US1386856A - Apparatus for transferring mail - Google Patents

Description

1,.FORSLUND.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING MA|L.'

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1920.

1 ,886,5 6 Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- INVENTOR JOHN F'ORSLUND.

BY @w w ATTORN EY L FORSLUND.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING MAIL.

APPLICATION FILED..IULY 24, 1920.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR WQMN F'G'RSLUWQ ATTORNEY J. FORSLUND.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING MAIL- APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1920.

1,386,856. at nted Aug- 9, 1921.

30 3 SHEETS-SH ET 3- INVENTOR FOMN FQRSLUMD ATTORNEY UNHTE STS FFEQE.

JOHN FOESLUND, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING MAIL.

-Application filed July 24, 1920.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN Fonsnnun, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Transferring lllail, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for transferring mail, particularly to and from moving railway trains; and the objects of my improvements are to provide within mail car an arm carrying an electro-magnet with means for extending said arm in and out of the car, the carrying of a receptacle for the mail by the magnet, the transference oi. said receptacle to a rack located adjacent the track and car, and the picking up by the magnet of a similar receptacle from said rack and its transference to the interior of the car.

I attain these objects by the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the apparatus as it would appear from the outside of the car door when the car is passing a station, the magnet installed on the car carrying a mail box to deposit on the rack, and a mail box on the rack ready to be picked up by said magnet.

Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation of a car and the rack, showing the apparatus with arm extended and in position to deposit a mail box on the rack.

Fig. 3 is a perspective and plan of a stop for the boxes, said stop slidably associated with a magnet in the rack.

Fig. 4: is a perspective of one of the mail boxes.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a mail box, showing a container for the mail to be located within the casing; also, a shock absorber within the container.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the deposit and pick-up rack, with the st0p-slide (Fig. 3) in position.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the arm and other portions of the apparatus as located within a car, when the arm is not in extended position, the dotted portion indicating the location of said arm when it is turned to the other side of the car.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of a sliding support for the arm, drawn on the line 8-8 0t Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a cross-section drawn on the line Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

Serial No. 398,659.

9-9 of Fig. 7, as exhibited when the sliding support for the rear end of the arm is re moved.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section drawn on the line 10-1O of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 illustrates one of a pair of brackets to be attached above and adjacent the doors of the car, and adapted to carry tour tubular supports for mechanism within the car.

That portion of the apparatus located in the car comprises the magnet-carrying arm 1, shown in plan in Fig. 7 and further illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 10, the outer end terminating in the tip 2, the inner end having bolted thereto, or fastened in any other suitable manner, the hollow member 8 shown in crosssection in Fig. 9 and in longitudinal section, as attached to the arm, in Fig. 10. This member is circular in form at its base, and is provided with a circumterentially reduced shoulder forming section 4, Fig. 9. Mounted on this member, and fitting into said section, is the sliding support designated as 5, Fig. 8. The body of this support is circular in cross-section, carrying an integral shaft on which are mounted two grooved wheels 16, and also having four laterally projecting lugs or portions 6, bored to receive the rods 7. These rods, and the rods 8, Fig. 7, extend across the interior of the car and above and adjacent to each door, the ends of the rods being mounted in a pair of brackets 9, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 11. Pivotally connected with the arm is the lever 10, Fig. 10, the function of which will be presently described. Attached to the arm is the electro-magnet 1]., the electrical connections, 12, of which extend through the arm and up through the hollow member as shown in Fig. 10. The arm and its connections as thus assembled are slidably mounted on the two rods 7, as shown in Fig. 7 These rods are preferably tubular in construction so as to combine lightness with strength and topermit the use of material having a diameter sufliciently large to afford adequate support and minimize any lateral movement in the sliding support. It will be noted that the construction of the inner end of the arm with its circumferentially reduced shoulder-forming section, and the circular body of the sliding support fitting thereon, permit the arm to be turned, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 7, so as to face either door. On two sides of the body of the sliding support a recess is provided, 13, in Figs. 8 and 10, into which the end of the lever 10 is inserted as a means for retaining the arm in its proper position in front of either door of the car. The two outer rods 8, as shown in Fig. 7, each carries a spiral spring 14. Attached to one end of each spring is the section 15 having two bores or openings and slidably engaged with the rods 7 and 8, the sections 15 contacting with the sliding support 5. Extending from said support androtatably mounted thereon are two grooved wheels 16, or, if deemed desirable, a single wheel with a double groove may be used. 17 and 18 in Fig. 7 illustrate in a disconnected way two levers which in the apparatus are operatively associated with the wheels 16. In Fig. 2these levers are shown as mounted in the car, the lever denoted as 17 being in operative position, and

