Improvements in Apparatus for Starting Tramoars and other Vehicles having Revolving Axles.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 10th May, 1889-Accepted, 22nd June, 1889
Improvements in Apparatus for Starting Tramoars and other Vehicles
having Revolving Axles.
We, JAMES LEACH, Holmes View, Sheffield, in the County of York, Commercial
Traveller, and WALTER VIVIAN HIRST, Holmes Farm, Rotherham, in the County of
York, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in Apparatus to aid the horses in starting
any Vehicles having revolving axles but it applies more particularly to Tramcars, the
object being to relieve the horses from the sudden strain required to overcome the
vis-inertia of the stationary Car; but we do not confine our invention to vehicles
drawn by cattle, as it may also be applied to rolling stock.
In carrying out our invention as applied to a Tram Car for example, the apparatus
extends from the draw bar or link to the axle of the nearest wheels, and it may be
applied to one or both ends of the Car.
It consists of the following appliances or their equivalents; upon the centre of the
axle I fix securely a ratchet wheel of sufficient strength for-the required purpose, and
in connection with it a suitable tumbler or pawl carried by a swing lever working on
the axle. The lever consists of two arms, one of which carries the tumbler or pawl,
and is connected by means of a chain, wire rope, or like means, to the drawbar or link
at the front of Car. The other arm of the lever, extends on the other side of the axle,
and carries a weight.
The tumbler or pawl projects on each side of the lever, the upper part having a
tooth formed to engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel when the lever is drawn
towards the front of the Car; the lower end is formed to retain the pawl out of gear
with the ratchet wheel when it reaches a certain position.
The normal position of the lever, (or when it is at rest and the Car stationary), is
with the pull arm at its highest, and the weight arm at its lowest position; the catch
or tooth of the tumbler or pawl will be in gear with the ratchet wheel.
To obtain the best position for the required amount of movement of the lever, I
pass the chain downwards and then horizontally over two pulleys, and then up again
to the end of the shackle which hangs vertically from the drawbar, or link. The trace
chain, or other attaching piece of the harness is hooked on to the lower end of the
shackle beforementioned, the parts being so arranged that when the horse or horses
begin to pull the tendency is to raise the shackle to a horizontal position.
This movement must pull forward the chain and draw down the lever before
described, and as the tooth of the pawl is in gear with the ratchet wheel, it follows
that the power of the lever is brought to bear upon the axle and wheels, and to thus
put the Car in motion; the compound leverage exerting much greater power in turning
the wheels, than the direct pull of the horses does upon the Car.
When the extent of the movement is nearly reached, the tumblers position is
such that it disengages from the wheel, and its lower part coming in contact with a
fixed stud or projection it is retained in such disengaged position until the next
stoppage occurs, when the chain becomes slack and the balance weight brings the
lever and pawl into its normal or original position again.
If desirable we may increase the power of the lever by the use of intermediate
gearing.
Dated the 3rd day of October 1888.
ROBT. F. DRURY,
Agent for Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Starting Tramcars and other Vehicles
having Revolving Axles.
i
We, JAMES LEACH, Holmes View, Sheffield, in the County of York, Commercial
Traveller, and WALTER VIVIAN HIRST, Holmes Farm, Rotherham, in the County of
York, Farmer 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 :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus to aid the horses in
starting Tramcars or any vehicles having revolving wheel axles, but it refers more
particularly to Tramcars the chief object being to relieve the horses from the sudden
strain required to overcome the vis inertia of a stationary car; but we do not
confine our invention to its,application to vehicles drawn by cattle, as it may also be
applied to other vehicles.
And so that our invention may be clearly understood we annex the sheets of
drawings herewith, in which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in any
of the figures.
Figs. 1 & 2, represent an elevation and plan of the apparatus as attached to one end
of a single horse Tram Car showing the position before starting.
Figs. 3 & 4 an elevation and plan of same apparatus when the horse is drawing
the Car.
Figs. 5, 6, 7-Front elevation, side elevation and plan of apparatus as adapted for
two horses.
In carrying our invention into effect as applied to a single horse Tram Car (for
example) in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the apparatus extends
from the drawbar to which the trace hook is attached, to the axle of the nearest pair
of wheels, and it may be used at one end only or at both ends of the car.
It consists of the following mechanical parts or their well-known equivalents
arranged in the manner as described.
