Improvements in and relating to Brakes for Tramway Cars and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 2nd June, 1900-Accepted, 7th July, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Brakes for Tramway Cars and the
like.
I, CHRISTOPHER JOHN SPENCER, of the Tramway Depôt, Bank Top, in the
City of Bradford, Tramway Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the combination of certain mechanism so
arranged that, what are known as track brakes, that is, brakes applied to the
car tracks, may be operated from either or both ends of the car or the like
simultaneously or independently of each other, and the brakes so applied that,
there is no skidding of the wheels, and in a manner that, the car or the like is
soon stopped by the frictional contact between the brakes and track, and there
held until the release of the brakes.
I accomplish my object in the following manner: At both ends of the car or
the like is mounted a bell crank lever, each lever is operated by a screw, and each
lever coupled by chains or other suitable connections to the respective levers on
a shaft mounted on the car truck.
On this shaft are secured other levers each lever being coupled to a brake
block by two bars placed at an angle to each other, and in each brake block are
formed slot holes, through which pins pass connecting the before named bars
with other bars also at an angle to each other, the opposite ends of each pair
of the last mentioned bars being connected together by a stay rod.
The brake blocks are faced with wood or other tough and suitable material,
and on operating the screw at either end, or at both ends of the car or the like
simultaneously in the direction for applying the brakes the levers on the shaft
and the angular placed bars are operated in the direction that, the brake blocks
are forced into contact with the track, and great pressure brought upon the same,
the friction between the brake blocks and track being such that, the speed of the
car or the like is immediately reduced and finally stopped without any liability
of the wheels skidding, as is the case when the brake blocks are in contact with
the wheels and applied unskilfully.
Dated this 5th day of September 1800
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent, Sunbridge Chambers, Bradford.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Brakes for Tramway Cars and the
like.
I, CHRISTOPILER JOHN SPENCER, of the Tramway Depôt, Bank Top, in the
City of Bradford, Tramway Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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, the combination of certain mechanism by
which what are known as track brakes, that is, brakes applied to the car tracks,
may be operated from either or both ends of the car or the like simultaneously
or independently of each other, and the brake so applied that, there is no skidding
of the wheels, and in a manner that, the car or the like is soon stopped by the
frictional contact between the brakes and track and there held until the release
of the brakes.
In describing my invention in detail, reference is made to the accompanying
sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1, represents an elevation of certain portions of a car truck, car platform
and brake connections such as are required to explain my invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan of a portion of a car truck, car wheels and connections with
the brake rocking shaft; on one side of the car track, the lever and connecting
links between the rocking shaft and brake block are removed for more clearly
showing the brake block-and
Fig. 3, represents a sectional elevation of a portion of a car truck and mechanism
in connection with the brake blocks.
In carrying out my object, on the car platform A at each end of the car, is
mounted a shaft B provided with a hand wheel or the like C for operating the
said shaft and at the bottom portion or in any other convenient part of the
shaft B, a screw thread is cut which engages with a nut connected to its adjacent
bell crank lever D, and each bell crank lever is respectively connected by a chain
and rod E to its respective lever For F, both secured on rocking shaft G, one
lever projecting above the said shaft and the other lever projecting below the
shaft.
The rocking shaft G is supported by journals H secured to the bars J of car
truck, and on the said shaft are secured two more levers K projecting in a hori-
zontal direction or thereabouts, one lever for each brake block L.
The levers K and brake blocks L on each side of the car are coupled together
by the respective bars M M placed at an angle to each other; the brake blocks L
are provided with lugs L through which slots 0 are formed, and between the
lugs LL, the bottom ends of the bars M are inserted; also the bottom ends of
the diagonal bars P P which are coupled together at the top by the rod Q, and
held in the required position by the bars Q Q₁ one end of which passes through
the upper ends of the diagonal bars P, P, and the opposite end secured to the
car truck bars J.
The bars M M and P P are coupled to the lugs L' L' of the brake blocks L, L,
by pins R, R, which when the rocking shaft G is operated, bring the bottom
face of the brake blocks into contact with, or clear of the tread of the rail S of
the car track, the spiral spring S₁ connected to the lever F and to a rigid part
of the car truck, and held in tension between same, on releasing the brake, the
spring S¹ on contracting, assists to raise the brake blocks clear of the tread
of the rail.
The brake blocks L are faced with wool or other tough and suitable material

page_text: at T, and on operating the screw threaded shaft B at either or at both ends
of the car independently or simultaneously in the direction for applying the
brakes, the levers F, F and K are operated in the direction that the wood or
other facing T of the brake blocks L are forced into contact with the tread
of the rail S of the car track.
The end of the levers K when applying the brake blocks to the track are moved
downwards forcing the pins R, R, towards the outer ends of the slots, and by
the diagonal bars M M and P P being connected together, and the top ends of
the diagonal bars P P supported in the manner as before described, the diagonal
bars PP are to some extent moved into a more perpendicular position, by the
pins R R travelling towards the out end of the slots 00, thereby forcing the
facings T of the brake blocks into contact with the rail tread; the frictional
contact between the said blocks and track being such that the weight of the
car resting upon the wheels W W is reduced, thereby immediately checking
the speed of the car or the like and finally stopping same without any liability
of the wheels W W skidding, as is the case when the brake blocks are in contact
with the wheels W W and applied unskilfully.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
Brakes in which are combined a rocking lever G, levers K, diagonal bars M M
and P P connected with brake blocks L, all arranged substantially in the
manner as shown and described and for the purpose as hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 1et lox of Tun 1000
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent, Sunbridge Chambers, Bradford.