Improvements in and relating to Brake Beams.
Year: 1891

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 1st July, 1897-Accepted 1st Aug., 1857
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Brake Beams.
I, HENRY BENJAMAN ROBISCHUNG, a Citizen of the United States of
America, formerly of Kalamazoo Michigan, now residing at Fortieth and Hopkins
Streets, in the City of Chicago, County of Cook and State of Illinois, one of the
United States of America, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trussed brake beam embodying my
invention.
Figure 2 is a detached side view of the strut partly broken away to show the
manner of obtaining the pull on the strut.
Figure 3 is a detached view of the extension or nose piece of the strut.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the nose piece on the line -r, Figure 3.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 are detail views of the brake-head and the end cap or
sleeve.
Figure 8 is a diagram corresponding to Figure 5, and showing in dotted lines the
manner of adjusting the brake-head.
Figure 9 is an elevation of the end cap or sleeve.
Figure 10 is a longitudinal section of the sleeve or end cap through the center of
the truss-rod opening.
Figure 11 is a transverse section of the end cap or sleeve taken on the line y-y,
Figure 9; and
Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a six-wheel truck and its brake-
beams, illustrating the application of beams embodying my invention to each of
three sets of wheels, the line of draft being different in each beam.
Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.
My invention relates to the construction of brake-beams in general, but is more
especially adapted to beams for use on trucks having three or more sets of wheels,
where each set of wheels is to be provided with a brake-beam, as in the case of
Pullman sleepers and like heavy cars or coaches, and where, in consequence of the
character of the connection between the beams, the angle of draft varies in each
beam, and that it may be readily applicable to the last-named class it has for its
object the production of a reversible or universal beam.
To this end the invention, broadly stated, consists in the combination with a
brake-beam, of an adjustable brake-head and means for locking or securing the
brake-head in position on the beam after it has been adjusted to any desired angle
relative to the strut or relative to the line of draft. There are other minor features
of invention, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.
I will now proceed to describe my invention more fully, so that others skilled
in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.
In the drawings, A, indicates the bean, B, its strut, and C, the truss-rod, the
whole forming a now well-known form of trussed brake-beam, the elements of

