US576133A - Adjustable car-step - Google Patents

Description

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H. W. LE MERING & H. PICKARD.

ADJUSTABLE GAR STEP.

*No. 576.133. Patented Peb.2 ,189'71 'lIIIIIIlIIIIIIIIIIII/IIII ,r v jfezp' fidqrd my? ail:

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(No Model.)

ADJUSTABLE GAR STEP.

No. 576,133. Patnted eb; 2, 1897 anger? cams Risks co, PHOT UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY LEMERING AND HENRY PIOKARD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. Q

ADJUSTABLE CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,133, dated February 2, 1897.

Application filed April 20, 1896. Serial No. 588,354. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY W. LEMERING and HENRY PIOKARD, citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Car-Steps, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a new and useful improvement in adj ustable car-steps, and has for its object to overcome the disadvantages which have heretofore been experienced by persons leaving a train at localities where a platform is not provided of such height as to come in proper relative position to the lower step to permit a person to pass thereon without undue exertion.

With these ends in view our invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

' In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may under stand how to make and use the same, we will describe its construction and operation in de tail, referring by number to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a cross-section of the platform of a car, showing our improved adjustable step connected to the lower step of each pair and illustrating one method of operating the same; Fig. 2, a plan view of the two adjustable steps and their connections removed from the ordinary steps of the car, the side bearings of one of the adjustable steps being in section; Fig. 8, a detailed section of the lower portion of the steps similar to Fig. 1, but showing the adjustable steps distended; Fig. 4, an enlarged view of a portion of the platform of a car, showing a modified form of operating the adjustable steps, which contemplates the use of an air-cylinder in connection with the air-brake train-pipe; Fig. 5, a detailed perspective of a modified form of connection for the adjustable step.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 1 represents the platform of a car, having leading t-herefrom two flights of steps 2, and to the under side of the bottom step of each flight is secured the grooved bars 3, in which the slides nates in a handhold 12 upon theupper side 1 of the platform, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

13 is a lever secured to the crank-shaft about midway thereof and extending upon either side, so as to form arms to which the connecting-rods 14 are pivoted, their opposite ends being pivoted at 15 to the brackets 5. By this arrangement it will be seen that to force the adjustable steps forward into the proper relative position to the stationary flights of steps it is only necessary to draw upward upon the rod 11, when the crankshaft willbe rotated, thereby forcing the steps outward through the connecting-rods '14 to the position shown in Fig. 3, and when it is necessary to retract the adjustable steps to the position shown in Fig. l the reverse movement of the rod 11 is brought about by pushing downward thereon. In practice this enables the stationary steps to terminate at a point high enough from the road-bed and sufficiently within the width of the car to offer no obstruction to the passage of said car in close proximity to buildings or other structures along the line, and yet when it is necessary for the disembarkment of passengers the adjustable step may be brought into position so as to render the exertion of passing from the platform of a car to the platform of the station, or even in alighting upon the ground where there is no station-platform, less difficult. This also obviates the necessity of a train-attendant having to place a box or stand, as is now the case, for the passengers to use in descending the steps, thus avoiding accidents, which now occur by the overturning of said stands.

Should it be found necessary to lock the extended steps in their distended position, this IOO ters with respect to the connecting-rods 14, as will be readily understood; or this same result may be brought about by lugs 16, formed in the rod 11, adapted to engage with a lug 17, formed upon one wall of the slot through which the rod passes, and any suitable spring 18 may be provided for holding the notches in engagement with the lug.

Should it be found desirable, the movements of the adjustable steps may be under control of pneumatic mechanism, as shown in Fig. 4:, which consists of a cylinder 20, with which is connected the air-brake train-pipe 21 by the "branch pipe 22, in which is located a controlling-valve 23, havin g a suit-able handle 24 for manipulation. Within this cylinder is located a piston of ordinary construction, adapted. to actuate the piston-rod 25, the latter being connected to the crank 10 or other suitable mechanism for bringing about the movements of the adjustable steps. When this arrangement is used, it is only necessary to properly move the valve 23, when the adj ustable steps will be either distended or retracted, as before described.

The modification shown in Fig. 5 contemplates the using of parallel rods 26, adapted to be secured to the under side of the bottom step of each pair by screws or bolts passed through the feet 27, in which case the brackets 28 are provided with lugs 29, having holes therethrough for passage over the rods. This construction is somewhat cheaper and, under some circumstances, more efficient than the one above described.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and useful is 1. The herein-described combination with the stationary steps of a car, guide-bars consisting of slotted rods extending from one set of steps to the other, brackets slidable in the slots thereof, a step on .each bracket and means for operating the brackets as and for the purpose described.

2. The herein-described combination with the stationary steps of a car, guide-bars secured to the under side of the bottom step of each pair, brackets guided by said bars so as to slide to and fro, a step supported by each of said brackets, a crank-shaft journaled in said bars, a lever secured thereon, rods 14 connecting said brackets and lever, a crank 10 carried by said shaft, and a suitable rod for operating said shaft to bring about the movements of the adjustable steps in unison, substantially as shown and for the purposes set forth.

3. Tl1e hereindescribed combination with the stationary steps of a car, guide-bars consisting of slotted rods extending from one set of steps to the other, brackets slidable in the slots thereof, a step supported by each of said brackets, a crank-shaft j o u rn aled in said bars, a lever secured thereon, rods connecting the brackets and lever, a crank carried by said shaft, a hand-rod connected to the crank and extending above the platform, lugs on the rods, a plate on the platform having walls to engage said lugs and means for pressing said lugs into engagement with the plate as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto affixed our signatures in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HENRY W. LEMER ING. HENRY PICKARD.

\Vitnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON, MARK BUFORD.

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