Improvements in or relating to Tram Cars and other Vehicles Driven by Gas and other Engines and in Signal Bells therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 14th Dec., 188
Improvements in or relating to Tram
Cars and other Vehicles
Driven by Gas and other Engines and in Signal Bells therefor.
I, OSKAR BLESSING of Reudnitz near Leipzig Saxony in the Empire of
Germany Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention relates to tram cars and other vehicles driven by gas and other
engines and the improvenients have for their object-
Firstly To prevent sudden reaction on the motor in starting or reversing
the car.
Secondly To allow of forward and rearward movement of the car without reversing
the motor.
Thirdly A form of clutch for speed and power gear and other purposes.
Fourthly A special signal bell for such vehicles.
The motor drives a shaft through a chain engaging with a chain wheel loose upon
said shaft, on each side of said chain wheel and loose upon said shaft is a drum
carrying on its respective outer side clutch teeth-Each said drum is connected to the
chain wheel by a scroll or other spring or springs each in contrary direction. Splined
on the shaft beyond said drums are the corresponding parts of the cluiches, and said
parts are connected to be moved simultaneously respectively in and out of adjustment
with their corresponding drums. Thus when reversing the motor the clutches are
reversed and though the chain wheel revolves now in the opposite direction, its
movement is communicated to the shaft through intervention of a spring whereby
concussion in reversing and starting is neutralized.
To allow of forward and rearward movement of the car without reversing the
motor the latter drives in one direction a shaft having loosely thereon two toothed
wheels adapted to be alternately geared to the shaft. On the driving axle of the car
are likewise two fixed toothed wheels, and beyond one of said wheels is journalled in
the frame of the car a toothed pinion which may be termed a guide wheel. Two
ГР. 1. 1.71

page_text: chains pass, one over the one pair of wheels in the usual manner the other round the
loose pulley on the shaft tangentally over its fellow wheel on the axle and around the
guide wheel.
In the improved form of clutch springs are employed to maintain the clutch normally
out of engagement with either power gear on the one side or speed gear on the other..
The springs are preferably adapted to act on the fork moving the clutch, the latter
being moved when desired by rack and pinion movement or otherwise.
The improved signal bell is mounted upon the spindle of the handle of the crank by
which the brake is operated and is caused to be operated by said handle. The spindle
is rigid with the crank, and the handle is caused to slide upon its spindle. On the
spindle is a sleeve having an inclined or spiral slot and in the handle is a pin gearing
in said slot, the vertical movement of the handle causes revolution of the sleeve and
the latter being geared with the hammer by a suitable wheel train causes the latter to
strike the bell.
Tel : 91 1 of Tab 1000

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Tram Cars and other Vehicles
Driven by Gas and other Engines and in Signal Bells therefor.
1 OSKAR BLESSING of Reudnitz in the Empire of Germany, Mechanical Engineer
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 tram cars or other like vehicles driven by gas or petroleum
motors and the improvements have for their purpose
1. To prevent on starting and reversing of the car for forward as well as for
backward movement a sudden reaction on the motor and a stoppage of the latter
thereby.
2. A form of clutch for speed gearing and other purposes. devised for normal
disengagement and means for controlling same.
3. To allow of a forward and rearward movement of the vehicle without reversing
the motor.
4. A special bell signal for such vehicles.
5. To permit of the crank shaft of the motor being revolved for putting the same
in motion until the revolution is carried on by the commencement of the
explosion.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of the mechanism for preventing sudden strain on the
motor and gear when starting or reversing the car.
Fig. 2 is a section through one of the clutches thereof when in engagement.
Figs. 3 and 4 are sections, one on each side of the wheel g Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a view of part of speed and power gear and clutch thereof.
Fig. 6 is a cross section thereof. Fig. 7 a detail view of the clutch fork and
springs.
Fig. 8 is a modification.
Fig. 9 is a general plan view of the speed lever and rod system for operating the
engagement of the speed or power gear from either end of the car.
Figs. 10 and 11 are further modifications of the means for operating said
clutchí.
Figs. 12 and 13 are respectively front and side elevation of the hand lever
placed at each end of the car for operating the mechanism shown in Fig. 9.
Figs. 14 to 19 are views and details of the improved bell signal.
