Improvements in Vehicle Brakes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 16th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vehicle Brakes.
I, ISAAC NEWTON KEELING, of Tomahawk, in the County of Searcy, and
State of Arkansas, United States of America, 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 invention relates to improvements in vehicle brakes. The object of the
present invention is to improve the construction of vehicle brakes, more especially
the means for attaching the brake-shoes to a brake bar, beam, or the like, to
provide means whereby the brake-shoes of a vehicle may be readily removed when
worn and new ones quickly secured in position, and to enable brake-shoes to be
temporarily removed when it is desired to repair them or while a vehicle is.
travelling over a stretch of muddy road, to prevent the wheels from clogging with
mud, and being retarded by the same.
The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrange-
ment of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.
In the drawings :-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with
this invention, and showing the manner of attaching a brake-shoe to a brake-bar
or beam.
Figure 2 is a similar view, the brake-shoe being removed.
Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view, the parts being arranged as shown in
Figure 1.
Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
1 designates a brake-shoe clamping device, comprising a back 2, which is secured
to a brake-bar or beam 3 a stationary jaw 4, located at the outer side of the back 2,
and a movable jaw 5, which is located at the inner side of the back 2 and
which is held in engagement with a brake-block 6 by a lever 7. The back 2 of
the clamping device is provided at its inner side with a vertically-disposed flange.
or tongue 8 arranged parallel with the adjacent face of the brake-bar or beam 3,
and fulcrumed on the tongue or flange 8 is the lever 7.
The movable jaw 5 and the stationary jaw 4 project outward from the back 2
and are adapted to receive between them the brake-block 6 and the movable jaw 5
is provided with a vertical opening 9 receiving the tongue or flange 8 on which
the movable jaw is adapted to slide. The locking lever 7 has its inner or pivoted.
end enlarged and bifurcated and secured to the tongue or flange 8 by a fastening
device 10 forming the pivot or fulcrum, and the engaging end of the lever is bulged
or enlarged at 11 to form a cam. The edge of the cam 11 is curved, and is.
situated at a greater distance from the pivot 10 than the upper side edge 12 of
the lever whereby when the latter is arranged vertically the movable jaw will
be released, and when swung downward in a horizontal position, the movable jaw
will be caused to clamp the brake block. The engaging end of the lever is cut.
away slightly below the cam or curved edge 11 in order that the lever may swing
slightly beyond the center, to lock it, to prevent the brake block from being
released by the jolting of a vehicle.
The brake block may be released or clamped by raising or lowering the lever 7,
and it will be apparent that the clamping device is adapted to permit a brake-
block to be readily detached when it is desired-to-repair-the same, or when passing

page_text: over a stretch of muddy road, to avoid clogging the wheels and retarding the
vehicle. It will also be apparent that when the brake block or shoe becomes
worn, a new one may be readily mounted on the brake-bar or beam..
Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be
resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advan-
tages of this invention, such as mounting the lever, so as to swing downward in
unlocking, and arranging it to conform to the construction of any running gear or
brake mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The combination with a brake shoe, of a clamping device comprising a back
provided at its inner side with a vertical flange or tongue, a stationary jaw located
at the outer side of the back and rigid therewith and engaging the brake shoe, a
movable jaw engaging the inner side of the brake shoe and provided with an
opening receiving the said flange or tongue and a locking lever fulcrumed on the
flange or tongue above its centre and provided adjacent to its upper edge with a
cam 11 and having a shoulder below the latter, said shoulder forming a stop,
adapted to engage the movable jaw and maintaining the lever in substantially a
horizontal position when the parts are locked, substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of April 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.