A New or Improved Automatic Brake for Trucks, Trolleys, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1898-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Automatic Brake for Trucks, Trolleys,
and the like.
I, HENRY BRIDGE, of Withersfield, Newmarket, 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:-
My invention relates to a new or improved automatic brake for trucks, trolleys,
and the-like, and refers more particularly to that class of truck or trolley designed
for use upon railway station platforms for the conveyance of passengers luggage
from place to place, the object being to provide a brake of simple construction
that shall be automatically applied to the wheels of a truck or trolley as soon
as the latter is at rest, or released by the person using it, and in this manner
there is no fear of any such truck becoming accidentally set in motion.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will now proceed
to describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Fig. I
is a side elevation of the truck fitted with my improved brake apparatus, Fig. 2
being an end view of same.
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1 showing the brake raised or ' off."
Fig. 4 illustrates a slightly modified form of brake apparatus.
According to this invention I secure to each side of the truck a, a sufficiently
powerful spring or spring plate b carrying a brake block or shoe e normally kept
in contact with the wheels w by the action of the said spring plate b.
To the extremity of the spring or spring plate b a block d having an upper
forked extremity is rigidly secured, and to this block is pivoted the arm f of a bell
crank lever g, the arm f' of which is of socket form and carries a projecting arm
or bar h, the bar upon each side of the truck being united by a cross bar kas
shown (Fig. 2).
The operation of my improved brake apparatus is as follows:-
The brake normally is kept in close contact with the wheels w of the truck
or trolley a by means of the springs or spring plates b, but when it is required
to push or propel the truck, pressure is applied to the cross bar k which brings
it closely against the end of the truck as shown (Fig. 3) thereby raising the arm f
of the bell crank lever g and lifting the extremity of each spring or spring
plate b, which removes the brake blocks e out of contact with the wheels was
shown (Fig. 3) the said wheels being then free to revolve. As soon as the
pressure is removed from the cross bar & the springs or spring plates instantly
and automatically apply the brake to the wheels, bringing the various parts
into the position shown in Fig. 1.
In the modified form of this invention shown at Fig. 4, the extremities 1 of
the springs or spring plates b, are raised by means of side arms m connected by
a suitable cross bar m³, said arms being hinged or pivoted to the side of the
truck a by links p, and in order to remove the brake it is only necessary to lift
or raise the said side arms m by means of the cross bar m¹, and to retain it in

page_text: the raised position while the trolley is in motion, the brake being instantly applied
by the springs or spring plates 6 as soon as the said cross bar m¹ is released.
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 new or improved automatic brake for trucks, trolleys and the like
comprising the arrangement of side springs or spring plates designed to be
operated by bell crank levers such as g, side arms h, and a cross bar k, sub-
stantially as herein described and shown with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
2. The new or improved automatic brake for trucks, trolleys and the like,
substantially as herein described and shown, with reference to Fig. 4 of the
accompanying drawing.
3/. The new or improved automatic brake for trucks, trolleys and the like,
arranged, constructed, and operating, substantially as herein described and
shown with reference to the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes
specified.
Dated this run day of December 1000.
F. G. CASSELL,
(Of Cassell & Co.)
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicant.