Year: 1886

page_text: We, WILLIAM KNIBB HILLYARD of 2 Hallam Villas, Putney Common Surrey
and GEORGE NEWNES of Wildcroft, Putney Heath, in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, do hereby declare 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:-
The object of this invention is to provide for perambulators or similar vehicles,
brakes, such that immediately upon a vehicle being set free by the person in charge
of it, the brake or brakes will be automatically applied.
Referring to the accompanying two sheets of drawings:-On sheet 1, Fig. 1 is
a side elevation of a portion of a perambulator with a brake according to this
invention applied thereto, and fig. 2 is a back elevation of the same. On sheet 2
figs. 3 and 4 are side and back views respectively to a smaller scale of a perambulator
having a modified arrangement of brake applied thereto. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 8* and 9
are detail views to an enlarged scale. Figs. 10 and 11 are side and plan views
illustrating another modification. Fig. 12 is a side view illustrating a modification
of the arrangement shewn in fig. 1.
In figs. 1 and 2, 1 is the perambulator body and 2, 2, are two wheels that carry
it. 3 is the handle carried by side rods 4, 4. 5 is a brake block carried by a shaft 6
and so arranged that it may be caused to bear upon and grip the rim or tyre 7 of
the right hand wheel 2' or be released therefrom. The brake block is made with
its operating or bearing surface eccentric to the axis of the shaft 6. With this
arrangement any forward movement of the vehicle when the block is in contact
with the wheel will tend to increase the resistance offered by the brake to rotation
of the wheel. To the brake block 5 is pivotted or jointed at 5a a rod 8 whose
other end is pivotted or jointed at 9 to a bar or plate 10 hinged or pivotted at 11
to a fixed part 12 secured to the handle 3 or to an attachment thereto. The shaft 6
is supported in a bearing 13, which in the arrangement shown, is secured to one of
the side rods 4. The bar or plate 10 is curved so as to partly surround the handle 3
(see Fig. 1) so that when the handle is grasped to propell the vehicle, the bar
or plate 10, may by the action of the hand or hands be caused to approach the
handle 3 thus removing the brake block. When bar or plate 10 is released (as
by letting go the handle 3) the brake is automatically applied by gravity. Where
necessary, a spring or springs may be used to aid in applying the brake. A spring
for this purpose may be interposed between the handle 3 and the bar or plate 10.

page_text: A second brake block 5 may in some cases be required. In dotted lines in fig. 2 is
illustrated a way of applying it. The shaft 6 is extended across the back of the
vehicle to carry the second block and the operating rod 8 is pivotted or jointed at
one end to a lever 14 fast on the shaft 6 and at the other end to the bar or plate 10
as shewn in dotted lines.
In the modified arrangement of brake shown in figs. 3 to 9 the brake shaft 6 is
carried in bearings 13 secured to the vehicle body and carries two brake blocks 5
having operating or retarding surfaces curved to the same radius or approximately
so as the peripheries of the wheels so as to bear effectually against the same.
10* is a bar or plate hereinafter more fully described and which is connected by
a connection 8 to the shaft 6. 15, 15, are springs by whose action the brake
blocks 5 are applied to the wheel rims 7. when the handle and spring bar or
plate 10 are released. One end of each spring is secured to a fixed part 16 of
the vehicle body, its other end being secured to a lever 17 formed with or attached
to the shaft 6. The connection 8* may consist of a strip of metal such as steel.
It is at one end partly wrapped round the shaft 6 and connected thereto; and at
the other end it is articulated to the spring bar or plate 10* at 18 (see figs. 3 and 8).
The spring bar or plate 10* is formed with a central part 19 which in cross section
resembles a divided ring;-this is secured at 20* to a disc 20 fixed to the handle 3
(or as shewn, to the rod 21 forming the internal part of the handle) so that it
cannot rotate. The spring bar or plate 10* may conveniently be formed to
approximate as shewn to the curvature of the handle 3, its central portion 19
being such that when the bar or plate is grasped it will fold upon the handle and
the strip or connexion 8* will pull the brake blocks 5 from the wheels. In lieu
of the spring bar or plate 10* other equivalent means may be employed for taking
off the brakes when grasped with the hand, as for example a hinged or pivotted
bar 10 such as represented in figs. 1 and 2.
In the modification shown in figs. 10 and 11 the bearings of the shaft 6 are
carried by the side rods 4 and a rigid rod 8 connected to a lever arm on the
shaft 6 is substituted for the flexible connection 8* described with reference to
figs. 3, 4, and 5.
In the arrangement shown in fig. 12 the eccentric brake block 5 is fixed on
a shaft 6. having an arm 6ª connected by a spring 6b to the side rod 4 and which
spring tends to apply the brake block to the wheel. 6° is a second arm on the
shaft 6 which is connected by a rod 8 or equivalent connection to a bar or plate
(which may be like 10 in Figs. 1 and 2 or 10* in Fig. 3, 4, 8 and 9) for taking
off the brakes when grasping the propelling handle of the vehicle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
is claimed is :-
Automatic brakes for perambulators and similar vehicles constructed arranged
and operating substantially as herein before described with reference to and shewn
respectively in figs. 1 and 2; in figs. 3 to 9 inclusive; in figs. 10 and 11 and in
fig. 12 of the drawings.