IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING BRAKES FOR ROAD OR RAIL VEHICLES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Planta Barnes, of 57/2, Old Broad Street, in the
City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING BRAKES
FOR ROAD OR RAIL VEHICLES."
Sealed the 29th September 1877, and dated the 6th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Planta Barnes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th April 1877.
GEORGE PLANTA BARNS, of 571/ Old Broad Street, in the City of London.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING BRAKES FOR ROAD OR RAIL VEHICLES."
According to this Invention the retarding or stopping action of the draught power
harnessed or attached to a road or rail vehicle, is utilized to apply the brake or
brakes to one or more of the wheels, at the same time that provision is made
to prevent such application of the brakes when the vehicle is being backed.
The Invention as applied to a four-wheeled vehicle consists in fitting a sliding
block (by preference round) or appliance within the circular plate on the main body
of the carriage, and the "bogie" in front is connected to the said sliding block by
the swivle pin or other means, so that as the motion of the "bogie" is retarded or
stopped, the sliding block is pushed back or overtaken by the main body of the
vehicle, which latter action would be the case in descending an incline, or coming to
a standstill. Levers and rods are provided to connect the sliding block or appliance
to the brakes, so as to actuate and apply them, such connections being made adjust-
able to allow for the wear of the brake blocks.
The brake blocks or skids are centred or pivoted loosely on the end of the brake
levers, and are held in their normal position by a projection on the said brake levers.
When the vehicle is backed, the wheel in retrograding cants round the brake block
and throws it out of action, a projection on the brake block preventing it from
falling too far round. When the draught power is again applied in a progressive
direction, the brake blocks fall by their own gravity into their original position.
Suitable springs are applied to regulate and prevent the application of the brake

page_text: blocks by a merely trivial check of the draught power, and also to remove and keep
the brakes from the wheels until they are required.
A lever may be connected to the aforesaid sliding block, so that the driver may be
able to apply the brakes in the event of the horse or horses running away, or if
required for any other reason.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Planta Barnes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
October 1877:
GEORGE PLANTA BARNES, of 571, Old Broad Street, in the City of London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING BRAKES FOR ROAD OR RAIL VEHICLES."
According to this Invention the retarding or stopping action of the draught
power harnessed or attached to a road or rail vehicle is utilised to apply the brake
or brakes for one or more of the wheels, at the same time provision is made to
prevent such application of the brakes when the vehicle is backed.
The Invention as applied to a four-wheel carriage is illustrated in the accom- 1
panying Drawing.
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section, of so much of the carriage as is
necessary to explain the Invention. Figure 2 is a plan thereof, as regards the lower
part or side of the Figure, the upper or other side of Figure 2 being a plan of the
modified arrangement shewn in elevation in Figure 4; and Figure 3 an end view, s
partly in section.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modified arrangement of the brake block attachment
which is also shewn in plan at A¹ Figure 2.
A is the main frame or under body of the carriage, which may of course bo of
any convenient and known construction. B is the usual circular plate to which
the fore carriage or bogie frame C is connected. The swivel pin D, which is attached
to the bogie carriage in the ordinary way, works in the block d, which block rests
on the parallel bars a¹, a¹, and slides in the slot a, formed by the said bars, which
bars replace the ordinary upper wheel plate attached to the main body of the
carriage. The swivel pin D passes through the block d and collar m, which collar,
(kept in position by a nut on the pin D), is jointed by two pins e, e, to two levers E, E,
cach turning on a fulcrum at c¹, which may however, according to circumstances,
be placed in any other suitable position relatively to the swivel pin D, and the
point of attachment or connection with the brake block levers; F is a spring
to prevent the brakes from coming into action when not required, such as a
lightly loaded vehicle descending a slight incline. Figure 1, and lower half of
Figure 2 are levers jointed to the levers E, and by a staple or shackle are so
connected to the rods g, that their length may be regulated in order to allow for the
wear of the brake blocks. The rods are connected to the levers h, h, to which the
brake block lever j.j, are jointed; k, k, are staples in which the levers j, j, are
retained or supported. In Figure 4 and in the upper half of Figure 2, the brake
blocks are somewhat differently arranged, being centred on the end of the brake
levers j, and held in their normal position by a projection on the levers j.
The action of the aforesaid arrangement is as follows:-The draught power being
lessened or taken off, the main body of the carriage will overtake the bogie or front
carriage; the latter, together with the circular plate B, will then, with its swivel pin
D and block d or equivalent appliance run back, the block & sliding in the slot a,
the consequence of which will be that the front and hind wheels will approach each
other and the brakes will be applied by means of the aforesaid levers to the hind
wheels, thus stopping or retarding the speed of the carriage automatically. The
brake pressure is applied equally on both wheels. Backing the vehicle will not put
on the brakes (owing to the reverse motion of the hind wheels and position of the

page_text: brake blocks, as shown in Figure 1, and the mode of attaching them as regards
Figure 4), and will tend to lift and will lift the blocks off the wheels, Figure 1,
or cant them over altogether, Figure 4; on application of the draught power, and
so long as the spring F is not overcome, the break blocks are quite free from
the wheels. A lever may be connected to the aforesaid sliding swivel pin D or
block & to enable the driver to apply the brakes at will in the event of the horses
running away or for any other reasons.
Having thus described the nature of this Invention, I declare that I claim, con-
necting the bogic or fore carriage with the main body of the carriage by means of
sliding swivel appliance, to which brake or brakes is or are connected, all arranged
and operating substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Planta Barnes have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
G. PLANTA BARNES. (L.S.)