Improvements in Braking Apparatus for Trucks, Wagons, Tubs, or similar Vehicles on Rail or Tramways.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 16th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 15th Dec., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Braking Apparatus for Trucks, Wagons, Tubs, or
similar Vehicles on Rail or Tramways.
I, GEORGE LABRAM, of The De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited, Kimberley,
South Africa, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows;-
The apparatus is specially adapted for application where trucks, wagons, tubs,
or like vehicles, are required to be gradually brought to rest at some fixed point
and is intended to obviate the wear and tear of the wheel rims, axles, and bear-
ings, and the chances of accidents, breakage, and loss of time by a truck or trucks
being derailed as frequently happens by the use of "sprags" in the wheels, which
act to instantly stop the revolution of the wheels causing them to skid or slide
on the rail by which the tyres are worn into flat places which soon cause them
to run untruly on the rails and cause great strains upon the axles and bearings.
The operation of "spragging" requires some skill and involves the employment
of more men and "sprags themselves cost money and are soon destroyed.
"
The apparatus consists of a frame preferably of angle iron properly braced
secured to the permanent way at the desired point, which frame supports and
guides a beam on each side parallel with the rails of such length as to extend over
the wheels of one or more trucks which beams form the brakes and are curved
upward at the ends to allow the wheels to enter under them. These brake beams
move vertically in guides, simultaneously on both sides of the line, by the action
of weighbars, lever arms, and connecting links preferably by the operation of a
balanced lever handle controlled by the man in charge, and, by weighbars travers-
ing from end to end of the apparatus, the brake beams move truly up and down
at both their ends. In some cases as of very long and heavy sets of tubs or
wagons the apparatus may be duplicated at one or more points of the line and
two or more may be worked by the same man by chains or other connections
along the line operated by separate levers or simultaneously by hand and foot.
The operation of the brake or brakes is very simple. As the first tub or wagon
of a set arrives the brake beams are slightly depressed upon the tops of the wheels
and retard the speed still allowing the wheels to revolve, then another follow-
ing is similarly retarded and so on, until the whole set is brought to rest and then
only the wheels cease to revolve entirely. Manual power is preferable as the
hand is sensitive to the amount of pressure put upon the wheels by the brake
beams and a certain degree of elasticity is allowed to gradually reduce the revo-
lutions of the wheels without stopping them.
In an experimental application the brake apparatus has been quite a success, a
considerably greater number of tubs or wagons having been handled by one man
than before with three men, the cost of sprags saved, and the risk of one
sprag" sticking in the wheel causing serious delay and often a smash, resulting
66

page_text: in a tub or wagon being upset on the line, besides the preservation of the wheels,
axles, and bearings from shocks and strains.
T. J. DANSON, F.C.Inst.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Improvements in Braking Apparatus for Trucks, Wagons, Tubs, or
similar Vehicles on Rail or Tramways.
I, GEORGE LABRAM, of The De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd., Kimberley,
South Africa, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
"
دو
The apparatus is specially adapted for application where trucks, wagons, tubs,
or like vehicles, are required to be gradually brought to rest at some fixed point
and is intended to obviate the wear and tear of the wheel rims, axles, and bear-
ings, and the chances of accidents, breakage, and loss of time by a truck or trucks
being derailed as frequently happens by the use of "sprags" in the wheels which
act to instantly stop the revolution of the wheels, causing them to "skid" or slide
on the rails by which the tyres are worn into flat places which soon cause them
to run untruly on the rails and cause great strains upon the axles and bearings.
The operation of "spragging" requires some skill and involves the employment
of more men and sprags themselves cost money and are soon destroyed.
The apparatus consists of a frame preferably of angle iron properly braced
secured to the permanent way at the desired point, which frame supports and
guides a beam on each side parallel with the rails, of such length as to extend over
the wheels of one or more trucks, which beams form the brakes and are curved
upward at the ends to allow the wheels to enter under them. These brake beams
move vertically in guides, simultaneously on both sides of the line, by the action
of weighbars, lever arms, and connecting links, preferably by the operation of a
balanced lever handle, controlled by the man in charge, and, by weighbars travers-
ing from end to end of the apparatus, the brake beams move truly up and down
at both their ends. In some cases as of very long and heavy sets of tubs or
wagons the apparatus may be duplicated at one or more points of the line and
two or more may be worked by the same man by chains or other connections
along the line, operated by separate levers or simultaneously by hand and foot.
