IMPROVE- BIENTS IN BRAKE SHOES FOR RETARDING THE MOTION OF WHEELS OR OTHER BODIES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philip Middleton Justice, of 14, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
BIENTS IN BRAKE SHOES FOR RETARDING THE MOTION OF WHEELS OR OTHER
BODIES." A communication from abroad by John H ward Mitchell, of the City
of Philadelphia, United States of America.
Sealed the 16th December 1879, and dated the 23rd June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philip Middleton Justice at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd June 1879.
PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRAKE SHOES FOR RETARDING THE
MOTION OF WHEELS OR OTHER BODIES." A communication from abroad by John
Howard Mitchell, of the City of Philadelphia, United States of America.
This Invention consists in using portions of rope or textile fabrics, made of
fibrous material properly prepared, subjected to and held in a powerfully compressed
condition, and in this state employed as a facing for the brake shoes of railway
carriages, waggons, and locomotive engines, or for similar purposes, it having been
found that rope and similar materials, when subjected to and held under extreme
pressure, preserve an endurance, and at the same time give a "grip" in both wet
and dry weather, which makes their usefulness unequalled as a means of retarding
the rotary motion of wheels upon a rail or roadway.

page_text: -
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Philip Middleton Justice in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th December 1879.
PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRAKE SHOES FOR RETARDING THE
MOTION OF WHEELS OR OTHER BODIES." A communication from abroad by John
Howard Mitchell, of the City of Philadelphia, United States of America.
This Invention consists in using portions of rope or textile fabrics, made of
fibrous material, properly prepared, subjected and held in a powerfully compressed
condition, and in this state employed as the facing or part of the facing of the
brake shoes of railway carriages, waggons, and locomotive engines, or the brake
shoe may be used for other similar purposes, it having been found that rope and
similar materials, when properly prepared, subjected to and held under extremo
pressure, preserve an endurance, and at the same time give a "grip" in both wet
and dry weather, which makes their usefulness unequalled as a means of retarding
the rotary motion of wheels upon a rail or roadway, while the wear upon the tyre
is much less than if the entire shoe was composed of metal or the like material.
To better and more clearly explain the nature of the Invention of my foreign
correspondent, and the manner in which the same may be practically carried into
effect, reference is made to the annexed Sheet of Drawings which form part of this
Specification, and which show how this Invention may be adapted to the brake
shoes of railway carriages and engines. Fig. I. represents a side elevation of ono
of the forms of brakeshoes now in use; Fig. II. represents an elevation of the
friction or wearing surface of the same when made in accordance with this Inven-
tion; Fig. III. represents a side sectional elevation of the removable or wearing
surface of Fig. I.; Fig. IV. represents an end sectional elevation of Fig. II., showing.
the rounded corner of the shoe as adapted to avoid coming in contact with the
flange of the wheel; Fig. V. represents the lighter form of brake shoe (when made
in accordance with one form of this Invention), as adopted by some of the leading
railways of the United States.
In all the Figs. A represents the portions of rope or other fabrics employed to
give the necessary grip upon the wheel. When using rope for this purpose I prefer
to prepare it in the following manner:- -The rope being, say, 3/4 inches in diameter,
is first cut into lengths of, say, 3 inches each, the said pieces being then boiled in
resin or other suitable material. When the rope becomes thoroughly saturated with
the melted resin it is removed from the boiler, and while in its heated state is placed
in a die or mould of virtually the same diameter as the recesses formed in the face
of the brake shoe. Pressure, hydraulic or otherwise, is then applied to the ends of
the pieces, which are compressed until their length equals that of the recess into
which they are intended to be inserted. The resin rapidly hardens, and the pieces
of rope are then removed from the die or mould. If the brake shoe be now heated
just sufficiently to soften the exterior coating of the prepared rope when brought in
contact therewith, the pieces may be quickly driven into their respective recesses
by the use of a hammer or mallet; as the brake shoe cools the resin "sets," and
the pieces of rope become firmly fixed in their respective positions. The shoe itself
may be cast with the necessary recesses, or may be cast solid and then bored out,
the former being of course much the cheapest method.
I prefer when practicable to form said shoes with the recesses in the honey-comb
nanner shown in Figs. II., III, and IV. In certain cases however the thickness of
the shoe ordinarily employed by the intended user will not advantageously permit
of this course being followed, and in such cases may prepare the shoe as repre-
sented in Fig. V. Although I have described rope as being employed for the
purpose of giving the requisite grip, it is evident that other materials, such as

page_text: thongs of leather, felt, and other fabrics of a textile character may be employed for
this purpose; and instead of resin, asphalte, pitch, gutta percha, or the like material
may be used. I am aware that it has been proposed to use wood, paper, or india
rubber to fill recesses or cavities formed in the face of brake shoes, and also resinous
substances combined with sand, and likewise metal plugs, and I do not claim the
use of such materials as a portion of my Invention, but what I do claim and desire
to secure by Letters Patent is, the improvement in brake shoes hereinbefore set
forth, consisting of the combination with such brake shoe of a wearing surface
formed of rope or textile materials suitably prepared and held in a powerfully com-
pressed condition, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip Middleton Justice, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.