GB674997A - Improvements relating to fluid pressure braking apparatus for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

674,997. Brake transmitting mechanism- WESTINGHOUSE BRAKE & SIGNAL CO., Ltd., and BRACKENBURY, A. G. Oct. 9, 1950 [Oct. 28, 1949], No. 27720/49. Class 103 (i). In a brake of the kind comprising a brake cylinder 1 arranged to apply braking effort to a vehicle brake rigging 5 through brake levers 3, 4 provided with two tie-rods 6, 7, the ends of which are pivotally connected to the levers at different points in their length, one or other of the rods being rendered operative so as to provide fulcrums for the levers to vary the leverage according to whether the vehicle is loaded or empty, the transfer from the load pivot 11 to the empty pivot 9 during braking application under empty vehicle conditions is arranged to be effected automatically when a predetermined force is exerted on the brake rigging, by the displacement of a spring-loaded abutment 31 by the load pivot 11. Fig. 1 shows the mechanism in the empty condition, an abutment 14 being arranged to contact the empty pivot 9 before the spring 12 is fully compressed. In the loaded condition (Fig. 2, not shown), the abutment 14 is pivoted to one side allowing free motion of the pivot 9 whilst an abutment 13 is pivoted into the path of the member 31 to preclude compression of the spring 12 and thus ensure use of the pivot 11 and the consequent highest leverage during load braking. Spring-loaded, toggle-acting operating levers for the abutments 13, 14 are provided, the adjustment of which may be effected manually or automatically.