US1081908A - Mail-bag receiving and delivering apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

\ H. J. HEDRIOK.

MAIL BAG RECEIVING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.3, 1912.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

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H. J. HBDRICK.

MAIL BAG RECEIVING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

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APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 3, 1912.

WITNESSES l/VVE/VTOR COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASH|NGTON, n. c.

',H J. HEDRICK. MAIL BAG RECEIVING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 811F113, 1912.

1,081,908. I I Patented Dec. 16,1913.

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MAIL BAG RECEIVING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED SBPT.3, 1912.

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ArTRNEy UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

HENRY J'. HEDRICK, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

MAIL-BAG RECEIVING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

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Application filed September 3, 1912.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. HEDRICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Wyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Receiving and Delivering Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to mail delivery mechanism, and more particularly to mechanism for delivering mail sacks to railway mail cars while the latter are in motion, the present mechanism being an improvement on that described in my United States LettersPatent Nos. 887,799 of May 19th, 1908, 940,152 of November 16, 1909, 943,876 of December 21, 1909 and 991,444 of May 2, 1911, the principal object of the invention being to provide a ground member wherein the mail sacks may be held securely until picked up by a traveler, and a traveler, which may be extended from a car door, and which will, after picking up the sacks from the stationary member, automatically return to the car.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a ground member which may be adjusted to hold sacks of different thickness,

or one or more sacks, without affecting the security of the support, or the facility with which the sacks may be removed therefrom.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a pick-up mechanism which may be set to pick up sacks from the ground mem her and lock samefirmly in the traveler to insure their safe delivery into the car.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a pick-up mechanism whereby the impact thereof against mail sacks held in the ground member may be cushioned, and

wherein the cushioning action serves to set the traveler so that it is automatically returned into the car.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the im proved details of structure hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure I is a perspective view of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

Serial No. 718,331.

traveling, or pick-up member, showing a part of the interior of a car in which the mechanism is mounted, and illustrating the mechanism in extended or pick-up position. Fig. II is a perspective view of the ground member, or crane, shown in delivery position, and supporting a single mail bag. Fig. III is a side elevation of the crane, a part of its standard being in section to illustrate the pivotal. mounting, and its idle position being illustrated in dotted lines. Fig. IV is a rear view of the crane, the dotted lines showing the loading position of the parts.

' Fig. V is a side view of the crane as it appears when approaching idle position, and indicating the action of the counter-balancing weight. Fig. VI is an enlarged inverted 3121-11 view of the top latch of the crane. Fig.

II is a central, longitudinal section of same. Fig. VIII is a detail view of one of the adjustable clamp members. Fig. IX is a plan View of the traveler, or pick-up mechanism, showing its collapsed position within the can. Fig. X is a horizontal section of the clamp on the pick-up mechanism. Fig. XI is a detail view of part of the pickup arm and its ratchet.

Referring more in detail to the parts, and

first to the ground member, or crane, 1 designates a post which is permanently set in the ground adjacent a railway track, and to which the crane standard 2 is connected by hinges 3, so that the crane may be turned to or from the track, or may be stopped at an intermediate loading position, the platform 4 being arranged adjacent the post, and in such relation thereto that a mail bag may be easily applied to the crane when the latter is in its loading position.

The standard 2 preferably comprises side members 5 which extend above the top of the supporting post, and spacers 6 which separate the side members so that a recess 7 is provided at the upper end of the standard, a pivot pin 8 being extended through the side members and recess near the rear edge of the standard, and a stop block 9 fixed in the recess at the upper forward corner thereof, for a purpose presently described.

A crane 10, preferably comprising a U- shaped body of strap metal, is pivotally mounted on the standard by means of a knuckle 11 which is fixed to the base of the crane near the lower corner thereof and pivotally mounted on the pin 8, one leg of the crane being extended through the recess and projected forwardly therefrom, so that the body portion of the crane may abut against the stop block 9 and hold the crane in horizontal, delivery position, or in vertical, idle position, as illustrated clearly in Figs. II and V.

The upper arm of the crane has it free end turned backwardly to form a lip 12 par: allel with the body of the arm, and slidably mounted in apertures in the arm and lip is a pin, 13, the upper end of which carries a nut 14; and has a spring 15 surrounding the portion thereof between the lip and nut and bearing against such parts to yieldingly tension the pin upwardly (Fig. VII). Fixed on the inner end of the pin is a collar 16, which bears against the inner face of the arm 10 to. limit the outward projection of the pin under tension of the spring 15, the inner end of the pin being bent laterally over the inner face of the collar to form a hanger 110 for supporting a mail bag.

