Improvements in Brakes for Tramcars or other Vehicles and Machinery.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 29th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Tramcars or other Vehicles and
Machinery.
I EDWIN JAMES BULLOUGH of 1 Richmond Terrace, Blackburn in the County of
Lancaster, Incorporated Accountant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct a brake calculated to minimise accidents
by preventing tramcars, vehicles, and other machinery from running away, as well as
insuring a permanent brake.
I construct my brake as follows :-Behind the ordinary brake blocks I place spiral
or flat springs fixed in brackets attached to the bottom of the car, or other vehicle, or
in a suitable position in connection with other machinery.
These springs bear against the brake blocks in such a manner as to cause a
permanent rake to such car or other vehicle, or machinery. The brake may be
released as desired by means of a fulcrum lever fixed to the centre of the cross bar
upon the ends of which are fixed the brake blocks.
This fulcrum lever is operated by means of a connecting rod attached to the spindle
of the brake wheel; fulcrum levers may be placed at one side and near or attached
to each brake block operated by connecting rods for the purpose of taking off
the brake.
The brake wheel or handle operates the connecting rod which in turn operates the
fulcrum lever, so pushing or pulling the brake blocks out of contact with the wheels
of the car, vehicle, or machinery.
As soon as the driver or operator leaves the brake wheel or lever, the brake
automatically applies by means of the springs bearing against the brake blocks,
as before described.
For the purpose of controlling the brake I fix upon the spindle of the brake wheel,
two pulleys or wheels, around which and running in a groove are fixed belts connected.
with fulcrum levers to act as brakes upon the brake wheels, and which may be
operated by band or foot as required.
As a further safeguard, I apply as an emergency, brake shoes or slippers composed
of any suitable material suspended from the bottom or side of the car, or other
vehicle, and made to fit the wheel and rail, operated by means of levers, connecting,
rods and springs by which means the shoes or slippers are lowered on to the rail
or raised as required.
Dated this Tranty arwanth day of Danambar 1884
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Tramcars or other Vehicles and
Machinery.
I, EDWIN JAMES BULLOUGH of No. 1 Richmond Terrace, Blackburn in the County
of Lancaster, Incorporated Accountant, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 improvements in the construction of and method employed
for operating brakes of. tramcars and other vehicles and machinery and the object is
to construct a brake calculated to minimise accidents by preventing tramcars, vehicles,

page_text: and other machinery from running away as well as insuring a permanent brake in the
absence of the attendant or operator, or in the event of any accident by the breaking
of any portion of the brake gear or otherwise.
According to this my said invention behind the ordinary brake blocks I place
spiral or flat springs fixed to brackets attached to the bottom of the car or other
vehicle, or in a suitable position in connection with other machinery.
These springs bear against the brake blocks in such a manner, as to cause a
permanent brake to such car, other vehicle or machinery until removed by the
attendant.
The brake may be released when desired by means of a fulcrum lever, fixed at or
near the centre of the tram car or other vehicle, this fulcrum lever being operated by
means of connecting rods attached to the spindles of the brake wheels. Fulcrum
levers may be placed at one side and near or attached to each brake block and
operated by connecting rods for the purpose of taking off the brake.
The brake wheel or handle operates the connecting rod which in turn operates the
fulcrum lever so pushing or pulling the brake blocks out of contact with the wheels of
the car, other vehicle or other machinery, and as soon as the driver or operator leaves
the brake wheel or lever the brake automatically applies itself by means of the
springs bearing against the brake blocks, as before described.
For the purpose of controlling the brake I fix upon the spindle of the brake wheel
one or two pulleys or wheels, around which and running in a groove are fixed belts
connected with fulcrum levers to act as brakes upon the brake wheels, and which may
be operated by hand or foot as required.
Such being the nature, and object of my said invention the following is a complete
description of same reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which :-
Fig. 1 is a plan view (looking from underneath) of my improved brake and
appliances connected therewith, as used in connection with a tram car or similar
vehicle.
i
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus for controlling the brake.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3.
Figs. 5 and 6 is a detail drawn on an enlarged scale.
According to this my said invention the brake blocks 1. 1 are fixed to and carried
by the ordinary cross bars 2. 2 and these cross bars are connected, and drawn
towards each other by the spiral springs 3. 3 and links 4. 4, and to or near the centre
of each one the cross bars 2. 2 is fixed a connecting rod, or bar 5. 5, the opposite end
of each of the rods or bars 5. 5 being held by the studs 6. 6 one on each side of the
centre or fulcrum 7 of the fulcrum lever 8 which is carried in suitable bearings 9 at
or near and underneath the body 10 of the tram car or other vehicle. Connected to
each end of the fulcrum lever 8 is a connecting rod 11. 11 one passing to each end of
the tram car or other vehicle and being connected by a short chain 12 to the spindle 13
of the brake wheel or lever 14 (see Figs. 3 and 4).
The brake wheel is constructed in the ordinary manner and the lever consists of the
lever 14 working on a fulcrum stud 15 on which is also fixed one end of a band of
steel 16 which passes nearly all round the periphery of the pulley or wheel 17 on the
spindle 13, and the other end of the band 16 is fixed to the end 17A of the lever 14.
The action is as follows:-If the brake is "on," or applied to the wheels 18. 18 and
it is desired to remove same, then the spindle 13 is turned round by the ordinary
brake wheel, and the chain 12 is wound around the spindle 13 shortening its length,
and consequently drawing the connecting rod 11 with it, and so turning the fulcrum
lever 8 on its centre or fulcrum 7 and pushing back the rods or bars 5. 5 and moving
away from each other the cross bars 2. 2 which carry the brake blocks 1. 1 so that the
latter are removed from contact with the peripheries of the wheels 18. 18. When in
this position the attendant will, by hand or foot press the lever 14 moving the same
on its fulcrum stud 15 and tightening the steel band 16 around the pulley 17 thereby
holding the latter, and also the spindle 13 and preventing any turning of the latter in
either direction, and the brake is "off" or removed from the wheels. When the

page_text: attendant removes his foot or hand from the lever 14 the tension of the springs 3. 3 at
once draw the cross bars 2. 2 carrying the brake blocks 1. 1 towards each other, and
the brake is thus automatically applied.
In order to allow of the tension of the springs 3. 3 being readily varied on the end
of one of the connecting links 4. 4 which pass through the cross bars 2. 2 (see Fig. 5)
I place a small hand wheel 20 by turning which in one direction or the other the
tension of the spring 3 is made greater or less as desired.
The link 4 may be attached to the spring 3 either by hook as shewn in Fig. 5
or the link 4 may be threaded and screw into a block 21 fixed to the end of
the springs 3.
By the use of the above described appliances great saving in time, in applying the
brake is obtained, which in case of emergency may prevent an accident caused by the
vehicle "running away," and the improved brake is less liable to fail in its action, as
if one of the springs, connecting rods or links should break or give way the
remaining three are not rendered useless, but would act equally as well as before
breakage the stays 9. 9 acting as reserve links or connections, which has not been the
case in brakes as heretofore constructed.
Although I have described the improved brake as applied to tram cars it will be
understood that the improved brake is equally applicable to waggonettes and other
vehicles of like class.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of my
said invention, and in what manner same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The general construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as
and for the purpose, and acting in the manner herein described and as illustrated by
the drawings annexed.
1
351
1000
EDWIN JAMES BULLOUGH.
By his Agent, Walter Brierley,
Central Chambers, Halifax.