An Improved Axle Actuated Brake for Locomotives and other Railway Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 6th Oct., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Axle Actuated Brake for Locomotives and other
Railway Vehicles.
We, CHARLES Clifford CLIFFORD of Marrickville Road Marrickville near
Sydney in the Colony of New South Wales, Contractor and JOHN CARTER of
William Street, North Sydney near Sydney aforesaid Contractor do hereby
declare the nature of this invention 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 an improved axle actuated brake for railway vehicles
meaning locomotives carriages and trucks or waggons propelled and running upon
rails or permanent ways and it includes apparatus by which such brakes are
"operated" or caused to be applied to or taken off the periphery of the running
wheels and for so operating the brakes as a continuous brake by steam air or other
fluid pressure and by hand power and for so operating the brake by hand power on
each separate vehicle.
This improved axle actuated brake for railway vehicles consists essentially of an
eccentric or compound eccentric disc or cam on the running axle of the vehicle on
the periphery of which is applied a rod or bar whose movement caused by the
throw or eccentricity of the disc is utilised to pull or thrust the brake blocks upon
the rim of the running wheels. This improved axle actuated brake for railway
vehicles' also comprises secondary combinations and arrangements of mechanical
parts included in the brake gear in the operating mechanisms by hand and by
power in the coupling or making continuous of hand power gear and in other
portions of the whole all as hereinafter more particularly described and explained
and as specifically set forth in the claim.
But in order that this invention may be clearly understood reference will now
be made to the drawings herewith in which Figures 1 and 3 are sectional elevation
and cross section respectively of the under portion of a railway truck having a brake
constructed according to this invention and showing the actuating mechanism and
the brakes in the "brakes off" position while Figures 2 and 4 are similar views
respectively to Figures 1 and 3 showing the mechanisms and the brakes in the
"brakes on" position. Figure 5 is an elevation of hand gear attached say to the
brake van for operating the brakes therefrom. Figure 6 is an enlarged detail in
section of a steam air or fluid pressure cylinder by means of which the brakes are
applied from the engine when operated by the driver. Figures 7 and 8 also on
large scale are face view and cross section respectively of a compound eccentric
brake operating disc. Figures 9 and 10 are similar views to Figures 1 and 3
respectively showing a modified construction of brake apparatus according to this
invention. Figure 11 is a section of pressure cylinder used with said modification
and Figure 12 shows details of the curved brake bar.
A are the longitudinal or side beams, A' the transoms or cross beams and
A² subsidiary beams of the underframing of a railway truck. Directly above one
of the axles of the truck a hinge plate B₁ is fixed or bolted and to this is hinged on
rod B a semi-circular plate B and on the other side of the same beam is bolted or
fixed the fender plate B. On an eye bolt C₁ through beam A2 between the hinged
plate B and the fixed fender plate B is suspended the curved brake bar C which
is secured to hinged plate B by bolt C' through a curved slot B³. The curved
bar C has a flaring inside face so that it may easily swing on and adapt itself to the
flaring edge of the compound eccentric brake disc D. This brake disc D is
preferably constructed in halves and consists of two eccentric circles D' and D'

page_text: arranged side by side and each having a flaring edge. The smaller circle D' is
eccentric with the axle while the larger one D' starting flush at the point of
greatest eccentricity of the smaller circle is concentric with the axle or very
slightly eccentric therewith though the centres of the two eccentrics must be on the
one straight line with the centre of the axle though upon opposite sides of said axle
centre. The brake disc has a boss D³ by means of which it is firmly secured by
bolts or clamp plates upon the axle. The lower end of the curved brake bar C is
connected by knuckle joint and rod C³ to eye bolt C' on or through a pivot block C'
at one extremity of a double ended lever C said eye bolt having an adjustable
relief spring C at its back end. The double ended lever C is pivoted on cross
rod C³ carried in bearing brackets C from the side frames A and the opposite ends
of said lever are connected by rods C to opposite cross bars C on the ends of
which are the brake shoes C of the brake blocks C. The top ends of said
brake shoes are radially suspended by links ( from brackets C on the under-
framing of the truck.
