US808939A - Car starting and stopping device. - Google Patents

Description

GAR STARTING AND STOPPING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9. 1905.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

&

WITNESSES INVENTDR l ,1 1 ROBERT MAW. M v

No. 808,939. PATENTED JAN. 2, 1906. R. MAW.

CAR STARTING AND STOPPING DEVICE.-

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.9.1906.

FIG. 85

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTDR ROBERT MAW.

WITNESSES PATENTED JAN. 2, 1906.

R. MAW. GAR STARTING AND STOPPING DEVICE.

INYEN'I'OR WITNESES UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT MAW, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

CAR STARTING AND STOPPING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1906.

Application filed September 9, 1905. Serial No. 277,701.

To a whom it may concern:

pumps suitably geared to the axles of the car-truck to compress air in a reservoir placed beneath the car, thus stopping the car and storing up the energy of its momentum;

This pump is thrown into action at will by means of a plurality of clutches on the truckaxles operated by air from the reservoir.

When desired, the compressed air is allowed to pass from the reservoir through a valve to an air-motor suitably geared to the truckaxles. Further manipulations of the same valve operate air-actuated clutches similar to those used for the pumps and throws the motor into gear with the axles. Still further vmanipulations of the valve releases the clutches and stops the motor, whereupon the regular motive power may be applied and the car allowed to continue on its way. As a further safety-guard I provide a band-brake attached to the drive-shaft of the pumps. This brake is manually operated and may be used as an emergency-brake, since it makes the pumps harder to operate, thus taking more of the energy of the momentum of the car.

The advantages of my device are numerous and obvious; but I wish to call special attention to the fact that by eliminating brakeshoes bearing on the rims of the wheels I reduce to a minimum the wear and tear on the tires and eliminate all danger of flattening the wheels. A great amount of motive power will be saved, since the car or train will get up speed from the stored-up energy in the reservoir.

In the drawings which illustrate my invention,"wherein like characters denote like parts throughout all the figures, Figure 1 is a plan view of an electric street-railway truck, showing the application of my device thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a sprocket, showing the attachment of the clutch. Fig. 4 is avertical section through the center of the sprocket and clutch. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the center of the clutch-collar, showing the method of attaching the fork thereto. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the clutch-collar and shows the position of the fork and the construction of its terminals. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view'of the valve for operating the compressor-clutches. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of same on the line A A, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a cross-section on the line B B, Fig. 11. Fig. 10 is a cross-section on the line C C of Fig. 11 of the controlling-valve for the airmotor. Fig. 11 is a vertical section of the air-motor and clutch-valves on the lines D D of Figs. 9 and 10. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section of the air-cylinder for actuating the clutches.

The explanation of my device falls naturally under three headsnamely, the compressor, the air-motor, and the clutches with their controlling-valves and actuating mechanism.

The com ressor.Referring to the figures, 1 is a trucii of the ordinary type, having a bolster 2 and wheels 3, mounted on axles 4 and driven by electric motors 5, with their attendant gearing. A pair of large similar chain sprockets 6 are mounted one on each axle as close as possible to the car wheel. Passing over these and around a smaller sprocket 8, rigidly mounted on a counter-shaft 9, the ends of which bear in the truckframe 1, is a chain 7. Rigidly attached to the counter-shaft 9 is a small pinion 10, connected by a chain belt 11 to a large sprocket 12, fixed to a drive-shaft 13, the bearings of which are attached to the transverse brackets or the rods 13*, running from side to side of the truck. Keyed to the shaft 13 are a plurality of opposed eccentrics 14, which drive a plurality of reciprocating water-jacketed air-pumps 15, attached to the end of the truck-frame. The air delivered from these pumps is conveyed through a pipe 16 to an air-reservoir 17, fixed under the car midway between the trucks. The pipe 16 is provided with a flexible portion 16 to allow for the swing of the truck in rounding curves. The sprockets 6 are thrown in and out of gear with the axles 4 at will by a mechanism hereinafter described.

