Device for Operating the Compressed Air Brake of a Train in Motion, from a Point situated Outside the said Train.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1900
▲ Device for Operating the Compressed Air Brake of a Train in
Motion, from a Point situated Outside the said Train.
I, JOSEF ROEBRUCK, of 18, Deutscher Ring, Cologne, Germany, Inventor, 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.-
The present invention relates to a device having for its object to allow the
sudden stopping of a train in motion by the action of the compressed air brake,
operated either by the man on duty at the nearest station, or automatically as
soon as the train reaches a given point on the road which it must not pass, as for
instance, an open gate, a badly worked switch, or a signal which 18 against it
In this way it will be possible to avoid the accidents which other wise may occur
when tiains pass places where gates are open or where signals are against them,
or run over a wrong switch or on to a line already occupied by another train o
part of a train
In the annexed diawing an explanation is given of the method of working
the invention
Fig 1 is a vertical section of my device
Fig 2 a horizontal view of the same
This device comprises a cartridge a pressed between the cover b of a branch
tube c on the brake-tube d, and a cross plate, flange, and bolts e hairanged over
the cover b and maintained on the branch tube c, so that the cover shall fit
exactly on the branch tube o and that this tube shall be closed in an air-tight
manner as long as the cartridge a remains in its place on the said cover This*
cartiidge 18 in contact with the conductors f, g, of an electric circuit, the necessary
current for which, may be generated by batteries or accumulators and which can
be placed in the train itself as for example in the van In the normal state, the
circuit is left open When the current is made to pass, there will be produced in
the interior of the cartridge between the wies f, g, a spark which will cause the
cartridge to explode
•
By this means the outer pressure on the covei 6 18 removed, and the air can
escape through the bianch tube c, thus immediately actuating the brake for the
stoppage of the train.
r
Before the train can continue its way, it will evidently be necessary to replace
the cover b on the tube and interpose a fresh cartridge a between the said covei
and e, and this is easily done, for a sufhcient number of cartridges may be carried
the wires, of which can be rapidly connected, by means of screw terminals, with the
conductors f, g, running along the floor or sides of the car. This having been
done, the apparatus is ready for use a second time.
The oross plate e may be held in place by nuts and bolts fixed in the projecting
side lugs i of the branch tube c, by means of which nuts the said cross plate mav
be screwed down on the cartridge a
The cover 6 may be made quite round and allowed to rest freely on the branch
tube c; or the said cover may be given an oval or oblong shape (as shown by the

page_text: dotted lines of Fig. 2) and bear at its two extremities notches or grooves whereby
it may be guided on the bolts h and cannot be projected into space when the
cartridge explodes By this arrangement, the cover is merely thrown up against
the cross-plate e, along the bolts h, and can afterwards fall down upon the tube c
The closing of the circuit at the extremities of the wires f, g, may be effected
in various ways, either at will from the station or automatically at the respective
signals or other obstacles.
One mode of completing the circuit from a point situated outside the train, to
effect its stoppage, is as follows. A conducting wire C is laid along the rails for
whatever distance from the station it may be found convenient and desirable.
The source of the electric current will be situated at the station Now, if for
any reason, it is required to stop an approaching train, this is accomplished by
closing the circuit, between the conducting wire C and one of the railway metals
which might be arranged to form the other conductor.
Under the foot plank B is arranged a metal brush A, which receives the current
and transmits it to the cartridge herembefore mentioned The consequent
explosion operates the compressed-air-brake, and the train is brought to a stand-
still, as already explained.
It will be understood that the metal brush A is connected by a conducting wire,
with the previously described apparatus installed in the train, and this apparatus 19
provided with an inductor, so that the current will produce a spark to explode
the cartridge
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 18.-
(1.) A device for actuating the compressed an brake of a train in motion, from a
point situated outside said train, consisting of the combination of a cartridge a,
a cover b, a cross plate e, bolts and nuts h, and the branch tube c, said cartridge
being connected with an electric current in such a way that it shall be fired when
the cncuit is closed, whereby the compressed air escapes and the brake is put on,
substantially as herein described and shewn in the annexed drawing
Dated this 4th day of Novembor 1800
S. S BROMHEAD,
Agent for Applicant, 33, Cannon Street, London, EC