Improvements in Railway Platform and any other such Four Wheeled Merchandise Trucks or Trolleys.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Lett, 26th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1899
Improvements in Railway Platform and any other such Four Wheeled
Merchandise Trucks or Trolleys.
I, JOHN WHITTLE, of the Union Railway Wagon Works, Chorley, in the County
of Lancaster, Railway Wagon Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in railway platform trucks, trolleys or
the like used for conveying luggage and parcels, the object being to provide means
for preventing such trucks moving after the porter has left loose of the handle, or
hauling bar.
My invention consists essentially in the combination with the wheels and handle
or hauling bar of a platform truck of improved brake arrangements which can be
brought into action to brake or stop the truck when the hauling bar is released
and be taken out of action when the hauling bar is lifted.
In carrying out my invention as applied to a four wheeled trolley I attach to the
axle bed of the front under swivel, carrying the front wheels, a rocking bar or
shaft. This bar may be supported by eyebolts, straps, pedestals or similar means
from the under swivel and to it is coupled, at about the centre, a hauling or
handle bar. At each end of the bar is fixed a cast, wrought iron or similar brake
block so arranged that on the hauling bar being dropped the blocks would come
in contact with the wheels and so stop the trolley. The brake blocks have their
braking surfaces made to suit the shape or character of the wheel. For instance,
the block may be flat, concave, convex, V-shaped or U-shaped and the wheel tyres
or rims constructed accordingly. In place of the brake blocks working in con-
junction with the wheel tyres or rims they may be adapted to engage with the
inner bosses or naves of the wheels or with separate bosses, blocks, pulleys, wheels,
or the like secured thereto and formed on their periphery in the manner already
indicated.
1011
N 1000

page_text: 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 improvements in railway platform trucks, trolleys or
the like used for conveying luggage and parcels, the object being to provide means
for preventing such trucks moving after the porter has left loose of the handle or
hauling bar.
My invention consists essentially in the combination with the wheels and handle
or hauling bar of a platform truck, of improved brake arrangements which can be
brought into action to brake or stop the truck when the hauling bar is released
and be taken out of action when the hauling bar is lifted.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying draw-
ings in which,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a platform trolley fitted with my improved brake
arrangements,
Fig. 2 a front elevation of same, whilst
Figs. 3 and 4 and Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views to those just referred to, show-
ing modifications of the brake.
In carrying out my invention and referring principally to Figs. 1 and 2 of the
drawings I attach to the axle bed A of the front underswivel carrying the front or
steering wheels a, a rocking bar or shaft B, which is carried by eyebolts, straps,
pedestals or similar means, preferably eyebolts 6 secured in the axle bed A. The
bar B is capable of being turned in the eyebolts b and has firmly secured to or
formed in one with it, a handle or hauling bar C which may be of any suitable
pattern such as is now in use for such purpose. Each end of the bar B is prefer-
ably squared and sorewed and has secured to it by means of a nut dand split pin
ur cotter or the like, a brake block D, each block having a square hole to corre-
spond with the shape of the bar, a construction adopted to prevent the blocks turn-
ing round on the bar. The blocks may be made of cast or wrought iron or other
suitable material and their braking surfaces may be flat, concave, convex, V-shaped
or U-shaped and the wheel naves, tyres or rims constructed to correspond thereto.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the braking surfaces of the blocks is V-shaped. The inner portion
of the nave or boss E of each front wheel a, or a pulley suitably but firmly secured
thereto, has turned in it a groove e corresponding to the shape of the brake block.
Figs. 3 and 4 show a similar arrangement to that already described with the
exception that the grooves e are formed in the brake blocks and the pulleys or
naves E, constructed to correspond.
Figs. 5 and 6 also indicate a similar arrangement to the others except that the
brake blocks D, bear upon the rims or tyres of the front wheels a as shown. In all
these cases the brake blocks may be shod with leather, wood or the like if required.
In each of the constructions shown the lifting of the handle or hauling bar by
the person in charge of the trolley turns the rocking bar B and draws the brake
blocks away from the naves or tyres as the case may be, whilst so soon as the
handle is dropped its weight acts to keep the blocks tight against the wheels and
so prevents the trolley moving, irrespective of whether the platform is level or
inclined.
The brake arrangements shown are of a very simple, inexpensive yet efficient
character and may be applied not only to railway platform trolleys but to many
other four wheeled vehicles requiring a good brake.
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. In brakes for railway platform trolleys or the like the combination with the
wheel naves, tyres or rims and axle tree, of brake blocks such as D, rocking
shafts, B, eyebolts or the like, for supporting same and handle bar such as C,
the lifting of which releases the brake blocks and the release of which puts the
brake on substantially as described.

page_text: 2. The improved brake for railway platform trolleys and the like constructed,
arranged and operating substantially in the manner described and as shown either
with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, Figs. 3 and 4 or Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 19th day of January 1899
WILLIAM H. TAYLOR,
Swan Chambers, 69, Market Street, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.