US1120123A - Ratchet brake mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

R. H. BLACKALL.

RATOHET BRAKE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22, 1913.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

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HTORIIEYS R. H. BLAOK ALL. RATCHET BRAKE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.22,1913.

1,120,123, Patented Dec. 8, 1914 3 SHBETSSHEET 2.

; eb \g R w A M iA v: T R? k 1% ATTORNEYR R. H. BLAGKALL. RATCHET BRAKE MECHANI SM. APPLICATION FILED 1011.22, 1913.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

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ATTORNEKS staff. This type of ROBERT H. BLACKALL,

BRAKE COMPANY,

OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB. T0 BATCHET OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

RATCHET BRAKE MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Application filed April 22, 1913. Serial No. 762,948.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT H. BLACK- ALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ratchet Brake Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description 0 the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates particularly to handactuated brake mechanism of the ratchet type, wherein the brake staff is rotated to apply the brakes through the medium of an operating handle, which, when oscillated, imparts a step-by-step rotating movement to the staff. Suitable ratchet mechanism is provided in these devices for clutching the handle positively to the staff in the forward or brake a plying movement and for permitting a free retractive' movement of the handle in the reverse direction. In addi-' tion, means are usually provided for automatically unclutching the operating handle from the staff when the handle is returned to its normal position of rest." The preferred form of hand-actuated brake mechanism at the present time is what is well known as the drop'handle type; (like that shown in Patent No.898880) in which the handle is pivoted so as to fold toward the staff and is so constructed and arran ed that it will in its foldin movement au 0- matically .uncouple itsel from the staff. The advantages of such a type are obvious, the principal one being that with the handle folded to its normal position of rest, it lies close to the staff where it is entirely out of the way and occiipies but small space. But to this type there attachesthe disadvantage that it can be used only in places where there is sufficient room to permit the'folding movement of the handle necessary to accomplish the uncoupling of the handle from the brake mechanism is therefore limited in its use to places where the brake staff is vertically disposed and sufficient clearance is provided to allow for the dropping 01' folding movement of the handle, and it cannot be employed upon so called dummy-end baggage and express cars and the like, where the brake staffs are journaled horizontally in theend walls of the car.

'tion with the The object of my invention is to provide a brake mechanism possessing the advantage of the drop handle type referred to and which may be used universally and interchangeably upon all kinds of cars, regardless of the different dispositions of the brake staff thereon. This object I have been able to accomplish by pivotally supporting the operating handle so that it is capable of being folded down out of the way when not in use, and by providing means apart and independent from the handle for effecting the automatic release of the handle from the staff. In this way, the advantages of the drop handle type are-realized and the disadvantages as to its former limited use are overcome.

In the specific form of the invention herein disclosed, the pivotal support for the handle is carried by a sleeve loosely rotatable upon the brake staff, which sleeve carries a face ratchet for engagement with a rela tively fixed face ratchet on the staff, and the automatic unclutching of the handle is effected by causing an inclined bearing face on the ratchet sleeve to engage during re verse rotation of the sleeve with a correspondingly inclined stationary abutment,

whereby the relatively movable ratchet member is lifted from engagement with the fixed ratchet member. A special feature of this particular form of unclutching device resides in the provision of lugs at the extremities of the inclined bearing faces, which, by engaging at the end of the unclutching movement serve as stops to prevent further turning movement of the handle.

Various other features of the invention will appear'as the specification proceeds.

The drawingsaccompanying this specification illustrate the invention in a concrete and preferred embodiment but I would have it understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view illustrating the use of the invention in connechorizontal brake staff at the end of a dummy end baggage or express car, the end wall of the car appearing in section and the other parts being shown in elevation. This view shows also, how by extending the brake staff,-which is horizontally disposed, in this case,through the end wall of the car and by mounting one of the brake operating mechanisms at each end of the staff, the brake may be controlled from either inside or outside the car. Fig. 2 is a detached view taken at right angles to the plane of Fig. 1, and showing the brake crating mechanism which is located at t e end of the brake staff outside the car; Fig. 3 is a broken detail view taken substantially on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the awl and ratchet for holding the brake sta against reverse rotation when shifting the hand lever backward forthe' pur ose of taking a fresh grip on the brake sta Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the clutch between the operating handle and stafi'; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 5 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an external view illustrating the unclutching mechanism; Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation illustrating the handle applied to a vertically disposed brake stafl' wlth the handle in dropped position and the clutch members in engagement; Fig. 8 is a like view but with the handle extended and the clutch members disengaged by the action of the lifting cams; and ig. 9

' illustrates the handle holding clip.

