US1107170A - Foldable or extensible car-step. - Google Patents

Description

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H. D.- KIRKLEY. FOLDABLB 0R EXTBNSIBLE GAR STEP. I APPLICATION FILED PEB.9,1914. 1,107,170. Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

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Witnesses Y ,ug

UNITED STATES OFFICE.

HIRAM D. KIRKLEY, 0F PARAGOULD, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 G. O. LIGHT, 0F PARAGQULD, ARKANSAS.

FOLDABLE on Ex'rnNsIBLE GAB-STEP.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

Application filed February I1, 1914. .SeriaLNa 817,613.

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, HiRAM D. KIRKLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paragould, in the county of Greene and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Foldable or Extensible Car-Step5 and I do hereby declare the following to However, the principal object of this invention is to improve the construction of, the extensible car step, shown, set forth and.

claimed in the application filed April 22,

1913, Serial No. 762,804, allowed May 10,

1913, and which has matured into patent dated July 22, 1913, No. 1,067,821, in that means are provided, whereby said extensible car step may be independently actuated,

or actuated by the usual vestibule door,'

when opened or closed.

Another object of the invention is to afford improved connections between the operating parts of said extensible car step and the vestibule door, whereby when the door is opened the step will be thrown down or extended, and when closed, the step is re-i ceded.

= connections to the rock shaft 21.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means forming a part of said connections, whereby said connections" may be temporarily incapable of actuat-j mg the step when opening the vestlbule door. In further words, said connections may be temporarily broken between the vestibule door and the step, so that the door may be opened independently and without actuating the step. In this case after the conductor or trainman or porter reaches the lower stationary step, he may depress a foot piece adjacent the lower stationary step, so that the extensible step may be actuated, that is, if the porter, trainman: or conductor wishes to descend to the plat form.

connections, may be so arranged whereby step as applied thereto.

the vestibule door may be at all times opened without actuating the extensible car step.

Another object of the invention is to afford means whereby the extensible step is locked either in an extended or contracted position.

In practical fields the details of construe, 131011 may be subjected to alterations, falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as hereinafter set vforth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a view in perspective of one end of the vestibule railroad car, showing the improved extensible Fig. 2 is an ele vation of one side of the usual car step, showing the extensible step extended, and

the car body in section partially on line .2-2 of Fig.1 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly insection of a portion of the usual steps, showing the extensible step extended. Fig. i. is an enlarged detail side elevation partly in sect on, that is, somewhat slmilar to Fig. 2 showingthe foldable stepcollapsed. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view, showing parts in section of the connections between, the lever 32. and the door 66,0f the vestibule of the car. 6

is an enlarged perspective view, showing the tread and rise boards 8 and 9, and their Fig. .7 is a detail perspective view ofthe bell crank lever-69.

Referring more especially to the drawings, 1 designates the platform of the car having the usual steps 2. Extending through the sides 3 of the steps 2 are the rods 4 and 5, the extremities of which are mounted in bearings of the strap irons 6, which are secured to the sides of the steps as 121.13 7, there being nuts upon said rods fiand 5 to hold them in place. The straps 6 and 17 not only act as bearings for the rods, but also as reinforcing and strengthening means for the sides of the steps. The folding step comprises the tread board 8 and the rise board '9, which are hinged together as at 10 by the leaf hinges 11, which are secured to Ithe tread and rise boardsS and 9, as at 12. The leaves 13of saidhinges are embedded or countersunk in the recesses 14 in the rear of the rise board, especially to allow the rise board to fold in close position to the tread of the steps 2. The upper ends 16 of the leaves 13 terminate in rolls 17 to receive the rod 4, thereby pivotally mounting the rise board 9. The rod 5 not only acts as a strengthening medium for the ordinary steps 2, but also as an abutment, against which the end portion of the curved arms 18 (the lower portions of which are secured at 19 to the tread board 8) contacts, to assist in limiting the arms as well as the tread and rise boards in their extensible positions. The under face of the tread board 15 of the p a face plate 20, whichperforms the purpose of an abutment plate for the upper extremities of the arms 18. Mounted in bearings of the side 3 of the steps 2 and the strap iron 7 is a rock shaft 21 having arms 22, which are pivoted at 23 to the arms 18 which have a certain amount of resiliency or spring. The end 24 of the rock shaft is fiattened, as shown at 25, and is adapted to be received in the slot 26 of the arm 27. The extreme portion of the flattened end is flattened to prevent the arm 27 from displacement. This arm 27 is positioned between the flattened end and the strap iron 7, so asto prevent wear upon the side of the step. The arm 27 is provided with a laterally extending lug 29 forming a pivot for one end of the link 30, which in turn at 31 is pivoted to the lower end of the lever 32. The lever 32 is pivotally mounted at 33 to one of the sides of the car steps. The pivots between the arms 18 and 22 are so arranged relative to the pivot between the link 30 and the lug 29, that when the folding step is folded, said pivots between the arms 18 and 22 and the pivot of the link on the lug 29 will be out of alinement with the rock shaft, thereby partly acting to hold the extensible tread and rise boards folded.

