Improvements in the Construction and Arrangement of Friction Brakes for Tramway Cars.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 10th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 10th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction and Arrangement of Friction
Brakes for Tramway Cars.
I JOSEPH HENRY BETTELEY Engineer, of 42 Old Broad Street, in the City
of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in the construction and arrange-
ment of friction brakes for tramway cars the object being to furnish a brake of
effective character of simple construction and that will act, mainly in compression
by a brake block or a strap or band upon a friction wheel or wheels or drum or
drums fixed on the axle or axles of the wheels of the car or said friction wheel or
wheels may be made of a piece with the running wheels.
In carrying the invention into effect and according to one mode of application I
mount upon the axle of the wheels a broad faced friction wheel or drum upon
which said wheel or drum the brake-block or -blocks, or brake-strap or -straps or
-band or -bands is or are to bear and take effect.
In the case of using the strap or band brake the same will act or bear upon
more than one half of the friction wheel surface when the brake is in action.
A like drum may be mounted upon each of the axles and double acting brake
mechanism be employed.
The said brake-blocks or -straps or -bands are acted upon by a thrust-rod or
thrust-rods connected with the ordinary action-bar and connections, which action-
bar is thrown into action by the ordinary winch handle or a lever.
Outward, from the central portion of the brake motion action-bar are jointed or
articulated the thrust-rod or thrust-rods extending to and connected so as to press
upon the brake blocks or ends of the brake-straps to place the same under action
of compression upon the brake-wheel or drum as aforesaid.
The frictional surface of the brakes may be faced to ensure full frictional effect.
According to a modification instead of the brake action taking effect through the
thrust rod or thrust-rods a chain connection and pulling action may be substituted
operating from the action-bar.
Date 10th T
1004
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction and Arrangement of Friction
Brakes for Tramway Cars.
I JOSEPH HENRY BETTELEY of 42 Old Broad Street in the City of London
Engineer, 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 certain improvements in the construction and arrange-
ment of friction brakes for tramway cars and the like the object being to furnish a
brake of effective character of simple construction and that will act mainly in

page_text: compression by a brake-block or a brake-strap or -band upon a friction-wheel or
-wheels or -drum or -drums fixed on the axle or axles of the wheels of the car; or
said friction-wheel or -wheels may be made of a piece with the running or track
wheels.
In carrying the invention into effect and according to one mode of application I
mount upon the axle of the wheels a broad faced friction-wheel or drum upon
which said wheel or drum the brake-block or -blocks, or -strap or -straps or -band
or -bands is or are to bear and take effect.
In the case of using the strap- or band-brake the same will be arranged to act or
bear upon or over the face of the friction-wheel or -drum surface circumferentially
when the brake is in action.
A like drum may be mounted upon each of the axles and double acting brake
thrust rods and mechanism be employed.
The said brake blocks or -bands or -straps are acted upon by thrust rod or
thrust-rods connected with the ordinary action-bar and connections, which action-
bar is thrown into operation by the ordinary winch handle or a lever, by hand or
by power whether from the piston of a compressed air steam or cacuum cylinder or
hydraulic power.
Outside but close to the central portion of the brake-action-bar is or are jointed
or articulated the thrust-rod or -rods extending to and connected so as to press
upon the brake-blocks or ends of the brake straps to place the same under action
of compression upon the brake-wheel or -drum as aforesaid.
The frictional surface of the brakes or of the brake-drum or drums may be faced
to ensure full frictional effect.
According to a modification instead of the brake action taking effect through
the thrust-rod or -rods & chain connection and pulling action may be substituted
operating from the action bar and connections as will more fully hereinafter
appear.
hereto
In order that my said invention may be well ascertained there is annexed
sheets of drawings which will be referred to by figures and letters in
the following particular description, like letters indicating similar parts throughout.
Figs. 1 and 2, are, illustratively, side view and plan respectively of a tramway-
car lower framing, showing the construction and arrangement of the improved
brake-appliance.
Fig. 3, illustrates in plan the application of two brake-blocks with connecting
cross-bar and two vee rimmed drums upon the wheels-axle said veed drums being
made of a piece with the wheels.
Fig. 4, shows the vee drum and wheel detached but applied to the axle.
Fig. 4A, shows a vce drum in similar manner but with the vec in reverse
disposition.
Fig. 5, in like manner to Fig. 4, shows the vee drum applied to the axle but
separately from the wheel.
Fig. 5 shows the reversely disposed vee drum applied separate from the wheel
similarly to Fig. 5.
Fig. 6 represents a double vee rimmed drum for purposes of this invention, if
found desirable.
Fig. 7, illustrates in face view a flat rimmed drum made of two materials (outside
cheeks of iron or steel and intermediate wood or other material filling) for frictional
effect.
Figs. 8, and 8ª, show in face and side views a flat rimmed drum such as is
illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and 7 but the filling material is disposed cross-wise of
the rim of the drum (this filling material however need not necessarily be obliquely
disposed although preferably so).
Figs. 9, and 94, show by side view and plan respectively the application, con-
struction and arrangement of parts wherein a brake strap or -band is employed
acting upon the underside and partly around the brake drum by compression of the
thrust rods of the brake action bar.