The brake staff, which in the several views. is designated 9, is, by means of a chain 10,

or other suitable medium, connected in the usual way to the brake riggin of the car. The disposition of. the sta as before pointed out, varies in the different kinds of cars, and I have illustrated the adaptabilit of my invention by showing it applied bot to horizontal and to vertically disposed,

brake stafis. Thus, the mechanism shown in Fi s. 1 to 4 is ofthe type used on dummy end bagga e cars and the like, wherein the brake sta is mounted on theend wall of the car and lies in a horizontal plane, while in Figs. 7 and 8, the staff is shown disposed yertically as it is on passenger coaches, etc. I Fig. 1, 11 indicates the end wall of a car and the brake staff is shown passing completely therethrough so that it may be operated both from inside and outside the car.

which may be secured direct to the end w 12 here designates a bearing for the outer The staff is journaled in suitable bearingls' end of the staff, and 13 a bearing: foig.' -thex.

inner end of the staff. The outboard hearing is usually spaced fromthe wall of the car, as by mounting it upon supporting legs 14, so as to provide room for the chain to wind upon the staff and to provide space for the placing of the ratchet and pawl ordinarily employed in conjunction with the brake applying mechanism. The outwardly extending portion of the staff may be braced against the pull of the chain by means of a strut 15, engaging either with the stafi or with the bearing bracket 12 at its one end and anchored to the car wall at its opposite end, by a bolt 16 or other suitable fastening.

The rotation of the brake staff for the purpose of applying the brakes by hand is accomplished through the medium of clutch mechanism, herein disclosed in the form of a face ratchet 18 fast on the staff and a relatively movable face ratchet 19 adapted to convert oscillatory movements of the handle 17, which is carried by the movable clutch member 19, into a ste -by-step rotatlng movement of the sta ratchet member 18 is fastened upon the staff, as by means of a transverse pin 20, and the movable handle-carrying ratchet member is loosely confined upon the staff so that it may have free rotary movement as well as a. movement longitudinally of the staff into and out of engagement with the fixed ratchet member. A spring 22 abutting against pin 21 may be provided for insuring engagement of the movable ratchet member with the fixed ratchet, particularly when the handle is used on a horizontal staff. The weight of the movable clutch member will ordinarily insure a positive engagement when the handle is used on a vertical stafl. When, however, the spring is employed, it is referably coiled about the staff, as shown in engaged between the abutment 21 and the movable clutch member, this member being preferably provided with an annualr recess 23, in its upper or outward end, within which the spring is seated.

Provision is made for the collapsing or folding of the operating handle in respect to the stafl by pivotally connecting the handle with the loose ratchet member or sleeve. The sleeve is for this purpose, in the form of the invention herein disclosed, provided with a pair of spaced radially disposed pivot lugs 24 which receive between them the inner end of the handle and carry the stud 25, on which the handle is pivotally engaged. i 1

The means for effecting the uncoupling of the handlefrom the staff automatically, in the present disclosure, takes the form of a pair of diametrically opposite .lugs or projections 26 provided-with inclined bearlng faces 27 which, upon-.an'extreme re ig. 4, and

clined bearing faces 28 on fixed abutments 29. These. relatively fixed abutments 29 may, as shown, he conveniently carried by the bearing bracket. To limit the reverse movement of the sleeve, the cooperating inclined bearing faces of the lugs and abutments may be provided with extensions 30 and 31 at the upper endsof the inclines and adapted to engage, as shown in Fig. 6, ,after the unclutching 'movement has been effected, to prevent any further rotative movement.

- The operation will be clear from the forc the relatively going description. Upon a. forward -rotative movement of the handle the movable clutch sleeve makes positive engagement with the fixed clutch member and during the reverse movement of the handle the clutch members separate and permit a retractive movement of the movable clutch member. The brake staff may be held during this retractive movement of the handle by means of the pawl 32 which engages a ratchet 33 fast on the staff. In the case of a vertically disposed brake staff, as in -F i s. 7 and 8, this awl may be mounted on t e floor or plat orm of the car in position where the brakeman may control it with his foot, in the usual way. In the first form illustrated, where the brake staff is horizontally disposed, this take-up pawl is normally held in engagement with the ratchet by a pivoted weight 34 bearing against it, and when desired to release the pawl this weight is swung up into the dotted line position in Fig. 3, whereupon the weighted handle 35 of the pawl throws it out of engagement with the ratchet. The pivot 36 of the weight 34 is, in a case like that illustrated in Fig. 1, where the brakes may be controlled from both inside and outside the 7 car, preferably. extended through the wall of the car and provided with a handle 37 on its inner end. The weight may be supported in its inactive position by providing a stop handle to rest upon when in the dotted line position indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. The handle is unclutched from the staff simply by continuing the rearward or .retractive movement far enough to engage the inclined separating members which act first to lift the movable clutch member from engagement with the fixed clutch member and when this disengagement is effected, serve to prevent. any further rotative movement in that direction.

