US749093A - Device for delivering train-orders - Google Patents

Description

No. 749,093. PATENTBD JAN. 5, 1904..

w. H. BI KB T. DBVIGE FOR DELIVERING TRAIN ORDERS, MESSAGES, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1903-, 4

UNITED STATES Patented January 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.-

WILLIAM H. PIGKETT, OF SHANNOPIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,093, dated January 5,1904. Application filed May 23, 1903. Serial No. 158,450. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. PIOKETT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Shannopin, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Delivering Train-Orders, Messages, 850., of which the followingis aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devices for delivering train-orders, messages, mail, and articles of various kinds to engineers or conductors of moving cars or trains in a manner whereby the message or other article may be conveniently caught by the engineer or other trainman, and thus obviating the necessity of stopping or delaying the train for the delivery of messages or other articles.

It is the object of my invention to improve and simplify the construction of this class of devices whereby to insure the proper positioning of the message-holding hoop that it may be engaged by the engineer or other trainman, and the provision of means which will insure the message-holding hoop leaving the holder without strain or pull after the said hoop has been caught by the engineer or other trainman; and it is a further object of my invention to provide a message-holding hoop which will not be damaged when thrown from the train after the message or other article has been detached therefrom.

In describing the invention in detail refertion in full lines and in their released position in dotted lines. Fig. 3 isa diagrammatical plan view,the handle partly broken away, showing the positions assumed by the swiveled bail and the message-holding hoop during the use of the device. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the head of the handle, showing the means for temporarily holding the bail in proper position. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of construction of same.

In the practice of delivering a message or other article to any member of a train crew the station attendant is obliged to closely approach the train, and as the train is often running at a high rate of speed the close approach of the station attendant thereto .is fraught with considerable danger. My inveution aims to obviate these dangers and to permit the delivery of the message, trainorder, or other article conveniently, surely, and with comparative safety. v

To put my invention into practice I provide a rod or pole 1, which forms a handle which is made of a suitable or desired length, and in the practiceof my invention I preferably construct this rod or pole with a head 2 for the purpose which willmore presently appear. 2

In order to permit the use of the device at night and to enable the engineer or other trainman to properly catch the message-holding hoop at such time, I provide in the head 2 the supporting-hook 3, on which the ordinary lantern may be suspended, and I also provide this head with a socket 4' to permit the holding of a torch 5, as shown. Thus either a torch or a lantern of the form ordinarily used upon railroads may be advantageously employed. The pole or handleis preferably made of wood or other like material, and in the head thereof beyond the supporting means for the light I provide a transverse opening through which is passed the crossbar of the yoke 6 of the bail, which embodies in its construction said yoke and the two spring-arms 7, the ends 8 of which are bent in a line-of an are different from that of the body of the arms,thus forming shoulders 9 adjacent to the ends of the arms. The side arms of the yoke 6 are adapted to embrace the opposite sides of the head 2, and in order to maintain the bail in alinement with the pole or handle until a pull is exerted against the same I provide holding means for this purpose, which may consist of a staple 10, inserted in theone face of the head and provided with-a depression 11 to receive one of the side arms of said yoke, or I may provide a depression 12 directly in the head 2, as seen in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The bail is adapted to temporarily hold the message-holding hoop 14, preferably constructed of suitable wire. This hoop 14 is made of a single piece of wire bent into substantially circular form with the ends securely twisted or otherwise fastened together, as at 15. At its two opposite sides the wire hoop is given a twist or bend to form eyes 16, which are adapted to be engaged with the ends 8 of the spring-arms 7 of the bail. At its side which is adjacent to the end of the pole or handle the ring or hoop 18 is given a compound bend or return to form the clamp 17 for holding the message,

letter, or other article to be delivered. This compound bend, forming the holding-clamp, is an essential feature of my invention, and I desire to call attention to the fact that the message or letter is securely held at both points 18, being gripped between the returnbend portion of the wire and the main body thereof. In practice the message or other article is slipped into spring-clamp 17, and the operator holds the device upin position where the engineer or other trainman may hold his arm in such position as it will enter hoop 14. As the hoop 14 is engaged with the arm of the person receiving the message the bail attached to the pole or handle is swung around at an angle to the bolt or handle, as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings, until it assumes practically a right angle, at which time the pull on the hoop is directly away from the bail, thus allowing the eyes 16 to pass otf of the ends 8 of the spring-arms of the bail with but slight resistance and only with resistance which is due to the spring of the arms 7. It is to be noted that these arms are made of spring material, requiring their compression or forcing toward each other slightly in order to engage the same in the eyes of the hoop.

I desire to call attention to the fact that the fastening of the bail in such a manner to the handle as to prevent its accidental side or lateral play securely holds the hoop in the extended position ready to be engaged over the arm of the person to receive the message, this holding means, however, being readily overcome by the pull against the hoop when the same is engaged with the arm of the person, and as this hoop and bail swing around at substantially right angles to the pole or handle the hoop is permitted to pass off of the spring-arms with but slight resistance.

Where it is found necessary to hold the message more firm in the hoop or ring 18, I employ aclamp. (Illustrated in Fig. 6.) This clamp 19 comprises a body portion 20, having an aperture therein for the reception of the wire forming the hoop, and on said body portion are integrally formed the prongs 21, the under side being beveled, as shown at 22, to engage the wire forming the compound bend 17. By this clamp 19 the message or letter is firmly held between the wire forming the hoop and the wire forming the compound bend.

The operation of my invention, it is believed,will now be readily understood byreference to the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, and in the practice of the invention it will be noted that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A delivery device for train-orders or other messages comprising a rod or pole, a bail swiveled in the said rod or pole near the outer end thereof, means for holding said bail in alinement with the rod or pole, and a message-holding hoop detachably secured to the end of said bail, substantially as described,

2. A delivery device for train-orders or other messages comprising a rod or pole, a bail mounted in the end of said pole and adapted toswing laterally to either side thereof, said bail embodying outwardly-projecting spring-arms, and a message or order holding hoop having oppositely-disposed eyes for engagement with the ends of said spring-arms, substantially as described.

3. Adelivery device for train-orders or messages comprising arod or pole, means for suspending alight from said rod or pole, springarms connected to said rod or pole and adapted to swing toward either side of the pole, means for temporarily holding said springarms in alinement with the pole, and a message or order holding hoop detachably secured to the ends of said spring-arms, substantially as described.

4. A delivery device for train-orders or the like comprising a rod or pole having one end provided with means for suspending a light, a pair of spring-arms connected to said rod or pole and adapted to swinglaterally toward each side o f the pole, and a message-holding hoop adapted to be detachably connected to the outer end of said arms, substantially as described.

5. A delivery device for train-orders or the like, comprising a rod or pole having one end provided with means for suspending a light, a pair of spring'arms connected to said rod or pole and adapted to swing laterally toward each side of the pole, a message-holding loop adapted to be detachably connected to the outer end of said arms, a message clasp or clamp secured upon the message-holding hoop and adapted to firmly secure the message upon the hook, substantially as described.

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

WILLIAM H. PICKETT.

Witnesses:

JAs. W. DRAPE, J. B. DOHERTY.

Images