IMPROVED SPRING MOTOR APPARATUS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR ASSISTING IN THE PROPULSION OF TRAM-CARS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the Firm of Haseltine Lako,
& Co. Putent Agents Southampton Buildings London for an Invention of
"IMPROVED SPRING MOTOR APPARATUS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR ASSISTING
IN THE PROPULSION OF TRAM-CARS" A communication from abroad by
William Thomas Larimore of Saint Louis Missouri, United States of
America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st January 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake, and Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVED SPRING MOTOR APPARATUS CHIEFLY
DESIGNED FOR ASSISTING IN THE PROPULSION OF TRAM-CARS." [A communication
from abroad by William Thomas Larimore of Saint Louis Missouri, United States
of America]
This Invention relates to mechanism to be applied to tram cars and is chiefly
designed for assisting the horses in starting the same, and for facilitating the
running of the cars, as for instance in ascending inclines, and it consists essentially
in a spring band or bands arranged to be coiled by the running of the wheels or
otherwise and to work upon the wheels when uncoiling and thus assist in the
movement of the car, all substantially as hereinafter described.
In carrying the said Invention into practice the axle of one pair of the car
wheels is provided with a gear-wheel with which meshes a pinion carrying a
sprocket-wheel arranged to turn as one in suitable bearings on the car body. An
endless chain connects the sprocket-wheel with another sprocket-wheel on a
horizontal shaft turning in suitable bearings upon the car-body and thus this shaft
is driven by the revolution of the car-wheel-axle. The said horizontal shaft carries
another sprocket-wheel arranged to turn therewith and to slide lengthwise thereon,
the connection between the two being a horizontal spline joint. An endless chain
connects the sliding sprocket-wheel with another sprocket-wheel arranged to turn
loosely upon another shaft. This chain runs lengthwise of the car and is between
the two last named sprocket-wheels; it passes in one length between grooved rolls
of an upright post and in its other length between grooved rolls of another upright
post. Each post is arranged to be moved vertically in a separate stationary
vertical socket and to be lowered against a spring in its respective socket and the
two posts are arranged out of a longitudinal line with respect to each other, and
Pasice Gd1

page_text: one upon one side and the other upon the other side of a common longitudinal
transverse shaft arranged to turn in suitable bearings on the car-body. This
transverse shaft carries a loose sprocket-wheel in line with one of the posts and
which is provided with a spring-pawl engaging with a ratchet-wheel of the trans-
verse shaft and another loose sprocket-wheel in line with the other upright post.
There is a sliding clutch collar on the transverse shaft and arranged to clutch
with the vertical face of a sprocket-wheel and to be held to such clutch by a spiral
spring on the transverse shaft having its bearing at one end against such collar, and
at its other against an adjustable nut of this shaft. This clutch turns with the said
shaft and can slide lengthwise thereon. The loose sprocket-wheel on this shaft is
in line with the length of chain hereinbefore mentioned and one of the sprocket-
wheels is in line with another length of chain.
A spring band is coiled around the transverse shaft and attached at one end
thereto and at the other to the car-body; a ratchet wheel is secured on this shaft
and a spring-pawl engaging therewith. This pawl is attached to the car-body and
has an arm in position to be struck by an arm of the sliding post when such post
is depressed against its spring. A line leads from this post under a pulley and
thenco over another pulley of the car-body to a drum to which it is secured which
drum is arranged to be turned by a crank-handle; a line leads to this drum
similarly to the other line, two pulleys being provided therefor.
The turning of the crank-handle in one direction pulls one line in a direction to
depress one post and in the other direction it pulls the other line in a direction to
depress the other post and in either case it leaves the opposite post free to lift
under the action of its springs. The depression of one post puts the length of
chain which passes between its pulleys into connection with its sprocket-wheel
and places the other length out of its connection with its sprocket-wheel.
An endless chain with its sprocket wheels can be arranged on each side of the
car and in between the same, series of springs-and-shafts can be located as the space_
will permit, each chain and its connection operating independent springs or in a
series as desired, also in lieu of winding up the springs by the turning of the
wheels in the running of the cars they can be wound by independent means
such as a steam engine or any power located at different points on the line of
travel.
