IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR STOPPING AND STARTING TRAMWAY CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES"
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Henry Betteley of 4 Gracechurch Street in the
City of London for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR
STOPPING AND STARTING TRAMWAY CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Henry Betteley at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th May 1882.
JOSEPH HENRY BETTELEY of 4 Gracechurch Street in the City of London
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR STOPPING AND STARTING TRAMWAY CARS
AND OTHER VEHICLES
"
The object of these improvements relates 1stly in obtaining a larger amount of
Break surface in a minimum width for Stopping Tramway cars and other
vehicles.
In order to obtain this result I either cast on the sides of wheels for Tramway
cars or other Vehicles a projecting flange of the ordinary width for Break blocks,
or secure the same by bolts or other means, and in order to increase the frictional
surface, I mould in, or turn a groove or grooves around the same of a V or half
round shape, and with a Break block to fit the said groove or grooves I obtain a
greater amount of friction with the same pressure, than the ordinary flat surface
flauges as now used.
In some cases where the wheels are of a small diameter the flange may be made
so nearly to the diameter of the wheel itself that both the flange and the outer
periphery of the wheel may be used simultaneously by having a suitable Break
block to fit.
The second part of my Invention relates to my method of assisting the Horse or
horses or other Propelling power in Starting Tramway cars and other Vehicles by
the Driver of the same.
In order to effect this object I secure on the axles or cast on the sides of the
wheels or affix thereto by any other means a ratchet wheel with a boss on one, or
on both sides, to receive a lever or levers to work radially from the centre of the
same, and at the upper end of the lever or levers I attix a ratchet pawl to work in

page_text: the ratchet wheel, and a side rod or rods and connect the latter to a Spring, while
at the lower end of the lever or levers I connect a rod leading from a Bell crank
with treadle in the front of the Tramway car or other Vehicle by which means the
Driver by placing his weight on the treadle causes the Spring and pawl to recede,
and on his removing his weight, the Spring reacts through the pawl on the ratchet
wheel and propels the Tramway car or other Vehicle to a certain extent but the
operation may be repeated any number of times and at the end of each operation
the pawl is automatically raised out of gear of the ratchet wheel, in order, that
the Tramway car or other Vehicle may be propelled the reverse way if required.
In another form of apparatus I may dispense with the Spring and side rod or
rods and the lower ends of the lever or levers and I then connect the rod leading
from the Bell crank with treadle to the upper end of the lever, or levers, by which
means the weight of the Driver acts directly on the pawl and ratchet wheel, and
propels the Tramway car or other Vehicle as before mentioned.
In another form of apparatus I may dispense with the Bell crank with treadle
and use the ordinary Break winch connected by a chain and rod to the upper end
of the lever or levers and ratchet pawl.
And in another form of apparatus I may connect by a rod or chain the upper
end of the lever or levers, to the Draw bar in which case, the Horse or horses or
other motive power will act directly on the pawl and propel the Tramway car or
other vehicle to a certain extent as before mentioned.
In the three latter mentioned formns of apparatusses provision must be made by
a Spring or counterbalance to return the lever or levers back again to their Starting
point.
In conclusion I may use (instead of a ratchet wheel and pawl) a plain wheel and
gripper to answer exactly the same purpose, but I prefer the former as being more
certain in its action.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Henry Betteley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th November 1882.
JOSEPH HENRY BETTELEY of 4. Gracechurch Street in the City of London
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR STOPPING AND STARTING TRAMWAY CARS
AND OTHER VEHICLES
"
The object of these improvements relates 1stly in obtaining a larger amount
of break surface in a minimum width for stopping tramway cars and other
vehicles.
In order to obtain this result I either cast on the sides of wheels for tramway.
cars or other vehicles a projecting flange of the ordinary width for break blocks, or
secure the same by bolts or other means, and in order to increase the frictional
surface, I mould in, or turn a groove, or grooves around the same of a ✓ or half
round shape, and with a break block to fit the said groove or grooves I obtain .a
greater amount of friction with the same pressure, than the ordinary flat surface
flanges as now used.
In some cases where the wheels are of a small diameter the flange may be made
so nearly to the diameter of the wheel itself, that both the Hange and the outer
periphery of the wheel may be used simultaneously by having a suitable break
block to fit.
The second part of my invention relates to my method of assisting the horse or
horses or other propelling power in starting tramway cars and other vehicles by
the driver of the same.
