IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING BREAKS ON RAILWAY TRAINS BY FLUID PRESSURE, PARTS OF THE SAID APPARATUS BEING APPLICABLE GENERALLY TO PIPES CONDUCTING FLUID
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Westinghouse, junior, of No. 20, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING BREAKS ON RAILWAY TRAINS
BY FLUID PRESSURE, PARTS OF THE SAID APPARATUS BEING APPLICABLE
GENERALLY TO PIPES CONDUCTING FLUID.”
Sealed the 21st February 1879, and dated the 18th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Westinghouse at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th December 1878.
GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, junior, of No. 20, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING
BREAKS ON RAILWAY TRAINS BY FLUID PRESSURE, PARTS OF THE SAID APPA-
RATUS BEING APPLICABLE GENERALLY TO PIPES CONDUCTING FLUID."
My Invention relates to an improved construction of portions of the apparatus
employed in working breaks on railway trains by fluid pressure, that is to say, to
the valves by which the pressure applied throughout the train is governed, to the
cylinders in which the pressure acts on pistons for putting on or taking off the
breaks, and to the couplings whereby the pipes for communicating the pressure
throughout the train are connected from carriage to carriage, similar couplings being
applicable generally for connecting or disconnecting pipes conducting fluid. For
governing the pressure applied throughout the train I employ a valve arrangement
by which the engine driver regulates the flow of fluid from the reservoir to the pipe
communicating throughout the train, being enabled by it to charge the pipe and the
auxiliary reservoirs supplied from it and to maintain the pressure therein when the
breaks are out of action or to discharge the pipe for the purpose of bringing them into
action, the valve nevertheless being capable of so limiting the pressure communi-
cated by the pipe that it shall be less by a predetermined amount than that in the
reservoir from which it is charged, whilst it provides for the pressure being kept up
to that limit. The valve box for this purpose has three apertures, one connected to
the reservoir, one connected to the communicating pipe, and one opening to the outer

page_text: When
air. Between the first and second there is a rotating slide worked by a hand lever,
giving in one position free passage from the reservoir to the pipe, and in other posi-
tions closing this passage. In a hollow boss forming part of this rotating slide is a valve
held down by a spring adjusted to tlie desired difference of pressure between that in the
pipe and that in the reservoir. When the rotating slide, being closed, the pressure in
the pipe is below the desired limit, this valve opens and allows passage for fluid by a
small hole to the pipe so as to raise the pressure therein until the pressure so elevated
acting along with the spring causes the valve to close. The passage to the outer
air is closed by a valve held to its seat by a spring, this valve being situated in the
same axial line with the rotating slide. The spring which keeps the valve seated
is within a boss attached to the lever handle that works the rotating slide, and this
boss has on it a screw thread fitting a thread in the neck of the valve case.
the handle is moved round so as to close the rotating slide, and still farther round
the boss, unscrewing itself, relieves the strain on the spring, and the valve thereupon
opens, allowing escape from the pipe to the outer air. Neither the rotating slide
nor the escape valve last mentioned is rigidly attached to the stem of the hand
lever, but both are worked by ribs on the escape valve, one of which is engaged in
a slot in the boss of the lever and the other in a slot in a boss projecting from the
rotating slide. In the working of this valve it is of advantage that the engine
driver should be audibly apprised of its being in the position to charge the pipe
rapidly and fully. For this purpose a small passage leading to the outer air is
governed by the rotating slide, so that when the slide is in the required position
there is a rush of fluid out by this passage, producing a sound which only ceases
when the valve is returned to its normal position.
In working breaks by the pressure stored in auxiliary reservoirs or their equi-
valents it often happens that by a fluctuation of pressure in the pipes owing to
leakage or other causes there is communication of pressure to the break cylinder
which, unless allowed for, might cause the breaks to be put on when not required.
