CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BREAK BLOCKS FOR RAILWAY AND OTHER CARRIAGES, AND IN THE MEANS OF APPLYING THE SAME.
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Clark, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BREAK
BLOCKS FOR RAILWAY AND OTHER CARRIAGES, AND IN THE MEANS OF APPLYING
THE SAME.
Sealed the 23rd February 1864, and dated the 27th August 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Clark at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th August
1863.
I, JOHN CLARK, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREAK BLOCKS FOR RAILWAY AND OTHER CARRIAGES, AND IN THE MEANS
OF APPLYING THE SAME," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in Patent No. 2821, dated
20th October 1862, and consists, first, in the means of applying breaks to
railway and other carriages; and, 2ndly, in the blocks for the same. 1st,
the improvements consist of compound levers for the purpose of giving greater
range to the blocks, and in utilizing the weight of the said levers for releasing
the blocks from the wheels in lieu of springs. This is accomplished by
attaching a pair of levers to the framing of the carriage, which nearly meet
towards the centre of the carriage, where also a chain pulley is placed. A
pulling bar extends from the free end of the lever to the blocks; on the
chain being tightened the levers are raised and the pulling bars actuate the
respective blocks; 2ndly, the back struts to which the blocks are fixed have

page_text: an elongated eye at the top, which embraces a pin fixed to the framing. A
diagonal strut extends from the back strap to the framing. A chain pulley
is fixed between the break blocks; on the chain being tightened the back
straps are raised in the elongated eye, and the diagonal struts force the blocks
ngainst the wheel. The weight of the blocks assisted by a spring, if necessary,
release the break. In applying the continuous ebain break to the common
break, now in ordinary use, or those which use a centre rocking shaft, a hori-
zontal lever is keyed upon the centre shaft with a chain pulley at the end;
the chain being tightened the lever is raised, and the struts actuate the
break blocks in the usual way. I propose to use a spiral spring attached to
the framing of the carriage, and the chain to assist in carrying back the said
chain when the break is released.
In applying the break to omnibuses and other like vehicles, I propose to
place a strong spiral spring underneath the axle and extending between the
hind wheels. A toothed wheel is placed on the nave of each wheel on the
inside, and gears into a toothed pinion on each end of the spring. On-apply-
ing the break the pinion is elevated and gears into the toothed wheel on the
nave, and winds up the spring which recoils on starting the vehicle. A chain
and pullies or levers operated by the driver or conductor actuates the break.
2ndly, I also propose to use break blocks in connection with railway or other
carriages composed of argillaceous compounds, as brick, fire-brick, pottery,
chalk, coal, lime, slate, roman cement, or other like substances pure or in
various compounds.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
February 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
CLARK, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of our
Lord thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself,. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Clark, Her special licence that I, the said John Clark,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Clark, 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

page_text: vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREAK BLOCKS POR RAILWAY AND OTHER CARRIAGES, AND IN THE MEANS OF
APPLYING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their bands 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 John Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of my 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, that is to say:-
This Invention relates in part to certain improvements in applying railway
breaks, as described in my Specification in pursuance of Letters Patent,
No. 2821, dated 20th October 186?, and has for its cbject further improve-
ments in the means of applying breaks to railway and other carriages. These
new improvements consist, first, of compound levers and draw rods which give
greater range to the blocks, and are so fitted and connected therewith as to
cause the breaks to be released by the gravitating power of the actuating
mechanism when the break power is taken off'; I thus dispense with springs
for that purpose. I accomplish this in various ways:-In one plan I mount
pairs of long levers, which nearly meet towards the centre of the carriage
where their free ends are connected so as to slide in and be supported in a
link; the other ends of the levers are centred towards the ends of the carriage
frames from which centres they radiate, their free ends, which are raised by the
running chain, are connected with the blocks by the draw rods before men-
tioned; these blocks are placed beyond the wheels at each end of the carriage,
and operate by being drawn against the wheels. In another plan I make use
of shorter levers and add a weight to release by gravity the levers, draw rods,
and blocks still operating in the way just described. In another plan, still
keeping the blocks outside, and actuating them by draw rods, I attach the ends
of the said rods to the opposite ends of the hanging limb of a jointed lever, the
lower end of which hangs in a link suspended from a fixed bracket, the ends
of the draw rods pass each other, and each form an angle with the lever linib.
and on the running chain being tightened these rods and lever tend to form a
Fight line, and thus actuate the blocks as before mentioned. In another plan