In order to effect this object I secure on the axles, or cast on the sides of the
wheels or affix thereto by any other means or ratchet wheel with a boss on one, or
on both sides, to receive a lever, or levers to work radially from the centre of the
same, and at the upper end of the lever or levers I affix a ratchet pawl to work in
the ratchet wheel, and a side rod or rods and connect the latter to a spring, while
at the lower end of the lever, or levers, I connect a rod leading from a bell crank
with treadle in the front of the tramway car, or other vehicle by which means the
driver by placing his weight on the treadle causes the spring and pawl to recede,
and on his removing his weight, the spring reacts through the pawl on the ratchet
wheel and propels the tramway car or other vehicle to a certain extent, but the
operation may be repeated any number of times and at the end of each operation
the pawl is automatically raised out of gear of the ratchet wheel, in order, that
the tramway car or other vehicle may be propelled the reverse way if required.
In another form of apparatus I may dispense with the spring and side rod or
rods and the lower ends of the lever, or levers, and I then connect the rod leading
from the bell crank with treadle to the upper end of the lever, or levers, by which
means the weight of the driver acts directly on the pawl and ratchet wheel and
propels the tramway car or other vehicle as before mentioned.
In another form of apparatus I may dispense with the bell crank with treadle,
and use the ordinary break winch connected by a chain and rod to the upper end
of the lever or levers and ratchet pawl.
And in another form of apparatus I may connect by a rod, or chain the upper
end of the lever, or levers, to the draw bar, in which case, the horse or horses or
other motive power will act directly on the pawl and propel the tramway car, or
other vehicle to a certain extent as before mentioned.
In the three latter mentioned forms of apparatus provision must be made by, a
spring or counter balance to return the lever, or levers, back again to their starting
point,

page_text: In conclusion I may use (instead of a ratchet wheel and pawl) a plain wheel, and
gripper to answer exactly the same purpose, but I prefer the former as being more
certain in its action.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly understood I will proceed aided
by the accompanying Drawings more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The first part of my Invention consists in obtaining a larger amount of break
surface in a minimum' width of flange.
1
Plan A is an elevation and plan view of my improved break wheels and blocks
for stopping tramway cars or other vehicles.
Figure 1 shews a pair of wheels fitted with flanges on their inner sides, the said
flanges having a recess of a ✓ shape (this recess being preferable) on their
periphery as at A, A, B B' being their brake blocks fitting the recesses before
alluded to.
Figure 2 is a side view.
Figure 3 shews another pair of wheels with the V shape projecting instead of
being recessed.
Figure 4 is a side view of Figure 3.
Figure 5 shews a brake block fitted to grip the projecting V flange and outer
periphery of the wheel at one and the same time.
Figure 6 shows a brake block fitted to grip the V shaped recess and outer
periphery of the wheel at one and the same time.
Figure 7 shews a wheel with two projecting V shapes.
Figure 8 shews a wheel with two recessed V shapes.
The different plans before described can be used with any description of groove
or grooves but the V section is preferable as shown in plans A figures 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8.
The 2nd part of my invention consists of various appliances for starting tramway
cars or other vehicles.
In plan B the weight of the driver on the treadle C communicates motion by
the bell crank lever D to the rod E causing the lever F F to compress the spring
or springs G through the side rods H H¹. The pawl I drops into gear of the
ratchet wheel J and when the driver removes his weight from the treadle C the
spring or springs G react through the side rods H H on the lever F F¹ and pawl I
and causes the tramway car or other vehicle to advance. The small spring K then
raises the pawl I out of gear.
Figure 9 is another view of the plan B.
In plan C Figure 10 the spring or springs G are compressed by an ordinary
brake winch which gives motion to the lever L-this compresses the spring or
springs G and at the same time brings the pawl I into gear with the ratchet
wheel J in a similar manner as before described in plan B.
In plan D there are no springs and the horse or other motive power is made to
start the tramway car, or other vehicle by the ordinary draw bar M into which is
inserted a pawl I the draw bar is shewn as having completed the start but on the
horse or other motive power stopping the balance weight O through the lever P
returns the draw bar M with its pawl I to its normal condition.
A modification of the same is seen at Figure 11, where instead of a single pawl,
a certain number of ratchet teeth is fitted to the draw bar and must always be out
of gear at the beginning and conclusion of each start and the draw bar is returned
to its normal condition by a balance weight Ọ or spring.
