Improvements in Electric Brakes for Cars.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 12th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Brakes for Cars.
We, OLIVER J. MENZIES, residing at 1162, College Street, in the City of Toronto,
in the County of York, in the Province of Ontario. Mechanical Expert, and Join
ANGUS BELL, residing at Central Ontario Junction, in the County of Hastings,
and Province of Ontario, Station 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:—
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electric brakes
for cars, and the object of the invention is to provide the car with a brake of com-
paratively simple construction and easy operation, and capable of applying a brak-
ing force of any required pressure, and for any desired period to the car wheels, to
either gradually or instantaneously stop their revolution; and the invention con-
sists essentially of rigidly mounting on one of the car axles a thoroughly insulated
electro magnet, the winding of which is in circuit with an electric current con-
trolled by a suitable rheostat, loosely mounting an armature on the same car axle
contiguous to the polar plate of electro magnet, providing the armature with a
grooved hub to which is connected one end of a brake chain, the opposite end of
which is connected to a lever, arranged to set the brake beams and brake shoes,
as hereinafter more fully set forth and more particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a view of the under side of the car showing the application of the elec-
tric brake.
Fig. 2 is an end view of the electro magnet.
Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the electro magnet.
Fig. 4 is a view of the polar plate.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the specification and
drawings.
A, A represent the axles of the two sets of trucks of the same car; B represents
an electro magnet rigidly mounted on the car axle A; and C represents an arma-
ture loosely mounted on the axle A contiguous to the polar plate D of a magnet B.
The armature C consists of a grooved hub c having a central bore through which
passes the axle A, and a disk e¹ of substantially the same shape and size as the end
of the electro magnet B, to the polar plate I) of which it is opposed. By loosely
mounting the armature C on the axle A the axle can freely revolve without causing
any revolvable motion on the part of the armature. E, E represent the two brake
beams each opposed to the wheels F of its respective truck. Pivoted to the under
side of the car bottom H¹ is a lever H, connected to the hub c of the armature Û
is one end of a brake chain G, whilst the opposite end of the brake chain is con-
nected to the end of the lever H. Connected to the lever H between its end h
and pivot I, is one end of a chain G', whilst the opposite end of the chain G' is
connected to the brake beam E¹.
J represents a brake post connected to the car end, and J' represents a chain.
one end of which is wound on the brake post, whilst its opposite end is connected
to the end h₁ of the lever H.

page_text: Connected to the brake beam E is one end of a chain G", whilst the opposite
end of the chain G is connected to the lever H between the end hand pivot I.
The chains G, G are arranged on opposite sides of the pivot I'at the same distance
from the centre, in order that the application of force will be evenly distributed
the same on both brake beams.
:
The brake post J and chain Jare used as an auxiliary brake for setting the
brake shoes in the event of accident or injury to the electric brake.
The frame M of the electro magnet is preferably made in the form of a drum,
consisting of a hub K and two flanges K, K", one located at each end of the hub K.
The flanges K, K" are 'circular as shown in the drawings.
L, L, L, L represent four magnet spools mounted in the magnet frame and
arranged at regular intervals around the hub K. Formed through the hub K is
a bore K3 and passing through the bore, K is the axle A. Interposed between the
axle A and hub K is an insulator N, of wood or other suitable material.
The frame of each of the magnet spools consists of a hub and two end
flanges, on which is wound the magnet winding The bore of each. hub?
is fitted with a core which projects beyond the flanges K, K" of the electro
magnet frame.
Fitted on the core within the flange K' is a collar P, and sur-
rounding the collar P is an insulator Q, to prevent contact between the electro
magnet and the core. The adjacent end of the core is provided with a head or
nut Q, to which can be applied a wrench or other tool when assembling the parts
of the electro magnet. The opposite end of the core passes through the flange K¹¹;
and surrounding the core within the flange K" is an insulator R.
Formed in the flange K" are a series of holes, each of which is provided with a
wooden plug R. Fitted to the outer side of the flange is a polar plate S com-
prised of one or more plates, and passing through the polar plate S are a series of
screws which enter the wooden plugs it and neutralize the twisting force on the
plate when magnetized. The outer end of each of the cores is screw threaded and
enters a correspondingly screw threaded hole in the polar plate S, firmly securing
the polar plate S to the flange K". Interposed between the polar plate S and the
flange K is an insulator U to prevent the electro magnet frame becoming mag-
netized.