The mechanism by which the brakes are brought into operation by steam air or
fluid pressure from the engine consists of a cylinder E shown in section in Figure 6
which is secured by plate E' to the underframing of the truck. Steam is admitted
to the back end of this cylinder (on manipulation of a valve by the driver) from
the through pipe E2 by pipe E³ to behind the piston E. The piston rod E³ carries
on its outer end a roller E' adapted to bear upon the hinged plate B. Around the
piston rod E' in the front end of the cylinder is a coiled spring E the resilient
force of which returns the piston to the position shown in Figure 6 "brakes off"
position when steam is shut off. Outside the stuffing box Es a collar E on the
piston rod takes inwardly against the forked end of a lever E10 pivoted at E" in
bracket E and presses lever E inwardly against the force of spring E¹³ said
lever is connected by link E" to the actuating lever E" of cock E and in its
normal or
"brakes off" position keeps said cock closed. The steam air or fluid
pressure being admitted into the cylinder forces the piston outwardly against
the pressure of spring E7 and a portion of the admitted steam passing by pipe E"
to the front of the piston acts as a cushion but as soon as the piston passes the
induction end of pipe E the supply of steam to the front or cushioning end of
the cylinder is cut off. By using the pressure cushion in this manner a sudden
contact or blow of the roller against the surface of plate 13 and possible fracture is
prevented. As the lever E is released by the movement of piston rod E' it is
pushed outwardly on pivot E" by spring E³ causing link E to turn lever E" and
open cock E and so permit the contents of the cylinder to escape and the full
pressure behind the piston to be utilised. To make the brake continuous the
through pipe E has ordinary flexible pipes and coupling between each vehicle.
In operation as a continuous steam or pressure operated brake when desired to
apply the brakes the driver manipulating a controlling valve or cock of simple or
known construction (not shown) causes steam to pass along the through or train
pipe E2 which steam entering the cylinder E moves the piston E causing the
roller Es to thrust the hinged plate B and curved brake bar C inwardly and
the flaring face of said bar C to take upon the edge of the eccentric circle D' of the
brake disc D which has it revolves with the axle thrusts the bar C away from
the axle until it takes upon the edge of the concentric circle D' of said disc thus
drawing by means of rod C³ the double ended crank C' round upon its pivot Cs and
by means of rods C10 and cross bars C" thrusting the brake blocks C¹³ "on" the
wheels and braking the speed of the train. To take the brakes "off" the wheels
the driver by manipulation of the controlling valve allows the steam to escape from
the cylinder E when the piston E is returned to its normal position by spring E'
and the hinged plate B and curved bar C freed from the pressure of roller E are
returned to their normal positions by weight B6 with said curved bar C clear of the
brake disc D.
The mechanism for operating the brakes as a continuous brake by hand power
consists of a brough spindle F hung from the underframing of the truck or

page_text: vehicle in brackets F. On this spindle is an eccentric cam F2 having a weighted
arm F3 and whose edge takes against the face of the hinged plate B so that when
said cam is partially turned by reason of its weighted arm or by shaft F the hinged
plate B is thrust inwards to move the curved bar C to contact with the brake
disc D. The necessary motion is imparted to the through shaft F from the guard's
van or end of the train where as shown in Figure 5 is set the vertical spindle G¹
having hand wheel G2 ratchet wheel G³ and bevel toothed wheel G gearing with
wheel G on the through shaft F of the guard's van.
