US1354559A - Railway mail-crane - Google Patents

Description

A. HUPP.

RAILWAY MAIL CRANE.` A- PFLICATION FILED JAM. 25` i915.

Patented 0st. 5, 192

2 ShEETS-SHEET 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT HUPP, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASCIGNOR TO HUPP AUTO- MATIC MAIL EXCHANGE COMPANY, OF XVASHINGTQN, EJISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

RAILWAY MAIL-CRANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

Application led January 25, 1915. Serial No. 4,239.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT HUPP, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Mail- Oranes, of which the following is a specication. This invention relates to mail exchange apparatus and more particularly to the station crane for supporting the mail bag in Vposition to be delivered to a passing train.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved construction in which the bag supporting arms are held in position to deliver a bag by means which is automatically released when the bag is delivered and permits the arms to be swung away from the track. A further object is to provide a crane in which the parts are so arranged that the swinging of the arms away from the track is effected by gravity and in which the parts are so arranged that there is always a tendency for the arms to be swung away, this tendency being overcome by a latch which is controlled by the mail bag so that upon the delivery of the bag the latch will be automatically released and the force of gravity permitted to operate on the parts to swing the arms.

Other objects and the features of novelty will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a mail receiving trough and the mail crane supported on a suitable framework above the trough;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the mail crane Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;'

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the part shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a. section on the line 5-5 of Fi 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan of the part shown in Fig. 6, certain parts being shown in section.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates a mail receiving trough which is specially adapted for use in connection with that character of mail exchange system described in my Reissue Patent No. 13,716, granted April 21, 1914:. Arranged on a platform 11, above the trough 10, is a hollow post 12 in which a vertical tube 13 is rotatably supported and also adapted to move up and down. The post 12 has a bottom fiange 14 and is also lsupported by means of braces 15. At the upper end of the tube 13, there is a split bracket 16 which is clamped to the tube 13 and one-half of which carries the cover plate 17 closing the upper end of the tube. rlhe bracket 16 has secured therein a tubular arm 18, A split bracket 19 is also secured to the tube 13 and carries a tubular arm 20.

At the upper end of the post 12, there is a flange or cam track 21 having the inclined portion 22 on the side of the post adjacent the railway track and also an inclined portion 23 on the opposite side of the post. The bracket 19 is provided with downwardly eX- tending arms 24: which carry a roller 25, this roller being arranged to engage the track 21. When the arms 18 and 2O are in position to deliver a bag to a passing train the roller 25 is adjacent to the upper end or peak of the inclined part 22 of the cam track, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be understood that the roller 25 may be in the position shown in Fig. 3 or in a similar position on the opposite side of the peak of the incline. When the parts are in this position the action of gravity on the tube 13 and the parts supported thereby tends to cause the roller 25 to run down the incline 22 and thereby swing the arms 18 and 2() away from the railway track. When the roller 25 descends the incline 22, the parts gain such momentum that it is desirable to stop the rotation and thus preventA the arms from swinging clear around and starting up the opposite side of the incline 22. For the purpose of stopping the rotation, the incline 23 is provided. From Figs. 3 and 4, it will be evident that the incline 23 is lower than the incline 22, and in the operation of the mechanism it has been found that the tube 13 will rotate a suiicient distance to cause the roller 25 to run up the incline 23 and then run back a short distance and come to rest with the arms 18 and 20 arranged substantially parallel with the railway track or directed at a slight angle to the rear of the axis of thepost 12.

,Figsf3 and.4, it is necessary to have some means for locking the tube 13 to the post V12 in order to hold the arms 18 and 20 in position to deliver a bag to a passingtrain.

In the embodiment of the invention shown,

this*holding'meansaconsists of a latch 26 having av substantially chisel-shaped edge which is adapted to engage an-opening 27 in the post 12. The latch 26 is arranged in a transverse tube 28 A'secured in the. tube 13 and a spring 29 ynormally tends to withdraw the latch vfrom the opening 27. A lever 30 pivoted in the tube 13 at 31 has its lower end in engagement with the latch 26 as shown in Fig. 4. The upper end of the lever 30 has pivotally connected therewith a rod 32 arranged in the arm 18. The outer end of the rod 32`is telescoped with a mem-ber 33 which is slidably arranged in the outer end of the -arm v18. The rod 32 has secured thereona collar34and between this collar andthe member 33 there is a spring 35.

A collar 36 is clamped on the outer end of the arm 18. and has pivoted thereto the bag grippers'37'and'38. The forward ends of the grippers 37 and 38 are arranged substantially in'yalinement with the forward end of the member 33when the parts are in the' position shown in Figs. 6 and 7.V The rearward ends of' the grippers 37 and 38v are provided with eyes through which a rod 39 passes. A spring 40.is coiled on the rod 39 and normally ,forces the rearward ends of the grippers apart so asto effect a pinching movement of the forwardiends of the grippers. The movement. or the grippers underthe influence ofthe spring 40 may be limited in anyA suitable manner as by means of the adjustable stop screws 41 which are carried by a .box 42 arranged over the grippers andadapted to protect the mechanism from the weather. The box 42 is supported by the tube 18 and by the collar 36.and is secured to the latter by a suitablebolt 43.

Inv order to provide for opening the grippers 36 and 37,`fso,as .topermit attachment lof a mail bag, I have provided a rotatable member 44 which is supported by the tube 18 and the boX 42 and. is connected with the grippers 37 and 38'by means oi' links 45 and 46 "respectively,y Theupper `part47 of the member 44 isangular in shape .to provide 'for theattachment of a wrenchthereto by means of which the 'member v441 may be turned so as to draw Vtherearward ends of the grippers 37 and 38 toward each other.

