Improved Apparatus for Accumulating Force during the Stopping or Reducing the Speed of Vehicles and Utilizing same for the Starting or Propelling thereof.
Year: 1888

page_text: REST
Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 8th Jan., 1889
Improved Apparatus for Accumulating Force during the Stopping
or Reducing the Speed of Vehicles and Utilizing same for the
Starting or Propelling thereof.
1, ALPHONSE THEYSKENS, in care of Messieurs E. Bede & Cie. of 37 Rue Philippe-le-
Bon, Brussels in the Kingdom of Belgium, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, to be as follows:-
This invention consists in an improved apparatus to be applied to vehicles for
accumulating force when stopping or reducing the speed of the vehicle and for
utilizing the same for the starting or propelling thereof-Under the frame of the
vehicle are arranged a suitable number of tubes containing springs which act upon
cords or the like attached to a drum or drums on one of the axles (hereinafter called
the first axle) of the vehicles. This drum is free to turn on the axle in a direction
contrary to the direction of revolution of the axle but is prevented from turning in the
same direction by two tooth or friction clutches one adapted to act during the move-
ment of the vehicle in one direction, the other during the reverse movement of the
vehicle. To the aforesaid drum is fixed a pulley geared by crossed belt or chain to
another pulley of smaller diameter carried by the second axle of the vehicle, and forced
to travel therewith by a friction clutch. When the springs aforesaid are distended the
cords are unrolled from the drum, and stand as prolongations of radii of the drum
so that they are in position for winding in either direction on the drum.
If, during the travel of the vehicle, the small pulley on the second axle be forced to
turn therewith by the engagement of the friction clutch through a suitable lever, the
crossed belt or chain causes the pulley on the first axle to revolve in a direction con-
trary to the axle so that the cords are wound upon the drum and the springs are
tensioned until the vehicle is stopped-The stopping of the vehicle may be hastened
by the use of a band brake acting on a drum on the second shaft- If the springs
are in tension and the friction sleeve on the second axle be disengaged the small
pulley on this axle is able to turn freely and therefore does not interfere with or
restrain the movement of the pulley on the first shaft.-Therefore the springs reacting

page_text: on the cords, turn the drum in the direction of the movement of the vehicle. Since
also the pulley is unable to move in this direction freely on the axle by reason of
one of the clutches before mentioned, the drum assists to turn the axle and thus the
force stored in the springs during the stopping of the vehicle is utilized to start or
assist in starting or propelling the same.
The axles may be connected for simultaneous movement by means of chains or belts
passing over pulleys thereon or by connecting rods or other known devices.
The springs may be spiral or otherwise or may be replaced by pneumatic devices―
The number may vary, two being however generally sufficient. The proportion
between the diameters of the pulleys on the two axles bearing the crossed chain or
belt will be according to the length in which the vehicle should be brought to a stop.
Thus it will be understood that if the proportion be 3, the force accumulated during
the stopping of the vehicle will on starting be exerted during a distance equal to a
third of that traversed during the stopping.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1888
HERBERT & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.

page_text: Improved Apparatus for Accumulating Force during the Stopping
or Reducing the Speed of Vehicles and Utilizing same for the
Starting or Propelling thereof.
I, ALPHONSE THEYSKENS in care of Messieurs E. Bede & Cie. of 37, Rue Philippe-
le-Bon, Brussels in the Kingdom of Belgium, 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 consists in certain improved mechanism to be applied to vehicles for
accumulating force when stopping or reducing the speed of the vehicle and utilizing
such force for starting or assistance in starting or propelling the same.
The improved construction is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as applied
to a four wheeled car such as a tramcar. Fig. 1 being a side elevation of part of the
mechanism, Fig. 2 a plan view thereof-Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 show certain details of
construction referred to hereinafter, Figs. 7 and 8 show details of a band brake and
means for operating it, for assistance in stopping the vehicle in the event of the
momentum thereof being too great to bring the vehicle to rest by the unaided power
of the springs of the improved mechanism, or otherwise for use in case of necessity.
Fig. 9 shows a modified form of double band brake.
In a suitable position under the frame of the vehicle are fixed one or more tubes A A'
(preferably however two in number) each containing a long spiral spring B B¹ resting
at one end against the end or cap of the tube and abutting at the other end against a
block CC capable of sliding in the tube and connected by the ends of the cords or
chains DD which pass along the tubes out of the ends thereof as shown, over suitable
pulleys E E E E¹ and between guide rollers F F¹ to give the required alteration of
direction thereto and are wound upon drums G G¹ which are journalled on one of the
axles of the vehicle. The said drums are so connected to the axle that they may be
freely moved or revolved in a direction contrary to the usual direction of revolution of
the axle, or relatively negative to the revolution of the axle, but may be firmly fixed
to the axle during or by revolution on the axle in the same direction as the axle itself
revolves, by the two discs I I' carrying pawls K and by the two coupling boxes J J¹
feathered upon the axle and capable of being moved into or out of engagement with the
discs II' respectively-The construction is shown in Figs. 3 and 4-The two drums G G¹
are connected by the grooved pulley M, being fixed to the latter so that the two drums
and pulley form one integral part, the pawls K are of such a nature as to jam against
the inner face of the drums or of the pulley M, as shown, they are pivoted at intervals
on the circumference of the discs I If the bubs of which carry the projections or teeth
which form part of the couplings J J'. The springs n tend to press the pawls out-
ward against the annular face L of the interior of the part G G₁ M and the faces m of
the pawls are so curved that when the part G GM is revolving in the direction of
the arrow Fig. 3, upon or in reference to the disc I, the pawls slide freely on the
surface M; but when the relative rotation is in the opposite direction they imme-
diately jam upon the surface L with sufficient force to cause the simultaneous
revolution of the disc I or 13 respectively with the drum G G' M.