The air-m0i01".Depending from a strong bracket 24 is an air-motor 24, adapted to move the car either forward or backward. This motor is connected to large sprockets 22,

fixed to a counter-shaft 21, bearing in the truck-frame, by chains 23. Rigidly attached to the counter-shaft 21 is a large pinion 20, over which runs a chain 19, connecting it with the large sprockets 18, mounted on the axles 4. These sprockets 18 are similar to the sprockets 6 and are thrown in and out of gear by a mechanism similar to that attached to the sprockets 6.

The clutches, with the controlling and actuating mechanism.-The controlling and actuating mechanism of the clutches for the sprockets 6 consists of a pipe 27, conveying compressed air from the reservoir 17 and delivering it to a manually-operated valve 29,

through which it passes into a pipe 26, whichconveys it into the actuatingcylinder 25, Where it operates to pull the tension-rod 30, to which are attached movable angle-levers 31, which are suitably connected to the clutch-fork 32. The pipe 26 also conveys air from the cylinder 25 when it is not desired to use the clutches and delivers it to the valve 29, from which it escapes through the orifice 28 into the open air. The controlling mechanism of the motor-clutch is similar, consisting of a valve 37, inlet-pipe 35, pipe to air-cylinder 34, escape-orifice 36, aircylinder 33, tension-rod 38, angle-levers 39, and clutch-forks 32. Attached to the valve 37 and operated by its spindle 68, Fig. 11, is a motor-controlling valve, which takes air from the tank 17 through the pipe 40 and passes it through the pipe 41 with the flexile portion 42 to the air-motor 24.

The clutches consist (see Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6) of a pulley 43, rigidly attached to the axle 4 by a key 44 and having a loose rim 45, provided with teeth 46 to engage a chain belt. Two or more of the spokes of the pulley 43 are provided with slides 47, which hold the jaws 48 of the clutch. These aws are provided on the side remote from the pulley 43 with raised lugs 49, adapted to be pivotally connected to one end of the links 50, which are connected at their other ends to similar lugs 51 on a grooved collar 52, which fits loosely around the axle 4. The inturned terminal posts 54 of the clutch-fork 32 are rovided each with a loosely-surrounding s eeve 55, which fits into the annular groove 53 in the collar 52, so as to leave a slight clearance 56.

The valve 29 for controlling the clutch mechanism (see Figs. 7 and 8) consists of a body 57, a rotatable plug 58, integral with a spindle 60, and a-cover 59. In the body is an inlet-passage 61, connected to the pipe 27 which leads air to the port 64, cut through the plug 58, which connects the passage 61 with the passage 62, connected to the pipe 26. Exhaust-air passes from the pipe 26 through the passage 62 and the port 64, which then connects it to the passage 63, terminating in the orifice 28.

The valve 37 for controlling the motor clutches is similar to the valve 29 and comprises a body 65, a rotatable plug 66, integral with a spindle 68, a cover 67, and has in the body an inlet-passage 69, connected to the pipe 35, an outlet-passage 70, connected to the pipe 34, an exhaust-passage 71, terminating in an orifice 36 and in the plug-port 72 therethrough.

Rigidly attached to the bottom of the valve 37 is a second valve for controlling the air-supply to the motor. This valve consists of a body member 73, a rotatable plug 74, integral with the valve-spindle 68, a port 7 8 therethrough, an inlet-passage 75 from a chamber 76, which opens into the pipe 40, and an outlet-passage 77, opening into a chamber 78, connected to the pipe 41.

As an emergency-brake I provide a flanged pulley 79, keyed to the counter-shaft 9. A strong metal strap 80, reaching around this, is fastened at one end to the truck-frame 1 and at the other terminates in tension-rod 81, which is operated by a chain 82, connected thereto and wound around a drum 83 on a shaft 84, which shaft may be rotated at will by the manual ratchet-lever 85.

The clutch-operating cylinders 25 and 33 contain air-tight pistons 86, piston-rods 87, connecting them with the tension- bars 30 and 38, and springs 88 behind the pistons to operate the systems of levers to release the clutches when the air is allowed to escape through the pipes 26 and 34 from the front of the pistons.

The operation of my device is as follows: An initial pressure suflicient to offer considerable resistance to the pumps having been obtained in the reservoir 17 and the momentum of the car having been attained, the motorman or engineer on wishing to stop shuts off his motive power and turns the handle of the compressor clutch control valve from E F to E G, Fig. 7, which causes the port 64 to assume the position shown in Fig. 7, connecting the passages 61 and 62.

Air from the reservoir 17 rushes through the pipe 27, the passage 61, port 64, and passage 62 through the pipe 26 and into the cylinder 25 in front of the piston 86, driving it back and compressing the helical spring 88. The backward movement of the piston acting through the piston-rod pulls on the tension-rod 30, supported in the brackets 13 and 24 and causes the longer arms of the angle-levers 31 to move in toward the tension-rod 30, drawing with them the upper ends of the clutch-forks 32, which are pivotally mounted in the centers. The lower end of the fork 32 moves out toward the wheels and carries with it the grooved collar 52, which it engages by means of the revoluble sleeves 55, turning on the fork-terminals 54 in the grooves 53. This movement causes the jaw ends of the links 49 to move away from the shaft and toward the loose counter-shaft 9.

'rim carries the link belt. with it, which link belt passes over the pinion 8, fixed on the A reducing-gear consisting, preferably, of a small pinion 10, fixed on the counter-shaft 9 and connected by a chain 11 to a large sprocket 12, fixed on the pumpshaft 13, is used to reduce the speed to make sure of good action in the pumps 15, which are operated by eccentrics 14, fixed on the shaft 13. The pumps force air through the pipe 16 into the reservoir 17 against the existing initial pressure. to force air into the reservoir against the ex isting pressure rapidly consumes the mo mentum of the car or train, which is brought smoothly and quickly to a standstill. The driver then returns the handle of the valve 29 from E G to E F, whereupon the plug 58 blocks the passage 61, cutting off the reservoir-pressure from the cylinder 25, and the port 64 connects the passage 62 with the ex- 'haust-passage 63.- The air in the cylinder 25 rushes into the pipe 26 by its own expansion and by the impulse of the compressed spring 88 driving the piston 86 forward. From the pipe 26 it passes through the passage 62, the port 64, and the passage 63, and finally escapes through the orifice 28. On the release of the air from the cylinder the expansion of the spring 88 reverses the 1novements of the system of levers above de-.

scribed and draws the clutch-jaws 48 away from the loose rim 45, leaving it free to remain stationary while the pulley 43 revolves within it. Shortly before the driver wishes to start his train or car he moves the handle which controls both the air-supply for the motor and for the motor-clutches from H J to H K, the air passing through pipe 40 from the reservoir and into the chamber 76,

through the opened portion of the passage 7 5,,

port 78*,passage 77, into the chamber 78, and pipe 41 to the motor. In the superposed valve for controlling the clutches the passages 69, 7 O, and 71 are all still blocked by the plug 66. As the motor revolves at too high a rate of speed to have it connected directly to the axles, a reducing-gear is interposed between it and the wheels, which gear greatly reduces the speed, and consequently adds proportionately to the power. The gear consists of chains 23, connecting the motor to a pair of large sprockets 22, mounted on a counter-shaft 21, which counter-shaft also bears a fixed pinion 20 of suitable size, connected by a chain 19 to the loose rims of the sprockets 18. These sprockets, together with the clutches attached to them and the mechanism operating the clutches, are in every respect similar to those above de- The power required scribed in connection with the compressor. When the driver is ready to start the car, he shifts the handle of the motor-valve from H'K to H L, which movement in the lower valve fully uncovers the passages and 77,

