25,362. Johnson, E. H. Nov. 20. Electric locomotives and motor vehicles.-In brake apparatus for tramcars and other vehicles with rotary axles, a spiral band D connected with loose discs d, dx is caused to co-operate with an axle B' to actuate the brakes, and, as applied to electric cars working on the regenerative system, the band is so actuated that it may come into operation automatically in the event of failure of the system, or it may be actuated by hand or otherwise. The ends of the band are connected by ropes E', E<2> or other flexible connections to the brake lever C. The ropes E', E<2> pass in opposite directions round a sliding sheave e, and are respectively connected to the sheave at the points e<3>, e<4>. The sheave is mounted in a casing e<6>, to which is connected a weight e<13>, normally held up by a solenoid e<14>. This solenoid has a winding in shunt with the motors and subject to the full voltage of the mains, while a second winding is in series with the armatures and forms part of the starting-resistance. If the current is interrupted in any way, the weight falls, pulling the sheave and casing along a rail e<9>. A pull is, in consequence, exerted on the portions of the ropes from the pulley to the band, which is thus caused to grip the axle, and to wind upon it from one or the other end, according to the direction of travel. The pulley is thus turned, and the pull on one of the ropes actuates the brake lever to which they are attached, and, through the rod C', the brakes are applied to the wheels or the slippers to the track. On again exciting the solenoid, the weight is raised, and the band by its resiliency frees itself from the axle. The weight may be dispensed with and the sliding sheave connected to an ordinary hand-lever. The band is preferably made of a number of phosphorbronze or like blocks, surrounded by wires d<4>, Fig. 11, separated by ribs d<5> and secured under the sunk heads of screws d'. In a modified arrangement, shown in Fig. 7, for exerting an initial pull on the band, each of the discs d, dx has a wheel d<8> gearing with pinions d<9>, d<10>, the pinion d<9> being connected with revolving magnets f of a motor F, while the pinion d<10> is connected with the revolving armature f<2>; two weights e<15>, e<16> are used, and are normally held raised by the torque of the motor. The band expands into contact with the casing and so acts as a stop. Springs may be used instead of weights, and, when used on a vehicle travelling in one direction only, the apparatus may be simplified.