Fixed to the inner face of the arm 10 is a bracket 17 having inturned ears 18 carrying flat springs 19- which project along and bear against the fiat sides 20 of the collar 16 to. retard the pivotal movement of the rod 13 and hold same projected in line with the arm 10-. The ears 18 have apertures, andpivotally' mounted in said apertures is a ring 21 which overlies. the hanger arm of the rod 13 and forms a latch for the mail bag and hanger, as will presently be described. Fixed to the ring, between the cars 18, is a clamp 22 having ears 23 directed into the interior of the ring, and

fixed to the arm 10 is a flat spring 24 which bears against the clamp ears and is adapted for yieldingly tensionmg the ring toward its functional position, which is in contact with the hanger section of said rod.

On the lower crane arm 10 are inturned brackets 25, one of which may be formed by turning up the end of the arm, and fixed in said brackets is a rod 26. Slidably mounted on rod 26' are clips 27 (Fig. VIII), and slidably mounted on the rod between the clip ears are clamps 28 which resemble large cotter pins, in that they comprise eyelet heads 29 and spaced fingers 30. Two of said clamps are mounted on the rod 26 and adapted for sliding adjustment there on, or for locking engagement with the rod when canted.

Projecting rearwardly from standards 5 is. a frame 32 having bearings 33 on its outer end within which a shaft 3 1 is revolubly mounted, the portion of the shaft between the bearing being provided with a sheave pulley 35, a guard 36 being mounted on the ends of the frame bars to prevent the escape of a cable which is adapted to travel loosely over the Wheel.

Fixed on the base of the crane in'a bracket 37 preferably comprising a piece of strap metal bent to a V-shape, and connected with the end of the bracket is a cable 38 which is run over the sheave pulley 35 and carries a weight 39 at its lower end, the length of the cable being such that the weight is lifted from the ground when the crane is in delivery position, and the V bracket proj ected horizontally, and when the crane is in idle position and the V bracket extended vertically within the frame 32, it being apparent that when in the latter position, the bracket will hold the cable lowered at the inside of the pulley wheel, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. III.

The weight 39 is slightly heavier than the crane 10 in order that when the crane is empty it will be automatically thrown back to idle position by the lowering of the weight, but when carrying a mail bag will overcome the weight so that it may remain in delivery position, thereby making the return of the crane to idle position automatic upon the removal of the bag.

In order to lock the crane standard in delivery position, I provide same with a metal strap 11 which is adapted to extend over the face of the post 1 and inclose a staple 43, a hasp 14: being pivotally mounted on the post and also adapted to overlie the staple 43 so that a pin 46 may be projected through the staple and hold the hasp and bar in place.

A mail bag which is used with this ap paratus may be of ordinary construction, but when placed in the crane carries a strap 50, having a hanger 51, preferably formed from a single piece of strap metal, secured thereto, the upper end of the hanger having inclined sides 52 and having a roller 53 journaled therebetween and adapted to lie over the hanger member of the pin 13, as illustrated in Fig. II, so that the bag may be carried in upright position with its lower end anchored to the base portion of the crane by the clamps 28, as will hereafter be more clearly described.

The take-up member of the apparatus, or the part which is carried in a mail car, comprises a carriage 55, preferably formed from a single piece of strap metal, the sides of which are spaced apart, and the ends connected to form a rigid V-shaped structure. One end of the carriage is, pivotally mounted on a pin 56 which is carried between the ears 57 of a bracket 58 that is bolted, or otherwise rigidly secured to a post 59, on the inside of the car, the opposite end of the carriage being bowed outwardly so that the head member, which will presently be described, may extend into the carriage in line with the outer half thereof.

Pivotally mounted on a pin 60, which extends between the sides of the carriage at the body portion of the outer ends thereof, is a take-up head 61, having a stop arm 62 projected inwardly from its inner end and provided with a foot 63 which is adapted to bear against a stop 64 that is rigidly fixed to the jamb of the door. The inner portion of the foot is projected laterally to form a fulcrum, and has a rope 65 connected therewith and run between guide pulleys 66 on brackets 67 carried by the carriage, over guide rollers 68 and 69, carried by the post 59 and the side of the car respectively and over a hanger pulley 70, which is carried by a strap 71 fixed to and carried by the bars 72 which extend between the post 59 and a smaller post 73 adjacent thereto, the inner end of the rope being provided with a weight 74 which is adapted to absorb the shock of impact of a mail bag with the takeup head, and return said head to an extended position, as will presently be more fully described.