the lever 18 located in the top of the car as it is when not in use. These levers are man ually operated, their functions being to ex tend thearm carrying the magnet, and anything carried by the magnet, to a position outside of the car. The levers are pivotally connected with brackets 19 attached to the upper portion of the car substantially as shown in Fig. 2. lVhen the levers are not in use they rest in the top of the car, their free ends being supported by the spring brackets 20. In Fig. 2, 18 illustrates the position of said lever when not in operative position, and the dotted line the location of the other lever when not in use. When it is desired to extend the arm from the car door as shown in Fig. 2, lever 17 is brought down by the operator, the lever'riding in one of the grooved wheels 16 and carrying forward the slidable support 5, this support in turn carrying forward the member 15 located adjacent'the wheels 16 as shown in Fig. 7 and extending the spring 14 as shown in F 2. Located on the door casings as shown in Fig. 2, and oppositely disposed, is a pair of catches to retain the free end of a lever when the arm is extended from either side of the car,-denot ed by 21. The full line showing of lever 17, Fig; 2 illustrates the position of a said lever as retained by a catch when the arm andconnections are extended from the car in operative position. 22, Fig. 4, designates a casing for a. box primarily'designed to contain maiL'although it can beused for other articles. It is made of metal of a kind which is subject to magnetic'attraction, the two sections on its upper surface, designated by 23, however, are made of brass. Extend.- ing on each side of the box, completely across one end and partly across the other end, and.

parallel therewith, are two oppositely located strengthening and fastening rods 24, held to the box by metallic bands 25, said rods being rotatable therein. At 26 the ends of the rods are looped'to afford means for applying a padlock. In Fig. 5 is shown a longitudinal sectional view of the mail box proper 27. This is a metallic drawer adapted to slidably engage with the casing 22, and having within itfla shock-resisting medium consisting of a'metallic container of resilient material, preferably metal, the ends bent as shown at 28 with a View to absorbing shocks incident to the use ofthe box; \Vith suitable electric energy applied to the magnet through thewires 12, Fig. 2, the mail box 22 held by magnetic attraction to the magnet 11, and the arm extended by a the lever v17, said lever being held in position by the catch 21 as shown in Fig. 2, that part of the apparatus working from and within the railway car is in operative position. templates that the interior portion of a mail car designed as its forwardend will always be so maintained when traveling in any direction, which, of course, would necessitate that the'car be turned around for its return trip, the mechanism permitting. the arm tobe' extended from either side of the car. It may be desirable to so equip the car that the arm may be extended from either side and be in operative position with the other mechanism of the complete apparatus, whether the car is traveling backward or forward, in which event two additional The. construction as shown conlevers identical in construction wit-i117 [and 18, together with a duplicate shaft .and

