CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BREAKS USED FOR RETARDING THE MOTION OF WHEELS OF CARRIAGES ON ORDINARY ROADS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Castle, of Grantham, in the County of Lincoln,
Coach Maker, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BREAKS
USED FOR RETARDING THE MOTION OF WHEELS OF CARRIAGES ON ORDINARY
ROADS."
Sealed the 15th October 1858, and dated the 7th May 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Castle at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th May 1858.
I, JOHN CASTLE, of Grantham, in the County of Lincoln, Coach Maker, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREAKS USED FOR RETARDING THE MOTION OF CARRIAGES ON ORDINARY ROADS,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in a rod having a screw or thread on or near one of
its ends; this screw having a nut thereon, which is called a traversing nut.
This nut, having joints formed on it, is by these joints secured to certain levers,
such as are usually applied to the wheels of vehicles to retard their motion.
The screw'd part of the rod on which the nut traverses, is placed near the
centre, and in front of the hind axletree of a vehicle where the transverse
levers which form the break are situated. The other end of the rod communi-
cates with the front or driving seat of the vehicle, and is sometimes jointed in
certain parts with a number of joints placed at short intervals, and these joints

page_text: being arranged at certain angles to the plane of the rod are called excentric
joints, and this rod so jointed is called an excentric jointed rod, and will lie
upon and adapt itself to certain curved or angular forms of a vehicle, and
when so placed, may be caused to revolve with its screw, notwithstanding that
certain of its parts lies at different angles.
When this Invention is applied to a vehicle, the particular form of the
latter will determine to what part it can be most conveniently attached, and
also whether it should be placed internal or external to the body of the vehicle;
in most cases it will be part in the interior and part on the exterior of the
body. In applying this Invention to some pheatons, wagonettes, and other
light carriages, the levers or breaks on which the friction blocks are placed may
be the curved ends of an iron bar; this bar may be placed transverse to and
under or within the body, and work in two bearings, each of these bearings
being secured to each bottom side of the body; those parts of the bar which
work in the bearings being flanged or shoulderd, will prevent it moving
latterally, but permit it to turn freely; about the middle of this bar a pro-
jecting piece is form'd, which serves as a crank; to this piece the traversing
nut is jointed or otherwise secured. The two extremities of the bar beyond
and outside its bearing are curved arms, on their ends pivots are formed, on
which the friction blocks are placed; in such cases the rod may in general be
straight, and having its screw'd end inserted in the nut. The other part may
pass in an oblique direction up through the bottom of the front part of
the body of vehicle, and pass above, below, or through the front seat rail of
driving seat, and there work in a bearing, which, in some cases, will be a
swivel socket, in which the rod will revolve and work in unison with the tra-
versing nut on the screw below, the rod projecting beyond the seat rail in front,
and having a portable cranked handle on its end. On turning this handle, the
rod with its screw will revolve, the nut then traverse the screw, and cause the
transverse bar to turn in its bearings sufficient to depress the friction blocks
on the tires of the hind wheels, so as to retard their motion or entirely stop
their progress.
On reversing the handle, the friction blocks will be instantly
removed from the wheels. In the application of this Invention to broughams
and some other large carriages, the excentric jointed rod will be found available,
and instead of the transverse bar, jointed levers to work horisontally on fulcrum
pivots may be found advantageous, and generally in such cases the screw will
have its two extremities flanged or shouldered, and work in chains or bearings,
these bearings being so placed that the screw when in them will be longitudinal
to the vehicle. The traversing nut to be allowed to work freely between the

page_text: bearings of the screw, and be jointed or otherwise secured to the levers, these
levers extending to fulorum pivots on or near the bottom sides of body of
vehicle, and beyond these fulcrums terminate with pivots to receive friction
blocks; the joints in the levers are situated between the fulcrums and the
traversing nut. The jointed rod may pass from the screw in a curved or
angular course up to the front seat rail, and there have a suitable bearing and
handle, as in the former case described. When the handle is turn'd, the
jointed rod with its screw will revolve and work this arrangement with the
same effect as in the former case. In some cases the screwd rod and traversing
nut may be arranged to work two levers, and their friction blocks at opposite
points on each wheel, or one lever and friction block to one wheel only.. It
will thus be seen that various modifications and arrangements of this Inven-
tion may make it applicable to most vehicles on common roads. Iron will
generally be found most suitable for the manufacture of the different parts of
this Invention; sometimes brass or other metal may be required for the
bearings or other parts, and in some cases wood will be found available for
certain parts.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Castle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
October 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
CASTLE, of Grantham, in the County of Lincoln, Coach Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Castle, Her special licence that I, the said John Castle, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Castle, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BRAKES USED FOR
RETARDING THE MOTION OF WHEELS OF CARRIAGES ON ORDINARY ROADS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Castle, my executors or

