IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO VACUUM BRAKE APPARATUS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Gresham of the firm of Gresham and Craven,
of Craven Iron Works Salford in the County of Lancaster Engineers and
Machinists for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO
VACUUM BRAKE APPARATUS”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Gresham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th December 1882.
JAMES GRESHAM of the firm of Gresham and Craven, of Craven Iron Works,
Salford, in the County of Lancaster Engineers and Machinists, "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OR APPLICABLE TO VACUUM BRAKE APPARATUS,"
Firstly, My invention relates to an improved combination and arrangement of
vacuum brake cylinder and chamber, and consists in combining parts of what is
known as the rolling ring system with what is known as the diaphragm or sack
system of brake cylinders dispensing with the rolling ring of the former and the
upper part of the cylinder and the separate vacuum chamber of the latter
According to my present improvements I prefer to form the vacuum chamber of
a vessel so as to be mounted on trunnions as in the rolling ring type, and form the
cylinder part as in the latter type, but shorter, and with a flange at its upper end
to which the outer edge of the diaphragm or sack is secured by a ring and bolts,
the inner part of the diaphragm being secured to the piston plate by a washer and
screws or other means, or instead of a diaphragm a bellows arrangement may be
substituted as shown in fig 28 of the specification of Letters Patent granted to me
No 4801 A D 1878.
The piston rod is made to slide through a gland, or the ordinary bellows sleeve
formed of elastic material is or may be attached in the usual manner, but I prefer
to make the piston rod air tight and free from friction, by means which are
applicable for this purpose to the piston rods of all types of vacuum brake cylinders,
that is, by a modification of the bellows sack shown in fig 28 of my aforesaid
specification.
The piston or diaphragm plate is made with a cap or cylindrical part in its
centre to form a box to receive the elastic bellows sleeve, one end of which is

page_text: secured between a washer resting upon a shoulder on the piston rod and the top of
the "
cap "when the piston rod is screwed into the cap of the piston plate, the
other end of the bellows sleeve being secured between a disc plate or washer and
the bottom or end of the cylinder, the piston rod passing freely through a hole in
the latter disc or washer.
5
Thus arranged the bellows sleeve is compressed to its shortest length when the
piston rod is in the position in which the brakes are off and when the diaphragm
moves to put on the brakes the bellows sleeve is drawn out to its greatest extent;
which is contrary to bellows sleeves of ordinary arrangements for piston rods
which are extended when the brakes are not in action and compressed when the 1
brakes are applied.
Metal rings are used in the interior of the bellows sleeve, one ring at each inner
fold or bend, which is bound to and against its ring by cord wound round the
exterior of the bellows sleeve opposite the ring or by other means.
When bellows sleeves for vacuum brakes are arranged as above described they
are "boxed up" and protected from injuries to which theordinary arrangement of
bellows sleeve is liable, that is, damaged from being struck by stones or from being
burnt by hot cinders or sparks from the fire of the Locomotive or from malicious
injury.
Secondly, My invention relates to an improved arrangement and construction of
valve which I combine with the improvements forming the first part of my
invention, though applicable to ordinary arrangements of cylinders for vacuum
. brakes, and this part of my invention refers to improvements upon the valve
arrangements shown in connection with figs 10 and 11 of the specification of
Letters Patent granted to me and Numbered 5109 AD 1881.
By my present improvements the valve seating is formed on the end of a horizontal
short pipe or projection from the casing and one end of a tube is fitted to slide upon
the exterior of the short pipe or projection and inside this tube the ball valve is
placed, which tube has side passages for the air to pass through from the passage in
the casing at the exterior of the tube.
A plug is screwed into the interior of this tube for the ball valve, which plug
secures the central part of a diaphragm between the end of the tube and the
shoulder on the screw plug while the outer margin of the diaphragm is secured
between a gland or guide for the end of the screw plug and the casing in which
the gland screws.
By this arrangement the ball valve can be pulled away from its seating when
required with certainty, and should there be any leakage past the diaphragm at
any time it will pass into the train pipe and not into the vacuum chamber as in
my former arrangements.
This arrangement also allows the ball valve to be readily removed and replaced
when required without breaking joints.
