Apparatus for Converting into Available Power the Oscillations Imparted to Supporting Mediums by the Displacement of Loads, and for Storing such Power.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOHANN FERDINAND ROBERT KNOBLOCH, of
No. 10 Von der Laun-strasse, Eimsbüttel, Engineer, and Max BACHUR and
JAMES HEYN, both of No. 3 Bundesstrasse, Merchants, all of Hamburg, in
the Empire of Germany.]
Apparatus for Converting into Available Power the Oscillations
Imparted to Supporting Mediums by the Displacement of Loads,
and for Storing such Power.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This improved apparatus is adapted to convert into available power the
oscillations, which supports or beds of any description whatsoever undergo, in
consequence of the loads placed upon them being shifted or moved from place to
place, and enables such power to be stored up or accumulated for subsequent use;
and it is more especially intended to be made serviceable in connection with
railway traffic.
It is well known that rails are moved up and down (in a vertical plane or
direction), by the engines and vehicles travelling over them, to an extent increasing
with the weight of such engines and vehicles and their loads. And however small
may be the amplitude of each individual oscillation thus caused, the sum-total of
displacement, resulting from the innumerable oscillations to which rails are subjected
even when extending but for a moderate distance, and upon which traffic of not
more than an average magnitude is plied, is certainly by no means inconsiderable.
Now the useful effect thus continually produced, especially by heavy goods trains,
may be conveniently turned to account, in the manner hereinafter described, by
means of the improved apparatus forming the subject of this invention.
One of the main features of the said apparatus is a lever arrangement, which
may consist of a balancing lever or beam and a double-armed lever supporting such
beam. Where (as is here assumed) the invention is to be applied to the utilisation
of the vibratory movements of rails, the required number of devices such as this
may be located in juxtaposition along the line, under the feet or bases of the rails.
Whilst, in that case, the beam engages with the lower surfaces of the rails, the free
end of the supporting lever should be thrown into engagement with some suitable
weighted gearing; the preferable form of gearing consisting of a toothed "feeding"
or escapement wheel, its supporting shaft or spindle, a ratchet wheel, and a drum
or barrel; the ratchet wheel working in conjunction with the requisite number of
pawls, and the spindle or shaft being supported by a block or bearing. The free
end of the supporting lever engages with the toothed wheel aforesaid, through the
medium of a bolt, which is movable within such lever end, and controlled by a
spring; and in so doing, the said lever-whenever the beam is lowered by the
rails causes the toothed wheel to turn one step or tooth space. As each train, in
passing over the rails, imparts to them a great number of oscillations, the toothed
wheel is, accordingly, caused to turn one space further, as many times as the raiļs

page_text: oscillate; and whenever it has thus turned once, it is arrested in position, and
prevented from turning backwards, by the pawls being thrown into gear, both,
with it, and with a powerful ratchet wheel. In accomplishing each forward step,
the said toothed wheel has to overcome the resistance of the weight wherewith the
gearing or escapement just described is weighted; which weight may consist either
of a very powerful coiled spring, or of a weighted cord, wound upon the barrel or
drum aforesaid; or of any other suitable means of resistance. This weight or
resisting medium, will accumulate the resultant amount of power, which will
increase as the number of spaces travelled by the toothed wheel multiples; and the
energy thus stored up may then be converted into actual "work," or motive power,
by releasing the supporting lever and pawls, and by causing the motor device-
such, for example, as the weighted cord-to suitably exercise its action at the
point where the motive power is to be utilized, or upon the machine which is to be
driven.
As, owing to the present extensive and constantly increasing railway traffic, the
oscillations or vibrations to which rails are subjected and which are to be made
Berviceable in the manner described, are practically innumerable, it will be under-
stood that a very large amount of power may be stored up by the above described
means and subsequently consumed at convenient times and places.
The engaging or "feeding" end of the supporting lever is formed as (or fitted
with) a movable bolt for the purpose of enabling such bolt to sweep back, in
contact with the rearward surfaces of one or more teeth of the toothed wheel;
whenever such wheel has moved a further step forward, and after the rails have
risen again from their momentarily lowered position and have caused the end of
said lever to re-descend in consequence.
In order to ensure a firm support for the feet of the rails upon the aforesaid
balancing lever or beam adjustable wedges may be employed.
For disengaging the lever bolt and the arresting pawls or catches from the
toothed wheels, a hand lever adapted to be slightly depressed, may be employed.
By so operating the band lever, a special pawl with which it is provided, will be
caused to turn both the toothed wheels a little distance in the forward direction,
with the result that the pawls, as well as the bolt of the supporting lever will be
loosened in the tooth-spaces so that they may be readily lifted out of engagement
with the same as the lever is further depressed; while another pawl, which the
said lever carries, at the same time engages in a notch, provided in a further lever,
thereby so moving this last-mentioned lever that it may finally release both the
bolt and pawls of the supporting lever through the medium of links and, lastly, the
aforementioned special pawl on the hand lever will thereby also be forced out of
engagement with the teeth by means of a pin or stud; when the hand lever may be
secured in position by any suitable catch or arresting device, and the accumulated
energy may be converted into motive power.
As before mentioned, the arrangement herein described may, generally speaking,
serve to convert the movements imparted to supporting mediums of no matter what
class or description by loads moved over them, into motive power, as well as to
effect the storage of such power for subsequent use.
Dated this 27th day of April 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant,