The outer end of the head 61 contains a slot 77, and extended vertically through the outer end of said slot is a pin 7 8 which carries a trigger 7 9 having a spring 7 9 whereby it is yieldingly extended forwardly to en gagement with a limiting bracket and being provided at its inner end with a flexible guide plate 81, having apertures 82, through which the arms of a trip 83 are projected. The trip 83 is extended through another guide 80 and is preferably formed of heavy spring wire bent upon itself to substantially U-shape, with its arms extended through the guide 81, as stated, and its inner ends looped through flexible hangers Set on the takeup head, so that it may have free pivotal and limited spreading movement.

Projected rearwardly from the outer end of the take-up head are ears 87, and mounted in said ears is a post 88 upon which the cars 89 of a clamp bar 90 are pivotally mounted, said bar being preferably formed from a single piece of metal, having a backwardly curved forward end 91, and a backwardly curved catch lip 92 at its rear end adapted for locking engagement with a roller 93 on the trigger 7 9, the clamp bar being preferably reinforced by a metal leaf 94L. Surrounding the portions of post 88 above and below the clamp cars 89 is a spring 95, the ends of which are projected along the ears 87 and anchored in the takeup head 61, and the body of which is con nected with the clamp arm 90 so that the arm is tensioned toward the take-up head, a pin 96 being extended between said ears and adapted for engagement by the body portions of the spring in order to distribute the strain and jar of the spring and thereby lengthen the life thereof.

In order to hold the take-up head in its functional or extended position, I provide same with a curved ratchet 100 which extends rearwardly from near its base end and has its opposite end projected over the stop arm 62. Mounted on the carriage 55, and overhanging the ratchet 100, are ears 101, and extending through said cars is a rod 102 having a hook end 103 projecting through a keeper 10 1 on a pawl 105, which latter is pivotally mounted on a pin 106 carried by the ears 101. A spring is carried by the rod 102, with one end hooked through the car 101, and the other end in engagement with the pawl 105 so that the pawl is yieldingly pressed into engagement with the ratchet. The rod 102 extends back along the carriage to a plate 107 carried thereby and is turned up within a guide 108- on said plate and adapted for engagement with a keeper 109 thereon, said keeper preferably comprising a notched flange that is turned laterally from the upper end of the plate. With this construction, the rod may be turned to raise the pawl out of this ratchet and hold same in such elevated position, or may be dropped to another notch to allow the pawl to pass to functional position, where it may ride over the ratchet.

A latch 110 is provided on the interior of the car for holding the carriage and take-up head within the car and in collapsed condition, such latch preferably comprising a finger 111 of spring metal adapted to ride over one bar of the carriage when the latter is returned into the car, and having a tip 111 for holding the bar when the parts have been returned.

By providing the carriage with a guide sheave bracket 67 having the inwardly directed wings for carrying the sheave wheels, the cable is cramped when the saddle is returned into the car, as shown in Fig. IX, so that the weight is lifted to carry a constant outward tension of the carriage.

In order to hold the take-up head against the tension of its weight, when the pawl 105 is released prior to the movement of the carriage to functional position, and so that the head may be held in its collapsed posi tion to allow the carriage and head to pass through the door of the car, I provide the head with a strap 112, which may be wrapped around one bar of the carriage to hold the head after the rod 102 has been rocked to throw the pawl out of its ratchet. It is apparent that when the pawl has been thrown, the weight will tend to straighten the take-up head, but that by holding the loose end of the strap, the head will be held in the carriage and the entire mechanism will be turned on the carriage pivot as it is pushed out through the door. When the carriage and take-up head have been projected from the door, the strap may be released to allow the weight to perform its function. of straightening the take-up head. When the parts are straightened, the pawl is released so that when the head receives the impact of a mail bag it may cushion back against the tension of the weight. It is apparent that as the take-up head swings to its functional position, the foot 63 will assume a position back of the stop 64 and prevent the return of the carriage and head into the car until it is released, as will be described.

