IMPROVEMENTS IN "CAR BRAKES
Year: 1885

page_text: We EARL ALBERT WESCOTT, and EDMUND ROGGER BRISTOL residing at 2428
Bloomington Avenue South and 1410, 25th Street South, respectively Minneapolis
in the County of Hennepin, and State of Minnesota in the United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
"CAR BRAKES" and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to railroad and engine car brakes and consists in certain
attachments to the well known atmospheric brake system wherein the brakes are
applied by a diminution of the air pressure in the main supply pipe.
The nature of our invention will be fully set forth hereinafter.
In the drawings
Fig. 1 is a side view of a truck with our invention in position thereon.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same and
Figs 3 and 4 are details.
A is the truck-frame and B are the pedestal braces. a are brackets that are
projected inwardly from the sides of the braces and each carries a round stud b
that fits in a bearing b¹ on the underside of the short arm of a lever D and forms
the fulcrum for it to turn upon E are guides that are suspended to the underside of
the pedestal braces for the reception each of a post F that is passed up through it
into an opening in the end of the short arm of the lever D where it is secured by
a set screw c The long arm of each lever D projects up above the truck frame
and is connected by a link d with the handle d of a cock D¹ that terminates
a tube G that is coupled to the main supply pipe H. There are a pair of levers D
between each pair of wheels and the posts F are suspended directly over the rails.
The operation of our device is as follows:-Should one or more of the wheels
jump the track, the rail will come in contact with a post F, (which may have a
foot or shoe, f, as shown) and will lift it and cause it to lift the ends of the short
arm of a lever D and thrust its long arm backwards as the case may be, causing it
in turn to throw the handles d' out of line with the tube G and open the valve D²
which will allow the air in the supply pipe to escape and set the brake.
We have not deemed it necessary to show any more of the atmospheric air brake
system, than merely the supply pipe as it is well known by all those skilled in this
art that the brakes are set by means of a reservoir and what is known as a triple
C
•

page_text: valve which latter is held in its seat by the pressure in the reservoir and main
supply pipe, being held in equilibrium and that a decrease of pressure from the
supply pipe will permit the pressure of the air in the reservoir to force the valve
from its seat and admit the air from the reservoir to the cylinder in which the
brake piston is located; any break in the pipe H will do this and therefore we
have provided this method of causing the automatic application of the brakes in
case of accident, for as soon as one wheel leaves the rail, the post or foot must
strike the rail and this causes a lever D to open valve D' which immediately sets
the brakes on all the cars and thus stops the train.
The breaking of an axle would produce the same result, or the contact of any.
obstruction with the lower end of the post or foot would apply the brakes.
The posts F are each preferably formed with a foot, f, which gives it sufficient
surface to insure its striking the rail in case of accident.
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 supply pipe of an atmospheric brake system of a
suspended post and a lever connecting it with a valve of the supply pipe.
2. A post suspended from the truck of a railway car, or engine truck, over the
rail in combination with the supply pipe of an atmospheric brake, a valve leading
to the supply pipe and mechanism connecting the post with said valve whereby the
lifting of the post by contact with the rails or other obstruction will open the
valve and apply the brakes substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with the supply pipe of an atmospheric brake system, of
a valve leading therefrom, a link, d, lever D, and a post suspended from the short
arm of lever D over the rail as and for the purpose set forth.
4. The combination with the pipe H of tubes G and their valves, levers D
links, d, posts F and guides E as and for the purpose set forth.
AALL