Improvements in Car Brakes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Car Brakes.
We, JAMES HARRY KEIGHLY MCCOLLUM, Electrician, of 1001, Bathurst Street,
REMIGIUS ELMSLEY, Esquire, of 35, Adelaide Street East, and WILLIAM HENRY
BROUSE, Barrister, of Corner Wellington and Church Streets, all of the City of
Toronto, in the County of York, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
Our invention relates to improvements in car brakes and the object of the inven-
tion is to design a simple, cheap and effectual brake capable of being applied in
various ways with but a minimum exertion of power and loss of time and it consists
essentially of a sheaf secured to the axle and provided with an encompassing
strap or band, which is connected by cable or chain to the brake levers, against
which strap a shoe pivoted to the internal sheaf is designed to be frictionally
brought, such shoe being pivotally supported on a lever and tilted on its pivot
by means of a rocking arm, the bottom end of which extends into a recess in a
collar, which is supported loosely on a collar on the shaft, the former collar being
engaged by brake shoes pivotally connected to suitable hangers, which are operated
to throw in the co-acting minor brake shoes in the manner hereinafter more par-
ticularly explained.
Fig. 1, is a skeleton perspective view showing our brake mechanism.
Fig. 2, is a cross section through the wheel and band.
Fig. 3, is a perspective detail showing the mode of connection of the band to
the cable of the brake levers.
Fig. 4, is a detail of the lever and internal brake shoe.
Fig. 5, is a detail of an alternative form of rocking arm and gear.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing the manner of operating our brake when
applied to a railway car.
Fig. 7, is a side elevation showing the construction adopted when applied to a
trailer car.
In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each
figure.
A is one of the axles of the car and B B the wheels. C is a sheaf suitably
secured on the axle and C¹ is a collar attached to or forming part of the sheaf C.
The sheaf C is preferably formed in two parts suitably bolted together and to the
axle. D) is a strap or band, which surrounds the sheaf C and has secured to it
the annular face guiding rims D¹.
E is a brake lever, which is suitably pivoted to a brace F, secured to the bottom
of the car, which bottom is not shown. G are the brake shoes, which are con-
nected together by the usual cross bar G¹. The cross bar G¹ is connected by a
rod G2 to the brake lever E. H is a cable formed of wire, rope, chain or other
suitable material connected at one end to the brake lever E on the opposite side
of the pivot point to that to which the rod G2 is connected. The opposite end
of the cable H passes through a guiding bracket H¹ and is connected to an eye d,
which straddles the joint of the strap 1) and extends over same.
I is a supplemental collar loosely supported on the collar C¹ and J is a rocking
TD 037

page_text: arm provided with an upper double end suitably pivoted on the sheaf C and
having the lower end extending into a recess i in the collar I. K is an arc-shaped
lever pivoted on the pink on the sheaf C and provided with the shoe K¹ pivoted
at on the lever. The arc-shaped lever extends partially around the face of the
wheel and over the rocking arm as indicated.
L Lare two supplemental brake shoes, which have lugs formed on them
respectively by which they are pivotally connected to the lower forks of the
hangers M M. The supplemental brake shoes are located one at each side of the
axle and the brake shoe L is provided with an oil cup 12, which extends over the
axle. The hangers M and M are pivotally connected at the bottom to the cross
bar. The hanger M is pivoted at the top on the pin m², which extends through
the double bars N and N¹ suitably supported on the bottom frame of the car. The
upper end of the hanger M is connected by the double rod 00 and single rod 01
to the frame, the single rod extending through a plate o on the end of the double
rod and having on its end a disc o between which and the plate o extends the
spiral spring. The hanger M is also connected by the pivoted bracket P and
the rod extending through the end thereof to the lever R pivoted at r on a
suitable portion of the frame.
The lever R is connected by the rod S to the lever T pivoted on a suitable
portion of the frame attand the lever T is connected by the link U to the operat-
ing lever V as indicated.
The normal tendency of the spring o² is to throw the hangers apart and con-
sequently relieve the pressure of the shoes L and L upon the collar I.
