US2107761A - Car brake - Google Patents

Description

LA G. MILLER CAR BRAKE Feb. 8, 1938.

Filed Deo. 31,' 1955 gwventoz 0m 67.2116222911 Feb. s, 1938. 1 GyWLLER 2,107,761

y CAR BRAKE Fied Dec. 51, 1955 1 4 sheets-sheet 2 Feb 8, 1938. l.. G f MILLER y 2,107,761

CAR BRAKE Filed Dec. 3l, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 gf] f 259- W55@ 'lllpll' uf@ i925@ I i |I v I n ,n

Lalli? 6i ffii/6I."

l.. G. MULLERi CAR BRAKE Feb., s, 193s.

Filed Dec. 51, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 the mine laws forbid a riding operator, one is stationed at a point along Vvthe track Wherethe Patented Feb. 8, 1938 PATENT OFFICE CAR BRAKE Louis G.. Miller, Bethlehem, lPa., assigner to Bethlehem Steel Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 31, 1935, Serial No. 56,920

32 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in .car brakes and is adapted more particularly for use in connection with mine cars'and for similar small cars of this type in, whichA the braking `oi" the cars is hand operated.V .f

In the majority of mine tunnels on account of n room there isl a siding only on one side and the brakes have to beyoperated from that vside of the. car, andas mine cars; sometimes obtain a speed as great as miles' per hour Vin transit, and since car isl to be brought to a stop. Y

It is often found necessary, however, to 'set the brakesl from the opposite side of the, car to that fofy the siding but on account of lack of space between the car and the side of -the mine tunnel n there is; not room enough for this purpose, or in f. operating lever' can not be reached by the opercaf ator.

- The operator waiting on the siding by the track kfor the car to pass must grasp the operating lever of the passing car, and toavoid injury, he must runy along with the moving car, and pull the brake operating lever at the same time, 'should there be any Wear in the loperating lever ratchet teethor between the brake shoes and the wheels, either the brake shoes would grip thewheel treads before the operating lever engages the proper ratchet tooth and then. slack off after the operator releases the operating lever, or the brake shoes. at their maximum. movement Would not have proper Contact with the wheels.

As this braking operation must be accom' plished not only on the` surface but in the darkened interiors ofthe mine tunnels, and when it is remembered 'that these operations of braking mine cars must be repeated' by an operatorseveral hundred times a day that the mechanism employed for braking cars should be safe, sure ing'mechanism that is capable of selffadjustf ment to compensate for any. slightdifferences in ylengths of connections or unequal Wear on the brake shoes or blocks, thusfobtaining equal pres- -sure'of the shoes or blocks on the wheels at both sides of the car.

Another object of my inventionv relates to a braking mechanism which can be easily applied or released from either side of the car.

'A further object of the invention relates to the manner of actuating the operating lever so that the ratchet tooth will have proper engagement with the teeth of the rack plates and will not slack off after the operator releases the operating lever.

Another object of my inventiony relates .to the. manner of attaching a pair of operating levers to the opposite sides of the end of a car so they will each have a floating fulcrum connection. The levers being connected together above and below the fulcrum points by means oi" equalizing links, so that When Vone lever is operated the other will be moved in unison but in the opposite direction.

Another object of my invention relates to the manner of operating the rock shafts simultaneously or independently of each other so that the pressure of the brake shoes when applied will be fully equalized on the wheelsr at both sides of the car.

v The invention also has for its object a simple mechanism of this character which may be easily installed onmine cars or the like of any ordinary or conventional type, the parts being strong and durable and not liable to get out of order, and the invention aims to generally improve this class of devices and to render them more useful and commercially desirable.

Having thus givenK ageneral description of my invention, I will now in order to make the matter more clear, refer to the accompanying four sheets of drawings, forming a. part of this specication in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Fig. l is a side elevation of a mine car or the like with. braking means applied thereto embodying one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevationof the car shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the end portion of the car taken on the vline 3 3 oi Fig. 2, showing the equalizing mechanism` applied thereto.

