IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF ACTING BRAKES FOR TRAMCARS AND OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: We GEORGE HERBERT STATTE and WILLIAM HOPE, both at 15 Earle Street
Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Gentleman and contractor respectively do
hereby declare the nature of our said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF
ACTING BRAKES FOR TRAMCARS AND OTHER VEHICLES," to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object an automatic brake for tramway and other
vehicles which shall come into action by the horses or other propelling power (such
as steam hereafter understood to be included in the word "horses") slackening
their pull and yet by a turn of a handle may be reversed so that almost the entire
pull of the horses may be brought to bear upon the brake to stop the car in the
case of the horses taking fright. Our invention is also designed to lessen the strain
on the horses very materially by equalizing shocks.
It consists 1st In attaching the horses to a central longitudinal draw-bar
connected to the car only by bearings and by the spring apparatus hereafter
described.
2nd. In a spring apparatus which taking the strain while the horses are pulling
tends to equalize shocks, but which the moment they cease pulling puts on the
brakes.
3rd. In a reversing lever used for reversing the position of the springs when the
horses are brought round in the return journey to draw at the other end of the
draw-bar, also used if the horses are running away to bring the full strain of
the horses and previously idle springs upon the brake.
4th. In the brake mechanism consisting of a series of brake blocks attached by
levers with fulcra near the blocks to the draw-bar, brakes being placed on each
side of the wheel and so linked up that when one set are in action the other shall
stand wide of the wheels, but the reversing of the spring apparatus by the
reversing lever brings those previously standing wide of the wheels into play, and
causes those formerly in action to stand wide.
The spring apparatus consists of two, four, or any greater number of springs or
even one spring with two free. ends, each spring bearing at one end against the
draw-bar and at the other end against a fulcrum or abutment on the car, or in the
case of the single spring there is an abutment in the centre of that spring or

page_text: working against the acting draw-bar and the two ends attached to or bearing on
the draw-bar or draw-bars. The abutment when more than one spring is used is
preferably placed on a crank or its equivalent rotating on a vertical axis, and so
arranged that by a movement of the reversing lever the position of said crank can
be changed from one end of its throw to the other. When at one end of the throw
one spring, set of springs, or one end of the single spring is in gear and when the
horses are not pulling to compress that spring, that spring maintains the draw-bar in
such position that the brakes on one side of the wheels are applied. The pull of the
horses however compresses the spring and pulls the draw-bar into such position that
the brakes are removed. If however the horses run away the reversing lever can be
applied and then the spring puts the brake on or if there be more than one spring
the other set of springs and the pull of the horses combine to put the opposite
brakes on.
The car is thus stopped, the reversing lever again applied and the
springs placed in normal position for proceeding in that direction.

page_text: We, GEORGE HERBERT STAITE and WILLIAM HOPE, both at 15 Earle Street,
Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, Gentleman and Contractor respectively,
do hereby declare the nature of our said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-
ACTING BRAKES FOR TRAM-CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES" and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention has for its object an automatic brake for tramway and other
vehicles which shall come into action by the horses or other propelling power (such
as steam hereafter understood to be included in the word "horses") slackening
their pull and yet by a turn of a handle may be reversed so that almost the entire
pull of the horses may be brought to bear upon the brake to stop the car in the
case of the horses taking fright. Our invention is also designed to lessen the strain
on the horses very materially by equalizing shocks.
It consists 1st. In attaching the horses to a central longitudinal draw-bar
connected to the car only by bearings and by the spring apparatus hereafter
described.
2nd. In a spring apparatus which taking the strain while the horses are pulling
tends to equalize shocks but which the moment they cease pulling puts on the
brakes.
3rd. In a reversing lever used for reversing the position of the springs when the
horses are brought round in the return journey to draw at the other end of the
draw-bar, also used if the horses are running away to bring the full strain of
the horses and previously idle springs upon the brake.
4th. In the brake mechanism consisting of a series of brake blocks attached by
levers with fulcra near the blocks to the draw-bar, brakes being placed on each side
of the wheel and so linked up that when one set are in action the other shall stand
wide of the wheels, but the reversing of the spring apparatus by the reversing
lever brings those previously standing wide of the wheels into play, and causes
those formerly in action to stand wide.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings of a brake
apparatus applied by us to a tramcar. In these
Figure 1 is a side elevation and
Figure 2 a plan of a portion of a tram-car. The body of the car axles and all
parts not necessary for describing our invention are omitted for greater perspicuity.
In these A is the under framework of the carriage B draw-bar sliding in
bearings C C. There is preferably one of these draw-bars at each end of the
carriage. D projection on drawbar hooking into link E when the latter is in
position. E link linking draw-bar to brake apparatus. F trendle. G lever and
H projecting bracket in link by which combination link E can be thrown out of
gear with the draw-bar by the simple pressure of the foot. h hook on bracket.
I chain and J ordinary hand standard windlass and crank for putting on the
brakes by hand. i hook to support chain. K lever pivoted on diagonal bar of
framework of carriage at the centre line of the carriage. L L springs pulling in &
contrary direction to that in which the draw-bar acts, and which supply the force
to put the brakes on when the horses are not pulling. M link connecting the
brakes with a very short arm of lever K. N brake levers provided with right and
left hand screws n for adjusting their length to the wear of the brake blocks O.
P distance bar to keep blocks in position laterally. suspension links for

page_text: brake-blocks, q. suspension link for brake lever. R spring which when the brakes
are on has little or no leverage on lever K but when the brakes are off as in the
plan it serves to counteract in great measure the braking springs L
The mode of action is as follows:
The apparatus being connected as set forth in the drawing the horses pulling on
the draw-bar take the brakes off but if they stop or back the strain being no longer
on the bar the springs L L put the brake on. If however the horses run away and
it is wanted to put the brake on the treadle F is depressed lifting thereby the
link E out of connection with projection D the pull is now no longer on the link
and the brakes fly on. By winding on hand gear J the full force of the hand gear
through the chain pulling on lever K can be brought to aid the springs. If on the
other hand it be desired when shunting in the yard to take the brakes off
altogether hand apparatus J is worked so as to pull on the hook on H bolted to
link E, and when the brake is taken off it is clamped in position in any convenient
manner.
It will be obvious that the spring apparatus.can vary indefinitely. We can
arrange it to work with one spring clamped at the centre to actuate both ends of
the car, or any desired number of springs can be used and springs of very differing
shapes. The apparatus can be arranged as suggested in the latter end of the
provisional Specification with a reversing lever so as to enable the full force of the
horses pulling when running away to put on the brake, but after numerous
experiments we prefer the above described arrangement so have not thought it
worth while to show a reversing lever.
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 :
1st. The manufacture and use of self-acting brakes in which a set of brake blocks
are pressed against the wheels by the force of springs when the tractive power is
not pulling, and are held from the wheels by the tractive force when it is exerted
in drawing the carriage substantially as described.
2nd. In combination with a self acting brake held from action by the tractive
force exerted on the draw-bar or its equivalent, and put on by springs or their
equivalent when the tractive force is not pulling, a relieving apparatus whereby the
connection between the tractive force and the brake can be instantaneously broken'
and thus the springs allowed full scope in the case of a running away, substantially
as described.
3rd. In combination with self acting brakes such as described, a hand gear (J)
and connection (L) between it and the brake apparatus by which means the brake
can be put on by the spring power of the automatic apparatus by. the power of the
operator on the hand gear (J) or by both.
· Deted this 98th dox of October 1884