US1163359A - Step raising and lowering device for railway-cars. - Google Patents

Description

E. M. MULLER.

STEP RAISING AND LOWERING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- IB IBIS.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET I.

M.Mu11 er,

I INVENTOR. EBvarE ATTORNEYS cuLuMmA PLANUGRAIH col, WASHINGTON, u. c.

E. M. IVIOLLER.

STEP RAISING AND LOWERING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I8. I915.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CL? w I INVENTOR: M.Mu11 er,

ATTORNEYS E. M. MOLLER.

STEP RAISING AND LOWERING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-18,1915.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

' 5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

E. M. MOLLER.

STEP RAISING AND LOWERING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18. 1915.

1,163,359. Patented Dec.7,191 5.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4- WITNESSES: INVENTOR'.

12 EEI ETEIMMDHE;

ATTORN EYS E. M. MULLER.

STEP RAISING AND LOWEHING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPI'I I8. I9I5.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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g 7Q 4O 2O 43 I qkgg 3 F ET Z INVENTORZ 22 EElvarEIM.1\/fn11er, M BY lb WMJATTQORNEYS FFEQE.

IEDVARD IVI. 'MOLLER, OF JERSEY CITY,INEV I JERSEY.

STEP RAISING AND LOWERING- DEVICE FOB'RAILWAY-CARS.

messes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

f PatentedlDec."?,1915.

Application filed September 18,1915. 7 Serial No. 51,329.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDVARD M. MoLLnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step Raising and Lowering Devices for Railway- Cars; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to makeand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in railway cars; and, the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel and simply-operated mechanism for raising and lowering the step or steps con nected with theplatform of a street-railway car.

pal object to provide a simply-constructed and an effectively operating step-raising and lowering mechanism of the general construction hereinafter more fully set forth, and which is preferably operated from a vertical spindle which is actuatedby the motorman or conductor of the car, at the. same time that the vestibule door or doors of the car are closed or opened by such motorman or conductor.

Other objects of the present invention not at this time more. particularly enumerated will beclearly understood from the following detailed description of the present in-' vention.

With the various objects of the present:

invention in view, the said invention con slsts, primarily in the novel step-operating mechanism hereinafter more fully set forth;

and, the invention consists, furthermore, .in the novel arrangements and combinations ofthe varlous devlces and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said parts, all of which will be described in the following specification, and then finally The present invention has for its princi street-railway car and its platform, with a palr of folding steps and mechanism for operating said steps, the steps being represented in their lowered relation to the platform, and all showing one embodiment of the principles of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the devices and parts shown in said Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow :12. Fig. 3 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the left-hand endeportion of the devices and parts represented in said Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4: is a similar view, also on an enlarged scale, of the centrally located portion of the devices and parts represented in said Figs. 1 and2. Fig. 5 is'a transverse vertical section, said section being taken on line 5-5 in saldFig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow '1, said view being also made on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 6 is a similar sectional representation of the same devices and parts illustrated in said Fig. 5, but showing the step raised, the parts of the step-raising and lowering mechanism in their relative positions when the step has thusbeenraised.

Similar characters of reference are on. ployed inall the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

'Referring now to the several figures of the drawings,]thereference-character i indicates a fragmentary portion of the body of a streetrailway car, which is provided at one or both of its ends with the usual platform, a fragmentary portion of which is here shown and is indicated by the reference-character 2.

The reference characters 3 and 4t indicat the usual vertically disposed and rotatably arranged posts, mounted closely to the exit and inlet portions of the platform, and said posts having suitably mounted thereon the usual vestibule-doors or gates 5. The said platforms are suitably mounted upon the usual stringer or supporting beams 6 of the framework of the car. Suitably secured to the said stringersor beams 6, by means of bolts, as 7,orother'suitable fastening means, are suitably formed angle-bars, as 8, to which are attached bymeansof bolts and nuts 10, a pair of suitably-shaped outer brackets, as 11, and a pair of suitably shaped inner, brackets, as 12. The lower portions of said brackets 11 and 12 are made with downwardly projecting elements or members, as 13, each element or member 13 having a forwardly extending portion, as 14 provided with a bearing 15. Oscillatorily mounted in said bearings -15'is a horizontally disposed shaft or shafts 16, said shaft or shafts having suitably aflixed thereto, by means of pins 17, or other suitable fastening means, suitably-shaped stepcarrying brackets, as 18 and 19, said brackets being suitably disposed in pairs, and each pair of said brackets 18 and 19, respectively carrying suitable steps 20 and 21. The said brackets 18 and 19 are "also made with suitably disposed stop-members, as 22, whichengage laterally extending projecting stops, as 23, with which the brackets 11 and 12 are provided, for limiting the downward movements of the steps 20 and 21, and positively retaining said steps in horizontal positions, when lowered, as will be clearly evident.