Thirdly, My invention relates to the arrangements described in the specification
of Letters Patent granted to me and Numbered 4642 and dated 24th day of
October 1881 and illustrated by fig 7 of the drawings.
The arrangements therein shown are described in connection with simple
vacuum brakes for signalling, but the same arrangements are or may also be used
for putting on the brakes in the case of automatic vacuum brakes by admitting air
into the train pipe and my present improvements relate to and consist in the
arrangement of the glass and its case and its combination with means for breaking
the glass to admit the atmosphere into the train pipe without injury to the
passenger from the broken glass by applying a lever or other means in front of the
glass that when struck will break the glass which will fall into the case. When
the glass has been broken it will be necessary before the train can be moved, to
close the communication between the train pipe and atmosphere through the case
baving the broken glass, and this is done temporarily by a cock provided in the
branch pipe, which cock is arranged when desired so that it can be shut from the
outside of the carriage.

page_text: Fourthly. My invention relates to a modification of the valve mechanism
illustrated by figs 1, 2 and 3 of the specification of Letters Patent granted to me
and Numbered 1494 and dated the 6th day of April, 1881, so as to apply and
arrange such mechanism for use with trains having brakes which are applied by
forming a vacuum in the train pipe, commonly termed simplo vacuum brakes, and
my present improvements consists in reversing the valve admitting steam to the
steam brake cylinder of the Engine or Tender so that the steam will tend to keep
it shut when the brakes are not to be applied and in connecting the cylinder for
the piston of the valve apparatus with the train pipe so that when a sufficient
vacuum is formed in the train pipe to apply the brakes of the train, the atmosphere
will act upon the piston or diaphragin of the valve apparatus and over come the
pressure of the steam and move the valve spindle to admit steam to the brake of
the Engine or Tender.
Fifthly, My invention relates to a modification of the valvo apparatus illustrated
by figs 6, 7. and 8 of the specification of the last named Letters Patent (N° 1494
AD 1881) which is valve apparatus for simultaneously admitting steam to the
steam brakes and air to automatic vacuum brakes, and the object of my present
improvements is to cause the valve mechanism to act to apply the steam brake
when the automatic brakes are brought into operation by the Guard or Passengers
of a train or by severance of a train or by any other cause bringing automatic
vacuum brakes into action, and my improvements consist in combining a cylinder
and diaphragm or cylinder and piston arranged similar to those used for actuating
the brakes but smaller with the valve apparatus, and the cylinder is made to
communicate with the train pipe so that the cylinder on both sides of the
diaphragm or piston will be exhausted by the train pipe when a vacuum is formed
therein, but when the atmosphere is admitted into the train pipe, the com-
munication between the train pipe and one side of the piston is instantly shut by a
valve or by the first movement of the piston so as to retain a partial vacuum on
that side, the complete movement of the diaphragm or piston is made to act upon
the valve mechanism to bring the steam brake into operation, or it acts upon a
small steam valve which admits steam to a small cylinder to act upon a piston
connected with the steam valve for the steam brake

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Gresham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th June
1883.
JAMES GRESHAM of the firm of Gresham and Craven of Craven Iron Works
Salford in the County of Lancaster Engineers and Machinists "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OR APPLICABLE TO VACUUM BRAKE APPARATUS
Firstly. My invention relates to an improved combination and arrangement of
vacuum brake cylinder and chamber, and consists in combining parts of what is
known as the rolling ring system with what is known as the diaphragm or sack
system of brake cylinders; dispensing with the rolling ring of the former and the
upper part of the cylinder, and the separate vacuum chamber of the latter.
According to my present improvements I prefer to form the vacuum chamber of
a vessel so as to be mounted on trunnions as in the rolling ring type, and form the
cylinder part as in the latter type but shorter, and with a flange at its upper end
to which the outer edge of the diaphragm or sack is secured by a ring and bolts,
the inner part of the diaphragm being secured to the piston plate by a washer and
screws or other means; or instead of a diaphragm a bellows arrangement may be
substituted as shown in Fig 28 of the specification of Letters Patent granted to me
N° 4801 A D 1878.
