AN IMPROVEMENT IN RAILWAY BREAKS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Finch, of Bridge Works, Chepstow, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN RAILWAY BREAKS."
Sealed the 6th October 1857, and dated the 7th April 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Finch at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
April 1857.
I, EDWARD FINCH, of Bridge Works, Chepstow, do hereby declare the
nature of the Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN RAILWAY BREAKS," to be as
follows:-
Heretofore in the construction of those descriptions of breaks which have
been worked by a lever great inconvenience has been experienced from the
constant wear of the wooden blocks altering the position of the break lever,
and the present Invention consists in a means of altering the position of the
lever in respect to the axis by which the breaks are actuated, so as to compen-
sate for the wear of the blocks, and by this means always to maintain the lever
in the same position in relation to the carriage or wagon. For this purpose
the end of the break lever is arranged so as to move on the axis by which
the breaks are actuated, and the break lever has attached to it a worm which
takes into a worm wheel on the axis, so that as the blocks are worn away, by
turning the worm attached to the break lever the position of the lever can
be adjusted so as always to retain the same position in relation to the carriage
or wagon.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Finch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
October 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I. EDWARD
FINCH, of Bridge Works, Chepstow, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Finch, Her special licence that I, the said Edward Finch, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward
Finch, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT
IN RAILWAY BREAKS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Edward Finch, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Finch, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
Heretofore in the construction of those descriptions of breaks which have
been worked by a lever great inconvenience has been experienced from the
constant wear of the wooden blocks altering the position of the break lever,
and the present Invention consists in a means of altering the position of the
lever in respect to the axis by which the breaks are actuated, so as to com-
pensate for the wear of the blocks, and by this means always to maintain the
lever in the same position in relation to the carriage or wagon. For this
purpose the end of the break lever is arranged so as to move on the axis by
which the breaks are actuated, and the break lever has attached to it a worm
which takes into a worm wheel on the axis, so that as the blocks are worn
away, by turning the worm attached to the break lever the position of the

page_text: lever can be adjusted so as always to retain the same position in relation to
the carriage or wagon.
Having stated the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe the
the same by reference to the Drawings annexed.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my adjusting or compensating lever;
Figure 2 represents a section of the same, shewing the worm and its action
upon the worm wheel; also shewing at A a section of the break shaft upon
which the worm wheel is fixed, and likewise shewing, in dotted lines, the jaws
of the lever, and how they are formed to work freely on the round part of the
shaft. The adjustment is made by turning the worm B round in either direc-
tion, as the case may require, by means of the square end C, formed upon it
for that purpose. Figure 3 shews a cross section of the same at D, E, and
Figure 4 shews the lever as applied; F being the end of the lever, acted upon
by the breaksman; G, H, rods attached to levers fixed on the break shaft,
which rods are connected to the break links or hangers I, J, to which are
attached the break blocks K and L.
It will be evident that various modifications in the application of my com-
pensating or adjusting lever may be made to suit vehicles of various kinds,
the requisite power being applied to the lever in any suitable manner; but
what I claim is, the combination herein described of a lever worm and worm
wheel or rack and break blocks.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Finch, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
F. HAMMOND, Solicitor,
Chepstow.
EDW FINCH. (L.S.)