Vertically disposed guards, as 241, may also besuitably afiixed in said brackets 11 and 12-.

As shown, the'lower portions of the previously mentioned door-carryingiposts 3 and 4: are mounted in bearings 25 in the platform, and project suitably beneath the platform, the lower projecting portion of'each post having suitably secured thereon, soas tooscillate with the post, an arm,-as -26,'eaeh arm 26 being provided upon its freeendportion with a downwardly extending pin 26' carrying an antifrictionroller 27. The previously-mentioned stringer or beam- 6-has suitably secured thereto, in proper places, suitably constructed bearing brackets, as 28, each bracket'carrying a pivot-pin 29, and connected with each pin 29 is a =link30. Each link is adapted to swing horizontally, and each link also has an enlarged portion, as 31, each enlarged portion being formed with an elongated opening 32 in which the anti-friction rollers 27 of the-respective arms 26 are operatively arranged as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 of-the drawings As shown more particularly in said [Fig 3, the said elongated openings. 32 i are bounded by the arc-shaped portions 33 and the straight portions 34, the arc-shaped portions 33being Eparts of circles having'theircenters in-the longitudinal central axes of the respective posts 1, so thatthe initial movements-of the arms 26 and their rollers :27 will not'affeet or produce any movement of the links 30, until the said rollers 27 are brought into engagement with the straight portions 34, as will be clearly evident, and the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fullystated. The :said enlarged portions 31 of the said links 30 are .also provided with pairs of rearwardly projecting perforated lugs or ears '35, each pair; ofsaid lugs or ears being provided with a pin,-as

portions-of the-said connecting rods 37, by

means of pins 39, are suitable crank-arms '10, said crank-arms being rigidly connected with a horizontally extending shaft or shafts, as 41, oscillatorily mounted in rearwardly extending bearing-brackets, as 42, which are suitably secured by means of bolts 43 to the said angle-bars or beams 8, as clearly shown in the several figures of the drawings. Also suitably secured to the said shaft or shafts 4'1, and preferably adjust ably mounted thereon by the split portions 45 and-binding screws 48 and nuts 17, are other crank-arms 0r levers 44. Pivotally connected with the steps, as at 48, are the lower end-portions of rearwardly extending links 419,-said links having theirupper endportions pivotally connected, as at 50, with the respective crank-arms or levers 44. A springtil is attached at one end to the pivot 50 and at the other-end to the platform 2, as at 52.

Thepurposes and operationsof the various devices and parts described in the foregoing specification will be self-evident from an inspection of the several figures of the drawings, and, therefore, it is deemed unnecessaryto further describe the manipulation and operations of the said devices and parts, vexcept :to state that when the doorposts-or rods 1 are operated, in the usual manner, ,for closing the vestibuleedoors, the step-lowering and raising mechanism will not-be operateduntil the anti-friction rollers .27 engage the straight portions 34 "of the-Jinks 30, which will-properly swing-the lin ksaand therebyat the proper time, that is when the doors are almost entirely closed, will operate the said step-raising .mechanism, so that the steps areraised, with the help ofrthe distended spring 51,.onlyat the time .thatthe doorsihave been brought-into their almost completely closed relation, or, vice versa, that thestepsare completely lowered at the initial opening of the doors, and before the :doors have been finally swung into their fully opened positions. The purposeiof this is to guard against accidents topersons desiringto alight fromvor desiring to enter, the car.

Ofcourse I am aware that some changes may gbewmade .in the general arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as:,in the details of the constructionsof the saidparts, without departing from ,the scope of the present invention as set forth in the foregoing specification, and as defined-in the clauses of the claims which areappendedto the said specification. Hence, I doinot limit my present invention to the exact arrangements andvcombinations mediate closing or opening of the door, con-,

sisting of a shaft from which said step-operating 'mechanism is operated, an arm mounted upon said door-carrying rod or post, a horizontally swinging link, said link being provided with an elongated opening,

said opening being bounded with an areshaped portion forming part of a circle having its center in'the central longitudinal axis of said door-carrying rod or post, and said opening being bounded also by a straight portion, a pin extending from said arm, a roller upon said pin, said roller extending into said elongated opening and being in engagement with said arc-shaped and said straight portions, and a connecting rod between said link and the said shaft.