Y Fig. 4 is a detail View of one of the equalizing` rods.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a low level type of mine car to which a modified form of my invention is attached. K

Fig. 6 is a transverse section ofthe car shown of the bearings I9 and 2Q.

in Fig. 5 taken centrally on the line 5--5 of Fig. '7. Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the car with the modied form of my invention attached.

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the modified. form of my equalizing device detached.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5, showing the manner of holding and releasing Vone kof the brake levers.

Fig. l is a detail view oi one of the racks and the adjacent portions of the device associated therewith, and Y Fig. 1l is a detail view illustrating one of the tension springs and the parts connected therewith.

Referring now to the character of reference on the drawings, and rst to Figs. 1 to 4. The numeral I indicates a mine car of the four-wheel type having a door 2, side walls 3 and ends 4.

5 indicates the axles and 5 the'wheels mountedv on the axles. A pair of brackets 'I extendqdown- `wardly Vfrom the floor between the'wheelsfon each side of the car, to which is pivoted as'at 8, the upper ends of hangers S, having their lower ends pivotedas at I0 to brake shoes II which are adapted to rictionally engage the tread surfaces y I9 and 2l)V and are held against longitudinal movement bythe Vcollars 2l and 22 formed integral therewith, which are adapted to engage the sides the rock-shaft I8 project beyond the end of the car and are each formed with'a crank arm 23 bent at right angles to the body of the rockshafts and also at an angle to the crankarms I1. The ends of these two crank arms 23 are flattened and connected together by means of an equalizing device which is actuated by means of a pair of operating levers 24 and 25 attached to the opposite sides of the car end near its lower portion by means of swinging arms 26 and 21. The top ends of each of said swinging arms is pivoted to the end Wall by means of a bolt or rivet 28, While the lower ends of the swinging arms are offset and formed cylindrical vadapted to` form floating fulcrurn pivots 2S, for the roperatv ing levers 24 and 25 near their lower ends, which are secured thereon by means of a split pin 3l?.

vA short distance above the iloating iulcrum pivots 29 of each' of the operating levers 24, and is pivoted, as at 3| the inner ends of a stirrup 32, the outer central portion of each of which is perforated as at 33 for the passage ci an adjusting vrod 34 having a threaded portion 35 provided with an adjusting nut 35 located within the stirrup. Each of the adjusting rods 34 has an extending bifurcated end 3l which is pivoted to the attened end of the crank arms 23 of the rock-shafts I8.

The legs of each stirrup 32 vare connected together at an intermediate point by means of a transverse plate 38 which has its ends welded thereto and is perforated centrally as at 39 for Athe passage of the reduced ends 45 of the adjusting rods 34, and a helical spring 4I `normally Vunder compression is interposed between the ad- The outer ends of centrally connect the operating levers 24 and 25 together. One end of each of said equalizing bars being attached at 3I, while the'opposite end is pivoted to the lower end of one of the operating levers at an equal distance below the :iloating fulcrum pivots 29 as at 43.

Each of the operating levers 24 and 25 are provided with a ratchet tooth 44 for engaging the teeth of racks 45.

Normally the tooth 44 of each oi `the operat-. ing levers will engage the teeth of the racks 45. Y

When it is desired to disengage the tooth 44 of each of the operating levers from the racks 45 to release the brakes, the operator grasps the handle 45 of a crank shaft 41 and swings it upwardly so that the cranks` 48 engage the inner faces of the operating levers 24 and 25V and forces Y them outwardly, thereby disengaging the tooth 44 of each operating lever from its rack 45. In this arrangement the equalizing mechanism is held by the vsprings under compression and it is also desirable in assembling to adjust the rods 34 so that when the brakevshoesare released from the wheels the springs will be slightly compressed.

