AN IMPROVED METHOD OF STOPPING OR RETARDING RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND TRAINS, LOCOMOTIVE AND STATIONARY ENGINES AND MACHINERY, TOGETHER WITH CERTAIN APPARATUS WHICH MAY BE EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Harris, of Hanwell, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
STOPPING OR RETARDING RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND TRAINS, LOCOMOTIVE AND
STATIONARY ENGINES AND MACHINERY, TOGETHER WITH CERTAIN APPARATUS
WHICH MAY BE EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 21st July 1857, and dated the 24th January 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Harris at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th January
1857.
I, JAMES HARRIS, of Hanwell, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD
OF STOPPING OR RETARDING RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND TRAINS, LOCOMOTIVE AND
STATIONARY ENGINES AND MACHINERY, TOGETHER WITH CERTAIN APPARATUS WHICH
MAY BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the employment of compressed air for stopping
and retarding carriages, engines, trains, and machinery, in the manner herein-
after explained.
In the case of railway trains, compressed air is made to act on the brakes of
the carriages, as follows:-The compressed air is supplied from an air pump
or pumps fixed to the engine, tender, or other part of a train, and is con-
ducted along the train through a series of pipes under, or over, or beside the
carriages into cylinders, of which there is one or more to each carriage (and
which may be open at top); the compressed air works pistons in the cylinders,
which actuate brakes for stopping and retarding the carriages. There is also
a cylinder or cylinders fitted to the engine, into which compressed air is
conveyed in like manner to work a piston, and thereby the engine brakes.

page_text: The air pump is worked by a crank or excentric from the carriage axle, or
by a shaft driven by it at less speed, or otherwise, suitable means being
provided for instantaneously throwing the connections in and out of gear.
The series of pipes through which the compressed air is brought to work the
brake cylinders are formed thus:-The fixed parts along the carriage are of
metal or other rigid material, united by flexible pipes with metal ferrules
at their ends, which form the connections between the carriages, air-tight
valves opening inwards being fitted in the metal pipes, and so contrived that in
fitting the flexible connecting pipes to the rigid parts the valves are forced
open. Safety valves are provided to prevent bursting, &c., and signals to
indicate when the apparatus is in gear, &c.
By opening a suitably placed valve or cock the compressed air is discharged
from the pipes and brake cylinders, and the brakes thereby almost instan-
taneously disengaged and the wheels liberated; the valve or cock may be so
made as to accurately regulate the adjustment of the brakes.
In applying compressed air to stopping and retarding stationary engines,
the air is brought from an air pump into a flexible or rigid cylinder or other
receptacle, and made to close a throttle valve and injection tap, and stop the
engine; or it may be made to act on a piston in a cylinder, and by connections
there with applied to stop engines, even from a distance, almost instantaneously;
or it may be otherwise applied for the purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Harris in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd July 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
HARRIS, of Hanwell, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
mc, the said James Harris, Her special licence that I, the said James Harris,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Harris, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel

page_text: Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF STOPPING
OR RETARDING RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND TRAINS, LOCOMOTIVE AND STATIONARY.
ENGINES AND MACHINERY, TOGETHER WITH CERTAIN APPARATUS WHICH MAY BE
EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James'
Harris, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal.
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date.
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Harris, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
My improvements consist in working the breaks by means of compressed.
air instead of screws or 'springs, and is effected by having as prime mover an
air pump or pumps fixed to the framework of the carriage of the engine
or tender, guard's van, or other carriage, or to more than one carriage. Each
air pump or prime mover is to be worked by a crank or eccentric, either direct
from the ordinary axle or by a separate axle, with any of the well-known
appliances for instantaneously throwing the same in and out of gear; or the
air pump may be worked by the guard or driver.
The other parts consist of a cylinder, piston, and connections, attached direct
or by means of levers, as convenience or circumstances may require, to the
break or breaks in cach carriage. The cylinders connected immediately with
the breaks may be placed on the side, or top, or beneath the seats of the
carriages, and the apparatus is applicable to both old and new carriages. I
propose to employ air, say, at 18 lbs. to the inch, compressed to about half its
bulk. The pipes through which the compressed air is transmitted from the
prime mover to the cylinders connected with the breaks may be carried either
under the bottoms or along the roofs of the carriages; the fixed parts of the
pipes may or may not run the length of each carriage, and are to be of metal
or otherwise, with unions at the ends, and self-acting air-tight valves opening
inwards. The other parts of the pipes for making the connections are to
be flexible, with metal ends, forming parts of the unions or other joints, and are
so constructed as to open the valves in the ends of the metal pipes when being
screwed up or otherwise attached. Another plan is that of having a valve
opening inwards at each end of the flexible pipes, as well as in the fixed pipes,
cach valve opening the other at the same joining, so as to make a perfect

page_text: passage at the time of attaching the pipes. The joinings of these are made to
separate in the event of the couplings of the carriages giving way, and so leave
a closed valve at each end of the separated pipes. There are safety valves to
prevent the bursting of the pipes or the breaking of the machinery, and signals
in the guard's box and tender, acted upon by small cylinders and pistons to
indicate both ways when the apparatus is thrown into gear. The opening of
the safety valve instantly liberates all the breaks; and the same valve, with
a gauge to shew the pressure, may be made the means of adjusting the
distance in stopping.
I employ similar apparatuses, to be worked by hand only, for stopping or
retarding stationary engines or other machinery at a distance, in the event of
accident or danger, or otherwise, as well as for throwing machinery in and out
of gear, as by placing a cylinder, with piston, lever, and other fittings, in the
engine house, in connection with the throttle valve and injection cock, and, if
requisite, with a break acting on the fly wheel. Air pumps may be fixed at as
many points as necessary, say, one on each floor, in a cotton or other mill
or factory, each air pump to be connected with the same pipe leading from
the mill or factory to the engine.
The cylinder in connection with the throttle valve, &c. &c. in the engine
house is also made available by means of a lever for signalling simultaneously
on every floor in the mill or factory that the engine is about to be stopped or
started.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim stopping or
retarding railway carriages and trains, and steam engines and machinery, in
the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Harris, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-second day of July, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-seven.
JAMES HARRIS. (L.S.)