IMPROVEMENTS IN BRAKES FOR RAILWAY TRAINS, AND PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Werdmann, of Princes' Street, in the County of
Surrey, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRAKES FOR
RAILWAY TRAINS, AND PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Werdermann at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th January 1876.
RICHARD WERDERMANN, of Princes' Street, in the County of Surrey, Civil
Engineeer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BRAKES FOR RAILWAY TRAINS, AND PARTLY
APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to electro-magnetic and mechanical brakes, such brakes
being chiefly designed for railway purposes, but applicable to other vehicles, and to
hoisting and other machinery for use instead of an ordinary dynamometer for
testing the power of machinery.
My electro-magnetic brake as applied to railways is as follows:-Before or behind
each of the axles of the brake van is suspended an electro-magnet, whose two poles
or polar extensions are so formed as to present to the axle either a straight or curved
surface, their distance from the latter being more or less according to the attractive
force of the electro-magnet. The iron bar connecting the two arms of the electro-
magnet is supported by two bearings fixed at the bottom of the van, and held in
position by springs.
The two ends of the wire of the coils surrounding the cores of the electro-
magnet are connected with two wires or rods of copper, brass, or other suitable
One of these
conducting material, which are attached to the bottom of the van.
conductors leads to the guard's compartment, where it is connected with the positive
pole of a galvanic battery, a magneto electric machine, or other generator of
electricity. The other conductor is connected with one end of the wire of the
The other end
electro-magnet placed before or behind the second axle of the van.
of the wire of this second electro-magnet is connected with another copper or brass
conductor extending to the frame of the van, where it is provided with a hook or
coupling. From the negative pole of the battery or magneto-electric machine a
conductor extends under the van parallel with the first conductor, and also ter-
minating at the frame with a hook or coupling.
[Price Gd.1

page_text: A chain or spiral of copper connects the two hooks whereby the electric circuit in
which the aforesaid two electro-magnets are included is closed.
When an electric current flows through this circuit the two electro-magnets are
attracted by the axles of the van, and the rolling motion of the wheels is diminished
or retarded in proportion to the intensity of the electric current or is stopped
instantaneously when the force of magnetic attraction is greater than the
momentum.
As it is very desirable that the guard should have at his command an electric
current of variable intensity in order that he may be able to stop the train at any
required distance I use by preference a magneto-electric machine. As soon as the
electric current ceases the electro-magnet loses its attractive power, and is caused to
return to the original position by its own weight, aided by the pressure of the
aforesaid springs.
My Invention is intended to be applied to the locomotives as well as to the
carriages or wagons used on railways.
When the above described electro-magnetic brake is applied to all the carriages
or wagons of a train those ends of the electrical conductors which in the brake van
are connected with the poles of the battery are in the said carriages or wagons pro-
vided with a hook or coupling as above described, so that each carriage has con-
necting hooks at both ends, whereby the conductors may be made continuous
throughout the train. The carriages and wagons are coupled together by copper
chains or spirals attached to the hooks. The two hooks of the first carriage behind
the tender are connected with each other. The brake in this case is a continuous
one, and the guard can stop the train at will gradually or immediately according to
the speed at which he turns the handle of the magneto-electric machine, that is to
say, according to the intensity of the electric current he sends through the circuit.
The brake may be operated or controlled either from the brake van or from the
locomotive, or simultaneously from both. Two bells or other sounders, one in the
brake van and the other on the locomotive, inform the guard or the engine driver
when the other of them is stopping the train.
The locomotive and tender brake may be inclosed in the general circuit or worked
separately. Instead of one electric circuit there may be two or more electric
circuits in the train, and two or more brakes may be applied to the same axle, and
the brakes may be applied either to the wheels, or to the axles, or to both together.
The electro-magnets may be placed above the axles or under the same, or fixed
on a frame connected with the axle boxes, in which case the poles of the electro-
magnets may have a semi-cylindrical form concentric with the axles, and instead of
placing the two poles of the magnets on the same side of the axles they may be
placed on opposite sides thereof, so as to embrace the axle like a pair of tongs or
pincers.