wheels 16 mounted on said shaft, will be installed and oppositely located on and ad-' j acent the other rod 7, Fig. 7.. ad our levers for extending the arm will then be provided, and the device will be adaptable to any position in which the car maybe running on the track. V r 7 vFig. 1 showslinelevationalongside the car, a rack designed to receive a mail box from an incoming car and to deliver, or en'- able the magnet on the extended arm from said car to pick up a similar box of outgoing mail after the first box has been deposited on the rack. In Fig. 1 the box 22 isina position "for delivery to the rack, and the box 29 on the rack is in a position ready to be picked up. Fig, 6 is a plan viewlof said rack. The rack, located adjacent the track, is provided with suitablei supports In Fig. 6,30 represents sections of the framei work of the rack, 31 a pair of rails comprising the bottom of the rack, and onwhich the mail boxes are adapted to slide, and 32 a pair of side rails. 'These rails mustbe made of material possessing no aflinity for a magnet, and while they can be made of brass, wood is the preferred material. As indicated in the plan view, and better illustrated in Fig. 2, the bottom rails are turned down at their ends, and the side rails turned outwardly at the ends, to facilitate the reception or removal of a mail box. 33 represents an electro-magnet equipped with proper electrical connections, and located within the body of the rack, its smooth upper surface being on a plane with the upper surfaces of the rails31. The primary function of this magnet is to provide magnetic means for limiting the movement of a mail box after being deposited on therack, the same being accomplished through the following instrumentalities. 34 in Fig. 1, represents an electric switch pivotally connected at the points 35, and pivotally mounted to the rack at the points .36, the dotted lines adjacent said last named points indicating movement of the switch. The frame of said switch is of material unattractive to a magnet. 37 represents sections of copper, with electrical connections, fixedly attached to the rack. 38 is a section ofcopper fixedly attached to the lower portion of the switch. The springs 39 attached to the switch and either side of the rack are for the purpose of automatically releasing the switch. The switch as shown in Fig. 1 is open, the'sections 37, which are slotted, being located directly over the cut-out portions 40 of the copper section 38. When a forward movement is applied at either of the points 34, the section 38 is raised and enters the slotted portion of the piece 37, thereby closing the switch and establishing electrical connection with the magnet. It is obvious that when either of the portions of the switch 34 is released, the springs 39 will open the switch. Fig. 3 illustrates in perspective what I term a stop-slide for the mail boxes, the same being denoted as 41. It is of metal having attraction for a magnet, and for giving it strength and greater utility for the purpose intended the bottom is reinforced or made of heavier material than the sides. In Fig. 1 this stop slide 41 is shown in operative position within the rack, resting about half its length on the magnet and half on the bottom rails of the rack. In Fig. 6, thisstop-slide is also shown. 42, in Fig. 6, is a metallic piece substantially rectangular in form, resting in slots and extending between the side rails 32 and directly over the stop-slide'41. Its function is to limit the movement of the stop-slide along the rack to the upstanding end portions of the slide, in either direction. 43 Fig. 1, illustrates a pair of tripping members located on the side of the rack next to the car, the use of which will be explained shortly. These are pivotally mounted to the rack, swing freely, and of such weight and form as to normally occupy. the position shown in Fig. 1. On the side of the rack and adjacent each. side of these tripping members bolts, or other suitablestops, can be provided if desired, which limit the forward or rearward movement of these trips. A bolt, serving as one of these stops, is denoted by 44, in Fig. 2. With that part'of the apparatus operating from the car and in the position heretofore described and shown in Fig. 1, with the car moving toward the rack, the'mail box 22suspended from the arm and magnet on the car enters the rack, the tip of the. arm 2, Fig. 2, closes the switch on the rack by imparting a forward movement to 34 of th switch, Fig. 1there being enough movement to the part 34 to allow the tip to pass over it. At the instant the switch is closed electrical energy is applied to the magnet in the rack, the stop-slide 41 is held to the magnet by attraction and it acts as a buffer limiting the movement of the mail box 22 which is then deposited on. the rack from the moving train, the movement and momentum of the train, together with the attraction of the magnet on the rack being sufficient to release said box from the arm and magnet on the moving car. Said magnet being free of the box 22, then picks up the box 29. This box, provided with end portions of brass on its upper surface allows the magnet on the car to slide over and retain the box along its medial portion The trip 43, located as it is with reference to the catch 21, Fig. 2, on the car, then trips said catch, releases the lever 17 and the tension on the spring 14, and the arm and magnet carrying the box 29 just picked up from the rack are automatically taken into the car. It will be noted from the description and the drawings that the mechanism can be actuated in either direction that a car may be traveling. Obviously changes in and modifications of the construction described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages, hence I ask that I be not confined to the specific structure set forth.

I claim:

1. In combination with a moving railway car and a container having affinity for a magnet extending therefrom, a rack located adjacent the car, said rack carrying a buffer made of material attractive to'a magnet and controlled by a magnet, against which said container is adapted to impinge and whereby the longitudinal movement of the container is limited after being deposited on the rack from the car, and means on the rack for limiting the lateral movement of the container and said buffer.

2. In combination with a moving railway car and a container having affinity for a magnet extending therefrom, a rack located 1 adjacent the car, carrying'a stop-slide made of material attractiveto a magnet, said stopslide having abase substantially rectangular in form with oppositely disposed ends substantially rectangular in form extending-upwardly and at, right angles to the base, a barrier located within the rack and between the ends of the stop-slide and magnetic means within the rack, whereby the longitudinal movements ofthe stop-slider and the container are limited, when the container is thrust against the stop-slide by the moving car, means on the rack to limit the lateral movement of thecried by themagnet, a rack located adjacent said car adapted to receive the'receptacle from said member, and also-to carry a similar receptacle to be picked up'by said member, an electro-magnet located in the lack, a switch therefor controlled by said member,

'operatively associated with said second mag:

net meansfor limiting the travel of the re-V ceptacle deposited on the rack, and means located on the rack and said car, in-cooperatlon with said-member, for returningthe member with a-receptacle to the interior of the car. a j

In an apparatus of the-class describe'd, I

in combination with a railway car and a station located adjacent thereto, a member, the outer portion ofwhichfterminates' in a tip, said member carryingadjacent the tip an electro-magnet, the other end having a base slidably mountedfon a pluralityof supports located transversely of the car, means for reversing said member whereby the tip will face either-side of the car, means, including a plurality of levers coactingfwith said base, whereby 'said'member and magnet may be extended from a side'door ofthe car,

means associated-with each lever for maintammg" said member and magnet in 6X-;

tended positionfand means located onthe i car and rsaid station whereby movement of the car will trip the-member when extended i and cause it to be withdrawn within "the car.

' JOl-lN VFOQRSLUND;

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