GB787787A - Improvements in or relating to safety devices for coupled vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

787,787. Positive detents for braking vehicles. KERSHAW, W. May 11, 1956 [Jan. 17, 1956], No. 1501/56. Class 103 (1). In a safety device for coupled vehicles which comes into operation on braking of a coupling to prevent the disconnected vehicle from running away down hill, a member is adapted to be connected to the vehicle and provided with means for moving it in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the wheel so as to cause engagement of the member with an aperture in or associated with the vehicle thereby to lock the wheel against rotation and bring the vehicle to a standstill. In the embodiment illustrated applied to a pit vehicle, the safety device comprises two cylindrical sleeves 12, each secured to the chassis 10 of the vehicle so as to be opposite a pair of wheels; the axis of each sleeve 12 being parallel to and below the axis of the associated pair of wheels 11. Disposed in each open end of the sleeve 12 is a solid cylindrical rod 14 spring urged outwardly by springs 15 but held in the inoperative position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 by a spring-loaded releasable catch 17, pivoted 18 to the vehicle chassis, which engages the flange 16 of the rod 14. The end of the catch 17 remote from the hook end 19 is adapted to be engaged by a longitudinal cam bar 23 secured to a longitudinally movable horizontal plate 22 such that movement of the plate 22 causes release of catches 17 and engagement of rods 14 with apertures in the vehicle wheel 11 or associated member to bring the vehicle to rest. The plate 22 is provided at each end with a pivoted leg 28 such that a chain (not shown) is hooked on to one coupling 27, 28 of the vehicle and the other end of the chain is provided with a hook which may be hooked to an eye 29 provided on a horizontal plate 22 of an adjacent vehicle. Each vehicle has, in addition to the above coupling, standard couplings for attaching it to the other vehicle. On braking of a standard coupling of a train of vehicles, those vehicles which have become disconnected from the remainder and/or from the hauling means begin to become separated therefrom, the coupling 27, 28 of the last still-connected vehicle being connected with the eye 29 provided on the horizontal plate 22 of the first disconnected vehicle to pull the latter plate longitudinally operating the cam bars 23 and release the catches 17 to free rods 14 which are run outwardly to engage an aperture in the respective wheel 11 to lock the vehicle. After moving the horizontal plate 22 as described, the coupling 27, 28 of the last still-connected vehicle moves out of channel 26 which allows the pivoted lug 28 of the coupling to pivot and release itself from the chain connecting it to the vehicle from which the standard coupling is broken. The first disconnected vehicle is thus brought to a stop, which is sufficient to hold all the disconnected vehicles from further movement on the level and is sufficient to successfully bring to a stop the disconnected train of vehicles on an incline.