Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-09-04
THE MCDONALD BRAKE.


-.e -
THE MCDONALD BRAKE.
On Saturday last We had the pleasure Of quite
pleasant trip to Ashland sixteen miles from thscity,
to witness experiments with the brake recently in
vented by Angus Mcdonald Esq, of Hampshire
county Va, upon the Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Potomac Rail Road The beautiful little village of
Ashland, formerly known as Slash Cottage, was Sc.
lected for the purpose probably .som the long,
straight and nearly hori-oatei section of the Road
passing thrcu:lit suitable for the experiments and
the elegant and convenient accommodations offered
at the Hotel
The ordinary brake Is oompoaed OF series Of
curving rubbsya euitsd ~ the circumference of the
car-wheels and 90 arranged that they may be
brought in contact with the periphery of each, by
strong lever TO which the end of chain is attached
the other end being wound round the shaft OF
crank wheel, and by which many times the power
OF the brakeman may he eIerted at will. The
friction Of the rubbers thus brought in contact with
the circumference of zach wheel, Sy The power OF
strong man on each aI or one on every second car,
is the retRydipg iore usually applied to check
traiua at ordinary sopping places, and to ward of
The brake.men stdm upon the platforms and should
always have their lands upon the craIk.Wheels, in
order to commence winding the instant the En-.
giueer gives sig,sl OF danger by the whistle, or OF
approach to a stoyping station. Hence casualties
may be diminished partly In ratio with the dmlnu'
ton Of the disane within which trains can be
stopped and 80 Gloss Of time at stopping citations
may in like name be diminiahod. The value, there.
FORE Of superior brake requires no special demon.
s,ration A ststeusnt of the fact that one kind may
be superior to anoher, in the particulars suggested
fixes value in tie imagination, corresponding with
the appreciated superiority and this ia all that can
be expected for al Improvement until maturity and
practical use can determine The relation between II
and others known TO the public.
In considering this branch of the machinery Of
Rail Roads, the absolute certainty of an application
of tn, rake at the instant indicated by the Engineer,
ia no lee important than its effective operations when
applied. When under speed, the immediate applica
ton o,he reardng power Of the brake may save life
and poperty while few seconds loss in sounding
the wistle-the brake men catching its sound and
turing their cranks several times to bring the rub
bers:rmly against the whees-mght render the best
efors and most powerful machinery Intellectual. But
il CA hardly be expected that the brake-men upon
trair will at all t;mes be ready at the sound OF the
while to exert their united force at the same Instant
nor human perception and action at all times quick
emo sh for the emergencies occurring upon Rail Roads
The Engineer must first perceive dsnger-then sound
the yhistle-the brake-men hear and then commence
lurnp their crank wheels, and, before any effect lie
| Al Ia nh, of tha oheipu mi
ant the space between the rubbers and wheels closed
II equires no uncomfortable time to accomplish all
thee by the slow operations Of human perception
,bught and motion, aud to the horri6ed passenger
psng upon the chasm just ahead, and to which he
te,ds with almost lightning speed any detention in
splyng the brakes mus, be time Of the most thrill
| liz suspense.
| The Improvement OF Mr.. Mcdonald consists in an
arrangement o; machinery by which steam power is
nnlied TO the brakes now in use. This power is al
a.vs present, when the use Of the brake is required
and NAV he drawn from She boiler and applied with
all its great effect quickly as the Engineer can per
ceve it's necessity and turn cock as quickly az he
cond sound the whistle tondcae danger to the brake
man and thus by the time the brake'men could hear
the whistle and comprehend its object, the Steam
brake would be in full and effective operation upon
every wheel and begin to reard the momentum OF tne
whole train. 1t would aeem to require no argumen
to prove, that power capable OF propeiiing tnes'
trains al great speed, might, BY proper mecnanca
be applied with equal effect as retard
;no agent This seems to have been the design OF th
Inventor and the principles involved IN hs arrange
ment appear perfect. but The machinery oeing tne
first Of the kind is obviously defective IN some ol III
details and consequently in that extent less enec'V'
its operations, The objects sought, is believed
NAV be effected in an eminent degree by the appca
ton of good machinery.
The power is applied by cylinder and piston at
tacbed 10 the under part OF the Locomotive anu u
which steam is communicated from the boiler. I'M
cynde, ia about nine inches in diameter and the strok'
Of the piston twelve or fifteen. The piston rod IS IN
line with the centre of the cars and is connected Will
rod0 and chains extending from the Locomotive t
the most remote Of The train Inc cna'hS iolef'
ming between The rods pass over iron roilersana oy
most ingenious arrangement, they adjust themselves
tho cose or loose coupling Of the cars and keep laugh
or stiff through the whole train. When the piston
noves sav twelve inches either way, the whole line
rods and chains move twelve inches in the same d
rectiop with the stiffness of continuous ROD. In
steam can be reversed in the cylinder and the In
Of rodp moved backwards and forwards at Will. In
train NAV be in straight or cured hne-the bumper
all in contact or as far apart a. the couplings Will ad
NIT; or q portion may be in contact and The resdu
,nart or the train in motion or at rest and ye'' ur
der any Of these circumstances, the line Will act as
,ipele continuous piston rod to the extreme car.
Having attained the capacity OF impartng thi
raen,ar motion to line of rods, through tine entir
length of train, under the varied circumstances ii
which it may be when in motion, and being able t
throw the whole force Of steam into the Brake-Cylin
der ss quickly ss to sound the whistle the eDginee
has at control retardng power equal desired I
that used for propulsion. To complete the arrange
ment the brake levers connected With the line
rods and ohsins, snd vibrated by the action OF to
n;,ton. Thus, at the approach of danger, The eng
nasr will have complete control over the brakes; an
without any dependence upon Others or los, Of tim
in communicating With them, be will throw the stean
into the brake cylinder, and before the whistle oou
be- heard, the brakes will be In full operation upor
,bs wheels, and almost in the next second OF time h
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