The piston rod is made to slide through a gland; or the ordinary bellows sleeve
but I prefer
formed of elastic material is or may be attached in the usual manner,
to make the piston rod air tight and free from friction, by means which are
applicable for this purpose, to the piston rods of all types of vacuum brake
cylinders, that is by a modification of the bellows sack shown in fig 28 of my
aforesaid specification.
The piston or diaphragm plate is made with a cap or cylindrical part in its
centre to form a box to receive the elastic bellows sleeve, one end of which is
secured between a washer resting upon a shoulder on the piston rod and the top of
the "cap," when the piston rod is screwed into the cap of the piston plate, the other
end of the bellows sleeve being secured between a disc plate or washer and the
bottom or end of the cylinder, the piston rod passing freely through a hole in the
latter disc or washer.
Thus arranged, the bellows sleeve is compressed to its shortest length when the
piston rod is in the position in which the brakes are off, and when the diaphragm
moves to put on the brakes the bellows sleeve is drawn out to its greatest extent,
which is contrary to bellows sleeves of ordinary arrangements for piston rods
which are extended when the brakes are not in action and compressed when the
brakes are applied.
Metal rings are used in the interior of the bellows sleeve, one ring at each inner
fold or bend which is bound to and against its ring by cord wound round the
exterior of the bellows sleeve opposite the ring, or by other means.
When bellows sleeves for vacuum brakes are arranged as above described they
are "boxed up" and protected from injuries to which the ordinary arrangement of
bellows sleeve is liable, that is, damaged from being struck by stones or from being
burnt by hot cinders or sparks from the fire of the Locomotive or from malicious
injury.
Figs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are each sectional views of brake cylinders illustrating
improvements under the first head of my invention.
Fig 1 shows a vacuum chamber with a diaphragm-a is the cylinder or
chamber as the trunnions on which it is carried and oscillates.

page_text: a is a projection or cylinder having a flange at its upper edge, between which
and a ring secured by bolts to its upper edge the outer edge of the diaphragm b³
is secured, the inner part being secured by a washer and bolts to the diaphragm
plate b which forms a cap in its centre to screw on the diaphragm or piston rod
and act as a cover to enclose the bellows sleeve of the latter.
This sleeve is formed of elastic material with internal metal rings one opposite
to each inner fold of the sleeve, which are bound by cord or other means on the
exterior of the fold to the internal ring.
As the external pressure of the atmosphere gets between the diaphragm rod and
the sleeve the metal rings resist the pressure acting to force the inner folds of the
sleeve outwards.
The upper end of the sleeve d is secured between a washer on the diaphragm
rod and the underside of the cap, when the piston or diaphragm rod is screwed
firmly into its place, and then secured by a pin passing through the diaphragm
rod b' above the diaphragm plate b or by other means.
The lower end of the sleeve d is secured between the bottom of the cylinder,
and a washer a secured to it by screws.
Fig 3 shows a modification of the arrangement shown by fig 1 where a bellows
arrangement b with metal rings opposite euch inner fold is substituted. for the
diaphragm b2 fig 1-The diaphragın plate b is altered in shape accordingly and the
upper part of the bellows is secured to the diaphragm plate by a metal ring and
screws, and the lower part of the bellows is secured in the joint forined between
the flange at the bottom of the cylinder and the bottom end plate of the cylinder.
The sleeve for the diaphragm rod is arranged as hereinbefore described in
reference to fig 1.
Figs 4 and 5 show modifications of the cylinders above described suitable for
simple vacuum brakes.
In fig 4, a¹ is the cylinder, as its trunnions, 6 the piston cylinder upon which
india rubber rolling packing works, a' the tube in the cylinder to which the elastic
tube is connected that communicates with the train pipe-In fig 4 the upper end
of the cylinder is or may be connected with the cylinder by a flange on the end and
cylinder, and bolts as indicated in dotted lines.
b' is the joint or eye connected with the lever giving motion to the mechanism
actuating the brake blocks.
