Improvements in Brake Mechanism.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
VOM LEIE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THE LAWRENCE ELECTRIC Co., of 13, Astor
Place, New York, U.S.A., Manufacturers.]
Improvements in Brake Mechanism.
I, REGINALD WALTER BARKER, of Monument Chambers, King William
Street, London, Middlesex, Patent Agent, 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 relates to brake mechanism for tram cars and like vehicles, and its
object is to provide an improved brake mechanism, especially adapted for use
on electric and other cars, the invention consisting in the novel details of
improvements and the combinations of parts that will be fully hereinafter set forth,
and then pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof,
wherein,
Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved brake mechanism.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.
In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a suitable shaft or axle, having a
shoulder 2. One face of this shoulder is preferably socketed and receives a
tapered end of a drum or sleeve 3 fitted to slide on shaft or axle 1, this drum and
shoulder thus forming a friction clutch. The shaft 1, can freely rotate within the
drum or sleeve 3 when the latter is not pressed against the shoulder 2. 4 is a ring
or shoulder on shaft 1, said ring having a groove 5 on its outer surface, said ring
being placed contiguous to the drum 3. The forked end 6 of a lever 7 enters the
groove 5 in ring 4, said lever being pivotally secured on a plate or support 8
suitably carried by a car body or truck (not shown). The lever 7 is provided at
or near its outer or opposite end with an inclined shoulder or extension 9, which
shoulder 9 is adapted to engage or bear on a wheel or projection 10, carried by a
sliding bar 11, guided in keepers 12 on plate 8.
The sliding bar 11 is connected with an arm or crank 13, on a shaft 14, suitably
carried by a car frame or truck (not shown). 15 is a rod extending longitudinally
of the car and pivotally connected by an arm or crank 16 with rock shaft 14. The
ends of rod 15 are pivotally connected with levers 17, pivoted at 18 to the
platform 19, or other suitable parts of a car body.
It will be seen that the said sliding bar 11 can be moved in either direction
without changing the movement of the lever at either end of the car.
From the foregoing it will be understood that when the rod 15 is moved
longitudinally the shaft 14 will be rocked, thereby actuating the crank 13 and
sliding bar 11, whereby the wheel or projection 10 will be brought into engagement
with the incline 9 on lever 7, causing said lever to be moved outwardly, when the
forked end 6 will be moved inwardly, pressing the drum or sleeve 3 toward the
shoulder 2, and causing the tapered end of said drum to engage in the socket
of shoulder 2, thus acting as a friction clutch to cause the drum 3 to turn with
shaft 1.
A chain, or its equivalent, 20, is attached at one end to the drum or sleeve 3, and
at its other end is suitably connected with any desired brake shoe mechanism.
When the tapered end of the drum or sleeve 3 is brought into contact with the
socket in shoulder 2, as before stated, the chain 20 will be wound around and upon
said drum, which will serve to draw the other end of said chain to apply the brake
shoes to the wheels (not shown).

page_text: The bar 11 and wheel 10 could be dispensed with and the lever 7 connected by a
chain 21 with the usual brake lever of an ordinary car.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
-claim is :-
1. An improved brake mechanism consisting of a drum slidably and rotatably
mounted on a shaft, a recessed shoulder mounted upon and secured to said shaft,
the said drum having one end tapered and adapted to engage with the recess in said
shoulder; a ring also mounted on the shaft and adapted to bear against the drum,
the said ring having a groove on its outer surface to receive the forked end of a
lever, the said lever being pivoted on a plate and having an inclined shoulder for
engagement with a wheel mounted in a slidable bar, the said lever adapted to be
moved laterally by said wheel and bar, thereby causing a friction between the drum
and shoulder, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a brake mechanism, the combination of a shaft, a clutch thereon, a lever to
operate said clutch, a sliding bar, means between said lever and said bar for moving
the former by the latter, a brake and connection between said brake and said clutch
for operating the latter, substantially as described.
3. In a brake mechanism the combination of a shaft, a clutch thereon, a lever to
operate said clutch, a sliding bar and means between said lever and said sliding bar
for moving the former by the latter, said bar movable in either direction from
either end of the car without changing the movement of the operating lever,
substantially as shown and described.
4. The improvements in brake mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described, set forth, and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 10th der of Anil 1001