, 1862-06-17
4mb1er,s Car Brake.

upon to approve or condemn.
Ambler,s Car Brake.
The following are the leading features OF
this invention and the method of operating It:
l. For the various methods Of braking d
train OF cars throughout, Amber has OBJ
tained,' through the agency Of the Scientific
american, four patents In the United States,
two In Great Britain, two In France, two in
Belgium, two in Austria, and one in Prussia.
lie has covered the whole ground OF car
brasing, BY perfectly original combinations,
as is admitted by oil the patent lawyers, who
hare examined his inventions. Railroads pur-
chasing these inventions, may dismiss al1 fears
OF suits for infringement, as a slight examine
tion will show them " original, neR and use
tul.'
2. By this invention for car braking, all the
brasing power can be brought upon all the
wheels Of the longest practical train, in from
one to three seconds Of time.
8. The cars are broken throughout the train,
with continuity of power, uniformity Of press-
ure and simu1taneousness Of action.
4 The brakfng power is placed in the hands
Of the engineer, and all brakemen are dis
pensed With The engineer can do the brak-
ing by hand, by the driying-wheel Of the en-.
gine, or by steam from the boiler.
!. The power Is applied to the brakes by means
Of tumbling or revolving rod under each
car, supported by suitable bearings. These
revolving rods are connected between the cars
by two universal joints, and one slide joint,
The slide joint, consists Of a square funnel and
slide, (which is held together only by the coup
1er or draft head Of the car. The slide passes
into the funnel by the simple act Of bringing
the cars together, and has perfect freedom OF
action when the cars are in motion. but can
not draw out so long as the cars remain
coupled. Each funnel and slide is supported
BY yayoke spring, 80 as to be raised or depressed
to suit the different heights of cars. These
tunnels and slide are also so arranged as to
meet the contingency OF cars coming into
the train, with ends reversed. These connec-
tionB OF the revolving rods between the cars,
admit Of entire freedom Of action or motion
to each car, and render the braking Of the
longest train On the shortest curve, easy and
safe. Indeed complete circle may be formed
Of cars in motion With i sufficient number of
cars.
+. The whole train can be broken by hand,
IRON any car in the train, as well as from the
engine, and any one car in the train can be
broken, without interfering with the means
By which the continuous braking is effected;
and with much greater ease and much more
efectually than the braking Of the single car
is now done.
Z. The intermediate means between the
tQmbling rod and the braker, BY which the
shoes are made to press upon the wheel, arc
simple, easy Of application to the cars now in
use, and powerfully effective. The braking
bars, shoes, rods and chains now used in
braking, can all be used when this invention
is applied, SO that the cost of putting it on
train OF cars Will be trifing, compared with
the immense work it performs, and the
money, life and property which it will save.
+. This invention makes complete provision
against the sliding ofthe wheels OF cars, which
Is source OF 60 much loss and danger to rail-
roads. The engineer is able to place upon the
wheels any amount of braking power above
minimum, and Up to the rnaximam; but he
ca'not 90 beyond the maximum, 50 as to slide the
sc'tefls or break the machinery.
y. An interesting part Of this invention is
an Indicator, Of very simple construction,
which enables the engineer at any time to see
how much braklng power he has placed upon
his train, and to know precisely how much
will stop his train at any wafer tank, wood pile
or station. 4
10. By this brake, each car in train is bro
ken in its place, and as all are broken at the
same moment, no car is drawn against the car
to which it is coupled The front car in train
is broken no sooner than the List one.
II. The engineer has the means OF throwing
of the brakes when the train ia In motion, in
whole OF in part; and when the train is bro
Zen and at rest, he can throw of all the brakes
in moment.
l.. SO long as continuity Of power is pre-
served, the train can be efIectually broken by
the engineer under all circumstances, If mat
tiers MT ~e1.o1 +a- -ztuat4vn the train NAV
be; and, when the train ia separated by acct
dent Or disaster, the brakes are instantly an
Piled from the rear car:-the breaking of the
continuity releasing new power, and Instant
y applying It TO the tumbling rod SO as to
simultaneously wind up the brakes of each
car with which it is in connection
It is claimed, and We think Justly, after
careful examination Of the models and princi-
pies involved, that this brake meets all the
ordinary and extraordinary demands, both in
its application to passenger and freight cars,
in braking; and, that it may be safely and
practically applied to the longest train. It
provides effectua1iy for all contingencies, and
possesses the qualities Of efficiency, economy
and safety. When this brake is used with
ordinary care on the part of the engineer, dis.
asters which could be prevented by braking
would be almost impossible. It also seems
to us to appeal strongly to the interests Of
railroads in the large sums of money saved
IN disbursements annually to the companies
adopting It; and still more strongly to the
| public generally in the protection it will un-
T donbtedly afford to property and human life.
This last consideration is Of such incalculabIe
importance that it must, in our opinion, &C.
cure its early and universal adoption, and we
earnestly commend it to the attention Of rail
road men and the public generally as fully
! merltiDg their examination and confidence
Arrangements are now being made to put it
on one of the leading roads Of this city, to
demonstrate its practical adaptation to the
uses and ends designed