Encasing the magnet spools is a metal cover V, and interposed between the edges
of the cover V and flanges K, K" is an insulator V. The purpose of the cover V
is to prevent injury to the magnet spools.
The hub K projects beyond the outer side of the flange K¹ and surrounding the
hub K is a commutator W, and fitted on the end of the hub K to keep the com-
mutator in position is a cap W¹. Interposed between the flange K', commutator,
cap and hub is an insulator W, to prevent the electrical connections between the
commutator and hub.
Y, Y, represent four terminals connected to the commutator and arranged one
for each magnet spool. Y¹, Y" represent respectively the positive and negative
poles of the magnet spools. Z, Z, represent the wires connected to the positive poles
of the magnet spools, and to the terminals Y, Y, whilst Z, Z represent the wires
connected to the negative poles and to the terminals Y, Y.
The magnet spools are connected in series, that is to say, the positive pole of ond
magnet spool and the negative pole of the next adjacent spool are connected to the
same terminal in order that the current may flow from one magnet spool to the
next adjacent magnet spool.
I
a represents a forked brush holder, the forks a¹, a¹ each carrying a commutator
brush a Connected to the commutator brushes a", all are the direct and return
wires b, respectively in circuit with a rheostat of any ordinary construction con-
trolling the current to operate the magnet. By turning a weak current into the
magnet the armature C is weakly attracted to the polar plates S, and causes the
hub c to tighten the chain G, and apply lightly the brake shoes to the wheels.
By increasing the strength of the current the strength of the attraction of the

page_text: magnet is increased. By increasing the magnet force until the armature is
attracted to and revolves with the electro magnet the chain G will be wound on
the hub c, and the brake beams E, E' move to bring their shoes tightly against the
faces of the wheels. The greater the magnetic force the greater will be the
braking power of the brake."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In an electric brake an electro magnet connected to the car, an armature
loosely mounted on the car axle, and the brake operating mechanism connected to
and actuated by the armature when attracted by the energized electro magnet,
substantially as specified.
2. In an electric brake an electro magnet rigidly mounted on the car axle, an
armature loosely mounted on the car axle contiguous to the electro magnet, and
the brake operating mechanism connected to and actuated by the armature when
attracted by the energized electro magnet, substantially as specified.
3. In an electric brake an electro magnet rigidly mounted on the car axle, an
armature loosely mounted on the same axle, contiguous to the electro magnet, the
brake beams with their brake shoes, a pivoted lever, connections between the lever
and brake beams, and a connection between the armature and lever, adapted to
actuate the lever when the armature has been attracted by the energized electro
magnet, substantially as specified.
4. In an electric brake, an electro magnet rigidly mounted on the car axle, an
armature loosely mounted on the same axle, contiguous to the electro magnet, a
grooved hub for the armature, the brake beams with their brake shoes, a pivoted
lever, connections between the lever and brake beams, a flexible connection between
the grooved hub of the armature, and the lever adapted to be wound on the hub
when the armature has been attracted by the energized electro magnet, substan-
tially as specified.
5. In an electric brake for cars, an electro magnet, consisting of a magnet
frame having a hub fitted to receive the car axle, a plurality of independent mag-
net spools in circuit with each other, arranged about the hub, an insulated core for
each magnet spool mounted in the magnet frame, an insulated polar plate con-
nected to the ends of the cores of the magnet spools on the outer side of the magnet
frame, and an armature adapted to be attracted by the electro magnet when ener-
gized, substantially as specified.
6. In an electric brake for cars, an electro magnet consisting of a magnet frame,
having a hub fitted to receive the car axle, a plurality of independent magnet spools
in circuit with each other, arranged about the hub, an insulated core for each mag-
net spool mounted in the magnet frame, an insulated polar plate connected to the
ends of the cores of the magnet spools, on the outer side of the magnet frame, an
armature adapted to be attracted by the electro magnet when energized, a com-
mutator mounted on the hub of the magnet frame opposite the polar plate, a series
of terminals connected to the commutator, circuit wires from each terminal con-
nected to the positive and negative poles of two adjacent magnet spools, a brush
holder, and brushes carried by the brush holder, substantially as specified.
Dated this 15th November 1897
GEORGE BARKER,
Agent, 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.
GEORGE BARKER,
Agent, 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.