Improvements in Brakes for Railway and Tramway Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1893
Complete Specification. Left, 14th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 14th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Railway and Tramway Vehicles.
JABEZ SMITH 82 Godwin Street Bradford in the County of York Machinist, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a continuous application and more effectual
system of applying a power for actuating, or putting into operation brakes of tram
cars, railway vans waggons, vehicles and the like.
Hitherto the means 'adopted to bring brakes into operation has been to employ
levers and counter levers, or screws in order to obtain power. It is well known that
this method requires a great amount of exertion from the operator or otherwise a
complicated set of levers must be employed to give the requisite power required to
apply the brake in stopping cars or vehicles to prevent accidents, which result in
loss of life and property.
I accomplish my object by arranging a chain, or rope, or belt or metal band, or
any other pliable substance round the axle or shaft, wheel, pully or friction pully,
so that by the slightest motion from the operator I obtain a power from the
revolving axle or shaft of engine, car, railway vans, waggons, vehicles or the like
which acts as a continuous brake or operates the brake and applies the same easily
with greater power and speed than hitherto, also I transmit the power from one car
or waggon to another, I also employ a slip hook for the connection.
13th day of June 1893.
JABEZ SMITH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Railway and Tramway Vehicles.
I, JABEZ SMITH, of 82, Godwin Street, Bradford, in the County of York,
Machinist, 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 has for its object the construction of an apparatus by which a
more effectual method or system of applying brake power for the stopping of
traincars, railway vans, waggons and other vehicles is obtained.
Hitherto the means adopted for bringing brakes into operation, has been to
employ one or more levers, or a screw, in order to obtain the necessary power. It
is well known that this method requires a great amount of exertion on the part of
the operator, or otherwise a complicated set of levers must be used to obtain the
requisite power required to apply the brake for stopping the car or the like
quickly, when necessary for the prevention of accident to life, limb, or property:
In describing my invention in detail, reference is made to the accompanying
sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1. represents a sectional elevation of an under carriage of a tram car fitted
with my improved brake apparatus..
Fig. 2. is a plan showing the wheels and axles, and the manner in which my
apparatus may be applied.
Fig. 3. a detached sectional detail through an axle and brake pulley secured
thereon.

page_text: Fig. 4. an elevation of the same, and
Fig. 5. a detail showing how a safety hook may be combined with my improved
method of braking.
Upon each of the axles A. and B. is by preference secured similar flanged
pullies C. and D. around each of which is respectively placed a brake clip Ę on
pulley C. and E' on pulley D. The said clips are formed in parts and hinged
together and the two clips are coupled together, in the manner so that when one of
the brake clips is caused to clip the pulley or the like, it rotates to some extent, and
causes, the other brake clip to be put into operation for braking; both brake clips
are suspended by springs S. S.
At each end of the car is mounted an ordinary brake handle and shaft, F. at one
end, and at the other, both connected to the under gear of the brake apparatus
in a similar manner. The brake shaft F. is coupled by a chain G. to lever H.
which is connected by a rod to a wire rope or the like J. secured to one section of
the brake clip E, it then passes around the said clip and conducted to the other
brake clip E' to which it is attached and passes around in a similar manner as E.
The wire rope or the like J. is attached to the car frame by chains K.
I
On. tightening the chain G. by the operation of brake handle shaft F. the
lever H. is moved in the direction of arrow, thus operating the wire rope and
tightening the brake clip E. until it grips the pulley C. the clip then turns some
distance with the pulley and axle by which the connecting wire rope between the
brake clips E. and E' is tightened, thereby causing the clips E' to grip the
pulley D. thus further braking the progress of the vehicle. By an additional
brake clip operated automatically by the partial rotation of clip E. and by the ends
of wire rope being secured to the car frame as before described, the clips cannot
further rotate, they thereby grip the pullies in proportion to the strain on the said
rope, to such an extent that, the car or the like is brought to a stand in a short
distance, with little exertion on the part of the attendant turning the brake shaft F.
or F' as the case may be.
It will be obvious that the wire rope J. may be continued and attached to similar
brake clips on the axles or pullies on other vehicles coupled together, so that when
one clip is applied for braking, on the clip rotating to some extent, the said clip
operates another in the manner as before described and so on as far as they are
connected by a wire rope, chain or the like.
My arrangement of brake mounted in the manner described may be utilized in
case the engine becomes detached from the car, this is accomplished by connecting
the engine to a slip hook M. also, one end of which is coupled to a sliding rod N.
and the other supported by a bracket P. The rod N. is connected by a chain Q.
to the wire rope or the like J. so that in case the engine by any means becomes
detached from the draw bar R. it will draw the hook M. and sliding rod N. until
the latter is disengaged with the bracket P. when the sliding rod N. will drop, and
one of the ratchet teeth T. engage with the bracket 1'. where it may be retained,
on the attendant on the car platform, applying pressure, say by the foot, to the
spindle U. coupled to the said rod.
"When the sliding rod N. is operated in the manner described, the connecting
chain Q. operates the wire rope or the like J. which applies pressure to the brake
clips in a similar manner as when the said wire rope is operated by one of the brake
handles and shafts F. and F
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,
1. The arrangement and combination of a wire rope or the like J. connected
with two or more suspended brake clips placed around the rotating axles or brake
pullies of one or more coupled vehicles.
2. The combination with one or more, axles, of a brake clip E. or El operated. in
a manner so as to grip the axle or pulley secured thereon, for the purpose of retarding.
"

page_text: or stopping the rotation of the axles and progress of the vehicle, all arranged and
operated substantially in the manner as shown and described.
3. The general arrangement and combination of a slip hook M. with sliding
rod N. and connections to a brake clip E. or E' mounted around a rotating pulley
5 or axle for the purpose as herein before set forth.
Dated this 13th day of March 1894.
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent.