AN IMPROVED METHOD OF APPLYING BREAKS TO RAILWAY CARRIAGES.
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Frederick Lee Meakin, of No. 40, Albion
Street, Hyde Park, in the County of Middlesex, Surveyor and Civil
Engineer, but now of No. 4, Martin's Lane, Cannon Street, City, London,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF APPLYING BREAKS TO
RAILWAY CARRIAGES.
Sealed the 14th August 1857, and dated the 19th February 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Frederick Lec
Meakin at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 19th February 1857.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK LEE MEAKIN, of No. 40, Albion Street, Hyde Park,
in the County of Middlesex, Surveyor and Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF APPLYING BREAKS
TO RAILWAY CARRIAGES," to be as follows:-
This Invention cousists in applying ropes or chains properly connected and
supported and passing longitudinally and continuously with any number of
carriages in a train, which ropes or chains when connected are so arranged
and regulated in their course by passing under or over certain mechanical
appliances, consisting of 'rods or bars attached to the carriages, and connected.
with the breaks for the purpose of working them; also other bars, turning on
proper centres, and connected between the carriages, for the purpose of com-

page_text: pensating for any slack in the rope or chain (caused by the carriages coming
oser together), and counteracting any tendency the tightening up of the rope
or chain might have to draw together the carriages. Also apparatus, consisting
of a lever bar with clutch attached, turning on a centre, which, in the event of
the rope or chain breaking from accident while the train is in motion, will fall
down and hold fast the rope or chain, and thus allow the force to be applied to
the breaks without causing inconvenience. These appliances are for the
purpose of enabling the men having charge of the train, by working certain
apparatus, consisting of a screw wheel and drum, to which the rope or chain is
attached, acted on by a spring, for the purpose of rapidly taking up any slack
in the rope or chain, and allowing the men to apply the requisite force to the
breaks; or by means of apparatus, consisting of cylinder and piston, with rod
attached, and to which the rope or chain is fixed, so that when water or steam
is forced into the cylinder behind the piston, it immediately moves the piston
and rod, and draws the rope or chain, and applies the necessary force to the
breaks; or by means of a crab screw wheel and drum, lever, or other equivalent
mechanical contrivance, for tightening up the said rope or chain, to move
simultaneously the breaks on to the wheels of any number of carriages with a
force sufficient to retard or stop them.
The great advantage of this Invention consists in its simple and easy
application to all kinds of breaks now in use, and that it may be applied to
others.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Frederick Lee Meakin in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 14th August 1857..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
FREDERICK LEE MEAKIN, of No. 40, Albion Street, Hyde Park, in the County
of Middlesex, Surveyor & Civil Engineer, but now of No. 4, Martin's Lane,
Cannon Street, City, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Frederick Leo Meakin, Her special licenco that I, the said George
Frederick Lee Meakin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such s
others as 1, the said George Frederick Lee Meakin, my executors, adminis-

page_text: trators, and 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 "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF APPLYING BREAKS TO RAILWAY CARRIAGES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Frederick Lee Meakin,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 George Frederick Lee Meakin, do hereby
declare the nature of my said 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 consists in applying ropes or chains properly connected and
supported and passing longitudinally and continuously with any number of
carriages in a train, which ropes or chains when connected are so arranged
and regulated in their course by passing under or over certain mechanical
appliances, consisting of rods or bars attached to the carriages, and connected
with the breaks for the purpose of working them; also other bars turning on
proper centres, and connected between the carriages for the purpose of com-
pensating for any slack in the rope or chain (caused by the carriages coming
closer together), and counteracting any tendency the tightening up of the rope
or chain might have to draw together the carriages. Also apparatus, consisting
of a lever bar with clutch attached, turning on a centre, which, in the event
of the rope or chain breaking from accident while the train is in motion, will
fall down and hold fast the rope or chain, and thus allow the force to be applied
to the breaks without causing inconvenience. These appliances are for the
purpose of enabling the men having charge of the train, by working certain
apparatus, consisting of a screw wheel and drum, to which the rope or chain is
attached, acted on by a spring, for the purpose of rapidly taking up any slack
in the rope or chain, and allowing the men to apply the requisite force to the
breaks; or by means of apparatus, consisting of cylinder and piston, with rod
attached, and to which the rope or chain is fixed, so that when water or steam
is forced into the cylinder behind the piston, it immediately moves the piston
and rod, and draws the rope or chain, and applies the necessary force to the
breaks; or by means of a crab screw wheel and drum, lever, or other

