IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF BREAKS, AND SKIDS TO ROAD VEHICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM RAWLINS of Poultry Chambers Poultry in the City of London
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature, of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE APPLICATION OF BREAKS, AND SKIDS TO ROAD VEHICLES to be as
follows:-
"
The object of this invention is the adaptation to road vehicles having four or
more wheels, of Breaks or Skids which can be automatically applied to the hind
wheels of such vehicles through the medium of the pole or other connection
communicating with the horses.
For the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention is carried out
I will describe as an example the improvements applied to a four wheeled coach or
omnibuss.
Instead of permanently fixing the pole to the swivelling portion of the vehicle
carried by the front wheels I mount the same in bearings which will allow it to
have a backward sliding motion, and the rear or back end of the pole I cause
to bear against or communicate with a fixed segmental rail the radius of which is
equal to the segmental motion described by the rear end of the pole when swivelling
with the front of the carriage.
The said rail is also provided with, or forms part of a spring the plate or plates
of which extend transversely across the vehicle the terminals forming supports for
the break blocks in a position similar to that usually occupied by such blocks;
a spring connected with the framing of the carriage is so placed that its pressure
exerted against the rear of the spring blocks will when the sliding pole is in its
normal position prevent the break blocks touching the wheels, and also keep the
segmental rail in contact or nearly so with the rear end of the pole.
In the event of a sudden pull up of the horses, or when from any other cause
the pole is forced back, its rear end will exert a pressure against the segmental rail,
and so transmit motion to the spring and breaks the action of which automatically
applies the said breaks to the wheels and so renders material assistance in bringing
the vehicle to a stand-This direct application of the breaks through the medium

page_text: of the pole will be effected when a pull up takes place whether the pole is in a
direct line with the vehicle or at an angle thereto.
A further improvement consists in providing the front of the carriage with
a lever bolt under the controle of the driver which when the breaks are off can be
inserted as a lock pin into a recess formed in the pole and its bearings, which pin
when so inserted will prevent the action of the break and so allow the vehicle to
be backed.
Instead of actuating yielding break blocks through the medium of the sliding
pole and segmental rail, such medium may be connected with a crank shaft and
connecting rods provided with skids which when a "pull up" takes place the skids
will be placed under the wheels of the vehicle and thereby check its progress.
Dated this 5th day of December 1884.
THOMAS WRIGLEY,
36, High Holborn, W.C.,
Agent to the Applicant.

page_text: venicies.
I WILLIAM RAWLINS of Poultry Chambers in the City of London Gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
APPLICATION OF BREAKS AND SKIDS TO ROAD VEHICLES" and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This Invention relates to Road Vehicles and the application theroto of breaks or
skids which can be automatically applied to the hind wheels of such vehicles
through the medium of the pole or other connection communicating with the horse
or horses.
In order that the Invention may be well understood and explained in detail
I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings upon which letters of reference are
marked on corresponding parts on all the Figures alike the drawings shew as an
example the improvements applied to the body of an omnibus wagon or four
wheeled vehicle in which the axle of the front or leader wheels is capable of
swivelling so as to assume a line parallel with or at an angle to the axle of the
hind wheele ag ia nemal in that class of wabiole
Fig. 1 represents the carriage or lower portion of a four wheeled vehicle having
appended thereto the break apparatus which forms the first portion of my
improvements.
Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the same.
Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views to the last having applied thereto the skid
apparatus which forms the second portion of my improvements.
In these figs. a is the body of the vehicle 6 the front wheels b¹ the hind wheels
c the springs d the pole and e the swivel bearings all being old and well known
parts of an ordinary four wheeled road vehicle.
The pole d of the vehicle instead of being permanently fixed to the swivel
bearings e carrying the front wheels b I mount such pole d in such bearings in
a manner which will enable it when a strain is exerted thereon in a backward or
forward movement direction to yield or slide in its bearings its normal forward
position being maintained against a stop f by means of the spring 9 The rear or
back end of this pole I provide with a friction bowl h which I cause to bear
against the curved face of a segmental rail i the curved radius of which is equal
to the curved segmental line described by the rear end of the pole in its traverse
when swivelling with the front wheels b of the Vehicle.
The said segmental rail i is provided with or forms part of a spring k or its
equivalent the laminated plates of which extend transversely across the vehicle the
terminals thereof being provided with seatings or surfaces which forms supports
to which the break blocks m m are secured the position of such blocks relative to
the periphery of the hind wheels being similar to that usually occupied by such
blocks.
The spring g connected with the framing of the carriage is so placed that its
pressure exerted against the rear of the spring k of the segmental rail i when the

page_text: pole d is in its normal position against the stop f will prevent the break blocks
coming into contact with or touching the wheels b and it will also keep the
segmental rail in contact with the friction bowl h forming the rear end of the
pole d.
•
The said segmental rail and its connections being supported in bearings n in
which such rail with its spring and break blocks can freely slide.
It will thus be seen that in the event of a sudden pull up of the horses or other
cause which will force back the pole the friction bowl h at its rear end will exert
a pressure against the segmental rail i and so transmit motion to the spring k and
break blocks m the action of which automatically applies the said break blocks to
the hind wheels and so renders material assistance in bringing the Vehicle to
a stand.
This direct application of the breaks through the medium of the pole will be
effected when a pull up takes place whether the pole is in a direct line with the
vehicle or at an angle thereto. I further provide the front of the Vehicle with a
lever and bolt under the control of the driver which when the breaks are off can
be inserted as a lock pin into a recess formed in the pole and its bearings which
pin when so inserted will prevent the action of the breaks and so allow the Vehicle
to be backed or the same may be accomplished by the application of a bolt or stop
to the side or sides of the pole see Fig. 3.
Secondly-The improvements as shewn at Figs. 3 and 4 relate to a means
whereby skids can be employed in lieu of breaks for checking the progress of the
vehicle automatically through the medium of the sliding pole.
According to this arrangement as shewn in the drawings I provide the pole ä
with a slot o one inner surface of which forms a rack o' which. gears in a pinion p
centrally supported from the axle of the front wheels b-The vertical axle of this
pinion p carries a grooved pulley g the periphery of which is connected to a chain &
communicating direct with the radial arm s carrying the skid slippert When the
pole is outward in its normal position the chain r encircles the pulley q but when
a backward thrust is given to the pole d the rack o¹ gives through the medium of
the pinion pa partial turn to the pulley q and so unwinds the chain r the release
of which allows the slipper t to fall under the tyre of the hind wheel or wheels b²
and so skids them.
A forward pull by the horses withdraws the skids and frees the carriage of any
check to its progress.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The novel arrangement and application to Road Vehicles of Breaks which
can be automatically applied to the wheels of the Vehicle in the manner as herein
substantially described and shewn at Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.
Second. The novel arrangement and application to Road Vehicles of a Skid or
Skids which can be automatically applied to the wheels of the vehicle in the
manner as herein substantially described and shewn at Figs. 3 and 4 of the
drawings.
TAL
ntahan 700K