In plan E the treadle Ċ and beli crank lever D are again shown as at plan B
but in this appliance the pressure on the treadle C acts directly on the ratchet
wheel J through the rod P and pawl I and assists or propels the tramway car or
other vehicle on the pressure being removed the small spring G or a balance.

page_text: weight as shown on the preceding plan D will return the rod P the pawl I and
treadle C to their normal condition.
In plan F the arrangement is the same as plan B with the exception that the
lever F F is placed in front of the ratchet wheel J instead of on the bearings at
each side of the ratchet wheel J and the object of this plan is to obviate the wear
of the aforesaid bearings and the consumption of oil by the continued rotation of the
wheels of the tramway car or other vehicle-At figure 12 is shown a lever R which
can be used instead of the treadle C and bell crank lever D in any of the plans
described.
In plan G the arrangement is the same as plan B with the exception that
instead of a bell crank lever connected with the treadle C there is a ratchet wheel S
with a pulley on the side of the same and the connection with the lever F F is by
the rod E and chain T and the object of this arrangement is to be enabled to
compress the spring or springs G twice or thrice instead of once only as shewn by
all the other arrangements but this latter can only be done while the brake is on
which prevents the vehicle advancing at the first compression.
U is a guide plate to support the weight of the rod E-the small spring K is to
raise the pawl I out of gear and also to return the treadle C to its normal condition
after each compression of the spring or springs G.
In plan H is seen the treadle C and bell crank lever D, the upper part of the
lever F and the pawl I but instead of two side rods H H¹ as on plan B I have
only one rod H which passes through the spring or springs G which in this
appliance is within a tube instead of outside as in the other plans before described.
Moreover the rod E instead of being connected with a lever F as in the other
plans is connected with the friction roller V which has a groove in it for the
chain T and in this appliance the operation can only be performed while the
vehicle is in motion by pressure on the treadle C through the bell crank lever D and
rod E the friction roller V is then brought into contact with the plain edges of the
periphery of the ratchet wheel J and made to rotate and coil up the chain T which
compresses the spring or springs G by the rod H and its piston H¹ and on the
pressure being removed from the treadle C the spring or springs G react on the
pawl I and assists or propels the vehicle-the small spring K is to balance the bell
crank lever D.
.
In plan I the appliance is by a horizontal winch figure 13 to compress the spring
or springs G and it is placed alongside the ordinary brake winch of the vehicle.
In this appliance more power is obtained to compress the spring or springs G than
by any of the other appliances before described. By turning the handle X the
chain T is coiled around the shaft or drum Y and the bell crank lever D is raised
and the spring or springs G compressed by the motion of the rod E, the lever FF
the pawl I the rod H and its piston H-when the brake winch is released the
spring or springs G immediately react and assists or propels the vehicle through
the pawl I and ratchet wheel J.
Figure 14 is a plan showing how the pawl I may be worked in a radial guide
from the centre of the ratchet wheel J instead of using the lever F F.
In cases where friction wheels are used in place of the ratchet wheel J, I should
employ a friction band or a gripper and the periphery of the said friction wheels
can be sheathed either with wood, leather or any other suitable substance having
a tendency to increase their biting power.
Having now described the nature and object of my said invention and in what
manner the same may be performed I would remark in conclusion that I do not
intend to conform or limit myself to the precise details above described and
represented, but what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by the herein-
before in part recited letters Patent is :-
Firstly: The application of brake flanges and blocks with a groove or grooves
either section or otherwise substantially as described in the first part of my
invention referring to brake surface and represented in plan A figures 1, 2, 3, 4,
5. 6. 7. 8.

page_text: Secondly. The starting or assisting in starting tramway cars or other vehicles
propelled by horse, steam or other power by the mode of accumulating a power in
a spring or springs by manual power through leverage, the said accumulated power
acting upon a ratchet or friction wheel connected to the wheel or axle of the vehicle
as described and represented.
Thirdly. A mode of compressing a spring or springs by momentum as fully
described and represented in plan H.
Fourthly. The application of a draw bar as described in plans D and E, to any
of the above plans.
Fifthly. The mode of compressing a spring or springs by the aforesaid means
substantially as described and represented in plans B, C, F, G, H and I.
In witness whereof I the said Joseph Henry Betteley have hereunto set mý
hand and seal this Twenty third day of November in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
TT
DEVREY EV