Improvements in the Braking of Hand Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1898
1000
22nd Cont
1800
Improvements in the Braking of Hand Vehicles.
We, FRANK ALBION BAINBRIDGE, Butcher, of Bondgate, and GEORGE WILLIAM
GARDINER, Engineer, of 15, Albert Hill, both in Bishop Auckland, in the County
of Durham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to the braking of hand vehicles, such as are used for
transporting luggage, parcels and so forth.
According to the general practice, these vehicles are not furnished with any
adequate means for hindering their movement when left unattended, hence
very often they run away of their own accord, serious consequences resulting
therefrom at times. With the object of obviating this possibility we have de-
vised our invention which consists in providing, in combination with the pro-
pelling or drawing means, a brake so arranged that it normally acts on a wheel
or wheels to prevent revolution, while, when the vehicle is being moved, it is
held out of action, but, as soon as the said means are released, it assumes the
operative position automatically to effect the necessary stoppage and maintains
same until the vehicle has to be moved again.
We may carry our invention into practice in sundry ways, the kind or design
of the vehicle determining its mode of application, but as it is specially intended
for use on the hand trucks, bogies or barrows employed at railway stations, we
will describe it in reference thereto by way of example. Thus, in the case of a
truck or bogie that is drawn by a single handle or shaft pivoted to or about the
platform thereof, we furnish on or in conjunction with such handle or shaft a
depending arm whereto a brake block is attached. The inclination and length
of this arm are made of an amount such that, when the handle or shaft is
resting on or near the floor or ground, the block is in firm contact with the
adjoining wheel thereby effectually hindering its revolution. This is the normal
position of the brake block while, when the vehicle is left unattended, the
handle or shaft occupies one or other of the positions mentioned, a suitable
stop or stops being provided in connection therewith to support it thereat when
required and also prevent it being thrown backwards though admitting of it
being raised or lifted the requisite extent to move the vehicle, consequently,
when the handle is manipulated for this purpose, the block is withdrawn and
offers no impediment to progress, but immediately the handle is dropped or
lowered, when the brake is reapplied, all tendency to motion being then stopped
until the handle is lifted again.
In a modification of the foregoing, we fasten the brake block to a lever that
is supported from a convenient part of the vehicle by a bar and to the free end
of this lever we attach one end of a handled rod located alongside, and capable
of sliding in brackets on the vehicle handle or shaft, the connection between the
said lever and rod being slotted or otherwise adapted to meet the lifting and
lowering of the handle. To the rod or lever, one end of a spring (or there might
be two or more) is fixed while the other is secured to a suitable fixed point, the

page_text: function thereof being to preserve the aforesaid normal position of the brake
block. In operation, if it is required to move the truck, the rod is drawn by
the attendant towards him and held there whereby the block is displaced and
the ability to move the truck obtained, but as soon as the rod is released the
spring reapplies the block and further motion is stopped for the time being.
Both the arrangements described are also applicable to a bogie or truck fur-
nished with an end board or equivalent part or parts by which it is usually pro-
pelled. According to the first plan, there is pivoted on the vehicle, in proximity
to the end board, a lever so that two arms result, the lower of which carries the
brake block, while between the upper one and the end board we arrange. a
spring or springs normally acting to push the said arm outwards thereby press-
ing the block on the wheel. To move the truck, the upper arm of the lever is
pushed towards same and there held whereupon the block is rendered inopera-
tive and propulsion possible, but on the removal of the propelling force the
spring or springs returns or return the lever and hence the block to the initial
positions. In the other instance, the sliding rod is carried by the end board
and adapted to be operated to remove or apply the brake, as already described.
Instead of adopting a brake block for acting on a wheel, we may form at the
end of the lever or arm, that we have described for carrying it, a tooth or pro-
jection for engaging and disengaging a toothed or ratchet wheel fitted to the
vehicle wheel, thereby stopping and admitting its movement on the operation
of the lever as aforesaid, the normal condition being the engagement of the lever
and wheels.
To procure efficient braking force, a part or parts of the mechanism may be
rendered heavy by a fixed or movable weight or weights which may sometimes
displace the springs, while if desired, any appropriate form of catch may be
fitted to maintain the inoperative position of the brake without the aid of the
attendant.
So far we have inferred that the brake is applied to one wheel only and though
such will usually be sufficient, yet it may be applied to more than one by
fitting the requisite number of blocks or toothed wheels, the actuating mechanism
being arranged to accomplish the necessary operation simultaneously, as will
be obvious. Further, though we have explained our invention in regard to
certain special types of vehicles, still we wish it distinctly understood that it
may be applied to other types without departing from its nature.
