Improvements in Brake Apparatus for Tramcars and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brake Apparatus for Tramcars and similar
Vehicles.
I, GEORGE ARTHUR WOOLLEY, of No. 5, Penrose Street, Walworth, in the County
of London, Superintendent of Works to the London Tramway Company Limited,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in brake apparatus and is particu-
larly applicable to that class of brake generally in use on tramcars and similar
vehicles whereby the brake is applied or taken off by means of a chain connected
with an upright shaft or standard capable of rotary movement. The upper portion
of this upright shaft or standard has a bent arm, which terminates in a handle or
part held by the attendant when working the brake.
Heretofore the brake has usually been taken off, by the attendant throwing a
ratchet and pawl arrangement, at the lower part of the upright standard, out of
gear, and releasing the handle, which latter is caused to rapidly revolve, by reason
of the springs causing the brake apparatus to assume the off" position.
Now my invention is designed to obviate the injury, which frequently results
from this rapidly revolving arm coming in contact with the attendant or others,
For this purpose instead of the upper portion of the upright shaft or standard being
bent to form an arm, I construct it with a joint. The part above the joint is
capable of being brought down, against the action of a spring, to the necessary
angle for the purpose of rotating the upright shaft to apply the brake. Immediately
the attendant releases the upper portion the spring causes it to assume a perpen-
dicular position and no danger can result from its rapid rotary motion.
pin is placed through the joint when the upright shaft is in its normal position to
prevent it being tampered with when not in use.
Dated this 18th day of March 1898.
A small
JAMES G. STOKES,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brake Apparatus for Tramcars and similar
Vehicles.
I, GEORGE ARTHUR WOOLLEY, of No. 5, Penrose Street, Walworth, in the County
f London, Superintendent of Works to the London Tramway Company Limited,
to hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
[Price 8d.]

page_text: be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement;
This invention has reference to improvements in brake apparatus and is particu-
larly applicable to that class of brake generally in use on tramcars and similar
vehicles, whereby the brake is applied or taken off by means of a chain connected
with an upright shaft or standard capable of rotary movement. The upper portion
of this upright shait or standard has a bent arm which terminates in a handle or
part held by the attendant when working the brake.
Heretofore the brake has usually been taken off. by the attendant throwing a
ratchet and pawl arrangement. at the lower part of the upright standard, out of
gear, and releasing the handle, which latter is caused to rapidly revolve, by reason
of the springs causing the brake apparatus to assume the off" position.
"
Now my invention is designed to obviate the liability of injury which frequently
results, from this rapidly revolving arm, coming in contact with the attendant or
others. For this purpose instead of the upper portion of the upright shaft or
standard being bent to form an arm, I construct it with a joint. The part above
the joint is capable of being brought down, against the action of a spring, to the
necessary angle for the purpose of rotating the upright shaft to apply the brake.
Immediately the attendant releases the upper portion the spring causes it to
assume a perpendicular position and no danger can result from its rapid rotary
motion.
In the accompanying two sheets of illustrative drawings Figs. 1 and 2 shew
respectively in side and end elevation one arrangement of a portion of brake
apparatus, constructed according to this invention, as applied to the
upright shaft or standard, a part only of which is shewn. Fig. 3 is
a side elevation, shewing the upper or moveable portion, of the upright
shaft, depressed to the position for applying the brake. In the arrangement shewn
in the above figures the upper portion of the shaft is retained in or returned to its
normal or perpendicular position by means of a strong band of rubber or other
suitable elastic material.
Figs. 4 and 5 shew respectively in side and end elevation another arrangement
wherein a metal spring is substituted for the band of rubber shewn in Figs. 1, 2,
and 3.
Fig. shews the upper portion, when a metal spring is used, depressed to a
position corresponding to that shewn in Fig. 3.
1 is the lower portion of the upright shaft or standard, the lower end of which
is connected by means of a chain, to the brake mechanism. 2 is the upper portion
which forms the handle when depressed as shewn in Figs. 3 and 6. It is jointed
to the lower portion by a bolt 3 which is fastened by the screw nut 4. 5 is a tail
piece for holding the rubber band 6 in position.
Referring to Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the inner end of a metal spring 7 is fastened to
the bolt 3 on the lower portion 1 of the shaft or standard, its outer end 8 being
secured to a stud or pin 9 on the upper or moveable portion 2 which has to be
depressed against the action of the spring, and is thus caused to assume a perpen-
dicular position immediately it is released by the person operating the brake.
The operation is as follows:-The upper portion 2 is depressed outwardly from
its centre until it is somewhat at right angles to the lower portion 1 when it is
rotated in the ordinary manner and the brake mechanism operated by means of
the chain at the lower end of the shaft or standard 1. When not in use, and to
prevent the brake being tampered with, a small pin may be passed through holes
or slots at the joint to retain the upper portion 2 in its normal position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
Apparatus for operating brake mechanism wherein the handle, or portion form-

page_text: ing a hand lever, is automatically caused to assume, by means of a spring, a position
approximately in line with the rotating rod or shaft connected with the brake
mechanism, substantially as herein described and shewn for the purposes specified.
Dated this 10th day of December A.D. 1898.
James G. Stokes.
GEO. WOOLLEY,
8, Dane's Inn, Strand, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.