Emergency Attachment for Application to the Wheels of Tramcars, Omnibuses, Locomotive Engines, and Wheeled Vehicles generally.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 30th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 5th Oct., 1888
Brake, or Emergency Brake, or Brake Emergency Attachment for
Application to the Wheels of Tramcars, Omnibuses, Locomotive
Engines, and Wheeled Vehicles generally.
I, LOUIS PORRI, of No. 4, Kent-street, Great Grimsby, journalist do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus, as described in the accompanying drawings, which represent it fixed
to a tramcar, will be attached to an ordinary brake action, and the portion for which
I claim novelty consists of a chain, a, fastened to the bottom of the vehicle, above
the edge of the wheel, and working upon a spring or indiarubber bearing. This
chain runs freely down a groove or aperture, b, in the face of the brake. To the
lower end of the chain is attached a wedge or shoe, c, sliding down a socket, which
directs it beneath the wheel. The length of the chain a is such that when unobstructed
the wedge c falls to the ground, and, as the vehicle advances, intervenes between the
wheel and the ground contact, thus drawing the face of the brake tight against
the wheel. To the upper portion of the chain a is attached a light chain, d, carried
upwards and running along the pulleys e e to the front of the vehicle, when it is
fastened to the bottom of the bolt f, which falls freely in the sockets g 9, and the
weight of which draws up the chain a, thus keeping the wedge c from falling.
When the bolt is raised the wedge falls, and, by the forward motion of the vehicle,
is delivered under the wheel. The apparatus can be attached to every wheel of a
vehicle, or number of vehicles, & the foregoing description applies to each wheel.
In vehicles which are reversible, the apparatus will be fixed in duplicate at each end,
the one bolt working it for each pair of wheels. When desired the releasing action
can be reversed by having the bolt so fixed that when raised it holds up the wedge,
& in falling releases it. In using the attachment, the driver can either put on the
brake, and at the same time release the wedge, or in case of any great emergency,
such as threatened collision, or danger to human life or limb, the wedge can be released
once, and the chain a thus made to draw the brake upon the wheels, independently
at
Desi

page_text: of any other connection. The method of holding up or releasing the wedge may be
varied according to the kind of vehicle to which the apparatus is attached. The
apparatus will be manufactured with brake action attached, & will also be fixed to
existing brakes. I likewise propose to apply the said invention in conjunction with
mny "Apparatus for application to the wheels of Tramcars, Locomotive Engines,
Omnibuses, & Wheeled Vehicles generally, to Prevent Accidents (No. 17,480,
20th Dec., 1887)," for which I have already made application for a Patent.
Dated this 19th day of January 1888.
Brake, or Emergency Brake, or Brake Emergency Attachment for
Application to the Wheels of Tramcars, Omnibuses, Locomotive
Engines, and Wheeled Vehicles generally.
I, I.OUIS PORRI, of No. 4, Kent Street, Great Grimsby, in the County of Lincoln,
journalist, 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
My invention consists of a tongue or wedge connected with, or attached to the
Brake Apparatus of Tramcars, Omnibuses, Locomotive Engines, & Wheeled Vehicles
generally, the intervention of which tongue between the wheel or wheels and the
ground or rail, shall draw on or apply such brake apparatus.
And in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, I now proceed to
describe the accompanying drawings thereof, reference being had to letters and figures
marked thereon.
Figure 1 represents the plan of the underside of the Emergency Brake.
Figure 2 denotes the elevation of the Brake, fixed underneath the body of a
tramcar.
Like letters and figures refer to like parts in each of the figures.
B connecting bar of brakes. I¹ connecting rod between brake and lever or guard
bars. O body of tramcar. E axle. G wheel. A. brake. C jaws of connecting rod.
D lever. F jaw on which the lever is hung. L lever arm to brake. H jaw at
the end of the tongue wedge. K guide for tongue or wedge.
wedge.
I tongue or

page_text: The method of applying and withdrawing the tongue or wedge will be varied
according to the kind of vehicle or brake to which the apparatus is attached, and
its movement may also be made automatic or otherwise.
86
I likewise propose to apply the aforesaid invention in conjunction with my
Apparatus for application to the wheels of tramcars, locomotive engines, omnibuses,
and wheeled vehicles generally to prevent accidents," for which the Patent was
granted to me, No. 17480, hearing date December 20th 1887.
Having now fully described the nature and object of my invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I claim as new and novel the
following:-
The employment or application of a tongue or wedge, intervening between the
wheels of any and every kind of vehicle and locomotive engine, and the ground or
rail contact, as a means of bringing into action any brake with which such vehicle or
engine may be fitted.