US252855A

US252855A - William p

Info

Publication number: US252855A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1882-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 1899-01-24

Description

(No Model.)

W. P. PREWITT.

I RAILWAY UAR.

No. 252,355. Patented Jan. 24,1882.

\H/- I w a? bar-W5 UNITED STATEs- WILLIAM P. PREWITT, OF ELKTON,

KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR To HIMSELF AND CALEB W. BELL, OF SAME PLACE;

RAILWAY-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,855, dated January 24, 1882.

Application filed December 7, 1851.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, W1LLIAM P. PREWITT, of Elkton, in the coun tyof Todd and State of Kentueky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-(Jars; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ther'eof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification, in which Figure l is a plan view, and Fig. 2 a side elevation, part in section.

The frequency with which brakemen upon the top of freight-trains fall between the cars and become either seriously injured orinstantly killed has become a well-grounded cause of complaint.

The object of my invention is to provide a safe and simple means whereby such disasters may be entirelyobviatcd, and one,withal, which will be an advantage to the cars, as it will assist in lessening the concussion of one against the other, which is more or less the case in stopping.

I Vith these ends in view my invention con sists in having two or more rods projecting through or from the end ot'each car, and around which are suitable spiral springs, said springs being connected by wire, rope,or other appropriate material, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe the manner in which I prefer to carry it into effect. 7

A A represent two freight-cars, and B B two rods of sufficient size to adapt them to the purpose for which they are intended. These rods are headed upon their outer end, and pass through the end of a car, on each side, a foot (more or less) below its top, as shown in the drawings. I

O O are supports or guides attached to the inner side of the car for the rods 13 B to slide in and retain them in proper position. Bctween the outer end of the car and the heads on the rods are the spiral springs b I). These (No model.)

and sustain him until he can recover his footing.

0 represents achain with small links, through which the wires a a pass at their centers. This chain is secured on the inner side of the car, and serves to prevent the wires or ropes getting too widely separated.

The rods B B are also provided at their inner ends with means to prevent them from being drawn out, as seen at 9, Fig. 2.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a railroad-car, of two sliding or retracting supports surrounded by spiral springs, to which are secured crosssupports, thus adapting said supports to close up or open out, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with .a railroad-car, of the rods B B, surrounded by spiral springs b b, and rods or connections a a, all substantially as and for the purpose set Iorth.

3. The combination, with a railroad-car, of rods B B, springs b 1), connections a a, and chain c, all arranged to operate substantially 8 as and for the purpose set forth. D

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown I affix my signature in presence ot'two witnesses.

, WM. P. PREWIIT. IVitncsses J. W. HOPPER,

O. VANPELT.