V'Vhen the bag is struck by the take-up head, the impact moves the head back against the tension of the weight 74 in order to cushion the impact and raise the weight so that it may return the parts into the car. It is possible that with some very light bags the impact will not be sufficient to lift the weight, and in order to move the head back and lift the weight sufliciently to return the parts, I provide the foot with a rope 115, whereby an operator may throw the head to its rear limit and lift the weight, so that when the rope is released the parts may be returned.

Presu-ming the parts to be constructed and assembled as described, when a mailbag is to be delivered from a station to a railway mail car, while the latter is in motion, the station-agent lowers the crane to horizontal position, lifts the ring 21, places the sack hanger over the horizontal portion of the rod 13 and lowers the ring over the end of the hanger so as to prevent accidental escape of the hanger from the rod. He then clamps the lower end of the bag between the members 28 so that the bag is held in vertical position. The crane standard is then swung around to bring the bag into position for engagement by the take-up on the car and the standard locked in position by the bar and hasp device. As a train approaches the station, the operator on the car sets the traveler by opening the clamp bar 90 against the tension of its spring 95, so that its hooked inner end passes over and is caught by the roller 93' on the trigger 79, the spring 79 holding the trigger extended and the trigger holding the trip 83 in front of its face, as illustrated most clearly in Fig. X. With the take-up head set in this manner, the operator grasps the strap 1.12, releases the pawl 105, and pushes the carriage through the car door, letting the straps out gradually when the carriage is set to allow the weight to pivot the takeup head until it is in line with the outer carriage arm, and the foot 63 is set behind the stop on the door-j amb. With the parts in this position, the car travels past the station and the take-up head of the pick-upmechanism strikes the suspended mail-bag at about the center, the impact of the head against the bag causing the trip 83 to rock the trigger 7 9 inwardly against the tension of its spring 79 and thereby releasing the hook on the end of the clamp arm 90-, so

that the latter is thrown inwardly against the mail-bag and binds same securely to the take-up head, the pressure of the clamp arm, and the obstruction formed by the cars 87, serving to hold the bag against the head.

When the take-up head hits the bag, the bag tends to double at the point of contact, thereby exerting a downward pull on the hanger 52, which lowers the hanger portion of the pin 13 against the tension of its spring, the forward movement of the bag at the same time turning the pin toward the direction of travel of the bag so that the forward pull on the hanger will cause the beveled ends of the latter to ride under the keeper ring and off of the horizontal part of the rod to free the hanger therefrom, such forward movement also pulling the bag from between theclamps 28 so that the bag is entirely removed from the crane. The impact of the head against the bag throws the head backwardly so that it pivots on the carriage, and drags the pawl over the ratchet so that it lifts the weight 74: to cushion the impact of the head against the bag. After the weight has been lifted by the impact, it again falls toward the bottom of the car and draws the head and carriage into the car, throwing the carriage against its latch to hold the parts and prevent their swinging back toward the open door. It is apparent that when the head and carriage have passed within the car, the mail-bag may be removed by pulling the clamp 90 from the bag so that the bag may drop to thefloor of the car. The mechanism may then remain at the side of the car until it is again needed, when the operation just described may be repeated to take the mail back from the crane at a succeeding station.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is:

1. The combination with a bag holder, of a traveling member comprising a carriage, a pick-up head pivotally mounted on the carriage, means for yieldingly retaining said head in operative position, and pawl and ratchet mechanism on the carriage and head for locking said head against the tension of said yielding means when the head retreats under impact with a bag, substantially as set forth.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, a traveling member comprising a pivotally mounted carriage adapted for projection through a car door, a takeup head pivotally mounted in the carriage and comprising a stop arm adapted for travel within the carriage, a weight and a cable connecting the weight with said stop arm, a stop for holding the head against the tension of said weight, a ratchet on said head, and a pawl on said carriage for locking the head against the tension of said weight.

3. In a mechanism of the character described, a pivotally mounted carriage, a head pivotally mounted on the carriage and comprising a stop arm adapted for travel within the carriage, and having a foot provided with a fulcrum projection, a yielding member connected with said fulcrum projection, a stop adapted for engagement by said foot to hold the arm against the tension of said yielding means, and mechanism on said head for clamping a bag thereto.

