IMPROVEMENTS AND CONNECTED WITH
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hay Downie of Corstorphine in the County of Midlothian
North Britain for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH
LETTERS PATENT to Hay Downie of Corstorphine in the County of Midlothian
North Britain for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH
BRAKES OR DRAGS FOR CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hay Downie at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th September 1882.
HAY DOWNIE, of Corstorphine, in the County of Midlothian, North Britain,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH BRAKES OR DRAGS FOR CARRIAGES AND
OTHER VEHICLES,"
,,
This Invention which relates to improvements in connection with brakes or
drags for road carriages or other vehicles, has special reference to improved modes
or means of forming and securing or fitting the rubbing and wearing blocks or
shoes to the holders or holding arms of their actuating mechanism.
The improved brake blocks are formed with the usual rubbing and wearing
surfaces or shoes, of rubber, leather, vulcanite, or other suitable material attached
to a thin metal plate which is so fitted to the holder of the brake mechanism as to
adjust itself readily to the carriage wheel, and to be easily removed and replaced
when worn out. When rubber is the wearing material used, it is by preference
attached by being vulcanised to the metal plate, the outer edges of which are
bevilled and also partly covered with the rubber. When leather or similar material
is used, it may be attached to the plate by rubber or gutta-percha solution or other
adhesive material, or by rivetting.
.
The wearing shoe thus formed is attached to the holder or holding arm on the
brake lever according to one modification, by forming eyes or staples on the back of
the metal plate into which the ends of a swivelling lockplate fit. A cover is
fitted over the back of the shoe and is secured by screws passing through it into
the locking plate, so that the whole is firmly held together. Between the locking
plate and the cover, is formed a bearing for the holding arm of the brake on which
the entire brake block is free to swivel. The extent of this swivelling motion is
however limited by stops, as by forming a projection on the end of the holding
arm to fit and move between stops formed in the inside of the cover.

page_text: .
In a modified arrangement, the locking plate is fitted over and secured to studs
projecting from the back of the cover through which screws are passed to bind the
whole.
In a further modification, the metal plate forming the back of the wearing shoe,
is cast or formed with a transverse eye piece or snug through which the holding
arm of the brake lever is passed directly and secured by a nut or pin at the outer
end. A recess is cut in the eye and a projecting piece or stud is formed on
the holding arm to limit the extent to which the wearing shoe may swivel on
the arm.
The advantage of securing the wearing block or shoe to the holder by a
swivelling joint as described, is that the shoe may adjust itself to suit the position
of the wheel, while the limitation by stops of the swivelling motion, prevents the
shoe being displaced. The position of the shoe on the holding arm inay also be
made adjustable laterally.
In another modification the plate to which the rubber is attached, is made of
thin sheet metal which is bent up at the ends and folded over a fixed wooden or
metallic holding piece which may either be fitted to swivel on the holding arm of
the brake lever, or be fixed to it in the usual way. The wearing shoe is in this
case slipped on to the holding piece, and the bent ends of the metal plate pressed
down to fit into recesses formed in the ends of this holding piece, so that it may
not be displaced.
When the wearing shoe becomes worn, the bent ends of the plate are raised by
any convenient tool to free them from the holding piece, and a new shoe fitted.
By a further modification, the holding piece to which the wearing shoe is
attached, is formed with longitudinal dovetailed slides in which is fitted a sliding
plate or wedge attached to the holding arm of the brake lever direct, or by a
swivelling joint.
In another arrangement a dovetailed wedge or wedge plate is formed on the
back of the metal plate of the wearing shoe, and dovetailed slides formed in the
swivelling or fixed holding piece.connected to the holding arm of the brake lever.
The wearing shoe is fitted to the holding piece by slipping the wedge, or wedge
plate, into the dovetailed slides or recess. The wearing shoe is by preference
curved to suit the wheel, so that it may wear evenly down to the metal plate, and
the metal plate and holding pieces are similarly curved.
The novel and important features of this Invention consist first in combining
the rubber or other equivalent wearing material with a movable metal plate. to
form a portable wearing shoe, preferably by vulcanising the india-rubber bearing
piece to a light segmental malleable or malleable-cast iron or equivalent metal
flange or carrying piece, for being easily secured and fitted on to, or removed from
the carrying arm of the brake mechanism.
