of Railway Rolling Stock in Case of Accident to a Vehicle or Train.
Year: 1885

page_text: of Railway Rolling Stock in Case of Accident to a Vehicle or
Train.
I, JOHN HENRY STEPHENSON, of Sydney in the Colony of New South Wales,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has been devised to provide mechanism which in cases of accidents
among which the breaking of a tyre an axle a spring the running of a carriage off
the rails and others (so long as the accident will materially reduce the distance of
the rigid frame of the vehicle from the rail or from anything upon the rails) might
be mentioned will automatically actuate the continuous brake of the train so that
such brake will be instantaneously applied to the wheels of the train and not only
tend to bring said train to a standstill but also give warning of the accident.
The improved automatic mechanism for actuating continuous brakes of railway
rolling stock in case of accident to a vehicle or train consists essentially of the
combination with the underframing or the undergear of a vehicle of a hinged or
pivotted leg or legs having feet or treads just above the rails which when they are
thrown or lifted up give motion to and open a valve or other gear so as to direct
the air or fluid through certain passages and so apply the brake.
In Westinghouse's continuous Brake the air is allowed to escape and in other
brakes fluid under pressure is directed into cylinders which actuate the brake
blocks or said hinged legs when they are lifted up actuate any valve for applying
a continuous brake.
In fitting a vehicle with the said improved automatic mechanism for actuating
continuous pressure brakes a projecting leg is hinged to a bracket on the main
frame so that it may fly or be thrown or lifted upwards but normally have its end
on which is a wide foot or tread supported say three or four inches above the rail.
Two of these legs (although one at either end of the vehicle would do) project at
each end away from and in front of or beyond each pair of wheels and they are
connected by a forked rod to the handles or levers of a valve chamber or other
mechanism for opening a "way" for the fluid or other pressure in the direction it
is desired to pass.
But in order that the invention may be clearly understood it will now be
described as used for actuating continuous brakes upon the Westinghouse principle

page_text: and for this purpose reference will be made to the drawings herewith in which
Figure 1 is a side view and Figure 2 a reverse plan of a carriage having Westing-
house's brake gear and the said improved automatic mechanism for actuating said
brake in case of accident and Figure 3 is an end view of the same-Figures 4
and 5 are front elevation and sectional plan respectively of the form of valve
chamber which is used in this case and Figure 6 is a section on line a a Figure 5
showing the relative normal positions of the parts or passages of the valve and
its lever Figure 7 shows details of the other parts of the mechanism.
a is the compressed air pipe-b the auxillary reservoir-o the triple valve and
referring to parts of this invention-A A are legs-B connecting rods and C valve
A¹ are hinge brackets at top A³ pin A³ stop. A feet or treads-B¹ are end bolts
B* connecting pins or bolts-C pluga C ports therein-C ports in valve chamber.
Cgland Clever Ce socket C connecting pipe from pipe a.
In this class of brake upon opening any part of the air pipe so that the com-
pressed air may escape it is well known that the brakes are applied and in operation,
the mechanism hereinbefore described works thus:-should an accident of the
description mentioned occur the treads A' are brought against the rail which pushes
them and the legs A upward. The legs A are normally supported by stop A³ but
being pushed upward turn upon pin A* and drag the connecting rod B outwards
which rod B in turn moves the lever C5 and turns the plug of the valve bringing
the ports C' and C in juxta position so that the compressed air passing freely from
pipe a through pipe C7 into the body of the valve will escape through the hollow
plug C¹ ports C and C into the atmosphere and so relieve the pressure in the air
pipe with the result that the brakes will be instantaneously applied.
It is easily seen that should the vehicle run off the rails the same effect results
for the treads A are made so wide that when the wheel leaves the rail they strike
or travel on it and it will also be perceived that upon vehicles fitted with any
pressure or vaccuum brakes the same arrangement of parts might be used for
opening or closing a valve or valves for actuating the brakes.
In another form of my improved mechanism I support a frame by or upon the
axle boxes (or by the axle) which frame carries the hinge or pivot of the projecting
legs and supports them. In this case the "legs" have two ends both of which are
provided with contact pieces or treads-I have shown this modification of my
invention by Figures 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings which show respectively partial
elevation plan and end view of a vehicle provided with the same.
In these figures A A are the projecting legs-B the connecting rod to a valve or
brake regulating contrivance D is frame attached to axle box -D¹ is a stay and
D rod or pivot of the legs A (also provided with stops or supports for same not
shewn) A' feet or treads and A upper contact piece-The other parts would
according to circumstances be similar to or serve similar purposes to those described
with reference to Figures 1 to 7.
In operation should an accident occur the result would be the same as that
previously mentioned with reference to the more fully described mechanism as will
be plainly seen in reference to the drawings.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and the manner in which the same is to be carried into effect it is
to be understood that the invention or use of any particular kind of brake is not
claimed but what is novel and original I intend to hereafter specifically set forth.
Dated this thirteenth day of October One thousand eight hundred and

