IMPROVEMENTS IN BRAKES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, ALFRED BENNICK HARDING, of 1 Albion Villas, Catford, in the County of
Kent, Agent, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BRAKES (communicated to me from abroad by Josiah Harding of Antofagasta,
Chili) to be as follows:-
"
This invention has for its object to produce means more reliable, powerful, and
durable than the ordinary brake staff or spindle and chain for working brakes, and
relates to the application for this purpose of a screw staff or spindle and a lever in
conjunction with other parts as hereinafter more fully described. The invention
likewise comprises certain modifications to adapt such operating gear to vehicles
having flexible or pivotted wheel bases or bogies.
To facilitate a clear understanding of the nature of this invention, I append a
sheet of illustrative drawings.
Fig. 1. is a side view of brake mechanism shewing details of construction.
Fig. 2. is an end view of some of the mechanism shown in Fig 1.
Fig. 3. is a plan detail view, and
Fig. 4 is a detail view shewing the staff or spindle as arranged for vehicles
mounted on bogies or flexible wheel bases.
A is the brake staff or operating spindle, formed near its lower end with a screw
B that fits in a nut C having trunnions or pivots C3 by which it is connected to the
slotted prongs D₁ of a bifurcated elbow lever D pivotted on a shaft E having
bearings in eyes F of hangers H suspended from the vehicle body by pivots I when
the wheel base is rigidly attached to the body, and from the bogie truck when
bogies are used
The bangers H that carry the shaft E carry also the brake blocks or shoes K. for
the wheels of that end of the vehicle to which the brake gear is applied,-other
similar hangers carry the blocks or shoes K³, for the other end of the vehicle,
and for intermediate wheels when the brake is to be applied to vehicles having
more than four wheels. The lever D has a short arm D₁ (shewn bifurcated) which
extends downward at an angle (approximately a right angle) to the main arm and
is connected by a tension rod L to the bar M of the rearward brakes, K¹ and to the
bars of intermediate brakes when such are used. When only one tension rod L is
used, it will usually be located under the middle of the vehicle and will connect
with a short arm keyed on the shaft E.

page_text: The lever D in that case will not require the arm D". When two tension rods
are used it is preferred to construct the said lever with the short arm D₁, to serve
for connecting with one of the tension rods, but in that case a separate short arm
may be used, the lever D and also the separate short arm or arms being keyed to
the shaft E.
It will be seen that when the lever D is raised by the brake staff or spindle
screw, the pull of the arm D" (or of it and the separate arm or shaft E) acting on
the tension rod or rods L to draw the rearward brake blocks or shoes against the
wheels will react on the forward brake blocks or shoes through the shaft E which
is the fulcrum of lever D and thus the block or shoes at both ends of the vehicle
will be applied, as also intermediate brakes if there be any.
The object of connecting the nut C to the lever D by trunnions or pivots taking
into slotted holes is to allow the necessary freedom for forward and backward
motion of the lever consequent upon the swing of the hangers, and the shakes and
thrusts of the vehicle, when the brake staff or spindle is supported by upper and
thrust bearings N, N1 attached to the end of the vehicle, but when the vehicle is
mounted on bogies the thrust bearing N¹ is to be dispensed with and the brake staff
or operating spindle is to be suspended by a collar or enlargement such as O (Fig 4)
so formed that the lower end of the staff or spindle may swing with the lever D, as
the bogie truck plays laterally, particularly in turning curves, a guard will
preferably be used in this case in lieu of the thrust bearing N'.
In the case of vehicles having intermediate wheels, the intermediate brake blocks
or shoes will, like the rear ones, be placed behind the wheels, and in such cases it
'will be desirable to connect the rods, L, as low down as practicable, while in other
cases it is preferred to connect them higher up. For this purpose (or for holding
the blocks in position when the rods are at a fixed height) the bar M which the
tension rods pull is connected to the hangers H by a clamp comprising an eye
plate P, band Q, bearing plate R and binding screw S, the said eye plate and
bearing plate having stud points to bite on the shoe, so as not to shift out of
position.