Figs. 20 and 21 show gear whereby the car may be moved in either direction
without reversing the motor.
Figs. 22 to 26 show a modification of the clutch and gearing shown in
Figs. 1 to 4.
•
Figs. 27 to 29 show a modified form of signal bell.

page_text: Figs. 30 to 35 mechanism for giving an initial propulsion to the engine by
band.
To prevent sudden reaction and concussion in reversing the car :
On the shaft d is loosely revolvable a chain wheel g₁ having, one on each side
projections m. On each side of said chain wheel and likewise loose upon the shaft
are two discs i having central hubs * *.
The said hubs are connected by scroll springs p to the projections m³ aforesaid, the
springs being coiled in opposite directions and connected to the respective hub * at
their inner ends and to the projection m* at their outer ends. On the outer surfaces
of the discs ii are suitable clutch teeth for instance segmental projections b
serving as clutch teeth and adapted to catch in the corresponding recesses in the
drums feathered to the shaft.
6
The said drums are simultaneously moved by fork o according to the direction in
which the chain wheel g' revolves. To prevent overstraining of the springs stops m
are arranged on the discs ii so that the extent of the relative movement of the wheel g¹
and discs ii is limited to one revolution.
On the impulsion of the chain wheel g' when, as shown in Fig. 1 both the
couplings are out of gear with the discs, the chain wheel g' and the discs i taken
along with the same by the springs p revolve loosely on the shaft d¹.
On gearing one of the discs with the shaft by means of the respective coupling b
situated beside the same while the other coupling b remains out of gear with the other
disc, the disc i so geared and the coupling geared into said disc is revolved in the same
direction first by the springs p tensioned thereby and at length by peg m³ of the chain
wheel g, said peg abutting against the peg m of the disc i, hence the motion is
transmitted to the shaft d' and from there by means of chain wheels h h or speed and
power gear or other gear to the car axle d without suddenly taking the full power
for the impulsion of the latter from the motor whereby damage might be done to the
latter.
In lieu of the chain wheel y¹ also a belt pulley or spur wheel may be employed
according to circumstances.
The improvement represented in Figs. 22 to 25 consists as described heretofore of
the combination of the two contrary wound spiral springs p with chain wheel g¹ and
the discs only instead of the couplings geared alternately by the driver the
couplings are here arranged which are fixed upon axle d¹, and do not require to be
moved for gearing them.
Between the teeth a of disc i and the teeth 60 of the coupling blocks 6' there is some
open space as shown in Fig. 23 in order that the discs i moving independently on the
axle d can revolve backwards on the latter within that space. Each of these discs i
forms the half of the coupling without being stopped by the catches 6 of the other
half of the coupling. In consequence of this arrangement in revolving wheel g' from
the motor in one direction, one of the contrary wound springs is brought into
tension and the other one follows with disc i on this movement of wheel ground the
given space between teeth a and 6 without being brought into tension by the
revolution contrary to its winding. In revolving the wheel g' in the other
direction the second spring p is on the contrary brought into tension and the
contrary wound spring p follows in the same manner the movement of the wheel g¹
in the space given between teeth a and 6.
The improvement represented in Figs. 24 to 26 consists also of the combination of
the two contrary wound springs p with wheel g¹ and discs i only the discs i are here
secured on the shaft d' instead of being loose as described in the modification shown
in Figs. 1 to 4. and 22 and 23 and the wheel g¹ only is loose on the axle d¹. The
couplings are here omitted altogether.
In order that during motion of wheel g' in the one direction, when one of the
springs pis brought into tension, the other one is only partly or not at all brought
into tension by the revolution contrary to its winding, both springs p are so arranged,
that at the impulsion of wheel g¹ one of the springs p should be only tensioned partly
or not at all by a rotation contrary to its winding, whilst the other one increases in

page_text: tension being so brought into action, both being already more or less in tension during
the inactivity of wheel g'. Therefore it is the case with this construction that during
the rotation of the wheel g' only one spring p is brought into action whilst the tension
given to the same is increased, the tension given to the other is slackened at the
same time.
It may also be mentioned that both these contrivances last described heretofore
may be used together, and in this case the construction is shown in Figs. 22 to 25.