page_text: with a force sufficient to retard or stop them.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING.
Mem. The same letters refer to the same parts in all the Figures.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are elevations and part elevations of railway
carriages, shewing some of the methods of applying this Invention. Figuro 8
is a cross section of Figure 1. (a) is the rope or chain, which when tightened
up communicates the required force to the breaks of a train for the purpose
of retarding or stopping it. The rope or chain and apparatus is shewn in all
the Figures passing and working below the carriages, but if found more
convenient may pass and work along the top, sides, or through the carriages.
The rope or chain (a) is made fast at either or both ends or any other con-
venient point or points in the train, so that when it is tightened up from either
or both ends, or any intermediate part of the train, it raises or otherwise moves
the rods or bars (c), or other equivalent mechanical appliances, for transmitting
the power, which is so connected with the breaks, that by moans of leverage
the necessary force is applied to any or all the breaks. (b, 6, 6,) are supports
for the rope or chain, and are shewn with rollers for reducing the friction.
Figure 9 shews a system of applying the breaks by means of rope, chain, or
chain bars (a), having on them or attached to them inclined, surfaces, which
being drawn under rods or bars (c,, w,) or other equivalent mechanical
appliances connected with the breaks, raise or otherwise more them, and apply
the necessary force to the breaks. (w) is a spring bar for regulating the
pressure on the breaks.
Figure 10 is an. enlarged elevation of the compensating apparatus (D),
shown between the carriages, Figures 1, 2, and 3, for preventing the rope
or chain (a) slacking when the carriages come more closely together or
change their relative positions,, as well as counteract the tendency which
the tightening up of the rope or chain would have to draw together the
carriages. (e; e,) are bars-turning on centres (f,f,) as pins, ball and socket or
other equivalent joints, and are so jointed together as to deflect when the
carriages come closer together, and by deflecting the rope or chain compensate
for any slack in it; they are shewn supporting a wheel (9), so as to reduce the
friction. In the event of the couplings breaking, these bars might act in the
place of the present auxilery chains. In the compensating apparatus (D),
between the parts of carriages, Figure 4, the bar (e) is arranged to move on
centres (f) as. pins, ball and socket, or other equivalent joints, one joint

page_text: being attached to one carriage, and the other to a guide and friction roller (g),
which is made to traverse a curve on the other carriage by means of a slide
guide bar, turning on centre or other equivalent regulator for the required
motion, and is so formed, that in the event of the carriages coming closer
together it compensates for any slack in the rope or chain (a) which the
motion of the point (or friction roller (9) about the point) or friction wheel-(c)
does not compensate. In the compensating apparatus (D), Figure 5, the bars
(e, e) which are connected between the carriages are so arranged; that in the
event of the carriages coming closer together, they take up, by means of curves
working in guides (h, h), or other equivalent regulator for the motion, any
slack in the rope or chain (a) which the motion of the points or friction
rollers (b, 6;) about the point or friction wheel (c) does not compensate. In
the compensating apparatus (D), Figures 6 and 7, the bars (e, e) which are
attached to the carriages, and may be spring, or acted on by springs, are so
arranged, that in the event of the carriages coming closer together they tako
up any slack in the rope or chain (a) which the motion of the points or friction
rollers (b, b,) about the point (or friction wheel (c) does not compensate.
Figure 11 is an apparatus for securing the rope or chain (a) in the event of
its breaking or becoming disconnected, or from any other cause, (b) is a friction
roller on which the rope or chain (a) runs; (i) is a lever bar with clutch,
which, so long as the rope or chain is kept up does not affect its action, but in
the event of any breakage or disconnection in the rope or chain, thereby
causing the rope or chain to drop, the lever bar and clutch (i) then drops and
secures the rope or chain, thus allowing the force to be applied from either
end or any intermediate part of a train without causing inconvenience; a clutch
(i), similar in its action, is shown applied to the compensating bars (e, c,)
Figure 10.
Figures 12 and 13 are front and side elevations of an apparatus that may
be applied for tightening up a rope or chain for the purpose of working
the breaks on a train. It consists of a spring acting on a drum' in such
manner as to give it a constant tendency to revolvė, (tho spring may bo
either spiral, fixed inside the drum, or a spring acting from without), of
sufficient strength to apply the breaks to the wheels. (c) is a rod, which has
a handle at one end and a screw at the other, which screw works in the screw
wheel (), and causes it to revolve, and with it the drum, to which it is attached,
and on to which drum the rope or chain is also attached; when the rod (k) is
turned it also causes the nut and lever bar (m) to ascend or descend, and in so
doing disengages the screw on the rod (k) from the drum and screw wheel (1),
and thus allows the spring before described to act on the drum and tighten up