.
Should it be preferred to locate the brake staff or operating spindle A and lever D
between the wheels of one side of a vehiclè this may be readily done without any
change in the construction, except that the thrust bearing N¹ of the staff or spindle
must be arranged to force the lever D downward, whereas in the other arrangement
it must pull upward.
The brake staff or operating spindle is to be provided with the usual hand
wheel W for turning it. A suitable guard is to be provided for protecting the
lower end of the brake staff or spindle.
It is to be noted that the devices employed are almost identical for any form of
'vehicle, consequently the hangers, screws and other parts may be interchangeable
throughout the whole of the rolling stock of various classes. It is also to be
observed that in this improved brake the shaft E by which the lever D is made to
work the brakes, also forms one of the brake bars and thus enables the lever device
to be arranged in a very simple manner.

page_text: I, ALFRED BENNICK HARDING, of 1 Albion Villas, Catford, in the County of
Kent, Agent, do bereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BRAKES" (a communication to me from abroad by Josiah Harding of Antofagasta
Chili,) 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 to produce means more reliable, powerful, and
durable than the ordinary brake staff or spindle and chain for working brakes, and
relates to the application for this purpose of a screw staff or spindle and a lever in
conjunction with other parts as hereinafter more fully described. The invention
likewise comprises certain modifications to adapt such operating gear to vehicles
having flexible or pivotted wheel bases or bogies.
To facilitate a clear understanding of the nature of this invention, I append two
sheets of illustrative drawings.
Fig 1 is a side view of brake mechanism shewing details of construction.
Fig 2 is an end view of some of the mechanism shown in Fig 1.
Fig 3 is a plan detail view, and Fig 4 is a detail view shewing the staff or
spindle as arranged for vehicles mounted on bogies or flexible wheel bases.
Fig 5 is a side view, in outline, of a four wheel-vehicle, with a rigid wheel base
showing any improved brake applied thereto and Fig 6 is an end outline view of
the same. Fig 7 shows in side outline elevation the application of the brake to a
six wheel vehicle with rigid wheel base. Figs 8, 9 and 10 are side elevations, also
in outline, of different arrangements of vehicles with pivotted trucks, showing the
application of the improved brake thereto and Fig 11 is an end view in outline of
the vehicle shown in Fig 8. Fig 12 is a side elevation, in outline, of a vehicle,
with the improved brake arranged at one side of the same and between the wheels
thereof.
A is the brake staff or operating spindle, formed near its lower end with a
screw B that fits in a nut C having trunnions or pivots C" by which it is connected
to the slotted prongs D¹ of a bifurcated elbow lever D pivotted on a shaft E having
bearings in eyes F of hangers H suspended from the vehicle body by pivots I when
the wheel base is rigidly attached to the body, and from the bogie truck when
bogies are used.
The hangers H that carry the shaft E carry also brake blocks or shoes K for the
wheels of that end of the vehicle to which the brake gear is applied :-other
similar hangers carry blocks or shoes K¹, for the other end of the vehicle, and for
intermediate wheels when the brake is to be applied to vehicles having more than
four wheels. The lever D has a short arm Dn (shewn bifurcated) which extends
downward at an angle (approximately a right angle) to the main arm and is
connected by a tension rod L to the bar M of the rearward brakes, K¹ and to the
bars of intermediate brakes when such are used. When only one tension rod L is
used, it will usually be located under the middle of the vehicle and will connect
with a short arm keyed on the shaft E. The lever D in that case will not require
the arm D. When two tension rods are used it is preferred to construct the said
lever in one with the short arm D", to serve for connecting it with one of the
tension rods. In that case a separate short arm must be used for connection with
the other tension rod the lever D and also the separate short arm or arms being
keyed to the shaft E as shown.
