A New or Improved Apparatus for Actuating the Automatic Brake of Locomotives and other Vehicles forming a Train, and other purposes connected therewith.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Actuating the Automatic Brake of
Locomotives and other Vehicles forming a Train, and other
purposes connected therewith.
I, THOMAS WILLIAM GRIFFITHS, of 3, Augustus Street, Rose Hill, Bolton, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for actuating the auto-
matic brake of locomotives and other vehicles forming a train and other purposes
connected therewith, and consists of attaching to a signal post or other convenient
or desired position or place an arm on which is disposed a sliding or movable rod
mounted in suitable bearings. To one end of the sliding or movable rod is
attached a Lor other lever connected by a rod to the ordinary lever employed
for operating the signal. When the signal is placed at "danger" the aforesaid
sliding or movable rod is in position to operate a lever connected with a valve
attached to the vacuum brake pipes and when any portion of a train strikes the
sliding or movable rod it actuates a handle, applies the brake and shuts off steam.
This apparatus may be attached to locomotives, carriages, waggons, vans, and the
like as desired according to the requirements and arrangements of the rolling
stock. This apparatus will not interfere with signals as at present employed and
operated by hand or otherwise.
1-11
T
1000
EDMUND CHADWICK.
Agent.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Actuating the Automatic Brake of
Locomotives and other Vehicles forming a Train, and other
purposes connected therewith.
I, THOMAS WILLIAM GRIFFITHS, of 3, Augustus Street, Rose Hill, Bolton, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for actuating the auto-
matic brake of locomotives and other vehicles forming a train and other purposes
connected therewith, and consists of attaching to a signal post or other convenient
or desired position or place an arm on which is disposed a sliding or movable rod
077

page_text: mounted in suitable bearings. To one end of the sliding or movable rod is
attached a Lor other lever connected by a rod to the ordinary lever employed
for operating the signal. When the signal is placed at "danger" the aforesaid
sliding or movable rod is in position to operate a lever connected with a valve
attached to the vacuum brake pipes and when any portion of a train strikes the
sliding or movable rod it actuates a handle, applies the brake and shuts off steam.
This apparatus may be attached to locomotives, carriages, waggons, vans, and the
like as desired according to the requirements and arrangements of the rolling
stock. This apparatus will not interfere with signals as at present employed and
operated by hand or otherwise.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of so much of a locomotive and railway track
as is necessary to illustrate my said invention.
Fig. 2 a plan of a double railway track with my improvements applied.
Fig. 3 a transverse elevation through line A B in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 a front
elevation of apparatus for operating whistle and shutting off steam.
In all the figures the same letters are employed to indicate corresponding parts.
C is a locomotive; D locomotive tender; E railway lines; G chairs for carrying
railway lines; H sleepers carrying chairs; I signal post and J signal.
To the signal post I or to any other convenient or desired position or place,
such as, the wall of a building, tunnel, bridge, and the like is disposed the arm K
to which are secured the bearings L by the nuts M. In the bearings L is dis-
posed the sliding or movable rod N provided with the pin or centre 0, which
fits in the slotted L lever P mounted on the centre Q attached to the fixing R
secured to the signal post I by the bolts S or their equivalents. The slotted L
lever P is connected by the rod T and pins or centres U to the ordinary lever V
employed for operating the signal J. The ordinary lever V is mounted on the pin
or centre W secured to the fixing X attached to the signal post or other con-
venient or desired position or place, and is connected by the rod Y and pins or
centres Z to the lever (a) fixed or secured to the centre (6) mounted in the fixings (c)
attached to the signal post I by the bolts (d) or their equivalents. On the
centre (b) is secured the signal J. The ordinary lever V is provided at one end
with the balance weights (f); the other end being connected to the chain (h)
which passes under the pulley (1), secured in any convenient manner to the per-
manent way, to the operating lever located in a "signal-cabin" or other convenient
place. On the locomotive C or tender D is mounted the lever (m), secured to
the centre or shaft (n) of a valve attached to the vacuum brake pipe (2); which
is employed to automatically apply the brake. For shutting off steam and operat-
ing the whistle the centre or shaft (n) carrying the lever (m) is mounted in the
fixings (a) and (¹) secured to the framework (y) and the end of the boiler of the
locomotive. On the shaft (n) is mounted the spur wheel (w) gearing with the
spur pinions (v) and (s) on the shafts (t) and (u) respectively. The shafts (t)
and () are mounted in the fixings (r); the shaft (t) being coupled direct to the
valve (m) to which the whistle (o¹) is attached by the pipe (p¹). The shaft (u)
mounted in the fixings (¹) is provided with the worm (a¹) gearing into the spur
sector or quadrant (6) mounted on the spindle (c¹) attached to the usual starting and
stopping valve of the locomotive. This apparatus may be attached to carriages,
waggons, vans, and the like as desired according to the requirements and arrange-
ments of the various vehicles forming the rolling stock.
"
When the signal J is in the position shown in Fig. 3 it is well known by all
experienced railway drivers that the train must be brought to a
< stand" as there
is danger ahead, but as there are times owing to climatic influences, such as,
foggy" or misty weather-when it is impossible for the driver of a railway train
to observe the signals. It will be readily seen that my invention will obviate this
defect and minimise the loss of life and injury to the passengers and rolling stock
to the least possible degree. When the signal J is set at "danger" or in the

page_text: position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 by the operations of the "signal-man" from the
signal-cabin" or other place it will be seen that the sliding or movable rod N
is moved outwardly and over the line of travel of the levers (m), which when they
come into contact with the said sliding or movable rod N will operate the whistle,
automatic brake, and shut off steam, thus drawing the attention of the drvier and
bringing the engine and train to a stand." In case the line or railway track is
clear and the signal J is down for the engine and train to proceed the sliding
rad N by the action of the aforesaid rods and levers is drawn out of action and
is clear of the path of travel of the levers (m), thus allowing the locomotive and
train to proceed without interference.
"
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 general arrangement construction and combination of parts composing my
new or improved apparatus for actuating the automatic brake of locomotives and
other vehicles forming a train and other purposes connected therewith, consisting
of the levers (m) mounted on the centres (n) of a valve attached to the vacuum
brake pipe (p) and the whistle and valve for shutting off steam; the said levers (m)
being operated automatically by coming in contact with the movable or sliding
rod N when the signal J is placed at danger" by the intervening connections
by the operations of the "signal-man" stationed in a signal-box or cabin; the
whole being connected, applied, and operating substantially as described and as
illustrated in the annexed drawings.
1. 07h dow of Wahr 1899
EDMUND CHADWICK.
Agent.