Dated this 14th day of October 1898
We, FRANK ALBION Bainbridge, Butcher, of Bondgate, and GEORGE WILLIAM
GARDINER, Engineer, of 15, Albert Hill, both in Bishop Auckland, in the County
of Durham, 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:-
Our invention relates to the braking of hand vehicles, such as are used for
transporting luggage, parcels and so forth.
According to the general practice, these vehicles are not furnished with any
adequate means for hindering their movement when left unattended, hence
very often they run away of their own accord, serious consequences resulting

page_text: therefrom at times. With the object of obviating this possibility we have de-
vised our invention which consists in providing, in combination with the pro-
pelling or drawing means, a brake so arranged that it normally acts on a wheel
or wheels to prevent revolution, while, when the vehicle is being moved, it is
held out of action, but, as soon as the said means are released, it assumes the
operative position automatically to effect the necessary stoppage and maintains
same until the vehicle has to be moved again.
We may carry our invention into practice in sundry ways, the kind or design
of the vehicle determining its mode of application, but as it is specially intended
for use on the hand trucks, bogies or barrows employed at railway stations, we
will describe it in reference thereto, by way of example, and in so doing
will refer, as occasion requires, to the accompanying drawings which
illustrate several forms of our brake applied to one wheel of the
vehicle. Of these drawings, Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 7 are side elevations and Figs. 2
and 4 are plans and Figs. 6 and 8 end elevations of same respectively, only so
much of the vehicle, or parts constituting it, being indicated in each figure as is
necessary to enable our invention to be fully understood and carried out.
According to our invention, in the case of a truck or bogie of the type repre-
sented in Figs. 1 and 2, that is to say one that is drawn by a single handle or
shaft pivoted to or about the platform thereof, we furnish on or in conjunction
with such handle or shaft A a depending arm B whereto a brake block C is
attached in suitable fashion. The arm B may be variously disposed so long as
its free end is located to bring the block C in line with one of the vehicle wheels,
but we recommend that it be placed, as shown, at an end of the revoluble shaft a
on which the handle A is secured because in this way its shape is rendered very
simple. The arm B is keyed or otherwise fixed to the shaft a. The inclina-
tion and length of this arm B are made of an amount such that, when the
handle or shaft A is resting on or near the floor or ground, the block C is in
firm contact with the adjoining wheel thereby effectually hindering its
revolution, as exemplified in Fig. 1, but in this figure the arm B is shown
almost at right angles to the handle A, which, when the block C is in engage-
ment with the wheel D, is therefore retained some distance from the floor or
ground, thus avoiding the risk of people tripping over it which will arise if it
rests at a lower level. The said position of the brake block C is the normal
one and, when the vehicle is left unattended, the handle or shaft A occupies one
or other of the positions mentioned, stops E, F being provided in connection
therewith to prevent (by their contact) it being thrown backwards, though ad-
mitting of it being raised or lifted the requisite extent to move the vehicle;
consequently, when the handle A is manipulated for this purpose, the block C
is withdrawn from the wheel D and offers no impediment to progress, but
immediately the handle A is dropped or lowered, then the brake C is reapplied,
all tendency to motion being thereby stopped until the handle is lifted again.
Appropriately the stop E may be a prolongation of the arm B and the stop F
a projection of the bracket supporting the end of the shaft a adjacent to the
wheel D.
In a modification of the foregoing, illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, we fasten the
brake block C to a level 13 that is supported from a convenient part of the
vehicle by a bar and to the free end of this lever we attach one end of a handled
rod H located alongside, and capable of sliding in brackets a¹, a² on the
vehicle handle or shaft A, the connection between the said lever and rod being
slotted or otherwise adapted to meet the lifting and lowering of the handle.
As shown, the lever B is composed of two separate arms b, fixed at a dis-
tance apart on a revoluble bar or shaft G carried by the same brackets that sup-
port the handle shaft a; the arm b being situated at the end of the bar G next
the wheel D, and the arm b¹ opposite the handle A. We prefer this arrange-
ment for the sake of simplicity, because if the arms of the lever were in line
and integral the junction of either the brake block C or the rod H would be

page_text: unduly complicated. The arm 6 serves the same function as the arm B afore-
said, while the free end of the arm 61 is slotted to receive the connecting pin of
the rod H. To the rod H, one end of a spring (or there might be two or more)
is fastened as at h¹ while the other is secured to a fixed point which suitably
may be the bracket a¹. The function of the spring is to preserve the aforesaid
normal position of the brake block C. In operation, if it is required to move the
truck, in lifting the handle A the rod H is drawn by the attendant towards him
and held there whereby the block C is displaced from the wheel D and the
ability to move the truck obtained, but as soon as the rod H is released the
spring reapplies the block and further motion is stopped for the time being.
