IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING THE BRAKES OF RAILWAY TRAINS BY COMPRESSED AIR
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Steel, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING THE BRAKES OF RAILWAY TRAINS BY COMPRESSED
AIR"
Sealed the 10th March 1874, and dated the 13th December 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Steel at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th December 1873.
I, JAMES STEEL, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING THE BRAKES OF RAILWAY TRAINS BY
COMPRESSED AIR," to be as follows, that is to say:
This Invention which relates to improved apparatus for actuating the
brakes of railway trains by compressed air, consists of a vertical or
horizontal cylinder or cylinders placed at each end of each carrige or
other vehicle whereof the train is composed.
The cylinders are firmly secured to the roofs or ends or bottoms of
the carriages and coupled to the framing by one or more ties or bolts.

page_text: Each such cylinder is provided with a piston and piston rod, the latter
being coupled to the levers on the brake shaft, so that as the pistons
are actuated by the compressed air the brakes are applied or withdrawn ;
or in place of using compressed air for withdrawing the brakes or
maintaining them out of contact with the wheels, counterweights,
springs, or their equivalent may be applied. The cylinders at each end
of a carriage are connected together by one or two pipes, and the con-
nection between the apparatus on any two successive carriages composing
a train is also effected by one or more pipes (two pipes being preferred),
so that there is a continuous connection through all the brake cylinders
in the train, thus enabling all the brakes throughout the train to be
instantaneously and simultaneously applied.
The compressed air is supplied to the brake apparatus from a reservoir
or reservoirs and air pump on the locomotive engine or tender.
An essential feature of this Invention is the arrangement or con-
struction of the coupling by which the air pipes are connected to the
cylinders. Each cylinder is provided with one or more openings the
face of which is composed of elastic material such as caoutchouc or
asbestos.
A bridge, bracket, or projection having a screw passing through the
bridge or projection is arranged in front of the opening, and the flexible.
coupling pipes are formed with a metallic elbow at each end having also
a flat face, which being placed against the elastic surface of the opening
is pressed and readily secured in position against that face by means of
the screw.
When it is desired to uncouple a train it is merely necessary to
withdraw the screw and the coupling of the brake apparatus is released.
In place of using cylinders at each end of each carriage one or more
cylinders may be placed at or about the centre of the roof or below the
floor of each carriage, the piston rod or rods of which are connected to
the brake levers, in which arrangements the coupling herein-before
described is attached to a chamber or passage at the end of each carriage
communicating with the cylinder or cylinders.
•
The coupling herein-before described besides being applicable to the
brake apparatus comprised under this Invention, is also applicable to
other brake apparatus actuated by compressed air.

page_text: It is to be understood that the compressed air may be used on one
side of the pistons only acting directly on the brakes or on both sides so
as to brake or "unbrake" the train, or it may be applied negatively to
resist an elastic force for braking the train maintained constantly at one
side of the pistons, which negative pressure being withdrawn the brakes
are applied,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Steel in the Great. Seal Patent Office on
the 11th June 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, James
STEEL, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three,
in the 37th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said James Steel, Her special
license that I, the said James Steel, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Steel, my executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
ACTUATING THE BRAKES OF RAILWAY TRAINS BY COMPRESSED AIR," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Steel, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Steel, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: '
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention which relates to improved apparatus for actuating
the brakes of railway trains by compressed air consists of one or more
vertical cylinders placed at each end of each carriage, or other vehicle
whereof the train is composed.
The cylinders are secured to the roofs or ends or bottoms of the
carriages, and coupled to the framing by one or more tics or bolts or
their equivalents. Each such cylinder is provided with a piston and
piston rod, the latter being coupled to the levers on the brake shaft so
that as the pistons are moved by the compressed air the brakes are
applied. The cylinders at each end of each carriage are connected
together by one or two pipes, and the connection between the apparatus
on any two successive carriages composing a train is also effected by one
or more pipes (two pipes being preferred), so that there is a continuous
connection through all the brake cylinders on the train.
The compressed air is supplied to the brake apparatus from an air
pump and reservoir or reservoirs on the locomotive engine or tender.
Each cylinder is provided with one or more openings the face of which
is composed of elastic material such as caoutchouc or asbestos.
A bracket or projection is formed upon or attached to the cylinder,
and arranged in front of the elastic face and opening. Through this
bracket or projection and opposite the opening in the elastic face a screw
is passed between which and the elastic face a metallic elbow or T piece :
(having a flat face at either end, and to which the flexible coupling
tubes are attached) is firmly secured by tightening the screw. This
elbow or T piece forms a passage for the air from cylinder to cylinder
and is easily uncoupled by withdrawing the screw which presses it.
against the elastic face.
In place of using cylinders at each end of each carriage one or more
cylinders may be placed at or about the centre of the roof of each
carriage, the piston rod or rods of which are connected to the brake
levers by passing down through one of the division linings of the
carriage, under which arrangement the coupling herein-before described 3
is attached to a chamber or passage fixed to each end of each carriage,
and in communication with the brake cylinders.

