IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVES, MACHINERY, AND APPARATUS FOR STARTING, PROPELLING, AND STOPPING VEHICLES ON TRAMWAYS, AND IN THE APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Percy Holt, of Royal Insurance Buildings, Leeds,
in the County of York, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOCOMOTIVES, MACHINERY, AND APPARATUS FOR STARTING, PROPELLING,
AND STOPPING VEHICLES ON TRAMWAYS, AND IN THE APPLIANCES CONNECTED
THEREWITH."
"
Sealed the 7th May 1878, and dated the 8th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Percy Holt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th November 1877.
HENRY PERCY HOLT, of Royal Insurance Buildings, Leeds, in the County of York,
Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVES, MACHINERY, AND APPARATUS
FOR STARTING, PROPELLING, AND STOPPING VEHICLES ON TRAMWAYS, AND IN THE
APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH.'
The first part of this Invention consists in an apparatus for facilitating the
starting of tramway cars, and is applicable to cars drawn either by mechanical or
animal power.
The draw bar of the car to which the motive power is attached or coupled is
connected by means of rods, chains, or any suitable connection to a lever, having its
fulcrum or centre on the leading axle of the car through the medium of a ratchet
wheel (fast on the said axle), and a pawl so arranged that when power is applied to
the draw bar in a forward direction the same is communicated to the said axle
through the medium of the lever, and the axle is pulled round as the draw bar is
drawn out. By this means the motive power has a mechanical advantage, and
starting the load as it is permitted to traverse a greater distance than the car
during the same period of time. Stops are arranged to limit the distance the draw
bar can be pulled out, and when the motive power is stopped the draw bar and
lever are drawn back on the ratchet by means of springs or weights ready for
restarting. The pawl is drawn into gear on the ratchet wheel when power is first
411

page_text: applied to the draw bar, and as the lever comes against the stops the pawl is thrown
and hold out of gear to allow the car axle to run free. For running in the opposite
direction the same arrangement is applied to the axle at the other end of the car
in the same manner.
In some cases quadrants or drums may be used on the axle in lieu of the lever
above named, also friction blocks used on the wheels in lieu of the ratchet and pawl
afore named, either in connection with the car breaks or separately. The distance
that the draw bar traverses with respect to the car for the first few feet at starting
may likewise be regulated by block pulleys and chains or in any convenient manner,
in some cases I make use of the surplus power that has to be absorbed by the
breaks in stopping the trailing wheels to compress springs which are arranged to
assist the motive power in re-starting the leading wheels, as before described.
The second part of this Invention consists in the use of friction wheels or rollers
arranged on each end of the engine shaft, which is placed centrally between the two
axles of the locomotive or car in such a manner that the road wheels bear on the
two friction rollers, and are driven or carried round by them when the engine is in
motion.
In some cases in order to increase the grip between the. driving wheels on the
engine shaft and the road wheels the flanges of the latter may be tapered and run
in grooves in the former, similar to friction gearing; or the flanges may consist of
spur teeth, and gear into teeth on the sides of the rollers.
In order to allow the road wheel springs and axle boxes (which may be of the
usual kind) to play without interfering with the centres of the engine shaft, the
friction wheels are carried on journals of their own independently of the engine
shaft, and are held in contact with the road wheels by means of springs connected
to their own bearing boxes.
The holes in the friction rollers thro' which the engine shaft passes are made
sufficiently large to allow their springs to play independently of the engine shaft,
and they have the motion of the engine shaft transmitted to them by means of
discs or cranks on each side of them which are fast on the engine shaft, provided
with pins which engage in slots in the roller sides, and thus carry them round.
In some cases drag links may be used in lieu of the above-named pins and slots.
Where it is desirable that the engines should not be frequently stopped in order to
stop the car, as in single cylinder and gas engines, I use gearing to put on or take
off weights from the friction wheel springs in order to start or stop the locomotive
or car by allowing the friction wheels to run in contact or out of contact with the
road wheels.
In order to run the locomotive or car in either direction the friction wheel on one
side runs in the same direction as the engine shaft, while the direction in which the
friction wheel on the other side runs is reversed by means of an idle wheel or in any
other convenient manner. A cross beam connects the springs of the friction wheels
on each side together, and by means of a screw or any other convenient method
either. friction wheel may be made to drive the road wheels, or both thrown out of
gear, as may be required. In order to stop the locomotive or car with this arrange-
ment, no reversing gear is required on the engine, which I prefer to run with an
automatic expansion gear under the control of a governor, and a fly wheel or wheels
may also be used.
