IMPROVEMENTS IN TRUSS BARS FOR RAILWAY BRAKE APPARATUS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Alley, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark
North Britain, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRUSS BARS
FOR RAILWAY BRAKE APPARATUS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Alley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th December 1881.
STEPHEN ALLEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TRUSS BARS FOR RAILWAY BRAKE APPARATUS."
This Invention relates to the truss bars used in certain kinds of railway brake
apparatus for carrying and moving the brake blocks and the object of it is to
make such truss bars in a stronger and at the same time simpler and better manner
than heretofore.
Each truss bar is a triangular frame the main member of which is a transverse
horizontal bar extending across underneath the waggon or carriage and having
attached at the ends the two brake blocks for one side of the two wheels on one
axle. The two other members of the frame are inclined bars connecting the ends
of the main member to a link piece placed midway between the wheels and
connected to the lever or other piece by which the movements for putting on and
taking off the brakes are communicated. In the mode hitherto generally adopted
of making these truss bars or frames the parts have been welded together at several
places, and the several welds have been so many sources of weakness.
By the present Invention the main member of the truss or frame is made of
channel or U-section iron and the two minor members are made out of a single
bar of square or round or other simply shaped iron. The link piece for the middle is
formed with an eye through which the bar for the two minor members is passed; and
the eye is then welded on the bar and the two parts of the bar are bended to the
proper inclinations. The ends of the minor members are bended so as to become
parallel to the main member and are placed in the channel at the ends of that
member which is then closed and welded upon them. The sides of the channel
iron may be closed so as to entirely enclose the ends of the minor members or so
as to form a dovetail joint with only the sides closed. If desired additional
strength may be given to the truss by forming the link piece with a rod extending
to the main member and entering its channel the sides of the channel being there
closed upon and welded to it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Stephen Alley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th June
1882.
STEPHEN ALLEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRUSS BARS FOR RAILWAY BRAKE APPARATUS."
My said Invention relates to the truss bars used in certain kinds of railway
brake apparatus for carrying and moving the brake blocks, and the object of it
is to make such truss bars in a stronger, and at the same time simpler and
better manner than heretofore.
Each truss bar is a triangular frame the main member of which is a transverse
horizontal bar extending across underneath the waggon or carriage, and having
attached at the ends the two brake blocks for one side of the two wheels on one
axle. The two other members of the frame aro inclined bars connecting the ends
of the main member to a link piece placed midway between the wheels and
connected to the lever or other piece by which the movements for putting on and
taking off the brakes are communicated. In the mode hitherto generally adapted
of making these truss bars or frames the parts have been welded together at several
places, and the several welds have been so many sources of weakness.
By my present Invention the main member of the truss or frame is made of
"channel or U-section iron; and the two minor members are made out of a
single bar of square or round or other simply shaped iron. The parts are put
together in the approved manner and hereinafter particularly described with the
aid of a sheet of explanatory Drawings which is hereunto appended and on which
the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they
are repeated.
Figure, 1, on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is a sectional view and
Figure, 2, is a plan or face view of one modification of my improved trusses or
frames, whilst Figure, 3, is a sectional detail. The transverse bar, 8, forming the
main member of the truss or frame is made of "channel" iron, of the section shown
in Figures, 1, and 3, and the two minor members, 9, are made of a single bar,
which in this example is of a square section. The link piece, 10, for the middle
is formed with an eye, 11, through which the bar, 9, for the two minor members is
passed; and the eye is then welded on the bar, and the two parts of the bar are
bended to the proper inclinations. The ends of the minor members, 9, are bended
so as to become parallel to the main member, 8, and are placed in the channel at
the ends of that member which is then closed and welded upon them. The sides
of the channel iron at the ends of the main member, 8, may be closed so as to
entirely enclose the ends of the minor members, 9, or so as to form a joint with
only the sides closed; and journals, 12, with or without collars are formed on the
ends to receive the iron shoes of the brake blocks. The main member, 8, is by
preference made with a slight curvature as shown being concave on the inner side
facing the link piece, 10, to give increased rigidity.
If desired additional strength may be given to the truss or frame in a manner
shown in Figure, 5; that is to say by forming the link piece, 10, with a rod, 13,
extending to the middle of the main member, 8. A small crosshead is forged on
the end of the rod, 13, as indicated by dotted lines at 14, in Figure, 5, and this
crosshead is entered into the channel of the main member, 8, and the sides are
closed upon and welded to it. Or the end of the rod, 13, formed without any
crosshead or lateral enlargement, may be simply entered into the channel of
the main member, 8, and have the sides closed and welded upon it.
The modification shown in plan or face view in Figure, 5, is shown in end view

page_text: in Figure, 4, and Figures, 6, and 7, are cross sections. In this example the minor
members, 9, are made of a round bar; but a bar of any other simple and suitable
form may be used; and the middle rod, 13, may be of round, square, or other
suitable section, and may be used with minor or inclined members, 9, of square or
other section.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the
precise details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel
and original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is:
The making of truss bars for railway brako apparatus substantially in the
improved manner herein described and delineated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Alley have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Seventh day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-two.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
STEPHEN ALLEY. (L.S.)