Improvements in Devices for Operating Car-brakes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1889-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Operating Car-brakes.
I, ROBERT ANDREW KISKADDEN, Piano Tuner, residing at No. 20 Sedgneck Street,
Allegheny City, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, 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,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this
specification
My invention relates to a device for operating railway and other car-brakes;
and it consists of the novel construction and combination of parts, as will be fully set
forth hereinafter.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of my improved
device for operating car-brakes constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2
is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view.
To put my invention into practice, 1 provide a cylinder A of suitable size and form
of construction, and secure the same rigidly beneath the floor of a railway or other
car. Neatly fitted in this cylinder A are two pistons c, each having securely attached
thereto a piston-rod D, which is connected with a lever e, adapted to operate the brake
(not shown) of an ordinary car. At each side of this cylinder A, and integral
therewith, are two smaller cylinders, each having a port or opening g communicating
with the interior of the large cylinder A. Operating in each of these small cylinders f
is a valved piston h, similar to those in use in an ordinary air-pamp. Connected to
each of these valved pistons h is a rod i, extending separately to each end of the car b
at which point they are attached to a vertically-pivoted hand-lever k, projecting above
the floor of the car. At a suitable point on one of the small cylinders is placed a
relief-valve, which can be operated by means of a wire cord m and small foot-lever >>
from either end of the car. This valve serves to relieve the vacuum, and thereby
release the brakes. A check-valve r in each of the small cylinders prevents the air
from returning into the large cylinder A through the port g.
In operation the hand-lever k, at either end of the car, is operated, which action
moves the valved piston / horizontally in the small cylinder fand pumps the air from
between the two pistons c, thereby forming a vacuum. The pressure of the atmosphere
on the other side of the pistons c forces the same toward the center of the cylinder A,
thereby moving the brake-levers e and setting the brakes.
When it is desired to release the brakes, the small lever o is moved forward, which
operates the relief-valve 1, thereby admitting air to the cylinder A, which instan-
taneously relieves the brakes.
I am aware that it is not new to provide the cylinder of an automatic air-brake with
a movable inlet-valve, a discharge-valve connected to and movable with said inlet-
valve, a bell-crank lever connected to said valves and having a rod or cord which is
connected to a treadle or lever at one end of a car, and a spring connected to said
bell-crank lever for normally closing the inlet and opening the discharge valves,
whereby the bell-crank lever can be rocked by a pull on the cord or rod to open
the inlet-valve and admit compressed air to the cylinder; but such is not my
invention.
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 :-
In a device for manually operating car-brakes, the combination, with a main
cylinder and two pistons arranged in opposite ends thereof, of two supplementary

page_text: at one end with said main cylinder at a point between the two pistons therein, and
having a check-valve r, a valved piston h, operating in each of the supplementary
cylinders and connected with a hand-lever at the end of a car, a relief-valve
communicating with said main cylinder at a point between the pistons thereof and
having an axially-turning body, and a treadle o, connected with said relief-valve by an
intermediate connection m, whereby air may be admitted to the brake-cylinder through
the relief-valve and operate the pistons in the main cylinder to release the brake-shoes,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto affix my signature this 10th
In presence of
M. E. HARRISON.
J. A. HERRON.
ROBERT ANDREW KISKADDEN.