The modification illustrated by fig 5 is similar to that shown by fig 4 except
that the lower end of the cylinder is closed, except the hole a* to admit the
atmosphere, and a piston rod b' is used as shown
Secondly. My invention relates to an improved arrangement and construction of
valve, which I combine with the improvements forming the first part of my
invention, though applicable to ordinary arrangements of cylinders for vacuum
brakes and this part of my invention refers to improvements upon the valve
arrangements shown in connection with figs 10 and 11 of the specification of
Letters Patent granted to me and Numbered 5109 AD 1881,-By my present
improvements the valve seating is formed on the end of a horizontal short pipe or
projection from the casing and one end of a tube is fitted to slide upon the exterior
of the short pipe or projection, and inside this tube the ball valve is placed, which
tube has side passages for the air to pass through from the passage in the casing at
the exterior of the tube
A plug is screwed into the interior of this tube for the ball valve which plug
secures the central part of a diaphragm between the end of the tube and the
shoulder on the screw plug while the outer margin of the diaphragm is secured
between a gland or guide for the end of the screw plug and the casing in which the
gland screws.
By this arrangement the ball valve can be pulley away from its seating when
required with certainty and should there be any leakage past the diaphragm at
any time it will pass into the train pipe and not into the vacuum chamber as in
my former arrangements,

page_text: This arrangement also allows the ball valve to be readily removed and replaced
when required without breaking joints.
The improvements under the second head of my invention are illustrated
principally by fig 2 which shows a section of the valve mechanism as applied to a
rolling ring vacuum cylinder, and by fig 6 an end outside view.
An outside side view of the improved valve apparatus is also shown in figs 1 and 3.
In fig 2, a is the vacuum chainber carried on trunnions a³, a¹ is the cylinder
and 6 the piston cylinder for the rolling packing b*, and 6' the piston rod.
c² is a passage to the vacuum chamber, and c³ is a passage to the cylinder a¹ at
the underside of the piston cylinder b.
The casting c for the valve apparatus is made with passages to correspond, come
opposite, and make joints with, the passages c² and c³, when the casting is secured
by screws, as shown to the underside of the cylinder.
c' is a branch which is connected by an india rubber or other flexible tube with
the train pipe.
It will be seen that there is a short horizontal tube projection from the
passage cupon the end of which a seating is formed for a ball valve which is
placed within a tube the end of which can slide freely to and fro on the exterior of
the short projecting tube.
The tube for the ball valve is a cage, as it has orifices to admit air freely from
the passage or space communicating with the tube c¹ to the valve
The tube-for the ball valve has a solid stem or plug having a disc upon it
between which the end of the tube the centre of a small diaphragm is secured the
outer edge of which is secured between the casing, and a gland c³ screwed into
the casing which gland forms the guide for the end of the stem to slide through.
The outer end of the plug or stem c" is jointed with a lever co by which the
stem can be pulled outwards when required, this movement causing the shoulder in
the inner end of the tube to draw the ball valve away from its seating but when
the stem is released, the pressure of the atmosphere acts upon the small
diaphragm (when a vacuum is formed in the tube c¹) that forces the end of the
tube cage for the valve inwards and thus leaves the valve at liberty to act.
.
When a vacuum is formed in the train pipe, air is drawn from the vacuum
chamber a and from the underside of the piston cylinder or diaphragm b as the
ball valve is then away from its seating but when the atmosphere enters the traiu
pipe the ball valve closes the passage to the vacuum chamber a but allows the air
to act on the underside of the piston or diaphragm b, and put on the brakes.
c' is a screw plug to allow moisture to escape from the cylinder when required.
Thirdly, My invention relates to the arrangements described and illustrated by
fig 7 of the specification of Letters Patent granted to me and Numbered 4642 and
dated 24th day of October 1881.
The arrangements therein shown are described in connection with simple vacuum
brakes for signalling but the same arrangements are or may also be used for
putting on the brakes in the case of automatic vacuum brakes by admitting air
into the train pipe, and my present improvements relate to, and consist in the
arrangement of the glass and its case, and its combination with means for breaking
the glass to admit the atmosphere into the train pipe without injury to the
passenger from the broken glass by applying a lever or other means in front of
the glass that when struck, will break the glass which will fall into the case.
When the glass has been broken it will be necessary before the train can be moved
to close the communication between the train pipe and atmosphere through the
case having the broken glass, and this is done temporarily by a cock provided in
the branch pipe, which cock is arranged when desired so that it can be shut from
the outside of the carriage.