page_text: administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Castle, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, 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 consists in a rod, having a screw or thread on or near one
of its ends, the said screw having a nut thereon, which may be called the
traversing nut, this nut having a joint or joints formed on it by which it is
connected to the transverse bar or levers of a brake. In some cases, instead
of these joints, the nut has two projections in opposite directions, which form
an axis, having a hole in the centre of each end, which is connected to the
levers on a transverse bar by square-headed screws, the threads of which
extend only a sufficient distance from the heads to secure them to the levers,
their points or ends being plain and without threads, so as to form pivots, and
fit into the above-named holes in the projecting parts of the nut. On these
pivots so placed the nut turns, and accommodates itself to the working of
the screw and levers when the brake is in motion. The rod being arranged
to revolve in bearings in its course from the front or driving seat of a vehicle,
is sometimes required to be curved when placed either internally or externally
to the body. These curved parts may be formed of a series of short pieces
jointed to each other, so as to form a succession of joints, which will permit
it to revolve, when turned by a handle, after the same manner it would were
it straight and without joints.
In order to accomplish the working of the rod, as described, the successive
joints may be arranged in the following manner :-For example, suppose the
first piece in the series has joints formed on each end, made at right angles
to each other, the second piece would be arranged to work at more acute
angles, the third piece again at right angles, the fourth more acute, and so on
alternately through the series. In some cases this arrangement may be
departed from, and these jointed pieces somewhat differently arranged; the
curve of the rod will generally determine the number and arrangement of the
joints, and will be better understood by reference to the Drawings accompany-
ing this my Specification. The rod thus jointed and described is called an
"eccentric jointed rod" in my Provisional Specification. This arrangement

page_text: may be worked by a cranked or other handle at one end of the screwed rod in
the front, or driving seat, or other more convenient part of a vehicle. In some
cases, this end of the rod may be provided with a cog wheel, fitted to work
in another wheel, which is on a rod or shaft, the ends of which may extend to
the outer sides of the body of a vehicle, and each of these ends be fitted to
receive a cranked handle, by which the brake may be worked from either side
of the body; or, this shaft may extend from its cog wheel to one side only.
The foregoing description of this Invention refers to the working of a brake
when applied to the wheels in one direction only, and is available. principally
for light vehicles.
By another arrangement of the screw the brake or brakes may be caused
to act on opposite parts of wheels at the same time, as previously mentioned
in the latter part of my Provisional Specification. In this case there are
two threads on the same rod, one being what is usually called a "right-hand,"
the other a "left-hand" screw. Generally, the left-hand thread commences
near the end, and continues to a convenient distance up the rod, the right
hand being higher up and also of convenient length. On each of these threads
a traversing nut, as before described, is placed, each nut being jointed to the
levers of the brake, as in the former case. This arrangement is adapted for
large vehicles where a great pressure is required.
Various modifications of this Invention will make it applicable to most
vehicles used on ordinary roads. The form of the vehicle will determine
how it can be most conveniently attached, also the particular arrangements of
the parts which may be varied, without departing from the nature of this my
said Invention. The latter will be self-evident to all practical carriage
builders.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate certain arrangements of the parts
and modes of applying this Invention to brakes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents the side elevation of an omnibus which has a brake
attached, having a back and front or double action, and. shews the jointed
part of the rod passing in a curved direction partly under and partly in the
interior of the body. Figure 2 shews the underneath view of Figure 1.
In Figures 1 and 2, (a) shews the screwed part of rod, shewing two threads
thereon, one being a right-hand and the other a left-hand thread. At or
about the end of each screw, this rod is shouldered or flanged, and placed in
bearings (6), which bearings are fixed on bottom of body nearly equidistant