4. In a mechanism of the character described, a pivotally mounted carriage, a head pivotally mounted on the carriage and comprising a stop arm having a foot provided with a fulcrum projection, a yielding member connected with said fulcrum projection, a stop adapted for engagement by said foot to hold the arm against the tension of said yielding means, and means for manually turning said arm against the tension of said yielding means.

5. In a mechanism of the character described, a pivotally mounted carriage, a head pivotally mounted on the carriage and comprising a stop arm having a foot provided with a fulcrum projection, a yielding member connected with said fulcrum projection, a stop adapted for engagement by said foot to hold the arm against the tension of said yielding means, a rope connected with said foot, and means on said head for holding a ba (I. In a mechanism of the character described, a pivotally mounted carriage, a head pivotally mounted on the carriage, a ratchet mounted on and adapted for travel with said head, a pawl carried by the carriage and adapted for cooperation with the ratchet, a spring yieldingly tensioning said pawl toward the ratchet, a rod connected with the pawl and adapted for lifting same against the tension of the spring, and a keeper plate adapted for holding the rod when the "pawl is in either active or inactive position.

7. In a mechanism of the character described, a take-up mechanism comprising a head, a clamp bar yieldingly tensioned toward the head, and a trigger adapted for retaining said clamp bar in a set position and for actuation under impact of a bag to release the clamp bar, for the purpose set forth.

8. In a mechanism of the character described, a take-up head comprising a spring actuated clamp bar, a trigger for holding the bar in set position, and a pivotally mounted trip adapted for actuation by the impact of a bag and for rocking the trigger when so actuated.

9. In a mechanism of the character described, a take-up head, a clamp bar mounted on the head and having a catch lip at one end, a spring yieldingly tensioning the clamp bar toward the head, a trigger pivotally mounted adjacent the catch end of the clamp bar, and having a member adapt ed for holding same when the parts are set, a spring for yieldingly tensioning said trigger toward set position, and a pivotally mounted trip having a loose end overlying the trigger, and adapted for actuation under the impact of a bag to rock said trigger and release the clamp bar, for the purpose set forth.

10. In a mechanism of the character described, a pick-up head comprising a clamp bar, means for yieldingly tensioning the clamp bar toward the head, a pivotally mounted trigger, a spring for yieldingly tensioning the trigger toward set position, means for limiting the movement of the trigger under the influence of the spring, and a floating trip connected with the trigger and adapted for rocking same, for the purpose set forth.

11. In a mechanism of the character described, a take-up head comprising a clamp bar, a pivotally mounted trigger having a roller adapted for engagement by a catch member on the bar, a spring yieldingly tensioning said trigger toward set position, and a trip mounted on the head and having sliding connection with the trigger.

12. In a mechanism of the character described, a take-up head comprising a clamp bar, a pivotally mounted trigger having a roller ada ted for engagement by a catch member on the bar, a spring yieldingly tensioning said trigger toward set position, and a trip having floating connection with the head, and having sliding connection with the trigger.

13. In a mechanism of the character described, a pick-up head comprising a clamp bar, a trigger pivotally mounted on the head, and yieldingly tensioned toward set position, a flexible plate on the free end of said trigger, a trip having arm members slidably projecting through said plate and pivotally connected with the head, and means for limiting the projection of said trigger.

14. In a mechanism of the character described, a take-up head having a longitudinal slot therein, a trigger having one end pivotally mounted in the outer end of the head slot, a spring yieldingly tensioning the loose end of the trigger forwardly from the slot, means for limiting the projection of the trigger, a plate on the free end of said trigger,-a flexible member mounted on the head, a trip having arms slidably projected. through the trigger plate and connected with said flexible member, and a clamp bar yieldingly tensioned toward the head, and having a catch member adapted for holding engagement with the trigger roller, substantially as set forth.

15. In a mechanism of the character de-' scribed, a take-up head having forwardly directed ears on its outer end, a post mounted in said ears, a clamp bar pivotally mounted on said post, a spring having a separate portion connected with the clamp bar and having end portions coiled on said post and extending along said ears and through the head, a pin mounted in said ears and adapted for engagement by the central portion of said spring when the clamp bar is released, and trigger mechanism for controlling the clamp bar.

16. In a mechanism of the character described, a stationary post, a standard hingedly mounted on said post, a crane pivotally mounted on the standard and adapted for vertical movement to and from said position, and means for holding a mail bag on said crane.