And second, in fitting the brake block so that it can swivel on its carrying arm
to a sufficient extent to adjust itself tangentially, to bear properly on the rim of
the wheel, all substantially as and for the advantages hereinbefore described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Hay Downie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th March
1883.
}
HAY DOWNIE, of Corstorphine, in the County of Midlothian, North Britain,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH BRAKES OR DRAGS FOR CARRIAGES
AND OTHER VEHICLES."
My said Invention which relates to improvements in connection with brakes or
drags for road carriages or other vehicles, has special reference to improved modes
or means of forming and securing or fitting the rubbing and wearing blocks or shoes
to the holders or holding arms of their actuating mechanism.
f
The improved brake blocks are formed with the usual rubbing and wearing
surfaces or shoes of rubber, leather, vulcanite, or other suitable material attached to
a thin metal plate which is so fitted to the holder of the brake mechanism as to
adjust itself readily to the carriage wheel and to be easily removed and replaced
when worn out.
.
When rubber is the wearing material used it is attached by being vulcanised to
the metal plate, the outer edges of which are by preference bevilled and also
partly covered with the rubber. When leather or similar material is used, it
may be attached to the plate by rubber or gutta percha solution or other adhesive
material, or by rivetting."
My Invention is illustrated by the accompanying Drawings in which various..
modifications of the improved brake blocks are represented. Figure 1 is a side
elevation, figure 2 is a plan, with cover removed, and figure 3 is an inverted plan
of the cover of one modification of the improved carriage brake block. The
wearing surface or shoe is formed by a block of rubber A, which is attached by
vulcanising to a metal plate A¹. On the back of this plate A¹ eyes or staples A
are formed into which fit the bent ends B! of a locking plate B which is fitted to
swivel on a centre stud 6 on the back of the plate A¹. A cover C is fitted over'
the back of the shoe A and is secured by screws c' passing through it into the
locking plate B so that the whole is firmly held together. Between the locking
plate B and the cover C is formed a bearing D for the holding -arm or palm E of
the brake, on which the entire brake block A, B, C is free to swivel. The extent
of this swivelling motion is however limited by stops, as by forming a projection e
on the end of the holding arm E to fit and move between stops el formed in the
inside of the cover C or locking plate B.
The locking plate (B) may be fitted over and secured to studs projecting from'
the back of the cover (C) through which screws are passed to bind the whole.
:
Figure 4 is an elevation, and figure 5 a plan of a modification of the improved
brake block in which the metal plate A¹ forming the back of the wearing shoe A,'
is cast or formed with a transverse eye piece or snug A³ through which the holding
arm E of the brake lever is passed directly and secured by nuts E', or by a pin
at the outer end.
A recess may be cut in the eye A³ and a projecting piece or stud be formed on
the holding arm E to limit the extent to which the wearing shoe A, A¹, may swivel
on the arm E. The advantage of securing the wearing block or shoe A, A', to the
holder E by a swivelling joint as described is that the shoe may adjust itself to
suit the position of the carriage wheel, while the limitation by stops of the swivelling
motion prevents the shoe being displaced.
In another modification represented in plan and elevation in figures 6 and 7, the
plate A to which the rubber A is attached is made of thin sheet metal which is
'

page_text: bent up at the ends a, and folded over a fixed wooden or metallic holding piece C
which may either be fitted to swivel on the holding arm E of the brake lever, as in
figures 8, 9, 10 and 11, or be fixed to a plate E' on its end by bolts c¹ in the usual
way, as shown in figures 12 and 13.
The wearing shoe A, A', is in this case slipped on to the holding piece C, and the
bent ends a of the metal plate A¹ pressed down to fit into recesses c formed in the
ends of this holding piece C, so that it may not be displaced.
When the wearing shoe becomes worn, the bent ends of the plate are broken
off or raised by any convenient tool to free them from the holding piece C and a
new shoe fitted.
The position of the shoe A, A¹, on the holding arm E may also be made
adjustable laterally to compensate for dishing of the carriage wheel tyre.