By arranging the endless chain on each side of the car the wheels at each end, of
the car can be connected so as to operate, thereby increasing the power over the
game.
In the use of this Invention in descending hills, the momentum can then be used
to wind up the spring, obviating to some extent the use of the brake thereby
utilizing the power that otherwise would have to be used in braking the car.
The clutch is arranged to slip or pass over its connections with the sprocket-
wheel to prevent the breaking of any of the connecting parts should the chain
connections continue to operate on the shaft after the spring has been fully wound,
such slip being regulated by the spring and screw nut.
Two of the sprocket-wheels being loose on their respective shafts can move
thereon longitudinally to suit the line of direction in which the chain is operating,
the spline joint however making a positive connection of the sprocket-wheel with
its shaft for the purpose of operating the chain.
As is obvious, this Invention is applicable to the running of the cars in lieu of
horses or other motive powers.
The endless chain with its connecting sprocket wheels and springs can be
arranged under the car in lieu of on top so as to act upon the axles of the wheels
more directly.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
31st July 1882.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVED SPRING MOTOR APPARATUS, CHIEFLY
DESIGNED FOR ASSISTING IN THE PROPULSION OF TRAM-CARS ' A communication
from abroad by William Thomas Larimore, of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
of America
This Invention relates to mechanism to be applied to tram-cars and the like, and
is chiefly designed for assisting the horses in starting the same, and for facilitating
the running of the cars as, for instance, in asceuding inclines; it consists essentially
in a coiled spring arranged to be wound by the running of the wheels or otherwise
and to work upon the wheels when uncoiling and thus assist in the movement of
the car, all substantially as hereinafter described.
In the accompanying Drawing;
Figures 1 and 2 are an elevation and plan respectively of the body of a horse
car having my Invention attached thereto.
Figure 3 is a cross section on the lino 3, 3, Figure 1 enlarged.
Figures 4 to 8 are enlarged detailed views.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the Drawing.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a horse car body A
arranged to run upon wheels B B as ordinarily. The axle a of one pair of the car
wheels is provided with a gear wheel C with which engages a pinion b carrying
and secured to it is a sprocket wheel D arranged to turn in suitable bearings on
the car body, an endless chain E connects the sprocket wheel D, with another
sprocket wheel F on a horizontal shaft & turning in suitable bearings upon the car
body and thus the shaft d is driven by the revolution of the axle a. The said
horizontal shaft & carries another sprocket-wheel Garranged to turn therewith and
to slide longitudinally thereon, the connection between the two being a horizontal
spline joint f. An endless chain H connects the sliding sprocket wheel G with
another sprocket-wheel J arranged to turn loosely upon another shaft g. This
chain H runs longitudinally with the car, and between the two sprocket-wheels G
and J, it passes in one length h between grooved rolls K K on an upright post L
and in its other length between grooved rolls M, M, on an upright post N. Each
post is arranged to be moved vertically in a separate stationary socket m and to
be lowered against a spring n in its respective socket, the two posts are arranged
out of a longitudinal line with each other and also upon opposite sides of a
transverse shaft O arranged to turn in suitable bearings on the car body.
This transverse shaft carries a loose sprocket-wheel P in line with a
post Land is provided with a spring and pawl o' engaging with a ratchet-
wheel P of the said shaft and another loose sprocket-wheel Qin line with the
post N.
A sliding clutch collar R on the shaft O is arranged to clutch with the vertical
face of the sprocket-wheel Q and to be held to such clutch by a spiral spring q
having its bearing, at one end against such collar R and at its other against an
adjustable nut r on the shaft O. This clutch turns with the shaft and can slide
longitudinally upon it.
The sprocket wheel P is in a line with the length h and the sprocket-wheel Q
with the length 1 of the chain H.
•

page_text: A spring S¹ is coiled around the shaft O, and attached at one end thereto, and at
the other to the car body; a ratchet wheel T is secured on this shaft and s a spring
pawl engages therewith. This pawl is attached to the car body and has an arm t in
position to be struck by an arm u of the sliding post L when such post is
depressed against its spring. A line or cord U leads from this post L under a
pulley v and thence over another pulley w on the car body, to a drum V to which
it is secured, which drum is arranged to be turned by a crank-handle x, another
-line or cord w connects the port N, to the drum V passing over the pulleys y and z
in its course but it is wound upon the said drum in the opposite direction to the
cord U.
