A Swivelled, Adjustable Brake Block for Road Vehicles of all Descriptions.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 19th June, 1900-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Swivelled, Adjustable Brake Block for Road Vehicles of all
Descriptions.
CHARLES COWARD, 15, Stirling Road, Stockwell, London, S.W., Coach Builder,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A brake block, adjustable to the varying distances of the tyres from the
bodies of the vehicles, and also automatically fitting itself to the periphery of
the wheel. The block consists of a metal pan A, with a boss in its centre
through which is fitted a brass, or other metal ferrule B which forms the
centre on which the block swivels, when adjusting itself to the periphery of the
wheel. A metal ring C is fitted into the boss on the pan, forming a male &
female joint, on this ring are two projections forming stops, which mark
the limit the block can swivel. The block is fixed at any desired point, &
at any angle on the arm H, by securing the ring to the arm by a set screw D
or other convenient fixing. When not in action the block is forced against the
top stop, by a spring E. In action, the bottom of the block touches the wheel
first, the pressure gradually freeing the block from, the top stop till the whole
fits the wheel. The block itself F is made of suitable material, and is
fixed to the pan, by pins G, or other convenient method.
•
Dated this 18th day of December 1899.
A Swivelled, Adjustable Brake Block for Road Vehicles of all
Descriptions.
I, CHARLES COWARD, of 15, Sterling Road, Stockwell, in the County of London,
Coach Builder, 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:-
:-
It is well known to those acquainted with the art to which this invention
relates that as the metal tyre of any ordinary road wheel expands in circum-
ference by wear, or when the wheel is re-shod, that is when the tyre is removed
from the wheel, made smaller in diameter and again replaced, the amount of
dishing" given to the said wheel by the circumferential tension of the
tyre, becomes altered, and variations in the lateral position of the tyre result
therefrom. Consequently from time to time it is necessary to change the lateral
Price 8d]

page_text: position of the brake-block, to cause it to accord with the position of the tyre
upon which it is intended to act, and to effect such changes of position rela-
tively to the fulcrum of the lever by which the brake-block is carried, it is a
common practice to lengthen or shorten the said lever arm and make it the
required length by forging.
Moreover since the brake lever is generally, or in nearly all cases, carried upon
the body of the vehicle, variations in position of the brake-block also occur
relatively to the axis of the wheels, and consequently the arc of the bearing
surface of the brake-block, when applied to the wheel, does not at all times
coincide with and bear evenly against the circular surface of the tyre.
Now the objects of my invention are to provide an improved arrangement and
combination of parts as hereafter described for carrying the brake-block, whereby
its lateral and angular position upon the brake arm or lever may be easily,
quickly and mechanically adjusted when required to accord with the position of
the wheel tyres, and also whereby the bearing surface of the brake-block is auto-
matically caused upon application, to bear evenly throughout its surface upon
the said tyre, whatever may be the variations in position of the body of the
vehicle (from which the brake-block is carried), relatively to the wheel axis.
In order that my invention may be readily understood, I will describe same
with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shewn three
examples of my adjustable swivelling brake-block, according to my said inven-
tion, the examples merely differing from each other constructionally.
Figure 1, is a sectional side elevation and Figure 2, is a rear elevation of one
of the aforesaid constructions of my swivelling and adjustable brake-block.
Figures 3 and 4, are similar views of a slightly modified construction.
Figure 5, is a sectional side elevation, and Figure 6, is a rear elevation,
shewing another construction, Figure 7, being a central horizontal section of
Figure 5, and Figure S, a detached front elevation of a sleeve or ferrule here-
after mentioned.
Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, A is a portion of the arm or
lever carrying the brake-block, which arm or lever is, (although not so shewn
in the drawing), commonly pivotted or carried by the body of the vehicle, and B,
is the brake-block proper.
Now according to my invention I provide a carrier, or what I term a brake
pan C, into which the block B is secured say by pins C₁, or other convenient
means. The brake pan C, is formed about centrally with a boss through which
a circular aperture is formed to receive a brass or other metal ferrule or sleeve D,
upon which the brake pan may partially rotate.
About centrally upon the ferrule or sleeve D, and located in a slot in the
boss of the brake pan C, I fit a ring or collar E, the latter being formed with
two projections E1, E2, to limit the partial rotative motion of the brake pan
in either direction. This collar E, is fixed to the ferrule or sleeve D, such
fixing means in the example now dealt with, consisting of a set screw F, which
passes through the collar E, through the sleeve D, and acts against the arm or
lever A, thereby serving to fix the collar E, and sleeve D, to the arm A, while per-
mitting of the lateral adjustment of the whole device along the arm or lever A,
so that the brake-block B, itself can be readily adjusted to a position imme-
diately opposite the wheel tyre H, Figures 1 and 2, by merely loosening the set
screw, shifting the brake pan with its sleeve D, and collar E, to the desired
position and again tightening the set screw. Moreover by the application and
mode of adjustment of the ferrule D, the brake-block may also be readily
adjusted in its angular as well as in its lateral position and this without altera-
tion to or interference with the lever arm, or any alteration either to the spring
or springs or to the relation of such springs, with the brake-pan.
I provide a spring or springs such as G, Figures 1 and 2, to act between
the non-rotatable parts and the partially rotatable brake pan, and at Figures 1
and 2, such a spring G, is shewn fixed at one end to the collar. E, and acting