From the foregoing, it is evident that I obtain all the advantages of the drop handle type when the invention is used in connection with a vertical brake staff, and that by reason of the fact that the automatic unclutching is effected by means wholly independent of the folding action of the handle this brake mechanism may be used equally as well in connection with horizontally disposed brake staffs and in places where there would not be room for the folding action of the handle.

When the handle is used as a horizontal staff, a holding bracket like that indicated at 39 in Figs. 1, 2 and 9, may be provided to receive and steady the handle in its normal position of rest.

The clutch mechanism is preferably rotected, as shown in Fig. 4, by provi mg the bearing with an upstanding annular rim 40 which incloses the fixed clutch mem- 38 for this bar and the movable clutch sleeve with a dependent annular flange 41 which comes down over and incloses the upstanding rim. The clutch sleeve is also preferably closed at the top by a cap 42 which may be secured in place by a pin 43 driven in through the side of the cap and engaging in alining recesses in the cap and the sleeve.

A. subordinate feature of improvement embodied in the ratchet brake mechanism herein disclosed, of- 'mportance in that it prevents binding between the staff and the upper ratchet element as that element is lifted to disconnect the handle, is the ro vision of the duplicate lugs 26 and a utments 27 diametrically disposed on opposite sides of the axis of rotation, so that the lift whicheffects disengagement of the clutch members is symmetrically applied with respect to that axis.

What I claim is L Hand-actuated brake mechanism adapted for use interchangeably with either horizontally or vertically disposed brake stafi's, comprising in combination with the brake staff, a sleeve rotatably engaged on the staff, an operating handle extending outwardly from the sleeve and 'pivotally connected therewith so as to be ca able of folding toward the staff into para lel relation therewith, inter-engaging clutch elements carried by the sleeve and the brake staff and coupling the handle to the staff irrespective 0 whether or not the handle is in folded position; and means operative by a turning movement of the sleeve for lifting said handle and one of said clutch members to fiihereby uncouple the handle from the sta 2. Hand-actuated brake mechanism adapted for use interchangeably with either horizontally or vertically disposed brake staffs, comprising in combination with the brake staff a face ratchet fast on the stall, and a second face ratchet rotatably engaged on the staff and movable longitudinally thereon into and out of engagement with the relatively fixed ratchet, an outstanding operating handle pivoted to the movable ratchet so as to be capable of a folding movement toward the staff, and means operated by aturnin movement of-the movable ratchet for li ting the handle and the movable ratchet to release said ratchet from the relatively fixed ratchet.

3. Hand-actuated brake mechanism comprising in combination, a brake-staff, a bearing for the staff, a face ratchet fast on the staff, a sleeve rotatably engaged on the staff provided with ratchet teeth on its 1n- .ner face arranged to make positive engagement with the relatively fixed ratchet 1n the forward rotative movement of the sleeve, an outstanding operating handle pivotally connected with the sleeve so as to be capablosq g of a folding movement toward the staff, and lugs carried by the bearing and sleeve respectively arranged to engage in the reverse rotation of the sleeve and provided with inclined surfaces whereby to lift the sleeve and handle and disengage the sleeve from the fixed ratchet.

4. In hand-actuated brake mechanism, a brake-staff, a face ratchet fixed on the staff, a face ratchet rotatably engaged on the staff and movable longitudinally thereon into and out of engagement with the relatively fixed ratchet, a handle for turning the movable ratchet and movable with said rotatable ratchet longitudinally of the staff, a

- relatively fixed abutment provided with an inclined bearing face, an inclined bearing face on the movable ratchet arranged, in the turning movement of said ratchet, to ride up the incline of the fixed abutment to thereby disengage the movable ratchet from the fixed ratchet, and stops at the inclined bearing faces arranged to engage and limit the turning movement of the movable ratchet.

5. In hand-actuated brake mechanism, a brake staff, a face ratchet fixed on the staff, a face ratchet rotatably engaged on the staff and movable longitudinally thereon into and out of engagement with the relatively fixed ratchet, a handle for turning the movable ratchet, a relatively fixed abutment provided with an inclined bearing face, an inclined bearing face on the movable ratchet arranged in the turning movement of said ratchet to ride up the incline of the fixed abutment to thereby disengage the movable ratchet from the fixed ratchet, each of the said inclined bearin surfaces having projections adapted af ter disengagement of the movable ratchet to engage and prevent further turning movement of said ratchet.

