IMPROVEMENTS .IN BRAKES FOR WHEELED VEHICLES AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Seegrave Humberstone of Brentford in the
County of Middlesex Railway Wagon Builder and Contractor, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS .IN BRAKES FOR WHEELED VEHICLES AND
OTHER PURPOSES "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Seegrave Humberstone
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th August 1883.
JAMES SEEGRAVE HUMBERSTONE of Brentford in the County of Middlesex
Railway Wagon Builder and Contractor "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRAKES FOR
WHEELED VEHICLES AND OTHER PURPOSES,"
This invention has for its object the facilitating the removal and replacement of
the brake blocks of carriage and other brakes without involving the loss or renewal
of any other part of the brake apparatus and consists in so mounting the brake
block whether of metal or other material on the "block-hanger" as to permit of
its being more readily removed when worn and replaced by a fresh one.
In carrying out my invention I provide the back of the block with a dove-
tailed or other shaped rib or equivalent contrivance which slides or fits into a
corresponding slot or groove in the holder or "block-hanger;" or the slot or groove
may be formed in the block itself and the rib on the hauger. An adjustable catch
or fastening is provided on the hanger for maintaining the block in position and
preventing is accidental displacement whilst in use. By turning or otherwise
adjusting the said catch the worn block will be at once released and left free to be
withdrawn and replaced by a fresh one without interfering with the hanger.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said James Seegrave
Humberstone in the Patent Office on the 25th February 1884.
JAMES SEEGRAVE HUMBERSTONE of Brentford in the County of Middlesex
Railway Wagon Builder and Contractor. IMPROVEMENTS IN BRAKES FOR
WHEELED VEHICLES AND OTHER PURPOSES
"
Er
My said Invention has for its object the facilitating the removal and replacement
of the brake blocks employed in railway rolling stock and other vehicles or used
for other purposes, without involving the loss or renewal of the block hanger or
holder or other part of the brake apparatus and consists in so mounting the brake
block whether of metal or other material on the "block-hanger" as to permit of
its being more readily removed than heretofore when worn, and replaced by a
fresh one.
In carrying out my invention I provide the back of the block with a dovetailed
or other shaped rib or equivalent contrivance which slides or fits into a corre-
sponding slot or groove in the holder or "block-hanger or the slot or groove may
bo formed in the block itself and the rib on the hanger. An adjustable catch or
other suitable fastening is provided on the-hanger-for maintaining the block.in
position and preventing its accidental displacement whilst in use. By turning or
otherwise adjusting the said catch or fastening the worn block will be at once
released and left free to be withdrawn from the hanger and replaced by a fresh
block without interfering with any other part of the brake mechanism.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the explanatory sheet of drawings hereunto annexed the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of my drawings is a side elevation of a block-hanger and brake block
arranged according to my invention. Figure 2 is a plan of the same. Figure 3
represents a side and back elevation of the brake block detached and figure 4
represents a side front or face view of the corresponding block hanger detached.
The pattern of block-hanger here shown is that adopted on the Midland Railway
but my improvements are equally applicable to block-hangers of various other
forms or patterns.
A is the block-hanger suspended in the usual way from the part a, the part b
indicating the point of connection with the push rods. Down the face of the :
hanger and extending nearly to the bottom thereof is formed a dovetailed or
equivalent groove B by preference tapering towards the lower end. C is the
removeable brake block of cast iron or other suitable material down the back of
which is formed a projecting rib D of dovetail or equivalent section fitting
accurately into the groove B of the hanger. In order to prevent the accidental
displacement longitudinally of the brake block on its hanger it is prevented from
rising by a dog E which bears upon a raised part c on the top of the block and
passes through a hole in the upper part of the hanger in which it is secured by a
cottar pin or key d-A nose e formed on the end of this dog fits over the face of
the projection c so that when tightened up it will tend to maintain the block close
up to the face of the hanger. In removing a worn block the cottar or key d is
knocked out and the dog withdrawn when the block will be free to be slid
upwards from off the face of the hanger.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of a form of block hanger as used' on the North
London Railway with the brake block fitted thereon according to my invention.
Figure 6 is a corresponding face view of the hanger detached.

page_text: A is the hanger, B the dovetailed groove therein, C the removeable brake block,
and D the dovetailed rib or projection on the back thereof (shown by the dotted
line figure 5) which fits accurately the groove B. In this example I have shown
the block as held down in the groove in the hanger by a turning catch or button E
pivotted to the upper end of the hanger. The lower end of this catch or button
when the block is in position projects over the upper end of the block and
effectually prevents it from rising. In order to remove a worn block the catch is
knocked to one side (as shown by the dotted lines in figure 6) and the block is
then free to be withdrawn and replaced by a fresh one.
In the examples above referred to the block is removed and replaced by sliding
it longitudinally along the face of the hanger but it may also be made so as to be
removed and replaced sideways if desired as shown in the side elevation and face
view of a hanger block at figures 7 and 8 wherein one side of the dovetailed
groove B is made removeable by being free to turn on a countersunk headed pin
at g as shown in dotted lines in which position the brake block can be placed in or
removed from the groove B from the side of the hanger. When the block has
been adjusted the part fis closed against the side of the dovetailed rib or projection
on the brake block a nose e on the upper end of the part of fitting over the top of
the block and thereby preventing it from accidentally rising. In order to lock the
part f securely in position a latch h hinged to the side of the hanger and fitting
into a hooked projection i on the part of may be employed. This latch may be
formed at its outer end with a nose made slightly inclined on its inner face
fitting over the front of the hooked projection i so that when pressed down it will
tend to maintain the part f securely against the face of the block hanger. The
block itself is locked in its closed position by a screwed or other pin inserted
above it into the body of the hanger. To release the brake block the pin is
removed by a spanner or otherwise the latch his lifted and the part f turned out
of the way the operations being reversed on replacing a fresh block. In lieu of
being a true dovetail the projecting rib D and groove B may assume the forms
shown in the horizontal sections figures 9 and 10. Although more particularly
applicable to brakes for railway rolling stock my invention may obviously be
applied to brake blocks and hangers for various other purposes where facility for
renewing a worn block is an object.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is:-
First. The combination of a removeable brake block having a dovetailed or
equivalent shaped rib or projection on the back thereof with a block-hanger or
block holder having a correspondingly shaped groove on the front thereof or vice
versa the brake block being connected with the block hanger by the interlocking
of the said rib or projection and groove maintained in position thereon substantially
in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Second. The peculiar arrangements for facilitating the removal and replacement
of brake blocks from or on their block holders or hanger blocks without injury to
the latter as hereinbefore described and illustrated by my drawings.
In Witness whereof I the said James Seegrave Humberstone have hereunto set
my hand and seal this eighteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty four.
TSTAREDSTONE
Gal