The foot lever Ge engages
with ratchet wheel G³ when the brakes are "off" and is disengaged by the foot
when desired as when applying the brakes by turning hand wheel G². To make
the brake continuous throughout a train at each end of each vehicle is a short
spindle F conveying the motion from the through shaft of one vehicle or the guard's
van to that of the next by the gearing of wheels F F F. Each of the inter-
mediate wheels F7 runs loose upon a stay F from frame A' which stay also carries
a bearing block F10 pivoted thereon to take the end of spindle F each of which is
further supported by a bearer bracket F11 from frame A¹ allowing of radial move-
ment of the spindle whose outer end is enlarged and hollowed to take the end of a
connecting bar F12 between the vehicles said bar F12 having telescopic action in
each spindle F to allow for increased or diminished distance between the trucks
as when travelling round a curve. On each of the stays F is pivoted an
arm F3 to whose outer end is pivoted a ratchet pawl F adapted to engage
between the teeth of ratchet wheel F15 on spindle F and having
trigger F by which when desired hook F1 holds said ratchet free of wheel F1
and to which a cord G8 from the end of foot lever G is attached and which
cord is rigged or arranged on guiding sheaves (not shown) so that the pawls
at both ends of the truck will be disengaged from each respective wheel F" at the
same time. To apply the brakes from the guard's van the guard by turning the
hand wheel G2 causes the shaft F to turn the eccentric cam F2 the periphery of
which thrusts the hinged plate B and the curved bar C inwards said bar coming
against the disc D and applying the brakes to the wheels as before described.
a
The mechanism for shunting purposes or for applying the brakes by hand on
each separate vehicle consists of a rod H held in bearings on the fixed plate B' and
side frame A having an inner bent end H¹ carrying a roller H2 in rolling contact
with the outer face of hinged plate B and having a hand lever H³ outside the
framing of the truck. When shunting the brakes are "applied" by giving lever H³
a quarter turn causing rod H to move roller H2 round a quarter of a circle and in
doing so to thrust the hinged plate B and curved bar C inwards the latter on to the
disc D as before described.
In the modification shown in Figures 9 10 11 and 12 corresponding parts to those
O in the figures before described have the same letters of reference and perform
corresponding functions and the construction and working of the said modification
differs only in so far as now set out. A rod K passes through the upper end or
head c' of the curved brake bar C and also through the centre of the cylinder E
and is secured above the centre of the axle between brackets K' from the under-
framing of the truck. Said brake bar has a motion thereon transversely to the
truck and is backed by a coiled spring K2 around it which thrusts against head c¹
and keeps curved brake bar C in its "off" position or away from disc D. The
piston rod E is hollow forming a sleeve around rod K the outer end of which
sleeve takes against the head c' of the curved bar C so that when steam is admitted
in the manner before described to the cylinder E behind piston E* said sleeve E'
thrusts the curved brake bar C along rod K and the flaring part thereof upon the
disc D thereby causing the brakes to be applied. From one side face of the
head c project cheeks c³ carrying rollers c³ in contact with bent levers L' and N'
the former depending from a sleeve L³ upon rod L said sleeve also having another
5 lever L3 and a weighted arm L the former in contact with an eccentric cam M
keyed upon the through shaft F. By the turning of this cam by the guard as
before described the lever L' by reason of weighted arm L* thrusts the head c¹

page_text: along rod K compressing spring K2 and the bar C is thus caused to take upon the
brake disc D. The rod L also carries a second sleeve N from which depends the
lever N¹ in contact with the other roller c³ the second lever N2 from said sleeve N
being connected by rod N³ to actuating lever N* the movement of which around
quadrant N' causes the lever N¹ to move the bar C along the rod K and to the
disc D.
It will be easily understood that though this improved brake is described in
detail as fixed and applied to the underframing of a railway truck with four wheels
it may without departing from its essence be equally well and as easily fixed upon
other railway or tramway vehicles with two four or more wheels and in fact to
any vehicle the axle of whose wheels revolves.
Having now particularly described and explained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. An improved axle actuated brake for railway vehicles consisting
essentially of (a) an eccentric or compound eccentric disc or cam on the running
axle of such vehicle (b) a hinged or suspended bar adapted to contract or take on
the periphery of said disc or cam and to be connected by rods and gear to the
brake blocks and (c) devices for holding said suspended bar off said disc or cam
and for applying said bar to said disc or cam substantially as herein described and
explained.
Second. An improved axle actuated brake for railway vehicles consisting of an
eccentric or compound eccentric disc or cam on the running axle a hinged or
suspended bar connected by gear to brake blocks and devices for operating
or controlling the brake by steam or fluid pressure power or manual power coupled
or made continuous throughout a train of vehicles substantially as herein described
and explained.