The operation of my braking mechanism is as follows: Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in the drawings, which is the posi- 'tion they will assume when the brake shoes are released, and it is desired to set the brakes, the operator grasps thehandle of one of the operating levers 24 or25 and pulls it outwardly in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 2, until the brake shoes engage the wheels. In so doing it will be understood Ythat on account of the connecting equalizing bars 42 both of the levers will be actuated in unison but in the opposite directions. I Y

In setting the brakes the springs 4l=which are normally under compression may be slightly compressed but this is not necessary as the brakes will be set properly by the movement Vof the swinging floating fulcrum pivots without the springs, the prime object of `the springs 4I are to vinsure the tooth 44 of each of the operating levers 24 and 25 to properly engage the teeth of the racks 45. Y

If the ratchet teeth 44 of the operatingrlevers do not register with Ythe teeth of the racks 45 when the brakes are set, a slight additionalpull of the leverv will compress the springs 4I and i allow the tooth of each operating'lever to properly engage the teeth of theracks. During the setting of the brakes if both of the rock-shafts I8 are rotated theV same angle of rotation, the

oating vfulcrum pivots 29 for the operating ,levers Vwill remain substantially stationary.

swinging the floating fulcrum pivots from left to right untilthe brake shoes Von the left hand side of the car properly engage the wheels. In case Iit the brake shoesV on the left hand side of the carengage the wheels first the floating fulcrum pivots for the operating levers will be moved from right to left. In either` case the brake shoes will be nally applied with full braking force Von all of the wheels at the same time.

When it is desired to release theY brakes the operator grasps one of the handles'46 of the crank shaft 4l and swings it upwardly so that the cranks 48engage the inner faces of the operating levers 24 and 25 and forces them outwardly thereby disengagin'g the tooth of each operating lever from its rack 45, as indicated inA dotted lines in Fig. 9. When the ratchet teeth of the'opera'tvinglevers are disengaged from the racksthe brake shoes will be release'd'i'rom engagement with the wheels by meansl of the torsional force exertedon the rock-.shaftsv I8 in setting the V`v4brakes.` 'I'he helical springs 4l willat the same time assist in swinging the operating levers 24 and 25 inwardly, provided theyf have been fur- .ther compressed at the end of the brake setting f 1 operation;- The'parts will then 'by their own acrtion be returned y-Iigpv 2. r gfReferring. now to "the 1in] Eigs. 5j to 11V inclusive in whichIs-have shown tothe position indicated :in

modification illustrated theequalizing mechanism is heldin-tensionini In'this -modication the r sameY operating lef rversl,' oating fulcrum -pivots;,therefor, .equalizingbars and release `crank shaft are'used andl operated in a similar manner and the same ref- Vference numerals will applythereto, and this'also j may apply to the carand the mounting ofthe lrock-shafts and the `brake'shoes,v hangers and linkconnections therefor.; Inithis construction however,;the inner crank `arms 4.9,.v of the rock-shafts I8 extend inwardly Vinstead of outwardlyas above described,v andas ythis-is a low level car `the-upper `ends ,of each pair of the adjusting linksoneachside off the car are pivoted as at Y50-to the upper end of a clevis Vmember 5l while the lower rend ofl said '.,clevis member is pivoted centrally to a5 supporting bar 52 `havingone enddpivoted to a rib 53 eigtendingpfrom the carzrloor while the oppositeend I is pivoted to a 'pair of short links 54wnichf4 in turn are pivoted to the endof eachcrankarm 49.

'In this construction v`the 'innr endsfof the stirrup members 55 are' attached` with one end of the equalizingbars tothe. lowerends of5vthe operating vvleversj2ll Aand 25 atfthepoints/g below the floating fulcrum pivots 29. Thestirrup fmembers 55 extend outwardly from the operating Q levers and are perforated as'fatV 56 on'the passage of the ,adjusting rods` 5T whichrhave their y inner ends threaded as at 58and screwed into a threaded opening in the central portion of a slidingplate 59. v a spring 65 interposed between'A :thevplate 59 and the end wall of the stirrup'. vThe extending 'ends r (,.rockshafts I 8.

fof the rods 51 are bifurcated'as at 6I and pivoted tothe crank arms 23 onithvegouter ends of the ye manner voi operatin'glthisrnodiledform 'of braking Vmechanism is the same asiab'ove described. The operator pulling one of the operatfing levers toset the brakes and'then releasing the brakes by manipulating the crankshaft. The difference being that *as the equalizing dicated in Figs. 1 to 3, and it will also'be noted that the inner crank arms 49 of the rock-shafts fl8fmust extend inwardly instead of outwardly.

illustrated, I prefer toy usea pair of springs fat each end of the equalizing device to give the most satisfactory results, but I'may dispose the springs diierently oruse one springinsteadof two-if desired.