It lwill :beevident Jr'romgFig. 7 that the links 45 and 46 are'so ,curved as to permit the .member 44 to rotate slightly; more than 90o In Fig. 1, a bag 48 is shown in position vto be delivered .Ito a passingwtrainand .it will be noted that in order to insert the upper end-of the bagbetween thegrippers 37 and 38, the member 33 must be moved towardxt'he tube 13. Vhen the member 33 is thus moved the bag is inserted between the grippers, and the member 44 rotated to cause the grippers to seize the bag. The

movement'othemember 33 toward the tube 13 compresses the spring 35, because the rod 32 is normally held against rearward movement by the' engagementof the end of the latch 26 with the' inner surface of the ,post-12;' The spring 35' is much stronger f mit the spring 29 towi-thdraw the 'latch ,26

from the opening 27, and thereby release the tube 13 and permit the latter -toirotate The arm'20 has secured thereon a vsubstantially'horizontal plate 49 which is providedwith a groove or Adepression 50 which is arranged substantiallyv at right angles to vthe arm 20.' The plate 49 is also provided with openings 51 for the Vpassage `of water therethrough. FromFig. 1, it will be evident that the lgroove 50 forms a seat for the bottom or thefmail bag 48 and wherein the bag vwill 'be-securely held against displacement byth'ewind or other causes, when the bag is comparatively heavy. 1n the case of a light bag, however, the bottom might be blown out of position on the plate 49 and for the -purpose of'securing the bottom of such a bag I have provided a guard 52 which is pivoted to the plate 49v and has arms 53 on the underside of the plate to which springs 54 are attached. The springs 54 tend to hold the guard 52 againstthe plate 49 vfor the purpose of gripping the lower part of the bag. At the same* time the springs permit "the guard-'52 to belifted so that a bagmay be inserted.

For the purpose of orminga more rigid construction a tie rod 55 connects'the-'arms 18 and 2O and ispreferably provided with a turn buckle 56 by means of which the' rod mayy be tightened.

In the operation of the crane,5the normal, inoperative position,; ofthe arms 18 andy 2O is over the platform 11f and -the bag 48 is .placed on the plate 49 and the grippers 37 and 38 opened inthe manner above described, and then the member 33 pushed vback and the grippers closed on the neel;

of the bag. The arms 18 and 2O are'then swung around to the position shown in Fig. 1, the latch 26 entering the opening 27 in the post and securing the parts in this position. When the bag is removed from the arms 18 and 20 by a passing train, the member 33 is returned to the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and the latch 26 withdrawn from the opening 27. This permits the roller 25 to run down the incline 22 and thus cause the tube 13 and the arms 18 and 20 to swing to the inoperative position. For the purpose of protecting the cam track 21 and the roller 25 from the weather a shield or apron 57 is provided on the bracket 19.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a mail crane, the combination of a post, a tube supported thereby, the axes of the tube and post being in alinement, vertically spaced bag supporting arms secured on said tube, a latch eoacting with said post and the lower part oi' said tube to hold the latterI in position to deliver a bag, a member at the outer end of the upper of said arms arranged to be moved when the bag is attached to said arm, and means arranged in said arm and said tube and including spring-separated telescopic parts for operatively connecting said member and said latch.

.2. In a mail crane, the combination of a post, a tube rotatably supported thereby, a latch carried by said tube and adapted to engage said post to lock the parts together, a spring` for releasing said latch, a lever pivotally arranged in said tube and engaging said latch, a bag supporting arm secured to said post, a slidable member carried by said arm at the outer end thereof, and a yieldable connection between said slidable member and said lever.

3. In a mail crane, the combination of a bag supporting arm, a rotatably supported member on which said arm is secured, a pair of pivoted bag grippers at the outer end of said arm, a latch device for holding said member with said arm in position to deliver a bag, and actuating means for said latch arranged adjacent said grippers and adapted. to prevent the attachment of a bag thereto until said means is moved so as to effect the actuation of said latch.

t. In a mail crane, the combination of vertically spaced relatively iiXed bag supporting arms, a rotatable member on which said arms are secured, a horizontally arranged plate secured to the outer end of the lower of said arms and adapted to form a seat 'for the bag, and means at the outer end of the upper of said arms for gripping the upper part of the bag.

5. In a mail crane, the combination .of vertically spaced relatively fixed bag supporting arms, a rotatable member on which said arms are secured, a horizontally arranged plate secured at the outer end of the lower of said arms and adapted to form a seat for the bag, means on said plate for gripping the bag, and means at the outer end of the upper of said arms for gripping the upper part of the bao'.

6. In a mail crane, the combination of vertically spaced relatively fixed bag supporting arms, a rotatable member on which said arms are secured, a horizontally arranged plate secured to the outer end of the lower of said arms and provided with a groove or depression adapted to receive the bag, and a spring pressed gripper device on said plate for gripping the bag tosecure it in position.

7. In va mail crane, the combination of a post, an inclined cam track surrounding said post, a member rotatably supported by said post and having means engaging said track, bag supporting arms carried by said member, said track being so arranged that said means is in engagement with the upper part of the incline when said arms are in position to deliver a bag, and releasable means independent of said track and within said member for locking the member to said post when. the means is at the upper part of the track.

In testimony whereof I al'lix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT HUPP. l/Vitnesses B. M. KENT, ARTHUR L. BRYANT.

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