US539901A - Car-fender - Google Patents

Description

GAR FENDER. i

Patented May 28, 1895.

NTTE STATES PATENT FFME@ .I AMES WHEATON MADDEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CAR-FENDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,901, dated May 28, 1 895.

.Application filed' August 22,1894. serai ne( 520,960. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES WHEATON MAD- DEN, of Brooklyn, Kings county, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fenders for Trolley-Cars and Similar Oarriages, of which th following is a specification.

The improvement relates to that class of devices adapted to apply on the forward end of a car to reduce the risk of killing persons or animals who may be struck. The improvement is based on that set forth in the patent to me, dated May 29, 1394, No. 520,739.

I have devised important improvements in' the details by which I hold the fender at or near the desired level and allow the car to oscillate to a greater degree, provide detachable pads or cushions to serve on the fronts of the wings, and provide convenient means for instantly re-setting the wings by the attendant after each operation without leaving his place.

` The wings may be locked out of action to facilitate the crowding of the cars together in a shed. The capacity for convenient removal and replacing o f the cushions, among other advantages, facilitates the compacting of the cars together in storing when out of use.

`The accompanying drawings form a part of. this specification and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.-

Figure l is a general side elevation of a car with my invention applied at each end.

The remaining figures show portions on a appear.

It will be understood that the wheels, brakes, &c., may be of the ordinary and ap proved construction.

A is the body of the car, A an end, and A2 the steps.

A3 is a rigid frame mounted under the car to support the parts'. It is supported by, and constitutes practically an extension of a truck frame A4, which latter is carried on the axleboXes supported by the wheels.

The car A, with its ends and steps, is connected by springs A5 which, in addition to their functions of softening the vertical concussions, allow the car body to oscillate or tilt forward and backward.

B, B, indicate wings adapted to turn horizontally on the bolts A6. These bolts are firmly set in the framing A3, and extend loosely upward through holes properly bushed with metal in the car-end, A. Each wing B takes hold of its respective bolt A6 ata sufficient distance above and below the bearing in the car-end to allow the car to tilt or oscillate so as to move the end bearing upward and downward to as great an extent as is liable to occur in` practice without moving the wing vertically at all.

B', B', are vertical tubes set in the wings B, B, at the inner edge, adapted to receive a properly forked or staple formed bolt P. When this bolt is inserted the wings cannot sweep apart, but are retained in their folded positions. In `this condition these wings only perform the important functionv of softening the shock when the car strikes any person or object. When the staple-bolt P is drawn up and completely removed, as is the condition for the most complete use of my fender, the wings may be actuated by the mechanism, and caused to throw off or aid in throwing ott persons or objects from the track.

B2, B2, are approximately triangular horizontal yokes, welded or otherwise rigidly set in the inner faces of each wing B, adapted to receive a force to open the wings or give them their sweeping motion, and B3, B3, are larger yokes, similarly set on the wings respectively and receiving the action of the same devices in the opposite direction, to fold or close the wings.

O, C, are swinging tubes of iron or steel, arranged 'in pairs, one above another above the frame A3, and O-, C', are vertical bars welded or otherwise firmly attached to the tubes'O, O. These perform the function of connecting the` tubes of each pair together and also of engaging with a suitable hook or offset to be presently described, to hold the levers C, D, out of action under ordinary conditions. Each pair of tubes O, C, incloses stout springs D, D, which are connected at the front by a vertical portion D', which lat- 5 ter is made integral with the parallel parts D, D, and perform theimportant functions of connecting them together as a unit, and of imparting the action of the springs to the yokes B2, B2, respectively. The springs D, D,

1o extend rearward through the tubes C, C, and are coiled around the corresponding bolt A8, and abut by their extended ends D2 against a post A7 set in the frame A inthe position indicated. The coils are marked D2. They l 5 correspond in construction and effect with the parts correspondingly lettered in my previous patent referred to. Each acts on its respective wing B, through the medium of the yokes B2, B2, each serving by the elastic force of the 2o coils D2 to urge the wings open by their action on the outer surfaces of the yokes B2, or serving by the force imparted by the attendant, to act on the inner surface of the corresponding yoke B3. The attendant acts through levers 2l; WV, of which there is one for each wing, each turning on a pivot A9, fixed on the car, the upper end of a lever Wbeing seized by the hand of the attendant, and the lower end of the said lever acting on the corresponding pair of 3o tubes C, C. The strength of the attendant exerted through this lever brings the parts again into their properly folded condition after a` sweeping motion of either wing B. I will refer to the pair of tubes and the corresponding springs onv each side when neces sary as the spring lever C, D.

I dispense with the wheel described in my previous patent of May, 1894:, referred to, but I use frames G corresponding closely in 4o form and effect to the parts correspondingly marked in said patent. These are counterparts of each other, and a description of one will suffice for both. I will use super-numerals as G when necessary to designate certain parts of each. Each is pivoted on. one of two upright bolts or posts A4 set in the framing AB near the center line of the car. Each is provided with an offset G which, when the parts are in condition for use, is engaged by 5o the vertical cross-bar C of the corresponding spring lever C, D, and holds it reliably. Each is provided with an arm G2 which reaches forward near the center line of the car, a sufficient distance, and then extends laterally outward from the center. Its extreme end bears on an extended head of a screw B4 set adjustablyin the inner surface of the wing B. When in the use of the car the wing B strikes against any person or object with sufcient force to 6o del-lect it inward toward the center of the car, the action of the screw-head B4 against the end G2 turns the frame Gon its center A14 and dsengages the offset G from the vertical bar C after which the spring D acts promptly by pressing its vertical portion D against the yoke B2 and causing the wing B to make a forcible sweep to remove the person or other object from the track and throw it vigorously aside. Each side of the mechanism works independently of the other. It will rarely happen that a person or object will strike so exactly in the center that one wing will not actY more effectively than the other and throw the person or object to that side of the road.