6. In hand-actuated brake mechanism, the combination of a brake staff; a fixed clutch member on the staff, a clutch sleeve rotatably engaged on the staff and provided with an annular recess, an operating handle pivotally attached to the sleeve, a coil spring encircling the staff and seated in the recess in the sleeve, an abutment on the staff for said spring, and a cap secured to the sleeve and inclosing the end of the staff.

7. In hand actuatedbrake mechanism, a brake staff, a face ratchet fixed on the staff, a face ratchet rotatably engaged on the staff and movable longitudinally thereon into and out of engagement with the relativel fixed ratchet, a handle pivotally attached to the movable ratchet, and mechanism for effecting the disengaging movement of the movable ratchet comprising a pair of cams diametrically disposed on opposite sides of the axis of rotation; substantially as described.

8. In hand-actuated brake mechanism,

the combination of a brake staff, a face ratchet fixed on the staff, a clutch sleeve rotatable with respect to said staff, and having a face ratchet for engagement with the face ratchet of said staff, said sleeve being provided with an annular recess, a pivotally mounted drop handle connected to turn said sleeve, a coil spring in said recess and encircling said staff and tending to hold said face ratchets together, a cap inclosing said spring and the end of said staff, and connected to turn with said sleeve, and means for disengaging said face ratchets when the brake staff is to be released.

9. In hand-actuated brake mechanism, the combination of a brake stafl, a fixed clutch member on the staff, a clutch sleeve rotatable with respect to said staff and provided with an annular recess, a coil spring seated in said recess, an abutment on the staff for said spring, a cap inclosing the end of said staff and connected to turn with said sleeve, a drop handle pivoted to fold down toward said staff, and means for lifting said clutch sleeve when the brake staff is to be released.

10. Hand-actuated brake mechanism, comprising in combination a brake staff, a stationary bearing member for said staff adapted for attachment to part of a car, said bearing member having an upstanding flange forming a housing and lugs integral with said bearing member and diametrically disposed with respect to said stafi, a face ratchet secured to said staff and inclosed by said housing, a sleeve rotatable on the staff and provided with teeth to form a face ratchet for engagement with the staff ratchet during forward rotative movement of the sleeve, a handle operatively connected to rotate said sleeve, said handle being capable of folding down substantially parallel with the brake staff and without disengag- I ing said ratchets, lugs carried by said sleeve and arranged to engage with the lugs on the stationary bearing member and'to ride upward thereon when said sleeve is rotated backward far enough, a stop limiting the extent of said backward movement and a cap inclosing the end of said brake staff and pinned to said sleeve and rotating therewith, said cap and sleeve moving upward in unison when said sleeve is lifted out of engagement with said staff ratchet.

11. Hand-actuated brake mechanism, comprising in combination a brake staff, a stationary bearing member for said staff adapted for attachment to part of a car, said bearing member having an upstanding flange forming a housing and lugs integral with said bearing member and diametrically disposed with respect to said staff, said lugs aving inclined surfaces at their front edges, a face ratchet pinned to said staff and inclosed by said housing, a sleeve rotatable on the staff and provided with teeth to form a face ratchet for engagement with the staff ratclut dur ng forward rotative movement of the sleev a handle operatively conuectvd to rotate sa d sleeve, said handle being capable of folding down substantially parallel with the bralae staff and Without disengaging said ratchets, lugs carried by said sleeve and arranged to engage with the lugs on the stationary bearing member and to ride upward there-an vvhen said sleeve is rotated backward far enough, and a cap inclosing the end of said brake stair said cap and sleeve moving upward in unison when said sleeve is lifted out of engagement with said staff ratchet.

12. Hand-actuated brake mechanism, comprising in combination a brake staff, a stationary bearing member for said staff adapted for attachment to part of a car, said bearing member having an upstanding flange forming a housing and lugs integral with said bearing member and diametrically disposed with respect to said staff, said lugs having inclined surfaces at their front edges, a face ratchet pinned to said staff and resting on said stationary bearing member and inclosed by said housing, a sleeve rotatable on the staff and provided with teeth to form a face ratchet for engagement with the staff ratchet during forward rotative movement of the sleeve, a handle operatively connected to rotate said sleeve, said handle being capable of folding down substantially parallel vxith the brake staff and Without disen ging. said ratrhets, li gs carried by said sleeve and arranged to engage with the lugs on the stationary bearing member and to ride upward thereon when said sleei'e is rotated backward far enough, a stop limiting the extent of said backward movement and a cap inclosing the end of said brake staff and pinned to said sleeve and rotating therewith, said cap and sleeve moving upward in unison when said sleeve is lifted out of engagement With said staff ratchet.

In testimonv whereof I affix my signature. in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT BLACKALL.

Witnesses:

M. A. BILL, WILLIAM H. DAVIS.

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