Improvements in Brakes for Railway waggons and suon like Vehicles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 9th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1895
Improvements in Brakes for Railway waggons and suon like
Vehicles.
I, HENRY THOMAS PURDON, of Traffic Manager's Office, Kingsbridge, Dublin,
Ireland, Traffic Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention has for its object improvements in brakes for railway waggons
and the like, whereby the same may be more readily and conveniently operated
than by any means hitherto employed so far as I am aware.
The invention further enables the brake to be worked from either side of the
waggon.
In carrying out my invention I arrange a lever on each side of the vehicle
attached rigidly to the extremities of a transverse shaft hung to the underframing
of the vehicle. To this transverse shaft the brake blocks, which may be applied
to any or all the wheels of the vehicle, are attached by means of suitable cranks,
rods or levers.
Towards the free ends of the levers are hinged suitable quadrants which slide
freely between pins fixed in the sides of the sole-bars, and peculiarly shaped pawls
fixed rigidly on the extremities of a transverse rod journalled in the framing of
the vehicle.
These pawls are provided with lever handles to facilitate manipulation, and
hook-shaped extremities for the purpose of engaging a pin fixed in the brake levers
and holding same in their inoperative position as presently described.
As thus constructed the action of my improved brake arrangement is briefly
thus:-
As already stated the brake blocks may be operated from either side of the
waggon by lifting the pawl on the side most convenient to the operator (the
movement of which being transmitted to the corresponding pawl on the opposite
side by means of the transverse shaft on which both pawls are mounted) whereby
the brake levers are disengaged and drop downwards bringing the brake blocks
into action.
In this position the brake levers are maintained by reason of the quadrants
wedging between the fixed pins and the pawls, said pawls and quadrants being
tongued and grooved respectively to ensure proper sliding contact.
The brake blocks are released by again lifting the pawl when the brake levers
are free to be raised into their normal or inoperative position.
Band : 13
£ 1 3005
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Brakes for Railway Waggons and such like
Vehicles.
I, HENRY THOMAS PURDON, of Traffic Manager's Office, Kingsbridge,
Dublin, Ireland, Traffic Clerk, 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 has for its object improvements in brakes for railway waggons
and the like whereby the same may be more readily and conveniently operated
than by any means hitherto employed so far as I am aware.
The invention further enables the brake to be worked from either side of the
waggon.
In carrying out my invention I arrange a lever on each side of the vehicle, one
end of each of which is attached rigidly to the extremities of a transverse shaft
hung to the underframing of the vehicle. To this transverse shaft the brake
blocks, which may be applied to any or all the wheels of the vehicle; are attached
by means of suitable cranks, rods, or levers.
Towards the free ends of the brake levers are pivoted suitable quadrants which
slide freely between pins fixed in the sides of the sole bars, and peculiarly-shaped
pawls fixed rigidly on the extremities of a transverse rod journalled in or under
the framing of the vehicle.
These pawls are provided with lever handles to facilitate manipulation, and'
hook-shaped extremities for the purpose of engaging a pin fixed in the brake levers,
and holding same in their inoperative position as presently described.
In order that my said invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practice, I will describe the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation; and Fig. 2, a plan view shewing the application and
mode of operating my improved brake arrangement.
A, are the brake levers attached rigidly to the transverse shaft B, to which
latter the brake blocks C, are connected by any suitable arrangement of cranks,
rods, or levers which may be found most suitable and convenient for the purpose.
D, are the quadrants pivoted to the brake levers as shewn (Fig. 1) and which
slide (when the brake levers are moved) between the pins E, and the peculiarly-
shaped pawls F, the latter being fixed rigidly on the extremities of the transverse
rod H, suitably journalfed in or under the framing of the waggon.
As thus constructed and arranged the action of my improved brake mechanism
is briefly as follows:-
As shewn in Fig. 1, the brake levers are held in their normal or inoperative
position by the curved extremities of the pawls engaging the pins K, fixed in the
side of the levers.
To disengage the levers, one of the pawls that on the side most convenient to
the operator is lifted by the handle L, (which movement is reciprocated by the
pawl on the opposite side of the waggon, by reason of both being fixed to the
transverse rod H) whereupon the levers drop down, and the brake blocks are
brought into action.
When the levers are sufficiently low they are locked by the quadrants auto-
matically wedging between the fixed pins, E, and the pawls-the latter being
pivoted so as to jamb the quadrants when they exercise a tendency to rise.
To restore the brakes to their inoperative position, the pawl is again tilted and
the levers lifted to their highest position where they are again engaged as already
described.

page_text: Thus it will be seen that in order to apply the brake according to my invention,
only one movement is necessary, namely, the lifting of one of the pawls, whereupon
the lever drops, and is automatically locked in the manner described.
The advantage of applying the brake thus rapidly is obvious, and constitutes an
essential feature of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood
that I am aware that other methods have been employed for the purpose of
enabling railway brakes to be operated from either side of the waggon, and to
the principle of such arrangement I lay no general claim, but what I consider new
and useful, and desire to claim specifically as my invention is:-
First. The method of operating double or single hand lever brakes, in con-
nection with railway vehicles in the manner substantially as herein described.
Second. In connection with single or double hand lever brakes for railway
vehicles the use of a quadrant or quadrants D, in combination with a pin or
pins E, and pawl or pawls F, all arranged and operating in the manner and for the
purpose substantially as herein specified and set forth.
Dated this 8th day of August 1895.
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
9 Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant.