US86325A - Improvement in sled-brakes - Google Patents

Description

H. W; 61. B. C. SMITH.

Sled Brake.

Patented Jan. 26, 1869.

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H. VJ. SMITH AND B. C. SMITH, OF RAINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.-

Letters Patent No. 86,325, dated Janna/r3 26, 1869.

HEROVEMENT IN SLED-BRAKES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, H. W. SMITH and B. 0. SMITH, of Bainsburg, in the county of Bedford, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sled-Brakes; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in mechanism for retarding and stopping the motion of sleds or sleighs, and vehicles of a similar nature, which are used for the transportation of passengers, or freight, on snow-roads, oron ice;

and

The invention consists in the arrangement of shafts, levers, and ropes, with springs, and other fixtures connected thereto, as will hereafter be more fully described.

The accompanying drawing represents a sectional side elevation of a sleigh, provided with a brake constructed according to our invention.

A represents the brake-levers, which have their fulora on the runners on each side of the sleigh, as seen at B, in the drawing.

These brake-levers, one on each side of the sleigh, are operated principally from a horizontal shaft, 0, which passes through, under the body of the sleigh, with a lever, D, upon one or both ends.

Rigidly attached to this shaft are two arms, E,which are connected with the brake-levers A by the spiral springsF.

It will be' seen that by the arrangement, as far as described, the brake-levers may be operated from the sleigh by the levers D.

G represents another horizontal shaft, which is secured beneath the body of the sleigh, on gudgeons or pivots in its ends, so thatit may revolve.

H is a detachable frame, on the front end of the sleigh-body, upon the upper end of which there is a Windlass, I, with a crank, J. It also has a roller, K, at its lower end, as seen in the drawing.

Attached to the Windlass there is a broad strap, L, from which are suspended two metallic eyes m. 4

N represents ropes, which are attached to these eyes, m, by hooks or otherwise, which ropes pass around the roller K, and around the horizontal shaft G, and from thence to the spiral springs F, as seen in the drawing.

By this arrangement, it will be seen that the brakelevers A can be operatedby turning the crank J ,and thence drawing the ropes N around the shaft G and roller K.

It will be noticed that the two methods of drawing the brakes just described, viz, by the shaft 0, and by the Windlass I, are each independent of the other in operating the brakes.

To render the brake automatic, or to operate it by the holding-back movement of the horses, we confine a sliding rod, 0, or its equivalent, beneath the pole P, by staples g g. i

This rod is attached to a strap, R, or its equivalent, at its forward end, which renders over a pulley, S, confined in the pole near its end.

Upon the end of this strap T, which is attached tothe harness by the eyes u it.

At the other end of the rod 0 there is a long staple or loop, 2:, with eyes, in, at each end, to which the ropes N, or their equivalent, are attached, when it is desired to operate the brake-levers by the resistance of the horses against the forward mdvementof the sleigh.

As seen in the drawing, the ropes N are attached to the eyes m. They can also be attached to the eyes min the rod 0, when the brakes are applied by the horses.

x shows a fastening on the tongue or pole, opposite the shoulders of the horses, to which the straps which guide the tongue are attached.

These straps, it will be understood, are distinct from those which operate the brakes, the latter being hitched to the rings in the harness, while the former areattached to the lower end of the collars, the difference in the direction of the draught thereby giving the horses room to operate the brakes.

y represents a section of a pole, with a slightly different method of hitching.

z shows a long metallic staple, which carries a. sliding ring, a.

This ring is connected with the termination of the strap R, 'or its equivalent, by another ring, I).

It will be seen that by hitching, in any suitable manner, to this latter ring, the brakes can be operated, and the tongue of the vehicle guided in any direction by the same holding-straps or chains.

a shows a small stop, placed on the end of the tongue, which can be made to hook into a ring near the end of the strap R, and thereby prevent the brakes from acting, when necessary,

From the above, it will be readily understood that a backward movement of the horses, with either of the above methods of hitching, or a combination of the same, against the forward action of the sleigh, in

descending ground, will draw the rod 0, or its equivalent, forward, and consequently draw the ropes N in the same direction, and thereby operate the brakes.

It will be seen that this sled-brake is so arranged as to be made available under all ordinary circumstances, and that its action must be sure and effective, by whichever method it is operated; and further, that it can be applied to almost any vehicle which has runners, without regard to the shape of the runners.

The above-described invention is intendedas an improvement upon our patent ofOctober 8, 1867.

What we claim, is-

there is a yoke or bail,

2 as,32t

1. The arrangement. of the rock-shaft Cl, and. its The above specification of our invention signed by lever D, and arms E E, and spring F, of metal or us, this 9th day of November, 1868.

rubber, with the brake A; all substantially as Shown 11 SMITH.

and described- B. 0. SMITH. 2. The arrangement of the chain or rod O,.pull ey S, on the end of the pole P, staplez, and ring a, and Wltllessesi bail T, for operating the brake A, attached to the Jmns SIPES,

runner of a sleigh, all substantially as set forth. VALENTINE FREET.

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