In- PROVEMENTS IN BREAKS, MACHINERY, OR APPARATUS APPLIED TO RAIL- WAY AND OTHER CARRIAGES IN MOTION, AND IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF CONNECTING TWO OR MORE OF SUCH BREAKS TOGETHER."
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Newall, of Bury, in the County of
Lancaster, Railway Carriage Builder, for the Invention of "In-
PROVEMENTS IN BREAKS, MACHINERY, OR APPARATUS APPLIED TO RAIL-
WAY AND OTHER CARRIAGES IN MOTION, AND IN THE MODE OR METHOD
OF CONNECTING TWO OR MORE OF SUCH BREAKS TOGETHER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Newall at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 3rd December 1852.
I, JAMES NEWALL, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster, Railway
Carriage Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREAKS, MACHINERY, OR APPARATUS APPLIED TO
RAILWAY AND OTHER CARRIAGES IN MOTION, AND IN THE MODE OR METHOD
OF CONNECTING TWO OR MORE OF SUCH BREAKS TOGETHER," to be as
follows:-

page_text: I construct and arrange the necessary apparatus, as levers, joints,
&c., to apply the usual slide break to two or more wheels of the samic
carriage, so that the said apparatus extends to and joins at any conve-
nient point of the end, front, or side of the carriage. To this apparatus
I attach a rod or communication, in a vertical position, to the end,
front, or side of the carriage, so as to project a little above the top or
roof; and in or about the centre of the said vertical rod or communi-
cation I fix a strong spring or other suitable contrivance, to press or
keep the said vertical rod down, which, being connected with the afore-
said apparatus, forces the breaks to the periphery of the wheels, and
thus retards their motion. At the top end of the aforesaid vertical
rod, and at or near the top of the carriage, I fix a wheel, with tooth
and pinion ratchet, or other similar contrivance, by turning which the
guard or other person in charge of the breaks draws up the said vertical
rod, and with it the aforesaid apparatus, and thus liberates or slackens,
at pleasure, the pressure of the breaks upon the wheels; and by merely
liberating the said wheel or ratchet, the breaks, by means of the afore-
said spring or similar contrivance, press against the wheels, thus being
self-acting.
The second part of my said Invention relates to connecting or attach-
ing two or more of the said breaks together, so that, when necessary, a
number of break carriages may be attached to each train; and the
breaks being self-acting, can be worked or regulated by one man with
the greatest safety; and if the carriages become separated by accident
or otherwise, the breaks will act upon the wheels, and thus prevent or
mitigate catastrophes which must happen when such separations take
place on steep inclines.
To effect this communication, I attach a horizontal rod or connection
to the aforesaid vertical rod on or along the top, side, or other con-
venient position of the carriage, this horizontal rod being connected to
the aforesaid vertical rod of one break. I connect the other end of it
to the vertical rod of another break attached to the next carriage, so
that, when the aforesaid wheel or ratchet is turned, it draws up the
vertical rod immediately in communication with it, and, as before
stated, detaches or slackens the break. And the said horizontal rod

page_text: or communication is so connected with the vertical rod and wheel, that
it is made to turn or revolve at the same time, thus raising the vertical
rod of the break on the next carriage, and releasing or slackening the
pressure on its wheels, and so on, to any convenient number.
In order to make this horizontal communication from one break
carriage to another break carriage practicable, I make part of it slide
in a slot in or about the centre, sufficient to make it give and take with
the motion of the buffers; and also at or near the connecting end of
the said horizontal communication I arrange one or more perfectly
universal joints, so that it will adjust itself to the different heights of
carriages, and allow for their varied positions on curves, &c.
I desire it to be distinctly understood that this is merely an outline
description of my Invention, which I will more fully explain in my
Complete Specification.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Newall, in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 2nd June 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I.
JAMES NEWALL, of Bury. in the County of Lancaster, Railway Carriage
Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of December, in the
sixteenth year of Jer reign, and in the year of our Lord! One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-two, did, for Herself, er heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me. the said James Newall, Her especial licence
that 1, the said James Newall, my executors. administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said James Newall, my executors,
administrators. and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times 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
Islands, and Isle of Man, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREAKS.