To prevent wearing of the surface of the axles and to increase the frictional
surface I fix on the axle an iron cylinder or drum, which the electro-magnet bears
during its attraction,
I modify this part of my Invention by adapting the said tongs or pincers to
brakes which are controlled or operated by mechanical, atmospheric, or other
power.
The above-described brakes or portions of the same may by slight modifications
be advantageously adapted for controlling or regulating hoisting or other machinery.
They may also be employed for testing the power of steam engines and other
machinery.

page_text: PECIFICATION In pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Werdermann in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th July
1870.
"
RICHARD WERDERMANN, of Princes' Street, in the County of Surrey, Civil
Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN BRAKES FOR RAILWAY TRAINS, AND PARTLY
APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to brakes chiefly designed for railway purposes, but
applicable to carriages or vehicles generally; also for hoisting and other machinery,
and for use instead of an ordinary dynamometer for testing the power of machinery.
For the purpose of my Invention 1 suspend or otherwise place before or behind
the wheel shaft or axle to be controlled one or more electro-magnets with two or
more poles. The polar extensions are so formed as to present to the wheel or axle
either a straight or curved surface, their distance from the said wheel or axle being
more or less according to the attractive power of the magnet.
The ends of the wire or ribbon of the coils surrounding the cores of the electro-
magnet or magnets are connected with the poles of a galvanic battery or other
generator of electricity. Instead of being placed before or behind the axle the
electro-magnet or magnets may be placed above the axle or under the same, and
instead of placing the poles of the magnet on the same side of the axle they may
be placed on opposite sides thereof, so as to embrace the axle like a pair of tongs or
pincors. To prevent wearing of the surface of an axle and to increase the frictional
arca of the same, I fix on the said axle an iron cylinder or drum, upon which the
electro-magnet bears during its attraction. The surface of this drum may be pro-
vided with one or more conical or other suitably shaped grooves, in which fit ribs
or projections that form the poles or polar extensions of the magnet.
My electro-magnetic brake is applied to railway purposes as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 an end elevation illustrating the
adaptation of my brake to the axle of a carriage or waggon.
Figure 3 is a side elevation shewing a modification of the same, in which two
poles of a magnet are arranged on opposite sides of the axle.
Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the said Invention adapted to a carriage
wheel.
Figure 5 is a plan, and Figure 6 an end view of my improved brake applied
direct to a railway rail.
Figure 7 is an under side view shewing the arrangement of the wires and con-
nections between the carriages to which my said Invention is applied.
Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal section, and Figure 9 is a vertical transverse
section of the said carriages shewing an arrangement of the batteries and other
parts of the said apparatus.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
A is the axle of a railway carriage; B is one of the wheels of a similar carriage;
C is part of a carriage frame or truck; D is one of the rails of a railway;
u, a, are the electro-magnets; b, b, are the coils thereof; c, c, are bearings or
brackets by which the said electro-magnets are suspended; d is the aforesaid
cylinder or drum fixed on the axle; c, e, are springs; indicates the insulation.
Referring to Figures 1 2, 7, 8, and 9, before or behind each of the axles A of the
brake van is suspended an electro-magnet a. The iron bar connecting the arms of the
electro-magnet is supported by two bearings c fixed at the bottom of the carriage
frame or truck C and held in position by springs c. The ends of the wire of the
coils surrounding the cores of the electro-magnet are connected with two wires or
rods of copper, brass, or other suitable conducting material, which are attached to
the bottom of the carriage. One part of this conductor leads to the brake com-
partment, where it is connected with one of the poles of a galvanic battery E

page_text: or other generator of electricity. The other part is connected with one end of the
wire of the electro-magnet placed before or behind another axle of the carriage.
The other end of the wire of this second electro-magnet is connected with
another conductor extending to the frame of the carriage, where it is provided
with a hook or coupling.
From the other pole of the generator of electricity another conductor extends
under the carriage parallel with the first conductor, also terminating at the frame
with a hook or coupling. A chain or spiral of copper wire connects the two hooks,
whereby the electric circuit in which the aforesaid electro-magnets are included is
closed. The wires or conductors and other parts above mentioned being well
understood by persons familiar with electro-magnetic apparatus need no descrip-
tion or illustration herein.
When an electric current flows through this circuit the electro-magnets a are
attracted by the axles A or drums fitted on the same, and the rolling motion of
the wheels is diminished or retarded in proportion to the intensity of the electric
current, and is stopped almost instantaneously when the force of magnetic attraction
is greater than the momentum of the vehicle.
As it is very desirable that the guard or brakeman should have at his command
an electric current of variable intensity in order that he may be able to stop the
train within any required distance, the keyboard F placed in his compartment is
provided with several keys corresponding to different intensities of the current,
these different intensities being obtained either by variable intensity of the current
itself or by inserting resistance coils in the different circuits.
It is very important that on the separation of the train by the breaking of the
couplings, or if a carriage should leave the rails, the brake should be automatically
applied to stop both parts of the train. For this purpose I connect to the end of
that one of the keys, whereby the full electric power is applied a wire, rope, or
chain i, which extends from the rear to the front end of the train, while the couplings
remain intact. This chain remains inoperative, but on the breaking of the couplings
and separation of the carriages, or if one of the latter leaves the rails, the said wire
rope is strained and pulls down the said lever, thus applying the brakes.
As soon as the electric current ceases the electro-magnet loses its attractive power,
and is caused to return to its original position by its own weight aided by the
pressure of the aforesaid springs.
My Invention is intended to be applied to locomotives as well as to the carriages
or wagons used on railways.
When the above-described electro-magnetic brake is applied to all the carriages
of a train or part of them those ends of the electrical conductors which in the
brake van are connected with the poles of the battery are in the said carriages pro-
vided with a hook or coupling, as above described, so that each carriage has con-
necting hooks at both ends, whereby the conductors may be made continuous
throughout the train, the carriages being coupled together by copper chains or
spirals attached to the hooks. The two hooks of the carriage behind the tender
being connected with each other the brake is a continuous one, and the guard or
brakeman can stop the train at will gradually or almost immediately, according to
the intensity of the electric current he sends through the circuit.
The brake may be operated or controlled either from the brake van or from the
locomotive, or simultaneously from both.
For this purpose I employ the following arrangement, that is to say, the electric
generator is placed on the locomotive or the tender, and a third conductor is placed
under the carriages between the two others and coupled by wire spirals from
carriage to carriage. The three conductors represent two circuits, the keyboard of
one being placed in the brake van and that of the other one on the engine. A
galvanometer being inserted in one of these circuits and acted upon by a single
cell allows the condition of the brake throughout the whole journey to be readily
ascertained. With this circuit may be connected alarm keys placed in the travelers'
compartment.

page_text: Two bells or other sounders, one placed in the brake carriage and the other on
the locomotive, enable the engine driver and the guard to communicate with each
other.
The locomotive and tender brakes may be enclosed in the general circuit or
worked separately.
Instead of one or two electric circuits there may be more electric circuits in the
train, and two or more brakes may be applied to the same axle. Moreover, the
brakes may be applied either to the axles, as above described and shewn in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and 9, or to the wheels, as shewn in Figure 4, or to the rails,
as shewn in Figures 5 and 6, or to two or more of these parts together.
When the brake is applied to the rail the electro-magnet is placed over the
rail, as shewn in Figures 5 and 6, and maintained in this position by a rod con-
necting two axle boxes of a carriage, or by any other suitable contrivance, in such
a manner that the rail D is vertical to the line passing through the poles of the
magnet a.
Having thus fully described the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,―
First. The direct application of electro-magnetism to a shaft or axle by means of
the electro-magnet or magnets as above specified, and as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 7, 8,
and 9, or in Figure 3 of the the Drawings, and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The direct application of electro-magnetismn to a wheel by means of the
electro-magnet or magnets, as above specified, and as shewn in Figure 4 of the
Drawings, and for the purpose set forth.
Third. The direct application of electro-magnetism to rails by means of an
electro-magnet or magnets, as above specified, and as shown in Figures 5 and 6, for
the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Werdermann, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight bundred and seventy-six.
R. WERDERMANN. (L.S.)