Year: 1885

page_text: I, HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of 67 Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, a communication to
me from abroad by John F. Mallinckrodt of 913 F Street, Washington, United
States of America, Manufacturer, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to improvements in car brakes and more particularly to
brakes for use on horse cars, the object of the same being to provide a system of
brakes and brake mechanism by which the weight of the driver may be more
advantageously employed in holding the brakes off, than has hitherto been accom-
plished and to further provide means for locking the brakes off when for any cause
the driver desires to leave his seat; a further object being to provide a novel
construction of levers and connecting devices for supporting the weight of the car,
transmitting the weight of the car to the brakes and the weight of the driver to
the car; a further object being to provide a modified construction of the draw bar
and mechanism immediately connected therewith whereby the draft of the horses,
cable or other motive power shall automatically release the brakes; and with these
ends in view the invention consists in certain features of construction and combi-
nations of parts as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a view of a portion of a car showing
the braking mechanism in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a detached view of the crank
shaft. Fig. 3 is a detached view of one of the car-supporting levers, Fig. 4 is a
detached view of one of the spring caps and guide bolts. Fig. 5 is a detached
view of one of the push-rods and Fig. 6 is a detached view of the removable
operating lever, driver's seat and lock bar, Figs 7 and 8 represent modifications.
A represents the lower portion of a car body provided with the front and rear
platforms a and a¹ respectively. The car body rests upon and is hinged or pivotally
secured to the short arms of the supporting levers B, which are arranged in pairs,
two on each side of the car with their long arms meeting and lapping past each
other for a short distance at or near the centres of the sides of the car. The
levers B consist of forked bars between the branches of which are rivetted or

page_text: otherwise secured the spring caps c in which the heads of the guide bolts c¹ are
secured. The bolts extend downwardly through the wings on the axle-boxes C
and are secured at their lower ends in the depending bracket D which has its
ends secured to the bar B. The levers B are thus fulcrumed on the axles and the
elevation or depression of the ends of their long arms will serve to elevate or
depress the car-body. Springs d are interposed between the wings c¹ on the axle-
boxes and the caps c and are preferably held in position by the guide bolts c¹. As
the weight of the car compresses the springs d, the bolts c¹ slide downwardly
through the wings c³.
A crank-shaft E is journalled, transversely of the car, in suitable bearings f, in
depending brackets F. The shaft E is conveniently under the lapping ends of the
levers B, and is provided with two pairs of lugs e between which the lower ends of
connecting links G are pivotally secured. The upper ends of the links G are in
the form of rectangular loops which embrace the lapping ends of the levers B and
carry anti-friction rollers g which bear against the upper edges of the said lapping
ends. The shaft E is further provided with two pairs of vertical lugs e¹ at or near
each end, and extending in opposite directions, for the attachment thereto of the
push-rods H. The push-rods H are attached to the backs of the brake-beams I,
which are suspended in the usual or any approved manner and have the brake
shoes i secured thereto.
The push rods H consist of hollow rods h pivoted to the lugs e¹ at one end and
provided with an enlarged bore h¹ for a short distance from the other end in which
fits a sleeve projection k formed on the nut K. The enlarged bore h¹ may be
formed by reaming out the section h or by screwing a short section h³ on to the end
of the section h. Male threaded push-rod sections L have their heads secured to
the brake beams at 7 and extend through the nuts and female threaded sleeves k
into the hollow sections h. The ends of the screws are provided with cylindrical
discs or buttons which are somewhat larger than the screw portions and serve to
protect the thread from wear against the surface of the bore. The nuts K are
provided with a handle k¹ by means of which they may be conveniently turned
and the push rods thereby lengthened as required. An operating arm M rigidly
secured to the crank shaft, is connected at its outer end with a sector-bar N pivoted
to the front edge of one of the platforms, by a rod m. A second connecting rod n
is pivotally secured to the short arm of the operating lever O, which latter is
fulcrumed in a hook link o adapted to be removably secured to the platform rail P.
The lower end of the rod n is also adapted to be removably secured to the upper
end of the sector bar N.
The driver's seat Q is secured to the long arm of the lever O and a crank rod q
extending downwardly through a slot p in the platform in the form of a ratchet
bar p¹ and provided with a handle g on its upper end, is journalled in a bracket q³
secured to the underside of the seat Q and in a suitable bearing in the lever O.
A pawl R is located in the rear edge of the slot p and is adapted to engage the
teeth on the ratchet bar p¹, and lock it in a depressed adjustment. The bar p¹ is
held normally out of contact with the pawl R by a spiral spring r connecting it
with the lever O, and is thrown into and out of contact with the pawl by depressing
and raising the handle q¹ respectively.
The operating lever O together with the driver's seat Q, crank rod q, connecting
rod n and hook-link o, may be taken from their position on one platform and
removed to the opposite platform, by simply detaching the rod n from the sector
bar N. The sector bar N on the opposite end of the car is connected by a rod m
with one end of a lever S pivoted to a depending standard 8 secured to the bottom
of the car, the other end of the lever S being pivotally secured to the connecting
rod m. By this connection, the raising and lowering of the operating lever O will
produce the same effect upon the brakes on whichever platform it may be placed.
The brakes are operated as follows:-
The weight of the car on the levers B tends to raise the lapping ends of the
levers and hence to rotate the shaft E and through the push rods H set the brakes.