Each frame G extends rearward and is subject to the gentle force of a hook-ended spring H which is represented as coiled around the corresponding post A8 and abutting by its extended end against the post A7. The extended end of the frame G is allowed to strike against the same post to gage its position and prevent its moving too far when the wing has made a sweep.

K and L are side fenders corresponding to the parts similarly lettered in my previous patent referred to. Each part K is centered on the corresponding bolt A6 and is knuckled to the part L. Each of the latter carries on its inner face, a hook L', which is engaged by a link E pivoted on the corresponding pair of tubes C, C. Each side fender L carries also a broad headed screw M which is arranged to stand in contact or nearly in contact with the adjacent portion of the rearward extension of the frame G. When the apparatus is adjusted for use, these side fenders K, L, are drawn inward. When by striking against any object or person on the track the spring lever C, D, on either side is released and a sweeping action of the corresponding fender B occurs, the

last portion of the motion of the lever C, D,

will act on the part L and force the corresponding side fender parts K L outward.

Y, Y are removable cushions, which may be of hair, excelsior, or other yielding material, incased in leather, canvas or other suitable covering. and provided each with two iron straps Y', each hook-formed at itsupper end. Vhen the parts are adjusted for use one of these cushions Y is engaged on the front of each wing B by means of its hook straps Y. They are easily removed and stored in any convenient place when the cars are to be arranged compactly together in the car-house.

To adjust my mechanism for use, the levers W are operated successively, and the wings B, B, are folded one by one into the position for work, and engaged by the locking of the corresponding vertical bar C with the offset G. Now the cushions Y, Y, being placed in position and caused to hang by theirhook straps Y the car serves all day. With proper care a collision with any person or object will be rare, but when such does occur the force of theimpact liberates the mechanism on the corresponding side, and the wing B on that side performs its sweep, throwing the person or object out to one side of the road. expedient the car may be allowed to continue its course without stopping, the attendant simply reaching over and operating the lever W to bring the wingB back into its required folded position, where it will be again engaged by the offset G', and all will proceed as If it is judged ICO IIO

before, -At the end of the day, or whenever' the car is put ont of use and requires to be stored compactly with other cars, a certain number on each track in the car house, first, the `staple-bolt Pis inserted in the corresponding tubes -B locking the wings-together; second, the cushions Y are lifted off and placed Within the car, or in any other convenient position, and then the cars may together.

be stored close together with the faces of the wings B of one car presented close to or in actual Contact with the wings B of the adjacent car, economizing the space which would be occupied by the cushions if they were permanently attached. If, as will frequently occur, in storing the cars, two cars Vare allowed to strike together with considerable force, the

Vpressure on the wings B will not liberate the mechanism, because their action is now prevented by the staple-bolts P. V

Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. I have shown a notch in the inner edge of each wing B. This allows a coupling to be inserted in case it shall be required to couple two or more cars This may be omitted. I `have shown the frame A3 as bolted to the truck A4. It may be secured in any other way, or it may be forged or otherwise made integral therewith. It is sufiicient that it is supported upon the truck and allows the car to oscillate independently.

I claim as my inventionl'. Inafender'for railroad cars having horizontally turning wings B, operating means C, D, and the frame G, having an offset G', for holding the wings in the folded condition and allowing them to be released by pressure against the front of lthe wings, the frame As carried on the wheels and supporting the 1nechanism,with provisions as the bolts Aeon one partpplaying through a hole in the other part, arranged to allowr the ear to oscillate or rock independently of the fender and its operating mechanism, all substantially as herein specified.

2. In a fender for railroad cars having horizontally turning wings B, operating means C, D, and the frame G having an offset G for holding the wings in the folded conditionand allowing them to be released by pressure against the front of the wings, the combination therewith of the hand levers W acting on.. such Wings, arranged to restore the parts to position for work after each use, substantially as herein specified.

In a fender for railroad cars having horizontally turning wings B, operating means C, D, and the frame G having an offset G for holding the wings in the folded condition and allowing them to be released by pressure against the front of the wings, the combination therewith of theeyes B on said wings, and the staple-bolt P, adapted to engage in suchv wings and lock the said wings out of action at will, substantially as herein specified.

4. In a fender for railroad cars having horizontally'turning wings B, operating means C, D, and the frame G having an oset G for holding the wings in the folded condition and allowing them to be released by pressure against the frontof the wings, the combinaticn therewith of the cushions Y provided with straps Y', hook-formed at their upper ends, adapted to be engaged and removed at lwill, substantially as herein specified.

Intestimony that I claim the invention above set forth I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. l

JAMES WHEATON MADDEN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES R. SEARLE, M. F. BOYLE.

. ...kalf

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