2-. In combination with the platform of a car, an oscillatorily mounted door-carrying rod or post mounted upon said platform, said rod or post having a portion extending beneath the said platform, and a door mounted upon said rod or post, a set of brackets mounted beneath said platform, a shaft mounted in said brackets, a folding step connected with said shaft, a second set of brackets also mounted beneath said platform, a shaft mounted in said last-mentioned brackets, a crank-arm connected with said lastmentioned shaft, a link pivotally connected at one end with said crank-arm and at its other end with said step, and means intermediate of said last-mentioned shaft and beneath the said platform, and a door mount ed upon said rod or post, a set of brackets mounted beneath said platform, a shaft oscillatorily i mounted in said brackets, a folding-step connected with said shaft, a second set of brackets also mounted beneath said platform, va shaft mounted insaid last-mentioned brackets,a crank-arm connected with said last-mentioned shaft, a link pivotally connected at one end with said crank-arm and at its other end with said step, and means intermediate of said last-mentioned shaft and said rod or post and actuated from said rod or post for actuating said last-mentioned shaft simultaneously with the immediate closing or opening of the door, consisting of an arm mounted upon said door-carrying rod or post,'a horizontally swinging link, said link being provided with an elongated opening, said opening being bounded with an arcshaped portion forming part of a circle having its center in the central longitudinal axis of said door-carrying rod or post, and said opening being bounded also by a straight portion, a pin extending from said arm, a roller upon said pin, said rollerextending into said elongated opening and being in engagement with said arc-shaped and said straight portions, and a connecting rod between said last-mentioned link and the said lastunentioned shaft.

4. In combination with the platform of a car, an oscillatorilymounted door-carrying rod or post mounted upon said platform, said rod or post having a portion extending beneath the saidplatform, and a door mounted upon said rod or post, a set of brackets mounted beneath said platform, said brackets being provided with stop-providing offsets, a shaft mounted in said brackets, stepcarrying brackets mounted upon said shaft, stop-members connected with said stepcarrying brackets adapted to be brought into arresting engagement with said offsets, a step mounted upon said step-carrying brackets, a second set of brackets also mounted beneath said platform, a shaft mounted in said last-mentioned brackets, a crank-arm connected with said last-mentioned shaft, a link 'pivotally connected at one end with said "rod or post having a portion extending beneath the said platform, and a door mounted upon said rod or post, a set of brackets mounted beneath said platform, said brackets being provided with stop-providing offsets, a shaft mounted in said brackets, step carrying brackets mounted upon said shaft, stop-members connected with said stepcarrying brackets adapted to be brought into arresting engagement with said offsets, a step mounted upon said step-carrying brackets, a second set of brackets also mounted beneath said platform, a shaft mounted in said last-mentioned brackets, a crank-arm connected with said last-mentioned shaft, a link pivotally connected at one end with said crank arm and at its other end with said step, and means intermediate of said last-mentioned shaft and said rod or post and actuated from said rod or post for actuating said last-mentioned shaft simultaneously with the immediate closing or opening of the door, consisting of an arm mounted upon said doorcarrying rod or post, a horizontally swinging link,

means connected with said arm and in en' gagement with said'lastunentioned link for intermittently swinging said llnk, and a connecting rod between said link and said lastmentioned shaft.

6. In combination with the platform'of a car, an oscillatorily mounted door-carrying rod or post mounted upon said platform, said rod or post having a portion extending beneath the said platform, and a door mounted upon said rod or post, a set of brackets mounted beneath said platform,said brackets being provided with stop-providing offsets, a shaft mounted in said brackets, step-carrying brackets mounted upon said shaft, stop-members connected with said step-carrying brackets adapted to be brought into arresting engagement with said offsets, a step mounted upon said stepcarrying brackets, a second set of brackets also mounted beneath said platform, a shaft mounted in said last-mentioned brackets, a crank-arm connected with said last-mentioned shaft, a link pivotally connected at one end with said crank-arm and at its other end with said step, and means intermediate of said last-mentioned shaft and said rod or post and actuated from said rod or post for actuating said last-mentioned shaft simultaneously with the immediate closing or opening of the door, consisting of an arm mounted upon said door-carrying rod or post, a horizontally swinging link, said link being provided with an elongated opening, said opening being bounded with an arcshaped portion forming part of a circle having its center in the central longitudinal aXis of said door-carrying rod or post, and said opening being bounded also by a straight-portion, a pin extending from said arm, a roller upon said pin, said roller extending into said elongated opening and being in engagement with said arc-shaped and said straight portions, and a connecting rod between said last-mentioned link and the said last-mentioned shaft.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of September, 1915.

EDVARD M. MOLLER.

Witnesses FRnnK (J. FRAENTZEL, FREDK H. WV. F RAENTZEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, -Washington,-D. O.

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