Upon the centre or thereabouts of the axle A of the wheels we fix securely a
ratchet wheel B, of sufficient strength for the required purpose; and in connection
with it, and carried by a suitable framework or double arm C, is a pivotted tumbler-
catch D.
The double arm C swings upon the axle A, and extends from the axle in the opposite
direction to carry a counter weight E.
The end of the arm which carries the tumbler-catch D, is connected to the draw-
bar F, at the front of the car by a connecting rod G, (or its equivalent such as a
chain, wire rope, or the like).
The tumbler-catch D projects from each side of the arm C, and is provided with a
hook, that will engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel B when the arm C is drawn
by the rod G towards the front of the car, the tail end of the said catch is formed to
retain the hook of the catch out of gear with the wheel when it reaches a certain
position.
The normal or resting position. of the lever (and catch D, when the car is stationary
is with the tumbler-catch D, over the vertical centre line of the axle A, as shown in
Fig. 1, and the counter weight E (by the gravity of which it is brought to the
position) at the bottom or underneath; the hook of the tumbler-catch D will thus be
held out of gear with the wheel, by coming in contact with the rod G, which assumed
a lower position after passing over the centre of the axle A.
The draw bar F, is secured to a top of the vertical shaft H, having a shorter arm
or lever I, into which the connecting rod G, is hooked; the whole being firmly
secured to the front of the car in any convenient manner.
When the horse pulls at the draw bar F, in the position shown in Figs. 1 & 2 to
start the car the drawbar F, must assume the open position shown in Figs. 3 & 4
before the pull comes directly upon the car, and during this movement the short

page_text: arm I, is also drawn round from the position seen in Fig. 2 to that in Fig. 4 the
rod G which is hooked on to arm I, pulls forward the arm C, and is hereby raised
sufficiently when it is over the centre of the axle to allow the hook of the tumbler-
catch D to drop into the teeth of the ratchet-wheel B.
The continuation of the forward movement will turn round the axle and wheels,
and start the car with comparative ease, due to the increase of power obtained by the
compound leverage in the various parts of the apparatus. When the drawbar is in
the position seen in Figs. 3 and 4, and the car running the tumbler-catch by reason
of its position and gravity disengages from the ratchet wheel and falls back out of
gear until the next stoppage thus avoiding wear upon the teeth and noise.
Although we prefer the above described arrangement we may if desirable connect
the drawbar F, and the top arm of the frame C by means of a chain, or the combi-
nation of a short rod and chain; the chain is passed over one or more pulleys, and
then connected to the drawbar which in that case we make to hang vertically, and
connect the trace to its lower end, so that when the horse pulls, the draw bar must he
raised to a horizontal position before the pull is direct upon the car.
Instead of the counter weight E, a spring may be substituted being suitably placed
to accomplish the desired return movement.
Figs. 5, 6, 7, illustrate the manner of applying our invention to a two-horse car.
The ratchet and frame work upon the axle is the same as before described for a
one horse car and the connecting rod G, is also attached to a similar short arm I and
vertical rod H.
Two draw bars F' & F' are used, the bar F1 being secured to the top of the
vertical rod H, and the bar F being pivotted upon a separate stud J.
'Both bars are connected at the short ends by means of a stud or bolt fixed in one
of the bars passing through a slot formed in the other bar, so that both bars must move
simultaneously, but we may obtain this movement by lengthening the stud J, and
fixing upon it and upon the vertical rod H, a pair of toothed segments gearing into
each other, or by any equivalent device.
Thus by this arrangement the pull of each horse will act directly and simultaneously
upon the short arm I, and ratchet starting motion.
In this double horse apparatus a convenient method of applying a spring motion in
place of a counter-weight, is to attach one end of a spiral or coiled spring to the
ends of the drawbar at K, and the other to a stud such as L. If desirable to increase
the power of the apparatus intermediate gearing may be used in addition thereto,
details which have not been described may be of any approved description, and we do
not limit our claims as hereafter stated to any mechanical details which are not
essential to the respective combinations."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to he performed we declare that what
we claim is-
1-The apparatus for starting Tramcars and other like vehicles substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the annexed drawings.
2 In apparatus for starting Tramcars and other like vehicles the combination with
an Automatic "Engaging and disengaging" ratchet inotion fixed upon the axle of
the wheels, of one or more opening and closing drawbars and levers working in con-
junction with same, for the purpose specified and substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated.
ROBT. F. DRURY,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for the Applicants.