Improved Means for Diminishing or Increasing the Rotative Speed of a Revolving Body, same being specially applicable for use in Retarding, Stopping and Re-starting Tramcars and other Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Diminishing or Increasing the Rotative Speed
of a Revolving Body, same being specially applicable for use
in Retarding, Stopping and Re-starting Tramcars and other
Vehicles.
I, FREDERICK HENRY JACKSON, of 16, Edwardes Square, Kensington, in the
County of London, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows: —
This invention relates to means particularly but not exclusively applicable
for use in aesting and re-starting tramcars, motor-cars and other vehicles;
a portion of the power represented by the momentum of the vehicle being
stored for subsequent use in re-starting the same; whilst the operation of
storing the power acts as a brake to retard, and ultimately to arrest, the progress
of the vehicle. The invention is however applicable to revolving shafts other
than those pertaining to vehicles.
Apparatus adapted for carrying my invention into effect comprises a shaft
whereon are mounted, at a suitable distance apart, two friction or ratchet
clutches. One part of each, preferably the outer, is firmly secured to the shaft,
whilst the other part of each is free to slide and also to rotate upon the shaft.
Between and attached to both these latter or loose parts is a coiled spring so
auranged as not only to resist the one part being rotated without the opposite
part but to produce a certain amount of thrust in an axial direction, and thus
to exert an effort tending to maintain the respective clutches in gear. The
lease half of each clutch is extended in a radial direction and engages with
another friction surface or circular ratchet, capable of being held against rotation
but of being moved axially, so that the one clutch or the other may be rendered
operative or both rendered inoperative.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
When the outer members of the larger clutches are in mid-position so that
neither of these clutches is operative, the inner members of these clutches, the
coiled spring to which both are attached, and both parts of both the inner or
smaller clutches, are free to revolve with the shaft. If now the moveable
members of the larger clutches be moved so as to render one of those clutches
operative, one end of the spiral spring is held stationary whilst its opposite
end is rotated, power being hereby stored, by reason of the coiling of the spring,
whilst a retarding influence is exerted upon the shaft. When it is desired to
utilise the power so stored, the outer members of the larger clutches are so moved
that the clutch, formerly engaged, is released, whilst that formerly out of engage-
ment is rendered operative, the power being thereupon transmitted from the
spring through the inner member of the larger clutch and through the inner
clutch, at the same end to the shaft. The longitudinal pressure exerted by the
coiled spring serves to maintain the members of the clutches for the time being
operative in engagement; both members of the larger clutches and one member

page_text: of each of the smaller clutches being free to partake of longitudinal movement
upon the shaft against the resistance of the said spring.
The members of the clutches requiring to be moved may be controlled by
means of suitable rigging, operated (in the case of a tramcar or other vehicle)
from the platform or driver's seat.
1
1
I
1000
Improved Means for Diminishing or Increasing the Rotative Speed of
a Revolving Body, same being specially applicable for use in
Retarding, Stopping and Re-Starting Tramcars and other
Vehicles,
I. FREDERICK HENRY JACKSON, of 68, Hill Rise, Richmond, in the County of
Surrey, late of 16, Edwardes Square, Kensington, in the County of London,
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 means particularly, but not exclusively, applicable
for use in arresting and re-starting tramcars, motor-cars and other vehicles:
a portion of the power represented by the momentum of the vehicle being
stored for subsequent use in re-starting the same; whilst the operation of
storing the power acts as a brake to retard, and ultimately to arrest, the progress
of the vehicle. The invention is, however, applicable to revolving shafts other
than those pertaining to vehicles.
In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated my invention as applied.
by way of example, to a tramear. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the arresting
and re-starting gear which is shown in a state of preparedness for arresting the
motion of the vehicle and for storing energy derivable from the momentum of
such vehicle. Fig. 2 is a plan corresponding with Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view
of the gear; a portion of the car-body being shown in elevation and longitudinal
section. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are longitudinal sections respectively showing the
parts of the gear in the mid-position, or when the spring is unwound, in the
position when the rotation of the shaft has been arrested, the spring wound
and the power stored, and the position of the parts when the spring is about
to unwind or the power stored is about to be used in re-starting. Figs. 7, S
and 9 are face views of the several parts of one of the clutches Fig. 7 being
the part to which one extremity of the spring is connected, the other extremity
thereof being connected to the corresponding part of a similar clutch: Fig. 8
being the intermediate part of the same clutch, keyed to the shaft; whilst Fig. 9
shows the outer part. Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a mode of
arranging the levers or rigging for operating the gear from the driver's seat.
Apparatus adapted for carrying my invention into effect comprises a shaft A
(which, in the example illustrated constitutes one of the axles of a tranica)
whercon are mounted, at a suitable distance apart, two compound friction- or
hatchet-clutches. The intermediate parts B B* of the respective clutches are
firmly secured to the shaft, whilst the inner part B1 B1 of each is free to slide