Beyond the pivot 33 of the lever 32 and carried by the lever is a bracket 36, in bearings of which a plunger dog 37 is mounted. A coilspring 38 is mounted on the dog interposed between one of the bearings 39 and the collar 40 on the plunger dog, to hold the nose 41 of the dog in either one of the notches 42 and 43 of the quadrant 44. The upper end of the plunger dog is constructed with a transverse bar 45 having lateral. lugs 46 and 47, which overlie the arms 48 and 49 of the anchor-shaped link 50, which link is pivoted at 51 to the upper end of the lever 32. Pivoted at 52 to the arm 53 of the anchor-shaped link is a link 54, which in turn is pivoted to the upper end of the'lever 55 pivoted at 56 in a bracket 57, secured to the side of the stationary car steps. Pivoted to the lower end 58 of the lever 55 is a link 59, which in turn is pivoted at 60 to the upper end portion of the lever 61 pivoted at 62 in a bracket 63, which is also secured to one side of the stationary car step. The lower portion of the lever 61 terminates in a laterally extending handle or hand piece 64. The conductor, trainman, or porter, subsequently to having descended to the platform may operate the extensible or folding car step, by pushing the handle or hand piece 64 from the car, which will cause the oscillation of the lever 61, as well as the oscillation of the levers 55 and 32. However, in causing the oscillation of the lever-32, the anchor-shaped link will be partially tilted upon its pivot, thereby causing the arm 48 of the anchor-shaped link to contact with the lug 46 of the plunger dog, and as the anchor-shaped link is further partially tilted, the plunger dog will be raised, disengaging its nose from the notch 42 of the quadrant, thereby unlocking the lever 32, and on further oscillation of said levers 61, 55 and 32, the said extensible car step will be extended,

After the passengers have finished using the extensible step, and the train or car is ready to proceed on its journey, the conductor, trainman or porter ascends the steps, and as he reaches the first stationary step, he applies foot pressure upon the handle or hand piece, which will cause a reverse oscillatory movement of said levers 61, 55 and 32, thereby contracting or receding the extensible car step. This operation is all ac complished when the door 66 of the usual vestibule 67 does not operate the lever 55, when opening the same. This operation is also accomplished after the conductor, or porter has descended to the platform, without first having operated the extensible step. However, if desired, and which is usually the case, the conductor, porter, or traininan may upon descending to the lower stationary step apply foot pressure upon the foot piece 68 of the bell crank lever 69, which is mounted in bearings 70 of one side of the stationary step. The arm 71 of the bell crank lever 69 has a link connection 72 to the lever 61. When the conductor, trainman or porter applies foot pressure to the bell crank lever 69, the levers 61, and 32 are oscillated as above stated, the lever 32 being unlocked at the same time, thereby extending the extensible step. This manner of actuating the extensible step is also accomplished when the vestibule door is opened independently, that is, without actuating the lever 55.

Pivotally connecting the pivot pin 73 (which pivots the link 54 to the lever 55) is a tubular rod 75, in which a rod 76 telescopes, the end 77 of which is pivoted at 78 to one end of the angular arm 79 of the bar 80, which is fastened rigidly at 81 to the lower edge of the vestibule door 66. The end 83 of the rod 76 has a lag 84. As rule,

or generally the rod 76 is arranged in the tubular rod 75, with the lug 84 extending upwardly, so that the lug 84 will not engage the slot or notch 85 of the tubular rod. In which case, the vestibule'door will always open independently, that is, without actuating the lever 55. However, in some instances, as shown in thedrawing, the rod 7 6 is disposed, so that the lug 84: engages the conductor or porter, before descendingthe steps,may open the vestibule door independently, that is, after raising the platform door 88, by applying footpressure upon the lever or foot piece 89, which will cause the arm 90 to contact with the tubular rod, and manipulate the same and the rod 7 6 in such.

a manner as to disengage the lug 84 from the notch or slot 85, after which the vestibule door maybe opened, without actuating the levers 55 and 82. Then after the con ductor has descended to the-lower stationary step he may throw the extensible step downwardly by applying foot pressure to the bell crank lever 69, as before stated. The foot piece 89 is pivoted at 92 to a portion of the vestibule.

From the foregoing it is apparent, there has been devised an improved operating means for an extensible ear step, having connections between the operating part of the car step and a vestibule door, whereby as the door is opened the step maybe extended. The operating means being so constructed, that the same may be temporarily disconnected at the time it is desired to open the door, so that the same may be opened independently without actuating the car step.

It is also apparent that after the conductor has descended to the lower stationary step, he may operate said mechanism, to actuate the extensible step. It being further evident that after having finished using the ex tensible step, the conductor may then ascend the steps, and close the vestibuledoor, and at the same time automatically recede or return the extensible step to a closed position, and vice versa.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is 2- 1. In combination with the platform steps of a car, a pivot rod mounted in bearings on the sides of said steps adjacent the lower tread thereof, an extensible step comprising tread and rise boards, leaf springs hingedly connecting said tread and rise boards, a leaf of each leaf spring being embedded in the rise board and having its upper endterminating in a roll to receive said pivot rod, upwardly and rearwardly curved spring arms connected to the tread board, and means of connection between said arms and the door of the vestibule of the platform for extending or folding said hingedly con nected treadand rise boards.