page_text: from each side; (c) a series of short pieces jointed together, which joints are
made at a very acute angle, being secured to each other by rivets or other-
wise. That part of the jointed piece which is situated between each curve
will be found much better to have a shouldered or flanged piece placed in a
chair or bearing, as shewn at (6), after having passed the two curves, as shewn
by dotted lines; it works in bearings (e), and is continued without joints
direct to the front rail of the driving seat, and there flanged to work in a chair
or bearing (f). On the front part of the rod beyond the last-named bearing,
there is a socket formed to receive a portable cranked handle, as at (g); (h),
traversing nuts, with joints formed on their opposite sides, to receive connect-
ing links (), which are bolted or otherwise secured to levers (j), which levers
are placed on pivots formed on fulcrums (k), which fulcrums are fixed to the
bottom framework of body, as nearly as possible opposite to the tires of the
wheels. On the ends of lever arms, that is, the parts which are beyond and
outside the fulcrums, pivots are formed, which receive the friction blocks (),
which are pressed on the tires of the hind wheels (m). To put this brake in
motion you turn the handle (n), which makes the whole of the rod revolve,
the nuts to traverse the screw, the levers to work on the fulcrums, and the
friction blocks to press on the wheels and retard their motion, as shewn in
Figures 1 and 2. On reversing the handle, the nuts traverse the screws in
the direction of 1, the friction blocks will be removed in the direction
of >2. As the front and back or double action will not be required
except in cases where a great amount of friction is required, so in light
carriages a single action or brake with one pair of levers only will be required,
which levers, with the friction blocks can be placed either at the back or
front of the hind wheels. The arrangements for a single-action brake, in some
cases, are the same in every respect as a double-action, with this exception,
that there is only one traversing nut, one or two levers and friction blocks,
and one screw on the after part of the rod, instead of the arrangement as
shewn in Figures 1 and 2, as described in the Drawing.
Figure 3 represents a transverse bar brake complete, which may be applied
to some vehicles where it is not convenient to use the transverse levers.
(a), transverse bar; (b), parts flanged or shouldered down to work in bearings
or chairs, which bearings or chairs can be fixed to any convenient part or
parts of a vehicle, so as to allow the arms (c) to press the friction blocks (d)
on the back or front of tires of hind wheels; (e), projecting pieces or levers
formed on bar, with holes in which a screw thread is made; (f) is a traversing
swivel nut, with projections, which form an axis having circular holes in

page_text: centres of the ends; (9) are square-headed screws. The thread on these screws
extends from immediately under the head towards the point, in length equal
to the thickness of the projecting pieces or levers on bar; the points of these
screws are plain, and entering the holes in axis of traversing nut form pivots
on which it turns, and adapts itself to the working of this arrangement of
brake. (h), bracket bearing to receive a swivel socket (i), retained in its
working position by square-headed screws similar to traversing swivel nut (ƒ);
(), screwed rod placed in swivel socket, with the screw inserted on the
traversing swivel nut (f); in placing this rod to swivel socket one flange only
is formed on it. After it is put through the socket a loose washer is put on.
On the rod at the part next to the washer a thread is formed; on this thread
a nut is fixed, which answers the purpose of a solid shoulder or flange. This
rod, as in the former case, has pieces jointed at short intervals. The adapting
of the rod and fixing of its bearings are similar to Figure 1. The jointed
part of the rod, as shewn in this Figure, commences near the swivel socket
with the first piece, having a joint formed on each of its ends at right angles
to each other; the second piece made with joints at more acute angles to
each other, the third piece at right angles, the fourth more acute, and so on
alternately as previously stated. As regards the difference between the jointed
part of the rod in Figures 1 and 3, it is of very little consequence which is
used, but in going over or under a very sharp curve, the series of jointed pieces
made at a right and acute angle, placed alternately, will be preferred. On
putting this brake in motion you turn the handle, the whole of the rod
revolves, the traversing swivel nut moves laterally on the screw, which (being
connected to levers on the bar) causes the bar to turn in its bearings, and the
arms with the friction blocks to press on the tires of the wheels, which will
retard their motion.
་
Figure 4 represents side elevation of a gig, shewing transverse bar brake
attached with jointed part of rod passing through the interior of body in a curved
direction to a bearing near the seat, and from thence in a curved direction to
a bearing placed on side of body, the end of rod outside of body having a fixed
handle thereon, for which a portable handle may be substituted. The general
arrangement and working of this brake is similar to Figure 3.
Figure 5, transverse elevation of Figure 4, shewing shouldered or flanged
parts of the bar placed in the bearings of two fulcrum stays (a). The dotted
lines indicate the course of the rod through the interior.
Figure 6 represents a transverse bar brake with a single lever, connected to
a traversing jointed nut on a screwed rod, the rod being without joints.