page_text: MACHINERY, OR APPARATUS APPLIED TO RAILWAY AND OTHER CARRIAGES
IN MOTION, AND IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF CONNECTING TWO OR MORE
OF SUCH BREAKS TOGETHER," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said James Newall, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my
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 Newall, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):
My Invention relates to improvements in the mode or method of
working or applying breaks to the wheels of carriages in motion when
it is necessary to stop or retard their progress or velocity. It is self-
acting, so far as not requiring the power or assistance of an attendant
to attach or apply the break blocks to the wheels, it being only requisite
to release a catch for that purpose, and to turn a wheel or screw, or
raise a lever or some similar contrivance, to detach them before the
wheels are set in motion. My plan is applicable to work the usual
slide-break now in general use on railway carriages, or it may be
applied to any other kind of breaks. The only improvement I claim
in the construction of the break itself, is to make all the joints conical,
so that as any of them become slack or loose by wear and friction, they
can be tightened, and thus prevent the severe wear and tear by the
derangement of the several parts when one joint becomes loose. It is
also applicable to the working or applying the breaks to carriages on
railways or on commion roads, and to one, two, or more wheels of the
same carriage; it may be applied to one carriage only, or, by a
mechanical contrivance hereafter explained, to any reasonable number
of carriages, so connected as to enable one man to detach or work them
with perfect ease and safety. This my improved plan is so far self-
acting, as before stated, that if a portion of a train should become
detached whilst ascending an incline, the separation itself will cause

page_text: the breaks to apply their power to the wheels of the detached carriages,
although there should be no person in charge of them, and thus prevent
danger of collisions by stopping or retarding their velocity, which would
otherwise be fearful down an incline. I work the common slide-break
to one carriage, as follows:-1 attach a lever to the centre shaft of the
break, the said lever extending to or a little beyond the end of the
carriage: this lever acts upon the break shaft. so that when it is lifted
up it detaches the break blocks from the wheels, and when it is allowed
to fall down it forces the blocks to the wheels by its own weight or
gravity. As the power of this lever will depend upon its length, and
the force or power acted upon its extreme point. by fixing a weight on
the end of it, and allowing it to fall, the force or power of the blocks
against the periphery of the wheels will be in proportion to the length
of the lever, and the weight attached to it. Thus I establish the first
part of my Invention, making the action so far self-acting as I only
require a power to lift the said lever and weight, to keep the blocks off
the wheels; and if that power is not applied, the blocks will be forced
against the wheels, and kept there by the power of the said lever and
weight until released by some acting agent.
I will now describe iny method of raising the said lever; and it will be
perceived, by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, that,
instead of the weight already named. I use a conical spiral spring or
springs, enclosed in a cylinder for the same purpose; and, as it is evident
that either means will answer the same ends, I will only explain the
method of working the lever by the power of the spring. I attach to the
end of the said lever a vertical rod, extending about half way up the end of
the carriage, where 1 fix to the end of the carriage a cylinder containing
one or more conical springs, to which I attach the said vertical rods.
At the bottom of the said cylinder, and under the spring or springs, I
place a small cross pin or bar, with projecting arms, to slide in grooves
in the cylinder, so that, as the small cross bar is drawn upwards, the
spring or springs are compressed, and the vertical rod, thus drawn up,
lifts the aforesaid lever and draws off the blocks from the wheels; but
when the said spring or springs are not compressed, it or they exert
their force against the lever, and force the blocks against the wheels,
exerting a power similar to the weight aforesaid. To give the guard or

page_text: person in charge of the breaks the necessary power or control over this
apparatus, I attach another vertical rod to the said projecting arms
of the small cross bar, and continue it to the top or roof of the carriage;
to the top end of this vertical rod I attach a double rack and wheel, so
that when the man in charge turns the wheel he raises the rack, and
consequently the vertical rod attached to the projecting arms of the
cross bar, thus compressing the spring or springs and raising the lever,
as already described. I also fix a simple ratchet and catch, to keep
or hold the rack and rod in their positions when raised to keep the
blocks off the wheels; by releasing the ratchet and catch, the rack,
vertical rod, and lever, fall, and complete the self-acting motion afore-
said. I use a double rack, as already mentioned, for the purpose of
reversing the action when the carriage is turned or its position reversed.
I have shown this apparatus or double rack as being worked by a
wheel and pinion, but I claim to work the same power and motion by
a screw, a lever, or other similar mechanical power.
I will now explain my method of forming or completing a continuous
connection of the said power or apparatus, so as to act upon a number of
carriages simultaneously. I place a horizontal shaft, either tubular or
solid, along the top of each carriage, to revolve in steps or bearings,
lined with vulcanized india-rubber, or some similar soft clastic material,
one end of the said shaft passing through the wheel which acts upon
the double rack already described, so that, when the said wheel is
turned, it both raises the rack and turns, or partially turns, the said
horizontal shaft at the same time. About the middle of each of
the said shafts I make a square expanding slide or socket, so that,
as the train elongates or contracts by the action of the buffer rods, the
shafts will accommodate themselves to the varying distances between
each carriage; and in order that the said connecting shafts may also
accommodate themselves to the different heights of carriages and to
give way when the train is travelling on curves, I make that part of
the shaft which projects over or beyond the ends of the carriage with
strong flexible universal joints, so that this part of the horizontal con-
necting shaft may either hang down over the end of the carriage, or be
slidden back out of the way, when not connected to the shaft of another
carriage. These peculiar joints are commonly known as ball and