In the Specifications of Patents previously granted to me I have described the
application of a loaded leakage valve to remedy this defect. According to my
present improvement I dispense with such valve by providing a small by-pass,
which may be simply a groove or small hole near one end of the break cylinder, so
that when the break piston is at the extreme of its stroke, the breaks being off, this
groove or hole permits passage of fluid from one side of the piston to the other, and
thus such pressure as may arise from leakage or otherwise fails to act on the piston
with sufficient force to move it. When however the pressure is suddenly altered
for the purpose of applying the breaks, the piston moves past the by-pass, pre-
venting further escape thereby. The coupling which I employ for connecting the
communicating pipe from carriage to carriage, or generally for coupling pipes con-
ducting fluid, is of the kind described in the Specifications of Patents previously
granted to me, No. 1540 of 1874, and No. 4127 of 1877, wherein each half coupling
communicates with the other by a flat side face having an opening provided with a
caoutchouc lip, the two halves being held together by a curved rib on each engaging
with a grooved projection on the other. The connecting of the halves as described
in the Specifications above referred to is effected by first placing the halves together
face to face, the axes of their nozzles forming an angle with each other, and then
turning them partly round on the centres of their side openings until the axes of
their nozzles come in line with each other. In employing such couplings for pipes
conducting fluid, such, for instance, as those for communicating fluid pressure for
working breaks on a railway train, it is generally required that on disconnecting
pipes so coupled both parts of the separated pipe should be closed at or near the
coupling so as to prevent escape of fluid when its pressure exceeds that of the atmo-
sphere or entrance of air into the pipe when the pressure therein is below that of
the atmosphere. According to my present Invention I ensure that the pipes shall
be opened when coupled, and closed when uncoupled, by arranging a cock or valve so
that the turning movement applied in the act of coupling or uncoupling is imparted
to the handle of the cock or valve, causing it to be opened or closed. This handle

page_text: to me.
is fixed on the stem of the cock or valve (which is in the form of a partially
rotating slide) on the one half coupling, and it has a notch which engages with a
stud on the other half coupling, or the handle of each half may be made with two
studs projecting from it so as to embrace between them the grooved projection of
the other half. In either case when the half couplings are brought together for the
purpose of coupling, the stud or projection of the one becomes engaged with a notch
or between the two studs of the handle of the other, and then on turning the halves
partly round so as to engage their holding ribs the handles are likewise partly turned,
so that each opens the cock or valve to which it is attached. And in like manner in
the act of uncoupling the half couplings are partly turned so as to disengage their hold-
ing ribs, and by this movement the cock or valve of each is partly turned so as to
close their apertures. If however the two halves are forcibly drawn asunder, as would
occur in the case of an accidental separation of railway carriages, the cocks or valves
will remain open and the breaks will become automatically applied by the change
of pressure in the pipe, as described in the Specifications of Patents formerly granted
In a Provisional Specification lodged by me on the 31st October 1878,
No. 4389, I have described another form of coupling in which the two half couplings
are brought together face to face, each half having fitted within it a partially
rotating slide valve, which is turned partly round on connecting the couplings by
means of inclined studs meeting each other, and which on the couplings being dis-
connected is turned backwards by a spring so as to close the orifices of the grated
face on which it works. When such couplings are employed for connecting break
pipes in which the air is rarefied, so as to have a pressure below that of the atmo-
sphere, the two halves are forced and held together by the excess of the atmospheric
pressure, their jointing being made tight by the meeting of their caoutchouc lips.
To ensure their meeting properly for this purpose and their being kept steadily
together, according to my present Invention, I make each half coupling with a flange
projecting downwards from its lower edge and having two holes in it, one on the
right and the other on the left of the vertical centre line. Into the one hole, say
the right, I rivet a curved horn, leaving the left hand hole open. When therefore
the half coupling at either end of a carriage is presented to the half at either end
of another carriage the curved horn of each faces the hole of the other. By an
angling or tilting movement the two horns are inserted each into the hole facing it,
and the two faces of the couplings are brought together, the horns then, owing to
their curved form, taking a hold which keeps the faces steadily together.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Westinghouse in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
June 1879.
GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, junior, of No. 20, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING
BREAKS ON RAILWAY TRAINS BY FLUID PRESSURE, PARTS OF THE SAID APPARATUS
BEING APPLICABLE GENERALLY TO PIPES CONDUCTING FLUID."
My Invention relates to an improved construction of portions of the apparatus
employed in working breaks on railway trains by fluid pressure, that is to say, to
the valves by which the pressure applied throughout the train is governed, to the
cylinders in which the pressure acts on pistons for putting on or taking off the
breaks, and to the couplings whereby the pipes for communicating the pressure
throughout the train are connected from carriage to carriage, similar couplings being
applicable generally for connecting or disconnecting pipes conducting fluid.
For
governing the pressure applied throughout the train I employ a valve arrangement,
by which the engine driver regulates the flow of fluid from the reservoir to the pipe
communicating throughout the train, being enabled by it to charge the pipe and
the auxiliary reservoirs supplied from it, and to maintain the pressure therein when
the breaks are out of action, or to discharge the pipe for the purpose of bringing
them into action, the valve nevertheless being capable of so limiting the pressure
communicated by the pipe that it shall be less by a predetermined amount than
that in the reservoir from which it is charged, whilst it provides for the pressure
being kept up to that limit. The valve box for this purpose has three apertures,
one connected to the reservoir, one connected to the communicating pipe, and one
opening to the outer air. Between the first and second there is a rotating slide
worked by a hand lever giving in one position free passage from the reservoir to
the pipe, and in other positions closing this passage. In a hollow boss forming part
of this rotating slide is a valve held down by a spring adjusted to the desired
difference of pressure between that in the pipe and that in the reservoir. When the
rotating slide being closed, the pressure in the pipe is below the desired limit, this
valve opens and allows passage for fluid by a small hole to the pipe, so as to raise
the pressure therein until the pressure so elevated acting along with the spring
causes the valve to close. The passage to the outer air is closed by a valve held to
its seat by a spring, this valve being situated in the same axial line with the
rotating slide. The spring which keeps the valve seated is within a boss attached
to the lever handle that works the rotating slide, and this boss has on it a screw
thread fitting a thread in the neck of the valve case. When the handle is moved
round so as to close the rotating slide and still further round, the boss unscrewing
itself relieves the strain on the spring, and the valve thereupon opens, allowing
escape from the pipe to the outer air. Neither the rotating-slide nor the escape
valve last mentioned is rigidly attached to the stem of the hand lever, but both are
worked by ribs on the escape valve, one of which is engaged in a slot in the boss of
the lever, and the other in a slot in a boss projecting from the rotating slide. In
the working of this valve it is of advantage that the engine driver should be audibly
apprised of its being in the position to charge the pipe rapidly and fully. For this
purpose a small passage leading to the outer air is governed by the rotating slide,
Bo that when the slide is in the required position there is a rush of fluid out by this
passage, producing a sound which only ceases when the valve is returned to its
normal position.
