US139563A - Improvement in car-starters - Google Patents

Description

UNITED 4.STATES PATENT GFFICE.

GEORGE W. FIELD AND JOSEPH STEGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT liN CAR-STARTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,563, dated June 3, 1873; application fied october s, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE WV. FIELD and JOSEPH STEGER, both ot' the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Starters; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which drawing- Figure l represents a longitudinal vertical section of our invention. Fig. 2 is a plan or top View of the same, partly in section.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts'.

This invention relates to a car-starter ot' that class in which the draft-bar actuates a propelling-pawlthat engages with a ratchetwheel mounted on one otthe axles of the car.

Our invention consists in arranging the propelling-pawl on one arm of a bell-crank lever, the other arm oi' which connects with the drattbar, while the propelling-pawl itself connects at or near its working end or tip with a windla-ss or treadle, the tail end ot' said pawl being subjected to the action of a weak spring` in such a manner that, whenever a strain is exerted on the draft-bar, the propelling-pawl is dipped and its tip is thrown below the ratchet-wheel o n the car-axle, and 'it' no strain is exerted on the draft-bar the recoveringspring of the starting mechanism keeps the tip of the propellingpawl clear otl the ratchetwheel, and consequently all danger of injuring the starting mechanism by a retrograde movenient of the car is avoided.

In the drawing, the letter A designates the truck-frame ot' a horse-car, ot' any suitable construction. Said trame is supported by four wheels, B B', which are mounted on axles O O in the ordinary manner. On each of these axles is also mounted a ratchet-wheel, D, which is acted on by a pawl, ct, in the following manner: Said pawl swings on a pivot,\b, and a weak spring, c, which acts on the tail end of the pawl has a tendency to keep the working end or tip clear of the ratchetwheel. A chain, d, which is secured to the pawl at a point between its tip and the pivot b, extends over a guide-roller, e, to the windlass f. By turning the windlass so as to wind up the chain the tip of the pawl is caused to engage with the ratchet-wheel D. The pivot b, which forms the fulcruin of the piopelliiigpawl, is secured in a lever, g, which is mounted on a rock-shaft, L,.\carrLving a second lever, tf, that connects by arod or chain, j, with the drat'tbar E. j From the lever i'. also extends a rod, cwto a recovering-spring, Z, which is common to the two starting devices at both ends ot' the car, as shown in the drawing. The draftbar E slides in a suitable socket or guide in the traine A, its motion heilig limited by a stop on its inner` and a head on its outer end. By the action ot' the recovering-spring Z the draft-har is carried into the position shown at the right-hand end ot' the car in the drawing, and in this case the pawl is raised and it occupies the position shown. When a strain is exerted on the chain d either by turning the windlass or inany other manner, the tip of the pawl is thrown forward and brought in ugear with the ratchet-wheel' l), and it' the horses begin to pull the pawl is gradually forced downward andthe axle is turned so as to start the car. When the draft-bar has been pulled clear out to the position shown at the left end of the drawingthe tip ot' the propelling-pawl is brought beneath the ratchetwheel, so that, even it the drivershould omit to release the windlass and a retrograde inotion of the car should occur, no injury will be done to the starting mechanism. But it' the driver, after having thrown the pawl in gear with the ratchet-wheel, takes his hand oif from the windlass, the strain produced on the chain d by the outward motion ot' the draftbar, and 'the consequent downward motion ot' the pawl, turns the windlass back, and the tip ot' the pawl is thrown clear back from the ratchetwheel by its spring c as soon as the draft-bar has reached its extreme outward position, and all danger ot' injuring the starting mechanism is avoided.

Vhat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The propelling-pawl a, cord or chainV d,

windlassj', and ratchet-wheel D, in combination with the connections k and draft-tongue E, all arranged and operating substantially as described.

G. W. FIELD. JOSEPH STEGER. Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, E. F. KAsTENHUBER.

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