IMPROVEMENTS IN BREAKS FOR RAILWAY & OTHER CARRIAGES
Year: 1856

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Napier at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd February 1856.
I, GEORGE NAPIER, of Bath Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, &
of the Adelphi, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BREAKS FOR RAILWAY
& OTHER CARRIAGES, to be as follows:-
My improvements in breaks for railway and other carriages relate, first, with
reference to railway carriages, of a self-acting break which comes into action
when any compression of the buffers takes place by reason of the retrograde
force of the engine to the momentum of the train. The breaks consist of
segments of suitable material suspended from joints from the framing, &
opposed to the tyres of the several wheels; a link connects the lower end of
the segment to the buffer head, so that when the buffer is forced inwards, the
segment or break is brought forcibly in contact with the wheel, & so opposes
its revolution. The buffer, when again allowed to extend, relieves the wheel
from further pressure. If it is desired to back the train, it is necessary to
prevent the action of the breaks. For this purpose a suitable pall or stop is
fitted to each buffer, which, when dropped in between the buffer head & the
framing, effects that object. These stops may either be dropped in or removed
singly by hand, or by rope or rod communications, under the command of the
engine driver.

page_text: The second part of my Invention relates to breaks for vehicles for common
roads, & principally adapted for omnibuses or coaches carrying heavy loads.
It consists of a break or rubbing service applied to one or both of the hind
wheels of such vehicles, & supported from an arm or lever mounted in a
suitable position on a cross shaft. This cross shaft has another lever in the
middle, which is connected with a long rod carried forward under the pole.
This rod has a joint central with the centre of the locking, plate of the fire
carriage, in order that it may be deflected in either direction on the fore
carriage moving round, without throwing the rod out of action. This rod is
carried forward to a sliding piece fitted on the point of the pole to slide to
& fro some short distance. The chains or strap or other fastening from the
horses collars to the point of the pole, instead of being fixed thereto, are
carried over two sheaves or pullies and back to the sliding piece before
mentioned. The action of the break is this:-When the horses are pulled
up they strain upon the chain or strap of the collar, which forcibly pulls the
slide forward on the pole & with it the rod communicating with the break
levers, bringing the breaks in' contact with one or both of the hind wheels.
In backing the carriage a stop is placed immediately under the coachman's
box, & in communication with a raised knob in his footboard. By placing
his foot upon this knob, and depressing it, he throws the stop into gear with
the break rod under the pole, and prevents its movement in a longitudinal
direction, whereby the action of the break: will be suspended, and the carriage
will "back," as in the ordinary manner.
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