'The' operating levers' areusuallyrlocated'on i375 the trailer end ofthe Acarffbutmy device.` could The adjusting rods 51l each have be'vapplied and operated from the front end of the carV equally as well, and although I have shown only one form of brake shoes and manner of mounting the same, I may use other forms of brake shoes and mountings than the type shown in the drawings and obtain the same results.

Although I have described and illustrated my invention in considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the exact and specific details thereof, as shown and described, but may use such modifications in, substitutions for, or equivalents thereof, asare embraced within the scope of my invention, or as pointed out in the claims.

f Having thus described my invention what I- claim as .new and desire to secure by Letters .Patent is:

steadA of under compressionasfsabove described vl'.The combinationnwith a car body anda wheel at each side of the car, a rock-shaft arranged parallel to land supported on each side of 'the car-body, brake shoes pivotally connected to the rockshafts forr engaging each wheel, and a pair of operating levers pivotally connected to one end of the car and.r bodily movable simultaneously for actuating the rock-shafts adapted to force'the brake-shoes into or out of frictional engagement .with the' Wheels.

2. The combination with a car body and wheels .at each side of the car, a rock-shaft arranged Vparallelto` and supported on each side of the car, brake shoes pivotally connected to the rockshafts for engaging the wheels, and a pair of operatingv levers connected together and pivoted to one end of the car and bodily movable simultaneously for actuating the rock-shafts adapted to Amove the brake shoes into or out of frictional 'engagement with the wheels.

Y 3.1 The combination with a car body and wheels 'at each side of the'car, a rock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on each side of the car.

body, ybrake shoes pivotally connected to the rock-shafts for engaging the wheels, a pair of simultaneously bodily movable operating levers pivoted to vone end of the car adapted to move the-brake shoes into or out of frictional engagement With the wheels, and a resilient connection v between the operating levers land the rock-shafts.

f4. The combination with a car body and a Ypair of wheels at each side of the car, a rockshaft mounted on each side of the car body, brake shoes pivotallyconnected to each rock-shaft for engaging the wheels, a pair of simultaneously bodily movable operating levers pivoted to one end of the car adapted to move the brake shoes into or out of frictional engagement with the wheels, anda resilient connection between each operating lever and one of each of the rockshafts. i

5. The combination of a' car body, vand a wheel at each side of the car, va rock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on each side of the car body, a brake shoe pivotally connected to.

-fulcruins secured to one end of the car and ymovwheels, a pair of operating levers having iloating able simultaneously for actuating the rock-shafts 1 and adapted to force the brake shoes into or out of frictional engagement with each pair of wheels, bars having their ends pivotally attached to the operating levers and connecting them together, and a resilient connection between the operating levers and the rock-shafts.

'7. The combination of a car body and a pair o1 wheels at each side of the car, arock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on each side of the car Ybody, brake shoes pivotally connectedto eachrock-shaft for engaging each pair of Wheels, a pair of operating levers having floating fulcrums secured to one end of the car and movable simultaneously for actuating the rock-shafts to force the brake shoes into or out of vfrictional enlevers.

gagement with each pair of wheels, equalizing bars connecting the operating levers, a resilient connection between the operating levers and .the rock`shafts,-means for holding the operatinglevers when the brakes are set, and .means for simultaneouslyreleasing both of the operating 8. The combination of a car body and a plurality of Wheels at each sideof the car, a rockshaft arranged parallel to and supported on each side of the car body,.brake shoes pivotally connected to each rock-shaft for engaging each pair of wheels, a pair of operating levers each having oating fulcrum secured at opposite sides to one end of the car, said operating levers each having a connection with both of the rock-shafts, means when one of the operating levers is actuated for rotating both of the rock-shafts to force the brake shoes into or out of frictional engagement' with each pair of wheels, means for holding the operating levers when the brakes are set, and

means for simultaneously releasing both of the (operating levers to automatically disengage the brake shoes from the wheels.