In uniting these contrivances described heretofore space is given to the teeth a
and of the couplings and both springs p are specially arranged so as to be in
tension during the inaction of wheel g'. In consequence, during the movement of
the wheel whilst the tension of the spring p brought into action increases, the
tension of the other contrary spring p is firstly slackened and then is revolved with
disc i backwards round the space between the teeth a and b without being stopped by
the teeth 6º.
The second improvement shown in Figs. 5 to 13 has for its purpose to gear couplings
by a lever from either platform of the car as well as to keep the same in gear by
securing this lever and to release same automatically in releasing the lever and it
serves for bringing in and out of action, easily and alternately the contrivances on
street tram cars, for driving faster or slower.
As shown by Figs. 5 & 6 this improvement consists mainly in providing the pairs
of springs g2 and 3 either one pair 2 or the other 3 being brought into tension
by the pins on the fork f¹ as shown in Fig. 7 when engaging the clutch.
The sleeve is displaceable on shaft but secured against revolution on the same
and provided with clutch teeth. On the right and left of this clutch bare situated
loose on shaft the chain or gear wheels kande the same being likewise provided
with clutch teeth b' so, that the clutch is alternately brought in connection, that is,
coupled with the one or the other of the wheels and c by the engagement of the
teeth.
The displacement of the clutch 64 on the shaft d' is effected by turning the shaft c¹
through fork secured on said shaft which fork is shown provided with two longi-
tudinal slots into which engage pins 2 on a ring s revolvably held in a groove of the
clutch In place of the ring s carrying the two pins the fork may be provided
with two pins instead of two slots, said pins catching into a groove in the clutch, on
the fork are situated the two pins between the pairs of springs g² and g³. By
engagement of the clntch one of the pairs of springs is so tensioned by the pins 2
that as soon as the driver frees the lever acting on the rod gear or k² at n or n¹
respectively (Fig. 9) the clutch is either automatically disengaged by the rebounding
force of the tensioned springs g² or g³ respectively, or the force of the springs g² or g³
assists in disengaging the clutch and maintaining it in disengaged position.
The arrangement of the pins and springs g² and g³ respectively has for its
purpose to produce a certain and rapid disengagement which is very important with
tram cars driven by motor force.
Figs. 10 and 11 show the fork f¹ provided with two toothed sectors into which gear
pinions m² on the shaft, the fork is moved thereby revolving about the shaft c³.
Fig. 8 also shows the fork in the shape of a complete circle provided with one
toothed sector into which gears a pinion m on the shaft c'.
In Fig. 9 the gear for speed and power driving is shown with this improvement as
it is intended to be placed below the tram car. The force for moving the car is
transmitted from shaft d' by either the wheels or by means of a chain
to the wheel axle thus by kk with power and less speed and by e c² with greater
speed.
The shaft c is revolved from each platform by an exchangeable lever acting on the
pinion n through shaft k¹ levers o' and p₁ and rod y on one platform and from the
other platform through pinion n' shaft k levers p² and o² and rod y.
As shown in Figs. 12 and 13 each of the levers w² is pivoted on a bolt a² on the
respective platform and the extension o¹ can he joined alternately to either of these
levers. To be able to secure the extension w³ with lever w² in suitable positions on

page_text: the platform, a segment with recesses in its edges is fixed on each platform, and a
bolty is guided lengthways on the lever ¹ so that when arrived over one of the
recesses of the segment ¹ it is pressed into the same by spring 2 thereby securing the
lever to with regard to said segment v¹.
With the bolt y is connected the elbow lever 12 by rod w² and with this lever is
connected the lever by rod t³.
Finally it may be mentioned that this improved mechanism can also be applied on
street tram cars for forward and backward movement instead of, or in addition to that
for quick and slow motion.
2"
The third improvement, which has for its purpose to allow the car to be moved
forwards and backwards without reversing the motor is shown in Figs. 20 and 21.
This improvement .consists in the peculiar arrangement of the two pairs of chain
wheels rt and teach of which serves independently of the other to transmit the
working power from shaft d¹ to the car axle & The shaft is actuated by means of
chain and chain wheels g and from the motor a'. The wheels and are loose on
shaft, the wheels and tare fixed on the car axle a, and the wheel u is journalled
separately on the frame of the vehicle. Between the wheels and is the clutch 68
displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the shaft ', but secured against revolution
on the same. This clutch can be alternately coupled with the wheels and
for the purpose of actuating the wheel axle either by the one or other pair of
wheels.
