IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO VACUUM BRAKE APPARATUS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Gresham, of the Firm of Gresham and Craven, of
Craven Iron Works, Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers and
Machinists, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO
VACUUM BRAKE APPARATUS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Gresham at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th October 1881.
JAMES GRESHAM, of the Firm of Gresham and Craven, of Craven Iron Works,
Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers and Machinists. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR APPLICABLE TO VACUUM BRAKE APPARATUS."
My Invention relates to those arrangements combined with simple vacuum
brakes for showing when such vacuum brake apparatus is in proper working order,
which arrangements are described in and claimed under the sixth clain of the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to myself, and numbered 4801, and dated
the 26th November 1881.
My present improvements refer to the pressure measuring apparatus, which is to
indicate and show whether the small partial vacuum, which is continuously formed
or kept up in a pipe connected with the train pipe, is in existance and fully
operative upon the train pipe.
If it is so operative, the brake apparatus is right and in working order; if it is
not, the brake apparatus is wrong and is out of order, and it becomes the duty of
those in charge who see the indication to examine as early as possible and find out
the fault and correct the derangement.
"
My Invention consists in combinations and arrangements of mechanism for
indicating pressure or vacuum, and moving a surface to show the words "brake
wrong or "brake right," or cover or uncover the word "right" and shown the
word "wrong" when the word "right" is covered, the word "right" being by
preference in black letters on a white ground, and the word "wrong" in black
letters on a red ground, "red or wrong" being the danger and white the all

page_text: right signal, so that even a person who cannot read can see the difference in color,
and to those who can read the difference between "right" and "wrong" will be
more marked and striking to the eye by the change of color.
According to one combination of my Invention the diaphragm and its case is
placed with the plane of the diaphragm at a right angle to the plane of the dial
or face upon which the words are printed, and in the other combination the planes
of the diaphragm and of the face upon which the words are shown are parallel to
each other.
In the first modification the diaphragm is connected by a rod with a lever or
arm on an axis, and this lever is also connected with one end of a helical spring,
the other end of which is connected with the end of an arm or other arrangement
by which the tension of the spring is adjusted as required.
"
On the axis above referred to there is an arm which carries a thin plate upon
which the word " wrong on a red ground is printed, and this arm will fall or
will be pulled by the spring, when the diaphragm permits, to a position against a
stop in which the word "wrong" will be seen, and the word "right," which is
printed on a white ground on a face behind the red plate, will be covered. But
when the small partial vacuum, equal to, say, a column of six or eight inches of
water (which is not sufficient to put on the brakes), is acting upon the diaphragm,
the arm with the red plate and the word "wrong" is moved to one side to expose
the word "right" on a white ground.
On the dial opposite the space in which the words "right" and "wrong" are
seen, is the word "brake," so that the dial shows the words "brake right" or
"brake wrong," as the case may be.
In the other modification the diaphragm is connected by a jointed rod with
an arm on a segment of a light cylinder, which fills without touching a slot in the
face of a dial, and on the surface of the segment of the cylinder are printed in one
line the words "brake right" in black letters on a white ground, and in another
line the words, "brake wrong" in black letters on a red ground.
There is a helical spring coiled upon the axis of the segment of the cylinder
which partly rotates and brings the words "brake wrong" opposite the slit in
the dial when there is no sufficient partial vacuum acting on the diaphragm, but
when the tension of the spring is overcome by the force acting on the diaphragm,
the segment of the cylinder is moved to take out of sight the words "brake
wrong and bring into view the words "brake right."
"
Instead of a segment of a cylinder, a segment of a cylinder with two flat surfaces,
or an axis carrying two flat surfaces, is or may be used; and instead of the two
words "brake right" and "brake wrong," one word, "right" and "wrong,"
need only be printed on the surfaces and made moveable.
The modifications are so arranged that if there is anything wrong with the "tell
tale or indicator itself it will show the word brake wrong," or "wrong."
"

