Improvements in and relating to Railway and like Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Railway and like Vehicles.
I, EDGAR PECKHAM, of 26, Cortlandt Street, in the City and State of New York,
United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to car trucks, and it has for its object to improve the
spring supports for four wheeled cars and to render more efficient certain appur-
tenances of the truck structure.
The truck is intended more especially for electric street railway service though
adapted for cable cars.
The pedestals are connected together by the side beams the latter
being rivetted to the bottoms of the yokes or pedestals and the former rivetted
to the same below their tops. At each end of the truck are the extended beams
which support the spiral springs, arranged contiguous to the pedestals, and the
leaf or partial elliptic springs. The end beams are formed integral with the
pedestals, but they might be separately formed and connected to the pedestals.
Below the end beams are the under truss beams connected to the bottoms of the
pedestals and extending upwardly to the end beams where they are riveted. This
under truss beam may be cast integral with the pedestal, but it may be formed
separately and rivetted to the bottom of the pedestal. This feature of under truss
beam between the bottom of the pedestal and the extended end beam is character-
istic of my truck and is embodied in a number of Patents heretofore granted to
me. Spiral springs are arranged within the wheel base, that is, on the truck frame
between the wheels and contiguous to the pedestals, for furnishing support to the
car body at those points. The bolts which are surrounded by the spiral springs
are connected at the top to the upper chord of the truck frame and extend through
the arms of the pedestals and end beams and through the under truss beams, and
are connected to the longitudinal rods or beams which are thus suspended beneath
the lower members of the side frame. These rods or beams, are also sustained by
vertical rods connected thereto and passing through the pedestals and connected
to the upper chord. The armis of the pedestals to which the under truss beams
are connected are provided with sockets for receiving spiral springs to cushion the
upward thrust of the vertical rods connecting longitudinal rods with the upper
chord of the truck frame.
Bolted to the under surface of the upper chord are brackets having a socket to
receive a spiral spring which seats in the socket which is riveted to the end beam
aud which receives and holds the leaf or partial, elliptic spring. Said bracket is also
provided with a depending portion which is adapted to slide within a groove
formed in the upper portion of a bracket riveted to end beam contiguous to spiral
spring. Said bracket is adapted to receive the horizontal end of the leaf spring,
thus providing a socket therefor. The opposite end of the leaf spring curved in
the elliptic form extends upward and enters a suitable socket bolted to the upper
longitudinal chord or the car body sill.

page_text: It is understood of course that one of the leaf springs and the appliances asso-
cinted with it will be placed at each corner of the truck frame. There is thus
provided the requisite bearing for the car body beyond the truck frame thus
avoiding longitudinal rocking of the car. I have found this arrangement to work
admirably in practice.
The leaf or partial elliptic spring, at each end of the truck frame is so located
that its point of attachment to the end beam is the same as the point of attachment
of the under truss beam to said end beam, so that when the load of the car is
received beyond the ends of the truck frame where the brackets which receive the
extended ends of leaf springs are located, the strain is transmitted through said leaf
springs, through the brackets, to the under truss beams, and thence to the lower
horizontal beams which form continuations of the under truss beams through the
interposed pedestals. By this construction a continuous truss is afforded at each
side of the truck frame which extends beyond the normal ends of the truck frame
to the points of attachment of the leaf spring to their brackets; in other words,
the extended leaf springs serve to lengthen the truss comprising the elements
mentioned including the parts under truss beam and the horizontal leam. Rigidly
connected to the side beams and extending transversely of the truck are the
beams. To these beams, at suitable distances from their points of connection with
the side beams, are secured brackets which receive the spiral springs, one above
and the other below the central arm of the bracket, said springs being confined
in place by a bolt with a nut at top and bottom. These spring-equipped brackets
support the motor suspension bars. To the suspension bar, one for each motor,
is riveted the plate which is provided with an opening coinciding with the
opening in bar and adapted to receive the nose of the motor.
This plate furnishes a reinforcement for the bar, affording additional strength
to the same and also an extended bearing for the nose of the motor. The spring
supporting brackets sustaining the bar furnish an efficient flexible support
for the motor.
