Improvements in or connected with Brake Apparatus, applicable to Railway, Tramway, and other like Vehicles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1890
CUMI DELE
Improvements in or connected with Brake Apparatus, applicable to
Railway, Tramway, and other like Vehicles.
I, JOSEPH HAUPT VON HOECHSTATTEN, of 1 Freyung, Vienna, Austria, Gentleman,
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 :-
The following invention relates to apparatus for attachment to tramway cars
serving as a protection against passing over obstacles and at the same time serves as
extra brake and can be operated either by the conductor of the car or
automatically.
an
The arrangement of apparatus constituting this invention consists of arms attached
to the axle-box, carrying brake-blocks at the free ends, which by means of ropes and
chains are connected with a disengaging lever; this latter when the roadway is open
is held in a suitable manner and is let go by hand or by contact with the opposing
obstacle whereupon the brake-block or blocks is or are brought between the tyre and
the obstacle lying in the track so that the passing over the latter is prevented and at
the same time by the friction of the brake-blocks against the rail or earth surface
and the tyre, the car is quickly brought to a standstill without danger to it or the
passengers.
The accompanying drawing illustrates an apparatus constructed in accordance
with the invention.
Figure 1 shows a side view of a tram car the left half of which is provided with
the automatically working apparatus, whilst that upon the right side of the car is
worked by hand.
The Figures, 2, 3 and 4 show upon a larger scale the means for carrying the
disengaging lever, and side and end views of the safety brake apparatus attached to a
wheel.
As will be seen from Figures 3 and 4 there are fastened to the axle-box a the
bent pieces b on which are the pivots c. These pivots go through the slots d of the
arms, so that the latter turn upon the pivots c and at the same time can be adjusted
in a straight line. At the free ends of the arms fare the brake-blocks g and each
pair of arms lying symetrically to the longitudinal axis of the car are connected by
a cross-bar upon which the brake-blocks are attached.
The parts forming the frames f g h as described and the part at c c are preferably
arranged before and behind each separate wheel the movement in the longitudinal
direction of the arms can be strictly limited by means of the brake-pieces k, which
are adjustable in the slots d and can be fastened by screws, so that the brake-blocks in
their effective positions occupy the right place between the wheel tyre and the rail
and the passing of the same by the wheel is impossible.
I
The brake-blocks g which are made of a suitable tough material, preferably of ash-
wood, have a wedge or trapeze formed section and the parts coming in contact with
the wheel and with the rail or with the earth surface respectively are covered with
cork or india-rubber so as to increase the friction.
P
The cross bars are connected by ropes or chains (which run upon rollers q)
with a hand lever (Figures 1 and 2 attached to the conductor's stand and this
handle turns upon a pivot m upon the breastwork of the platform and is held loosely
by a catch n, so that it can be drawn back or loosened by a slight movement of the
hand.
In some cases in order to put the safety and brake apparatus in motion, a foot
treadle may be applied in the place of the hand lever l.
If the apparatus is to be automatic i.e. put in operation by an obstacle lying in the

page_text: track, then under the platform of the car a cross board o is attached in a suitable
manner on pivots and is connected by an arın r with the rope or chain p¹ which
runs over the rollers q' passing on to and capable of actuating the disengaging lever
(Figure 1).
Falling of bodies under the wheels from the sides thereof is prevented by pro-
tecting shields (Figure 1) attached in a suitable manner to the sides of the
axle-boxes a.
move
The working of the apparatus is as follows. Supposing an obstacle lies in tho
track, the conductor in order to prevent the car passing over it draws back tho lever
from the catch n whereupon the frames carrying the brake-blocks
downwards round their pivots c c so that the brake blocks 9 press firmly both upon
the rail and upon the flange of the wheel and the car comes to a standstill.
In automatic working the obstacle strikes against the cross board o as is shewn at
Figure 1 and rocks the same together with the arm r whereby the lover is loosened
from the catch n and the safety apparatus is brought into action.
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:-
First. In railway, tramway, and other like vehicles apparatus for the protection of
same against driving over obstacles and serving at the same time as a spare brako
essentially consisting of the turning and adjustable arms carrying the brake-
blocks connected with a lever which can be loosened by hand or automatically by
the obstacle so that the brake-blocks come between the obstacle and the wheel-tyre
and stop the car by the friction on the tyre and on the rail all substantially as and for
the purposes herein set forth.
Second. The combination with the apparatus specified in claim 1 of the cross
board o connected with lever / whereby upon the obstacle striking against the said
cross-board o the lever is released and the brake applied automatically all substantially
as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Third. The combination with the apparatus specified in claim 1 of brake-blocks
which at the parts which come in contact with the rails and with the flanges of the
wheels are covered with cork or india rubber substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The general arrangement and combination of parts composing my
improvements in or connected with. brake apparatus all substantially as and for
the purposes herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 13th day of October 1890
BREWER & SON,
Agents.