An Improved Locking Device for the Foot Brakes of Road Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left. 27th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 2nd Mar.. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Locking Device for the Foot Brakes of Road
Vehicles.
I ALFRED HARVIE of 84 Conway Street West Brighton Sussex Coach Builder do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to apply a simple inexpensive device, to the foot
brakes of omnibuses, carriages, carts or vans, for the purpose of locking the brake
on the wheels during stoppages, or when descending inclines, and to thus afford
additional security to the occupants of road vehicles. I proceed to describe the
means used by me in applying my invention to the foot brake of an omnibus. The
lever to operate the brake is swelled and pierced, about 6 inches from the foot block
or tread, for a catch bar, provided with drop ears near its centre, to ride over the
lever on a bolt or pin passed through the ears of the catch bar and the lever.
Ratchet teeth are cut on the raised edges of metal plates, between which the
lever works, and a catch to engage the ratchet teeth, is formed on the rear of the
catch bar. The ratchet plates are joined together at the ends, and secured to
the vehicle by means of cross flaps, and the underpart of the ratchet plates, shaped
downward through an aperture in the wood, carry a stout bolt on which the lever is
mounted. The front of the catch bar is forked and covered with a light metal
plate, having a fine spring beneath to act against the lever. The catch bar
projects under the foot block or tread, which, is either recessed or raised, to permit
the catch bar to move, in "see saw" manner, on the bolt or pin near its centre, so
that when the brake is put on, the catch will engage the ratchet teeth, and lock the
brake on the wheels of the vehicle. The driver can release the brake, by pressing
his foot on the plate over the front of the catch bar, and thus move the catch bar on
the bolt or pin near its centre, sufficient to lift the catch clear of the ratchet teeth,
and to instantly throw the brake out of action. Non slipping material may be
attached to the plate on the catch bar. The arrangement described may be varied,
and to brakes where the lever is of necessity forged or connected to a roller, a single
ratchet plate is bolted to the framework of the vehicle, and its underpart, shaped
downward, carries the end of the roller to which the lever is forged or connected."
In this case, the catch bar rides beside the lever, on a bolt projecting from the
side of the lever, and the front of the catch bar is thinned out, and turned over
the lever, convenient for the drivers foot.
Dated this Second day of March 1896.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Locking Device for the Foot Brakes of Road
Vehicles.
I ALFRED HARVIE Coach Builder of 84 Conway Street West Brighton Sussex
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:-
The object of this invention is to apply a simple and inexpensive device, to the

page_text: Toot brakes of ommbuses, carriages, carts or vans, for the purpose of locking the
brake on the wheels, during stoppages, or when descending inclines, and to thus
afford additional security to the occupants of road vehicles.
I proceed, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, to describe the means used
by me in applying my invention to the foot brake of an omnibus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. I shows the fore part of a foot brake suitable for an omnibus, with my
locking device applied thereto, as seen from the near side of the vehicle.
The lever to operate the brake (A) is swelled and pierced, at a distance of about
6 inches from the foot block or tread (B) for a catch bar (C) which is provided
with drop ears near its centre (D) to ride over the lever (A) on a bolt or pin (E)
passed through the ears (D) of the catch har (C) and the lever (A).
Ratchet teeth (F) are cut on the raised edges of metal plates (G) between which
the lever (A) works, and a catch (I) to engage the ratchet teeth (F) is formed on
the rear of the catch bar (C).
The ratchet plates (G) are joined together at the ends, as shown, and secured to
the vehicle by means of cross flaps (I) and the underpart of the ratchet plates (G)
shaped downwards through an aperture in the wood, carry a stout bolt (J) on which
the lever (A) is mounted.
The front of the catch bar (C) is forked, and covered with a light. metal plato (K)
having a fine spring beneath (L) to act against the lever (A) and maintain the catch bar
in the position shewn in full lines in Figure 1. Said spring may, however, be
dispensed with the weight of the lower part of the catch bar being sufficient to
maintain it in proper operative position.
The catch bar (C) projects under the foot block or tread (B) which is either
recessed or raised to permit the entch bar (C) to nove in "see-saw" manner
relatively to the lever (A) on the bolt or pin (E) so that when the brake is put on
by pressing the lover (A) in direction of the arrow the catch (H) will engage
the ratchet teeth (F) and lock the brake on the wheels of the vehicle.
The driver can release the brake by pressing his foot on the plate (K) over the
front of the catch bar (C) thereby moving the catch bar (C) on the bolt or pin (E)
to the position shewn in dot and dnsh lines in Figure 1 sufficiently to lift the
catch (H) clear of the ratchet teeth (F) thereby permitting the lever (A) to move
back and move the brake out of action.
Non-slipping material (M) for the driver's foot to press upon, when taking off
the brake, may be attached to the plate (K) on the front of the catch bar (C).
The front of the catch har (C) being covered by the plate (K) tends to keep
the wearing parts clean, and the cavity formed beneath the plate (K) allows the
catch bar (C) to work low over the lever (A) as shewn, thus lessening the bulk,
reducing the weight of the device, and giving the whole contrivance a much better
*ppearance.
Care is necessary in adjusting the fine spring (L) beneath the covering plate (K)
that the least resistance, consistent with the efficiency of the device, shall be offered
to the drivers foot when releasing the brake, otherwise the amount of force usually
applied to a brake actioned by the foot, by means of a spiral spring or springs, to
hold the brake blocks off the wheels, will need to be increased.
Fig. 2 (Sheet 2) is a top view of the ratchet plates (G) on the raised upper
edges of which, the ratchet teeth (F) are cut, and shows the means by which the
ratchet plates (G) are joined together, and secured to the vehicle by the cross flaps (I).
The arrangement described, may be varied, and to brakes where the lover is of
necessity, forged or connected to a roller, a single ratchet plate of sufficient
strength, is bolted to the framework of the vehicle and its underpart shaped to
earry the end of the roller, to which the lever is forged, or connected."
In this case, the catch bar rides beside the lever, on a bolt projecting from the

page_text: side of the lever, and the front of the catch bar is thinned out, and turned over the
lever convenient for the driver to press his foot upon, when taking off the brake.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The brake lever mechanism constructed substantially as described with reference
to the accompanying drawing either with or without the spring (L), and operating
as specified.
ALFRED HARVIE.