AN IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-STARTERS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILBURT CLARENCE TRUSSELL, of 132 Chandler Street, Boston, in the County
of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, U.S.A. Inventor, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-STARTERS" and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
n and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to car-starters, and is more especially designed to be used
on street cars which are drawn by horses. The object is to relieve the horses of
the strain caused by the dead pull in starting a car, and also to enable the car
to be drawn with the expenditure of less power than is required by the usual
means.
Referring to the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 represents a portion of a car with the present improvements applied
thereto.
Figure 2 is a view drawn to an enlarged scale, of the lever, the weighted frame
and the ratchet wheel.
Figure 3 represents the parts of the weighted or swinging frame.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views of the locking device.
Figures 7 and 8, represent the sliding block and frame.
Figure 9 is a modification of the lever.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
A represents a portion of a street car body, of which B. is the platform, C one
of the wheels, and D the axle to which the wheels are secured, and which turns
with the same.
To the axle D is firmly secured the ratchet-wheel G, which may be made in two
parts so that it can be readily applied to an axle already in use.
E represents a frame made in four parts, as shown in Figure 3, which are to be
bolted together as shown in Figure 2. The said frame is attached loosely to the
shaft or axle D, so as to admit of a free swinging movement of the said frame.
One end of the frame E is weighted as shown at F. To the opposite or rear end
of the swinging frame E is pivotted a lever H one end of which is curved, as shown
ath and engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel G, so that when the outer
end or longer arm of the lever H is raised by the draught, the end or pawl h will
engage with the ratchet-wheel and cause it to turn and with it the axle and wheels;
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page_text: and when the vehicle is running, and the lever H is held in its highest position by
the draught, the weighted end of the swinging frame E will fall independently
of the movements produced by the lever H, sufficiently to raise the pawl h of the
said lever out of engagement with the ratchet wheel.
One side of the frame E, is elongated as shown at El and, curving inwards,
extends to the rear on a line with the centre line of the frame E, under the
lever H.
To the outer end of the lever H is pivotted a weighted bell crank lever H³ to
the lower arm of which latter is pivotted a bar or bolt K which passes through n
bearing or guide h', attached to the lever H. The bolt K, extends to a point just
beyond the extension E¹ of the frame E, and acts as a lock to hold the end h of
lever H, out of contact with the ratchet wheel G. This locking device is designed
to be used on the rear axle, that is the axle on which the starting apparatus is not
in operation.
To the outer arm of the bell-crank.lever H¹ is attached a chain P, as shown in
Figure 1, which passes over a pulley Q, and is connected to one end of a rod O
which latter extends forward and is attached to a block M, which is fitted to slide
in a frame or box L secured to the under part of the platform B and is inclined
somewhat from front to rear as shown, so as to facilitate the sliding of the
block M.
The frame L is made in two parts longitudinally, and with a narrow opening
on the underside to admit of the free movement of a brace n, one end of which is
attached to the underside of the block M, and the other end to the clevis N at the
front end of the block.
In Figure 9, I have shewn a pawl h pivotted to the end h of the lever H, for
the purpose of taking up any lost motion of the said lover, if necessary.
The operation is as follows;-the car is shewn as at a standstill in Figure 1.
When the draught is applied to the block M the lever H is drawn up by the con-
- necting rod and chain, causing the end h of lever H to engage with the ratchet
wheel G and thus turn the axle and wheels. When the lever H has reached its
highest point, the end h will become disengaged from the ratchet wheel; by reason
of the weight F on the outer end of the frame E overbalancing the said frame and
causing the lever H to move upon its pivot. The lever again drops into the position.
shewn in Figure 1, at the least slackening of the draught. When running on a
level track the momentum of the car will cause it to run, after being started,
a considerable distance, without a constant draught, and when the speed slackens,
the lever and ratchet wheel will again be brought into requisition to continue the
movement. The lock arrangement is to be used in connection with the rear axle
and wheels, and the bolt K will lock the lever H in the position shewn in Figures 2
and 4, so that the end h will not come in contact with the ratchet wheel G, however
much the car may be jolted. When the direction of the car is changed and the
draught applied to the crank lever H³, the bolt K will be drawn from contact with
the portion E¹ of the swinging frame E, and allow the lever H, and ratchet wheel,
to operate.
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:-
First. The weighted swinging frame E and the weighted lever H provided with
means for breaking the joint, in combination with the ratchet wheel G and the
axle D, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second. In a car-starter the sliding block M, provided with a clevis N and
brace n, and connected with means for operating the weighted lever, in combina-
tion with the frame or box L attached to the front end of the car, substantially as
shewn, and for the purpose described.
:
5
Third. The combination of the sliding block M, the frame L, the rod and 8
chain O P, the swinging frame E, the ratchet wheel G, and the axle or shaft D,
substantially as shewn and described,

page_text: Fourth. In a car-starter the sliding bolt or stop K, in combination with the
lever H and frame E E' as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Fifth. The combination of the bolt or stop K, the bell-crank lever H', the
lever H h, the ratchet wheel G, and the swinging frame E E¹, as shewn and
described.
Dated this 7th day of Ontabo 1904
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.