US734650A - Burglar-proof mail and express car. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JULY 28, 1903.

" c. ZIMMERMAN.

BURGLABYPSROOF MAIL AND EXPRESS GAR.

AP PLIOKTIOH P ILED APE. 31903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H0 MODEL.

INVENTOR W VIITNESSES: 4% an PATENTED JULYZB, 1903.

G. ZIMMERMAN. BURGLAR PROOF MAIL AND EXPRESS GAR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1903.

Z 8EEETSBHEBT 2.

no MODEL.

[NVENTOR WITNESS Patented July 28, 19033 Fries;

ATENT (JASPER ZIMMERMAN, on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO CHARLES ANDERSON AND JOHN M. KNADLE, or VIENNA, SOUTH DAKOTA.

BURGLAR-RFOOF MAIL AND EXPRESS CAR.

SPECIFICATION s e ma r Letters Patent No. 734,650, dated July 28, 1903. Application filedAprilB, 1 909 Serial No. 150,983. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CASPER ZIMMERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residingat Chi cago, in the county of Oookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burglar-Proof Mail and Express Oars; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertainsto make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. V

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in burg-lar-proof, mail andex' press cars, and comprises a car having a body portion, preferably cylindrical, in outline,

made of plate metal, having ends which are tapering and made of cast-steel,- the'car having windows in its highest portion instead of the sides, and in the provision of cannon,

. which are mounted in'the oar'and provided the car to blind the with hammers, which may be sprung in order to fire the cannon when attacked by wouldbe robbers.

Another feature ofthe invention resides in the provision of a compartment of the car having a steam-boiler, which may be used for the purpose of generating steam for giving a signal in case the. car is attacked or of allowing the steam to escape to form a cloud about vision of would-be robbers. I

The invention consists, further, in various details of construction and in combinations and arrangements of parts,which will be hereinafterfully described and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 isaside elevation of myimproved burglar proo'fmail and express'car. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View through the car. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4. is an enlarged section througha portionofthe car. Fig. 5 is a.cross-.'se ':tional view, and Fig. 6 .s a detail view, of the folding steps.

Reference now being bad to the details of the drawings by letter, A design ates the body {portion ot'the car, which is made, preferably,

fot' cylindrical shape and of boiler-plate or other metal and is provided with series of 'windows B in the highest portion of the car instead of at the sides, and at locations diametrically opposite are the sliding doors D, and each endof the car comprises a tapering shellE,-which is hollow and made, preferably, of cast-steel, provided with an annular shoulder at its base, over which the end of the shell of the car fits, as shown. Along the body portion of the car at points diametrically opposite are the'port-holes F, and in each tapering end of the car is also provided a similar port-hole F, through which the occupants of the car may open fire upon intruders, and

-K represents a chain ladder having bars K,

connected together by means of the chains, as shown, and N designates a bar the ends of which are designed to engage the inner face of the body portion of the car adjacent to the door-opening. Said chain ladderis provided for the purpose of allowing the same to be withdrawn into the car when not in use.

The car is preferablyprovided with a floor -U, of metal, and has its opposite longitudinal edges flanged and designed to be secured to the shell of the car, as clearly shownin Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Openingin opposite directions through port-holes Q in the sides of the car are the cannon R, which in the drawings are shown as stationary, but which, if preferred, may

be pivotally'mounted in order to increase the range of fire. Each cannon is provided with a percussion cap, and a hammer J is pivotally mounted upon a pin I, carried by a bracket-arm projecting from the shell of the car, and a spring J, wound about said pin, bears against the hammer and is adapted to throw the same forcibly against the percussion-cap to discharge the cannon. A handle T is provided upon each hammer, whereby the hammer'may be easilydrawn backand when released be thrown 'fo'rcibly by the spring against the cap.

In one end of the car I have shown a compartment 0, having a steam-boiler O therein, and a door 0 opens in said compartment, said boiler being provided for the purpose of generating steam for various purposes, either for heating the car or for having steam in reserve to give a signal by means of a whistle in case of an attack by intruders, or in case it is desired the steam from the boiler may be turned into the space underneath floor G and allowed to escape through the port G for the purpose'of surrounding the car in a cloud of steam to obscure the whereabouts of any persons who may be in the vicinity of the car.

From the foregoing it will be observed that by the provision of a burglar-proof and fireproof car for mail and express purposes embodying the features of myinvention agreater security for the transmission of valuables is afforded.

By making the car of metal and having the ends made of cast metal and tapering the liability of the telescoping of cars is eliminated while efiective means is provided to the occupants of the car for defending the valuables and themselves by means of the ordnance provided.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi 1. A burglar and fire proof express and mail car, comprising a cylindrical body portion of metal and having windows in the highest portionthereof and port-holes along the sides, cannon mounted through openings in the shellof the car, and spring-actuated hammers mounted upon the wall of the car and adapted to spring against the percussion-caps upon the cannon, as set forth.

2. A burglar-proof express and mail car,

comprising a body portion of metal having windows in the highest portion thereof, portholes at positions diametrically opposite along the body portion of the car, brackets mounted upon the inner face of the car, hamboiler therein, a space underneath the floor of the car, and a port leading from said space to the atmosphere whereby steam may be allowed to escape from said space to the atmosphere, as set forth.

4. A burglar-proof mail and express car, comprising a body portion of a cylindrical metal and provided with series of windows along its highest portion, concaved doors slidingly held within the car, tapering shells of metal forming the ends of the car, a floor of metal having longitudinally-flanged edges which are secured to the body portion of the car, and a chain ladder and bar connected thereto which latter engages the Wall of the car adjacent to the door-opening, as set forth.

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

CASPER ZIMMERMAN.

Witnesses:

A. L. HOUGH, FRANKLIN H. HOUGH.

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