Improvements in Means for Operating the Brakes of Wheeled Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 27th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Operating the Brakes of Wheeled
Vehicles.
I, GEORGE SEELEY KELSEY, of Water Orton, in the County of Warwick, Brewer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to means for applying the brakes of wheeled vehicles,
and has for its object, to render the application of the brakes automatic on the
vehicle descending a gradient, thereby materially easing the horse of the load
behind it, and this I propose to effect by operating the brake mechanism through
the medium of the breech band, collar or equivalent part of the harness which is
usually attached to the saddle and hooked to the shafts so that when the load
causes the cart (when going down hill or on being pulled up,) to run onto the horse,
he, by his efforts to resist the forward motion of the cart, transmits operative
movement to the brake through the medium of suitable connection mechanism.
According to one form of my invention, the brake block may be mounted on
one end of a double armed or bell-cranked lever, or it may be carried upon knee
or toggle joints, arranged so as to close together for bringing the brake shoes
onto the periphery of the wheels or a band brake may be operated in a similar
way. The necessary movement is communicated by the horse backing onto his
breech band or harness which is connected to one end of a wire, rod or passing
chain or equivalent with the other end terminating in the brake lever, or the brake
may be applied directly by a slide actuated in a similar manner.
Or a slide may
be made (by a rack and pinion gear) to give a slight rotatory movement to a
crossing shaft or bar, an end or the ends of which are fitted with rocking arms
or levers carrying the brake.
In cases where the horse is required to back a vehicle then I propose to prevent
the brake being applied. by the employment of a clutch arrangement for throwing
the brake operating mechanism out of gear.
The whole of the aforesaid arrangements may be applied to operate band brakes
for exercising braking power on the hubs or other parts of the wheels of vehicles.
Dated this 5th day of April 1898.
GEORGE SEELEY KELSEY,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in Means for Operating the Brakes of Wheeled
Vehicles.
I, GEORGE SEELEY KELSEY, of Water Orton, in the County of Warwick, Brewer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
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page_text: to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
This invention relates to means for applying the brakes of wheeled, vehicles,
and has for its object, to render the application of the brakes automatic on the
vehicle descending a gradient, thereby materially easing the horse of the load
behind it, and this I propose to effect by operating the brake mechanism through
the medium of the breech band collar or equivalent part of the harness so that
when the load causes the vehicle or cart (on going down hill or on being pulled up)
to run onto the horse, he, by his efforts to resist the forward motion of the vehicle
transmits operative movement, through the breech band or other part of the
harness, and suitably arranged connections, to the brake, which is thereby applied
to the wheels.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a side elevation of a two-
wheeled vehicle fitted with block brake mechanism and attachments in accordance
with my invention, adapted to be automatically actuated by the horse backing
onto his breech band on the vehicle commencing to run down hill.
Figure 2 is another view of the said vehicle with the shafts in section upon
the dotted line of Figure 1.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawings.
In carrying out this form of my invention, I arrange across the front a¹, or
other convenient part of the body a, of the vehicle, a shaft b, turning in bearings
or supports 2, and having at its opposite ends, arms b¹, proviied with brake
shoes 6, of the ordinary kind, adapted to be taken into contact with the wheels
The said shaft has also upon it, a pair of levers or arms 63, to each of which, the
inner end d, of a connecting rod or slide bar d, is jointed, said slides being directed
forwardly along the underside of the shafts e, and being guided by brackets such
as f, which may either be independently attached, or suspended from a plate g,
and is preferably provided with rollers f¹, or the like for reducing the friction.
Forwardly, the slide rods are respectively connected with one end of a metal cord,
chain or equivalent flexible connection h, which passes around a guide roller r
runner, carried on the shaft, and has at its other end, a spring snap hook, catch
or the like j, adapted to be engaged with a loop, ring or other fitting of or upon
the breech band or other part of the ordinary harness or with a separate strap or
straps specially arranged for the purpose. In conjunction with this brake, r
propose to employ one or more springs such as k, one end k¹, of which is engaged
with an attachment 2, fixed on the vehicle body, whilst the other end k³, is
connected with the brake work for automatically taking off the brake.
When a vehicle so fitted commences to descend a hill, the load causes the same to
run forward and bring the breech band against the hind quarters of the horse,
who thus resists the forward movement of the vehicle and the pressure thus
exerted on the breech band is communicated equally on both sides of the vehicle,
through the flexible connections and slides to the brake levers, which are turned
and the brake shoes applied to the wheels, at the same time, the spring k, is
distended. On again reaching level ground or commencing to ascend a slope,
the horse runs away from the breech band and relieves the brake pressure, which
is then. automatically taken off by the contraction of the spring or springs exert-
ing a pull upon the levers in an opposite direction.
It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise arrangement
shown in the drawings, as, for instance, the slide bars d, may be dispensed with
and the flexible connections or chains may pass from the harness, around pulleys or
other guides on the shafts, directly to the rocking arms or levers on the brake
shaft and instead of both brakes being mounted at the opposite ends of a single
shaft, they may be separately mounted.
The invention may also be applied to the operation of spring or other band
brakes arranged in connection with the hubs or other parts of the wheels. Thus,
for instance, the wheel hub may be provided with a circular drum or contact,

page_text: encircled by a leather-faced or other metal band brake, passing once or more times
around the said drum with one end of each band made fast to the body or other
part of the vehicle, or to the stationary axle of the wheels, whilst the other end
may be jointed or otherwise secured to a slide bar running through guides on
the shaft, or directly to a connected flexible cord, chain or the like proceeding
from the breech band. The operation of such an arrangement would be practically
the same as that first described, other than that, in case of spring band brakes, the
resiliency of the bands would effect the taking off without the employment of
an auxiliary spring or springs for the purpose.
It is understood also that the brake is operated in like manner when a horse
is pulled up for quickly stopping a vehicle.
The power created by the backing of the horse against a part of his harness on
pulling up, or by the weight of a vehicle running down hill forcing a part of the
harness against the horses body may also be transmitted to the shaft or operating
levers of block or band brake mechanism through a sliding rack or toothed bar
engaging with a pinion or toothed wheel on the cross shaft, or by bell-cranked or
double armed levers mounted on the shafts, or by the opening and closing of a
system knee-jointed or toggle links.
"
In cases where the horse is required to "back a vehicle fitted with the before
described attachment for operating the brake, then I may arrange in connection
with the shaft, and between it and the arms carrying the brake blocks or operat-
ing the band brakes, suitable clutch mechanism adapted to be thrown out of gear
by a separate and conveniently situated hand lever or the like before commencing
to back the horse. The brakes are thus disconnected from the operating levers
on the shaft, so that the pull created on backing the vehicle simply rocks the said
shaft with any movement being communicated to the brake.
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 A vehicle or cart brake, operated through the medium of the harness breech
band or the like, and so arranged that the power created by the backing of a horse
against a part of his harness, or by the weight of a vehicle-in running down hill-
forcing a part harness against the horse, is communicated by wire cords, chains
or other flexible connections to levers, slides or equivalent parts of block or band
brake mechanism.
Secondly: A vehicle or cart brake adapted to be operated (on the vehicle
descending a gradient or being pulled up) through the medium of the breech_band
or other part of the harness, which is carried against the horse by the tendency
of the vehicle to run forward and the power created thereby is communicated
through cords or the like running around or over guide pulleys on the
shafts to spring-returned slides or arms adapted to actuate a rock shaft mounted
on the vehicle body and having brake blocks secured to its ends, substantially as
described and set forth in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1898
GEORGE SEELEY KELSEY,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham,
Agent for Applicant.