page_text: The weight of the car is lifted from the brakes by a downward pressure on the
long arm of the operating lever ☐ transmitted to the shaft E through the
rods m, m¹ and n, and arm M, and from the shaft E to the levers B through
the links G. The pressure on the long arm of the lever O is conveniently applied
by placing the driver's seat on the arm and thereby bringing into use the weight
of the driver in a sitting posture, for holding the brakes off. By the use of the
ratchet bar p¹ the brakes may be locked off when for any cause the driver wishes
to leave his seat without stopping the car.
The modification represented in Fig. 7 consists in a longitudinally sliding draw-
bar connected with the hand brake and brake operating rod in such a manner that
the draft of the horses in starting will automatically release the brakes, and the
release of the hand brake will automatically set the brakes. It also consists in a
slightly varied arrangement of levers connecting the brake beams with the cranked
rock shaft. The construction is as follows: A three-armed lever T, t, t, is sus-
pended beneath the car as shown. Its short arms t, t¹ are connected with the
brake beams I, and its long arm T is connected with a crank arm e on the shaft E.
Thus the rocking of shaft E toward the right, as shown in the drawing, will release
the brakes, and toward the left, will set them. The draw-bar U is held in longi-
tudinally sliding adjustment, between two or more sets of anti-friction rollers u
beneath the car platform. The said draw-bar is provided with a groove u³ in
which slides a ratchet toothed bar u'. A spring actuated dog or pawl u³ is adapted
to rest normally in engagement with the ratchet toothed bar u³, and prevent the
said bar from sliding rearwardly, when so engaged. A lever V is pivoted at one
end to the underside of the car platform, and at the other end to the sliding
ratchet toothed bar u². The operating arm M rigidly secured to the cranked rock
shaft, is connected with the lever V by the brake operating rod v, and thus
subject to the sliding movements of both the draw bar Ù and the ratchet toothod
bar u. The draw-bar U is further provided with the rack-bar v¹³, on one side,-
which meshes with the pinion on the hand-wheel standard W, the latter is also
provided with a ratchet-toothed wheel w rigidly secured thereon.
A spring
pressed foot pawl w¹ is adapted to engage the wheel w and thereby lock the draw
bar U in its advanced adjustment.
When draft is exerted upon the bar U, as in starting the horses, the bar slides
forwardly and thereby raises the car and releases the brakes. The foot pawl w¹
locking them in released adjustment. The brakes can be set at any moment, by
simply releasing the pawl w from the wheel.
As the brake shoes wear away, the end of the pawl u³ will engage a stop Y
Becured to the underside of the platform, which engagement on account of the
bent form of the pawl will release it from the ratchet toothed bar u³ and allow
the latter to recede enough to take up the wear. The brake may be operated
by the hand-wheel on the standard W in cases of emergency.
The modification represented. in Fig. 8 consists in substituting a swing grip
in the place of the sliding draw-bar and thus adapting the system to a cable
railway.
In the drawing Fig. 8, X represents a car carrying the grip. is a vibrating
lever hinged to the top of the car and extending through an elongated slot in the
floor of the car down into the cable conduit. The brake operating rod vis
attached to the lever x below the floor of the car. A sliding tongue or bar x¹ is
located between the branches x of the lower end of the lever a, and is provided
with an enlarged head on its lower end which serves as the movable jaw of the
grip, a head on the lower end of the lever x serving as the stationary jaw of
the grip. An operating lever 3 is pivoted to the lever x its short arm being
connected with the tongue or bar ¹ by a rod a, and with a spring actuated dog
or pawl, the latter being pivoted between the branches of a bifurcated lug
extending laterally from the lever . The pawl 27 is adapted to engage a ratchet
toothed bar, secured to the floor alongside of the slot in which the lever

page_text: vibrates, and thereby hold the lever x in its advanced adjustment and the
brakes off.
is
A spring actuated dog z secured to the handle of the operating lever
adapted to engage the notches on the sector bar Z secured to the lever x, and
thereby lock the said lever in the desired adjustment.
When the handle of the lever is depressed the movable jaw of the grip engages
the cable and lifts the same into contact with the head of the lever thereby
gripping the cable. The first impulse of. the cable swings the lever a forwardly,
and through the rod v releases the brakes. The lever x is locked in its advanced
movement at every step by the pawl x7 in engagement with the bar x. The car
or cars attached to the grip car are thus free to move along with the cable. When
the lever is raised, the cable is released, and the pawl at the same moment
is disengaged from the bar x, allowing the lever x to swing backwardly and the
weight of the car and its load to set the brakes. It will be noticed that a single
operating lever serves to simultaneously grip the cable and release the brakes, or
release the cable and set the brakes.
It is evident that many slight changes in the form and arrangement of the
several parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of
this invention, hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the construction
herein set forth, but:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination with two sets of levers fulcrumed on the axles, and a car
supported on the outer ends of the levers, of a crank-shaft journalled to the bottom
of the car, a pair of brake-beams suspended beneath the car and connected with the
crank-shaft and means for communicating the action of the supporting levers to the
crank shaft, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with a set of levers fulcrumed on the axles and a car
supported upon the outer ends of the levers, of a set of brakes suspended in a
suitable position beneath the car, a system of levers connecting the brakes and
mechanism connecting the inner or free ends of the levers with the system of
levers connecting the brakes, whereby the weight of the car acting through the
supporting levers moves the brakes simultaneously in opposite directions, sub-
stantially as set forth.
3. The combination with a car-brake, of a lever for operating, the brake, said
lever being adapted to form a seat for and be actuated by the weight of the driver,
substantially as set forth.
"
by the
4. The combination with a system of brakes. adapted to be "put on
weight of the car and its load, of a lever for operating the brake said lever being
adapted to receive and be actuated by the weight of the driver, substantially as
set forth.
5. The combination with a set of car-supporting levers fulcrumed on the axles,
and a crank-shaft journalled transversely to the levers and connected therewith by
a link or its equivalent, of two sets of projections secured to the shaft, rods
connecting the said projections and brake beams and means for rocking the shaft,
substantially as set forth.
6. The combination with a set of car-supporting levers fulcrumed on the axles
and a crank shaft journalled transversely to the levers, and connected therewith by
an operating link, of longitudinally adjustable push-rods connecting the brake
beams with projections on the crank-shaft, and means for rocking the crank shaft,
substantially as set forth.
7. The combination with a set of forked car-supporting levers and winged or
flanged axle boxes, of spring caps secured between the branches of the levers, guide
bolts having their heads secured in the spring caps, and their opposite ends secured

page_text: in a bracket attached to the lever, and springs interposed between the caps and
axle boxes, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination with a set of brakes adapted to be operated by the weight of
the driver, of a brake operating lever adapted to be transferred from one end of
the car to the other, substantially as set forth.
9. The combination with a set of gravity brakes and a brake operating lever
secured to the platform rail, of a spring actuated ratchet bar secured to the lever
and a pawl secured to the platform for engaging the ratchet bar and locking the
brakes off, substantially as set forth.
10. In a system of brakes, a push rod for transmitting the rotary motion of the
crank-shaft to brake beams, consisting essentially of a hollow section and a screw
section and a nut for adjusting the screw within the hollow section, substantially
as set forth.
11. In a brake system in which the weight of a car operates to set the brakes,
a draw bar connected with the brake mechanism, adapted to elevate the car when
draft is applied thereto, substantially as set forth.
12. The combination with the rock-shaft adapted to elevate and lower the car
and thereby release or set the brakes, of a reciprocating draw bar connected with
an operating arm on the rock shaft whereby the draft of the horse or horses
advances the draw bar and releases the brakes, substantially as set forth.
13. The combination with the brake mechanism, and the draw-bar adapted to
operate the same, of a movable section of the draw-bar adapted to compensate for
the wear on the brake-shoes, substantially as set forth.
14. In a system of gravity brakes substantially as described, the three-armed
lever suspended from the car and connected with the brake beams and the rock
shaft, for the purpose, substantially as set forth.
15. The combination with a swinging lever carrying a grip, and a brake
operating rod leading from said lever to a set of gravity brakes, of a single
operating lever adapted to simultaneously set the brakes and release the grip, or
close the grip and release the brakes, substantially as set forth.
16. In brake operating mechanism in which the draft of a running cable is
adapted to release the brakes, a single operating lever adapted to simultaneously
operate the grip and brakes, substantially as set forth.
17. The combination with a vibrating lever having the grip secured to its lower
end, of a pawl and ratchet, adapted to automatically lock the vibrating lever against
a retrograde movement, for the purpose, substantially as set forth.