page_text: the ropo or chain; and when the nut and lever bar (m) has passed to the other
end of the screw it again connects the screw which works the drum, and by
continuing the turning of the handle any degree of force can be applied.
When the breaks are required to be taken off the wheels, the rod (k) is turned
in the opposite direction, which, by acting on the screw wheel and drum (i),
causes it to revolve, and thus distends the spring and slackens the rope or
chain.
Figure 14 shews an apparatus for tightening up a rope or chain for the
purpose of working the breaks on a train. The rope or chain is connected to
a piston and rod (n), moving in a cylinder (0), so that when water or steam
is forced into the cylinder (o) behind the piston, it immediately moves the
piston and rod (n), and draws the rope or chain, and thus applies the requisite
force to the breaks. The cylinder (o) may be connected with the engine pumps
or otherwise by means of the tube (p), so that directly the stop-cock (9) is
opened it allows the water or steam to be forced into the cylinder (o). (1) is
a valve, adjusted by a weight or spring, so as to regulate the pressure on the
breaks, and prevent any accident from the rope or chain, cylinder or machinery,
being overstrained. In taking off the breaks, the stop-cock (7) is turned in
the opposite direction, which, allows the water or steam to flow out of the
cylinder (o); the rope or chain can then be drawn back either by the breaks,
springs, weights, or other equivalent contrivance. By these methods the
breaksmen will be enabled to apply the breaks in a short space of time; but
the rope or chain may be tightened up by means of a crab screw wheel and
drum, levers, or other equivalent mechanical contrivance for tightening up a
rope or chain.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be carried into effect, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to any of the precise details or mechanical
arrangements herein shewn or described, which admit of too many practical
working modifications or equivalent adjustment of power to be fully detailed
herein; but what I claim is,-
First, the arrangements and construction of the various apparatus shewn or
described for the purpose of enabling tho men having charge of a train to
apply simultaneously the breaks to any or all the wheels of the carringes, by
micans of the tightening up of a rope or chain, such rope or chain beiug so
regulated as to prevent the motion of the carriages affecting the tension in it
or the force applied to the breaks.
Second, the construction and application of apparatus for preventing the
relative change of position of carriages in a train affecting the tension in a

page_text: rope or chain used for the purpose of applying breaks to trains. This apparatus
may be applied for the better working of ropes or chains used for working
signals between guards and engine drivers.
Third, the construction and application of apparatus for holding fast a rope
or chain in the event of its breaking or becoming disconnected, so as to enable
tension to be applied to it for the purpose of working breaks on trains.
Fourth, the construction and application of apparatus for winding up a rope
or chain for the purpose of enabling men having charge of a train to rapidly
apply the breaks with any required amount of force, and also other apparatus
worked by water or steam, as before described.
The main object and great advantage of the Invention is, the application of
a simple and inexpensive system for working simultaneously any of the existing
breaks on railways (and may be equally applicable to others), so as to enable
trains to be stopped in the shortest possible space of time, and thus facilitate
travelling and prevent collisions.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Frederick Lee Meakin, havo
hercunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
GEO. F. L. MEAKIN. (L.B.)