US1300776A - Railway-car. - Google Patents

Description

s. A.` REEVE. RAILWAY CAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAH. 2| IBIS.

PatentedApr.15,l919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

s. A. REEVE.,

RAILWAY CAR. 1 APPLICATION FILE-D MAR. 2, |916. Patented Apr. 15 y A a sH`Es-sHm 2.

ze a6 F1g-2 a@ /26 Q/se MmmmA Apr. 15,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Fig. 4

' u rn sfrarns RAILWAY-CAR.

i,sooywe.

T0 all whom t may concern: 1

Be it known that I, SIDNEY A. REEVE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tompkinsville,v in the county of Richmond and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Railway-Car, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates primarily to cars used interchangeably as sleeping-cars and day-cars, and has for its object an improvement in carrying-capacity, combined with increased privacy `and comfort for the passengers, both by night and by day; 'but some' of its advantages apply to clay-cars. Broiadly speaking, my invention consists in the better utilization of the space available in the car. This is accomplished by placing the aisle at one side of the car and locating the seats or berths transversely to the car along its other side, making the transverse length of seat sufficient for a recumbent person, yet reserving a small standingspace at the end of each berth, between it and the aisle; and 4by making the seats or berths, in their daytime aspect, revensible as to face, so that all passengers maysit facing in the direction of the cars motion and no passenger need face any other, except at will. -At night each seat or berth. is partitioned from its neighbors, making of each a small compartment or stateroom; yet in the daytime the car is left open from end to end and free from the objectionable fixed partitions of the `so-called compartmentcar now in use.`

The standing-room at the foot of each seat or lower berth, inside `a curtain separating the compartment from the aisle, permits the provision of each compartment with its own wash-basin. The space thus saved at the end of the car by the omission of the usual public wash-room, coupled with more economical dimenlsions of each berth, permits the location of about thirty per cent. more benths in a car of given length than is possible inthe arrangement of sleeping-car now most common. For in this latter arrangement the width of each berth is fixed, by the use of central aisle with longitudinal berths, at a dimension greater than is needed for the comfort of a single re- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Athis, ieie.

Application led March 2, 1916. Serial No. 81,670.

cumbent passenger, yet not wide enough for comfort for two. 'lfhus space is wasted. But 1n my arrangement specified herein below the width of berth may be adjusted by the car-designer to that -suiiicient for the comfort of a single passenger, and no more. The space thus saved permits the allotment to each lower berth of a small private dressing-room, yet also permits a larger number of lower berths than in the arrangement now customary.

. `A preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the drawings, to show how space may be saved in the manner just specified. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical crosssection of the car, showing daytime arrangement in full lines and night-time in broken lines. That is to say, the broken lines surrounding the Isymbol 36 indicate the lowered or night position of the upper berth 34. The remainder of the broken lines indicate the joints between several panels which together constitute a removable partition between each two seats, which partition eX- tends from the top of the seat-back 141 to or near to the roof of the car and from the aisle end of the seat out to the stanchion 26 or the curtain 48. These panels are supported by the various fixed parts of the car with which nrthey come intoV contact (and `by each other) by the usual latches, bolts or other fastenings, whereby they are easily removable and separable for storage during the daytime. This storage is accomplished by making each panel smaller than a single berth, whereby the panel may lit between the upper berth and the car-roof when storage is inthe (closed), upper berth, or may lie fiat beneath the cushions of the lower berth. Thus the vertical joint shown by the vertical broken line between symbols 38 and 38 (Fig. 1) may occur anywhere near to or at alinement with the end of the car-seat 14, according to the dimensions and arrangement of parts selected. This outer panel is separately removable, without disturbance of the remainder of the partition-panels. The curtain 48 is also similarly removable by day, from its night-position shown adj acent to space 112c (Fig. 3), as is shown near spaces 112a and 112b of the same figure.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of the cars length, broken away at various places to show details, showing two seats or compartments in daytime aspect and one in night-time arrangement.

Fig. 3 is a plan section of Fig. 2, reduced in width by fracture through the berthspace.

Fig. 4 is a plan of a modification in which` the stanchions 26 are'located on the side of space 112 toward the berths, instead of toward the night-aisle 110. Y

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal diagrammatic section through the berth-space, looking to- Ward the right-hand as in Figs. 1 and 4, showing one end of said berth-space.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cro-ss section of Fig. 4.

