Improvements in or relating to Vehicle Brakes:
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Vehicle Brakes:
I, JOHN BOARDMAN of Murray House Rainford, near St. Helens in the County
of Lancaster, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to vehicle brakes, and its object is to apply to the vehicle'
an improved brake appliance so arranged that backward pressure in descending a
hill or in stopping will put the brakes into action.
In carrying the invention into effect, I provide the fore carriage with means
which will enable it to have a certain amount of longitudinal play. This is effected
by means of a slot in which the pivot (which enables the fore carriage to swerve
To this
from the line of direction of the hind wheels) can longitudinally move.
pivot 1 couple or otherwise secure a lever or system of levers which apply the brake
shoe or shoes to the wheel or wheels. The result is, that when backward pressure
is applied in descending a hill or in stopping the vehicle, the pivot by virtue
of its longitudinal play will forcibly push the brake levers and apply the brake to.
the wheels, and this pressure will be applied whether the vehicle is travelling in a
straight line or whether it is going round a corner.
I may, if desired, form one of the circles or segments which support the body of
the vehicle on the fore carriage with an increased width at each end, so that a
support shall always be formed for the vehicle body notwithstanding the
longitudinal play aforesaid, whether backward pressure or forward pull is being.
applied.
The longitudinal play or movement of the fore carriage may be prevented when
backing the vehicle by means of an oscillating lever or rod. This is adapted to
lock the pivot when required and prevent its longitudinal' movement so that the
brake cannot be applied.
The invention is applicable to all four wheeled road vehicles, and even in somë:
cases to tramcars etcetera.
Improvements in or relating to Vehicle Brakes.
1, JOHN BOARDMAN, of Murray House, Rainford, near St. Helens, in the County
of Lancaster, Farmer, 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:-
This invention relates to vehicle brakes, and its object is to apply to the
vehicle an improved brake appliance, so arranged that in descending a bill or

page_text: when stopping, the brakes will be immediately and automatically brought into
action, and no more brake pressure will be applied than is actually required.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is sectional elevation of my invention as applied to a four wheeled
lorry fitted with a pivoted fore carriage which enables tho fore wheels to swerve
from the line of direction of the hind wheels;
Figure 2 a fragmentary plan.
In carrying my invention into effect, I provide the fore under carriage A with
means which will enable it to have a certain amount of longitudinal play. This is
effected by means of a slot B formed in the middle cross piece C of the upper fore
carriage of the vehicle, in which the pivot D can longitudinally move. To this
pivot D, I couple a bifurcated lever which applies the brake shoes F to the
wheels. The result is that so long as the horse exerts a pull on the shafts G,
the pivot D by virtue of its longitudinal play will be pulled to the forward end of
the slot B, and the brake levers E will pull the brake blocks off the wheels.
On the other hand in descending a hill or in stopping the vehicle, the horse
will cease pulling or exert backward pressure on the shafts, and the result will
be that the top fore carriage C will slide forward on the under carriage A and the
pivot by virtue of its longitudinal play will take up its position at the rear end of
the slot B, thus forcibly applying the brake blocks to the wheels. This operation
will take place whether the vehicle is travelling in a straight line, or whether the
vehicle is travelling round a corner. E is a distance piece designed to keep
the brake blocks at the proper distance apart, E a longitudinal strengthening bar.
I may if desired form one or even both of the circles H or segments which
support the upper fore carriage of the vehicle on the lower fore carriage A with an
increased width at each end so that a support shall always be formed for the vehicle
body notwithstanding the longitudinal play aforesaid, whether backward pressure
or forward pull is applied. I prefer to make the upper circle only with this
increased width as shown.
"
The longitudinal movement or play of the lower fore carriage A may be
prevented when backing the vehicle by means of a lever or rod I adapted to
engage holes in the lever E when required, and prevent its longitudinal movement
so that the brake cannot be applied, and moreover this rod may be further used for
locking the brake shoes against the wheels.
The invention is applicable to all four wheeled vehicles and in the case of
say a tramcar, in which there is no fore-carriage provided at all, the pole that
the horses are attached to will work in a slot, so as to be capable of longitudinal
play, and the brake levers coupled thereto in such a way that the longitudinal
movement of the pole shall apply the brakes. It is moreover obvious that instead
of applying the brake by means of a bifurcated lever, a system of levers may
be employed for applying the brake shoes to one or both sides of the hind wheels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The improvements in or appertaining to brake appliances for lorries, wagons
and other road vehicles, which consists in forming the fore-carriage of the vehicle
with means which will enable it to have a certain amount of longitudinal play, and
in coupling the brake shoes to the pivot on which the fore-carriage turns, or with
other suitable part of the carriago, by means of a lever or levers in such a manner
that in descending a bill or in stopping the vehicle, the brakes will be automatically
applied to the wheels substantially as described.
2. The combination with a brake appliance of the kind set forth in Claim 1 of a.
lever or rod 1 or its equivalent so arranged as to engage the lever E when required,
and prevent the brake being applied, or lock the brake against the wheel
substantially as set forth.

page_text: 3. In a brake appliance of the kind set forth, forming one of or both the circles.
or segments which support the body of the vehicle on the fore carriage with an
increased width at each end substantially as and for the purpose described:
4. The general combined arrangement or construction of parts forming or
constituting my improved brake appliance substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th dor of May 180A
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London, Patent Agents..