US624444A

US624444A - Mail-bag catcher

Info

Publication number: US624444A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1899-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1916-05-09

Description

No. 624,444. Patented May 9, I899.. T. U. P. &. W. G. BAILEY.

MAIL BAG GATGHEB.

. (Application filed one; 29, 1897.) (No' Model.) 2 Sheets Shaei l.

Fig.1. I III 5 2 IN VE N TORS 754A A TTOHNE V.

THE "cams Prrzns $0., FNOTOUTNQ, WASHINGTON. u. c.

No. 624,444. Patented May 9, I899. T: 0. P. & W. G. BAILEY.

MAIL BAG BATCHEB.

(Application ffled Oct. 29, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS O. P. BAILEY, OF PITTSBURG, AND W'ILMOT G. BAILEY, OF IMPERIAL, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-HALF TO MA'ITHENV H. STEVENSON,

QF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BAG SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,444, dated May 9, 1899.

Application filed October 2 9, 1 8 9 7.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, THOMAS O. P. BAILEY, residing at Pittsburg, and WILMOT G. BAI- LEY, residing at Imperial, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, citizens of the United States, have invented or discovered new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catchers, of which the following is a specification.

Inthe accompanying drawings,which make part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective of our improved platform-post,showing the mechanism in position for operation. Fig. 2 is an elevation of our platform-post and mail-car mechanism looking in the direction of the cars travel and showing the device at the moment of the interchange of mailbags. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 4c is an elevation also of the same at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the platform-post with the arms in their inoperative position. Fig. 6 is a broken elevation of the mechanism carried by the mailcar, and Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are detailed views of the same mechanism.

The purpose of our invention, generally stated, is to provide automatic means for taking up and depositing mail while the train is in motion. The devices in use have as a rule no means for receiving the mail from the train, but it is simply thrown off the car, sometimes falling under the train, resulting oftentimes in the destruction of the mail-matter and 0ccasionally the derailment oflthe train. There are, however, devices on the market intended to catch the mail from the moving train, but they have so far been experimental and unsatisfactory in operation. Our invention overcomes all these difiiculties.

The following is a detailed description of our device:

'1 is the platform-post, having vertically-. pivoted

arms

2 and 3. Arm 2 is weighted at its rear end 4:, so that it maintains a vertical position when not set for use, as shown in Fig. 5..

with a cross-piece 5, which extends beyond the arm 2 at each side and has its ends grooved on top, forming a support for-one end of the Arm 2 is providedat its other extremity Serial No. 656,777. (No model.)

7 7 are brackets mounted 011 post 1,bet ween,

which are pivotally supported catcher-arms 8 8. The catcher-arms 8 8 have their un- Weighted extremities bent in a curve toward the right or left, according to the side of the post on which they are mounted, thus receiving the mail-bag from the moving train without sudden jar, the bend in the arm gradually overcoming the velocity of the bag. Rod 9, passing loosely through eye-lug 9 on post 1, is provided at its top with beveled portion 10, fitted to force spring-"catch ll'on arm 2 out of engagement with catch 11 on post 1 when rod 9 is forced up. Arm 3 has on its pivoted end projection 12',which when arm 3 falls into the position shown in Fig. 5 strikes against the lower extremity of rod 9, driving said rod up, and by means of beveled portion 10 throwing catch 11 out of engagement with catch 11, thus allowing arm 2 to assume its vertical position of rest. Catch 11 and catch 11* are beveled to insure their easy engagement and disengagement. Catcher-arms S 8 are weighted at their rear ends 13 13, so their normal position is approximately vertical. When in use, the weighted end of arm 8 is elevated. Pivoted to 'rod 9 by slotted joints are bent levers 14: 14, which operate in recesses cut in post 1 and terminate in catches 15 15, which support arms 8 8 when in position. When rod 9 is forced up, the levers 14 14 turn, releasing the catch 15 supporting catcher-arm 8, allowing said catcher-arm to assume its position of rest.

We now pass to that portion of our device which is carried on the mail-car, consisting of a catcher-arm to receive the mail-bag from the platform-post and means for holding the bag which ison the car, so that it may be 0st. p On the door-frame of the mail-car 16 are fixed four brackets with perforated lugs 17 17 in which are mounted the

rods

18 and 18. Mounted to slide-on

rods

18 and 18 is upright taken off by the catcher-arm on the platform- 19. On the extremities of rod 18 are mounted the coil-springs 18 to prevent the upright 19 from being thrown against brackets 17 17 when the device is in use. Upright 19 is cut away on both sides near its upper extremity, forming seats 19 19, so that the catcher-arm and bag-holder may be mounted on either side of upright 19, according to the direction the train travels. Fitted to be held in seat 19 in upright 19 are

collars

20 and 21. Passing through said collars 2O and 21 and the ends of seat 19 is rod 22, fitted at its upper extremity 22 to engage a wrench or handle.

the meshing of

gears

20 and 22.

