WESTINGHOUSE BRAKE APPLIANCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2533, 21 June 1909, Page 6

WESTINGHOUSE BRAKE APPLIANCE.

PATENTED BI A NEW ZEALANDER.

(Per ‘Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 17. Passengers on railway trains and the public generally know that, the flexible hose pipes between the carriages of a train furnisli the medium by which the Westinghouso brake is applied. They are tubes, along which the compressed air which actuates the brakes is conducted. It is quite clear that for shunting purposes there must be means of cutting off the supply of air, and this is done by means of cocks at each end of the cars. Now there is a possibility that a passenger standing on the platform at the end of the car might tamper with this tap, and sever communication with the brakes on tho oar behind him. In such a case the driver would not be likely to know until he had to pull the train up, and then there might be trouble. To avoid this possible danger of the rear part of the train becoming severed in brake connection from the engine a safety appliance has been devised and patented by Mr Normeny C. Christie, of the Westinghouso brake department of the New Zealand Railways, Invercargill. It is not only designed to indicate at once to tho driver that tho brakes are inoperative through such tampering with the cocks as suggested, or through accident, hut also to furnish a means of telephonic communication between the guard and the driver, and also between the various carriages and the driver. The need for such communication is of course evident in tlie case of a person falling off the carriage or meeting with any othor accident. The appliance is a closed electric circuit by means of a wire passed- adjawnt to the brake pipe through the train. Aliy breaking or the circuit causes a bell to ring m tho engine cab, and it continues ringing until the connection is restored. In the carriages are also small contrivances something like fire alarms, by which communication may ho had with the driver. The invention, at which Mi Christie has been working for the past eighteen months, was on its trial to and from the Lower Hutt. A number of gentlemen interested were on Loam the’train, including Mr A. L Beattie, Chief Locomotive Engineer or the New Zealand Railways, Mr G A. Pearson, Locomotive Engineer, Petone, Mi DW Moore, -Westmghoiise Brake Inspector ; Mr R. E. Robinson, representing the Westinghouso Brake Company , M?. Walter Henderson, director of the Company, which holds the patent rights and the inventor himself, lho trial was quite successful. The alarm announced that the brake connection had been severed, and communication was made with the driver from the vancarriages. The device appeared to- fulfil all the claims or the The invention is being promoted bythe Christie Safety Brake Attachment Company. .