9. The combination with a car bodyand a plurality` of Wheels at each side of the car, a rockshaft arranged parallel to and supported on each side of the car body, brake shoes pivotally connected to the rock-shafts, a pair of bodily movable operating levers connected together at opposite rsides of one end of the car, each adapted when manually operated to force'the brake shoes into. or out of frictional engagement with the Wheels, a resilient connection between the operating levers an-d the rock-shafts, and means for releasing the brake shoes from the car Wheels.

10. The combination with'a car body and a plurality of wheels atv each side ofthe car, a

rock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on Y each side of the car body, brake shoes pivotally connected to the rock-shaft,V aY pair of voperating levers each having a floating iulcrum mounted at opposite sides of one end of the car, equalizing bars connecting the operating levers, anadjustable resilient connection between each operating Y lever and a rock-shaft, means for holding the opu rbars connecting the operating levers, means for Y 'actuating the operating levers in Vunison in opposite directions, and a resilient connection between each operating lever and each rock-shaft. Vl2, The combination with acar body'and a pair of wheels at each side of thecar, a rock- `shaft 'arranged parallel to and supported on'each side of the car body, brakeshoes pivotally connected tothe rock-shafts, an operating lever pivotedto. each side of the'end of thecar body,

equalizing bars for connecting the operating levers, a resilient connection between each operating lever and one of the rock-shafts, said equalizingrbars .and resilient connections comprising means when one of said Operating levers is manipulated for actuating both. of the operating levers in unison in opposite directions to'initially rotatefboth rock-,shaftssimultaneously and then Yto rotate one rock-shaft Vindependently ofthe other rock-shaft.

V13. The combination with V.a car body and wheels at each side of the Ycar,a 'rock-shaft ar- `ranged parallel to and supported on each side of the car body, brake shoespivotallyA connectedA operating levers in unison in opposite directions to initiallyfrotate the rock-shaftsV simultaneously and then to rotate one rock-shaft independently of the other rock-shaft to set therbrakes.

14, Thecombination 'witha car body and a pair of wheels` at earch side of the car,` a rockshaft arranged parallel to and supported on each lside of the car body, vbrake shoes pivotally-connected'to the rock-shafts for engaging the wheels, an operating lever having a iioating'piv-Y otal connection ,withV one end of Vthe car near the opposite side of the car, equalizing bars for pivotal connections and equalizing bars comprising means'when one of said operating levers is manipulated forractuating both of the operating levers .in unison to initially rotate both of the Y rock-shafts simultaneously and then to rotate one rock-shaft independently of the other roclr-v shaft.

y 15. The combination Vwith 'a 'ear body and a .pairtof wheels at each side of the car, a rock- .shaft arranged parallel to and supportedon each side of the car body, brake shoes pivotally connected. to the rocio-shafts for engaging the Wheels, an operating lever disposed near the opposite sides of one end of the car each having a .oatin'g fulcrum connection with the car end land adapted to be actuated from either side of .the car, equalizing bars for connectingV the operating levers at an equal distance above and .below thefloating fulcrumV connections of the operating levers, a resilient connection between the .operating levers and the rock-shafts, said floating fulcrum connections, equalizing bars and resilient connections comprising'. means for siconnecting the operating levers, said floating multaneously actuating'both of saidv operating levers-in opposite directions by the movement! of either operating lever to initially rotatethe rock-shafts simultaneously andrthen'if required to rotate one rock-shaft. independently Vof the other rock-shaft. Y.

1.6, The combination with a car body and a pair of wheels at each side of the car, a rockshaft arranged parallel to and supported on each side of the car body, brake shoesV pivotally con-` nected to the rock-shafts for engaging the wheels, an operating lever disposed at opposite sides of one end ofthecar'each having a oating pivotal connection with the car end and adapted to be actuated from either'side of the car, equalizing bars"y for connectingvthe operating levers atan rock-shaft independently of the other rock-shaft,

and means for releasing the brakes.