In the drawings, 10 is the car-body, equipped with windows 11 in the manner usual in so-calle'd day-coaches, except that the windows are preferably of slightly greater width, or more widely spaced. The "general grade of vconstruction 'of the carbody and trucks is preferably that now standard for parlor-cars and pullmans, but its windows following more the dimensions and number customary in day-coaches, occupying virtually the entire length of the The cars interior space is divided into three general parts, namely, (1) the night aisle 110 along one wall of the car; (2) the seat or berth space 111 along the other wall, occupying about six feet of the width of the car, or slightly over; and (3) the small standing-room space 112 left between the other two. In the daytime the night-aisle 110 and the space 112 combine, by the removal of the curtain 48, to form the regular or daytime aisle. The seats 12 extend transversely across the space 111 and are made reversible in direction of face by the swinging of the seat-backs 14 from one edge of the seat 12 to the other, to suit the direction of motion of the car. Each end of each seat 12 is supported upon a pin 131 having a lixed support 13, each pin fitting at will into some one or other of the notches 17a, 17 or 17c with which the end of the seat 12 is provided. Each seat is also supported at each end by a pin 18 fixed in a metallic strip or bar 15 attached to each end of each seat-back 14, which bar is supported below by its sharpened end fitting into some one of the notches 16, 16b or 16c formed in the floor of the car, while the pin 18 bears in a slot 19 formed on the end of seat 12.

In the side-wall of the car next to the seats, between each two adjacent windows, is fixed a plate 241 havinga vertical slot 24. Into this slot fits the end of a bolt 23 attached slidably to the seat-back 14. Opposite each such plate 241 is set a vertical post or stanchion 26, preferably made of tubular metal, extending from floor to roof of car and firmly fixed in place by plates 261 and .262 at floor and top. The aisle-end of each seat-back 14 carries a sliding bolt 25, having a forked end 25il adapted to engage with its respective post or stanchion 26, with a one-way hinge 50 for folding up the part 25, Bolts 23 and 25 are attached by links 22 to a latch 20 swinging on a center 21 fixed to the seat-back 14, whereby the bolts may be engaged with or withdrawn from their respective fixed supports simultaneously.

Figs. 2 and 3 show three seats or compartments, opposite three adjacent windows 11a, 11b and 11C, each 'consisting of berthspace 111% 111b and 111c respectively and standing- room 11221, 112b and 112. The seat of berth-space 111a is 'shownadjusted to its preferred daytime position, with bar 15 supported at its greatest slant, in` notch 16, and seat 12 also at a slant, with pin 131 in notch 17, The seat of berth-space 111c is shown adjusted for night-use, with bar 15 supported vertically in notch 16c and seat 12 horizontal, with pin 131 in notch-17e. The seat of berth-space 111b is shown in a position intermediate between the two just described, which may be assumed at the taste of the passenger for for convenience when a seat is used for upright purposes adjacent to one adjusted Ifor recumbency. Hinged to the edge of each seat 12 is a supplementary cushioned frame 31, having folding legs 32, which in the daytime is swung back underneath seat 12, as in compartments 111a Vand 111", and at night is swung into the position shown in compartment 111C. At night a mattress 33 may be spread over the cushions of 12 and 31.