page_text: It is to be understood that the compressed air is used on one side of
the pistons only, acting directly on the brakes.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I
now proceed more particularly to describe and ascertain the system, mode,
or manner in or under which the same is or may be used or practically
carried into effect, to be as follows, reference being had to the annexed
Sheet of Drawings, on which Figure 1 is a vertical section of the brake
apparatus constructed in accordance with my Invention; Figure 2 is
also a vertical section of the same at right angles to Figure 1%; while
Figure 3 is a half plan and half horizontal section of the apparatus.
As shewn by these Figures the apparatus consists of two cylinders A
closed at the upper ends, and having the lower ends open to the
atmosphere and fitted with pistons B which are packed by cup
leathers C, each being secured to the pistons by the bolt D and
washers E. The heads of the bolts D which are virtually short piston
rods are connected by pins F to joints formed at the upper ends of the
connecting rods G, by which the pistons are coupled to the levers H
fixed upon the brake shafts I, which operate the brakes through the
lever a and connecting rod b. The brake shafts I are carried in
brackets J bolted to the lower framework of the carriage as shewn.
The air pressure is supplied to the cylinders through the tubes K, and
passes therefrom by the openings L, Figures 1 and 3, which are in com-
munication with the hollow metallic T piece couplings M. Brackets or
projections N are formed at the sides of the cylinders and arranged in
front of the openings L, the said brackets N being bushed by nuts
through which pass screws O, the centres of which are opposite the
centres of the openings L.
The inner extremities of the screws are provided with antifriction
thimbles P and the outer extremities with "vice handles" Q, by which
the screws are actuated. Around each opening L a flat face R is
formed having a recess therein filled by an elastic ring or washer S,
against the face of which the flat circular edge of the T piece coupling M
is held by the pressure imparted through the screw O. The elastic
rings S are retained in the recesses formed for them by metallic rings T
(secured to the faces R by screws U), the edges of which partly overlap
the elastic rings S, and thus keep them in position. The flexible tubes V
which connect the cylinders on the different carriages are attached to

page_text: the T piece couplings by being drawn over a nozzle or projection formed
thereon, in which position they are held by a box nut and thimble
The whole
washer as shewn, or they may be otherwise attached.
apparatus is bolted to the end and lower framework of the carriage by
bolts W passing through a flanch formed round the cylinders.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a portion of a train to which my
Invention is shewn applied; Figure 5 is an end elevation of the last
carriage of a train showing more clearly the position of the brake
cylinders affixed thereto. The brake cylinders A are connected in their
upper parts by tubes c which are led along the roof of the carriage, these
being attached to the pipes K on the brake cylinders (shewn more
particularly at Figures 1, 2, and 3). The brake cylinders A are con-
nected between the carriages by the herein-before described flexible
coupling tubes V, by which the action of the pressure of air is rendered
continuous throughout the whole length of the train.
The modes of operating the brakes are as follows:-When it is desired
to apply the brakes the engine man manipulates a two-way cock (placed so
as to be easily accessible from the foot plate of the locomotive engine),
by which the air pressure is allowed to flow from the reservoir or
reservoirs on the locomotive or tender and enter through the tubes V
the first pair of brake cylinders on the first carriage, thence through the
tubing c to the cylinders on the opposite end of the same carriage, from
whence it passes by the flexible coupling tubes V to the brake cylinders
on the next carriage, and so on to each successive set of cylinders
throughout the whole length of the train, the brake cylinders on the
end of the last carriage of which have their coupling openings stopped
(as shewn at Figure 5), by applying the couplings of one flexible
coupling tube V to the two openings on that pair of brake cylinders,
whereby the escape of air at the last set of cylinders is prevented; or
otherwise the flexible tube and couplings may be dispensed with, and
the screws O advanced so that the coupling openings will be closed by
the antifriction thimbles P on the ends thereof. The pressure of air
thus admitted above the pistons in the brake cylinders causes them to
descend and actuate (through their herein-before described attachments)
the brake shafts I which apply the brake blocks to the wheels by the
levers a and connecting rods b.
To withdraw the brakes the enginė man again turns the two-way cock
_so as to shut-off communication with the air reservoir or reservoirs on the

page_text: locomotive or tender, and so allowing the compressed air in the brake
cylinders and tubes to escape to the atmosphere, enabling the piston's to
be raised to their former position in the brake cylinders, and at the
same time withdrawing the brakes which is effected by the action of
counterweights n fixed to levers p on the brake shafts I.
In the event of an accidental rupture of one or more of the flexible
coupling tubes between the cylinders taking place, the coupling openings
on those cylinders may be closed by the thimbles on the ends of the
coupling screws, the air communication being maintained by the other
tube.
In loosing the couplings for the purpose of disconnecting the carriages
it is necessary only to unscrew one coupling at each end of each carriage,
and at the opposite sides of the respective cylinders so that one of the
flexible coupling tubes is left hanging to each duplex cylinder, thus
ensuring the flexible tubes and couplings always to come together in
proper position for being recoupled, whether the same ends of the
carriages are brought together again or not.
In applying my Invention to a vehicle running upon "bogies" the
brake shaft I is connected to the piston B by means of a flexible
coupling, such as a chain or a connecting rod fitted with an universal
joint, so as to allow for the movement of the "bogies" beneath the
body of the carriage.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe
in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and there-
fore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general arrangement and construction of apparatus for
actuating the brakes of railway trains or other vehicles by means of
compressed air as herein-before described and shewn upon the annexed
Sheet of Drawings.
Second. The arrangement and construction of coupling, whereby
connection is maintained between the air cylinders on the different

page_text: Third. Placing the brake cylinders vertically on the ends of railway
vehicles, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Steel, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Tenth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-four.