, 1'7. In braking means in combination with a .car having wheels at each side thereof, a rockshaft arranged parallel to and supported on eachk side of the car body, brake shoes pivotally connected to the rock-shafts, for engaging the wheels, an operating lever disposed near each sideV of the end of the car, a floating pivotal n connection for attaching each operating lever to the car end, equalizing bars for connecting the operating levers, resilient means between the operating leversr and the rock-shafts for holding the equalizing bars under compression, means for holding the operating levers when the brakes u are set, and means for releasing the brake shoes from the wheels.

18. The combination with a car body and wheels at .each side of the car, a rock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on each side of i the car body, brake shoes pivotally-connected to thefrock-shaftsffor engaging the wheels, a pair of operating levers having floating pivotal connections to opposite sides of one end of the car, means for actuating the operating levers in unison to move the brake shoes into or out of frictional engagement with the wheels', a resilient connection between each operating lever and one of the rock-shafts, means for holding4 the operating levers whenthe brakes are set, and

Y ientfconnection between the operating lever and the rock-shaft.

20. The combination with a car body and wheels at each side of the car, a rock-shaft ar- Y ranged parallel to and supported on the side of the car body, brake shoes pivotally connected to the rock-shaft for engaging the wheels, a bodily movable operating lever provided with a tooth pivoted to one end of the car for actuating the rock-shaft, a rack engaged by the tooth of the operating lever, and a resilient connection between the operating lever and the rock-shaft for holding the tooth of the operating lever in contact with the teeth of the rack.

2l. The combination with a car body and ab plurality of wheels at opposite sides of the car body, a rock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on the side of the car'body, brake shoes pivotally connected to each rock-shaft for engaging the wheels, an voperating lever at opposite l J sides of the end of the car, a swinging arm having a floating fulcrum for attaching each of said operating levers to the car end, equalizing bars connecting the operating levers, a tooth on each operating lever, a rack engaged by the tooth of each operating lever, and a resilient connection between each operating lever and the rock-shafts atthe side of the car for holding the tooth of each of the 'operating levers in contact with the teeth of the racks.

22. The combination with a car body and wheels at each side of the car, a rock-shaft at each side of the car, a crank arm extending from the inner and outer end of each rock-shaft, brake shoes pivotally connected to the inner crank arm of each rock-shaft for engaging the wheels, an operating lever having a connection with each crank arm on the outer end of each rock-shaft, a floating pivotal connection between each operating lever and the car body, an equalizing connection between the operating levers, means for holding the operating levers when the brakes are set,y and means for actuating both of the operating levers to release the brakes.

23.The combination with a car body and wheels at each side of the car, a rock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on each side of the car, a crank arm extending from the inner and outer end of each' rock-shaft, brake shoes pivotally connected to the inner crank arm of each rock-shaft for engaging the wheels, an adjustable rod pivoted to each crank arm on the outer end of each rock-shaft, a stirrup slidably mounted on each adjustable rod, resilient means on each adjustable rod within each stirrup for exerting pressure between each stirrup and the adjustable rod, an operating lever pivotally connected to each stirrup, a floating pivotal connection between each operating lever and the car body, and equalizing bars having their ends pivotally attached to each of the operating levers for connecting the operating levers together.

24. The combination with a car body and wheels at each side of the car, a rock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on each siderof the car, brake shoes pivotally connected to the rrock-,shafts for engaging the wheels, an operating lever disposed near each side of one end of the car, a iloating pivotal connection for attaching each operating lever to the car end, equalizing barsY connecting the operating levers, and pivoted thereto, resilient means interposed between the operating levers and the rock-shafts for holding the equalizing bars under tension, means for adjusting the tension between the rock-shafts and the equalizing bars, means for holding the operating levers when the brakes are set, and means for disengaging the operating levers from their holding means for automatically releasing the brake shoes from the wheels.

25. The combination with a car body and wheels at each side of the car, a rock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on each side of the car, a crank arm at the inner and outer ends of each of the rock-shafts, brake shoes adapted to engage the wheels having a pivotal connection with `the inner crank arm of each rock-shaft, an operating lever pivotally connected to each of the crank arms on the outer ends of each of the rockshafts, an equalizing connection between the operating levers, said equalizing connections comprising means when one of the operating levers is actuated for rotating one rock-shaft independent of the other rock-shaft.

