US1612721A - Passenger conveyance - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 28 1926. 1,612,721

-J. HOFFAY PASSENGER CONVFYANCE Filed March 30. 1922 INVENTOR a IMM 4 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

' uN-lraoSTATES 1 Josnrn norm-Ar, or xnw-Yonx, n. Y.

rassrmonn ooiwnnmcn.

l Application filed larch 30, 1922. Serial Io. 547,970.

, tion are to improve-theconstruction and mode of operation of conveyances of the above type and to, provide such a conveyance which is more convenient in its operation both forthe ublie and the 'o rator than those hereto oreproduced, w ich is more economical in'--oper'ation,.which results in saving in time at stops for the taking in and alighting of, passengers and which increases the availability of the passenger carrying'space.

Heretofore it has been customary. to use a single opening as both an entrance and an exit, with the result that a comparatively long time is requiredior the alternate entrance and exit of passengers. Furthermore the space in proximity to such 0 ening becomes crowded with passengers w 0 usually refer to stand as-near the exit as possible. his results in a much slower and less efficient operation of the conveyance and in "a waste of carrying space elsewhere in the car. In such conveyance it is necessary for the operator'not only to supervise the ay-. ment of fares but also to watch care ly the entrance and exit of passengersso that the conveyance will not be started until all departing passengers have left the conveyance and all boarding passengers have entered the same. For the sake of safety, the car is not started until all of the fares have been paid and thus a great deal of time in the aggregate is lost.

In accordance with the above objects, it is proposed to provide a conveyance having an entrance, and an exit separate from sai entrance, and certain features of the invention relate to the combination with an entrance and a separate exit of means for signaling the driver operated from the exit.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a vestibule at the entrance of the conveyance and a restricted passageway through which the passengers must pass into the main portion of 'the conveyance. This vestibule enables a comparatively lar 0 number of passengersto enter the car quic l and thus enables the operator to close the oorand start the'car much more quickly than with the ordinary construction. The exit is preferably so placed that the natural tendency of the passengers to stand near the exit will cause them to leave the space adjacent the entrance even when the car is crowded,-thus making room for additional passengers at the entrance. To obtain safety and further speed in operation, the inventor contemplates the provision of a suitable signaling device for indicatin ghen passengers are leaving and have left e car.

Certain features of the present invention v may be employed with advanta e in various vehicles .or conveyances, suc as buses which have a distinct front and rear end,

and to conveyances, such as trolley cars, 7

which may be operated either end first."

Certain features of the invention also may be advantageously applied to conveyances under the supervision of both a driver and a conductor.

the invention isnot limited to any particular kind or type of vehicle. 7

The accompanying drawings illustrating the invention in its preferred form show the invention as embodied in a conveyance of the one-man trolley car ty e.

Fig. 1 is a plan views owing a general layout of my improved conveyance in its preferred form; 1

0 Fig. 2 is an enlarged view part1 in section showing ,my improved signal ing exit platform in the position it occupies when agmssenger is standing thereon and the door 0 the conveyance has been opened and the step swung downwardly;

ig. 3 is a somewhat similar view but showlng a passenger in the act ofleaving my improved signalling step and another passenger on the platform;

Fig. 4 is a similar view but showing the osition of the parts after the passenger as left the step;

Fig. 5 is a view showin the position of the platform and step wien the door is closed and no assenger is on the latform;

Fig. 6 is a etail of a contact evice for the step;

Fig. 7 is a detail showing the circuits;

It is therefore to be understood that except as defined in the claims tition 4 may befixed and'not slidable and Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the platform contact devices more in detail; and

Fig. 9 is for a conveyance of somewhat modified corn struction from that shown in Fig. '1. i

