CONTINUOUS EAILWAY BHAKES. 175 



chanism, arc the means of absorbing tlic train's kinetic 

 energy. 



In tlio case of " Ean " and "Pump" brakes, tko fluid 

 friction of a " fan," keyed to one of tlie axles and revolvino- 

 in a cylinder filled with liquid, which it has likewise to 

 circulate through a plate perforated with holes, is used to 

 absorb the train's kinetic energy. 



Details of these brakes are to be found in Rankine'a 

 works, and in Mr. J. Wolfe Barry's " Eailway Appliances." 

 Sectional brakes are interesting and instructive in many 

 respects, but are not of sufficient importance to call for 

 a lengthy description. Their day is over, so far as passenger 

 trains are concerned ; and in America and other countries 

 they are being su])ersoded on freight trains by " continuous 

 brakes." 

 Among — 



" CONTINUOUS BEAKES," 



We find, as before said, two great divisions :-^ 



A. Simple Continuous Brakes, and 



B. Automatic Continuous Brakes. 



Each of these, divisions can be divided into the same num- 

 ber, namely, three classes, any class among the Automatic 

 continuous brakes having the same distinguishing charac- 

 teristic as the corresponding class among Simple continu- 

 ous brakes. 



Continuous Brakes may be classified according to the 

 " force " available for working them, and the method of its 

 application to that part of the brake mechanism where the 

 power is applied. 



Classified in this manner, we have — 



Class I., 

 Containing those brakes in which the force available for 



o o 



