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PROMOTING SAFETY ON HILLS.

27th February 1923
Page 15
Page 15, 27th February 1923 — PROMOTING SAFETY ON HILLS.
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Details of a Simple but Effective Type of Scotch, which can be Brought into Action from the Driver's Seat. _

INCREASING attention is being paid by the owners of goods and passenger vehicles, and by the general public, to the question of rendering both classes of vehicle safer.

We have, on many occasions, referred to different types of emergency brake sprag or scotch which can be used to arrest a runaway vehicle in whatever

direction it may be travelling. Last week we gave details of the Woodhead\Vestall brake, which acts on the road surface, and which can be fitted for use in either direction. t

We have now received particulars of another device which is of the scotch type, and which is intended to arrest the backward motion of a vehicle if at any time the brakes fail while it is travelling uphill, or it can be used, if it be desired, to arrest a vehicle in the middle of such a hill and to avoid any risk of running backward, whether the ordinary brakes be on or off. It thus overcomes the danger of the hand brake being released by some unauthorized person. If motor coaching is to retain its popu larit-y, passengers must feel certain that everything possible is being done to promote their safety. Although the number of accidents is not great considering the vast numbers of passengers carried, those which have occurred have rendered potential users somewhat apprehensive, and, particularly in hilly districts, there is sometimes a reluctance to take advantage of this means of conveyance. If, however, the owners of coaches can point out that their vehicles are satisfactorily equipped to meet any possible dangers which may occur while climbing oi descending steep hills, then the popu laxity of their vehicles will 'be greatly enhanced.

Details of the new ',scotching device can be seen by referring to our illustrations It will be noted that the scotch itself is pivoted on an arm which fulcrums on a bracket attached to the rear axle, preferably to the spring pads. A short lever is attached to this arm, and to this is connected a cable communicating with a lever near the driver.

Normally,, the scotch is held out of contact with the ground, hut if it be desired to arrest the vehicle on a hill, or if the brakes refuse to hold, the lever is at once released, and the scotch drops to the ground and arrests the motion of the wheel on which it takes effect.

That face of the scotch in contact with the ground is flat, but the upper face is suitably curved to fit the tyre. Provision for tyre wear is made by embodying a slot in the bracket holding the swing arm.

The appliance has been designed and manufactured for the inventor, Mr. Daniel Brian, by the Brian Engineering Co., Ltd., 7, Senghenydd Place, Cardiff. We understand that it has been subjected to the most exacting tests on th steepest and roughest roads available, and that it has proved so effective that the heaviest vehicles can be prevented from running back.

One of the features of the device is that it does not throw any stresses on the swing arm or the bracket to which this arm is attached. It could not, of course, be applied if the vehicle were travelling backward at any considerable speed, as it is probable that the scotch would then be jumped.

Tags

People: Daniel Brian
Locations: Cardiff

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