Improvements in Hand Trucks.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 2nd Feb., 1895
Improvements in Hand Trucks.
I, HENRY LISCH HAZEN, of Patchogue, in the County of Suffolk, State of
New York, 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 :—
This invention relates to hand trucks for carting cases, trunks, and similar
articles, and has for its object to provide means for instantaneously braking
the wheels of such trucks by the movement of the foot, and also to provide an
attachment whereby the said brakes may after the application thereof be locked
in position.
In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this Specification, in which like
letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a truck embodying my invention, the brakes
being applied to the wheels thereof and locked in such position.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same with the brakes released.
In the practice of my invention, I secure to the inner side of the truck-frame A
sockets a, in which is journaled a shaft B, having formed upon the centre thereof a
circular shoulder 6 having thereon a projecting lug 6. Surrounding this shaft on
either side thereof are springs c secured to the axle A' and to the shaft by means
of adjustable nuts c. Rearward of the shaft B is a bar C, mounted in each side of
the truck-frame A, and having journaled thereon a curved arm C₁ which passes
below the axle A', and has at the forward end thereof and preferably formed
integrally therewith, the pedal C³. This pedal is secured to the lug b³ by means
of a short chain or other connection b¹.
Mounted on the shaft at each end thereof are the wings d, of approximately
triangular shape, and having in the free or broadest end thereof slots d'. At the
outer side of each of these wings are the brake shoes e having thereon one or more
studs f passing through and working in the grooves d', the said studs having a
nut upon the end thereof.
These brake-shoes are curved at the inside to correspond with the circumference
of the wheels A³, and in common with the whole of the device are preferably of
wrought or cast iron or other metal, and have upon their inner sides a covering of
elastic or flexible material 9. The said brake-shoes are provided upon the bottom
with teeth or corrugations .
Upon the outer sides of the truck-frame are journaled pinions i, each having
mounted thereon a segmental clamping iron or lever j. In front of the pinions i
are secured sliding ratchet bars k, held in engagement with the said pinions by
means of the guides or shoulders k', and these ratchet bars are secured to a
horizontal bar connecting the same together at the top.
Sliding vertically in loops on the bows A' of the truck is a rod m, rigidly
fastened to the bar and having thereon a handle m' by which it is raised, the said
bar being maintained normally lowered by a spring m² surrounding the same
between the upper loop and a lug m³ which I form upon the said rod m.
Depending from the upper bow A is a plate n, secured thereto, in which is
pivoted a swinging arm n', which is hollow and has pivoted within the same a
catch o. Above this catch, and between a lug n³ in the arm n' is a block of
rubber or other elastic material o'. The plate n is secured by means of a bolt p

page_text: passing through a slot p² in the said plate whereby the same is vertically
adjustable.
The operation of the device will be clearly understood from the foregoing
description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. The pedal C
may be depressed by the foot of the expressman or operator of the truck without
the said foot being completely raised from the floor, and as this is accomplished
the wings d are lowered and the brake-shoes e thereby brought into engagement
with the wheels, preventing any further movement of the same, and thus effectually
stopping the truck. The under or corrugated surface of the brake-shoes also
impinges against the ground or surface on which the truck is being wheeled to
reinforce the braking action of the shoes upon the wheels.
The shoes having been thus depressed, the rod m is raised by means of the
handle m' and the lug m³ thereof rested upon the catch o of the arm n¹. Through
this movement the ratchet bars k are likewise raised, thereby turning the pinions i
and forcing the arms; downwardly to clamp the brake-shoes e in place. The
wheels of the truck will then be prevented from moving, while at the same time
the truck-frame may be moved slightly toward or away from the operator
irrespective of the wheels by reason of the length of the slots d' in the wings d,
the said wheels being immobile and serving as bearings, while the truck-frame and
the axle A¹ to which it is secured have the effect of being journaled therein.
While the catch o holds the clamps very firmly, the lug m³ may be released
therefrom very readily by pulling down the rod m, the rubber block o' permitting
the catch to yield sufficiently to release the lug and raise the clamps, thus enabling
the said releasement to be very quickly effected.