page_text: Figs. 10, and 10ª, are like views to Figs. 9, and 94, showing the brake-strap or
-band acting in like manner but upon the upper side of the brake-drum.
Figs. 11, and 114, are like views to the last showing a chain or flexible connection
with the brake-strap or -band directed under a roller and effecting the action of
compression of the brake-strap or -band upon the brake drum on the wheels axle.
A, indicates the framing of the vehicle; B, the supporting bracket or hanger for
the turn-pin of the action-bar C, and C¹ connections to the brake-lever-handle-
spindle D, shown such as is usually employed for tramway-car-brakes; but the
brake lever will be subject to such modifications as may be found. necessary or
desirable in applying the invention to other vehicles or a train of vehicles; or for
the thrusting or pulling action of a piston rol or connection, operated by compressed
air or steam or vacuum or hydraulic power, or the momentum of the vehicle, and
arranged to thrust or pull upon the action-bar C, and so effect the brake action.
For effecting the brake-action, thrust rods E, are jointed to the action bar C,
and give therefrom the pressure to the brake-blocks F, or brake straps or -bands G,
(or their intermediate connections when any such are employed). H, is the brake
drum or -drums on the wheels axle.
In Figs. 1 and 2, the shoes of the brake blocks F are hung upon and jointed to
swing-hanging-arms f¹, the thrust rods E being jointed at e', to the shoe of the
brake-blocks F. There are two thrust rods shown in these figures operating the
brakes upon
the drums of both the frout and back wheels of the car and capable
of operation from either end of the car or vehicle.
When two or more cars are running together the brake connections will be
joined together from one car to the other so as to put the brakes in action from
one end of the train or the other according to whichever direction the same may
be driven.
In Fig. 3, there is in addition to the swing hanging arms f, and fixed to the
outer ends thereof a cross bar f³, to the ends whereof are secured the two brake
blocks F, corresponding to the vee rimmed brake-drums H. These drums might
however be flat faced drums similar to those of Figs. 1 and 2, or otherwise be as
shown in the detail drawings Figs. 4 to 8^.
In Figs. 9, to 114, there are shown fixed to the cross bars of framing A and on
each side of the brake drums H, two bars or beams A', supporting the fixed
attachment G³, of the brake straps or bands G.
In Figs. 11, and 11^, there is shown the directing roller I, under which the
compression chain E³, of the action-bar C, and brake-band G, is directed and
passed to apply the brake.
At K, are indicated recovery springs applied between the action-bar and
vehicle-cross-framing for assisting the release of the brake when the brake action
is to be taken off. Springs for this purpose might be variously applied, or other
power (such as by piston action) may be utilized for this purpose.
The turn-pin of the action bar C, is shown in the various figures arranged in
upright position with the action-bar itself capable of movement in horizontal
direction and is believed to be preferable but the turn-pin might be positioned
horizontally with the action bar so disposed as to move in a vertical plane the
action of the thrust rods E on the brake blocks being substantially the same in
either case.
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 :-
First. The improvements in the construction and arrangement of friction brakes
for cars or vehicles, constructed combined and operating as herein described in
reference to and shown by the respective figures of the drawings.
Secondly. In friction brakes for cars the combination of the brake blocks Fƒ',
acting in compression with the axle-drum or -drums H as and for the purpose set
forth.

page_text: Thirdly. In friction brakes as herein described the combination of the fixed
axle-drum or drums H; the brake blocks and supports Ff¹ and the thrust rods E,
operated through the action bar or lever substantially such as C, as and for the
purpose set forth.
Fourthly. In friction brakes as herein set forth the combination with the drum H
on the wheels axle of the cross bars A' of the framing A, supporting the attach-
ment G', of the brake strap or band G, as and for the purpose herein set forth and
shown by the drawings.
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For J. H. BETTELEY,
Walter A. Barlow,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Expert,
7, John Street, Bedford Row, W.C.