AN IMPROVED PNEUMATIC. APPARATUS FOR WORKING BRAKES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Harding, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancashire, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PNEUMATIC.
APPARATUS FOR WORKING BRAKES."
Sealed the 5th January 1874, and dated the 7th July 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Harding at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 7th July 1874.
..
I, THOMAS HARDING, of Manchester, in the County of Lancashire,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
PNEUMATIC APPARATUS FOR WORKING BRAKES," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to apply the steam cylinders now in
use.on locomotive engines for giving the required atmospheric pressure
to continuous brakes, dispensing thereby with additional machinery,
and consequently saving a great amount of expense in its application.
For the above purpose I, by a simple arrangement as hereafter
described, convert the steam cylinders into air pumps or cylinders. I

page_text: provide two openings at each end of the cylinder having inlet and
outlet valves; through the inlet valve the air is allowed to pass into the
cylinder, from thence it is forced by the action of the piston through
the outlet valves into a receiver or accumulator, and from thence it is
conveyed through tubes to the cylinders or boxes underneath the 5
carriages, from which cylinders or boxes the required motion and
pressure is transmitted through suitable levers for producing the
required friction upon the wheels from the brakes. I provide a stop
valve between the exhaust pipe and the cylinders for preventing the
air passing into the exhaust instead of the accumulator; this valve is
always closed when the cylinders are acting as air pumps.
When the brakes are required to be brought into operation the steam
is shut off from the cylinders and the inlet and outlet air valve.
Simultaneously with the air valves being open the stop valve between
the exhaust pipe and steam chest is closed, whereby in a few seconds 1
the steam cylinders are converted into air cylinders or pumps. On
account of the size of the cylinders a few strokes of the piston gives
the required atmospheric pressure in the accumulator.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Harding in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 7th January 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
HARDING, of Manchester, in the County of Lancashire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Harding, Her special licence.
that I, the said Thomas Harding, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Harding, my executors,
administrators, 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

page_text: vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands; and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED.
PNEUMATIC APPARATUS FOR WORKING BRAKES," upon the condition (amongst.
others) that I, the said Thomas Harding, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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
performed, 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 Thomas Harding, 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, reference being had to the accompanying.
Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, that is to
say :_
The object of my Invention is to apply the steam cylinders now in.
use on locomotive engines for giving the required atmospheric pressure
to continuous brakes, dispensing thereby with additional machinery,
and consequently.saving a great amount of expense in its application.
=
}
For the above purpose I, by a simple arrangement as hereafter
described, convert the steam cylinders. into air pumps or cylinders. I
provide two openings at each end of the cylinder having inlet and
outlet valves; through the inlet valve the air is allowed to pass into the-
cylinder, from whence it is forced by the action of the piston through
the outlet valves into a receiver or accumulator, and from thence it is
conveyed through tubes to the cylinders or boxes underneath the
carriages, from which cylinders or boxes the required motion and :
pressure is transmitted through suitable levers for producing the:
required friction upon the wheels from the brakes., I provide a stop
valve between the exhaust pipe and the cylinders for preventing the
air passing through the exhaust pipe instead of into the accumulator; -
this valve is always closed when the cylinders are acting as air pumps....
1
}
}
When the brakes are required to be brought into operation the steam
is shut off from the cylinders and the inlet and outlet air valves are
onexed

page_text: .
Simultaneously with the air valves being opened the stop valve
between the exhaust pipe and steam chest is closed; thereby in a few
seconds the steam cylinders with their pistons are converted into air.
pumps. On account of the size of the cylinders à few strokes of the
pistons gives the required atmospheric pressure in the accumulator.
In order that my Invention may be more completely understood,
reference is given to the accompanying three Sheets of Drawings.
Sheet 1 represents a cross section of my Invention; Sheet 2 repre-
sents a side elevation; and Sheet 3, a plan.
a and bare cylinders of ordinary construction at present in use on 1
locomotives, and in order to convert them into air pumps. I provide:
below the exhaust pipe, a shut-off valve c, and below the shut-off valve c
I provide the box d to which the air pipe e is attached. This pipe e
conveys the air to the accumulator from which pressure is imparted to
the brakes, which may be of a similar construction as those employed 1
on the Westinghouse system. I provide another junction f on the
steam pipe or pipes and connect them to the valve or valves g. This
arrangement is for the admission of air to the cylinders a and b. The
valves and the shut-off valve care brought into operation simul
taneously by means of the lever i and rod h; the required motion 2
being transmitted thereto by means of the rods j and 'k, which are
connected together by the arm or bracket 7.
When the brakes are required to be brought into operation the steam
is shut off from the cylinders:
Simultaneously with the air valves being opened the shut-off
valve o between the exhaust and the exhaust pipe is closed, converting
the cylinders thereby into air cylinders or pumps. On account of the>
size of the cylinders a few strokes of the pistons give the required.
atmospheric pressure in the accumulator.
When preferred each end of the cylinder or cylinders may be pro- 8
vided with an inlet valve for 'the admission of air instead of the herein-
before described arrangement; also, instead of 'passing the air through
the exhaust to the accumulator other pipes or tubes may be employed.
I wish it to be understood that the herein-before described arrange-
ment may be varied in many ways to suit the various kinds of 3
locomotives.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I would remark in
conclusion that I do not limit myself to the exact limits, details, and
configuration of the parts I have explained and shewn, as the same may
of course be varied or modified without in any way departing from the
nature of my Invention; but what. I do claim and desire to be secured.
to me by Letters Patent is,-
First. The application of the locomotive cylinders for giving the
required atmospheric pressure to continuous brakes, substantially as
and for purposes herein set forth.
Second. The arrangement, construction, and application of the various
parts for imparting and transmitting the required atmospheric pressure
to continuous brakes, substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Harding, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
THOMAS HARDING. (L.s.)