Improvements in or relating to Fluid-pressure Brakes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 4th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Fluid-pressure Brakes.
I, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN of 28 Rose Grove, Ardwick,
Manchester in the County of Lancaster Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to such brakes for road vehicles as are so constructed that
the brake-block, shoc or equivalent is formed with a collapsed flexible chamber,
which is pressed against the wheel by forcing air or other fluid thereinto by means
of a flexible flask, or pump operated by the hand, such flask or pump being in
tubular communication with the brake-block. These brakes have hitherto been
applied by the hand and used chiefly upon such light vehicles as velocipedes.
Now the object of this invention is to improve the construction of such brakes
and make them more readily and usefully applicable to heavier vehicles.
According to this invention I fix a brake-block or shoe capable of expansion in
the direction of the rim, felloe or hub of the wheel, to a carrier or bracket fixed
to the body of the vehicle. Generally two of these brake-blocks and carriers
would be used one each to a wheel, but obviously any number may be used and to
each wheel of the vehicle. A pipe is carried from each of the brake blocks to a
pump or equivalent fixed on the footboard or floor of the vehicle in such manner
that it may be operated by the foot of the driver or other person, directly or
through the intervention of a lever.
The pump or its equivalent may consist of a flexible closed chamber of india-
rubber or other suitable substance, constructed or formed in any suitable manner.
In place of this flexible chamber of indiarubber I may use a metal pump having
a leather-cupped or packed piston or plunger which may be operated directly by
the hand or foot, or indirectly by means of a hand-wheel or equivalent and screw.
Or the indiarubber flexible chamber may be enclosed in a casing into which a
plunger is forced by a screw and handwheel, or lever or equivalent thereof.
The brake-block may be formed. by enclosing the part capable of expansion
in a metal shoe which slides in a box or guide fixed to the carrier aforesaid.
The metal shoe may be faced with any suitable material.
In some cases I may fill the brake tubes and pump or equivalent with a liquid,
which not being so compressible as air is more effective.
Dated this 27th dox of Iun 1501
R. J. URQUHART.
1, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN of 28 Rose Grove Ardwick,
Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates to such brakes as are described in my former Letters
Patent No. 16581 A.D. 1893 which are so constructed that the brake block, shoe
Pain 1

page_text: or equivalent is formed with a collapsed flexible chamber, which is expanded and
pressed against the wheel or its equivalent by forcing air thereinto by means of a
flexible flask or pump operated by the hand, such flask or pump being in tubular
communication with the brake block or its equivalent. These brakes have
hitherto been applied by the hand and used chiefly upon such light vehicles as
velocipedes.
Now the object of this invention is to improve the construction of such brakes
and make them more readily and usefully applicable to heavier vehicles.
This invention consists chiefly in the general construction and arrangement of
brakes by which greater force is applied to the wheel to arrest the momentum, than
has hitherto been done by hand power air-pressure brakes, thereby making them
specially applicable to road vehicles having animal traction.
By this construction and arrangement carriers or brackets are fixed to the body
or underframe of the vehicle, each carrier supporting a shoe or clip in which is
secured the flexible or elastic chamber. Each wheel of a two wheeled vehicle
would be provided with brake "blocks"; in some cases and when the vehicle bas
four wheels a brake-"block" is applied to each wheel. Also in some cases the
flexible chamber forming the brake-"block" is faced at the part which comes in
contact with the wheel with india-rubber of any suitable hardness, and in other
cases with metal or if desired with any other suitable or hard substance such as
wood or vulcanised fibre.
Each brake-" block is fitted with a pipe by which the "block" is expanded
and through which it is exhausted. These pipes are in tubular communication
with the forcing apparatus which is secured to the body or frame of the vehicle.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood reference is made to
the sheet of drawings attached hereunto which illustrate in the several figures the
general arrangement and construction of the brake and its relative position with
respect to the driver.
Figures 1 and 2 shew the brake in its application to a two wheeled vehicle,
Figure 1 for operation by the hand and Figure 2 for operation by the foot of the
driver. In a four wheeled vehicle the relative position would be the same.
Figure 3 illustrates two views of the brake "block" shewing one method of
attachment to the carrier.
Referring now to Figure 1. The brake shoe a carrying the flexible hollow
"block" is supported by or affixed to the carrier which latter is secured to the
body of the vehicle by bolts or screws. The attachment of the shoe to the carrier
is shewn as made by a clip a' which clamps the carrier to the shoe by means of
screws. The attachment may be made in any other suitable manner, the carrier b
being made of convenient form therefor.
To the floor, or other part of the body is secured the foot of the forcing apparatus
or pump c. A ball and socket tubular joint e¹ is preferably fitted to the barrel of
the pump and a non-return valve fitted in the bottom of the same. The plunger
or piston rod c² terminates at its upper end with a handle c³. A release valve of
any suitable construction, in direct communication with the pipe leading to and
from the brake "blocks" is arranged, in such manner that it can be readily
opened at any position of the plunger, on the cylinder or barrel; at present I
prefer to use the arrangement shewn in Figure 1. The release valve d is in
communication by means of the pipe d¹ following the barrel to the far side of the
non-return valve fitted in the bottom of the pump. The piston or plunger rod e² is
of square or other section not a complete and true circle. A rotative disc e having
a finger or nose el formed thereon is so fitted to the top of the pump barrel that it
may rotate but not lift. By turning the handle c³ with the piston rod c² the disc e
is turned with it even at any part of the stroke owing to the disc having a hole
corresponding in size and form to the sectional form of piston rod. In turning,
the disc-finger or nose e¹ comes in contact with the valve d and opens it, so
releasing the pressure in the brake "blocks" and pipe previously created by the
pump.

page_text: This pump may be made double acting and the release valve connections
correspondingly arranged. A clip is provided to sustain the pump in a convenient
position when not being used.
The pipe connects the brake blocks with the forcing apparatus.
Referring now to Figure 2. The forcing apparatus is here shewn applied to the
under side of the floor of the vehicle, having an operative foot lever g. In this
illustration the piston rod is shewn hinged to a bearing c the piston-rod being
hollow, the passage there-through communicating with the brake "blocks" through
the bearing centre and pipe x. The pump barrel or cylinder c is hinged to the
foot lever and moves along the piston rod c² during the strokes. A release valve
is not shewn in this view. Any suitable arrangement may be used for opening a
release valve applied to this apparatus.
Figure 3 illustrates two views of the brake shoe a and flexible hollow brake
"block" a² which is also shewn distended by the dotted line a³. The shoe is
carried by the carrier and attached by the clamp or clip a¹ in the manner
hereinbefore described.
I do not confine myself to the particular construction of apparatus and parts
herein before described and illustrated. I may use any suitable equivalent of the
pump for instance a flexible hollow chamber or bellows and may operate the piston
or plunger of the pump by means of a screw and band wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The general arrangement and construction of brakes for horse-traction
vehicles substantially as herein before described.
Second. The combination of two or more hollow flexible "blocks" with a hand-
forcing apparatus in tubular communication therewith and fitted with back pressure
and release valves substantially as hereinbefore described and for the purposes
set forth.
Third. The combination of two or more hollow flexible brake "blocks" with a
foot forcing apparatus in tubular communication therewith and fitted with back-
pressure and release valves substantially as herein before described and for the
purposes set forth.
Fourth. The use of liquids for expanding hollow elastic brake blocks substantially
as herein before described.
11
herein before described.
Dated the 27th day of March 1895.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.