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates one side of the conveyance, and .2 the opposite side thereof. Near one end I provide a par- 'tition 3 extending from the side 1 toward the center of the convenience but terminating short of the opposite side 2. Inthe construction shown in Fig. 1 a sliding portion 4 is provided which is moved to the positionshown at the right in Fig. 1 when'the conveyance is moving toward the right but which may be occupying the position shown at-the rear of Fig. 1 when the conveyance is moving in the opposite direction. If, however, the conveyance is one which always moves withthe. same end forward, the parthe partition .3 would not be required at the other end. This partition4 extends substantially parallel to the side of the conveyance and forms a restricted passageway at the "right of which is shown the farebox 5, and

an entrance 'oor 6,*which isshown of the usual folding varietyand which may be controlled the driver together with the step 24 by devices usually provided for this purpose, which -serve to permit access to the conveyancethrough the vestibule formed by the partitions. 3 and 4. This vestibule is of substantial capacity so that a number of passengers may enter and the door 6 be, closed and the fare thereafterpaid, without cau sing undue crowding,j,the passengers then 1 passing through the restricted passageway intoj'the central portion ofthe conveyance. Inthe left endof theconveyance which, as shown, formsthe rear end thereof, the space is 'div-ided somewhat differently by reason of the partition 4 beingmoved over to contact with the rear end of the conveyance, and in a one-ended conveyance this partition would be fixed and the partition 3 might be eliminated. However, in a. conveyance adapted to go either end first, the partition 4 is preferably slidable, so that it may occupy the position shown in Fig.1 at

,the left when the left is the rear end of the conveyance but is --moved to the position shownas occupied by the right hand member 4 when the conveyance isgoing in the other direction. The left portion of the conve ance is likewise provided with a door 6 1n the case of a dou le-ended conveyance.

In order to prevent crowding at the en trance due particularly to the tendency of passengers to stand near the exit of the car, it is proposed to provide a conveyance construction comprising an exit separate from the entrance and preferably; located at a point in the conveyance some distance from the portion 25' moving under" the 'the entrance. In the present embodiment of the invention, the conveyance is provided witha door 'at the rear through whichpasa diagrammatic view of a Iayout sengers may leave the same. In the drawing'sf the conveyance is shown as provided \vitlra'rear door 8 which is controlled by the driver or motorman inthe usual man-' ner, said door being connected as usual with a pivotally movable step so that as the door swings-open the step is swung from closed to open position.

. A feature of my improved construction is the provision of a platform 9 preferably countersunk into a recessin the flooring and located adjacent the exit, which platform has a slight vertical movement with respect to the recess of thefioor 10 of the conveyance, as shown in Fig, 8. The platform 9 has secured to it a plunger 11 havinga downwardly projectingportion 12 screw-threaded to receive adjusting and locking nuts 13.

Adjusting and locking washers 14 engage the inner screw-threaded portion of a socket member 15 suitably secured by screws 16 to the floor of the conveyance. A spring 16 is interposed between a flange-like portion- 17 of the plunger 11 and the upper washer 14 and normally tends to elevate the platform. Screwed into; the lower end of the plunger and insulated is a contact point 18,

which when the plunger is depressed by the weight of a passenger standing on the platform, engages the insulated contact device 19.130 close an electric circuit having conducting wires 20 and 21 which lead to a signal 1 device 22 conveniently situated at the end of the. conveyance for observation by the driver ormotorman. A battery 23 supplies the current, the circuit connections being shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7. It is,

of course, understood that the usual signal buttons may be provided adjacent the seats,- -so that the driver or motor-man may be sig naled'at any time to indicate that a passenger desires to leave the conveyance.

-Leading from the platform is a step formed of two members 24 and 25 rigidly connected together and pivoted on a rod 26.

There is provided a gravity latch 27 supported by lugs 28 depending from the underside of the platform and occupying a recess in the floor of the car, which gravity latch is adapted to cooperate with the portion 25 of the step under conditions which will now be ex lained.

When the exit door has been opened and apassenger is standingron the platform, the parts assume the position shown in Fig- 2, latch 27, butnot' dropping off therefrom being held ;in the position shown by a spring 28*secured toa bracket 29 and bearing against anarm -30, which is also rigidwith theistep members. When the passenger steps on the p0r- 15101124, the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 3 in case another passenger has at that time moved onto the platform 8. The weight of the passenger on the step 24 holds the same in its lowermost position and comresses the spring 28 and moves an insul ated contact device 31 into engagement with a second contact device 32 which, as shown in Fig. 7 is likewise connected so that it will actuate the signal, thus maintaining said signal in operative condition. At this time, of course, the contact is also closed at the platform. The contacts 31 and 32,how-

even-provide that the signal shall be maintained in operative condition until the passenger has left the step, and, if no passenger is on the platform 9 at that time, the signal will be extinguished and the driver will then close the door and proceed. If, however, another passenger is on the platform ready to alight, the latch 2'7is moved downwardly and interposes its end in the path of movement of the member 25 of the step so that after one passenger has left the step, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, the spring 28? having broken the contacts 31,

