratchet wheel connected with the said disc and engaged
by a fixed pawl, a ratchet-wheel formed on the said sleeve and provided with a spirul
cam, and a wheel secured on the axle and carrying a sliding block adapted to engage
the said spiral cam, substantially as shown and described.
4. In a car-starter, the combination, with a crank arm provided with an adjustable
wrist pin and held rigidly on the axle. of a notched disc adapted to be engaged by the
wrist-pin of the said crank arm, a coiled spring secured by one end to the said disc,
a sleeve on which the said disc is held to rotate and on which is also secured the

page_text: other end of the said spring, a ratchet wheel connected with the said disc and
engaged by a fixed pawl, a ratchet wheel formed on the said sleeve and provided
with a spiral cam, a wheel secured on the axle and carrying a sliding block adapted
to engage the said spiral cam, and a lever connected with the said sliding block to
move it in and out of contact with the said spiral cam, substantially as shewn and
described.
5. In a car starter, the combination with a crank arm provided with an adjustable
wrist pin and held rigidly on the axle of a notched disc adapted to be engaged by
the wrist-pin of the said crank arm, a coiled spring secured by one end to the said
disc, a sleeve on which the said disc is held to rotate and on which is also secured
the other end of the said spring, a ratchet-wheel connected with the said disc and
engaged by a fixed pawl, a ratchet wheel formed on the said sleeve and provided with
a spiral cam, a wheel secured on the axle and carrying a sliding block engaging the
said spiral cam, and a pawl adapted to engage the ratchet-wheel on the said sleeve,
substantially as shewn and described.
6. In a car starter, the combination with a crank arm provided with an adjustable
wrist pin and held rigidly on the axle, of a notched disc adapted to be engaged by the
wrist pin of the said crank arm, a coiled spring secured by one end to the said disc,
n sleeve on which the said disc is held to rotate and on which is also secured the
other end of the said spring, a ratchet wheel connected with the said disc and engaged
by a fixed pawl, a ratchet wheel formed on the said sleeve and provided with a spiral
cam, a wheel secured on the axle and carrying a sliding block engaging the said
spiral cam, a pawl adapted to engage the ratchet wheel on the said sleeve, and a lever
connected with the said sliding block to move it in and out of contact with the said
spiral cam, substantially as shewn and described.
7. In a car starter, the combination, with an axle, of a crank arm secured on the
said axle, a wrist pin hold to slide radially in the said crank arm, a spring for pressing
the said wrist pin inward in the said crank arm, a plate held on the extreme inner end
of the said wrist pin, a spring provided with a notch adapted to engage the said plato
and also provided with a bevel, and a lever having a ring adapted to engage the said
bevel of the said spring, substantially as shewn and described.
8. In a car starter, the combination, with an axle of a crank arm secured on the
said axle, a wrist pin hold to slide radially on the said crank arm, a spring for
pressing the said wrist-pin inward in the said crank arm, a plate held on the extreme
inner end of the said wrist-pin, a spring provided with a notch adapted to engage
the said plate and also provided with a bevel, a lever having a ring adapted to engage
the said bevel of the said spring, a disc provided with a notch adapted to be engaged
by the said wrist-pin, and a coiled spring connected with the said disc and wound up
by the rotation of the said disc, substantially as shown and described.
9. In a car-starter, the combination with a sleeve connected with the axle and
provided with a gear wheel, of a coiled spring secured by one end to the said sleeve,
à disc on which the other end of the said spring is secured, said disc turning loosely
on the said sleeve, a second gear wheel meshing into the gear wheel on the said sleeve,
a screw-rod operated by the said second gear wheel, a threaded block held to
slide on the said disc and screwing on the said screw rod and a wrist-pin adapted
to engage the said disc and held to slide in a crank-arm secured to the axle,
said wrist pin being operated on by the said threaded block, substantially as shewn
and described.
10. In a car-starter, the combination with the axle and a sleeve connected with the
said axle, said sleeve being provided with a gear wheel, of a coiled spring secured by
one end to the said sleeve, a disc on which the other end of the said spring is secured,
a second gear wheel meshing into the said gear wheel on the sleeve, a screw-rod
operated by the said second gear wheel, a threaded block held to slide on the said
disc and screwing on the said screw rod, a wrist-pin engaging the said disc and
operated on by the said threaded block, and a crank arm on which the said wrist pin
is held to slide radially, said crank arm being secured to the axle, substantially as
shown and described.
•

page_text: 11. In a car starter, the combination, with the axle and a sleeve connected with the
said axle and provided with a gear wheel, of a coiled spring secured by one end to the
said sleeve, a disc on which the other end of the said spring is secured, a second gear
wheel meshing into the said gear wheel on the sleeve, a screw-rod operated by the
said second gear wheel, a threaded block held to slide on the said disc and screwing
on the said screw-rod, a wrist pin engaging the said disc and operated on by the said
threaded block, a crank arm carrying the said wrist pin and in which it is held to
slide radially, said crank-arm being secured to the axle, a spring secured to the said
crank arm and supporting the said wrist pin, and a lever having a ring adapted
to operate on the said spring, substantially as shewn and described.