AN EMERGENCY BRAKE FOR TRAILERS.
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ATYPE of emergency brake for trailers which appears to have e'ertam possibilities as regards the obviating of at least a part of the danger in the event of the trailer breaking away from the towing vehicle has been protected by Mr. W. D. Thomson, 80, The Grove, Hammersmith. The actual invention lies more in the means of application rather than in the brake itself, for this may be of the ordinary type usually controlled from. the vehicle through a fairly loose connection, which allows for a. certain amount of relative movement between the vehicle, and trailer.
Reference to our illustration will show the simple nature of the invention ; the brake proper is connected by means of a chain or other flexible device to a point on the drawbar, so that when the drawbar drops as the result of becoming disconnected the brake is applied immediately. In the specification are also included details of a ratchet device which prevents the towbar from lifting,
B30 so that the brake is actually applied with a force in excess of the weight and leverage exerted by the drawbar when this is being merely supported by the brake connection, and, although this force is exerted in the nature of a jerk, the ratchet retains the brake in the " on " position.
By suitably arranging the device there is no need to interfere with the ordinary connection of the brake to the vehicle, and it is stated by the inventor that V would cover the cost of making the addition to new trailers.
The one snag would appear to be in the brake-shoe pressure obtainable by this means; to be of any real use it. would have to be considerable, and, unless specially weighted drawbars were employed, we doubt whether sufficient pull could be applied in this manner.
Mr. Thomson desires to get into touch with concerns which would he prepared to build and market the device.