In order to put on the brake the operating lever V controlled by the motorman
of the car is pulled backward, thereby through the system of levers herein before
described drawing upon the hanger M', thus forcing the shoes L and L' against
the collar I. The rotation of the collar is thereby retarded, but the wheel C
continuing to move around, the rocking arm-connected-to it-is-tilted-on its pivot,
thereby throwing the arc-shaped lever and brake-shoe into engagement with the
interior of the strap D, thus causing the band to move around with the wheel
and pulling upon the cable and consequently upon the brake lever and brake
shoes. It of course will be understood that in the stopping of the car the shoes L
and L' will necessarily slip to some extent as long as the brake is being applied
and until the car is brought to a standstill.
In Fig. 5, we show a somewhat different form of rocking arm J', which has a
quadrant at the lower end meshing with a gear wheel I attached to the collar I.
Inside the strap or band D and outside the wheel C are two arc-shaped seg-
ments K2 K2, which are pivotally connected at 22 to the sheaf and are separated
at the top by the top of the rocking arm.
When the rocking arm is tilted on its pivot by means of the collar I being
retarded by the shoes it will be seen that the quadrant of the rocking arm J¹ will
be tilted the same as before and the upper end will necessarily spread apart the
ends of the segmental pieces K2, thereby putting on the brake. In both of these
cases described immediately the operating lever is released the spiral extension
spring will draw the hanger M and consequently the brake shoes L L' away
from the collar and relieve the brake mechanism.
In Fig. 6, we show a means for operating our brake mechanism herein before
described more particularly adapted for railway trains. W is a solenoid, which is
one of a series throughout the several cars and wis the reciprocating core and
w the wires leading throughout the length of the train to the several solenoids.
Ordinarily the hanger M, which in this case is really an armature, is held away,
so as to keep the shoes L and L' from contacting with the collar I, by means of
the solenoid. By means of a small dynamo used in the engine the current is
supplied to the solenoids throughout the length of the train and by shifting the
brushes thereon or using resistance in series the current is taken from the solenoid
and the rod o³ is forced by the spring o¹, so as to shift the hangers M' and thereby
spring the shoes into engagement with the collar and operate the brake mechanism

page_text: hereinbefore described. Instead of using the solenoid for keeping the hanger M
and the spring for drawing the hanger close to apply the shoes, they might be
used vice versa.
In Fig. 7, we show our device designed to be operated in a trailer through the
draw bar. X is the draw-bar and a is a lever pivotally connected thereto and to
the lever S identically constructed to that shown in Fig. 1. Y is a face ratchet
wheel formed on one of the rims of the strap or the band. The ratchet wheel Y
is engaged by a pawl y connected by a rod y' extending between the cars and to
the front motor car where it is connected to a crank Y' operated by a push rod Y2,
which may be pressed downwardly to withdraw the dog when it is desired to
release the brake on the trailer. The operation of the brake in other respects,
however, is the same as when put on by the operating rod described in Fig. 1.
The draw bar X of course takes the place of this operating rod and acts simul-
taneously with the same.
The double bars, which we have herein before described it will be seen act as a
guide for retaining the hangers M and M' on a line with each other and with
the loose collar, so that there is no danger of binding.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is;-
1. The combination with the brake shoes, brake lever and connecting rods, of
the sheaf secured to the shaft and the strap loosely mounted on same, and the
cable connecting the strap to the brake lever and means for throwing the strap
into frictional connection with the sheaf as and for the purpose specified.
2. The combination with the brake shoes, brake lever and connecting rods,
of the sheaf secured to the shaft and the strap loosely mounted on same and the
cable connecting the strap to the brake lever, the collar attached to or forming
part of the sheaf, the loose collar mounted on same and provided with a recess,
the rocking bar extending into such recess and the arc-shaped lever pivoted to the
sheaf extending over the rocking arm and provided with a frictional contacting
braking surface designed to come in contact with the strap and means for retarding
the rotation of the loose collar as and for the purpose specified.
3. The combination with the brake shoes, brake lever and connecting rods of
the sheaf secured to the shaft and strap loosely mounted on same and the cable
connecting the strap to the brake lever, the collar attached to or forming
part of the sheaf, the loose collar mounted on same and provided with a recess,
the rocking bar extending into such recess and the arc-shaped lever pivoted to
the sheaf extending over the rocking arm and provided with a brake shoe
designed to come in contact with the strap and means for retarding the rotation
of the loose collar as and for the purpose specified.
