Improvements in Breaks for Carriages.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 10th June, 1890-Accepted. 12th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breaks for Carriages.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23 Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
a communication to me from abroad by Jules des Georges, of 44 Place de la
Republique, Lyons, in the Republic of France, Insurance Director, to be as
follows:-
The new break forming the object of the present application is in principle
composed of a rectilinear or circular wedge, arranged to be drawn along by the
friction alone of the wheel, as soon as, by an analogous motion to that of ordinary
breaks, contact is established between the break block and the tyre of the wheel.
The working of the break is therefore limited to bringing the break blocks to the
point of contact, with only the pressure necessary for the drawing along of the wedge.
It is then the speed acquired by the wheel which effects the tightening of the break
by causing the wedge to descend until complete stoppage is effected.
To remove the break, it is only necessary to separate the break blocks from the
wheel until contact ceases; the wedge is then returned by a spring and leaves the
wheel the play necessary for running.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing represent the application of this
principle with the most simple arrangement, that of a circular wedge.
This wedge A has the form of a cam, turning on a trunnion E, carried by the
arm B, keyed upon the transverse shaft C, turning in supports fixed to the body of
the carriage. It is the arrangement of the ordinary break in which the break block is
replaced by the wedge. The working of the shaft C is effected by known means, for
example, by a screw D.
The cam A has its thickness equal or thereabouts to that of the tyre of the wheel;
it is hollow, and contains within it, a spiral spring R, which has a constant tendency
to return it to the position shown at figure 1, in which the shortest radius of the cam
is turned towards the wheel.
If now, by means of the screw D, the cam is caused to approach the wheel, as soon
as contact is established with a sufficient pressure to overcome the tension of the
spring R, the cam will be turned in the direction of the arrow and there will be
progressive wedging between the fixed trunnion E and the wheel, until the latter is
completely stopped, which is obtained in a very short run. The cam at such time
takes the position represented at figure 2.
In order to release the break, it is only necessary to draw back the cam until the
break block is no longer in contact with the wheel, when the spring R immediately
pulls the break block into its original position, as shown in figure 1. It will be
readily seen that in applying and releasing the break, the course of the break block is
very short, and that during this traverse, the operator has only to exercise a little
effort. The rapidity of the operation can therefore be augmented so as to render it
instantaneous, and the pedal can be utilized for this purpose.
Figure 3 shows a method which may be adopted for this purpose. The pedal P,
which is placed permanently under the feet of the driver, transmits its movement to
the break blocks A by means of the connecting rod F, the pressure of the foot causes
the break to bite, while a spring G releases the break block when pressure is removed
from the pedal.
The pedal, when being pressed down, takes into the teeth of a circular rack H,
which prevents it rising, and which acts as an abutment to the trunnion of the cam
until the weiluing is produced

page_text: The rack H is pinjointed at 1, and is caused to bear against the fixed tooth on the
pedal by the spring J. To release the break, it is only necessary to lower the head of
the rack by the heel, the pedal becomes free, and the cam is drawn back by the
spring G.
Although it is preferred to employ the circular wodge on account of simplicity,
rectilinear wedge may be employed, as shown at figure 4: The wedge A slides in a
vertical box E fixed on the arm B, which is provided with rollers O, O, to facilitate
the motion. It is drawn back by a spring R', which can when required be placed in
the box E. The operation is exactly the same as with the circular wedge.
Dated this 30th day of September 1889.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breaks for Carriages.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of 23 Southampton Buildings in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
a communication to me from abroad by Jules des Georges of 44 Place de la
République, Lyons in the Republic of France, Insurance Director and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
The new break forming the object of the present. application is in principle
composed of a rectilinear or circular wedge, arranged to be drawn along by the
friction alone of the wheel, as soon as, by an analogous motion to that of ordinary
breaks, contact is established between the break block and the tyre of the wheel.
The working of the break is thereforo limited to bringing the break blocks to the
point of contact, with only the pressure necessary for the drawing along of the
wedge.
It is then the speed acquired by the wheel which effects the tightening of the break
by causing the wedge to descend until complete stoppage is effected.
To remove the break it is only necessary to separate the break blocks from the
wheel until contact ceases, the wedge is then returned by a spring and leaves the
wheel the play necessary for running.
Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing accompanying my provisional specification represent
the application of this principle with the most simple arrangement, that of a circular
wedge.
This wedge A has the form of a cam turning on a trunnion E carried by the arm B,
keyed upon the transverse shaft turning in supports fixed to the body of the
carriage: It is the arrangement of the ordinary break in which the break block is
replaced by the wedge. The working of the shaft C is effected by known means, for
example by a screw D.
The cam A has its thickness equal or thereabouts to that of the tyre of the wheel, it
is hollow and contains within it a spiral spring R which has a constant tendency to
return it to the position shown at Figure 1 in which the shortest radius of the cam is
turned towards the wheel.
If now by means of the screw D the cam is caused to approach the wheel, as soon
as contact is established with a sufficient pressure to overcome the tension of the
spring R, the cam will be turned in the direction of the arrow and there will be
progressive wedging between the fixed trunnion E and the wheel, until the latter is
completely stopped, which is obtained in a very short run. The cam at such time
takes the position represented at Figuro 2.
In order to release the break it is only necessary to draw back the cam until the
break block is no longer in contact with the wheel, when the spring R immediately
pulls the break block into its original position as shown in Figure 1. It will be

page_text: readily seen that in applying and releasing the break the course of the break block is
very short and that during this traverse the operator has only to exercise a little
effort.
The rapidity of the operation can therefore be augmented so as to render it
instantaneous and the pedal can be utilized for this purpose.
Figure 3 shows a method which may be adopted for this purpose. The pedal P
which is placed permanently under the feet of the driver transmits its movement to
the break blocks by means of the connecting rod F, the pressure of the foot causos
the break to bite while a spring G releases the break block when pressure is removed
from the pedal.
The pedal when being pressed down takes into the teeth of a circular rack H which
prevents it rising and which acts as an abutment to the trunnion of the cam when the
wedging is produced.
The rack H is pin jointed at I and is caused to bear against the fixed tooth on the
pedal by the spring J. To release the break it is only necessary to lower the head
of the rack by the heel, the pedal being thus free, the cam is drawn back by the
spring G.
Although it is preferred to employ the circular wedge on account of simplicity, a
rectilinear wedge may be employed as shown in Figure 4. In this case the wedge A
slides in a vertical box E fixed on the arm B which is provided with rollers O. 8. to
facilitate the motion.
It is drawn back by a spring R' which can when required be placed in the
box E.
The operation is exactly the same as with the circular wedge.
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 :-
The application to breaks of carriages or vehicles of every kind, of a wedge formed
break block, either rectilinear or circular, effecting the pressing or gripping by the
draft of the wheel itself and returning to its primitive position by means of a spring
or by other suitable means, as soon as its contact with the wheel has been stopped, the
said break block being capable of manipulation by any known means and especially
by a pedal, all substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated June 10th 1830.
Date & une
B. J. B. MILLS.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.