page_text: which may, for the purposes of the present invention, be any of several well-
known forms, though I prefer that the beam, A, should be of tubular form
longitudinally slotted near its ends for the passage of the truss-rod, C, and notched
at its ends to prevent the rotation of the brake-head, and that the strut or post
should be provided with an extension or nose piece, b, with an elongated opening, e,
for the passage of the truss-rod and to relieve the truss-rod of the draft, sub-
stantially as described in United States Patent No. 400,438, dated November 11,
1890, though I do not herein limit the invention thereto.
I provide the beam herein before specified or its equivalent with end caps or
sleeves 1, adapted to fit over the ends of said beams, each of said end caps or
sleeves having an inclined surface or mut-seat, 2, the plane of which is at a right
angle to and intersecting the line of truss-rod, C, and preferably having its bore a
trifle eccentric to the outer surface of the sleeve, (see Figure 10,) in order to
economize space and locate the clamping nut, C, within the periphery of the
sleeve, so that it shall not interfere with the application of the brake-head to the
beam.
Within and at the bottom of the bore of end cap or sleeve, 1, is a projection, 3,
(see Figure 10,) adapted to engage a notch in the end of the beam, A, and
prevent the rotation of the end cap or sleeve on the beam. The sleeve or end cap
has a small exterior flange, 4, on its inner end, which forms a seat or abutment for
the head, and a longitudinal extension or projection, 5, at its outer end, which is
slotted, as at 6, (see Figures 9 and 10,) for the passage of a clamping-bolt, which
secures the brake-head to the end cap or sleeve, 1. This end cap or sleeve
forms a journal on which the brake-head may be rotated for purposes of
adjustment.
7, indicates a brake-head, preferably provided with upper and lower pivot-
holes, 8, and 8ª, for the rear suspension-rods of the beam, which enables the brake-head
to be used at either end of the beam, or inverted if desired. Said head is
provided with a suitable opening for the reception of the end cap or sleeve, 1, and
with a concave projection, 9, adapted to fit over the slotted extension, 5, of the end
cap, and a bolt-hole, 10, through which and the slot, 6, of extension, 5, a clamping-
holt, 11, may be passed to adjustably secure the brake-head to the end cap or
sleeve, 1.
11, indicates the clamp-bolt, which secures the head to the end cap-sleeve; 11", its
nut, and 11, a jam-nut used for greater security.
B, indicates the strut or post of the trussed beam, which may have a vertical
slot, 12, and the usual lever-pin openings, 13, if desired. It is provided with perforated
lugs or cars, 14, for the forward suspension-rod, and has at its outer end the concave
seit 15, for the truss-rod, C. In the open-ended slot, 12, of the strut is inserted.an
extension piece or nose, b, secured by a pin, 61, which passes through the truss, and
the opening, e, of said nose-piece, through which the truss-rod, C, passes, is elongated
(see Figures 2 and 4,) to allow a clearance between the truss rod and the rear edge
of the opening, c, to prevent the pull coming on the truss-rod, C. The outer end
of said nose-piece,, is provided with two ears, 2, 3, between which the draft or
connecting rod is pivoted, and if desired, the nose-piece may be swelled out or
re-enforced opposite the pin-opening, b, as indicated at, ³, Figures 2 and 4.
In Figure 12 of the drawings are shown three beams with adjustable brake-heads
and having the characteristics herein before specified, said beams applied to a truck
having three sets of wheels. Each beam, A, has its usual suspension-rods or rear
suspension-rods, (not shown in the drawings) its forward suspension-rods, 14º, and
the several beams are connected with each other and to the main pull-rod, P, by a
series of, intermediate pull-rods, 15, 15", and levers, 16, 16, 16, and it will be
noticed that the draft on each beam is at a different angle relative to the head, and
that the middle beam is in an inverted position.
:
The particular arrangement or system of pull-rods and levers for operating the
levers is not material, and the system chosen for purposes of illustration is not
intended to be a matter of limitation, as any other system may be used, and

page_text: whatever system is used in case of a six-wheel truck the draft will be at a different
angle on the several beams.
I wish it distinctly understood that there is no intention on my part to limit the
invention herein contained to triple gear or those having three sets of wheels, as
the features of invention are equally applicable to all beams. To apply my
universal beam under such conditions, all that is necessary is to loosen the clamp-
bolt, 11, rotate the head (see dotted lines Figure 8) until it has assumed a proper
angle to the strut, C, and to the line of draft, which is permitted by slot, 6, in
extension, 5, of sleeve, 1, and then tighten up the clamp-bolt, 11, to retain the head
in the desired position.
I am aware that a beam having journal ends and loosely-mounted self-adjusting
heads has heretofore been devised, and do not herein claim such construction or
combination; but having herein described my invention and the best means known
to me of carrying out the same, and
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 :
1. The combination with a brake-beam, of an adjustable brake-head and means
for securely locking the head to the beam after adjustment thereof, substantially as
and for the purposes specified.
2. The combination with a trussed brake-beam, of an adjustable brake-head and
means for securely locking the brake-head to the beam, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
3. The combination with a trussed brake-beam, of an end cap or sleeve having
on its exterior an inclined surface for the clamp-nut of the truss-rod and having
its bore eccentric to its outer surface, and a detachable brake-head, substantially as
and for the purposes specified.
4. The combination, with a brake-beam, of an end cap or sleeve having a slotted
extension on its outer end, a brake-head having a corresponding projection provided
with a bolt-hole, and a clamping-bolt, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
5. In a brake-beam, the combination, with an end sleeve having a segmental
convex projection, of a brake-head adapted to be rotated on the sleeve and having
a segmental concave projection, and nicans for firmly securing the head to the
sleeve, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
6. In a brake-beam, the combination, with an end sleeve having a segmental
convex projection, of a brake-head adapted to be rotated on the sleeve and provided
with a segmental concave projection, one of said projections provided with a slot
which permits the adjustment of the head on the sleeve, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
Dated this 1st day of July 1891.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.