page_text: socket joints; but, instead of the usual loose ball and socket. I bolt them
through at right angles. so that they will give way in every direction.
and accommodate themselves to the necessary requirements, as already
stated. In order to connect these flexible parts of the connecting shaft
with case and the necessary safety. I use reversing couplers, with spring
catches and safety screws, so that the connection is instantly made by
inserting the end of the shaft into the socket of the coupler, and by its
reversing motion I can insert it into the socket of another coupler, thus
forming the connection in any position of the carriages. I have repre-
sented the connecting shafts as placed along the tops of the carriages, but
it is evident that I can work then either at the sides, underneath, inside
the carriages or vans, or, in fact, in any convenient position, as it is only
necessary for the man in charge of the breaks to turn. or partially turn,
one end of the connecting shaft; and. by means of the connections
already described, he will give motion to all the shafts at the same time;
and by raising all the racks and compressing all the springs by the same
power or contrivance, he will lift all the levers, and thus detach all the
breaks; and by dropping the catch into the ratchet wheel, they will be held
in that position; and by releasing the said ratchet and catch, all the break
blocks will be applied to the wheels instantly. I also fix this apparatus on
the tender. so that it may be worked by the engine driver or stoker. and
apply it to wagons or luggage trains, as well as carriages. It will also be
clearly understood by any person conversant with practical mechanism,
that this continuous connection may be applied to work a signal
between one part of a train and another, by causing it to strike a bell,
sound a whistle, shut off the steam, or to work any other contrivance
for effecting the said object of giving a signal when necessary.
Having thus described the general nature of my said Invention, I will
now describe it in detail, by reference to the accompanying sheet of
drawings, in which the same letters of reference are used to represent
similar parts when different views or diagrams are shown. Figure 1,
is a side elevation of a railway carriage, shewing my connecting shaft,
with the apparatus in gear, and consequently the break blocks off the
wheels: Figure 2. an end elevation of the same, shewing the action
of the spring, and the connections of the vertical rod with the hori-
zontal shaft; and Figure 3, a plan thereof. A, represents the lever

page_text: acting on the centre shaft of the break, and applying the four blocks
to the wheels; B, B, the pipe nuts for adjusting the blocks to the
wheels; C, the cylinder containing the spiral spring; D, the double
rack, with connecting links acting on the lever; E, the cross pin which
acts on the spiral spring; F, a wheel and pinion for raising the rack
and compressing the spring or springs; G, the horizontal shaft, with
expanding slide about the centre; H, the flexible points; and I, the
reversing coupler, with spring catch and safety screw.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of my said
Invention, I desire it to be distinctly understood, that I do not confine
myself to the exact details herein set forth, as such may be varied or
modified without departing from the principle thereof; but I claim as
new, and which, to the best of my knowledge and belief, has not been
hitherto used within this realm, firstly, the method of working the breaks
of carriages, whether the same be on railways or common roads, and of
making them partially self-acting, by the power of a conical spiral spring
or springs, or weight or weights, acting on a vertical rod or rods, and
communicating with a lever acting on the centre shaft of the break;
and, secondly, the method of connecting two or more of such appara-
tuses together, by means of horizontal shafts along each carriage, with
expanding slides, flexible joints, reversing couplers with spring catches
and safety screws, as herein described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Newall, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-three.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the within named James Newall,
in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
JAMES NEWALL. (L.S.)