Third. In an axle actuated brake of the class set forth the combination and
arrangement with a vehicle underframing and two pair of wheels of a compound
eccentric disc such as D having faces such as D1 and D2 a brake bar such as C
suspended by flexible joint or eye bolt such as C' devices for moving said bar
sidewardly on and off said disc connecting rod such as C³ with elastic pivotal
connection to a lever adapted to apply and release brake blocks on and off the
wheels substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in the
drawings.
Fourth. In an axle actuated brake of the class set forth the combination
and arrangement with a compound eccentric disc such as D and a brake bar such
as C flexibly suspended of semi-circular hinged plate B fixed fender plate B
balance weight such as B6 cam such as F2 having balance weight such as F³ shaft
or spindle such as F and devices for coupling the shaft or spindle such as F on one
vehicle to similar shaft or spindle upon another vehicle substantially as herein
described and explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Fifth. In an axle actuated brake of the class set forth the combination and
arrangement with through shafts such as F on two coupled vehicles of removable
telescopic spindle or bar such as F socketed spindles such as F in bearings such
as Fand 10 toothed bevel wheels such as F6 F7 and F" toothed wheel such as Fis
pawl such as F1 with trigger such as F1 and through cord or chain such as G8
substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Sixth. In an axle actuated brake of the class set forth the combination and
arrangement with a through shaft or spindle such as F and through cord or chain
such as G8 of bevel toothed wheels such as G and G₁ spindle such as G¹ hand
wheel as G2 toothed wheel such as G³ and spring lever and pawl such as G
substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Seventh. In an axle actuated brake of the class set forth the combination and
arrangement with a compound eccentric disc such as D and a flexibly suspended
brake bar such as C of fixed fender plate such as B semi-circular hinged plate

page_text: such as B balance weight such as B of thrust roller such as E6 piston rod such
as E' piston such as E cylinder such as E having by-pass pipe such as E" and
exhaust cock such as E16 supply branch pipe such as E³ continuous through pipe
such as E2 and devices for admitting and releasing steam or fluid pressure to said
through pipe such as E3 substantially as herein described and explained and as
illustrated in the drawings.
Eighth. In an axle actuated brake of the class set forth the combination and
arrangement with a compound eccentric disc such as D and a flexibly suspended
brake bar such as C of fixed fender plate such as B semi-circular hinged plate
such as B balance weight such as Be of roller such as H² bent end such as H₁ rod
such as H and lever such as H3 substantially as herein described and explained and
as illustrated in the drawings.
Ninth. In an axle actuated brake of the class set forth the combination and
arrangement with a compound eccentric disc such as D and a curved brake bar
such as C of a rod such as K in brackets K¹ spring such as K² aud devices for
moving said bar such as C on rod such as K against the force of spring such
as K2 substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in the
drawings.
Tenth. In an axle actuated brake of the class set forth the combination and
arrangement with a compound eccentric disc such as D curved brake bar such as C
and rod such as K with spring such as K2 of roller such as c³ in head such as c¹ of
bent lever such as L' sleeve such as L² lever such as L³ balance such as L' eccentric
cam such as M on through shaft such as F substantially as herein described and
explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Eleventh. In an axle actuated brake of the class set forth the combination and
arrangement with a compound eccentric disc such as D curved brake bar such as C
and rod such as K with spring such as K² of cylinder such as E piston such as E
and hollow piston rod such as Es adapted to slide on rod such as K and to take
against head such as c¹ of brake bar C substantially as herein described and
explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Twelfth. In an axle actuated brake of the class set forth the combination and
arrangement with a compound eccentric disc such as D curved brake bar such as C
and rod such as K with spring such as K2 of roller such as in head such as c¹ of
bent lever such as N' sleeve such as N lever such as N' rod such as N³ lever such
as N' and devices for fastening such last-mentioned lever substantially as herein
described and explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this Fourth day of July. One thousand eight hundred and ninety-four
Witness:
FRED WALSH,
Fel. Aust. Inst. P.A., Sydney.
C. C. CLIFFORD,
JOHN CARTER.