Figs 7 and 8, are sections of two modifications illustrating the improvements
under the third head of my invention..
e is the branch pipe from the train pipe, the casing screwed on the end of the
branch pipe; part of the wood partition between the compartments of the

page_text: carriage, f' glass faces of the casing, f² thin perforated partition in the casing to
allow air to pass but prevent broken glass from entering the tube e.
In fig 7, there are two balls g each held against the glass f¹ by a metal frame ƒ³
as shown secured upon the casing.
In fig 8, the balls or knockers gare on an arm jointed to the casing at g' as
shown to hang in front of each glass face.
By striking the balls by the hand in either modification the glass will be broken
without risk of injury to the passengers hand.
A small piece of india rubber or other elastic material is or may be inserted in
that part of each Knocker coming against the glass to prevent its fracture by the
oscillation of the carriage from the movements in shunting or at other times.
Or the lever is or may be secured by a pin or screw, so that the Knocker will be
kept close to the glass the pin or screw does not prevent the Knocker from being
driven towards the glass, but holds it from moving away from the glass.
Fourthly. My invention relates to a modification of the valve apparatus illus-
trated by figs 6, 7 and 8 of the specification of the last named Letters Patent
(N° 1494 A D 1881) which is valve apparatus for simultaneously admitting steam
to the steam brakes, and air to automatic vacuum brakes, and the object of my
present improvements is to cause the valve mechanism to act to apply the steam
brake when the automatic brakes are brought into operation by the Guard or
Passengers of a train or by severance of the train, or by any other cause, bringing
automatic vacuum brakes into action-and my improvements consist in combining
a cylinder and diaphragm, or cylinder and piston arranged similar to those used
for actuating the brakes but smaller, with the valve apparatus ; and the cylinder
is made to communicate with the train pipe so that the the cylinder on both sides
of the diaphragm or piston will be exhausted by the train pipe when a vacuum is
formed therein, but when the atmosphere is admitted into the train pipe the com-
munication between the train pipe and one side of the piston is instantly shut by a
valve or by the first movement of the piston, so as to retain a partial vacuum on
that side, the complete movement of the diaphragm or piston is made to act upon
the valve mechanism to bring the steam brake into operation, or it acts upon a
small steam valve which admits steams to a small cylinder to act upon a piston
connected with the steam valve for the steam brake.
Fig 9 is a longitudinal section except the upper part which is an outside
elevation illustrating this part of my invention.
The valve is arranged and actuated by a lever c which also actuates the
spindle b, as described in the specification of my aforesaid Letters Patent N° 1494
A D 1881, ax being the cavity of the air valve in communication with the branch a°
from the train pipe; i is the valve for lubricant and a³ is the branch or passage
communicating with the steam brake cylinder, a³ is the branch connected with the
steam boiler.
b is the steam valve spindle but it is modified as hereinafter described.
The parts above pointed out by letters of reference are the same or similar to
those described in my aforesaid specification (N° 1494 AD 1881).
The valve spindle b is extended downwards and is made hollow and there is a
cross passage as shown above the main steam valve, which allows the hollow in the
spindle b to be always in communication with the steam boiler through the
passage a².
The lower end of the valve spindle has a part secured into it steam tight, and
this part 6 has a seating for a small valve 6' in its axis the stem of the valve pro-
jecting below the part b¹. This part by a collar upon it also severs to secure a
piston between it and the end of the hollow spindle 6 which piston fits a cylinder c¹
formed in a casing c* screwed on to the casing a.
This casing c* has a passage c³ which communicates with the passage a³ to the
steam cylinder and allows the exhaust steam to escape from the latter, when the
valve is in the position shown in the drawing, to the branch c³ for the exhaust
steam pipe.

page_text: The casing c* has also a bearing for the rod d', of a piston d and also forms the
cylinder for it, and the casing c* has a cavity c which communicates by the
branch by a pipe with a small chamber of any suitable form (not shown) to
form a vacuum chamber.