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Gresham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
April 1882.
JAMES GRESHAM, of the Firm of Gresham and Craven, of Craven Iron Works,
"IMPROVEMENTS
Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers and Machinists.
IN OR APPLICABLE TO VACUUM BRAKE APPARATUS,"
My Invention relates to those arrangements combined with simple vacuum
brakes for showing when such vacuum brake apparatus is in proper working
order, which arrangements are described in and claimed under the sixth claim of
the Specification of Letters Patent granted to myself, and numbered 4801, and
dated the 26th November 1878.
My present improvements refer to the pressure measuring apparatus, which is
to indicate and show whether the small partial vacuum, which is continuously
formed or kept up in a pipe connected with the train pipe, is in existence and
fully operative upon the train pipe.
If it is so operative the brake apparatus is right and in working order; if it is
not, the brake apparatus is wrong and is out of order, and it becomes the duty of
those in charge who see the indication to examine as early as possible and find out
the fault and correct the derangement.
My Invention consists in combinations and arrangements of mechanism for
indicating pressure or vacuum, and moving a surface to show the words "brake
wrong' or "brake right," or cover or uncover the word "right" and show the
word "wrong" when the word "right" is covered.
"
"
The word "right" being by preference in black letters on a white ground, and
the word "wrong" in black letters on a red ground, red or wrong" being the
danger, and white the all right signal, so that even a person who cannot read
can see the difference in color, and to those who can read the difference between
right" and "wrong" will be more marked and striking to the eye by the
change of color.
"
According to one combination of my Invention the diaphragm and its case is
placed with the plane of the diaphragm at a right angle to the plane of the dial or
face upon which the words are printed, and in the other combination the planes of
the diaphragm and of the face upon which the words are shown are parallel to
each other.
In the first modification the diaphragm is connected by a rod with a lever or
arm or boss on an axis, and this lever on the end of the rod is also connected with
one end of a helical spring, the other end of which is connected with the end of
an arm or other arrangement by which the tension of the spring is adjusted as
required.
On the axis above referred to there is an arm which carries a thin plate upon
which the word "wrong" on a red ground is printed, and this arm will fall, or
will be pulled by the spring when the diaphragm permits to a position against a
stop in which the word "wrong "will be seen, and the word "right," which is
printed on a white ground on a face behind the red plate, will be covered.
But when the small partial vacuum equal to, say, a column of six or eight
inches of water (which is not sufficient to put on the brakes) is acting upon the
diaphragm, the arm with the red plate and the word "wrong" is moved to one
side to expose the word right on a white ground.
On the dial opposite the space in which the words right and wrong are seen,
is the word "brake," so that the dial shows the words "brake right" or "brake
wrong," as the case may be.
»

page_text: In the other modification the diaphragm is connected by a jointed rod with an
arm on a segment of a light cylinder, which fills without touching a slot in the
face of the dial, and on the surface of the segment of the cylinder are printed in
one line the words "brake right' in black letters on a white ground, and in
another line the words "brake wrong" in black letters on a red ground.
"
There is a helical spring coiled upon the axis of the segment of the cylinder,
which partly rotates and brings the words "brake wrong" opposite the slit in the
dial when there is no sufficient partial vacuum acting on the diaphragm, but when
the tension of the spring is overcome by the force acting on the diaphragm, the
segment of the cylinder is moved to take out of sight the words "brake wrong
and bring into view the words "brake right."
"
Instead of a segment of a cylinder, a segment of a cylinder with two flat surfaces,
or an axis carrying two flat surfaces, is or may be used; and instead of the two
words "brake right" and "brake wrong," one word, "right" and "
only be printed on the surfaces and made movable.
" need
wrong
The modifications are so arranged that if there is anything wrong with the "tell
tale" or indicator itself it will show the word "brake wrong" or "wrong."
When simple vacuum brake apparatus is arranged according to my Invention, as
described in the Specification of my said Letters Patent, No. 4801, A.D. 1878, and
according to my present improvements I use, and it is obvious that the arrange-
ments can be used as a means of signalling between the guard and driver of a
train, or between passengers and the guard and driver, as it is only necessary for
this purpose to provide means by which the guard, driver, or passengers can admit
sufficient air to the train pipe to destroy the small vacuum, when the apparatus
will show the word "wrong," and this will draw attention.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus or indicator complete; Fig. 2 is a
front view with the face or dial plate removed; and Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation
taken at a right angle to the plane of the dial or face, these Figures illustrating the
first modification of my Invention herein before referred to, where the plane of the
diaphragm is arranged at a right angle to the plane of the dial or face of the
indicator.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the apparatus or indicator complete; Fig. 5 a front
elevation in section taken in a plane parallel to that of the dial or face, and
through the axis of the movable or oscillating two faced plate; and Fig. 6 is a
sectional elevation taken in a vertical plane at a right angle to the plane of the
dial; and these Figures illustrate the second modification of my Invention herein-
before referred to, in which the plane of the diaphragm is arranged parallel to the
plane of the face of the dial.
Fig. 7 illustrates how the indicator apparatus is or may be used for signalling
between the guard and driver of a train, or signalling from passengers in a train to
the guard and driver.
I shall first describe the apparatus or indicator illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, in
which the mechanism is drawn in the position when indicating that the brake is
wrong.
a is the cylindrical part of the case; b the back plate; c is another plate forming
the bearing of the lever, arm, or plate d having the word "wrong" upon it; e is the
front dial plate which is also in front of the plate d.
Upon the front dial plate e on one side is the word "brake" and at the other
side there is a hole in the plate, through which the word "right" printed on the
face of the inner plate c can be seen, except when covered by the lever plate d,
having the word "wrong" upon it, which word is then seen instead of the word
right.
fis a glass plate secured by a rim to the cylindrical case, through which glass
the dial is seen.
Connected to or forming part of the lower part of the dial case is
a disc a¹, to the flanges of which another disc b is secured by screws, the diaphragm g
formed of leather or other suitable material being held firmly and air tight between
the two discs.

