A NEW OR IMPROVED BREAK AND APPA- RATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH TO BE APPLIED TO RAILWAY AND TRAM CARS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Greenwood, of Honley, in the County of
York, Grocer, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED BREAK AND APPA-
RATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH TO BE APPLIED TO RAILWAY AND TRAM CARS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Greenwood at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1876.
WILLIAM HENRY GREENWOOD, of Honley, in the County of York, Grocer.
NEW OR IMPROVED BREAK AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH TO BE APPLIED
TO RAILWAY AND TRAM CARS."
* A
The object of this Invention is to employ the power accumulated in a carriage or
train of carriages or cars when moving quickly for the purpose of applying a break
or breaks to the wheels of such carriages.
To accomplish this I fix eccentrics upon the axles of the carriages, which
eccentrics actuate pistons or pump "buckets" working in cylinders, so that when
water is admitted to the cylinders it may be forced into a second cylinder, which
forms part of a hydraulic apparatus, the ram of which is attached to an ordinary
brake.
I also mount a drum upon the axle, and pass one or more iron straps around the
same, which straps are capable of being tightened and acting as a brake by the
operation of the above described hydraulic apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Greenwood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th May 1877.
WILLIAM HENRY GREENWOOD, of Honley, in the County of York, Grocer. "A
NEW OR IMPROVED BRAKE AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH TO BE APPLIED
TO RAILWAY AND TRAM CARS."

page_text: train of carriages or cars when moving quickly for the purpose of applying a brake
or brakes to the wheels of such carriages.
To accomplish this I fix eccentrics upon the axles of the carriages, which
eccentrics actuate pistons or pump buckets working in cylinders, so that when
water is admitted to the cylinder it may be forced into a hydraulic apparatus, the
ram of which is attached to an ordinary brake.
In order that iny Invention may be more fully understood I herein give reference
to the accompanying Sheets of Drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is part elevation, and Fig. 2
is plan view of railway carriages with my improvements applied thereto.
The levers A, rods B, and blocks C are arranged similarly to the brakes at present
in use, but the means and methods of operating them are different. The cylinder D,
which by preference is placed under the "tender," is first charged with steam from
the boiler, operating the ram of the hydraulic cylinder E in the direction of the
arrow; this ram is connected by cross head and rods to the lever F, which puts the
brake into operation; at the same time the slot G in the plate H throws the friction
box I into gear with the eccentric J, actuating the pump K, which at every revo-
lution of the wheels of the carriages forces water into the hydraulic cylinder, holding
with increased pressure the ram which the steam had previously operated, binding
the blocks C against the wheels with great pressure, and effectually stopping the
carriages in a few revolutions of the wheels after the steam has been supplied to the
cylinder D.
Fig. 3 is a detail of the friction box and eccentric. The eccentric J and boss J¹
are not attached to the shaft, but run loose thereon until the friction box or boss I
is brought into contact with them by the action of the grooved plate H, when they
revolve together and operate the pump J.
When it is desired to relieve the wheels from the brake the water is discharged
from the pump, and consequently from the hydraulic cylinder, steam is reversed in
the cylinder D so as to operate the ram in the opposite direction, and the brakes
taken off the wheels.
It will be seen that the mechanism, consisting of the steam cylinder, hydraulic
cylinder, together with the ram, eccentric, and pump, need only be applied to one
carriage of a whole train, the rod L under each carriage being coupled to a similar
rod under its adjoining carriage, so that the brakes are applied simultaneously to all
the wheels on each carriage.
1
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Fig. 4 shews an arrangement of brake whereby two blocks are applied to each
wheel.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is performed or carried into practical effect, I would have it understood
that I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein shown and described, as
the same may be varied without departing from the main features of the Invention,
but what I consider to be new and therefore claim as ny Invention is,-
Firstly. The eccentric and pump, operated in the manner and for the purpose
herein shewn and described.
Secondly. The combination of the steam cylinder and hydraulic cylinder for
operating brakes in the manner herein shewn and descibed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Greenwood, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.