Above each lower berth or seat 12 is an upper berth 34, also arranged transversely to the car, which at night may be swung down on hinges 35 into position V36. It is to be held in each of these positions by suitable latches not shown in the drawings. It may have at its open end a folding portion `37 used either to extend its 1leng-th ror to retain better its bedding in place, or for both purposes. In daytime the |bedding for both upper and lower berths may be stored in the space 60 between the upper berth 34 and the roof of the car. In this same space may also be vstored the solid partition-panels I382, 38b and 38e-such a set of three panels being provided for each compartment except one-which, together with the small panel 38d, form the night-time wall between adjacent compartments. Ihese panels are supported firmly in place by suitable means of attachment to the car-body 10, to each other, to the seat-backs 14, to the stanchions 26, to the upper berths 36 and to the xed partition 61 demarking the roof-space above each berth from its neighbors, which partition in daytimeishidden by the -upper berths 34. These means of attachment are not shown in the drawings. The partitionpanel 38 bears .upon itslonezface a set of ladder-rungs or. steps 39 and upon its opposite'faceamirror 47. y i l Along the top of the car, above the stanchions 26, is a water-tank 27, preferably divided into compartments by partitions 29 reaching nearlyto the top of the tank, .one opposite each L seat or berth. The tank is provided with a gate 28 for filling the entire tank with water. Each stanchion 26 may form a water-supply :pipefrom tank 27 to each compartments standing-room. Each -stanchion may support a wash-basin 43 vfor each compartment, having drainplugs leading to a catch-ba-sin46 whence the waste-water Vmay'flow to the outside-of the car.` Each `basin may swingy from its position 43 (Fig. 3), corresponding tothe direction of car-motion and seat-facing shown, to an alternate `position 471 for the opposite direction of car-motion and seat-facing; or the wash-basin maybe made easily removable. At'night curtains 48 separate each compartments standing-room `from the aisle. The stanchions or posts 26 may be located immediately at the ends of the seat-'backs14` as in Figs. 4 and 6, merely the curtain 48 demarking the standing-room 112 from the aisle 110.` p 'p f y j A water-closet 150 (Fig. 4) may .be provided at each end of the berth-space, with'a door 151 openingfromspace112. The partition 160 (Fig.` 5) forming the end of the berth-'space ofthe car carries a cushionframe 161 hinged at 162 to the end-partition 160. This frame is shown in full llines for its day-position and in dotted lines for its night-position, and is to be fitted with suitable supports (not shown) for' holding it in either position. r

Themethod of use of the car is plain from the above. Manipulation of the latch 2.0 frees the seat-back 14 for shifting it and the seat 12 into any of the three positions shown in Fig. 2, or for complete reversal of face.

The advantages ofmy improved arrangement, in additiorrto that of increased carrying-capacity already described, are those of privacy and convenience, both by night and by day. Such will appeal most to women, although even for men theV convenienceand time-saving of dressing in ones own compartment, with a separate watersupply for each section, willbe of value both-to the passengers and the railway-company." The toilet-accommodations in each compartment and the lchance to stand inside the curtains while dressing willeliminate much travel about the `car in ahalf-dressed condition, for both sexes..` A. woman traveling with children can sit on the end of her berth, with wash-basin at elbow, and can wash and clothe the children before dressing herself. Children can be put to bed in the upper berth without danger of their rolling over the edge; or, if the mother prefers to sleep above, she has a stairway ready for descent at any time, without need of calling the porter to bring one. For familyparties occupying more than two berthstwo ormore compartments can be made into one by omitting the partitions 38, or at least the panels 38c and 38d leaving room` for passage from one compartment to the other inside the curtain 48. When the partitionpanels 38c and 38d are absent vthere is little need for the part 25a, in the form of my invention shown in Fig. 1, and-.this `may be folded back outofthe way by means of the hinge 50. Or, if the stanchions be lo'- cated well inside the curtains, at the seatends, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, a narrow passageway along the space 112 between the stanchions 26 and curtain 48, will be formed, as in Figs. 4 and 6, open from one end 0f the car to the other except where the removable partition BSL?, 38d may interfere. By giving this narrow passageway direct openinginto the toilet-room at either end of the car, the omission of panels 38, 38d from partitions near that end of the car will provide a series of compartments (which series forms astateroom capable of extension to include any number of `berths or sections) private and peculiar tothe'sex belonging to the end of the car in question, each compartment and each sex having a passageway to its respective toilet-room concealed from the public aisle lby the curtains 48; and since` the boundary between the passageway 112 and the public aisle 1-10`is demarked merely by curtains which are inuse only at night, and

by nothing at all in the daytime, the aisle 110 can in that case be made relatively narrower and the passageway 112 relatively wider than shown, without public inconvenience.V But even in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3- women traveling alone will not-h-ave to pass male passengers while dressed in kimono, in order to wash before dressing.

Finally, the greater attractiveness and carrying-capacityof my carV in daytime, as compared with previous arrangements of sleeping-cars, or even as compared with parlor-cars, willfacilitate the problem of handling traffic by largely reducing the demand for both parlor-cars and sleeping-carsto be run simultaneously over the same division. For second-class through traiic it possesses marked advantages. For in daytime my arrangement permits the comfort of recumbency at full length whilethe passenger is virtually concealed from the rest of the car, without making up the compartment as for night-use. '.lhis advantage will inhere in my arrangement even in those cars which 4may never be fully equipped for night-use.

I claim: Y

l. In a railway-car, the combination 0f a night-aisle along one side thereof, transverse berths as long as the human form convertible into reversible seats along the other side thereof, and a space intermediate between said aisle and said berths substantially as described.

2. In la railway-car, the combination of an aisle along one side thereof capable of longitudinal subdivision at night by a curtain removable by day and transverse berths convertible into angularly adjustable reversible seats extending substantially from the other side thereof to the aisle substantially as described.

In a railway-car, the `combination of an aisle along oneside thereof capable of longitudinal subdivision at night by a curtain removable by day, transverse berths convertible into angularlyustable reversible seats ex-I tending substantially from the other side thereof to said aisle, and removable partitions separating adjacent berths substantially as described.

4. In a railway-car, .the combination -of an aisle Valong one -side thereof, transverse b erths convertible into seats extending from the other .side thereof, a space between each berth and said aisle, Vand removable partitions `segregating each berth and space together `as a compartment substantially as described.

5. In 1a railway-car, the combination of an aisle along one side thereof, removable curtains along the inner side of said aisle, berths .extending transversely from the other side of the car nearly to said aisle, a second aisle between said vberths and said curtains, and removable partitions adapted to block said second aisle substantially as described.

6. In -a railway-car, the combination of an aisle along one side thereof capable of longitudinal subdivision at night by a curtain removable by day and transverse reversible seats extending substantially from the other side thereof to said aisle, said 'seats being adjustable as to angular position of seat land back .substantially as described.

7. In a railway-car, the combination of an aisle along one side thereof capable of longitudinal subdivision at night by a curtain removable by day, transverse berths convertible into reversible seats extending substantially from the other side thereof to said aisle, and removable solid partitions between adjacent seat-spaces subdivided into panels each Ysmaller than fa single berth substantially as described.

8. In a railway-car, the combination of an aisle along one side thereof capable of longitudinal subdivision at night by a curtain removable by day, transverse berths convertible into reversible seats extending substantially from the otherl side thereof to said aisle, and a ncolumn. :supporting each seat-'back at its aisle-end substantially as described. Y c

9. In a railway-car, the combination of an aisle along one sidethereof, transverse lower berths converti-ble into reversible seats extending substantially from the other side of the car to said aisle, :and :a transverse upper berth hinged to said other sideof the car above each lower berth substantially as described.

10. In a railway-car, Vthe combination `of an aisle along lone side thereof, yposts near the inner edge of saidaisle andtransverse reversible seats extending substantially from said aisle to the other side of the car, the backs of saidseats being detachably supported by said posts substantially as described.

1l. In a railway-car, the combination of an aisle along one side-wall thereof, vertical posts near the inner `edge of said aisle, a vertical slot in the other side-wall of the car opposite Veach post, and transverse seats as long as the human body convertible into berths between said aisle and said other Wall, the back of each seat supported slidably by said post and said slot substantially as described.

l2. In a railway car, the combination of a 'series of transverse reversible seats each as long` as the human body and each convertible into a berth by means of a cushion-frame hinged to the edge o-f .a seat, and a cushionframe hinged to the end-wall of the car adjacent to a seat-edge lacking the first mentioned hinged frame and adapted to complete the end-berth when said reversible seat is adjusted to 'face said Vend-wall substantially as described.

13. In a railway-car, the combination of an aisle along one side thereof, a second aisle contiguous to the first and demarked therefrom at night by removable curtains, berths extending transversely from the other side of the car to said second aisle, a watercloset at each end of the car accessible from said second aisle and a removable partition adapted to block said second aisle between two adjacent berths substantially as 4described.

14. In a railway-car, the combination of an aisle along one side thereof, a second aisle contiguous to said .aisle and demarked therefrom at night by removable curtains, transverse seats convertible into berths between said second aisle and the other side of the car, removable partitions between adjaday, reversible seats extending transversely cent berths extending from said other side from the other side thereof substantially to 10 to said second aisle, and other similar partisaid aisle, a hollow stanehion between each tions extending to the first mentioned aisle seat and said aisle supporting the back of 5 substantially as described. said seat, a Water-tank in the top of the car 15. In a railway-car, an aisle along one and va connection from said tank to said side thereof capable of longitudinal substanchion. division at night by a curtain removable by SIDNEY A. REEVE.

Uopies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenti, Washington, D. C.

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