page_text: If therefore the pawls on the two discs I I' are respectively arranged to act in
contrary direction, the axle H will he forced to turn with the drum G G₁ either in the
one or other direction according to the direction of revolution of the drum G G¹, by
bringing the respective clutch J or J¹ into engagement.
The pulley M is geared by a crossed chain cord or belt. P to a pulley N loose upon
the other axle H¹ of the vehicle, said pulley N being perferably smaller than the
pulley M in the ratio, for instance of 1 to 3.-A clutch Q. preferably a friction
clutch is arranged on the axle H¹ for fixing the pulley N at will upon the axle.
When the springs B B' are extended at their full length the cords D D¹ are re-
spectively unrolled from the drum G G and remain only connected at their ends to
the drums so as to stand from them in prolongation of the radius of the drum, and
so be in position for immediate winding in either direction on the drum according to
the direction of travel of the vehicle.
Before starting the vehicle in the direction in which it is required to travel, the
respective clutch J or J' has been engaged with that disc 1 or 11 which permits the
axle to move freely in the required direction, without bringing the pawls K thereon
into operation-All parts will then remain at rest during the travel of the vehicle
except the clutches J J and the respective disc 1 or 1 and its pawls. If the
clutch Q. be now brought into engagement by the guard or driver through the lever R.,
the pulley N will commence to turn with the axle H and the chain or the like P will
-cause-the-pulley Mand_drum GG to revolve in a direction contrary to the direction
of revolution of the axle H, the cords DD will be rolled-up-on-the-drums G G¹ and
the springs B B will be compressed until their reactive force is sufficient to arrest
the movement of the vehicle. As long as the clutch is held in engagement the
vehicle will be held at rest, backward movement of the vehicle being prevented since
the contrary movement of the drum G G¹ would bring the pawls into action to
revolve the axle H in a forward direction, the pressure is therefore equal and
contrary on both axles and the vehicle therefore remains stationary. On releasing
however the clutch Q, the contrary force of the springs B B' comes into action to revolve
the drums G G¹ which as aforesaid jam the pawls K of one of the discs I or I¹ which
was engaged to the axle H and so operate to revolve the axle and propel the vehicle
again in the direction in which it was travelling.
The springs therefore exercise the force which was expended in compressing them
and therefore with small allowance for friction utilize all the power which would other-
wise have been lost in stopping the vehicle.
It is necessary to observe that the power will be given back in less time than was
required to store it, in proportion according to the ratio of the sizes of the pulleys M
and N. Thus in the example where the ratio of the pulleys M and N is as 3 to 1.
and the vehicle is stopped within a distance of twelve yards for instance, the pulley M
will make but one-third of the number of revolutions made by the pulley N in
stopping, whereas when it is coupled direct with the axle H it will operate on said
axle only to drive the vehicle for four yards.
It will be noticed that the whole mechanism is operated by one lever only so that
with less effort and without complicated operations all the advantages of brakes and of
utilizing power otherwise lost are attained.
The construction may be varied without departing from this invention. Thus the
tubes A may be fixed to the frame of the vehicle or may be carried by hearings
resting on the axles -In place also of spiral springs, air compression may be employed
in a suitable manner-Any kind of friction clutch Q. may be used, I prefer however
that shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in which a wedge is driven between two segments of a
circle and causes the circle to be pressed into the cylindrical portion of the sleeve,
either directly or by means of two levers.
A friction band brake is arranged to surround the pulley X Figs. 1, 2 and 7 and is
connected to a double lever V V₁ connected by suitable means to the drivers lever, so that
he may bring this brake into action and so stop the vehicle, and by bringing the clutchQ
into engagement he then can hold the vehicle at rest without bringing the springs B B¹
into operation at all. Such device may be useful in steep descents or where a sudden