The braking appliances are of the usual approved type except that the brake
beam carrying the brake shoes is adapted to operate upon the gravity system.
The brake shoes are bolted to the brake beam near its ends. The extreme ends
of the brake beams are formed with an incline or slope from the back edge to the
front edge, thus bringing the front edge on a lower plane than the back edge.
To the extended end beam contiguous to the brake shoe there is bolted-one at
each corner of the truck frame-the bracket provided at its bottom with a flange
having a groove or opening adapted to receive the end of the brake beam, the
clearance being sufficient to permit the ends of said beams to readily slide in said
grooves when the brake is applied or released.
Bolted to a rib of said bracket is the flut spring which extends downwardly
below the plane of the brake beam and contiguous to the beam. This spring is
for the purpose of giving impetus to the brake beam when the brakes are released
so that the ends of the brake beams will more readily slide back in the supporting
hrackets. It will be understood that when the braking appliances are applied
the brake beam is forced against the springs placing them under tension, the
releasing of the braking appliances permitting said springs to exert the requisite
force to quickly move the brake beam and start it in receding.
By this arrangement of brake mechanism I obtain a strong and compact con-
struction and prevent lost motion and rattling of the parts.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
15, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Railway and like Vehicles.
I, EDGAR PECKILAM, of 26, Cortlandt Street, in the City and State of New York,
United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 car trucks, and it has for its object to improve the
spring supports for four wheeled cars and to render more efficient certain appur-
tenances of the truck structure.
The truck is intended more especially for electric street railway service though
adapted for cable cars.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of
this specification, and in said drawings the same parts are designated by the same
reference characters throughout the several views.
In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a plan view of a truck embodying my improve-
ments. Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section. Figure 3 is a detail view
of the brake shoe and sliding arrangement, seen from the rear. Figure 4 is a
section on the line 4, 4, of Figure 3, showing the brake shoe in dotted lines to
illustrate its relation to the sliding arrangement of the brake har. Figure 5 is a
detail of the brake bar. Figure 6 is a sectional detail on the line 6, 6, of Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a section on the line 7, 7, of Figure 1, and Figure S is a section on
the line S, S, of Figure 1.
Referring to the drawings, 7 indicates the top chord of the truck frame upov
which the car body is adapted to rest, 8 the pedestals, 9 the journal boxes, and
10 the wheels of the truck. The pedestals 8 are connected together by the side
beams 11 and 12, the latter being riveted to the bottoms of the yokes or pedestals
and the former riveted to the same below their tops. At each end of the truck
are the extended beams 13 which support the spiral springs 14, arranged con+
tiguous to the pedestals, and the leaf or partial elliptic springs 15. As shown
the end beams 13 are formed integral with the pedestals, but they might be
separately formed and connected to the pedestals. Below the end beams 13 are
the under truss beams 16 connected to the bottoms of the pedestals and extending
upwardly to the end beams 13 where they are riveted. This under truss beam is
shown as cast integral with the pedestal, but it may be formed separately and
riveted to the bottom of the pedestal. This feature of under truss beam between
the bottom of the pedestal and the extended end beam is characteristic of my truck
Spiral
and is embodied in a number of Patents heretofore granted to me.
springs 17 are earranged within the wheel base, that is, on the truck frame het ween
the wheels and contiguous to the pedestals, for furnishing support to the car body
at those points. The bolts which are surrounded by the spiral springs 14 are
connected at the top to the upper chord 7 of the truck frame and extend through
the arms of the pedestals and end beams 13 and through the under truss beams 16,
and are connected to the longitudinal rods or beams 18 which are thus suspended
beneath the lower members of the side frames. These rods 18 are also sustained
by the vertical rods 19 connected thereto and passing through the pedestals and
connected to the upper chord 7. The arms of the pedestals to which the under
5 truss beams 16 are connected are provided with sockets for receiving spiral
springs 20 to cushion the upward thrust of the vertical rods connecting longi-
tudinal rods 18 with the upper chord 7 of the truck frame.