?"
The pair of wheels up is so arranged that the wheel is touched tangentially by
the chain passing thereover, the latter gearing with the teeth of the wheel t. By
this arrangement, the chain during operation by the pair of wheels 1 u revolves the
wheelt and the car axle a in the contrary direction to that of the shaft d.
During operation by the pair of wheels rt however, the car axle a revolves in the
same direction as the shaft d¹.
Therefore the car axle is revolved with the pair of wheels ¹ u in one direction
and with the pair of wheels in the other direction and thus the vehicle is moved
forward and backward without necessitating the moving direction of the motor to be
reversed. The wheel or respectively not in connection with the coupling 68 runs
loosely on shaft d'.
The fourth improvement slown by Figs. 14 to 19 and 27 to 29 has for its purpose
a special bell signal for the tram or other car.
In Figs. 14 and 15 the bell is arranged for instance on a lever and in Fig. 16 on a
crank which both serve for applying the brake on the vehicle. As shown by
Figs. 14 and 15 the lever m² terminates in a spindle and the end of the said spindle
carries the cross bar a carrying the screw bolt t² on which revolves a nut. On the
latter is supported the gong a² being secured thereon by a second nut forming the
head thereof. Below the gong a² the tube 2 carrying integral with it the wheel t
is revolvably arranged on the spindle m² and over the sume are secured to the spindle
by means of tube the plates and 63 connected with each other by bolts.
the plates 2 and 63 are lodged the shaft with the pinion and wheel ³ and the
shaft with pinion g'. With the latter is rigidly connected the arm f³ and on the
samme is hinged the hammer d³.
In
The sound is produced on the gong a² by turning with the hand the tube n² on the
lever m², hence through wheel and pinion shaft v, wheel ³ pinion g
and the arm, swift rotary movement is given to said arm, the latter flinging the
hammer d³, hinged thereon in rapid succession of blows against the gong a².
In the gong a represented by Fig. 16 on a crank in the same construction as
described the tube is provided with a spiral slot and over the same is situated a
second tube which as shown by the section CD, Fig. 18 carries a pin s¹ engaging
in said slot. The tube n³ is arranged over the tube on the handle m² so as to be
longitudinally displaceable but secured against revolution thereon either by a
spring or feather on the handle m² engaging in a slot in the tube as shown
by section EF Fig. 19 or by a slit passing over the crank p³ as shown by
Figs. 16, 17 and 19.

page_text: The arrangement of the tube n³ on tube n has for its purpose to cause the latter
instead of being revolved direct to be revolved by displacement of the tube n³ along
the handle m².
In the bell shown in Figs. 27 to 29, the mechanism comprises a ring h¹ secured
within the bell on spindle m², of hammers o each provided with nose and pivoted on
the ring and of sleeve 2 revolvably arranged underneath bell a² on spindle m²,
the upper end of said sleeeve having a serrated edge upon which rest the
noses. By turning with the hand the sleeve n² on lever m³, the noses of the
hammers o are lifted by the serrated edge 21 so as to cause the hammers o to deliver a
quick succession of blows upon the inner side of the bell a².
The improvement represented in Figs. 30 to 35 as shown in two modifications has for
its purpose the starting of the engine to enable the crank shaft to be revolved by
hand from outside the chamber occupied by the motor until the piston of the motor
has arrived at such position that the revolution can be continued in the same direction
by the explosion.
Each of these contrivances is shown applied in two examples and one serving for
the starting of the fly wheel and crank shaft in the right direction and the other for
the starting of the same in the left direction. The contrivance in Figs. 30 to 32
consists of lever o² of the elbow lover d revolvable on gudgeon 5 on lever o² and in
connection by rod with the bolt 3 of the spring which lifts the disengaged
end of lever from the lever o² and of the fly wheel as with series of recesses for
engagement of bolt m³.
The bolt is secured to lever o² and the tooth m³ is guided in the longitudinal
direction on the lever o².