In this design it is not necessary to furnish stops, such as E and F, because
the disposition of the rod H prevents the handle A being thrown too far back.
Both the arrangements described are also applicable to a bogie or truck fur-
nished with an end board or equivalent part or parts by which it is usually pro-
pelled. According to the first plan, illustrated at the right hand side of Fig. 5
and in Fig. 6, there is pivoted on the vehicle, in proximity to the end board I,
a lever so that two arms j, j result, this lever being composed, and the
arms being disposed on a revoluble bar or shaft G¹, as and for the purposes
described in regard to the lever B¹. The bar or shaft G¹ is supported at each
end in a bracket g bolted to the underside of the vehicle. The lower arm j
carries the brake block C, while between the upper one j¹ and the end board I
we arrange a spring (or springs) normally acting to push the said arm j¹
outwards thereby pressing the block C on the wheel D. The arm is best
placed at the middle of the end board I as this is the most convenient position.
To move the truck, the upper arm 1 of the lever J is pushed towards same
and there held whereupon the block C is rendered inoperative and propulsion
possible, but on the removal of the propelling force the spring or springs
returns or return the lever and hence the block C to the initial positions. In
the other instance, the sliding rod H (Figs. 3 and 4) is carried by the end
board and adapted to be operated to remove or apply the brake, as already
described, the block C being attached to an arm such as j or b fixed on the
shaft G and the rod H being connected to an arm such as 6', on the said shaft
or a similar arm in one with the arm bor j in which event the rod would either
be centrally disposed and bent to meet the location of the arm, or arranged in
line with it and at one side of the vehicle, all as will be obvious from Figs. 3, 4,
5 and 6 without further illustration or explanation.
The type of vehicle just referred to is propelled from either end, hence it is
necessary to provide for the operation of the brake at both ends. This may
be easily accomplished as exemplified in Figs. 5 and 6 from which it will be
seen that at the left end board we apply a lever K that is composed and fitted
along with a spring in precisely the same fashion as the lever J at the opposite
end, but instead of attaching a brake block C to the lower arm we unite one
end of a rod k whose other end is joined to the upper arm of a lever k¹ centered
in a bracket secured to the bottom of the vehicle, while to the lower end of
the lever is fastened one extremity of another rod having its opposite
end connected to the arm j. Thus it will be apparent that whether the lever J
or K is depressed by the attendant the block C will be removed from the
wheel 1 and reapplied by the springs. We lay no claim to this arrangement
as it forms no part of our present invention.
Instead of adopting a brake block for acting on a wheel, we may, as indicated
in Figs. 7 and 8, form at the end of the lever or arm B, b or that we have
described for carrying it, a tooth or projection L for engaging and disengaging
a toothed or ratchet wheel. M fitted to the vehicle wheel D), thereby stopping
and admitting the movement on the operation of the lever or arm as aforesaid,
the normal condition being the engagement of the tooth L and wheel M.
To procure efficient braking force, a part or parts of the mechanism may be
rendered heavy by a fixed or movable weight or weights as represented in

page_text: Figs. 1 and 2 at N which denotes a weight fixed to the handle A. The weight
or weights may sometimes displace the springs h and 2 but this does not appear
advantageous since clumsiness may result. Further, if desired to maintain
the inoperative position of the brake without the aid of the attendant when
moving the vehicle, any appropriate form of catch may be fitted to effect the
attachment of the rod H to the handle A, or of the arm to the end board I.
We have described the brake applied to one wheel only and though such
will usually be sufficient, yet it may be applied to more than one by fitting the
requisite number of blocks or toothed wheels, and arranging the actuating
mechanism to accomplish the necessary operation simultaneously, as will be
obvious.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
-
1. The improvements in the braking of hand vehicles consisting in providing
in combination with the propelling or drawing means of the vehicle, a brake
constituted, arranged and operated substantially as herein before described in
reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In braking hand vehicles, the combination with the handle or shaft of the
vehicle, of apparatus arranged and operating substantially as herein before de-
scribed in reference to Figs. 1 and 2 and to Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawings, and subject to the modification explained in reference to Figs. 7
and 8 thereof.
3. In braking hand vehicles, the combination with an end board of the
vehicle, of apparatus arranged and operating substantially as herein before de-
scribed in reference to the right hand side of Fig. 5, and to Fig. 6 and to Figs. 3
and 4 of the accompanying drawings, and subject to the modification explained
in reference to Figs. 7 and 8 thereof.
Dated this 15th day of July 1899.
For the Applicants,
J. A. HARVEY,
Chartered Patent Agent, 3, St. Nicholas' Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne.