AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ROTARY LEVERAGE WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TO THE PROPELLING OF TRAM CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES, AND WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Holden, of Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ROTARY
LEVERAGE WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TO THE PROPELLING OF TRAM CARS AND
OTHER VEHICLES, AND WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 14th February 1879, and dated the 15th August 1878.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Holden at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th August 1878.
JAMES HOLDEN, of Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland. AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ROTARY LEVERAGE WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TO THE
PROPELLING OF TRAM CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES, AND WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE
TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
My said Invention consists in the construction of an apparatus for producing
rotary leverage by which tram cars, tricycles, and boats may be set in motion and
weights raised. For these purposes a cylinder of metal or other suitable material
open at both ends is caused to rotate in a horizontal manner by means of cross bars
on a vertical spindle fixed in suitable framework. Within this cylinder I place a
metal disc of nearly equal diameter to the cylinder, the spindle passing through the
centre of same, and carrying a boss with a dome-shaped top, on which the disc
rests.
The spindle is provided with four radiating arms capable of moving round it;
their free ends are passed through vertical slots or apertures formed in opposite
sides of the cylinder. Two of these arms are keyed to the spindle, the other two
rotate freely on it.

page_text: On the free ends of two of these radiating arms, and close to the interior side of
the cylinder, hemispherical rollers are mounted, so that one of these rollers will move
over while the other moves underneath the aforesaid disc, by which arrangement as
the cylinder is caused to rotate the radiating arms with the hemispherical rollers
mounted at the ends thereof will rotate with it, and the metal disc will consequently
assume a constant plane at oblique angles to a horizontal line drawn through the
cylinder. The cylinder may be actuated by a spur pinion gearing with teeth
surrounding the upper part of the outer periphery of the cylinder.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Holden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
February 1879.
"AN IMPROVED
JAMES HOLDEN, of Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland.
APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ROTARY LEVERAGE WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TO THE
PROPELLING OF TRAM CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES, AND WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE
TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
My said Invention consists in the construction of an apparatus for producing
rotary leverage by which tram cars and other vehicles may be set in motion. For
these purposes a cylinder of metal or other suitable material, open at both ends, is
caused to rotate in a horizontal manner by means of cross bars on a vertical spindle
fixed in suitable framework. Within this cylinder I place a metal disc of nearly
equal diameter to the cylinder, the spindle passing through centre of same and
carrying a boss with a dome-shaped top, on which the disc rests.
The spindle is provided with three radiating arms; their free ends are passed
through suitable slots or apertures formed on opposite sides of the cylinder. Two
of these arms are keyed to the spindle, the third rotates freely on it.
In my Provisional Specification I speak of four radiating arms; but for con-
venience I prefer to describe only three, as I believe the apparatus is capable of
being worked without the fourth arm.
On the free ends of two of these radiating arms; and close to the interior side of
the cylinder, hemispherical rollers are mounted, so that one of these rollers will
move over while the other moves underneath the aforesaid disc, by which arrange-
ment as the cylinder is caused to rotate the radiating arms with the hemispherical
rollers mounted at the ends thereof will rotate with it, and the metal disc will con-
sequently assume a constant plane at oblique angles to a horizontal line drawn
through the cylinder. The cylinder may be actuated by a pinion gearing with teeth
surrounding the upper part of the outer periphery of the cylinder.
In order that the said Invention may be more fully understood I proceed to
describe the accompanying Drawings.
Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view, and Fig. 2 a plan of the apparatus.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.
A represents the cylinder, which rotates freely on the shaft on spindle B by means
of the cross bars b, b, and is operated by the pinion p and the crank handle attached
thereto. C, C', C2, are the radiating arms, two of which carry hemispherical rollers
R, R', at their extremities, so that the roller R¹ will be in a position underneath,
and the roller R over the circular disc D, which latter rests on the dome-shaped
boss f.
S is a spiral spring connecting the free ends of the arms C and C². These two
arms are keyed to the spindle B, while the arm C¹ rotates free on same.
F repre-
sents a platform, to which the apparatus may be attached in any convenient or
suitable manner, and P is a pulley, keyed to the spindle, by which the power is
transmitted to the axle or wheels of vehicles by belt or other gearing as may be
found most convenient.
The action of the apparatus may be described thus:-When the crank handle is
turned the cylinder is caused to rotate and carry with it the arm C', the extremity
of which passes through a slot in tho side of same; the roller R¹ in thus moving
will force the disc D to assume a constant incline plane behind the roller R, thereby
propelling said roller to move onwards, which in its rotatory course carries round
the spindle B to which it is keyed. The spiral spring S is provided to impart
strength to the arm C and to ensure the constant pressure of the roller R on the
outer circumference of the disc.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, I would have it under-
stood that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the con-
structing and arranging apparatus substantially as herein-before described and
shewn for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Holden, have unto this my Specifica-
tion set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
JAMES HOLDEN. (L.S.)