The operation of the brake or brakes is very simple. As the first tub or wagon
of a set arrives the brake beams are slightly depressed upon the tops of the wheels
and retard the speed, still allowing the wheels to revolve; then another follow-
ing is similarly retarded and so on, until the whole set is brought to rest and then
only the wheels cease to revolve entirely. Manual power is preferable as the
hand is sensitive to the amount of pressure put upon the wheels by the brake
beams and a certain degree of elasticity is allowed to gradually reduce the revo-
lution of the wheels without stopping them.
In an experimental application the brake apparatus has been quite a success, a
considerably greater number of tubs or wagons having been handled by one man
than before with three men, the cost of
sprags saved, and the risk of one
sprag" sticking in the wheel causing serious delay and often a smash, resulting
in a tub or wagon being upset on the line, besides the preservation of the wheels,
axles, and bearings from shocks and strains.
"
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
On the accompanying sheet of drawings the annaratus is shown T

page_text: carry it into practical application, and in the form in which I have found it work
efficiently in the mines under my charge. Fig. 1 shews a side elevation and
Fig. 2 an end view to a scale of 1 inch per foot.
The apparatus consists of a frame comprising four uprights, preferably of
double angle iron, A, two at each end, attached firmly to the sleepers and rails
of the permanent way by clamps A' at a convenient distance apart, and stiffened
by diagonal braces B. In the spaces between each pair of angle irons, which
form guides, are beams C, one on each side, parallel with and above the rails D),
and of sufficient length to extend over the wheels of one or more trucks as may be
required. These beams form the brakes and are curved upward at each end
to allow the truck wheels to enter under them and move vertically in the guides
of the frames A, by guide blocks E, to which they are attached, and these blocks
are connected by links F, to the ends of bell cranks G, or weigh bars H, running
the whole length of the apparatus and work in suitable bearings at each end, and
the bell cranks G, at each end are coupled together by links J, so that the
brake beams work simultaneously in their guides. At one end of one of the
weighbars H, is keyed a hand lever K, with a counterweight L, on its tail end,
and the man in charge by depressing this lever causes the brakes to be applied
gradually as the trucks run into the apparatus, the counterweight automatically
releasing them when required.
The brake beams C, may have on their faces some yielding frictional material,
such as strips of leather, to give them greater holding power.
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;
--
First. The improvements in braking apparatus for effecting the objects set
forth, consisting of a frame fixed upon each side of, and parallel with, the per-
manent way, braced together longitudinally and with vertical guides therein.
Second. In combination with a frame fixed to the permanent way braced together
longitudinally and having vertical guides, a pair of longitudinal brake beams
carried in guide blocks, sliding vertically in guides in said frame.
Third. In combination with such a frame with guides and longitudinal brake
beams carried in guide blocks sliding vertically in said guides mechanism, com-
prising links connecting the brake beams to bell cranks keyed on longitudinal
weighbars on each side of the apparatus coupled together by connecting links so
as to raise or lower the brake beams simultaneously by the operation of a hand
lever worked by manual power or by equivalent mechanical power.
Fourth. The combination of parts constituting the braking apparatus, consist-
ing of vertical frames A, fixed on each side of and parallel with the permanent
way D, braced together longitudinally by stays B, and having vertical guides E:
a pair of longitudinal brake beams C, sliding vertically in guides E, connected
by links F, to bell cranks G, on weighhars H, and coupled together by links J
a hand lever K, keyed on one of the weigh bars H, which being depressed applies
the brakes and being released automatically releases them by a counterweight L,
which balances the weight of the brake beams.
Dated this 16th day of August 1899.
T. J. DANSON F.Ch.Inst.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.