page_text: י!
-12.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Converting into Available Power the Oscillations
Imparted to Supporting Mediums by the Displacement of Loads,
and for Storing, suoh Power.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45. Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 to appliances for accumulating or storing power resulting
from the vibratory movements or alternate depressions and elevations imparted to a
prime mover, and it is particularly designed to, convert into power the flexure of
railway, rails under the weight of a train travelling over the same and to
accumulate or store,such power for useful purposes..
1
"
It is well known that the rails of railways are subjected to flexure or alternate
depression and elevation by the weight of a train travelling over the same and that
however, slight these flexures may be, their sum total, on a line with average
traffic, is very considerable, and by means of my invention I am enabled to convert
these pressures into power and accumulate and utilize the same.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1, is a side elevation partly in section, of a power converter embodying
my invention.
Figure 2 is a like view illustrating the various parts of the converting
mechanism in their relative positions when yielding up the accumulated or stored-
up power, and
Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line I-II of Figure 2.
In the drawings a indicates a transmitting lever pivoted centrally to the end of
one of the arms of a two-armed rock lever b, having its fulerum in a bracket on
the base or bed plate & of a framing in which the converting mechanism is mounted.
Inasmuch ass the levers a and b require but a comparatively small space they can be
located between two cross ties and in order to afford a firm bearing for the rails S
on the opposite ends of the, transmitting lever a, wedge shaped plates a are
provided adjustable by means of nuts on extensions or journals projecting from the
opposite ends of said lever, as shown in Figure 1. In-the end of the other arm of
the rock lever b is formed a, socket in which slides freely an actuating pawlib',
held normally in engagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel: by a coil
spring b³ interposed between the inner face of such socket and the inner end of
pawl b
"
The converting mechanism, as heretofore, stated, is mounted in a suitable
framing comprising side plates 9 and the aforementioned base plate .6. This
mechanism consists of the aforesaid ratchet wheel e, adapted to be rotated step by
step by the pawl b', said ratchet wheel being mounted on a spindle d having its
bearing in the side plates g of the framing.
+
The said spindle d also carries a second ratchet wheel e and a barrel or drum f,
suitable check pawls i and being, provided to prevent the backward rotation of
said ratchet wheels c and e.
In order that the power exerted upon the rails S by the load moving over the
same, may be accumulated or stored up the rotation of the barrel or drum funder
the action of the pawl 6 on its ratchet wheel c, must be opposed by a resistance so
arranged as to be capable of yielding up the accumulated or stored power. This
resistance may consist of a spring arranged within the said barrel to oppose its
rotation under the action of the pawl b', said spring to be wound up by the power
exerted upon the rails S to flex the same, or said resistance may consist, as shown,

page_text: of a rope k adapted to be wound onto the drum or barrel and the winding of
which is opposed by a weight at its free end. In either case the resistance to the
rotation of the ratchet wheels cand e in one direction must be proportioned
relatively to the power.exerted upon the rails S to flex the same, so as to be over-
come by such power as will be readily understood. Furthermore in order to make
the accumulated or stored power available, means must be provided to throw the
actuating pawl as well as the check pawls and out of engagement with their
respective ratchets., To. these ends I provide a hand lever fulorumed to, one of
the side plates g of the framing, said hand lever being, provided with a two armed
pawl adapted to engage the ratchet wheel e, so that when said lever is depressed
the wheel e will be turned forward or in the direction in which it is moved by the
pawl b thereby relieving the pawls and of the pressure exerted thereon through
their respective ratchet wheels cand e by the resistance, the tendency of which to
revolve said wheels in a direction opposite to their directions of rotation under the
action of pawl b
+2
1.)
The lever has pivoted thereon a catch or detent adapted to engage a notch m
in the downwardly bent end 4 of a two armed lever m also fulcrumed to one of
the side plates g of the framing, said lever having a laterally projecting arm' near
left hand end, Figure 3, to which is pivoted one end of a link m², the other end of
said link being slotted for the reception of a pin i projecting from the side of the
check pawl, the check pawl being similarly linked to the left hand arm of said
lever by a link m. At the end of its left hand arm, the lever ni has a pin i**
projecting into a longitudinal slot at the upper end of a connecting rod m³, whose.
lower end is pivoted to the free end of a rock lever 2 having its fulcrum on the base
plate 63 of the framing, said lever being normally in contact with a pin 3, projecting
from the side of the actuating pawl b', Figures 1 and 2. From one of the side
plates g of the framing projects a pin that lies in the path of the upper arm of the
two armed pawl on lever 1.
During the accumulation or storage of power the catch or detent is out of
engagement with the notch m on the arm 4 of lever m, while the lower arm of
pawl is in engagement with the teeth of ratchet e, Figure 1, and as said ratchet
revolves towards the pawl the latter rides freely over the ratchet teeth, the
actuating pawl and the check pawls i and being also in engagement with their
respective ratchet wheels. When, however, the lever is depressed the lower arm
of pawl turns the ratchet wheels e, c'and' drum f forward, or towards the right,
thereby relieving the check pawls and of strain or pressure and causing the
catch or detent to hook into the notch m³ of lever l. Upon a further depression
of said lever 1, the upper arm of pawl strikes the pin which throws said upper
arm toward the left and disengages the lower arm of the pawl from the ratchet
wheel e, and at the same time the lever m lifts the check pawls out of the tooth of
the ratchet wheelsre and e and throws the lever 2 also toward the left thereby
moving the actuating pawl b¹ out of engagement with its ratchet wheel cleaving the
converting mechanism free to revolve backward or toward the left under the notion
of the spring or weight, thereby revolving spindle d whose rotary motion may be
transmitted to any suitable apparatus.
T
It is obvious that when a train passes over the rails S and the latter are deflected
or bent downwardly the pressure will be transmitted to both ends of the lever a,
hence said pressure will be uniformly distributed over the length of said lever, and
transmitted thereby to the rock lever band through the pawl thereof to the
ratchet wheel c rotating the latter a distance commensurate with, or proportionate
to the amplitude of the track deflection and as the track again assumes its normal
position thereby lifting the left liand end of the lever bits pawl riding over the
tooth of ratchet wheel e owing to the fact that said pawl is held in engagement
with the ratchet teeth by a' yielding pressure. Inasmuch as the lever a is pivoted
centrally to the rock lever b, said lever a is adapted to swing on its pivot under
unequally distributed loads and as the said lever b is a rocking lever a yielding or
flexible support is provided for the lever a and rails S.
.

