Improvements in Appliances for Holding and Releasing Brake Levers for Railway Vehicles.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 27th Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 28th Oct., 1887
Improvements in Appliances for Holding and Releasing Brake
Levers for Railway Vehicles.
THOMAS WILLIAMS No. 13 Hutchinson Street, Stockton-on-Tees County of Durham
Blacksmith, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention has for its object the holding and releasing by a simple mechanical
contrivance the two side levers which are fixed at the ends of the same shaft or spindle
for operating the brakes of railway wagons or carriages or are used in some appliances
for raising or lowering the coupling chains of similar vehicles. Instead of the ordinary
fixed catches or hooks for holding the side levers when not operating; for the purpose
of my invention, I have two catches connected to a spiral spring in a box under the
wagon or carriage; either by small chains or any other suitable method. Each catch
consists of a small rod of iron with the outer end bent, or a piece welded on at right
angles to the same; the other end being attached to the aforesaid spring. Each catch
works in a socket fixed on the underside of the wagon. At the outer end of each
catch there is a small ring or shackle for the hand of the operator. When either of
the catches are pulled out the lever at each side will rest on the inside of the right
angled piece and by the action of the spring drawing the catch towards the centre of
the wagon or carriage, the lever will be held at rest; at the same time the lever at
the other side will be retained in a similar position; it being fixed on the same shaft
or spindle. When either of the levers are raised the catch retaining the levers will be
at once drawn close to the side of the wagon or carriage; allowing both levers to be
lowered or raised.
D
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page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Holding and Releasing Brake
Levers for Railway Vehicles.
THOMAS WILLIAMS No. 13 Hutchinson Street Stockton-on-Tees County of Durham
Blacksmith, 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 :-
My invention has for its object the holding and releasing by a simple mechanical
contrivance the two side levers which can be fixed at the ends of the same shaft or
spindle for operating the brakes of railway wagons, or carriages, or are used in some
appliances for raising or lowering the coupling chains of similar vehicles. Instead of
the ordinary fixed catches or hooks for holding the side levers when not operating ;-
for the purpose of my invention I have two catches connected by small chains, clasps,
rods, or any other suitable method to a spiral spring in a box placed under the wagon
or carriage. Each catch consists of a small rod or bar of iron with the outer end
bent, or a piece welded on at right angles to the same, the other end being attached
to the aforesaid spring or box containing the spring. Each catch works in a socket
or sockets fixed on the underside of the vehicle. At the outer end of each catch there
is a small ring or shackle for the hand of the operator. The box containing the spring
is supported by two straps fixed beneath the wagon or carriage. The accompanying
drawings illustrate my invention. Fig. 1. is an end view of a railway wagon showing
catches and spring with the lever resting in one of the catches. Fig. 2. shows the
same but with both levers freed from the catches. Fig. 3. is a view looking down on
top corresponding with Fig. 1, shewing side or brake levers broken off, and the shaft
or spindle with brake levers attached at the ends. The same letters refer to the same
parts in cach figure.
For the purpose of my invention I use for holding the levers A & A¹ (which are
shown in section in Figs. 1 & 2. and broken off in Fig. 3.) two catches B & B¹,
attached to the box spring C by a suitable connection D & D¹. The catches B & Bi
when operated upon slide in the sockets E & E'. Each catch B & B has a small ring
or shackle F & F attached to outer end for the hand of the operator. The box spring
is supported by two straps G & G attached to the underside of the vehicle.
The mode of working my invention is as follows; if one or both of the side levers A
& A¹ is held in catch or catches B & B¹-by raising one of the side levers A or A
the other side lever being connected to the outer end of the same shaft or spindle H
shown in Fig. 3. is raised at the same time; both catches are drawn close to the side
of the vehicle by the action of the spring in box C, which allows both levers A & A
to freely pass the catches B & B on the outside, and immediately if the levers are
allowed to drop, there is applied great pressure on the wheels by the action of the
ordinary brake blocks, and which pressure can be increased in the usual manner by
the operator. When the operator requires to take the pressure off the wheels of the

page_text: vehicle he has only to raise one lever say A the other A' being connected to the same
shaft or spindle H is raised at the same time, and to keep the levers from operating
he has only to draw the catch B. towards him from the centre of the vehicle, and place
the lever therein, which by the action of the spring in box C presses that lever against
the side of the vehicle, the other lever being retained at the same height until required
to operate again.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
A simple method for holding and releasing the two brake levers on railway vehicles
if attached to one shaft or spindle, by a simple mechanical contrivance, namely by
catches or hooks connected to a spring in a box as shown on accompanying drawings
and so that both levers can be operated from either side of the vehicle when required,
by operating on one only, it releasing the other at the opposite side.
Dated this 26th day of September 1887.
THOMAS WILLIAMS.