page_text: The lower disc b has a pipe junction, by which it is connected with the train
pipe, so that when a partial vacuum is formed by the small ejector, as described in
the Specification of my aforesaid Letters Patent, No. 4801, 1878, the diaphragm g
is drawn down, as the atmosphere can enter the case a freely and act upon the upper
side of the diaphragm.
The diaphragm g has a belt gl secured to it as shown, the end of which forms a
joint for a flat rod 93 which passes freely through a slot or groove in a boss d',
secured on the axis d of the lever plate d by a set screw.
The flat rod g³ is connected to the boss d' by a joint pin, and the projecting end
of the rod is jointed with a link h¹ which is connected to one end of an helical
spring h, the other end of which is connected with an arm h³ adjustable on a
screw h³ as a centre, so that the tension upon the spring h may be thus readily
increased or diminished as required.
"
The tension exerted by this spring (h) is sufficient to move the diaphraging and
bring the lever plate to the position in which it will show the word "wrong
when there is a leakage, causing the partial vacuum in the train pipe to become
defective.
The bearing for the lever plate d is secured by a screw nut upon the exterior of
the bearing in a hole in the plate c.
The lever plate d is secured on the end of the axis d, and in Fig. 2 the plate is
shown in full line in the position indicating that the brake is "wrong," and in
dotted line in the position in which it occupies when the brake is "right," where it
will have uncovered the word "right" printed on the plate c.
In the modification illustrated by Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the apparatus or indicator
not only shows when the brake is "right" and "wrong," but also shows the actual
amount of vacuum or pressure below the atmosphere which there may be at any
moment in the train pipe, and for this purpose a bent tube known as a "Bourdon's
pressure guage tube is combined with the indicator and connected with a hand that
points to an index on the dial plate.
"
a is the cylindrical case of the dial; b is a back plate secured to the flange of the
case by screws, which also secures the diaphragm g between the back plate b and
the flange of the case a, as shown.
The cylindrical case a has a pipe junction to connect it with the train pipe, and
there is a passage from the bore of this pipe junction leading to the space at the
back of the diaphragm g, and also another passage going to the interior of the
"Bourdon" pressure tube i, the free end of which is jointed by a link i¹ with a
short lever secured on an axis ³, having its bearing secured by a screw nut in a
hole in the dial plate e, as shown; the front end of the axis having the hand i
upon it pointing to the index in inches of mercury formed upon the face of the
dial c.
To a bolt g¹ passing through the diaphragm g one end of a link h' is jointed,
the other end of which is jointed to a plate d bent to an angle, and oscillating on a
fixed axis d² secured in bearings in the casing, as shown.
This axis d' has a fine helical spring h upon it, one end of which is secured to the
axis d², the other end to the oscillating bent plate d (which, if desired, may be the
segment of a cylinder).
The helical spring h has torsional tension enough to pull back the diaphragm g
and the oscillating plate d when not acted upon by the partial vacuum in the train
pipe, and bring that face of the two faces of the bent oscillating plate d which
has the word "wrong" upon it to view in the hole or slit formed in the dial
plate c.
"
But when the partial vacuum in the train pipe is sufficient to overcome the
tension of the spring h, the other face of the bent plate d with the word "right
upon it is shown in the slot in the dial plate, and this with the words " vacuum
brake on the face of the dial c which are always in view makes the words
seen read, as the case may be, either "vacuum brake right," or vacuum brake
wrong."
"
"

page_text: There is a glass face fin front to protect the dial, as in the modification shown by
Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
The tension of the spring his regulated by rotating the axis d backwards or
forwards, and then securing it by a set screw shown in dotted line passing through
the bearing, the point acting against the axis d³.
In Fig. 7, represents the train pipe passing along the train y, apparatus, or
indicator, similar to one of those herein before described, connected to the train pipe
by a branch pipe, one for the "driver," and the other, say, for the guard.
Between the indicators y and the train pipe x there is or may be a cock or
valve as at x¹, by which the guard and driver can admit sufficient atmosphere
into the train pipe to destroy the small partial vacuum created by the small
ejector.
When this is done the indicators y will both show "wrong" and thus call
attention.
In each carriage of the train, and if desired in each or between every two
compartments of a carriage, there is a branch pipe from the train pipe connected
to a dial or case w with two air tight glass faces, one towards each compartment of
the carriage.
When the passengers wish to call the attention of the guard or driver it is only
necessary to break one of the glass faces w¹ to admit air into the train pipe c, and
this will cause the indicators to show "wrong," and as the glass cannot be
replaced by the passengers it can be ascertained in which carriage or compartment
the signal was given.
Thus by means of my Invention applied to trains worked by simple vacuum
brakes, not only will it be known when the brakes are in order, but at a trifling
additional expense signals are or may be made between the passengers and the
guard and driver, and between guard and driver without any special separate
apparatus requiring separate coupling up and attention for each train, as when the
brake apparatus is coupled and in order the signal arrangements will also be in
order without further attention.
I have now particularly described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, and claim as my
Invention,-
The combinations and arrangements of mechanism for indicating when simple
vacuum railway brakes are right and wrong, and also the combination therewith
of arrangements for showing the amount of partial vacuum there is in the train
pipes, substantially as bereinbefore described and illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Gresham, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
TAG ADRATU