page_text: and also to rotate upon the shaft. Between and attached to both these inner
parts is a coiled or spiral spring C so arranged as not only to resist the one pait
being rotated without the opposite part, but to produce a certain amount of
thrust in an axial direction, and thus to exert an effort tending to maintain the
respective clutches in gear. The part B or B is extended in a radial direction
and engages with another friction surface or circular rack or ratchet 132 or B
comprising the outer part. The parts B2 B32* are tied by the rods bb, are held
against rotation, and are moved axially by means of the bell-crank lever b², so
that the one clutch or the other may be rendered operative or both rendered
inoperative.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
When the outer parts 132 132 of the compound clutches are in mid-position
so that neither of these parts is operative (Fig. 4), the loosely mounted inner
parts BB, the coiled spring C to which both are attached, and the intermediate
parts BB of the clutches are free to revolve with the shaft and the spring
remains unwound. If now the axially moveable outer parts B2B of the
clutches be moved so as to bring the part B into engagement with the inner
part B (Fig. 5) and to move the latter part out of engagement with the inter-
mediate part B a slight compression of the spring occurs and one end of the
said spring is held stationary whilst its opposite end is rotated by means of the
intermediate part B engaging with the inner part Bl; power being hereby
stored, by reason of the coiling or winding of the spring, whilst a retarding
influence is exerted upon the shaft A. When it is desired to utilise the power
so stored, the outer parts B2 B32* are so moved that the inner part B (Fig. 6)
engaged previously by the axially moveable outer part B is released, whilst,
owing to a slight expansion of the spring incident hereto, the inner part B
(previously out of engagement with B³) becomes engaged therewith. At the
same time the inner part B has been engaged by the axially moveable outer
part B and the part B released from engagement with the intermediate part B:
the power being thereupon transmitted from the spring C through the inner
part B and the intermediate part B to the shaft A. The longitudinal pressure
exerted by the coiled spring C serves to maintain the parts of the clutches for
the time being operative in engagement; both outer parts B2 Box and both inner
parts BB being free to partake of longitudinal movement upon the shaft
against the resistance of the said spring. The outer parts B2 B32 may be moved
and controlled by means of suitable rigging 1) (Fig. 10) operated, in the example
under description, from the platform or driver's seat.
If after accumulating the power it be desired to store it for use, say, in
ascending an incline, it is simply requisite to bring the outer parts B2 B3* to
the mid-position, when the shaft, together with the intermediate parts B B*,
the inner parts B B and the wound spring C, will rotate freely or without
being subjected to retardation.
The spring may be made in two portions separated by a central plate to which
latter one end of each of the springs is attached; the central plate serving as a
guide. Or the guide may be comprised of short cylinders placed at intervals
and capable of movement in an axial direction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim:
1. The herein described means, applicable to a revolving shaft or other body
for retarding, stopping and re-starting the same, comprising a pair of tri-part
clutches and a coiled spring arranged to act torsionally and axially, each of the
said clutches consisting of an outer part mounted freely upon the shaft and
capable of axial movement but held against rotation, an intermediate part fast
upon the shaft, and an inner part capable of axial and rotative movement upon
the shaft, the inner parts of the respective clutches being attached to the opposite
extremities of the said spring, and the arrangement of the whole being such

page_text: that, upon the intermediate and inner parts of the one clutch and the outer
and inner parts of the other clutch being respectively in mesh, the spring con-
necting the two inner parts is coiled and the rotation of the shaft or other
revolving body retarded or arrested, the force so stored in the spring being
rendered available for re-starting the said shaft or body.
2. The improved apparatus for use in retarding, arresting and re-starting
tramears or other vehicles, constructed or operating substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of October 1899.