343 for Tram Cars, also Applicable to other Vehicles.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1886.
Complete Left, 31st Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 3rd May, 1887.
P
343
for Tram Cars, also Applicable to other Vehicles.
I FRANK SHORTEN of Breslau Germany at present residing at 3 Addison Road
North Holland Park in the County of Middlesex Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows -
This Invention has for its object improvement in combined brake apparatus and
power collector whereby the brake can be given a double action either by a simple
hand lever or by a foot lever movement, and works either as a simultaneous brake
only on the wheels of the vehicle or when applying the brake to also collect the power
by means of a spiral spring or springs and to utilize this power again to propel the
vehicle in the desired direction.
This apparatus is fixed under the body of the tram car tram wagons or other
vehicle where it can be advantageously applied.
For this purpose in applying this invention to a tram car a spiral spring is mounted
upon one of the axles of the vehicle one end of the spring being fixed on the side of
one of the wheels the other end being fixed upon a chain wheel cone moving upon
the axle.
A similar chain wheel cone is fixed on the opposite wheel (on the same axle as the
wheel to which the spring is fixed).
Between these two female cones a sliding piece is fixed upon the axle this sliding
piece does not revolve but has a lateral sliding movement of about 2 centimetres in
each direction. Upon each side of this slide is mounted a male cone which correspond
with the before mentioned female cones into which they fit and are tightened when
required by means of a forked rod which is actuated by the lever used by the driver or
guard.
Upon the axle of the second pair of wheels a chain wheel is mounted opposite to the
outside chain wheel cone of the same size and connected therewith by a chain
Opposite to the chain wheel cone to which the spring is attached a moveable chain.

page_text: wheel is mounted on the second axle, this chain wheel being larger than the chain
wheel cone to which it is connected by a chain, next to this chain wheel a firmly
wedged cog wheel smaller than the chain wheel and pressing against it, a clutch fixed
on the latter wheel passes over and between the teeth of the cog wheel into which it
is pressed by a spring. When changing the direction of the car this clutch is always
turned so that it is in front i.e. in the direction in which the vehicle is moving.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-If it is desired to apply the brake only
the brake lever is moved in one direction and by this means the male cone upon one
side of the sliding piece is pressed into the female cone which is fixed to the car wheel
and stops or retards it this wheel being fixed on the axles stops or retards the wheel
on the other end and also the wheels on the second axle they being connected by the
before mentioned chain.
Should it be desired to collect or store up the power used in braking or stopping the
car in order to utilize the same to propel the car at restarting the lever is turned in the
opposite direction to that in which it is turned when applying the brake alone and by
these means forcing or pressing the male cone on the other side of the sliding piece
into the female cone wheel attached to the spring thus retarding or stopping the
revolution of the wheel connected by the chain at the same time causing the spiral
spring to contract and collect power.
By letting go the brake lever the male cone is released and the spring is free to
revolve the chain cone wheel to which it is attached, the latter being connected by the
chain to the large chain wheel (on the axle of the second pair of wheels) to which the
before mentioned clutch is fastened and grips or presses into the cog wheel it will turn
in the direction in which the vehicle was travelling and since it is fastened to the axle
this axle and all the wheels connected are set in motion or propelled.
Two contra-turned or reverse coiled springs can be put upon the axle if necessary
and their length and strength is arranged according to the work required to be done.
This conical brake with and without collection of power can as already stated be
applied by either hand or foot power or by means of two levers so that the simple
brake and the collecting brake can be separately handled.
The apparatus is arranged so that the brake can be applied from either end of
the car.
11
01 1 1
1002
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: for Tram Cars, also Applicable to other Vehicles.
A communication to me from abroad by OTTO KUNERT, of Stradau, in the Empire
of Germany.
I FRANK SHORTEN of Breslau Germany, at present residing at 3 Addison Road
North Holland Park in the County of Middlesex 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 has for its object improvements in combined brake apparatus "and
power collector whereby the brake can be given a double action either by a simple
hand lever or by a foot lever movement, and works, either as a simultaneous brake
only on the wheels of the vehicle or when applying the brake to also collect the
power by means of a spiral spring or springs and to utilize this power again to
propel the vehicle in the direction of travel.
This apparatus is fixed under the body of the tram car tram wagons or other vehicle
where it can be advantageously applied.
For this purpose in applying this invention to a tram car a spiral spring is mounted
upon one of the axles of the vehicle one end of the spring being fixed on the side of
one of the wheels the other end being fixed upon a chain wheel cone moving upon the
axle.
A similar chain wheel cone is fixed on the opposite wheel (on the same axle as the
wheel to which the spring is fixed).
Between these two female cones a sliding piece is fixed upon the axle this sliding
piece does not revolve but has a lateral sliding movement of about 2 centimetres in
each direction. Upon each side of this slide is mounted a male cone which correspond
with the before mentioned female cones into which they respectively fit and are
tightened when required by means of a forked rod which is actuated by the lever used
by the driver or guard.
Upon the axle of the second pair of wheels a chain wheel is mounted opposite to
the outside chain wheel cone of the same size and connected therewith by a chain.
Opposite to the chain wheel cone to which the spring is attached a moveable chain
wheel is mounted on the second axle, this chain wheel being larger than the chain
wheel cone to which it is connected by a chain, next to this chain wheel a firmly
wedged cog wheel smaller than the chain wheel and pressing against it, a clutch fixed
on the latter wheel passes over and between the teeth of the cog wheel into which it
is pressed by a spring.
When changing the direction of the car this clutch is always turned so that it is
in front i.c. in the direction in which the vehicle is moving.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
If it is desired to apply the brake alone the brake-lever is moved in one direction
and by this means the male cone upon one side of the sliding piece is pressed into
he female cone which is fixed to the car wheel and stops or retards it, this wheel
being fixed on the axle stops or retards the wheel on the other end and also the
wheels on the second axle they being connected by the before mentioned chain.
-

page_text: Should it be desired to collect or store up the power used in braking or stopping the
car (in order to utilize the same to propel the car at re-starting) the lever is turned in
the opposite direction to that in which it is turned when applying the brake alone and
by this means forcing or pressing the male cone on the other side of the sliding piece
into the female cone wheel attached to the spring thus retarding or stopping the
revolution of the wheel connected by the chain at the same time causing the spiral
spring to be wound up and thus collect power.
:
By letting go the brake lever the male cone is released and the spring is free to
revolve the chain cone wheel to which it is attached, the latter being connected by the
chain to the large chain wheel (on the axle of the second pair of wheels) to which, the
before mentioned clutch is fastened and grips or presses into the cog wheel it will turn
in the direction in which the vehicle was travelling and since it is fastened to the axle
this axle and all the wheels connected are set in motion or propelled.
Two contra-turned or reverse coiled springs can he put upon the axle if necessary
and their length and strength is arranged according to the work required to be done.
This conical brake with and without collection of power can as already stated be
applied by either hand or foot power or by means of two levers so that the simple
brake and the collecting brake can be separately handled.
The brake apparatus can be applied from either end of the car.
And in order that this invention may be the more fully understood and readily
carried into practice I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings which show an apparatus constructed with four springs in
accordance with this invention.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation Figure 2 a transverse section and Figure 3 a
plan partly in section of the carriage and frame of a tram car showing these improve-
ments applied thereto.
Around the axle A four steel springs B₁ B B and B are arranged upon small.
shafts (rods?) and by nieans of cogwheels grip into the inner teeth of the chain wheel
cone C.
A chain wheel cone C is firmly connected with the other. wheel 2, resting on the
axle A.
Between C&C a lever rests upon the axle A and cannot be turned round but can
he moved sideways about three fourths of an inch in either direction and on each side
a cone E and E¹ which fit exactly into CC when moved as mentioned.
The lever D has its standing and turning point at Fand receives its motion through
the hand lever H which is connected through wire rope and rods as seen in
Figures 1 and 3 in the Drawings. Upon the axle is mounted the wheel 3 and
connected with the cone C¹ through chain L is the same sized chain wheel K³,
opposite cone C is a moveable chain wheel K both connected through chain Land
lastly a firmly wedged cogwheel M which is fixed upon chain wheel K.
A clutch fixed upon K glides over and between the teeth (cogs?) of M and is
held down by a spring:
When changing the direction of driving this clutch is so turned round that it always
points in the direction in which the car moves.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-If the driver wishes to apply the
brake alone then he moves the lever H to the lefthand.
By this means the cone E on lever I presses into cone C.. As the latter is
fixed to wheel 2 the movement of the latter and of wheel 1 is retarded or ceases
at the same time and as wheel 2 is connected with wheel 3 through chain L the
movement of latter is retarded or ceases as well as wheel 4.
In applying the brake with the power accumulator (in order to put the car auto-
matically in motion again) the lever H is moved to the right and presses cone E into
cond so that the latter as well as chain L'connected with it is prevented from turning
and the teeth on the inner surface of the cone C grip or take into cog wheels on

page_text: the ends of each spring shaft or rod and so revolve them and thus cause the spring to
be wound up or compressed.
When letting go lever H, D will be released and the springs extend or unwind
themselves and revolve the cone C as the cone E no longer presses the cone wheel C
and puts the latter as well as Land K in motion-as the clutch N is fixed to the latter
and grips into cogwheel M the latter will turn in the direction driving (i.e. in the
direction of travel) because it is fixed upon the axle i which by means of chain L sets
all the wheels in motion.
>
As above mentioned the cone brako can also act through a foot lever, so that the
simple brake, or brake and power collector can be manipulated sperarately.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed I declare the what I claim is :-
1. The improved arrangement and combination of the friction-coupling E E¹ held
in the slot of lever D and thereby prevented from turning round in connection
with the moveable cone Con the axle A with chain wheel and springs B B² B³
and B as applied to tram cars in motion substantially in the manner and for the
purpose hereinbefore described and represented in the drawings annexed.
2. The cone C and chain wheel coupled to the running wheels, on the axle i by
chains Land L and of chain wheels K and K', and the clutch arrangement M. and N
causing all the running wheels to be held tight when turning the lever H to the left
hand also by turning the lever H to the right hand to compress or wind
and then by putting lever D into centre position to utilize the power of the springs
up the springs
in starting or setting the car in motion substantially in the manner and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and represented in the drawings annexed.
3. In a combined tram car brake apparatus and power collector the use and applica-
tion of the cones E and E' and cone wheels CC arranged substantially in the manner
and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth and represented in the drawings hereto
annexed.
4. The improved arrangement and construction of combined brake apparatus and
power collector for tram cars and other similar vehicles which can be used either as a
simple brake or brake and power collector or accumulator all the several parts
being combined and arranged to act substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein before described and represented in the drawings hereto annexed.
Dated this 31st day of March 1887.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK.
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for Applicant.