17. In a mechanism of the character described, a standard hingedly mounted on said post and adapted for horizontal movement to and from said position, a crane pivotally mounted on the standard and adapted for vertical movement to and from said position, means for holding a mail bag in the crane, and means for automatically returning the crane after the removal of the mail bag.

18. In a mechanism of the character described, a suitable standard, a crane pivotally mounted on said standard, means on the crane for holding a mail bag, a bracket projectingfrom the base of the crane and a weight carried by said bracket and adapted for swinging the crane upon the removal of a mail bag.

19. In a mechanism of the character described, a standard, a crane eccentrically mounted on the standard and adapted for swinging movement to and from a set position, and means for automatically swinging the crane upon the removal of a mail bag therefrom and cushioning the swinging movement as the crane approaches the limit of its travel.

20. In a mechanism of the character dc scribed, a standard, a crane having an eccentrically pivotal mounting on the standard, means on the crane for holding a mail bag, a bracket projecting from the base of the crane, a guide on the standard, a weighted rope connected with the bracket and run through the guide whereby the crane is antomatically returned to initial position and cushioned as it approaches the limit of its movement.

21. In a mechanism of the character described, a standard, a crane pivotally mounted on the standard, means on the crane for holding a mail bag, a bracket on said stand ard, a roller carried by said bracket, a bracket on the base of the crane adapted for projection through the standard bracket and past the roller, a rope on said crane bracket having a weight on its free end adapted for elevation by the rope when a crane is at either limit of its travel and for support to relieve the crane as the crane bracket passes the guide roller, for the purpose set forth.

22. In a mechanism of the character described, a standard, a crane having an inner corner pivotally connected with the standard, a bracket fixed on the base of the crane, a weight connected with said bracket and adapted for tipping the crane on its pivotal mounting, and means on said crane for holding a bag.

23. In a mechanism of the character described, a crane comprising spaced arm members, one of said members having adjustable mechanism for gripping a bag, a rod yieldably mounted on the opposite arm, and a keeper loosely mounted on said last named arm and adapted for overlying said rod, for the purpose set forth.

24. In a mechanism of the character described, a crane comprising spaced arms, means on one of said arms for holding a bag, a rod carried by the opposite arm, and a keeper pivotally mounted on said last named arm and overlying said rod.

25. In a mechanism of the character described, a crane comprising spaced arms, means on one of said arms for holding a bag, a rod slidably projected through the opposite arm and having a laterally turned portion, a head on said rod, a spring surrounding said rod and engaging the arm and head to yieldingly retain the laterally turned portion in said position, and a keeper carried by said second arm and overlying the laterally turned portion of said rod.

26. In a mechanism of the character described, a crane comprising spaced arms, means on one of said arms for holding a bag, a rod pivotally mounted in the second arm and havinga laterally turned portion, a collar on said rod, springs fixed on the arm and bearing against said collar, and a keeper carried by the arm and overlying the laterally turned portion of said rod, for the purpose set forth. 7

27. In a mechanism of the character described, a crane comprising spaced arms, means on one of said arms for holding a bag, a rod on the second arm having a laterally projecting portion, a ring pivotally mounted on the arm, and a spring yieldingly tensioning said ring against the upper portion of the rod, substantially as set forth.

28. In a mechanism of the character described, a crane comprising spaced arms,

means on one of the arms for gripping the bag, a rod carried by the second arm, ears on said last named arm, a ring pivotally mounted in said ears and overlying the rod, a

clamp on said ring and a spring engaging the clamp and arm to yieldingly tension said ring against the rod.

29. In a mechanism of the character described, a crane comprising spaced arms, means on one of the arms for holding a bag, a rod on the second arm, a ring carried by said arm and overlying the rod, and a bag hanger having spaced ears provided with beveled edges and carrying a roller, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

30. In a mechanism of the character described, a crane comprising spaced arms, a latch member on one of said arms, a rod on the second arm, and clamp arms slidably Copies of this patent may be obtained for mounted on said rod but adapted for aut0- matic locking engagement therewith, for the purpose set forth.

31. In a mechanism of the character described, a crane comprising spaced arms, a latch on one of said arms, a rod on the second arm, clips slidably mounted on said rod, clamps slidably mounted on said rod within the clips and comprising spaced fingers, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY J. HEDRICK.

IVitnesses:

LEWIS L. MILLER, LETA E. CoATs.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0;! Patents, Washington, .D. G.

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