page_text: to force the lower end of the brake pan towards the wheel tyre, its position
being defined and limited by the projection or stop E¹.
Thus when the brake is being applied, upon the lower portion of the brake-
block coming into contact with the wheel tyre, the brake pan will be partially
5 revolved upon the sleeve D, and the acting surface of the brake-block will be
automatically brought to bear evenly upon the tyre and produce the maximum
braking or retarding effect, with an even wear throughout the surface of the
block.
The general arrangement and action of my improved swivelling and laterally
adjustable brake-block now being understood, it will readily be seen that con-
structional modifications may be effected, which may render the device more
suitable for any special or particular application,
Thus with reference to Figures 3 and 4, I have shewn a construction where
the position of the projections E1, E2, are somewhat changed. The device acts
in a precisely similar manner to that described at Figures 1 and 2, but the
modified construction presents advantages in that it may be considered les's
possible for mud or other obstruction to enter between the projections, and the
pan C, while the brake is in action, and thereby prevent it resuming its normal
radial position when released from contact with the wheel tyre.
In order to admit of the introduction of the collar E, parts of the boss of the
brake pan, marked C2, are made separate and attached to the brake pan by
screws passing through lugs.
The constructions I have up to this point described are of quite simple
character, and are readily understood and adjusted, but it is frequently desirable,
especially in brakes for highly finished road carriages, that the whole of the
devices for adjusting and controlling the position of the brake-block should be
entirely encased, and the external appearance thus improved. To this end I
have designed the modified construction shewn at Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, and
this I consider is the constructional arrangement I generally prefer to employ.
In this construction I dispense with the collar E, and I form the projections E¹,
on the sleeve or ferrule D, such projections working in segmental recesses formed
in the brake pan, and in these recesses I locate the springs G, G, which act upon
the projections E', of the ferrule, (the latter being held to the arm A), and main-
tain the normal position of the brake pan and block.
The sleeve or ferrule D, is held against rotation on the arm A, in any
suitable manner, by say, allowing it to project very slightly upon either side
of the brake pan C, and causing the two ends to be gripped between nuts as F, F,
upon the arm A, which in this case is screw threaded, and the segmental recesses
containing the springs G, are covered by end washers C2, fixed to the brake pan
boss by screws. The relative positions of the parts, and the screw threaded arm
A are clearly shewn at Figure 7, by the plan section, and the sleeve or ferrule D,
with the projections E¹, thereon, is clearly shewn by the detached view at
Figure 8. The action of the device is precisely similar to that described with
reference to the other constructions, and the lateral adjustment, as will be well
understood, is effected by adjustment of the nuts F, F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A swivelled, adjustable brake-block for road vehicles, consisting of a brake-
lock proper, a carrier or brake pan in which such brake-block is fixed and
carried, and a circular aperture extending about centrally and transversely
hrough the pan or through a boss thereon, in combination with a cylindrical
leeve or ferrule located and fitted within the circular aperture of the pan,
bout which ferrule the pan may partly rotate, the brake carrying lever or arm
assing through the sleeve or ferrule, means for preventing lateral motion of
he pan relatively to the ferrule, means for limiting the rotary movement of the

page_text: pan and brake-block upon the ferrule, means for fixing the ferrule upon the
brake-carrying lever or arm and so that it may be adjusted laterally and
angularly thereon when required without alteration either of the brake carrying
arm or the relation of the spring or springs with the brake pan, and a spring or
springs acting between the non-revolvable ferrule and the pan, to normally
hold the pan in a required angular position against a stop and whereby the
brake block, upon application to the wheel tyre, becomes automatically adjusted
thereto, substantially as described.
2. The general arrangement and combination of parts composing the swivelled
adjustable brake-block for road vehicles, constructed and acting substantially
as, and for the purposes, described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1
and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The general arrangement and combination of parts composing the swivelled
adjustable brake-block for road vehicles, constructed and acting substantially as,
and for the purposes, described and illustrated with reference to Figures 3 and 4
of the accompanying drawings.
4. The general arrangement and combination of parts composing the swivelled
adjustable brake-block for road vehicles, constructed and acting substantially as,
and for the purposes, described and illustrated with reference to Figures 5, 6, 7
and 8, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated th: 10+1. dow of Tune & n 1000