US555925A

US555925A - Life-guard for freight-trains

Info

Publication number: US555925A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 1913-03-10

Description

(No Model.)

' J. W. BROOKER.

LIFE GUARD FOR PR EIGHTTRAINS.

Patented Mar. 10 1896.

gimva ntoz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. BROOKER, OF DALTON, GEORGIA.

LIFE-GUARD FOR FREIGHT-TRAINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,925, dated March 10, 1896.

Application filed May 21, 1895.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. BROOKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dalton, in the county of Whitfield and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Guards for Freight- Trains, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the ac companying drawings.

This invention is designed to provide the ends of freight-cars with a life-guard attachment whereby the trainmen who are compelled to pass back and forth on top of the cars will be prevented from accidentally falling between the cars and under the wheels, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one end of a freight-car provided with my improved guard, the same being turned down in operative position; Fig. 2, a similar View showing the guard turned up out of operative position; Figs. 3 and 4, side elevations of the adjacent ends of freight-cars provided with my attachment, the former view showing the guard folded down and the latter showing the guard folded up against the end of the car out of the way; and Fig. 5, a plan view of the adjacent ends of the cars, showing the guard in similar position.

In the drawings, A designates a platform consisting of a series of intersecting rods and extending entirely across the end of the car, the inner longitudinal bar being extended at b to form journals which Work in verticallyslotted bearing-blocks B, secured to the ends of the car near the vertical edges and a suitable distance from the roof of the car. Two

tion.

fierial No. 550,108. (No model.)

folded position one or both of the journals 1) are provided with a radial arm a, which is adapted to engage a pin 0 inserted in a hole in the side of the car, as shown in Fig. 2. The pin a is of course removable in order that the platform may be let down whenever desired.

The platform is of sufficient width to extend horizontally about half-way across the space between the ends of the cars when the same are coupled, so that the two platforms will cover the entire space between the cars, and thereby prevent a brakeman falling any farther than the platform should he slip in stepping from car to car. It will be observed that the outer or forward ends of the short transverse bars of the platform areslightly tapered at (1, so that when the couplers yield and the ends of the cars are thereby brought closer together the edge of one platform may readily slide up on and overlap the edge of the opposite platform, whereby injury to the platform will be obviated. The slots in the bearing-blocks 6 permit the platforms to rise slightly when they thus overlap.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination of a car, a horizontal platform extending across the end of the car and pivoted thereto, the projecting edge of the platform being tapered, so that adjacent platforms may overlap each other when the cars come together,substantially as described.

2. The combination of a car,and a platform extending across the end of the car and proj ecting horizontally therefrom and being vertically movable bodily with respect to the car, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. BROOKER.

WVitnesses:

A. P. ROBERTS, H. G. HAMILTON.