The advantages of the present device rest mainly in the improvement in con-
struction of the operating pedal, whereby the same may be actuated by the toe of
the foot without raising the heel from the ground; as also the attachment for
locking the brake-shoes when once depressed. Furthermore, the tension of the
springs c, which maintain the brakes normally above the wheels and in releasement
therefrom, may be regulated by adjusting the nuts c'. The plate n may also be
adjusted by means of the nut p, in order that the clamps ; may be held firmly
down upon the shoes.
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 :
1. A brake attachment for trucks, consisting of one or more shoes arranged upon
a shaft journaled near the wheels thereof and having an elastic or flexible covering
thereon, and a pedal on the shaft adapted to actuate the same and bring the shoes
into engagement with the wheels, substantially as shown and described.
2. A brake attachment for trucks, consisting of one or more shoes arranged upon
a shaft journaled near the wheels thereof, and having an elastic or flexible covering
on the face thereof and roughened at the bottom where they meet the ground, and
a pedal upon the shaft adapted to actuate the same and bring the shoes into
engagement with the wheels, substantially as shown and described.
3. A brake attachment for trucks, consisting of a shaft journaled near the
wheels, wings at each end of the same having grooves therein, shoes at either
side of the wings having studs working in the said grooves, a pedal upon the
shaft to actuate the same and bring the shoes into engagement with the wheels,
and a spring surrounding the shaft adapted to maintain the wings normally in
a raised position and the shoes out of engagement with the wheels, substantially
as shown and described.
4. A brake attachment for trucks, consisting of a shaft journaled in sockets upon
the axle thereof, wings at each end of the same having grooves therein, shoes at
either side of the wings having studs working in the grooves, the said shoes being
corrugated at the bottom and curved at the face, an elastic or flexible covering
thereon, a pedal upon the shaft to actuate the same and bring the shoes into

page_text: engagement with the wheels, and a spring surrounding the shaft adapted to
maintain the wings normally in a raised position and the shoes out of engagement
with the wheels, substantially as shown and described.
5. A brake attachment for trucks, consisting of one or more shoes mounted upon
a shalt journaled near the wheels thereof, a projecting lug upon the shaft, a
pedal beneath the same, and a chain connecting the pedal and the lug, whereby the
depression of the pedal will bring the shoes into engagement with the wheels,
substantially as shown and described.
6. A brake attachment for trucks, consisting of a shaft journaled near the
wheels thereof and having a spring surrounding the same, shoes arranged upon
the shaft at either side thereof, an eccentric upon the said shaft, and a pedal
journaled below the same, and connecting to the said eccentric, substantially as
shown and described.
7. A brake attachment for trucks, consisting of one or more shoes supported
near the wheels thereof and adapted to be brought into engagement therewith, and
a locking attachment adapted to clamp the said shoes in position, substantially as
shown and described.
8. A brake attachment for trucks, consisting of one or more shoes supported
near the wheels thereof and adapted to be brought into engagement with the said
wheels, one or more clamps adapted to lock the shoes, and an arm connecting
therewith to actuate the same, substantially as shown and described.
9. A brake attachment for trucks, consisting of one or more shoes supported
near the wheels thereof and adapted to be brought into engagement with the said
wheels by the foot, clamps journaled at each side of the truck, an arm adapted to
depress the said clamps, and a hook for securing the said arm, substantially as shown
and described.
10. A brake attachment for trucks consisting of a shaft journaled near the
wheels thereof and having a projecting lug upon the centre thereof, a spring
surrounding the said shaft, a pedal journaled beneath the same and connecting
to the lug, shoes at either side of the shaft, clamps journaled upon each side of
the truck, a rod adapted when raised to lock the said clamps upon the shoes, a lug
upon the end of the said rod, and a catch above the same, substantially as shown
and described.
11. A brake attachment for trucks, consisting of a shaft journaled near the
wheels thereof and having a projecting lug thereon, wings at each side of the
same having grooves therein, shoes mounted upon the wings, a spring surrounding
the shaft to maintain the shoes normally out of engagement with the wheels, a
pedal journaled beneath the shaft and connecting to the lug, pinions journaled
at each side of the truck and having clamping arms secured thereto, ratchet
bars engaging with the said pinions, a rod adapted to raise the said bars, and
a catch adapted to engage with the said arm, substantially as shown and
described.
Dated this 18th day of December 1894.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.