26. The combination with a car body and wheels at each side of the car, a rock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on each side or 'the car, a crankV arm at the inner and outer end of each rock-shaft, brake shoes adapted. to engage the wheels having a pivotal connection with the inner crank arm of each rock-shaft, a pair of operating levers each'having a resilient connection with one of the crank arms onthe outer ends of the rock-shafts, a pair of equalizing bars for connecting the operating levers together, said resilient connections and equalizing bars comprising means when one of the operating levers is actuated for initially rotating both of the rock-shafts simultaneously and then if required independently of each other to set the brakes.

27. The combination with a car body and Wheels at each side of the car, a rock-shaft supported on each side of the car, each having a crank arm extending from their inner and outer ends, brake shoes adapted to engage the wheels, each having a pivotal connection with the inner crank arm of each rock-shaft, a pair of operating levers each having a resilient connection with one of the crank arms on the outerends of the rock-shafts, means for adjusting the resilient connection between the operating levers and the crank arms on the outer ends of the rock-shafts, a pair of equalizing bars connecting the operating levers together, means for holding the operating levers when the brakes are set, and means for actuating the operating levers to automatically release the brakes.

28. The combination with a car body and wheels at each side of the car, a rock-shaft sup-v ported on each side of the car, each having a crank arm extending from their inner and outer ends, brake shoes pivotally connected to the inner crank arm` of each rock-shaft, a pair of operating levers each having a floating fulcrum connection with the car body, a resilient con- Vnection between the operating levers and the crank arms on the outer ends of the rock-shafts, and equalizing bars for connecting the operating levers together. f

29. The combination with a car b ody and wheels at each side of the car, a rock-shaft supported on each side of the car, each having a crank arm extending from their inner and outer ends, brake shoes pivotally connected to the on each operating lever,V racks secured' to the car body for engaging the tooth of each operating lever adapted to hold said operating levers when the brakes are set, and a crank-shaft having cranks adapted'when manually actuated to disengage the tooth of eachoperating lever from the teeth of the racks to automatically release the brakes. Y

3G. The combination with a car body and Wheels at each side of the car, a rock-shaft supported on each side of the car, each having a crank arm extending from their inner and outer ends, brake shoes pivotally connected to the crank arms on the inner ends of each rock- Vshaft, a pair of operating levers, each having a swinging fulcrum pivoted to the car end, a pair of Vequalizing bars pivoted to and connecting the operating levers together, a tooth on each operating lever, racks secured to the car end adapted to engage the tooth of each operating lever for holding the operating levers when the brakes are set, a resilient connection betweenY the operating levers and the crank arms on the outer Vends of the rock-shafts for holding the tooth of each operating lever in the desired engagement with the teeth of the racks when the brakes are set, andv a crank-shaft havingr cranksV adapted when manually actuated to. disengage the'tooth of each operating lever from the teeth of the racks to automatically release the brakes.

31. The combinationY with a car Ybody andV Wheels atV each side of the car, a rock-'shaft supported on the carfbody, brake shoes pivotally connected to the rock-shaft for engaging the Wheels, an operating lever having a floating fulcrum pivoted to the car body for actuating the rock-shaft, and. a resilient equalizing connection between the operating lever and the rockshaft adapted to exert pressure on the brake shoes when the brakes are set.

32. The combination with a 'car body and a Ypair'of wheels at each side of the car, a rockshaft supportedV on each sidepf thecar body,

brake shoesk pivotally connected to the rockshaftsV for engaging the pairs of wheels on each side of the car, a pair of spaced operating levers each having a lfloating fulcrumY pivoted to one end `of the car body for.V actuating the rockshafts, equalizing bars for connecting Vthe pair of operating levers together-,and afresilient connection between each operating lever and one of the rock-shafts for exerting pressure on the brake shoes when the brakes are set.

' LOUIS G. MILLER.

Images