The turning of the crank handle x in one direction pulls the line U, and
depresses the post L and if turned in the other direction it pulls the line W, and
depresses the post N, in either case it leaves the opposite post free to lift by the
action of its spring.
The depression of the post L puts the length of chain H, which passes between
the pulleys K K into connection with its sprocket-wheel P, and places the other
length out of connection with its sprocket wheel Q.
When the length of the chain H is in connection with its sprocket-wheel Q
the spring S', by the revolution of the fear axlo is coiled, and when the length of
chain h, is in connection with its sprocket wheel P connection is made for such
coiled spring to operate upon the car axle by its uncoiling, provided the holding
pawls is released, which is done by the abutment of the arm u of the post L
coming into contact with the arm tof the pawla and the consequent release of
such pawl from its engagement with its ratchet-wheel T; then the shaft O is set
free to rotate under the action of the spring, and through the connections described
the power of the said spring is communicated to the car axle.
In the movement of the car the chain H, when connected, is in constant motion,
- when the line-of-chain his engaged with the sprocket-wheel P and the spring
catch or pawls is not released from the ratchet-wheel T, then the sprocket-wheel P
will turn on the shaft O, its spring pawl o' slipping over its ratchet-wheel p, but
when the pawl 8 is released the spring S will in its uncoiling turn the sprocket-
wheel P through the action of the pawl o' and the ratchet wheel p.
An endless chain with its sprocket wheels can be arranged on each side of a car,
and in between the same a series of coiled springs and shafts can also be arranged
as space will permit, cach chain and its connections operating independent springs,
or a series as desired also in lieu of coiling the springs by the motion of the wheels
in the running of the cars, they can be coiled by independent means such as a
steam engine or other power located at different points on the line of travel.
By arranging the endless chain on each side of the car, the wheels at both ends
can be made to assist in propelling the said car, thereby increasing the power over
the same.
In descending hills the momentum of the car can be used to coil the
springs obviating to some extent the use of the brake, thereby utilizing the power
that otherwise would have to be wasted.
The clutch R is arranged to slip or pass over its connection with the sprocket-
wheel by the spring 9 and nut r, to prevent the breaking of any of the connecting
parts should the chain and connections continue to operate upon the shaft after the
spring has been fully coiled.
The sprocket-wheels G and J being free to move longitudinally upon their
respective shafts can adjust themselves to the line of direction in which the chain H
is operating the spline joint f however making a positive connection of the sprocket
wheel G with its shaft for the purpose of operating the chain.
As is obvious this Invention is applicable to the propulsion of cars in lieu of
horse or other motive power.
The endless chain H with its connecting sprocket-wheels and springs can be
arranged under the car in lieu of on the top so as to act upon the axles of the
wheels more directly.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my

page_text: foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The coiled spring S¹, and the endless chain H running in line with the
sprocket-wheels G, P, Q, J, of which two P, Q, are upon a common shaft O, in
combination with the posts L, N, and the connections for operating the same, and
with the sprocket-wheels D, F, and endless chain E connected to a car-axle, all
substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
8
Second. The coiled spring S¹, the endless chain H running in line with sprocket-
wheels G, P, Q, J, of which two P, Q, are upon a common shaft O, the ratchet-
wheel T and pawl & in combination with the posts L, N, and the connections for
operating the same, and with the sprocket-wheels D, F, and endless chain E
connected to a car-axle, all substantially as described for the purpose specified.
Third. The coiled spring S', the endless chain H running in line with the
sprocket-wheels G, P, Q, J, of which two P, Q, are upon a common shaft O having
the sliding clutch R, the ratchet wheel T, and pawl 8, in combination with the
posts L, N, and the connections for operating the same, and with the sprocket-
wheels D, F, and endless chain E connected to a car-axle, all substantially as
described for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The combination with the coiled spring S₁, the endless chain H running
in line with the sprocket-wheels G, P, Q, J, of which two P, Q, are upon a common
shaft O, the posts L, N, and the connections for operating the same, of the sprocket-
wheel G connected to its shaft by a spline joint f, substantially as, and for the
purpose, specified.
In witness whercof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty ninth day of July in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two