page_text: I hang the blocks between the wheels so as to rise and fall, in this case I
hang pairs of parallel levers from a bracket near the centre of the frame, and
attach them at their other euds to the block straps; these straps are connected
by transverse bars carrying chain pullies, under which the running chain is
passed, and thus actuates the break by causing the blocks to rise and
advance against the wheels, the mechanism releasing itself by gravity, as
before, when the chain is slackened. Another of these improvements consists.
in applying the running chain and gravity-releasing principle to the ordinary
strut breaks. I effect this by fixing a double-weighted lever upon the ordinary
rocking shaft, and by mounting a chain pulley between them under which the
running chain passes, and thence over the two fixed pulleys above raises the
said lever and actuates the break.
Another improvement consists in placing two of my friction wheels and
drums between the wheels where the blocks are usually placed, and to throw
both into contact by a similar rocking shaft struts, double crank, levers,
and connecting rod, the whole being put into and out of gear by a screw shaft
in the usual way; and in order to increase the power of the grip I fit a small
steam cylinder under the screw shaft for raising it, the steam being either
admitted by the guard or engine men; this break power is intended to
operate from both ends of the carriage, and the steam pipe is carried on and
can be connected at either end of the engine. Another plan by which I
increase the power of the running chain consists in adding a supplamentary
chain one end of which is fixed and the other wound upon the friction
drum; the running break chain is attached to the supplementary chain
pullies, and thus the winding or hauling power is increased, and can be
applied from one or both ends of the carriage in opposite directions.
Another modification of my principle of obtaining the hauling power by
friction wheels consists in mounting disc wheels to run loose upon the carriage
axles, and to be turned by contact with a face plate or flat ring on the insides
of the carriage wheels, the running chains being wound thereon; the disc
wheels are moved by expanding levers actuated by a screw shaft. Another
mode of applying my chain power consists in causing it to depress 'skid blocks
upon the rails. The mode of applying a break acting upon the principles
herein described to common road carriages is explained under the head of the
explanation of the Drawings. I construct the break 'blocks when of wood in
the ordinary way, but I run saw cuts therein to lessen the vibration and
improve their action; and I also propose to use any other material, such as
stone, slate, brick, or compounds suitable for the purpose. And I also use in

page_text: conjunction with the mechanism herein described, spiral springs for assisting
in carrying or running back the chain when the breaks are released.
EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWING.
The various modifications of the breaks and actuating mechanisni here
shewn are laid down to a scale of half an inch to the foot, and for convenience
of reference those parts which are common to the whole and shewn in the
respective Figs. are lettered with similar letters, so that the following general
explanation applies to each Fig. where the index letter appears.
Fig. snews
g
applied to a passenger carriage. On the running chain being tightened either
by the friction drum, as described in my former Specification above referred to,
or by those shewn at Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, the levers F, F, which are double
and are centred, so as to radiate from the points f, f, are raised, and by means
of the draw bars G, G, draw the blocks hard upon the wheels.
the blocks is compensated by pin holes in the shafts g, 9, where the draw rods
are attached thereto. Strong transverse ribs or cross bars H, H, join the two
block straps of each pair of wheels. On the chain being slackened the weight
of the levers and pullies releases the break from the wheels. 1 is a link
connecting and supporting the free ends of the levers when the break is off.
Fig. 2 shews another break of this kind with shorter radial levers F, F, hung
to the carriage frame at f, f, and raised by the running chain acting upon the
pullies G, G. The link H limits the descent of the levers when the break is
off, and the wear of the blocks is compensated by pin holes h, h, in the ends
of the draw rods I, I. In order to compensate for the length and weight of
these levers a weight K is added either to the levers or link as here shewn.
Fig. 8 is intended to represent another means of applying the break, in this
case the blocks are actuated by a single pair of suspended jointed levers F, F,
one end of which is hung to the carriage frame at f, the other end resting
in the link G suspended from the fixed bracket II. As the running chain is
tightened the lower limbs or struts of the jointed levers and the draw bars I, I,
tend towards a right line, and thus cause to blocks to press against the wheels.

