Improvements in Brakes for Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Brakes for Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM HUGGINS, of 24, Forest Park Road, Foreman Pattern Maker,
DANIEL M'CALLUM, of 21, North Tay Street, Brassfounder, and ROBERT CATANACH
WATSON, of 31, Hawkhill, Wine Merchant, all of Dundee, in the County of
Forfar, Scotland, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in brakes for vehicles, the object being
to effectually retard their motion in a new and improved manner.
In carrying out our invention, as applied to say a railway wagon, we use a cross
shaft, placing it under the wagon frame between the two axles, its length being
sufficient to pass from side to side. On such shaft are mounted two or four
eccentrics, four being used if each wheel be provided with a brake block. The
brake blocks are supported in the usual manner and the eccentric rods are coupled
to them, one eccentric, eccentric strap and rod being provided for each brake block.
The length of each eccentric rod may be adjusted by means of a screw and nut,
or their equivalent, such adjustment being required because of the wear of the
brake block. Each eccentric is set in such a manner that when its block is bearing
hard on the wheel, it will have to rotate still further before the position of
maximum throw is attained. At each side of the vehicle and on the shaft are two
levers, their purpose being to enable the operator to set on and off the brakes from
either side. These levers are arranged to lie horizontally when the brakes are off
and thus tend to keep them off, and to lie at an angle when they are on, their
weight then tending to keep them on. As the shaft is between the two axles
the thrust of the blocks when in action, tends to press them apart. The position
of the shaft may be such that the eccentric rods are horizontal, or if it be placed
immediately under the frame of the vehicle such eccentric rods may lie at an
angle. The actuating levers may be so arranged that they have to be lifted up
when putting on the brakes, or conversely. A screw shaft and worm wheel may
be used in some cases to rotate the eccentric shaft. The eccentrics, or the eccentric
straps may be fitted with rollers or balls to reduce friction. Although we have
described one way of actuating brake blocks by eccentrics, yet we may so modify
the details as to use one or more eccentrics for this purpose.
Instead of eccentrics, grooved cams or snails of continuously increasing or
decreasing pitch may be employed to actuate the brake blocks.
Dated th: 0th dox of March 1898
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
41, Reform Street, Dundee, Agents for Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Brakes for Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM HUGGINS, of 20, Forest Park Road, Foreman Pattern Maker,
DANIEL M'CALLUM, of 21, North Tay Street, Brassfounder, and ROBERT CATANACH
WATSON, of 31, Hawkhill, Wine Merchant, all of Dundee, in the County of
Forfar, Scotland, 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 improvements in brakes for vehicles, the object being
to effectually retard their motion in a new and improved manner.
And in order that our said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, we have hereunto
appended two explanatory sheets of drawings in which the same reference numerals
are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown, that is to
say:―
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) is a side elevation of a wagon frame showing it fitted with
a double brake.
Figure 2 (Sheet 1) is a plan of same.
Figure 3 (Sheet 2)
with a single brake.
is a part side elevation of a wagon frame showing it fitted
Figures 4 and 5. (Sheet 2) are detailed views of the eccentric shaft and eccen-
trics.
Figures 6, and 7 (Sheet 2) are views of another modification of the eccentric
shaft and eccentrics, showing another way of adjusting the parts to take up the
wear of the blocks.
In carrying out our invention, as applied to say a railway wagon, we use a cross
shaft 10, placing it under the wagon frame 11, and between the two axles 12, its
length being sufficient to pass from side to side.
On such shaft are mounted two or four eccentrics, four being used if each wheel
be provided with a brake block. In the drawings (Figures 4 and 5) we have
shown the eccentrics forming part of the shaft. The brake blocks 13, are sup-
ported in the usual manner and the eccentric rods 14, are coupled to them, one
eccentric, eccentric strap and rod being provided for each brake block. The length
of each eccentric rod may be adjusted by means of a screw and nut 15, or their
equivalent such equivalent being illustrated by Figures 6 and 7, such adjustment
being required because of the wear of the brake block. Each eccentric is set in
such a manner that when the block is bearing hard on the wheel, it will have to
rotate still further before the position of maximum throw is attained. At each
side of the vehicle on the shaft are two levers 16, their purpose being to enable
the operator to set on and off the brakes from either side. These levers are
arranged to lie horizontally as shown by the dotted lines when the brakes are off
as in Figure 3, and thus tend to keep them off; and to lie at an angle, as in
Figure 1, when they are on, their weight then tending to keep them on. As the
shaft 10, is between the two axles, the thrust of the blocks when in action, tends
to press them apart. The position of the shaft 10, may be such that the eccentric
rods 14, are horizontal, or if placed immediately under the frame of the vehicle,
as in the drawings, such eccentric rods may lie at an angle. A pin 17, is provided
which may be used in the usual way to prevent the brake being thrown off from
any cause.
The actuating levers 16, may be so arranged that they may have to be lifted
up when putting on the brakes or conversely. In the drawings we have arranged
them to lift when the brakes are being applied.

page_text: The eccentrics or the eccentric straps may be fitted with rollers or balls to
reduce friction.
6
on"
The wear of the brake blocks is taken up in the following manner:-Slacken
nuts 18, on the bolts 19, withdraw pins 20, and unscrew eccentric rods 14, two or
three turns each. Before tightening up nuts 18, put the lever 16, hard
which will give an equal pressure on both wheels and at the same time bring the
bracket 21, into the true position. Finally put the pins 20, back into their places
and tighten up the nuts 18. The holes in the bracket 21, through which the
bolts 19, pass are elongated.
The brakes are applied by lifting either lever 16, from the position shown by
the dotted lines to that shown by the full lines in Figure 1. 22, is a support which
is intended to keep the blocks and the eccentric rods from coming down on the
permanent way should the pins 20, 23, or 24, accidentally give way.
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate another method of adjustment by means of which
the wear of the blocks may be taken up. 10, is the shaft and the eccentrics forged
in one piece. 25, are eccentric straps provided with a series of pin holes 26. The
end of each rod 14, bears against a cam or snail 27, on such eccentric straps and
is retained in position by its pin 28. The worn brake block is brought forward
by bringing another hole 26, opposite the hole in the rod 14. When such rod 14,
is coupled to its strap 25, it is practically as if the rod and the strap were one
and its eccentric will cause it to move out or in according to the direction in which
it is rotated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it to be under-
stood that we do not claim the use of the adjustable brackets 21, per se, but we
declare that what we claim is :-
(1) In brakes for vehicles, the combination, and arrangement of parts for
applying the brake blocks to the wheels from either side of the vehicle or for
taking such blocks off, substantially as described and illustrated by Figures 1
and 2 of the annexed drawings.
(2) In brakes for vehicles, the combination and arrangement of parts for apply-
ing the brake blocks to the wheels from either side of the vehicle or for taking
such blocks off, and for adjusting the parts to take up the wear of such biocks,
substantially as described and illustrated on the annexed drawings.
(3) In brakes for vehicles, the combination and arrangement of parts for apply-
ing the brake blocks to the wheels from either side of the vehicle or for taking
such blocks off again, substantially as described and illustrated by Figure 3
of the annexed drawings.
(4) In brakes for vehicles, the combination of a cross shaft with eccentrics and
hand levers 16, as described and for the purposes set forth.
(5) In brakes for vehicles, the combination of brake blocks 13, eccentric rods 14,
with cross shaft and eccentrics 10, as described.
(6) The construction, arrangement and combination of parts, substantially as
described and illustrated by the annexed drawings.
Dated this 9th day of December 1898.
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
41, Reform Street, Dundee, Agents for Applicants.