Improvements in or relating to the Mounting of Brake Blocks.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Mounting of Brake Blocks.
I, REGINALD HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co., of 18, Bucking-
ham Street. Strand, London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, a communication to me from abroad by Ulysse Lachaud, of
9bis Rue Albouy, Paris, in the Republic of France, Manufacturer, to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in or relating to the mounting of brake
blocks more especially to blocks of railway vehicle, tramcar, automotor, and the
like brakes.
i
The invention consists in the addition and arrangement of springs on the iron
block, which forms the ordinary brake in order to give elasticity, and in mechanism
allowing the position of the brake block to be regulated with regard to the
circumference of the wheel and to avoid thereby the rubbing of the corner of the
block on the wheel when the brake is put on.
The brake which is of cast iron or any other suitable material carries on its
back and near its extremities two lugs of cast iron or the like by which it is
fastened to a pressure spring of steel covered concentrically to the circumference
of the wheel. Its extremities are turned inwards and extend toward each other,
also in a curve parallel to the circumference of the wheel, as far as the lugs,
whereon these ends are fastened by screw bolts; the spring is seated on a suitable
seat preferably of iron and is joined to the same by means of screws sunk into
the material or in any other manner. A return spring is provided which has the
purpose when released to guide the block back to its proper position away from.
and parallel to the wheel."
This spring of suitable shape, has its fore part lying on the block which is
hollowed in a corresponding manner in order to fit it, its hind part is fastened to
a curved lever which I call a regulating lever as it is by means of this lever that
the position of the block is regulated with regard to the wheel. A pivoted beam or
lever supports the block and its mechanism; it is seated with one of its extremities
on the carriage frame and joined by the other to a traction link, by means of a
screw bolt or in any other convenient manner.
On the required point is fastened the block, mounted freely so that it can
oscillate by means of a cotter bolt which traverses the regulating lever which can
oscillate on the said bolt which serves as an axle.
The regulating lever which is of bell crank form is, as mentioned here above,
fastened at one of its extremities to the return spring. Its other extremity is
slightly broadened and provided with a transversal slot in which is the shank of
a regulating bolt, provided for fixing the regulating lever in the desired position,
this regulating lever can oscillate on the cotter bolt which connects the spring
seat with the pivoted beam or lever.
The adjustment is made in the following manner:-The brake being released
and out of contact with the wheel the nut of the regulating bolt is loosened and

page_text: the regulating lever is moved forwards or backwards according to the case till the
block is absolutely parallel to the circumference of the wheel. The nut of the
bolt is then secured and the regulation is completed.
It can be understood that by this exact parallel adjustment of the block of the
wheel avoiding any partial and undesirable contact it is not necessary to main-
tain the block very far from the wheel, when out of action as is required by
ordinary brakes. A distance of a few millimeters is fully sufficient. By this
means a rapidity of action in putting on the brake results which cannot be attained
with any other brake.
It is evident that the details may be modified and that any kind of block, may
be used. I can also adapt my system to any combination of lever adjusting
gear.
Improvements in or relating to the Mounting of Brake Blocks.
I, REGINALD HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co., of 18, Bucking-
ham Street, Strand, W.C., London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, a communication to me from abroad by Ulysse Lachaud, of
9bis Rue Albouy, Paris, in the Republic of France, Manufacturer, 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 or relating to the mounting of brake
blocks more especially to the blocks of railway vehicle, tramcar, automotor, and
similar brakes.
The invention consists in the addition and arrangement of springs on the block,
which is preferably of iron, which forms the ordinary brake in order to give
elasticity and in mechanism allowing the position of the said brake block to be
adjusted with regard to the circumference or periphery of the wheel and to thus
avoid the friction of the corner of the block on the wheel, when the brake is
applied.
In the annexed drawings;
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved brake block and operating mechanism
applied to a wheel.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof on the line A B of Fig. 1, and,
Fig. 3 is an end view.
The brake block 1 which is of cast iron or any other suitable material, carries on
its back and near its extremities two lugs 2 of cast iron or the like, which carry a
pressure spring 3 of steel curved concentrically to the circumference of the wheel.
The extremities of said spring 3 are turned inwards and extend toward each other,
also in a curve parallel to the circumference of the wheel, as far as the lugs 2 on
which their ends are fastened as at 31 by bolts and nuts 4; the spring 3 is attached
to a suitable bifurcated block 5 preferably of iron and is joined to the same by
means of countersunk screws or in any other suitable manner. A counter or
return spring 6 is provided for the purpose of guiding the block when released
back to its proper position away from and concentric to the periphery of the
wheel.
This spring 6 of suitable shape, has its fore part lying on the block 1 which
is recessed in a corresponding manner in order to fit. it, its rear part is fastened

page_text: to a curved or elbow lever 7, which I call a regulating lever as by means of this
lever the position of the block is regulated with regard to the wheel. A beam
or lever S supports the block and its mechanism; said lever being pivoted at one
of its extremities 9 to the carriage or vehicle frame and joined at the other
extremity 10 to an operating link or lever, by means of a screw bolt or in any
other convenient manner.
This block is mounted freely at the required point so that it can oscillate, by
means of a cotter bolt or pin 13 which traverses the regulating lever 7 which latter
can oscillate on the said bolt or pin 13 which serves as a pivot.
The regulating lever 7 which is of bell crank form is, as hereinbefore mentioned,
fastened at one of its extremities to the return spring 6. Its other extremity is
slightly enlarged and provided with a transverse slot 11, through which passes
the shank of an adjusting bolt 12, provided for fixing the said regulating lever 7
in the desired position. The regulating lever can oscillate on the cotter bolt or
pin 13 which also connects the bifurcated block 5 with the pivoted beam or
lever 8.
The adjustment is made in the following manner; -The brake being released
and out of contact with the wheel, the nut of the adjusting bolt 12 is loosened
and the regulating lever 7 is moved in one direction or the other till the brake
block 1 is absolutely parallel or concentric to the circumference of the wheel.
The said nut of the bolt 12 is then tightened up and the adjustment is complete.
It is obvious that by this exact parallel adjustment of the block with the wheel,
avoiding any partial and undesirable contact, it is not necessary to maintain the
block very far from the wheel, when out of action as is required by ordinary
brakes. A distance of a few millimeters is amply sufficient. By this means a
rapidity of action in applying the brake results, which cannot be attained with
any other brake.
.
It is evident that the details may be modified and that any kind of block may
be used.
The system may also be adapted to any combination of lever adjusting gear.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is:
Improvements in or relating to the mounting of brake blocks consisting in
the suspension of a part of the brake by means of a return or counter spring 6,
said spring 6 being arranged between the brake block 1 and the pressure spring 3
at or about the centre of the brake block and connected with the pivoted beam
or lever 8 by an angle lever 7 oscillating on the bolt or pin 13, said angle lever 7
being capable of adjustment for example, by means of the bolt 12 and slot 11,
the said adjusting means permitting the brake block to be set parallel or con-
centric to the periphery of the wheel.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1900.