page_text: (a), screwed rod inserted in traversing jointed nut (b). This nut is bolted to
lever (c), which lever is formed on transverse bar (d), having arms (e), with
pivots and friction blocks on ends, and being flanged, may be applied to a
vehicle in a similar manner to Figures 3 and 4; (f), socket bearing to fix on
front or driving seat, or any other convenient part of a vehicle; (g), swivel
socket on rod, arranged to work similarly to swivel socket (i), Figure 3 being
a very simple and suitable brake for a short or small bodied vehicle.
Figure 7 shews an arrangement of a rod or shaft, with a cog wheel adapted
to work in another wheel on the end of screwed rod of brake, and is provided
with handles to permit the brake being worked from either side of the body of
a vehicle. (a), rod or shaft, which is flanged or shouldered at (6), and is
placed transverse or otherwise in suitable bearings or chairs attached to the
sides of front or driving seat, or some more convenient part of a vehicle;
(c), fixed handles, for which portable handles may be substituted; (d), cog
wheel, fixed on or near the centre of bar; (e), screwed rod with cog wheel (f)
fixed on front end, this cog wheel being adapted to cog wheel (d) on shaft (a);
(9), part flanged on screwed rod, for working in bearings, as shewn in
Figure 1 at (e). This shaft, as before mentioned,. may be provided with one
handle only.
.
The numbered illustrations represent various parts of this Invention. No. 1,
upper and side view of lever, as shewn at (j), Figures 1 and 2; No. 2, two
views of traversing nut with joints, as at (h), in Figures 1 and 2 ; No. 3,
fulcrum, with a pivot on end to receive levers, as at (k), in the same Figures;
No. 4, shoe of friction block; No. 5, shoe and friction block screwed together,
as shewn on pivots of levers at (1) and (d), Figures 1, 2, and 3; No. 6, two
views of link to connect levers to traversing jointed nut, as at (i), Figure 2;
No. 7, two views of chairs or bearings, as at (b, d, e, and f,) in Figures 1
and 2; No. 8, view of back end of rod with right and left-hand screw thread
for double action, as shewn at (a), Figures 1 and 2; No, 9. part of rod
flanged with socket end, as at (9), Figures 1 and 2; No. 10, portable cranked
handle to fit in socket at end of rod, as at (n), Figure 1; No. 11, piece of rod,
each end having joint formed thereon, the centre being flanged to work in a
bearing, which may be necessary between two curves in the jointed rod, as
shewn at (d, d,) Figures 1 and 2, at (m,). Figure 3, and at (b, b,) Figures 4
and 5; No. 12, piece of rod with joints formed on it at right angles to each
other, as at (k), Figure 3; No. 13, a similar piece of rod, with joints formed
on it at more acute angles to each other than No. 12, as shewn at (1), Figure 3;
No. 14, another piece arranged for joints at angles still more acute to each

page_text: other than the last named, as shewn at (c), Figures 1 and 2; No. 15, upper
view of traversing swivel nut, shewing square-headed screws having plain or
blank points to form pivots, on which the nut adapts itself to the working of
the screw; No. 16, end view of No. 15; No. 17, side view of No. 15, shewing
one of the projecting parts, with a hole therein to receive the blank end of a
screw; No. 18, square-headed screw with plain or blank end; No. 19, two
views of bracket bearing with swivel socket, as shewn at (h), Figure 3, and at
(f), Figure 6, this arrangement being similar to swivel nut, Nos. 15, 16, 17;
No. 20, fulcrum stay, with chair or bearing adapted for a transverse bar
brake, as shewn at (a), Figures 4 and 5; No. 21, back part of rod with one
screw; the back end having a washer and screwed nut placed thereon to form
a flange, is adapted to work one or a pair of levers; No. 22, front end of rod,
with fixed handle, as shewn at (f), Figures 4 and 5; No. 23, back part of
rod, as shewn at (j), Figure 3, and at (g, g.) Figures 4 and 5; No. 24,
screwed rod, as shewn at (a), Figure 6; No. 25, two views of traversing nut,
with joints formed thereon, as shewn at (6), Figure 6; No. 26, end of rod
with cog wheel, as shewn at (e), Figure 7.
Iron will generally be found most suitable for the manufacture of the
different parts of this Invention; sometimes brass or other metal may be
required for the bearings or other parts, and in some cases wood will be found
available for certain parts.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same may
be varied without departing from the nature of my said Invention; I hereby
declaring that I claim in respect of the said Letters Patent granted to me by
Her said most Excellent Majesty as aforesaid, for my Invention for certain
improvements in brakes used for retarding the motion of wheels of carriages
on ordinary roads,-
First, a rod jointed in such a manner as will permit it to revolve in its whole
length when turned at one end, notwithstanding that certain parts of this said
rod be curved longitudinally when applied to the working of a brake for
retarding the motion of wheels of carriages on ordinary roads.
Secondly, a nut, herein called a traversing nut, jointed or otherwise con-
nected to the lever or levers of a brake, and arranged to work the same by the
revolving of a screw on which it is placed.
Thirdly, two screws or threads and traversing nuts on the same rod,
arranged to work the levers of a brake in opposite directions at the same
time.

page_text: Fourthly, an arrangement for working a brake by a handle or handles from
one or both sides of a vehicle, herein described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Castle, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Signed and sealed, in the presence of
W. CASTLE,
Law Stationer,
Melton Mowbray.
JOHN CASTLE. (L.S.)