- the platform-post.

On the bottom of collar 20 is lug 20, fitted to move in mortise 21 in collar 21, so that when collar 20 is revolved it will move a distance equal to the length of the mortise 21 before projection 20 strikes collar 21 and causes it to revolve also. Collar 21 is also cut away to form

shoulders

21 and 21, which, coming in contact with the sides of seat 19, prevent further revolution of collar 21. On the top of collar 20 is beveled gear 20, which meshes with vertical double partial gear 22", also beveled and mounted in a vertical slot 22in upright 19, between seats 19 19. That portion of upright 19, which separates seats 19 19 and slot 22, is partially cut away to permit Integral with partial gear 22 is handle 23, which at rest fits into slots 22 for part of its length. Handle 23 is fitted with spring-catch 23, which when the handle is pushed into slot 22 engages a suitable recess on top of upright 19 and prevents the handle from dropping down from its vertical position. Mounted on collar 20 is arm 24, fitted on its outer end with the double holder 25, the under member thereof consisting of a cross-piece 26, while the upper member is a spring-retainer 27. Member 27 is pivoted at its center to enable the ring on the bag to disengage itself easily therefrom. On the lower face of arm 24 is integral lug 28, on which is horizontally pivoted catch 29, of like construction with holder 25, except that spring member 30 of catch 29 is on the side .nearest the collar 20, and said member 29 is pivoted to move slightly in a horizontal plane.

29 is a spring, keeping catch 29 normally at right angles with arm 24. On collar 21 is fixed catcher arm 31, which is curved, as shown in the figures, so as to gradually lessen the velocity of the bag after it is received from In collar 20 is a set-screw 32, so that should any accident render the gears or handle 23 useless set-screw 32 may be screwed into rod 22, and ahandle or wrench being applied to the square end 22 of said rod 22 the collars may thereby be rotated.

The portion of our-invention carried by the mail-car is so assembled that when the catcherarm 31 and holder-arm. 24 are swung parallel with the side of the carthe handle 23 assumes avertical position in slot 22. When handle is pulled down, the revolution of partial and with it holder-arm 24. Collar 21 remains gear 22 acts on gear 20, revolving collar 20,

stationary until lug 20 travels the length of mortise 21 and then striking against the end of said mortise causes collar 21 to turn and withit catcher-arm 31. The turning of these collars would be stopped by shoulder 21 on collar 21 coming in contact with the side of seat 19. To bring the mechanism back to its originalposition the handle 23 is brought back to its vertical position. This would entail the turning'of collar 20 in the reverse direction of that taken above. Lug 20 would travel back through mortise 21 until coming in contact with the end thereof it would cause collar 21 to revolve. This turning would continue until the handle 23 assumed a vertical posit-ion and shoulder 21 on collar 21 rested against the side of seat 19. The two seats 19 in upright 19 are of corresponding shape, and the collar 20 is made so that it may be mounted in either seat on rod 22, according to the direction of the trains motion. Collar 21, however, cannot be conveniently made interchangeable on account of the curved formof catcher-arm 31; but two collars having catcher-arms curved in opposite directions must be provided-for the device in such cases. The partial gear 22 has beveled cogs on both faces, so that gear 20" may mesh in whatever seat 19 collar 20 is mounted.

The operation of our device is as follows: The mail-clerk on the car would place collar 20 and the proper collar 21 in forward seat 19 in upright 19. Thetop of ring 33 011 mail-bag 34 is slipped in that portion of holder 25 which is to the rear when arm 24 is extended at right angles to the car, and the side of said ring 33 is slipped into the corresponding half of catch 29, which keeps the ring in a vertical plane at right angles to the car when the arm is extended. Handle 23 is then pulled down, turning arm 24 to a position at right angles to the car, and also turning catcher-arm 31 outward to a less extent through the action of lug 20 in mortise 21. The station-master draws down arm 2 and pulls up arm 3, taking ring 33 at the top of bag 34, places the ring over the half of double catch 5, which. faces the direction of the trains travel. With the smaller ring 35 at the bottom of bag 34 he engages catch 6, which he swings around toward the direction of the trains travel. When arm 2 is drawn down, it is held in position by the engagement of catches 11 and. 11, and the catcher-arm 8 when in position for use is supported by the hook 15 on lever 14, which.