$
It will be seen that when the lever D is raised by the brake staff or spindle
screw, the pull of the arm D" (or of it and the separate arm on the shaft E) acting

page_text: on the tension rod or rods L to draw the rearward brake blocks or shoes against
the wheels will react on the forward brake blocks or shoes through the shaft E
which is the fulcrum of lever D and thus the blocks or shoes at both ends of the
vehicle will be applied, as also intermediate brakes if there be any.
The object of connecting the nut C to the lever D by trunnions or pivots taking
into slotted holes is to allow the necessary freedom for forward and backward
motion of the lever consequent upon the swing of the hangers, and the shakes and
thrusts of the vehicle, when the brake staff or spindle is supported by upper and
thrust bearings N. N¹ attached to the end of the vehicle; but when the vehicle is
mounted on bogies the thrust bearing N¹ is to be dispensed with and the brake
staff or operating spindle is to be suspended by a collar or enlargement such as O
(Fig 4), so formed that the lower end of the staff or spindle may swing with the
lever D, as the bogie truck plays laterally, particularly in turning curves, a guard
will preferably be used in this case in lieu of the thrust bearing N¹.
In the case of vehicles having intermediate wheels as in Figs 7 and 8 the
intermediate brake blocks or shoes will, like the rear ones, be placed behind the
wheels, and in such cases it will be desirable to connect the rods L as low down as
practicable, while in other cases it is preferred to connect them higher up.
For this purpose (or for holding the blocks in position when the rods are at a
fixed height) the bar M which the tension rods pull as well as the shaft E are each
connected to one of the hangers H-by-a.clamp.compressing.an.eye-plate. P, band Q,
bearing plate R and binding screw S, the said eye-plate and bearing plate-having
stud points T to bite on the shoe so that it shall not shift out of position.
Should it be preferred to locate the brake staff or operating spindle A and
lever D between the wheels of one side of a vehicle as shewn in Fig 12, this may
be readily done without any change in the construction, except that the rods L
connecting the short arm of the levers D with the rear hanger must be so
constructed as to resist a thrust instead of a pull..
The brake staff or operating spindle is to be provided with the usual hand
wheel W for turning it. A suitable guard is to be provided for protecting the
lower end of the brake staff or spindle.
It is to be noted that the devices employed are almost identical for any form of
vehicle consequently the hangers, screws and other parts may be interchangeable
throughout the whole of the rolling stock of various classes.
It is also to be observed that in this improved brake the shaft E by which the
lever D is made to work the brakes, also forms one of the brake bars and thus
enables the lever device to be arranged in a very simple manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The combination in a brake of the screw staff or spindle A. nut C. lever D
shaft E brake hangers H, brake blocks or shoes K. K¹ and connecting or tension
rod or rods L, substantially as herein before described.
2. In a brake having a lever D operated by a screw staff or spindle A for
working the brake blocks or shoes as hereinbefore described the use of the screw
staff or spindle A connected to the said lever D by the nut C having trunnions C³
arranged in the slotted prongs D¹ of the lever D as herein before described.
3. In a brake for vehicles having flexible wheel bases and comprising a lever D
and screw staff or spindle A, connected to the brake blocks or shoes as herein before
described, suspending the screw staff or spindle A from the support or bearing N
by an oval collar O as above set forth.
4. In a brake having a lever D operated by a screw staff or spindle A, for
working the brake blocks or shoes as herein before described, the said brake being
located at the side of a vehicle and between the wheels thereof, the employment of
the thrust bearing N¹ for the screw staff, in the manner and for the purpose
specified.

page_text: 5 In a brake having a screw staff or spindle and lever for operating the brakes
blocks or shoes as above set forth the use of the lever shaft E, by which the tension
rods are operated, arranged with and formning the connecting bar of one pair of
brake blocks or shoes, substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. In a brake, an elbow lever secured upon the connecting bar or shaft of one
pair of brake blocks or shoes the said lever having its shorter arm connected with
another pair of brake blocks or shoes and its longer arm fitted for carrying a nut,
combined with a screw threaded brake staff or spindle and a nut, substantially as
herein before described.
Dated this 17th day of November 1981