4. The combination with the brake shoes, brake lever and connecting rods, of
the sheaf secured to the shaft, and strap loosely mounted on same and the cable
connecting the strap to the brake lever, the collar attached to or forming part of
the sheaf, the loose collar mounted on same, the arc-shaped lever pivoted on the
sheaf, provided with a frictional contacting surface, and designed to engage with
the strap, means connected to the loose collar for tilting the arc-shaped lever
and means for retarding the rotation of the collar as and for the purpose specified.
5. The combination with the brake shoes, brake lever and connecting rods,
of the sheaf secured to the shaft, and strap loosely mounted on same and the
cable connecting the strap to the brake lever, the collar attached to or forming
part of the sheaf, the loose collar mounted on same, the arc-shaped lever pivoted on
the sheaf, provided with a frictional contacting surface, and designed to engage
with the strap, means connected to the loop collar for tilting the arc-shaped lever,
the shoes suitably supported in proximity to the loose collar and means for throw-
ing them against the said collar as and for the purpose specified.
6. The combination with the brake shoes, brake lever and connecting rods, of

page_text: the sheaf secured to the shaft, and the strap loosely mounted on same and the
cable connecting the strap to the brake lever, the collar attached to or forming
part of the sheaf, the loose collar mounted on same, the arc-shaped lever pivoted
on the sheaf, provided with a frictional contacting surface, and designed to engage
with the strap, means connected to the loose collar for tilting the arc-shaped
lever, the minor shoes, the hangers both pivotally connected to the shoes and one
pivotally supported at the top, the bottom bar connecting both hangers at the
bottom and means for drawing the hangers together to apply the shoes as and for
the purpose specified.
7. The combination with the brake shoes, brake lever and connecting rods,
of the sheaf secured to the shaft and strap loosely mounted on same and the
cable connecting the strap to the brake lever, the collar attached to or forming
part of the sheaf, the loose collar mounted on same, the arc-shaped lever pivoted
on the sheaf, provided with a frictional contacting surface, and designed to engage
with the strap, means connected to the loose collar for tilting the arc-shaped
lever, the shoes, the hangers both pivotally connected to the shoes, and one
pivotally supported at the top, the bottom bar connecting both hangers at the
bottom, means for drawing the hangers together to apply the shoes and a suitable
spring actuated device for separating the hangers to release the shoes as and for
the purpose specified.
8. The combination with the brake shoes, brake lever and connecting rods, of
the sheaf secured to the shaft and strap loosely mounted on same and the cable
connecting the strap to the brake lever, the collar attached to or forming part of
the sheaf, the loose collar mounted on same, the arc-shaped lever pivoted on the
sheaf, provided with a frictional contacting surface, and designed to engage with
the strap, means connected to the loose collar-for-tilting-the-arc-shaped lever,
the shoes, the hangers both pivotally connected to the shoes and one pivotally sup-
ported at the top, the bottom bar connecting both hangers at the bottom, and a
solenoid and plunger acting in conjunction with the spring for controlling the
movement of the loose hanger as and for the purpose specified.
9. The combination with the brake shoes, brake lever and connecting rods,
of the sheaf secured to the shaft, and strap loosely mounted on same and the cable
connecting the strap to the brake lever, the collar attached to or forming part of
the sheaf, the loose collar mounted on same, the arc-shaped lever pivoted on the
sheaf and provided with a frictional contacting surface and designed to engage
with the strap, means connected to the loose collar for tilting the arc-shaped lever,
means for retarding the rotation of the collar, the ratchet wheel formed on the
face of the strap, the pawl engaging therewith and means for releasing such
pawl as and for the purpose specified.
10. The combination with the brake shoes, brake lever and connecting rods, of
the sheaf secured to the shaft, and the strap loosely mounted on same and the
cable connecting the strap to the brake lever, the collar attached to or forming
part of the sheaf, the loose collar mounted on same, the arc-shaped lever pivoted
on the sheaf, provided with a frictional contact surface, and designed to engage
with the strap, means connected to the loose collar for tilting the arc-shaped
lever, the minor shoes, the hangers, the double bar forming a support for the
pivoted hanger and a guide for the loose hanger, means for connecting the hangers
at the bottom and means for drawing such hangers together to apply the brake
as and for the purpose specified.
.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London. Agents for the Applicants.