projects beyond the line of post 1 when rod 9 is at its lowest point. As the train passes theplatform-post catcher-arm 8, in position on the platform-post, will engage ring 33'on bag 34, whichjs held by the

catches

25 and 29 on arm 24 on the carand the bag 34 will become disengaged from

catches

25 and 29. The gradual curve in catcher-arm 8 will tend to reduce the velocity of bag 34, so that ring 33 will gradually come to a rest on catcherarm 8 against post 1. Catcher-arm 31 on the car will engage ring 33 of bag 34, held by

arms

2 and 3, and disengage it from catches 5 and 6. The peculiar curve in catcher-arm 31 will take bag 34: fromthe

arms

2 and 3 with but little jar when the bag reaches the base of the arm. When the bag is snatched from

arms

2 and 3, arm 3 in-falling, by means of projection 12, strikes rod 9 an upward blow, causing its beveled end 10 to force catch 11 from engagement with catch 11, thus releasing arm 2. At the same time the upward movement of rod 9 turns lever 14 slightly,withdrawing hook 15 from under catcher-arm. 8, allowing said catcher arm to assume its position of rest. When catcher arm 31 on the car receives bag 34 from the platform post and catcher-arm 8 on the platform-post receivesbag 34 from arm 24, themail-clerk on the car then pushes handle 23 up into slots 22, turning arm 24 and catcher-arm 31 toward the car into their positions of rest. The bag may then be easily slipped ofi of catcher-arm 31.

While we have described with particularity and detail the various parts, even to the minor portions, of the mechanism,we do not intend to confine ourselves to any subordinate feature or features except where they are expressly set out and enumerated in the claims; but

We intend to claim, broadly 1. In platform-posts, the combination of an upright; two bag-supporting arms pivoted on said upright; a catcher-arm pivoted on said upright, and means by which the assumption by one of said bag-supporting arms of its inoperative position releases the otherbag-supporting arin and said catcher-arm from their operative positions.

2. In platform-posts, the combination of an upright, two bag-supportingarms pivoted on said upright; a catcher-arm pivoted on said upright; a vertically-moving rod carried by said upright and actuated by one of said bagsupporting arms, by means of which rod actuated by said bag-supporting arm the second bag-supporting arm and said catcher-arm are released from their operative positions.

3. In platform-posts, the combinationof an upright two bag-supporting arms on said upright; a catch on one of said bag-supporting arms, a second catch on said upright, fitted to engage said first catch when said bag-supporting arm is in operative position, a projection on the other bag-supporting arm; a rod capable of vertical movement fitted to be acted upon by said projection, and capable of disengaging said first catch from said second catch, a bent lever actuated by said rod, and a catcher-arm pivoted to said upright and supported by said bent lever in operative position. 1

of an upright mounted on the car; a seat in said upright; two collars seated in the said seat, a rod passing through said collars and the ends of said seat; a bag-supporting arm on one of said collars; a lug on the end of said collars; a catcher-arm on the other collar, and a mortise in the end of said collar by which the said lug is engaged.

6. In mail-bag exchangers, the combination of an upright mounted on a car; a seat in said upright; two collars seated in said seat; a rod passing through said collars and the ends of said seat; a bag-supporting arm attached to one of said collars; a lug on the end of said collar; a catcher-arm attached to the other collar; a mortise in the end of said collar by which the said lug is engaged; a gear on the other end of said first collar; a vertical gear mounted in said upright and meshing with said first gear, and means for revolving said vertical gear.

7. In mail-bag exchangers, the combination of an upright carried on a car; a seat in said upright; collars mounted in said seat; a bagsupporting arm and a catcher-arm attached to said collars respectively; a rod passing through said seat; having one of its ends fitted to engage a handle or wrench, and means for causing said collars to turn with said rod.

8. In mail-bag exchangers, the combination of an upright mounted on the car; two seats of like reverse elevation in said upright, and collars mountable in said seats; a bag-supporting arm and a catcher-arm attached to said collars respectively.

9. In mail-bag exchangers, the combination of an upright mounted on the car, two seats of like reverse elevation in said upright, two collars mountable in said seats; a catch or arm attached to one of said collars and a bag-supporting arm attached to the second of said collars.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 18th day of March, A. D. 1897.

THOMAS O. P. BAILEY. WILMOT G BAILEY.

Witnesses:

E. M. BLATT, EDWARD O. LAURENCE.