2. In combination with the platform steps of a vestibule car, a pivot rod mounted in bearingsof the sides of said steps adjacent thelower tread thereof, an extensible step comprising tread and rise boards, leaf springs hingedly connecting said tread and 'rise'boards, a leaf of each leaf spring being embedded in the rise board and having itsupper end terminating in a roll to receive said pivot rod, upwardly and rearwardly curved spring arms connected to the tread board, a rock shaft having arms connected to. the spring arms, and means of connection between said rock shaft and the door of the vestibule for rocking the shaft.

3. In combination with the platform steps of a vestibule car, a pivot rod mounted in bearings of the sides of said steps adjacent the lower tread thereof, an extensible step comprising tread and rise boards, leaf springshingedly connecting said tread and riseboards, a leaf of-each leaf spring being embedded in the rise board and having its upper end terminating in a roll to receive said pivot rod, upwardly and rearwardly curved spring arms connected to the tread board, a rock shaft having arms connected to the spring arms, one end of said rock shaft having .a flat portion, an arm secured upon said flat portion, and an operating lever having link connections with the arm of said flat portion for rocking the said shaft, and means for holding the lever in adjusted positions to hold the tread and rise boards folded or extended,

the pivotal connections between the spring arms and the arms of the rock shaft and the pivot between the link and the arm of the flat portion being in offset arrangement to said rock shaft to assist in holding said boards folded, the said spring arms being placed under tension when folding said tread and rise boards, and means of connectionbetween the operating lever and the vestibule door for actuating said operating lever as the door is opened, thereby extending the tread and rise boards.

41. In combination with the platform steps of a vestibule car, said platform steps having extensible collapsible steps including an operating lever therefor, said operating lever being fulcrumed to the side of the platform steps, a locking mechanism for the operating lever, and connections between the door of the vestibule and the locking mechanism for unlocking the same upon partial movement of the door, which upon lever, whichin turn actuates the extensible step.

5. In combination with the platform steps of a vestibule car, said platform steps having extensible collapsible steps including an operating lever therefor, said operating lever being fulcrumed to the side of the platform steps, a locking mechanism for the operating lever, and connections between the door of the vestibule and the locking mechanism for unlocking the same upon partial movement of the door, which upon further movement actuates the operating lever, which in turn actuates the extensible step, said connections including means adapted to be actuated manually for temporarily disengaging said connections, whereby the door may be opened independently.

6. In combination withthe platform steps of a vestibule car, said platform steps having extensible collapsible steps including an operating lever therefor, said operating lever being fulcrumed tothe side of the platform steps, a locking mechanism for the operating lever, and connections between the door of the vestibule and the locking mechanism for unlocking the same upon partial movement of the door, which upon further movement actuates the extensible step, said connections including means adapted to be actuated manually for temporarily disengaging said connections, whereby the door may be opened independently, and a mechanism connected to said connections including a foot piece adjacent the lower stationary step adapted to be manually actuated for operating the operating lever to lower the extensible step.

7. In combination with the platform steps of a vestibule car, said platform steps having extensible collapsible steps including an operating lever therefor, said operating lever being fulcrumed to the side of the platform steps, a locking mechanism for the operating lever, and connections between the door ofthe vestibule and the locking mecha nism for unlocking the same upon partial movement of the door, which upon further movement actuates the extensible step, said connections including means adapted to be actuated manually for temporarily disengaging said connections, whereby the door may be opened independently, and a mechanism connected to said connections including a foot piece adjacent the lower stationary step adapted to be manually actuated for operating the operating lever to lower the extensible step, said mechanism when actuating the operating lever constituting means to restore the connections to operative condition.

8. In combination with the vestibule car steps having an extensible and collapsible step, an operating lever therefor, and connections between said lever and the door of the vestibule for actuating the lever, and means in said connections adapted to be actuated for rendering said connections incapable of actuating the lever when the door is opened.

9. In combination with the vestibule car steps having an extensible and collapsible step, an operating lever therefor, and connections between said lever and the door of the vestibule for actuating the lever, and means in said connections adapted to be actuated for rendering said connections incapable of actuating the lever when the door is opened, said means in the connections being adapted to be so arranged, that the door may at all times be opened independently.

10. In combination with the vestibule car steps having an extensible and collapsible step, an operating lever therefor, and connections between said lever and the door of the vestibule for actuating the lever, and m 2121:; in said connections adapted to be actuated for rendering said connections incapable of actuating the lever when the door is opened, said means in the connections being adapted to be so arranged, that the door may at all times be opened independently, and the mechanism connected to said connections including a foot piece adjacent the lower stationary step adapted to be manually operated for actuating the operating lever to lower the extensible steps.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HIE-AM D. KIR-KLEY.

Witnesses V. M. VVAnLnY, G. O. LIGHT.

Copies 01 this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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