32. but the weight of the other passenger still maintaining the contact 18l9 at the platform; the signal is thus maintained'in operative condition and furthermore the latch prevents the step from being swung to closed position and since the door is connected to the step it likewise prevents closing of the door. The conveyance is preferably provided with mechanism for controlling the throwing on of the power, which mechanism is controlled bythe door 80 that when the door is open the power cannot be thrown on by theoperator of the car and that when the door is closed said mechanism is placed in condition to permit the throwing on of the power. As soon as all of the passengers desiring to alight have done so and the door is closed, the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 5. In Fig. 9 I have shown a somewhat modifiedform of car layout which is more particularly adapted to modifications of cars or conveyances ,at present in use. In the case of new constructions, however. I prefer to use'the form shown in Fig. 1, which, of course, may be modified to suit the particular conditions.

Figure 9 illustrates a modified form of the invention in which certain features of the invention are embodied in a conveyance adapted to travel always with the right hand end forward. In this form of the invention a vestibule and a restricted passageway are formed by a fixed partition 3 preferably made of piping or similar material.

. Having explained the nature and object of the invention and having specifically described a conveyance embodying the inven tion in its preferred form, what is claimed is:

1. A passenger conveyance of the one-man type having partitions running from each side of the conveyance toward the center and toward each end thereof and forming a vestibule of substantial. size at each end of the conveyance. said partitions also forming with the opposite sides of the conveyance restricted passageways through which passengers are constrained to pass to reach the main portion of the conveyance, and an entrance door to each vestibule.

.2. A passenger conveyance of the one-man type having partitions running from each side of the conveyance toward the center and toward each end thereof and forming a vestibule of substantial size at each end of the conveyance, said partitions also forming withv the opposite sides of the conveyance restricted passageways through which passengers are constrained to pass to reach the main portion of the conveyance, an entrance door to each vestibule, and an exit door at either end of the conveyance communicating with the mainportion thereof.

3. A passenger conveyance having an exit, a door for closing said exit, a platform within the conveyance and adjacent said exit, a step normally inraised position when the door is closed but adapted to swing to position to allow exit from the conveyance as the door is opened, and means operated by the weight of a passenger on said platform to prevent swinging of said step to normally raised position.

4. In a conveyance having an exit, a door for closing said exit, a normally raised platform adjacent said door, and means controlled by said platform for preventing closing of said door when said platform is displaced by the weight of a passenger.

5. In a conveyance having an exit, a door for closing said exit, a normally raised platform adjacent said door, and means for preventing closing of said door when said platform is displaced by the weight of a passenger.

'6. A one-man-operated passenger conveyance having an exit, a platform adjacent said exit, a step serving to permit exit from the platform, a latch moved to operative position by a passenger standing on the platform, said latch preventing return of the step to normal position while the passenger occupies the platform.

7. In a conveyance having an exit, a door for closing said exit, a normally raised platform adjacent said door, and means for preventing closing of said door and which means is set to operate when said platform is displaced by the weight of a passenger.

8. In a conveyance having an exit, a door for closing said exit, a platform adjacent said door and substantially at a level with the nearby floor of the conveyance, and automatic means for preventing closing of said door operative when a passenger treads on said platform.

9. in a conveyance having an exit, a door for closing said exit, a platform adjacent said door and substantially at a level With the nearby floor of the conveyance, and means for preventing closing of said door operative When a passenger treads on said platform.

10. In a conveyance having an exit, a door for closing said exit, treading means Within the conveyance and adjacent said door, and means for preventing closing of said door while a passenger stands on said treading means.

11. In a conveyance having an exit, a door for closing said exit, treading means Within the conveyance and adjacent said exit, and

iami automatic means for preventing closing of said door while a passenger stands on said treading means.

12. In a conveyance having an exit, a door for closing said exit, treading means Within the conveyance and adjacent said exit, a step normally in raised position When the door is closed but adapted to swing to position to allow exit from the conveyance as the door is opened, and means for preventing swinging of said step to normally raised position when a passenger stands on said treading means.

Signed at New York city, N. Y., this 25th day of March, 1922.

JOSEPH HOFFAY.

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