page_text: Improved Automatic Mechanism for Actuating Continuous Brakes
of Railway Rolling Stock in Case of Accident to a Vehicle or
Train.
I, JOHN HENRY STEPHENSON of Sydney in the Colony of New South Wales,
Engineer, 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 has been devised to provide mechanism which in cases of
accidents among which the breaking of a tyre an axle a spring the running of a
carriage off the rails and others (so long as the accident will materially reduce the
distance of the rigid frame of the vehicle from the rail or from anything upon the
rails) might be mentioned will automatically actuate the continuous brake of
the train so that such brake will be instantaneously applied to the wheels of the
train and not only tend to bring said train to a standstill but also give warning of
the accident.
The improved automatic mechanism for actuating continuous brakes of railway
rolling stock in case of accident to a vehicle or train consists essentially of the
combination with the underframing or the undergear of a vehicle of a hinged or
pivotted leg or lega having feet or treads just above the rails which when they are
thrown or lifted up give motion to and open a valve or other gear so as to direct
the air or fluid through certain passages and so apply the brake.
In "Westinghouse's" Continuous Brake the air is allowed to escape and in other
brakes fluid under pressure is directed into cylinders which actuate the brake blocks
or said hinged legs when they are lifted up actuate any valve for applying a
continuous brake.
In fitting a vehicle with the said improved automatic mechanism for actuating
continuous pressure brakes a projecting leg is hinged to a bracket on the main
frame so that it may fly or be thrown or lifted upwards but normally have its end
on which is a wide foot or tread supported say three or four inches above the rail.
Two of these legs (although one at either end of the vehicle would do) project at
each end away from and in front of or beyond each pair of wheels and they are
connected by a forked rod to the handles or levers of a valve chamber or other
mechanism for opening a way" for the fluid or other pressure in the direction it
is desired to pass.
"
But in order that the invention may be clearly understood it will now be
described as used for actuating continuous brakes upon the "Westinghouse
principle and for this purpose reference will be made to the drawings herewith in
which Figure 1 is a side view and Figure 2 a reverse plan of a carriage having
Westinghouse's" brake gear and the said improved automatic mechanism for
actuating said brake in case of accident and Figure 3 is an end view of the same
Figures 4 and 5 are front elevation and sectional plan respectively of the form of
Сс

page_text: valve chamber which is used in this case and Figure 6 is a section on line a a
figure 5 showing the relative normal positions of the ports or passages of the valve
and its lever. Figure 7 shows details of the other parts of the mechanism.
a is the compressed air pipe b the auxiliary reservoir-c the triple valve and
referring to parts of this invention A A are legs-B connecting rods and C valve-
A are hinge brackets at top-A' pin-As stop-A' feet or treads-B¹ are end
bolts B connecting pins or bolts C¹ plugs-C ports therein-C ports in valve
chamber C gland-C lever-C socket-C connecting pipe from pipe a.
In this class of brake upon opening any part of the air pipe so that the
compressed air may escape it is well known that the brakes are applied and in
operation the mechanism herein before described works thus. Should an accident
(of the description mentioned) occur the treads A' are brought against the rail
which pushes them and the legs A upwards. The legs A are normally supported
by stop A but being pushed upward turn upon pin A' and drag the connecting.
rod B outwards which rod B in turn moves the lever C and turns the plug of the
valve bringing the ports C and C in juxta position so that the compressed air
passing freely from pipe a through pipe C into the body of the valve will escape
through the hollow plug C ports C and C³ into the atmosphere and so relieve
the pressure in the air pipe with the result that the brakes will be instantaneously
applied.
It is easily seen that should the vehicle run off the rails the same effect results
for the treads A' are made so wide that when the wheel leaves the rail they strike
or travel on it and it will also be perceived that upon vehicles fitted with any
pressure or vacuum brakes the same arrangement of parts might be used for
opening or closing a valve or valves for actuating the brakes.
In another form of my improved mechanism I support a frame by or upon the
axle boxes (or by the axle) which frame carries the hinge or pivot of the projecting
legs and supports them. In this case the "legs" have two ends both of which are
provided with contact pieces or treads.
I have shewn this modification of my invention by Figures 8. 9. and 10 of the
drawings which shew. respectively partial elevation plan and end view of a vehicle
provided with the same.
In these figures A A are the projecting legs-B the connecting rod to a valve or
brake regulating contrivance-D is frame attached to axle box d-D¹ is stay
and D' rod or pivot of the legs A (also provided with stops or supports for same
not shown) A feet or treads and A³ upper contact piece The other parts would
according to circumstances be similar to or serve similar purposes to those described
with reference to Figures 1 to 7.
In operation should an accident occur the result would be the same as that
previously mentioned with reference to the more fully described mechanism as
will be plainly seen on reference to the drawings.
It is to be understood that the invention or use of any particular kind of brake
is not claimed but 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 as improved automatic mechanism for actuating continuous
brakes of railway rolling stock in case of accident to a vehicle or train is
First. The combination and arrangement with the under framing or undergear
of a vehicle of the hinged or pivotted projecting legs (preferably provided with
feet or treads and a connecting rod from such latter to a valve or regulating
contrivance connected to the brake mechanism substantially as herein described
and explained.
Second. The combination and arrangement with the pipe of a continuous brake
of the valve chamber C having plugs and means of turning the latter connected
to hinged projecting legs or feet substantially as herein described and explained
and as illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings,

page_text: Third. The particular_combination and arrangement with the underframing of
a vehicle fitted with " Westinghouses" continuous brake of the parts marked A
to A, B C to C substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated
in figures 1 to 7 of the drawings.
Fourth. The combination and arrangement with the undergear of a vehicle of
the parts marked A. B. D..D¹ and D' and a valve or regulating contrivance of the
brake mechanism substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated
in Figures 8. 9. and 10 of the drawings.
Dated this second day of September One thousand eight hundred and eighty six.