page_text: stopping is necessary; or again in such cases where the springs cannot receive or store
all the force expended in stopping the vehicle. In such case the springs may be brought
into action by the movement of the pulley N and at the same time a light pressure
may be exercised on the brake and so destroy the excess of force developed in
stopping the vehicle-The band brake may also be used when from any cause the
power stored in the springs is to be kept stored and not used immediately on starting
the vehicle.
To this end the wedge of the friction clutch Q is engaged to bring the springs into
state of compression and wind the cords on the drums G G'. The clutch Q. is then
disengaged but the band T is drawn tight upon the drum X, so that the latter is held
stationary the pulley N being connected to the drum X is therefore held at rest and
the drums G G likewise prevented from revolving by reason of the connection of
the pulleys M and N by the chain P. By loosening the band T at any time the
power of the springs comes into action to propel the vehicle.
In order to enable the guard to operate the clutch and band T in an easy and
relatively correct inanner, I arrange on the shaft a of the brake handle b. (Fig. 7),
two cams e c¹ which control the rods d d' respectively the one connected to the bell
crank lever R of the clutch Q, the other to the lever V₁ of the band brake T. The
cams bear against rollers e e' supported on gudgeons fixed on the ends of the rods;
the shaft a traverses a slot in each rod for the guiding of the latter-The peripheries
of the cams are constructed as follows; dividing the circumference into three equal
it will be seen that the 1st part of the cam for the clutch is excentric while that
of the cam for the band is not; The second part of the clutch cam is however level.
or circular while that of the band brake cam is excentric; The third part of each cam
is excentric.
ares,
By making a third part of a revolution of the lever b the clutch is brought into
engagement without tightening the band T-By turning the lever for another third,
the band brake T is brought into action without further insertion of the wedge of the
clutch During the last third of the revolution of the lever b the band is drawn
tighter and the wedge is inserted to its full extent.
The driver therefore can by simply turning the lever to the corresponding position
produce the following effects.
1st. By a third turn, bring the springs into action to stop the vehicle if the force
of inertia of the latter is less than the power which the springs are capable of storing,
in which case there will be no slipping of the clutch Q. Or if the force of inertia is
greater, store as much force in the springs as they will hold and permit the remainder
to be lost in the slipping of the clutch.
2nd). By a further third turn, neutralize the draught exercised on the springs and
intermediate mechanism by the engagement of the clutch Q.
3rd). By a last third turn, increase the pressure of the band brake and drive in the
wedge of the clutch to hinder the axle from turning.
There may be added to the vehicle an independent safety brake, as represented in
Fig. 9. in which the two steel bands k k¹ pass around the drums fixed on the axles.
The said bands are connected to the three armed levers ff the outer arms of which
are connected by rods to a balance beam g to the centre of which is attached a cord
or cords h h¹ for operating the brake. By connecting the cord nearer to one end of
the balance beam than to the other the pressure of the bands and ¹ will be rendered
unequal, if necessary, in proportion.
I prefer to make the axle wheels of the same size and connect the axles by a
chain or the like passing over pulleys of equal diameter on each axle.
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 mechanism for the purpose set forth :
1) The combination of a pulley on one axle adapted to be engaged or disengaged
|therefrom, a pulley on the other axle and drums G G integral therewith, a crossed

page_text: chain connecting said pulleys cords adapted to be wound on said drums and
springs to be brought into tension by the winding of said cords for the purpose
set forth.
2) The combination with an axle H₁ of clutches J J and discs I I¹ with
pawls K, drums G G₁ and pulleys H substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
3) The combination of a spiral spring a cord adapted to compress the same and a
drum, said cord being connected to the drum so as to stand in prolongation of the
radius thereof in the manner and for the purpose specified.
4) The combination with the pulley N of the drum X and band brake T substantially
in the manner and for the purposes described.
5) The combination with the pulley N and drum X of the clutch for operating
the engagement thereof and band T together with the cams c c¹ for operating the same
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this ora day of December 1000.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agents to Applicant.