In some cases I prefer to use planet wheels in lieu of idle wheels to reverse the
motion.
The third part of this Invention consists in the use of a central coupling and
buffer combined, which draws from the centre of the locomotive in which the
springs at the opposite ends are used alternately for buffing and drawing. When
the car comes in contact with the locomotive the breaks are applied to the car by
means of chains suitably arranged in connection with the buffer, which apply the
ordinary car breaks in the usual manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letter's Patent filed
by the said Henry Percy Holt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
May 1878.
HENRY PERCY HOLT, of Royal Insurance Buildings, Leeds, in the County of York,
Civil Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVES, MACHINERY, AND APPARATUS
FOR STARTING, PROPELLING, AND STOPPING VEHICLES ON TRAMWAYS, AND IN THE
APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH."
The first part of this Invention consists in an apparatus for facilitating the
starting of tramway cars, and is applicable to cars drawn either by mechanical or
animal power.
The draw bar of the car to which the motive power is attached is arranged to
have a combined motion of its own with that of the car, between fast collars, so as
to pull out at starting any suitable distance at a greater velocity than the motion
of the car against a resisting spring or weight (which pull in the draw bar for
restarting when the vehicle is stopped) until the back collar comes in contact with
a stop attached to the bar, which arrests the forward movement of the draw bar,
and thus reduces its forward motion to the same velocity as the car itself. This
forward motion of the draw bar or chains in excess of that of the car is utilized to
pull round the car wheels through the medium of any suitable mechanism and any
convenient ratio of advantage at starting may be given to the motor, which in
most cases I prefer to arrange to travel double the distance of the car during the
same length of time for the first few feet at starting; under these conditions only
about five-ninths of the usual amount of power is required to start the car.
The draw bar is connected by means of rods, chains, or any suitable connection
to a lever or quadrant having its fulcrum or centre on the leading axle of the car,
and connected therewith through the medium of a ratchet wheel (fast on the said
axle) and a pawl so arranged that when power is applied to the draw bar in a
forward direction; the same is communicated to the said axle through the medium
of the lever, and the axle is pulled round as the draw bar is drawn out.
The pawl is drawn into gear on the ratchet wheel, when power is first applied
to the draw bar; and as the lever comes against the stops the pawl is thrown and
held out of gear to allow the bar axle to run free. For running in the opposite
direction the same arrangement is applied to the axle at the other end of the car in
the same manner.
In some cases quadrants or drums may be used on the axle in lieu of the lever
above named; also friction blocks used on the wheels in lieu of the ratchet and
pawl afore-named. The distance that the draw bar traverses with respect to the
car for the first few feet at starting may likewise be regulated by levers, blocks,
pulleys, and chain, or in any convenient manner.
It is quite evident that friction clutches, gearing chain wheels, or even pistons or
plungers working in cylinders filled with fluid of suitable diameters may be used to
carry out my Invention in lieu of the apparatus I describe and illustrate. The same
object may likewise be effected by means of a chain provided with a knuckle
friction dog to jamb on the tyre of the wheel on power being applied to the draw
end of the chain, and a check chain and spring, or weight, to pull the same out in a
similar manner to that shewn.
The second part of this Invention consists in the use of friction wheels or rollers
arranged on each end of the engine shaft, which is placed centrally between the two
axles of the locomotive or car in such a manner that the road wheels bear on the
two friction rollers, and are driven or carried round by them when the engine is in
motion..
In some cases in order to increase the grip between the driving wheels on the
engine shaft and the road wheels the flanges of the latter may be tapered and run
in groves in the former, similar to friction gearing, or the flanges may consist of
spur teeth, and gear into teeth on the sides of the rollers.

page_text: In order to allow the road wheel springs and axle boxes (which may be of the
usual kind) to play without interfering with the centres of the engine's shaft the
friction wheels are carried on journals of their own independently of the engine
shaft, and are held in contact with the road wheels by means of springs connected
to their own bearing boxes.
The holes in the friction rollers through which the engine shaft passes are made
sufficiently large to allow their springs to play independently of the engine shaft,
and they have the motion of the engine shaft transmitted to them by means of discs
or cranks on each side of them, which are fast on the engine shaft, provided with
pins, which engage in slots in the roller sides, and thus carry. them round.
In some cases drag links may be used in lieu of the above-named pins and slots.
In some cases where it is inconvenient to bring the axles sufficiently close centres
to carry out the foregoing arrangement, I prefer to have two engine shafts con-
nected together by coupling rods, and to drive each road axle separately by means
of gearing in either direction, their connection being made by means of coupling
rods in the usual manner.
Where it is desirable that the engines should not be frequently stopped in order
to stop the car as in single cylinder and gas engines, I use gearing to put on or
take off weight from the friction wheel springs in order to start or stop the locomo- .
tive or car by allowing the friction wheels to run in contact or out of contact with
the road wheels.
-
In order to run the locomotive or car in either direction, the friction wheel on
one side runs in the same direction as the engine shaft, while the direction in which
the friction wheel on the other side runs is reversed by means of an idle wheel, or in
any other convenient manner. A cross beam connects the springs of the friction
wheels on each side together, and by means of a screw or any other convenient
method either friction wheel may be made to drive the road wheels, or both thrown
out of gear, as may be required, in order to stop the locomotive or car. With this
arrangement no reversing gear is required on the engine, which I prefer to run
with an automatic expansion gear under the control of a governor, and a fly wheel
or wheels may also be used.
In some cases I prefer to use planet wheels in lieu of idle wheels. To reverse
the motion and friction, clutches may also be used for starting, stopping, or
reversing.
The third part of this Invention consists in the use of a central coupling and
buffer combined, which draws from the centre of the locomotive in which the
springs at the opposite ends are used alternately for buffing and drawing.
In order to render the foregoing description of my said Invention clearly under-
stood I now refer to the accompanying Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon, in which,―
Figures 1 and 2 represent a vertical longitudinal section and plan of part of a
car frame and wheels fitted with the said starting apparatus,—
a being the draw bar to which links, or chains, or couplings may be attached from
an engine or any other motive power.
a¹ and a², stop collars to regulate the range of stroke.
b, the lever where usually the multiplication of hauling power is obtained.
b', a swinging link used as a guide to the end of lever b.
c, chain attached to lever b and to paul d.
d, pawl working into rachet wheel e, which is keyed on axle f.
.
9, check chain for pulling pawl d out of gear with ratchet wheel e at such time
as the lever b has completed its stroke, and the contact of pawl and rachet is no
longer required.
h, spring used for the purpose of drawing pawl out of gear with rachet wheel

page_text: when lever b is in its extreme inner or backward position so as to allow the vehicle
to run in an opposite direction to that in which this end apparatus is intended to
work, a separate set of apparatus being used at each end of the vehicle.
i, spring for drawing in quadrant k, on which pawl d is mounted, together with
all-chains and levers attached for the purpose of restarting the vehicle; j, check
chains used for the purpose of stopping the backward motion of quadrant k, for the
purpose of allowing spring ½ to act upon and disengage paul & from rachet
wheel e.
1. L... frame of tram car or vehicle.

page_text: '
bevel wheel g, which by means of pipe or hollow shaft hand crank pin i drives
friction disc c¹, which has a motion the reverse of disc c.
i, crank pin for driving friction disc c by means of slotted lever e.
jj, fly wheels keyed on shaft b for maintaining momentum of engines.
k, k, beam lever for pressing into gear with road wheels' friction discs c or c¹, as
may be desired, for travelling in either desired direction.
1, 1, 1, screw gear for actuating beam lever k, k.
m, m, friction springs.
n, n, road wheels.
Having thus described my said Invention, and illustrated the manner in which
the same may be carried into effect, I wish it to be understood that the details
may be varied in many ways without departing from the main features of my said
Invention, but what I claim as novel, and therefore secured to me in these Letters
Patent, is,-
CLAIMS.
1. The arrangement and use of apparatus and appliances for facilitating the
starting of vehicles or tramways wherein the motive power or motor is coupled or
attached in such a manner to the vehicle that the motor has to travel or move at the
time of starting a greater distance than the vehicle itself, during the same length
of time, substantially as described and illustrated for the purpose named.
2. The arrangement and use of the apparatus and appliances for disconnecting or
throwing out of gear the couplings or connections between the motor and the moving
or starting parts on the vehicle after the same has been put in motion, substantially
as described and illustrated, for the purpose named.
3. The arrangement and use of driving gear for connecting the motive power
with the driving wheels, and also reversing the direction of motion in locomotives
or self-contained and propelled cars for tramways, substantially as described and
illustrated for the purpose named.
4. The arrangement and use of the apparatus for allowing play between the road
axles and the engine, or intermediate shafts or gearing for propelling tramway cars,
substantially as described and illustrated, for the purpose named.
5. The arrangement and use of combined double draw bar and buffer, substan-
tially as described and illustrated, for the purpose named.
In witness whereof. I, the said Henry Percy Holt, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
HENRY PERCY HOLT.
(L.S.)