In working breaks by the pressure stored in auxiliary reservoirs or their equiva-
lents it often happens that by a fluctuation of pressure in the pipes owing to
leakage or other causes there is communication of pressure to the break cylinder,
which unless allowed for might cause the breaks to be put on when not required,

page_text: In the Specifications to Patents previously granted to me I have described the
application of a loaded leakage valve to remedy this defect. According to my
present improvement I dispense with such valve by providing a small by-pass,
which may be simply a groove or small hole near one end of the break cylinder,
so that when the break piston is at the extreme of its stroke, the breaks being
off, this groove or hole permits passage of fluid from one side of the piston to the
other, and thus such pressure as may arise from leakage or otherwise fails to act
on the piston with sufficient force to move it. When however the pressure is
suddenly altered for the purpose of applying the breaks, the piston moves past
the by-pass, preventing farther escape thereby. The pipe coupling which I employ
for connecting the communicating pipe from carriage to carriage, or generally for
coupling pipes conducting fluid, is of the kind described in the Specifications of
Patents previously granted to me, No. 1540 of 1874, and No. 4127 of 1877, wherein
each half coupling communicates with the other by a flat side face having an opening
provided with a caoutchouc lip, the two halves being held together by a curved rib
on each engaging with a grooved projection on the other. The connecting of the
halves, as described in the Specifications above referred to, is effected by first placing
the halves together face to face, the axes of their nozzles forming an angle with each
other, and then turning them partly round on the centres of their side openings
until the axes of their nozzles come in line with each other. In employing such
couplings for pipes conducting fluid, such for instance as those for communicating
fluid pressure for working breaks on a railway train, it is generally required that
on disconnecting pipes so coupled both parts of the separated pipe should be closed
at or near the coupling so as to prevent escape of fluid when its pressure exceeds
that of the atmosphere or entrance of air into the pipe when the pressure therein is
below that of the atmosphere. According to my present Invention I ensure that
the pipes shall be opened when coupled, and closed when uncoupled, by arranging a
cock or valve so that the turning movement applied in the act of coupling or
uncoupling is imparted to the handle of the cock or valve, causing it to be opened
or closed. This handle is fixed on the stem of the cock or valve (which is in the
form of a partially rotating slide) on the one half coupling, and it has a notch which
engages with a stud on the other half coupling; or the handle of each half may be
made with two studs projecting from it so as to embrace between them the grooved
projection of the other half. In either case, when the half couplings are brought
together for the purpose of coupling, the stud or projection of the one becomes
engaged with the notch or between the two studs of the handle of the other, and
then on turning the halves partly round so as to engage their holding ribs the
handles are likewise partly turned so that each opens the cock or valve to
which it is attached. And in like manner, in the act of uncoupling, the half
couplings are partly turned so as to disengage their holding ribs, and by this move-
ment the cock or valve of each is partly turned so as to close their aportures. If
however the two halves are forcibly drawn asunder, as would occur in the case of
an accidental separation of railway carriages, the cocks or valves will remain open
and the breaks will become automatically applied by the change of pressure in the
pipe, as described in the Specifications of Patents formerly granted to me. In the
Specification to Letters Patent granted to me on the 31st October 1878, No. 4389,
I have described another form of coupling in which the two half couplings are
brought together face to face, each half having fitted within it a partially rotating
slide valve which is turned partly round on connecting the couplings by means of
inclined studs meeting each other, and which, on the couplings being disconnected,
is turned backwards by a spring so as to close the orifices of the grated face on
which it works. When such couplings are employed for connecting break pipes in
which the air is rarefied so as to have a pressure below that of the atmosphere, the
two halves are forced and held together by the excess of the atmospheric pressure,
their jointing being made tight by the meeting of their caoutchouc lips. To ensure
their meeting properly for this purpose and then being kept steadily together,
according to my present Invention, I make each half coupling with a flange projec

page_text: ps for
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ting downwards from its lower edge and having two holes in it, one on the right
and the other on the left of, the vertical centre line. Into the one hole, say the
right, I rivet a curved horn, leaving the left hand hole open. When therefore the
half coupling at either end of a carriage is presented to the half at either end of
another carriage the curved horn of each faces the hole of the other. By an angling
or tilting movement the two horns are inserted each into the hole facing it, and the
two faces of the couplings are brought together, the horns then, owing to their
curved form, taking a hold which keeps the faces steadily together.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
On Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of
the valve arrangement according to this Invention for governing the pressure in
the communicating pipe for working the breaks throughout the train; Fig. 2 is a
section transverse to that shewn in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a plan. The chief object
of this arrangement is to give the engine driver facilities for varying the pressure
in the communicating pipe and the auxiliary reservoirs charged by it, whilst that
pressure under ordinary circumstances, the breaks being off, is maintained below
that in the main supply reservoir by a definite amount, such as 15 lbs. to 25 lbs.
on the square inch, notwithstanding leakage.
