Year: 1887

page_text: hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improved means for utilizing the force of momentum
which is exerted during the stopping of tramway vehicles for facilitating the starting
of the same by the horses.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide a countershaft arranged
between the two main axles of the vehicle which shaft is kept in place by means of
bearings fixed underneath the vehicle.
On this countershaft is a strong steel spring one end being secured to the said
shaft while the other end is fastened to the framework of the vehicle. This counter-
shaft also carries two spur wheels each of which gears with a similar wheel on one
end of an intermediate shaft having at its other end a second wheel gearing with a
toothed wheel on one of the axles of the vehicle. These last mentioned wheels run
loosely on the axles of the vehicle and have on one face clutch teeth adapted to
engage with corresponding teeth on clutches sliding longitudinally on the axles.
A groove is formed in each sliding clutch which groove allows a rod to be moved
to and fro the said rod being worked by a handle and lever or a rack and pinion
so that the said clutches may be moved into and out of engagement with their
corresponding teeth.
The countershaft may be fixed at one end of the vehicle instead of between the
axles and it may be worked by means of a belt, rope or chain, instead of by gearing.
T Jih day of December 1887
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: 1, FRANK FOSTER, of Singleton, in the County of Sussex, Timber Merchant, 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:
My invention relates to improved means for utilizing the force of momentum which
is exerted during the stopping of tramway vehicles for facilitating the starting of the
same by the horses.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide a countershaft arranged
between the two main axles of the vehicle, which shaft is kept in place by means of
bearings fixed underneath the vehicle.
On this countershaft is a strong steel spring, one end being secured to the said
shaft while the other end is fastened to the framework of the vehicle. This counter-
shaft also carries two spur wheels each of which gears with a similar wheel on one
end of an intermediate shaft, having at its other end a second wheel gearing with
a toothed wheel on one of the axles of the vehicle. These last mentioned wheels
run loosely on the axles of the vehicle and have on one face clutch teeth adapted
to engage with corresponding teeth on clutches sliding longitudinally on the axles.
A groove is formed in each sliding clutch, which groove allows a rod to be moved
to and fro, the said rod being worked by a handle and lever or a rack and pinion
so that the said clutches may be moved into and out of engagement with their
corresponding teeth.
The countershaft may be fixed at one end of the vehicle instead of between the
axles, and it may be worked by means of a belt, rope, or chain, instead of by gearing.
To enable my invention to be clearly understood I will describe the same with
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a plan view of the framework of a tramway vehicle having my
improvements applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a view similar to figure 1, but illustrating a modification of my
invention.
a indicates the framework of a tramway vehicle, and b, the travelling wheels
mounted upon the axles 67 < respectively.
d is the countershaft arranged between the axles c, e¹ (figure 1) and connected to
one end of a coiled spring e, the other end of the said spring being connected to the
framework a at f.
g, g¹ are two bevel gear-wheels which are keyed on the shaft d, and h, h¹ two bevel-
wheels on the axles.c, respectively, the said wheels h, having clutch teeth on one
face and being adapted to move independently of the axles. The wheels g, h and g³, h¹
are respectively connected by means of the shafts, carrying the bevel-pinions 12, 12.
k, kare clutches sliding on the shafts c, c respectively by means of spline joints,
the teeth of the said clutches being adapted to engage with the corresponding teeth

page_text: on the wheels g, g'. It will be noticed that the teeth of the clutch k are inclined in
an opposite direction to those of the clutch A¹.
1,7 are rods which are secured to the levers m, mat opposite ends and which enter
grooves n, n in the clutches.
o are racks which are formed upon or attached to the rods 1, 1 respectively,
and p, p are pinions engaging with these racks and adapted to move the same
longitudinally when they are rotated by means of handles upon the shafts q, q'.
When the rods are moved in one direction the rod causes the clutch to engage
with the teeth of the wheel h, and the clutch ¹ to move out of engagement with
the teeth of the wheel has shown in full lines in figure 1. When, however, the rods
are moved in the reverse direction, they assume the position shown in dotted lines in
figure 1, the clutch engaging with the teeth of the wheel and the clutch & being
disengaged from the teeth of the wheel h.
ris a guide plate slotted at and secured to the rod ; and s is a bolt which is
adapted to engage with teeth on the face of a wheel secured to the countershaft d.
A projection on the end of the bolts enters the slot and the latter is so shaped
that the bolt will be held in engagement with the wheel after one clutch has been
disengaged from its corresponding clutch teeth and before the other clutch is in
engagement, to prevent the spring from uncoiling.
The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows, that is to say :-
Suppose the vehicle to be travelling in the direction indicated by the arrow, figure 1.
If now, as the vehicle is being brought to a standstill, the clutch is caused to engage
with the teeth of the wheel , the motion of the axle c will be communicated to the
said wheel, and thence to the countershaft d to coil the spring e, the coiling of the
said spring serving to brake or assist in stopping the vehicle.
When it is again desired to start the vehicle, the rods 1, are moved to the position
shown in dotted lines in figure 1, so that the clutch k is drawn out of engagement
with the teeth of the wheel h and the clutch is moved into engagement with the
teeth of the wheel . Between the disengagement of one clutch and the engagement
of the other the bolts prevents the spring from unwinding as hereinbefore described.
The motion of the spring as it uncoils will impart motion to the axle c¹.
When the speed of the axle exceeds that of the wheel the clutch slides back
out of engagement with the said wheel owing to the shape of the teeth.
When the vehicle is moving in the opposite direction from that indicated by the
arrow, the operation herein before described is reversed.
In the modification of my invention shown in figure 2, the principle of construction
and the operation are substantially the same as hereinbefore described, the essential
differences being that the counter shaft d is arranged at one end of the vehicle, and
that the motion of the axles is communicated thereto through belts », r², instead of by
shafts and gearing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is
The combination of parts forming the improved apparatus for facilitating the
starting of tramway vehicles, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.