In figures 8 and 9, which are a longitudinal section and a transverse section
respectively, the holding arm E is formed with a groove e² into which a feather d
in the bearing bush D' fits.
The end of the arm E has fitted into it a plug of rubber e³ or similar material,
which prevents shaking and knocking of the arm within the cover or holding
piece C, and also tends to limit the amount of swivelling motion on the arm E.
In figures 10 and 11 lateral adjustment is provided for by causing the brake
lever arm E to pass entirely through the block holding piece or cover C and
securing the arm within the bearings D, D' by means of rubber bushes D2, or a
rubber tube fitted over the arm E and gripped by the bearing bush D which is
secured to the cover C by screws c¹. The grip of the rubber bushes also serves to
limit the extent of swivelling motion of the brake block. In figures 14 and 15,
this mode of securing the brake block to the lever arm E by means of rubber
bushes is further exemplified. In these views, the rubber shoe A is vulcanised to
a metal plate A' on which is also formed the seat D¹ for the rubber bushes of the
holding arm E, and the cover C is secured to the brake block A, A¹, by screw
bolts c¹, the heads of which pass into recesses or slots formed for them between the
seat D' and the plate A'. Lateral swivelling of the cover C on the plate A' is
prevented by projections c² on the one fitting into recesses in the other. In
figure 16 the seat D' for the arm E is formed on the back of the plate A¹ to which
the rubber shoe A is attached and the arm E is covered by a short rubber tube
or bush D2 which is held or gripped by a cover C secured to the plate A' by
screws c¹.
In the modification shown in plan and transverse section in figures 17 and 18,
the holding piece or block C to which the wearing shoe A, A' is attached is formed
with longitudinal dovetailed slides C2 in which is fitted a sliding plate or wedge E²
attached to or formed on the holding arm E of the brake lever direct, or fitted
thereto by a swivelling joint of any of the forms herein described.
In the arrangement shown by figures 19 and 20, a dovetailed wedge or wedge
plate C³ is formed on the back of the metal plate A¹ of the wearing shoe A, and
dovetailed slides E³ are formed in the holding piece C which swivels on the holding
arm E of the brake lever, or which may be fixed thereto. The wearing shoe A, A¹,
is fitted to the holding piece C by slipping the wedge or wedge plate A³ into the
dovetailed slides or recesses C³.
Figure 21 is a section of a metal plate C to which a wearing shoe of the kind
shown in figures 6 and 7 may be attached. The plate C is secured to the plate E³
on the holding arm E by means of screw bolts c¹ which pass through slots c³ in the
plate C to admit of a slight amount of longitudinal adjustment in case where such
may be wanted to bring the curve of the brake block fairly on the carriage wheel.
In figures 22 and 23, a similar arrangement is shown in longitudinal and cross
section respectively, but the plate E' formed on the end of the brake lever arm E
is secured directly to the plate A¹ to which the rubber wearing shoe A is vulcanised,
the slots for the screw bolts c¹ being formed either in the plate A¹ or in the
plate E².
In the various modifications illustrated the wearing shoe A is by preference

page_text: curved to suit the carriage wheel, so that it may wear evenly down up to the
metal plate A¹, and the metal plate A' and holding piece C are similarly curved.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of any said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, what I claim is,-
First. A brake block for carriage wheels, consisting of a wearing surface of
rubber or similar material, vulcanised or similarly attached to a metal plate which
is. connected to the holding arm of the brake lever by any of the various
arrangements herein described and illustrated.
Second. A portable wearing shoe for carriage brake blocks consisting of a
block of rubber vulcanised to a metal plate provided with means of attachment
to the holding arm of the brake, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Third. The means herein described and illustrated of fitting or connecting the
holding plate of a carriage brake block to the holding arm of the brake lever, so
that the brake block may swivel on the arm to adjust itself to the periphery
of the wheel, substantially as herein set forth.
Fourth. As means for connecting a carriage brake block to the holding arm of
the brake lever, the plate C provided with bearings for the holding arm, arranged
so that the brake block may be adapted to the periphery of the wheel by swivelling
or by lateral adjustment, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
In Witness Whereof, I the said Hay Downie, have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Twenty sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
Witness,
W R M THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
HAY DOWNIE (L.S.)