.
A. is the branch communicating with the main reservoir; B, the passage con-
nected to the communicating pipe; C, the rotary slide valve having openings Cl
communicating with openings B₁ leading into B, such openings being of the form
shewn in dotted lines in plan, so that when the slide C is in the position shewn the
air pressure can flow freely from A into B, but when the handle D is turned from
the position shewn in full lines in Fig. 3 into either of those indicated by the dotted
lines X and Y, or any intermediate position, the communication between the
openings B and C is cut off.
The slide C is turned by means of a rib E' on the valve E entering between
projections C on the slide, and the valve E (which closes the communication.
between B and the escape passage F) is turned by means of a rib E³ on its upper
side entering a notch in a screw cap G which is turned by the handle D. When
the handle and screw cap are turned into the position indicated by the dotted
line Y, Fig. 3, the downward pressure exerted by the spring H being thereby
relieved, the valve E is forced open by the air pressure in B and the communicating
pipe, and a portion of the air in the pipe escapes into the outer air through the
opening F, causing the breaks to be applied as described in the Specifications of
my former Patents, the communication between A and B having at the same time
been entirely cut off by the partial rotation of the slide C. On the underside of
the slide is formed a chamber I having an opening at the bottom communicating
with the branch A and closed by a valve J held by a spring K adjusted so as to
exert a pressure equal to the difference which is desired to be maintained between
the main reservoir and the communicating pipe. The chamber I has, lastly, a
sinall passage L leading through the valve C in such a position that when the valve
has been turned into the position corresponding with the dotted line ✗ the said
passage communicates with the hole B' and thus establishes a communication be-
tween the chamber I and the branch B leading to the communicating pipe.
From this arrangement it will be seen that if after having once charged the com-
municating pipe and auxiliary reservoirs of the brake, carriages with air pressure
from the main reservoir, the slide C be turned from the open position shewn in the
Drawing into the position X and left there, then before any additional air pressure
can pass from A to B, the pressure in the main reservoir must be as much in excess
of that at B as is required to open the valve J against the pressure of the spring K,
and consequently the pressure in the communicating pipe will always be maintained
at the required amount below that in the main reservoir.
In order to give the engine driver an audible indication of the valve C having
been accurately brought into the last described position, the valve casing might be

page_text: provided with an escape passage communicating with A, which passage would be
closed by C when this was brought into the proper position so that until this was
done the noise of the air pressure escaping by the said passage would be heard.
Fig. 4, Sheet I., is a side view of half and a longitudinal section of half a coupling
according to this Invention for connecting the pressure_communicating pipe. from
carriage to carriage, and Fig. 5 is a plan of the same; Figs. 6 and 7 on Sheet II.
shew a similar coupling somewhat modified. In these Figures the same letters are
employed to mark parts corresponding to those similarly marked in Figs. 4 and 5.
Each half coupling has a side opening surrounded by a caoutchouc lip A, which lips
are pressed together by a projection B on the one half fitting into a groove C on the
other half, as shewn, the two halves being first brought together in an angular posi-
tion as indicated by the dotted line X, Fig. 5, and then turned upon each other
round the centre of the openings until they are in a straight line as shewn, whereby
the projection of the one coupling is brought underneath the groove of the other.
