A New or Improved Brake System for Vehicles.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1887
Specification Accepted, 29th Nov., 1887
A New or Improved Brake System for Vehicles.
I, AUGUSTE CHARLES THEODORE BAUTAIN, of 22 Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, France,
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 :-
My invention relates to a new or improved system of brakes, one acting by rotary
friction, with continuous pressure, and stopping the vehicle gradually or instan-
taneously; and the other somewhat similar to a drag, operating automatically on the
release of a catch, by adherence to the wheel, thus causing an instantaneous stoppage
by friction. These two brakes, combined in this manner, form a single brake; they
may however be used in various manners separately, for instance in case the one
acting by rotary friction should not work, the one which is self-acting on the release
of a catch may be used, and an instantaneous stoppage effected.
The rotary friction brake has a double action; it both stops the forward, and
prevents any rearward motion. Whether the vehicle is one of two or four wheels, as
each wheel is supplied with a brake, in case the appliances of one or more should
break, the one or more remaining would be available notwithstanding, and suffice to
cause a stoppage, each brake being independent of the others. In the practical
application of the invention any suitable material may be used for obviating the
friction of the wrought and cast iron parts one against the other.
In order to make the invention and its application more clearly understood, I shall
now refer to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a wheel provided with a rotary friction brake,
and with the drag for effecting instantaneous stoppage.
Fig. 2 is a front view of fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a pulley with five V-shaped grooves, the middle
groove being wider than the others in order to have a double raceway in it.

page_text: Fig. 4 represents a metal or other suitable collar fitted with some incombustible
material, and intended to cause friction in the V shaped grooves of the pulley.
Figs. 5 and 6 represent an oval ring, to the ends of which a metal or other pulling
rope is attached.
Similar letters refer to corresponding parts throughout.
A is the pulley keyed on the hub of the wheel; in the grooves of the pulley are
placed four friction collars B, the ends of which terminate in rings intended to
receive bolts C and C¹; upon these latter the arms D of the oval ring or loop E are
fastened. This ring E is provided with two ropes or rods G and H placed as shown
in figs. 5 and 6.
When the wheel turns in the direction of the arrow 1, the stoppage is effected by
pressure in that direction as follows: the driver pulls the rope or rod G by means of
a pedal, lever, or other suitable contrivance placed at his side. This rope G fastened
to the upper part of the oval ring E passes in one of the raceways of the central
groove in the pulley A and when operated by the driver, binds upon the surface of
such groove; it is then drawn round by the rotation of the pulley A, imparting
its motion to the ring E, and consequently to the collars B, which then press against
the 4 grooves; the result being that the block I is brought into contact with the
circumference of the wheel in a continuous or instantaneous manner according to the
action of the driver.
When the wheel turns in the opposite direction to arrow 1, the required pressure
is obtained by pulling the rope or rod H; the result attained is the same as above
described, except that the pressure is exerted in the contrary direction.
The block I is connected with the bolts by several thicknesses of leather or other
straps held between two sheets K and K of steel, waved and rivetted as in figs. 1
and 2. The bar of the blocks is suspended by one or two rods L as required. A
clip M upon the axle serves to fasten to the latter a waved steel spring N which
terminates at the block bar and keeps the block free of the tire. It is obvious
however, that any suitable means may be employed to keep the block off the tire. In
the same way, any suitable pulling or connecting contrivance, according to the nature
and requirements of the vehicle, may be used. In certain cases, if the carriage is a
light one, I may leave out the block bearing on the tire of the wheel, in such case,
the block connections would be fixed to the body of the carriage, the stoppage being
caused by pressure on the hub of the wheel.
In addition to the advantages above pointed out, this system of brake may be made
to act by the fall of one or more of the horses. The stoppage is caused by the
lowering of the shafts, poles, or tracebars consequent upon the fall of the animal, the
strain upon the rope in this case causing the brake to act. The brake is released
automatically when the horse rises.
In order to remove all cause of accident in case the friction brakes should by any
chance fail to act, I have added another, an emergency brake; it consists of a steel
spring plate O with a brake block or drag P fastened at one end. This plate is fixed
to the vehicle by an arm through which a bolt passes, so arranged as to allow of the
necessary movement; a chain hooking upon the catch is fastened to the brake block.
The steel plate is in form a segment of a circle in order to ensure a good grip of the
wheel. The moment the catch is released, this plate is let go, and forcing its block
under the wheel, scots it instantaneously. The spring may also be utilized to clear
the rails when the brake is used on tramways; when not in use, either as brake,
or for clearing the rails, it may be kept clear of the ground by shortening the
chain.
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 :-
1. The oval loop or ring E having at its upper end a rope G, and at its lower
end a rope H, and provided with arms D, substantially as described for the purpose

page_text: 2. The oval loop or ring E having at its upper end a rope G, and at its lower end
a rope H, and provided with arms D, in combination with the bolts C, C', collars B,
pulley A, and block I, for the purpose of obtaining, in either direction, a continuous
pressure or a gradual or instantaneous stoppage, substantially as described.
3. The connection of the parts above described, with the shafts, poles, or trace bars
of the vehicle, in such manner that the fall of the horse operates the brake auto-
matically as above described.
4. The use, in combination with the parts above described or separately, of the
steel spring plate O and drag or block P, substantially as described for the purpose
set forth.