page_text: By means of the wedge shaped plates I not only provide a bearing for the
rails of the desired superficial area but am enabled to take up wear between the
parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with a horizontal two armed rock lever a vertically
reciprocating prime mover, a transmitting mechanism for transmitting the
reciprocations of the prime mover to one of the arms of said lever, a pawl on the
end of the other arm of the lever and a yielding connection between such pawl and
lever, of a shaft, a revoluble drum and ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, said
ratchet normally engaged by the aforementioned pawl a yielding resistance opposing
the rotation of the drum and a check pawl for locking the ratchet against backward
rotation, for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination with a horizontal, two armed rock lever, a transmitting lever
pivoted centrally to the end of one of the arms of said lever, a spring actuated pawl
at the end of the other arm of the lever and the rails of a railway track having
bearing on the opposite ends of the transmitting lever, of a shaft, a drum and
ratchet wheel secured rigidly to said shaft, said ratchet wheel normally engaged by
the aforementioned pawl, a yielding resistance opposing the rotation of the drum
and a check pawl for checking the ratchet against backward rotation, for the
purpose set forth.
3. The combination with a horizontal, two armed rock lever, a vertically
reciprocating prime mover transmitting mechanism for transmitting the reoiproca-
tions of the prime mover to one of the arms of said lever, an actuating pawl at the
other end of such lever and a yielding connection between said pawl and lever, a
shaft, a drum and two ratchet wheels rigidly secured to the shaft, one of said
ratchet wheels normally engaged by the aforementioned pawl, a yielding resistance
opposing the rotation of the drum, and check pawls for locking the ratchets against
rotation under the stress of the resistance and a releasing mechanism, operating to
disengage the actuating and check pawls from their respective ratchets, for the
purpose set forth.
4. The combination with the track rails S, the rock lever b and the transmitting
lever a, pivoted centrally to the end of one of the arms of said rock lever, of wedge
shaped bearing plates for the rails interposed between them and the ends of the
transmitting lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination with the rock lever b and its spring actuated pawl 61, the
ratchet wheels cand e and the check pawls i and i, of a hand operated lever
connected with the check pawls, an auxiliary lever in normal engagement with the
actuating pawl, said auxiliary lever actuated by the hand operated lever to move
the actuating pawl out of engagement with its ratchet wheel and simultaneously lift
the check pawls out of engagement with their ratchet wheels, for the purpose set
forth.
6. The combination with the rock lever b, the spring actuated pawl b provided
with a laterally projecting pin 3, the ratchet wheels e and e, the check pawls i and i,
the lever 2, normally in contact with the aforesaid pin 3, the lever m and link
connections between said lever, the check pawls i and i¹ and the lever 2, of a hand
lever provided with a detent 12 adapted to engage a notch in one arm of the
lever m and with a pawl adapted to engage the ratchet wheel e and means for
automatically disengaging the last named pawl from its ratchet when the hand lever
is depressed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. The combination with a two armed rock lever, a reciprocating prime mover
adapted to rock said lever, a revoluble shaft, a drum and two ratchet wheels of
different diameters secured to said shaft, one of said ratchets normally engaged by
the aforementioned pawl, check pawls for locking the ratchets against backward
rotation and a yielding resistance opposing the rotation of the drum, of releasing

page_text: mechanism comprising a lever, intermediate connections between said lever and the
actuating and check pawls, operating to disengage the same from their respective
ratchets, when said lever is moved in the proper direction and means for relieving
the pawls of the strain thereon due to the yielding resistance, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
Tinted thin 7th I
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.