US408567A - Automatic car-brake - Google Patents

Description

,(No Model.) G". L. AMES. AUTOMATIC GAR BRAKE.

Patented Alig, 6,1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I CHESTER L. AMES, or CABERY, ASSIGNOR 0E ONE-HALF TO CHARLES RRUNNER, or PERU, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC CAR-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,567, dated August 6, 1889.

I Application filed June 10, 1889. Serial No. 313,717. (No model.)

T0 on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER L. AMES, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Oabery, in the county of Ford and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Car-Brakes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing, and the letters and figures of reference thereon, forming a part of this specification, in which the figure represents a plan view of the upper side of a car-frame having the floor removed and showing the parts below the frame.

This device relates particularly to that class of car-brakes that may be denominated automatic, and is intended to automaticallyset the brakes by means of the concussion contactof the draw-bars in a train of cars when the train slows up, the draw-bars being connected with the brakes by means of levers, chains, and rods.

Referring to the drawing, the draw-bars B B are intended to be of the ordinary pattern, and respectively connected loosely, by means of straps C C, to the inner ends of the levers L and L, extending horizontally and at right angles to the draw-bars and pivoted near their centers to one of the sills of the car-frame, as shown. The outer end of lever L has c011- I nected to it chain S, which extends horizontally to near the center of the car and passes around a pulley-block P, and returns to the end of the car near said lever and attaches to the brake-rod A, upon which it is intended to be wound in the ordinary manner. Said pulley-block 1 is connected with the outer end of the brake-leverK of the opposite truck. The inner end of said brake-lever is pivoted to brake D, and a rod Rconnect-s said lever at its center with the opposite brake D. The chain S is provided with a coil-spring S in its part between lever L and pulley Pf.

S is a chain connected at one end to chain S at a point between said spring and lever L, and passes around a pulley P, located on the under side of the side sill A, at a point some distance from said spring and between it and lever L. The opposite end of said chain S connects with the opposite lever L through the medium of the rod S, (shown in broken lines under sill A',) and supported thereby by any suitable means.

S is a short chain for connecting chains S and S around pulley-block P. This short chain, with chains S and S connect the brakerod a directly with brake-lever K, so the brakes D D may be set by said brake-rod in the ordinary manner in case it is desired to brake up the car when it is disconnected from other-cars, so their draw-bars are. not in contact.

In operation the brake-rod is intended to be turned so as to have some tension on the chain and rods, but not so much as to hold the brakes set. When the tension is thus brought to bear on the chains and rods, pressure 011 the outer ends of the reciprocating draw-bars B B, or either one of them, will opcrate the levers L L, respectively or together, so as to give sufficient tension on the chains and rods and to set the brakes automatically. The coil-spring S is introduced in the chain S for the purpose of making the tension of the chains and rods yielding, so they may not break when the draw-bars are suddenly operated by a concussion with those of another car.

As shown, the brake apparatus is applied to the wheels of only one truck.

If desired, a duplicate apparatus may be applied in the reverse position, so as to brake the wheels of the-opposite tlLlGlL- The advantage to be gained by the use of such apparatus is that by setting the brake-rod so as to give an initial tension to the rods and chains, but not sufficient to set the brake whenever the train slows up, and the draw-bars of the cars forming the train are brought in contact and reciprocated toward the car to which they respectively attach, they will give greater tension to the rods and chains and set the brake automatically, and the brake will remain set until the draw-bars of the cars are separated from each other, as when the engine starts up, and instantly all of the brakes of thetrain are unset, so the train may at once proceed without the necessity of unsettin g the brake of each car separately. If desired, the pulley-block P may be substituted by a bellcrank or a straight lever, if desired, having 2. In a car-brake, in combination with the brakes of a truck, brake-rod, and the reciprocating; draw-bars, the levers L L, chains S S S, coil-spring S rods S and R, brake-lever K, pulley P, and pulley block P, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

CHESTER L. AMES.

Witnesses:

THos. H. HU'roHINs, K. C. HUTCHINS.

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