Improvements in or applicable to the Brake-blocks of Railway Carriages.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 9th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to the Brake-blocks of Railway
Carriages.
I THOMAS ATKINSON AINSCOUGH of 191 Bower Street Newton Heath
Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the brake-blocks which are applied to the wheels of
railway carriages the object of the invention being to prevent unnecessary wear of
such brake-blocks due to the rising and falling of the body of the carriage upon
the springs (which motion is vertical) drawing the lower or upper edges.of the
brake block against the periphery of the wheel, thereby not only unnecessarily
wearing the blocks but also increasing the draught owing to the friction.
For the purposes of my invention I not only support each brake block by, the
usual hanger suspended from the body of the carriage, but I also connect it by a
radius arm to the axle box, so that as the brake block rises and falls with the
carriage:iustead. of moving in a perpendicular direction as heretofore, it rises and
falls in a curved; direction corresponding with the circumference of the wheel so
that no part of its surface is brought into contact with the wheel by the ordinary
spring motion of the carriage.
"
This radius arm is not rigid, or it would not allow of the brakes being "put on
when required, but is made in two parts sliding telescopically and provided with a
coiled spring so as to allow of the arm being shortened when the brakes are
applied, and returning to its original length when the brakes are released.
One end of the radius arm is pivotted to the axle.box and the other is forked.
and connected by two studs or pins to the brake block one of the studs or pins
being the same that connects the hanger to the brake block, so that the latter
cannot rock or swing upon the connecting pin but is kept quite firm and compelled
to rise and fall in a curve corresponding with the rim of the wheel, and at a definite
distance therefrom.
An arrangement is made by a nut and adjusting screw or otherwise to set the
block nearer to the circumference of the wheel as either, or both, may become
worn away..
Datadhin 9th dow of November 1800
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to the Brake-blocks of Railway
Carriages.
I THOMAS ATKINSON AINSCOUGH of 191 Bower Street Newton Heath
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to the means for carrying regulating and applying the
brake blocks which are used in connection with the wheels of railway engines,
carriages and trucks, the principal objects of the invention being to prevent
unnecessary wear of such brake blocks due to the rising and falling of the body or
frame of the carriage upon the springs (which motion is vertical) from drawing the
го

page_text: lower or upper edges of the brake block against the periphery of the wheel, thereby
not only unnecessarily wearing away the blocks, but also materially increasing the
draught owing to the friction.
The nature of the said invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed or carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference
to the sheets of drawings hereunto annexed and the following explanation
thereof.
Fig. 1 on the drawing is a side elevation of part of the frame, wheel, and axle
box of a railway carriage showing the application of the invention thereto, and
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same as seen from beneath.
Figs. 1A, 3 and 4 illustrate modifications hereafter described.
a is part of the wooden frame of the carriage or truck b the wheel, c the axle
box d the spring, and the brake blocks.
€
For the purposes of my invention I not only support each brake block e by the
usual hanger suspended from the body of the carriage, but I also connect it by
a radius arm g to the axle box c so that as the brake block e rises and falls with
the carriage, instead of moving in a perpendicular direction, as heretofore, it rises
and falls in a curved direction corresponding with the circumference of the wheel,
so that no part of its surface is brought into contact with the wheel by the ordinary
spring motion of the carriage.
on
"
This radius arm g is not rigid, or it would not allow of the brakes being "put
when required, but is made in two parts sliding telescopically and provided
with a coiled spring (see Fig. 2) so as to allow of the arm g being shortened
when the brakes are applied in the usual manner and returning it to its original
length when the brakes are released.
One end of each radius arm g may be pivotted to each side of the axle box. at
the points c¹ (see diagram Fig. 3) or they may both be pivotted at the central
point cx (see diagram Fig. 4) so that their action will be that of a radius moving
round the centre or axis cx of the wheel, but in applying the same to carriages or
trucks already in use I prefer to obtain this radial action in the manner shown at
Fig. 1 on the drawings, so that it is only necessary to drill and tap one hole in the
bottom of the axle box for attaching the fixing i thereto.
This fixing carries a pink working in a curved slot in each of the cranked
pieces gx attached to or forming part of the radial arms g, and the action of these
curved slots on the fixed pink will give the arms the same radial action as though
they were pivotted on the axis c*, the crank of each arm at c¹ being fitted with a
bowl which works up and down vertically in contact with the side of the axle box.
The outer end of each arm g is attached to a fixing bolted to the brake
block e one of the bolts acting as the stud or pin which connects the hanger f.to
the brake block e, so that the latter cannot rock or swing upon the connecting pin
or bolt but is kept quite firm, and compelled to rise and fall in a curve, corresponding
with the rim of the wheel, and at a definite distance therefrom. Instead of
connecting the fixing by two bolts it may be connected by one bolt only at the
top (as shown on detached side view Fig. 1A) and be provided with a steady-pin or
stud which takes into a hole made in the brake block for that purpose.
The outer end of each radius arm g is screwed, and adjusting nuts m are provided
to set the block e nearer to the circumference of the wheel b as either (or both)
may become worn away.
The advantages of this radial arm brake regulator are as follows:-
1. It prevents the brake rigging from swinging to and fro on the pivots and
centres, thus saving all the studs, bolts, pins, and holes from unnecessary wear.
2. It prevents the brake block from rocking on its centres, thus keeping the
upper and lower edges from bearing against the wheels, and keeps the block always
square, and at a definite distance from the wheel under all circumstances.
3. It thus greatly reduces the unnecessary friction and minimizes the draught
thereby saving wear and tear, steam, and fuel, to a very considerable extent.
4. With the vacuum, air or steam brake it also allows of a very close but free

page_text: adjustment of the block to the wheel and hence reduces the distance which the
piston is required to travel in putting on the brake, and thus effects a great saving
in the time required to apply the brake effectively, and stops the train in a much
shorter distance.
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 the brake block, of an arm so arranged that it works in a
radial direction on the axis of the wheel as a centre, thereby causing the brake
block to move always in a curve parallel to and equidistant from the circumference
of the wheel or nearly so the said arm being provided with means for contraction
and extension in the direction of its length to allow of the application and
withdrawal of the block to and from the periphery of the wheel, substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 4th day of August 1892
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.