Bolted to the under surface of the upper chord 7 are brackets 21 having a socket
to receive a spiral spring 22 which seats in the socket 23 which is riveted to the
U end beam 13 and which receives and holds the leaf or partial elliptic spring 15, as

page_text: seen in Figure 2. Said bracket 21 is also provided with a depending portion 21"
which is adapted to slide within a groove formed in the upper portion of a
bracket 24 riveted to end beam 13 contiguous to spiral spring 14. Said bracket 24
is adapted to receive the horizontal end of the leaf spring 15, thus providing a
socket therefor. The opposite end of the leaf spring curved in the elliptic form
extends upward and enters a suitable socket. 25 bolted to the upper longitudinal
chord or the car body sill.
It is understood of course that one of the leaf springs 15 and the appliances
associated with it will be placed at each corner of the truck frame. There is thus
provided the requisite bearing for the car body beyond the truck frame thus
avoiding longitudinal rocking of, the car.
I have found this arrangement to
work admirably in practice,
The leaf or partial elliptic spring 15, at each end of the truck frame is so located
that its point of attachment to the end beam 13 is the same as the point of
attachment of the under truss beam 16 to said end beam 13, so that when the
load of the car is received beyond the ends of the truck frame where the brackets 25
which receive the extended ends of leaf springs 15 are located, the strain is trans-
mitted through said leaf springs, through the brackets 23, to the under truss
beams 16, and thence to the lower horizontal beams 12 which form continuations
of the under truss beams 16 through the interposed pedestals S. By this con-
struction a continuous truss is afforded at each side of the truck frame which
extends beyond the normal ends of the truck frame to the points of attachment
of the leaf spring 15 to their brackets 25; in other words, the extended leaf
springs 15 serve to lengthen the truss comprising the elements mentioned
including the paris 16 and 12.
Rigidly connected to the side beams 11 and extending transversely of the truck
are the beams 26. To these beams, at suitable distances from their points of
connection with the side beams 11, are secured brackets 26 which receive the
spiral springs 27, one above and the other below the central arm of the bracket,
said springs being confined in place by a bolt and with a nut at top and bottom as
shown. These spring-equipped brackets 20 support the motor suspension bars 28
os seen in Figure 1. To the bar 28, one for each motor, is riveted the plate 50
which is provided with an opening coinciding with the opening in bar 28 and
adapted to receive the nose of the motor.
This plate furnishes a reinforcement for the bar 28, affording additional strength
to the same and also an extended hearing for the nose of the motor. The spring
supporting brackets 26 sustaining the bar 28 furnish an efficient flexible suppori
for the motor.
The braking appliances are of the usual approved type except that the brake
beam carrying the brake shoes is adapted to operate upon the gravity system.
The brake beam is indicated at 1 and the brake shoes at 32, the lafter being
bolted to said beun near its ends, as seen in Figure 5. The extreme ends of the
brake beams are formed as hest seen in Figure 5, that is with an incline or slope
from the back edge to the front edge, thus bringing the front edge on a lower
plane than the back edge. To the extended end beam 18 contiguous to the
brake shoe there is bolted-one at each corner of the truck frame-the bracket 38
provided at its bottom with a flange having a groove or opening adapted to receive
the end 31 of the brake beam, the clearance being sufficient to permit the ends
of said beams to rendily slide in said grooves when the brake is applied or released.
Bolted to a rib of bracket 33 is the flat spring 34 which extends downwardly
below the plane of the brake beam and contiguous to the beam. This spring is
for the purpose of giving impetus to the brake beam when the brakes are released
so that the ends of the brake beams will more readily slide back in the supporting
brackets. It will be understood that when the braking appliances are applied the
brake beam is forced against the springs 34 placing them under tension, the
releasing of the braking appliances permitting said springs to exert the requisite
force to quickly move the brake beam and start it in receding.

page_text: By this arrangement of brake mechanism I obtain a strong and compact con-
struction and prevent lost motion and rattling of the parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1-In a car truck, the combination with the top chord or sill, of a leaf or
partial elliptic spring arranged at the end of the truck, one of the ends of said
spring being horizontal and the opposite end being curved in elliptic form and
extending outward to the sill to which it is suitably connected.
2-In a car truck, the combination with the top chord or sill, of a leaf or partial
elliptic spring secured near the end of the truck, a socket riveted to the end beam
of the truck and a socket secured to the top chord or sill, the front end of said
spring being curved in elliptic form and extending outward beneath the sill and
connected to the socket secured to the latter, and the opposite end of said spring
being horizontal and entering the socket riveted to the end beam.
3 In a car truck, the combination with the top chord or sill and end beam,
of a leaf or partial elliptic spring mounted on said end beam, a socket riveted to
the end beam and receiving the rear horizontal end of said spring, and a spiral
spring between the sill and the socket of said partial elliptic spring, the front
end of said spring being curved in elliptic form and extending outward and
suitably connected to the sill.
4-In a car truck, the combination with the top chord or sill, the extended end
beam and the under truss beam, of a leaf or partial elliptic spring secured in a
socket connected to the end beam and having a horizontal rear portion and a
front portion curved in elliptic form and extending outward and suitably con-
nected to the sill.
5 In a car truck, the combination with the top chord or sill and the end beam,
of a leaf or partial elliptic spring mounted on the end beam, a socket also mounted
on the end beam and receiving the rear horizontal portion of said spring and
provided with a groove in its face above the spring, and a bracket secured to the
sill and having a depending portion adapted to slide in the groove of said socket,
the front end of said spring being curved in elliptic form and extending outward
and suitably connected to the sill.
G-In a car truck, the combination with the top chord or sill, the extended end
beam and under truss beam, of spiral spring 14 between the top chord and the
end beam, spiral spring 20 socketed beneath the end beam, and a leaf or partial
elliptic spring mounted on the end beam with its rear horizontal end arranged in
a socket on the end beam and its front curved end extending outward and con-
nected to a socket on the sill.
In a car truck, a beam for supporting the nose of the motor having a strap
or casting 30 riveted thereto and provided with an opening coinciding with the
opening in the beam, whereby said beam is re-inforced and an elongated bearing
for the nose of the motor is provided.
S-In a car truck, the combination with a transverse beam secured between the
side frames of the truck and provided with spring equipped brackets, of a motor
suspension bar having its ends supported by said spring-equipped brackets and
adapted to receive the nose of the motor.
9 The combination with the upper side beams 11 of the truck frame and trans-
verse beam 26 extending between said side beams and rigidly secured thereto,
of spring-equipped brackets 26, and a motor suspension bar 28 flexibly supported
by said brackets.
10 In a car truck, a brake beam carrying the brake shoes and provided at its
end with a surface inclined from the front to the rear edge, of a bracket riveted to
the truck frame and provided with a groove to receive the inclined end of the brake
beam, and a spring secured to said bracket and co-operating with the brake beam.
11 In a car truck, a brake beam carrying the brake shoes and provided with

page_text: ends having surfaces inclined from the front to the rear edge, of brackets riveted
to the truck frame and provided with grooves to receive the inclined ends of the
brake beam and springs riveted to said brackets and, adapted to be placed under
tension when the brake mechanism is applied to give an impetus to the brake
beam when the brake mechanism is released.
12 In a car truck, the combination with the side frame including an extended
end beam and an under truss connected to said end beam, of the upper chord or
sill and a leaf spring connected to the extended end beam at the point where the
under truss beam is connected to said end heam and extending beyond said end
beam and attached to said upper chord or sill.
13 In a car truck, the combination with the pedestals, longitudinal beams 12
connected to the bottoms of said pedestals, extended end beams 13 and under truss
beams 16, of leaf springs 15 connected to the extended end beams at the point of
attachment of the under truss beams to said end beams and extending beyond said
end beams and adapted to be connected to the car sill.
Dated this 29th day of September 1997.
EDGAR PECKHAM.
Inseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.