The wheel a³ (which may or may not be the fly wheel of the engine) with the
holes is to be arranged revolvable either on the crank shaft or on the shaft by
which the latter is worked and the levers o are pivoted to revolve on the
axis E E of the crank shaft or on the axis of the shaft by which the latter is
worked.
In pressing the disengaged end of the lever d' against the lever o³, the former
pushes the bolt m³ into on of the holes of fly wheel a³. Upon releasing this lever the
spring moves the lever d' at once into its former position and the bolt m³ is at the
same time withdrawn from the hole in the fly wheel a³.
The starting of wheel a³ with shaft by means of this contrivance is done by
reciprocating in quick succession the lever o² on its axis and back, the bolt m³ being
inserted into one of the holes of said wheel during each stroke of the lever in the
direction in which the shaft is to be turned.
The device shown in Figs. 33 to 35 for the same purpose consists of the lever o
of lug secured thereto, of rod 4 movable and guided in lug 4 and lifted against
the face thereof by spring 3, said rod being provided at one end with handle g
and at the other end connected with pawl pivoted on lever o², and further
consists of wheel a³ with ratchet teeth into which the spring / tends to insert the
pawl n'.
In Fig. 33 the pawl n' is shown inserted on the right of wheel and on the left of the
wheel a the pawl n' is represented out of contact. The wheel a³ is provided with two
rows of ratchet teeth, the teeth of the one row turn to the right, and of the other
one to the left.
The teeth of the one row sorve for the starting of the wheel a³ and of the crank shaft b
in the direction of the arrow and those of the other row for the starting of the same
in the opposite direction. The lug on lever o is shown by section in Fig. 35.
The rod movable in the same as is shown in Figs. 33 and 34 provided with a recess
in such a manner that when upon motion of rod, said recess arrives in the lug k
the latter engages therein in consequence of the action of the spring on rod t
thus securing the latter against shifting as is shown on the left of Fig. 33.
The pawl n, brought into contact by spring f' with the teeth of wheel a³ is brought
out of contact with said wheel by the shifting of rod within the lug whereby
the pawl n is withdrawn from the teeth by its turning on a gudgeon fixed to lover o³.

page_text: The securing of pawl n' into this position is done by fixing the rod in lug - by
means of the recess described above. The starting of wheel a³ and crank by this
contrivance is done by reciprocating the lever o² on shaft 7 in quick succession after
release of the pawl n during the lowering of the lever o², the pawl n' drives the teeth
of wheel a³, turning the latter in consequence, said pin however disengages itself from
the teeth of wheel a³ during the reverse motion.
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 I
claim is
In tram cars and other vehicles driven by gas and hydrocarbon motors.
1. The wheel g having projections m' right and left wound scroll springs p in
combination with discs i having projections and clutch teeth thereon together
with clutches b adapted to he simultaneously moved for alternate engagement sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The loose wheel gl having projections m³ and right and left wound scroll springs p
in combination with discs having projections m and teeth a thereon, and clutch
discs fixed upon the shaft d¹ and teeth be on said clutch discs substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
3. The combination of loose wheel g¹ having projections m³, discs i having pro-
jections m and teeth a and clutch discs having teeth 68 with right and left wound
scroll springs p connected in tension to projections m³ and discs i substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
4. The combination of shaft d', loose wheel having projections m³ and discs i
fixed on said shaft with right and left wound scroll springs connected in tension
to projections m³ and discs & substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination with a clutch of fork f', pins 2 on said fork and springs g²
and g³ substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. The combination with a shaft a¹ of chain wheels »¹ on said shaft, shaft, chain
wheels ton said shaft, chain wheel u chains gearing said wheels as set forth and
clutch substantially as and for the purpose described.
7. The combination of a signal gong a spindle m² for supporting same, hammer d³,
mechanism for operating said hammer and sleeve n² on spindle m² and adapted to be
rotated for driving said mechanism.
8. The combination with sleeve n² of spiral slot therein, longitudinally guided
sleeve ³ and pin s¹ engaging in said slot substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
9. The combination with gong a² of spindle m² supporting said gong, lover
hammers o o pivoted to lugs on said spindle, and having noses and rotary sleeve n²
having a serrated edge ¹ substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10. The combination with the motor of wheel a³ having recesses in its rim and
pivoted lever or levers o² with means for engaging said recesses substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
CVaham 1000