page_text: The link G, which may be weighted when required for assisting the break-off
when the chain is slackened, also then acts as a support for the lever and
limits its descent. The wear of the blocks may be compensated as before
described.
Fig. 4 shews another plan by which I actuate the breaks and make the
blocks and levers self-releasing by their gravitating power. In this case the
blocks are simply hung to the frame, and operate upon the wheels by a rising
and falling action as well as by forwaril pressure. The hanging straps F, F,
which carry the blocks are hung to the frame, and are supported by short
bars G, G, passing through elongated eyes II, H. The blocks are placed
between the wheels and are actuated by the parallel levers I, I, I, I, which
radiate from fixed centres J, J. As the running chain which passes under the
pullies K, K, mounted upon the cross bar is tightened, the free ends of the
parallel levers are raised, and thus the blocks are forced homic upon the
wheels by an upward and forward motion; and when the chain is slackened
the break releases itself by gravity. The wear of the blocks is compensated
by the pin holes i, i, i, i.
Fig. 5 shews the means by which the running chain is made to actuate a
break of the ordinary construction. F is the usual "rocking" shaft; G, G,
are two levers with the chain pulley between them; II, II, are also chain
pullies fixed, and over which the running chain is passed. As the running
chain is tightened the lever is raised and forces the blocks against the wheels
by the motion of the double crank I and struts K, K. The levers carry
a weight L, by which the breaks are released when the chain is slackened,
The lines I, I, I, I, are intended to represent another improvement in the
blocks, which consists in running saw cuts in the same, by which means 1
compensate the jar or tremour hitherto caused when applying the break by
struts acting upon the blocks, as here shown, or otherwise.
Fig. 6 shews an improvement in the means of applying the breaks or break
power. F, F, are friction wheels and drums which are turned by contact S
with the carriage wheels (as described in my Specification herein-before
referred to); G, G, the friction pulley shafts; I and I, rocking shafts, one of
which carries the double crank and lever K, and the other the bell crank L,
which cranks are connected by the draw rod M; N, N, are adjusting struts;
0, 0, the shoes or sliding bearings of the friction drums; P is the ordinary 3
screw shaft turned by the guard and working through a nut in the end of the
cranked lever, by which means the friction wheels and chain drums are
thrown into and out of contact with the carriage or other wheels of the train;
Qis a small steam cylinder in which a piston rises when the steam is admitted

page_text: through the pipe R which is connected with both ends of the engine. The
piston when raised lifts the bell crank, and thus either in conjunction with the
screw or independent thereof, can be made to apply the break power, the
steam being admitted by the engine men or guard, as the case may require.
The double friction wheels and drums enable the breaks of the adjoining
carriages to be operated from both ends of a van or carriage thus fitted. The
breaks may be thus applied from the centre or any other part of the train,
and in one or both directions at the same time as circumstances may
require.
t
Fig. 7 shews an improvement by which I multiply the power of the friction
drum, and cause a van or carriage thus fitted to also operate the breaks from
one or both ends. F is my friction wheel and chain drum; G a supplementary
running chain, one end of which is fixed at H, and the other coiled upon the
drum; I, I, two running pullies, round which this chain is passed, or which
are carried thereby, and to which the two running break chains A, A, are
fastened; either of these chains may be fixed and the other allowed to run, or
both may act together, as it may be required. As the friction wheel is brought
into contact with the wheel g the supplamentary chain is wound upon the
drum, and one or both of the running puilies, aud consequently one or both of
the running chains A, A, are hauled in, only that in this case the drum has to
make two revolutions to haul in the same length of chain, which it would wind
up when operating directly upon the same in the manner before described, and
thus the power is increased.
.
Fig. 8 represents another means of obtaining the winding power for hauling
the running chain by friction rings and discs between the wheels. F, F, are
flat rings bolted to the van (or carriage) wheels; G, G, two loose collars or
chain pullies, which are free to turn upon the axle; H, H, clutch collars,
which are pressed against the chain pullies by the struts I, I; these struts
expand and contract by the action of the screw shaft J turned by the guard in
the van or carriage above. The running chains are fixed to and wound upon
the pullies at a, a, when they are turned by being forced against the friction
rings of the wheels C, C, and thus operate the breaks, as before described.
Figs. 9 and 10 shew the running chain as applied to a skid break. In this
break a loose chain pulley F runs upon the axle of the wheel C, upon which axle
there is a pin, feather, or fixed wheel and clutch, and upon the loose chain
being fixed, which is done by moving the same into gear by the lever G, the
chain A will be hauled in, and being passed over and under the chain pullies
1, 1, 1, &c. and 2, 2, 2, &c., will force the skid blocks down upon the rails,
and thus cause them to act as a break. The wheels and chain drum will

page_text: continue to wind the chain only so long as there is sufficient weight upon the
carriage wheels, and will also cease their motion while their contact with
the rails is preserved. Back weights or springs are added to lift the blocks
when the break power is required to be taken off.
Fig. 11 shews a compensation spring break for common road carriages.
The driver or conductor depresses a treadle or lever handle and puts the two
wheels into gear, so that the momentum of the carriage winds up the spring.
On starting the wheels B, B, at the other end of the spring are geared, and
the wheels A, A, are thrown out of gear when the recoil of the spring assists
in starting the carriage. The break blocks which I propose to use, either for
the railway or other carriages, may be composed of any of the materials herein-*
before enumerated, simple or compound, or of any other substance which may
be found suitable for the purpose. I further propose to use spiral springs to
be attached to the frames of the carriages to assist by their recoil in taking off
the various breaks.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature and object of my said
Invention, and explained and illustrated the means which I propose to employ
in carrying the various improvements into effect in practice, I hereby further
declare that I do not absolutely restrict myself to the precise forms and
arrangements of the parts of the breaks and mechanism shewn upon the
Drawing, as the details may be modified in both respects without departing
from the principles thereby illustrated, and upon which the said improvements
are based.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Clark, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.