Improvements in Brakes for Carts and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left 9th June, 1898-Accented. 9th July. 1898
Improvements in Brakes for Carts and other Vehicles.
I, FLAVIUS B. HELM, a Citizen of the United States, residing at 109, Duke
Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Farmer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
_
This invention has for its object a brake which will be of simple construction
and cheap to manufacture, and which can easily be fitted to various descrip-
tions of carts and other vehicles.
In carrying my invention into effect, I provide a rotary cross beam or brake
beam located in proximity to the wheels and suspended by hangers from the
body or frame of the cart. This cross beam may be fitted with brake blocks
or other means for applying a braking action on the tyre of the wheels. Firmly
fixed to the stationary axle of the cart is one end of a chain or its equivalent.
The other end of this chain is attached to the periphery of the beam so that if
the beam be rotated in one direction it will wind that end of the chain round
it, thus drawing itself and the brake blocks nearer to and against the tyre of
the wheel, to apply the brake pressure on the tyre, or if it be rotated in the
other direction the chain will be un-wound, thus releasing the said pressure.
In the beam is provided a hole at each end into which a handle may be inserted,
and thus by pulling this handle in one direction or the other, the brake will
be applied to the wheel or released. Serrations may be provided in a suitable
position for holding the handle in any desired position, or cord, etcetera, may
be provided leading to either end of the vehicle so that by pulling one or other
of these cords the handle may be operated. In another arrangement the handle
might be shortened somewhat and coupled by means of a connecting rod to a
lever, or in fact any suitable device adjacent to the driver's seat or elsewhere
whereby the brake can be operated by operating this device. The said device
might be hand lever or a hand wheel working a screw or any other suitable
arrangement. The brake beam may be of wood such as hickory, or of metal
tubing, etcetera. The invention avoids the use of any complicated system of
levers, and will be found cheaper than the arrangement hitherto used.
Dated thie 2nd day of September 1897
5
Improvements in Brakes for Carts and other Vehicles.
I, FLAVIUS B. HELM, a Citizen of the United States, residing at 109, Duke
Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Farmer, do hereby declare the
Price 8d.l

page_text: 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 has for its object a brake which will be of simple construction
and cheap to manufacture, and which can easily be fitted to various descrip-
tions of carts and other vehicles.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 shows the invention applied to a lorry;
Figure 2 the same applied to a float;
Figure 3 a plan of a lorry with my invention applied to it;
Figure 4 front elevation thereof;
Figure 5 certain details of construction.
Referring to these figures A is a rotary cross beam or brake beam, located in
proximity to the rear wheels B, and suspended by hangers C from the brackets C¹
on the body or frame of the cart. The cross beam A is fitted with brake blocks
or shoes D and may be of wood such as hickory or metal tubing, or the shoes
may be dispensed with, and the beam itself made to bear against the wheels.
In its normal position when the brake is off the cross beam A is so hung as to
be clear of the wheels. Firmly fixed to a stationary part of the vehicle such
as the axle E, is one end of a chain F or its equivalent, the other end of which
is attached to the periphery of the beam A, or to the enlarged end or drum shaped
end of the lever G which is secured thereto, a groove in such case being pro-
vided to receive the chain. If therefore the beam A be rotated in one direction
it will wind the end of the chain F round it, thus drawing the brake blocks
nearer to and against the tyres of the wheels, to apply the brake pressure on
the tyres, or if it be rotated in the other direction the chain will be unwound,
thus releasing the said pressure. At one or both ends of the beam a handle H
(Figure 2) is placed, and thus by pulling this handle in one direction or the other,
the brake will be applied to the wheel or released. Serrations J may be pro-
vided in a suitable position for holding the handle in any desired position, or
a cord may be provided leading to either end of the vehicle so that by pulling
one or other of these cords the handle may be operated. In the other arrange-
ment illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5, the brake handle H is arranged hori-
zontally and coupled at I by means of a connecting rod K, to the lever G, so
that it engages the toothed guard J located at the side of the lorry, whereby
the lever on being pulled causes the cross beam to rotate and to apply the
brake, and the said lever engaging the teeth of the guard J keeps the brake
blocks firmly against the tyres of the wheels.
It is obvious however that the brake may be applied by any suitable device
adjacent to the driver's seat or elsewhere, it might for example be a hand lever
or a hand wheel working a screw or any other suitable arrangement. The
invention avoids the use of any complicated system of levers and will be found
cheaper than the arrangements hitherto used. The brake pressure may be
applied to either the wheel tyres or the hubs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
―:
1. The improvement in brakes for carts and other vehicles, which consists
in forming them of a rotary cross beam (with or without brake blocks) located
in proximity to the wheel tyres or the hubs, and suspended by hangers from
the body or frame of the cart in such a way, that when the brake is off, the
crossbeam hangs clear of the wheels, in combination with a chain, one end of
which is attached to a stationary part of the vehicle, and the other to the
periphery of the beam or to a drum thereon, and means for rotating said beam
by hand, whereby if the beam be rotated in one direction it will wind the end

page_text: of the chain round it and thus bring the crossbeam nearer to and against the
tyre to apply brake pressure, while if it be rotated in the other direction the chain
will be unwound, thus releasing said pressure, substantially as described.
2. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my
5 improved brake for carts and other vehicles substantially as set forth.
Dated this on day of June
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London.