To the casing c* another casing e is screwed, which has a branch e', that is con-
nected with the train pipe, this branch passing in the centre of the casing e and
forming a support to sustain the piston d at its lowest position the tube near the
piston having a cross slit, so that air in the casing e may freely pass out or enter,
the cavity or casing under the piston."
e2 is a branch from the casing e having a seating formed for a ball valve, which
is prevented from moving two far away from the seating by a pin across the
branch es
This ball valve allows condensed steam or pressure in the casing e to pass out,
but closes, (as when there is a vacuum in the train pipe) against the atmosphere
passing into the casing.
It will be seen that the main steam valve on the spindle b has a length of
cylinder below it which will fill the bore of the seating and will practically prevent
the passage of steam until the spindle has moved upwards to the desired extent,
when the enlarged cylindrical part of the spindle blower down will fill the lower
part of the bore and practically close the passage between the exhaust and the
passage a³ communicating with the cylinder of the steam brake.
The reverse action will take place when the spindle b descends to shut the valve,
as the enlarged cylindrical parts will then practically close the main steam valve
before the steam is allowed to pass back from the steam brake cylinder through
the passage a³ and the passage c³ from it to the exhaust outlet branch c³.
The steam and air valves are brought into action when air is admitted into the
train pipe because the atmospheric air entering from the train pipe into the casing e
acts upon the underside of the piston d as the cavity c¹ and chamber in connection
with it above the piston d, have been previously exhausted by the vacuum formed
in the train pipe, the air passing from a cavity and vacuum chamber through a
small groove c in the side of the cylinder, for the piston d.
The first movement of the piston d upwards covers the upper end of the
groove c in the cylinder and this prevents the entrance of air into the cavity c
and vacuum chamber and the further movement of the piston & brings the end of
the piston rod d against the end of the stem of the small valve 62 to lift it and
allow steam to pass into the small cylinder c¹ and lift the valve spindle b, and thus
open the main steam and air valves.
When a vacuum is again formed in the train pipe the piston d descends, and
opens the small passage ce to exhaust air from the cavity c and vacuum chamber
and at the same time a small groove d* on the side of the piston rod d², comes
below the end of the small steam cylinder c² and allows the steam to pass from it
to the exhaust cavity and thus allows the valve spindle b to descend again—but
when the piston rod d' lifts the small passage d*, for exhaust steam to pass from
the small cylinder, is closed before the end of the piston rod touches the end of the
small valve b².
It will thus be seen that the valve mechanism described is actuated either
automatically or by the lever c.
I have now particularly described the nature of my said invention and the
modes of carrying the same into effect and claim as my invention.
Firstly. The combination and arrangement of a vacuum chamber and cylinder
on trunnions, with a diaphragm substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by fig 1 of the drawings.
Secondly. The combination and arrangement of a vacuum cylinder on trunnions
with a diaphragm and bellows for the diaphragm rod substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by fig 1 of the drawings
Thirdly. The combination and arrangement of a vacuum chamber on trunnions

page_text: with a bellows diaphragm (62) substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by fig 3 of the drawings.
Fourthly. The combination and arrangement of a vacuum chamber on trunnions,
a bellows diaphragm (62) and bellows sleeve for the diaphragm rod substantially
as herein before described and illustrated by fig 3 of the drawings.
Fifthly. The combination and arrangement of cylinders on trunnions with
rolling packing pistons, for simple vacuum brakes a hereinbefore described and
illustrated by figs 4 and 5 of the drawings.
Sixthly. The construction and arrangement of elastic bellows sleeves for the
piston or diaphragm rods of vacuum brake cylinders substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Seventbly. The improved construction of ball valves used in connection with
automatic vacuum brakes where the valve is placed in a tubular spindle, and also
their combination with brake cylinders substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by figs 1, 2, 3 and 6 of the drawings.
Eighthly. The arrangement of glass and balls or knockers substantially as and
for the purpose hereiubefore described and illustrated by figs 7 and 8 of the
drawings.
Ninthly. The combination and arrangement of mechanism by which steam
brakes are actuated when the atmosphere is admitted into a train pipe of automatic
vacuum brakes, substantially as herein before described under the fifth head of my
invention and illustrated by fig 9 of the drawings.
In Witness whereof I the said James Gresham have hereunto set my and hand
and seal this nineteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
JAMES: GRESHAM
(L.S.)