On the back of the caoutchouc lip A is a plate D having passages through it and
serving as seat to a disc-valve E, also having openings through it, so that when
turned into one position it is open, while in another position it closes the opening of
the coupling. On the back of the valve is a stud which engages between projections
on a disc F having a stem F1 passing airtight through the back of the coupling,
outside of which a forked arm G is fixed on the stem. The fork of this arm engages
with a stud H on the other half coupling, so that when the two halves are turned
upon each other into the before mentioned angular position for uncoupling, the stud
H turns the arm G and with it the valve E, so that the latter closes the opening of
the pipe before the half couplings separate. In like manner when the two half
couplings are again brought into the angular position for coupling up the pipe, the
forked arm G is again made to engage with the stud H, so that on turning the two
halves into the straight position the valve E is again turned back into the open
position. If, while in this position, the half couplings are pulled forcibly asunder by
the accidental separation of the carriages, the valves remain open, and by the escape
of fluid pressure from the pipe through them the breaks are applied as described in
my previous Patents. The arms G are provided with wings G¹ so formed as to pre-
vent the two half couplings being coupled together in any other position than that
in which the stud engages with the fork, and they are also provided with stops G³
for preventing the halves being turned beyond a certain angular position. The
valve is pressed down on its seat and the disc F is pressed air tight against
the casing by means of a spring I interposed between them. It will be evident
that in place of the valve E an ordinary stop cock might be fitted in the nozzle of
each half coupling, the plug of which cock would have an arm carrying a pin, such
as H, engaging with a forked arm such as G fixed rigidly to the other half coupling,
as indicated by dotted lines at Z in Fig. 5, so that on turning the two halves as
before described the arm G will turn the plug of the cock in one direction or the
other.
According to the modification shewn in Figs. 6 and 7, Sheet IL, instead of
employing a forked arm G engaging on a pin H, the arm G is extended in segmental
form and has studs G2 projecting down from it so as to engage with the ends of the
grooved rib C on the other half coupling which receives the curved rib B. The
act of coupling or uncoupling has the same operation in opening or closing the ports
of the rotating slide E, as above described; with reference to Figs. 4 and 5, a small
metal ring a within the caoutchouc ring A keeps it from being squeezed out of
shape. A stud b engaging behind a shoulder c prevents the coupling from being
separated in the usual way until it is turned sufficiently far round to cause the
closing of the valves.
Figs. 8, 9, and 10 on Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings shew a coupling of
the kind described in my Specification to my Patent dated the 31st October 1878,
No. 4389, modified according to my present Invention; Fig. 8 is a vertical section;
Fig. 9, a front view, and Fig. 10, a half coupling as now modified. This coupling
resembles that described in the Specification above referred to, in having the hose

page_text: or flexible tube A secured to an inclined nozzle so as to avoid straining it over
the edge of the nozzle when the coupling is connected. It also resembles the
former coupling in having the elastic lip E to make the junction airtight,
and in having the hemispherical grated seating G and rotating valve F worked
in the one direction by the spring g to close the mouth of the pipe when the
coupling is disconnected, and in the other direction by the inclined studs H to open
the valve when the coupling is connected. The present modification consists in the
means of linking the two half couplings together. For this purpose the underside of
each half has a projecting flange with two holes bored through it. In the one holo
of each, say the right, is rivetted a horn or curved stud B, which when the two half
couplings are brought towards each other face to face in an angular position is
inserted into the other hole C of the flange, which, being on the left of the one half,
faces the stud on the right of the other half. The two horns B having been inserted
into the holes C facing them, the two half couplings are canted towards each other
until their elastic lips E bear fairly against each other. Owing to the curved form
of the horns B the two half-couplings are kept with approximate steadiness facing
each other, and when the air in the pipe is rarefied the external pressure of the
atmosphere keeps them firmly together, the elastic lip E rendering their junction
air tight.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I claim,—
First. The use for governing the pressure in the pipe communicating through-
out the train to work the breaks of the valve arrangement herein described with
reference to Figa 1, 2, and 3 on Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The combination of a rotating slide or stop cock with a pipe coupling
in such manner that the act of connecting and disconnecting the coupling by an
angular movement turns the handle of the cock or valve to open and close commu-
nication between the coupled pipes, but that on the forcible separation of the
coupling the cock or valve is left open, substantially as herein described with
reference to Figs. 4 and 5 on Sheet I., and Figs. 6 and 7 on Sheet II. of the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Westinghouse, junior, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.