giving the motor full power immediately after, bringing the port 72 in the upper valve in line with the passages 69 and 70, whereupon air rushes through the pipe 55, passage 69, port 72, passage 70, and pipe 34 into the cylinder 33 to move the piston 86, attached tension-rod 38, and angle-levers 39, operating the clutches as abovedescribed. The motion of the motor is then thrown into the wheels through the system of chains, sprockets, and pinions, and the car moves forward or backward, as the driver desires. l/Vhen the compressed air stored up in the reservoir by the pumps falls to the initial pressure, the driver moves the handle from H L to H M, whereupon the air is shut out of the cylinder 33, the spring 88 releases the clutches, and the air passes through the pipe 34, passage 70, port 72, passage 71, and escapes through the orifice 36. Another move from H M to H N covers the passages 75 and 77 of the lower valve and shuts the air out of the motor, which is no longer connected with the wheels of the car and which now stops. The motive power of the car is applied after moving the valvehandle to H M and the car allowed to proceed under its natural power before moving the valve to H N. When the driver desires to stop very quickly, he winds up the chain 80 on the drum 83, thus pulling the rod 81, which tightens the metal strap 80 around the flanged pulley 79, fixed to the counter-shaft 9, thus oflering greater resistance to the pumps.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates it will be obvious that this novel method of stopping and starting cars and trains will greatly minimize the wear and tear on the wheels and tracks, at the same time giving greater comfort and safety to passengers by providing a means for stopping trains rapidly and with very little jar and noise. Further, it will greatly reduce the amount of motive power required, particularly in streetrailways, where the stops are frequent.

Having thus described my invention, so that the same may be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a car starting and stopping device, the combination of a plurality of air-compressors, chain-gearing connecting the compressors to the axles of the truck, a reservoir adapted to contain compressed air, a pipe connecting the compressors and the reservoir, an air-motor geared to the truck-axles, a pipe connecting the reservoir with the airmotor, a controlling valve in said pipe clutches mounted on the truck-axles for IIS throwing the compressor and the air-motor in and out of gear, means for actuating the clutches, and means for controlling said actuating means, substantially as described.

2. In a car starting and stopping device, the combination of a plurality of water-jacketed air-compressors, a reducing-gear connecting the compressors to the truck-axles, a reservoir adapted to contain compressed air, a flexible pipe connecting the compressors and the reservoir, an air-motor, a reducinggear connecting the air-motor to the truckaxles, a pipe connecting the air-motor and the reservoir, a controlling-valve in said pipe, clutches mounted on the axles adapted to throw the compressors and air-motor in and out of gear, an air-actuated system of tensionrods and levers for operating said clutches, and means for controlling said air-actuated system, substantially as described.

3. In a car starting and stopping device, the combination of a plurality of aircompressors geared to the truck-axles, a plurality of clutches, mounted on the axles, adapted to throw the air-compressors in and out of gear, a reservoir connected to the air-compressors, a reversible air-motor connected to the reservoir, clutches, mounted on the axles, adapted to throw the air-motor in and out of gear, a system of tension-rods and levers adapted to operate the clutches, air-actuated means for operating said tension-rods and levers,

valves'for controlling said air-actuated means, and an emergency-brake connected to the gearing of the air-compressor, substantially as described.

4. In a car starting and stopping device, the combination of a pair of compressorpumps, sprocket-wheels mounted on one end of the truck-axles and connected to the compressor-pumps by chain-gearing, clutches attached to said sprocket-wheels adapted to throw the compressor-pumps in and out of gear, areservoir connected to the compressorpumps, a reversible air motor, sprocketwheels mounted on the opposite end of the truck-axles and connected to the air-motor by chain-gearing, a second series of clutches adapted to throw the air-motor in and out of gear, a pipe connecting the reservoir and the airmotor, a controlling-valve mounted in said pipe, tension rods and levers adapted to operate said clutches, air-actuated pistons for operating said tension-rods and levers, valves for controlling said air-actuated pistons, and an emergency band-brake connected to the gearing of the air-compressor, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT MAl/V. Witnesses:

STUART R. W. ALLEN, N. HENDERSON.

Images