AN IMPROVED BREAK FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Baptiste Emile Saffroy, Banker, of Bordeaux,
in the Empire of France, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED BREAK
FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES." -A communication..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Baptiste Emile
Saffroy at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 21st December 1855.
"I, JEAN BAPTISTE EMILE SAFFROY, Banker, of Bordeaux, in the Empire of
France, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
BREAK FOR RAILWAY: CARRIAGES "to be as follows:-
The improvement relates to the adaptation of parts in connection with clutch
boxes to operate as a break upon the axles of the wheels of railway carriages,
and thereby stop or release their movement as required.
The clutch boxes are arranged in 'pairs, one on each of two supporting axles
of the carriage; and one part of each clutch box is fixed to the axle, whilst the
other of each is capable of sliding thereon, and has formed upon or fixed to it
two pulleys or wheels, one larger than the other. These pullies or wheels of
the sliding part of the clutch box to one axle are connected to the light parts
of the clutch box. of the other 'axle: by chains, one end of each of which is
connected to the larger pulley or wheel of the loose part of the clutch box to

page_text: one axle, and the other end to the smaller pulley or wheel of the clutch box
of the other axle.
The sliding of the parts of the clutch boxes into and out of gear with each
other is effected by suitable gear, and that which I employ consists of a winch
or crank handle upon an axle communicating by pinions with another axle or
shaft carrying toothed segments or wheels, taking into racks attached to a
main bar embracing the sliding part of each clutch box.
When it is desired to stop the carriage, the parts of the clutch boxes are
brought together; the action of the double chains thereon will then be to effect
the stoppage. A spring also aids to retain the parts of the clutch boxes when
brought together. Compound hinged links connect the shafts of adjoining
carriages to admit of their different independent movements. Tie rods and
bars are applied to give tension to the whole.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jean Baptiste Emile Saffroy in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 12th June 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
BAPTISTE EMILE SAFFROY, Banker, of Bordeaux, in the Empire of France,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Jean Baptiste Emile Saffroy, Her special licence that I, the said Jean
Baptiste Emile Saffroy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Jean Baptiste Emile Saffroy; my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an In-
vention for "AN IMPROVED BREAK FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES," (a communication,)
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jean Baptiste Emile
Saffroy, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing .under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner, the

page_text: same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jean Baptiste Emile Saffroy; 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:-
The improvement relates to the adaptation of parts in connection with clutch
boxes to operate as a break upon the axles of the wheels of railway carriages;
and thereby stop or release their movement as required.
The clutch boxes are arranged in pairs, one on each of two supporting axles
of the carriage; and one part of each clutch box is fixed to the axle,
whilst the other of each is capable of sliding thereon, and has formed
upon or fixed to it two pulleys or wheels, one larger than the other.
These pulleys or wheels of the sliding part of the clutch box to one axle are
connected to the like parts of the clutch box of the other axle by chains, one
end of each of which is connected to the larger pulley or wheel of the loose
part of the clutch box to one axle, and the other end to the smaller pulley or
wheel of the clutch box of the other axle.
The sliding of the parts of the clutch boxes into and out of gear with each
other is effected by suitable gear, and that which I employ consists of a winch
or crank handle upon an axle communicating by pinions with another axle or
shaft carrying toothed segments or wheels, taking into racks attached to a main
bar embracing the sliding part of each clutch box.
When it is desired to stop the carriage, the parts of the clutch boxes are
brought together; the action of the double chains thereon will then be to effect
the stoppage. A spring also aids to retain the parts of the clutch boxes when
brought together. Compound hinged links connect the shafts of adjoining
carriages to admit of their different independent movements. Tie rods and
bars are applied to give tension to the whole.
But that the nature of the said Invention, and the means which I adopt in
carrying the same into effect, may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe
railway carriage, with the improvements applied; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
Other detail views shew some of the parts separately. a is the framing; 6, the
main or supporting wheels of the carriage. These are affixed to the axles b',

page_text: which at their ends are retained in suitable bearings guided by the jaws or
plates, as guides c, as is well understood. Upon each axle bis affixed one
portion of a clutch box d, which is capable of receiving Ithe projections e of
the other, upon which is also formed a pair of grooved wheels or pulleys fig,
of unequal diameter.. These are for the purpose of receiving parts of chains
hh; and it is to be understood that; one end of each chain h is affixed by the
instrument h¹ to a small pulley f, whilst the other end. is affixed by a like
instrument h¹ to a larger pulley g on the other axle, and in such way that in
the progressive motion of the carriage the tendency will be, when, the parts
of the clutch boxes are brought together, to cause a winding of the chain.
on to the larger pulleys, by which the two axles will become firmly held,,so as
not to be capable of, revolving, and the wheels will, then simply slide on the
rails until the momentum of the carriage being overcome it. will stop, and this
will almost immediately be effected.
:. The parts of the clutch boxes e, carrying the pulleys f and g; are capable
of sliding freely on those, axles 61,. as., also of permitting those, axles to
revolve freely within them when not in connection with the parts d; d.
Upon the parts e, e, of the clutch boxes is also, formed, the necks e¹ which
are embraced by forks formed on the ends of the bar i, by which such parts
are slided on the axles b¹ into or out of gear with the parts d...
The bar i is operated with a tendency, to keep the parts d'in connection with
the parts e by means of a spring j, supported by one of the frames; k; and it is
capable of being withdrawn therefrom by the rods, which are connected to
the rods i by pin joints, as shewn ; whilst they are supported with a capability
of sliding in supports carried by the frame k, and have formed on or affixed to
them tooth racks, by which they may be simultaneously, operated by the pinions
2, affixed on the axis 2. There is one of these axes to each, of a train of
carriages, and they are connected together at their, ends. by links ", which admit
of a variation in the distance between the, carriages,, and yet control all, the
axes of a train to rotate together. To one or more of these axes, is affixed
a toothed pinion, which is taken into by a.. pinion, upon an axis upon
which is affixed a handle, or other suitable means, by, which, the same may
be turned by a guard or other person in charge of the train, when desired to
set in motion the break to stop the train or to release it again.
The frames k, k, are supported from the axles, and they are provided with
collars k¹ of brass or other suitable metal, in order to admit of the axles turn-
ing freely in them. These. frames k not only serve to sustain some of the parts
in operation, but also to aid in resisting the shock produced on the axles when
the breaks are set in motion.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the best means
I am acquainted with for carrying the same into operation, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein shewn
and described, as variations may be made therein without departing from the
peculiar character of the improvements; but what I do claim is, the adapta-
tion of clutch boxes combined with pulleys of different sizes, connected together
by chains in manner and for the purpose substantially as explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Baptiste Emile Saffroy, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
A. PERPIGNA.
JEAN BAPTISTE EMILE SAFFROY. (L.S.)