US809994A - Vestibule-curtain hook. - Google Patents

Description

No. 809,994. PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

' H. SPRINGER.

VESTIBULE CURTAIN HOOK.

' tion applied thereto.

HENRY SPRINGER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

VESTIBULE-CURTAIN HOOK- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1906.

Application filed May 8,1905. Serial No. 259,437.

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY SPRINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Vestibule-Curtain Hooks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to vestibule-curtain hooks; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts more fully set forth in the specification, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a vestibule of two cars, showing my inven- Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section on line 3 3 of Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is a similar section showing hook released, and Fig. 5 is an elevation of the hook with curtain-handle removed, the hook being in its engaging or locked position.

The present invention has relation to de vices for fastening the curtains on the sides of vestibules of railway-cars; and its object is to provide the vestibule with a curtain-fastening hook from which the curtaincan be automatically released upon the uncoupling and subsequent parting of two contiguous cars, such automatic release avoiding the tearing and destruction of the curtains under the circumstances. It is to be understood that when the vestibule is wholly inclosed the roller-curtain of one car is stretched across the space between the cars and its free end is secured by means of a hook, over which a loop on the terminal-rod of the curtain is passed. Should the train hand or porter omit to release the curtain before the cars are uncoupled, the latter will tear the curtain upon parting, and it is the purpose of the present invention to avoid such a result.

In detail the invention may be described as follows: Referring to the drawings, 0 C represent two cars connected by a vestibule V. The sides of the vestibule are closed in by the expanding and contracting diaphragms D, whose wearing-plates P remain in permanent contact while the cars are coupled together. Each diaphra m D is secured to a post at the end of each car on each side of the vestibule, the post 1 on the car C serving to carry the curtain-hook presently to be referred to, and the adjacent post 1' of the contiguous car 0 carrying the curtain 2 and its spring-roller 3. The vertical rod 4 at the free end of the curtain is provided with a loop or handle 5, Which engages the curtainhook on the post of the opposite car, the curtain when unrolled serving to cover the diahragm, as is well understood in the art. Formed in the post 1 carrying the hook is a cavity or pocket 6, the edges of which are reinforced by a plate 7, conforming to the curvature of the post, the sides of the plate being provided with ears or lugs 8 8, embedded in the post and flush with the upper and lower walls of the pocket, said lugs forming the bearing for the pin 9, about which the base of the hook 10 is hinged. Formed between the base of the hook and the hook'proper is a shoulder 11, which when the hook is swung outwardly rests against the edge 12 of a terminal transversely-disposed reinforcing wall or rib 13, cast with the plate 7. Formed in the base of the hook is an opening 14, which when the hook is swung open, Fig. 3, registers with an opening 15 of the rib 13, the latter opening leading to a socket 16, formed in the post at one end of the pocket 6. These openings 14 15 and socket 16 receive a split pin 17, to the outer eye 18 of which is attached one end of a wire cord 19, the opposite end of the wire being secured behind the curtain to the post of the car C, carrying the curtain, Fig. 2. For convenience the position of the hook, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, will be referred to as the locked position.

The operation of the device is as follows: After the cars are coupled and the vestibule completed the porter swings the hook to an open position, which brings the openings 14 15 into register. He then inserts the split pin 17, carried at the end of the wire cord, through the base of the hook and through the rib 13 into the socket 16, the springing tendency of the arms of the pin locking the hook in its open position. There is of course sufficient slack in the wire 19 to allow for the play allowed the cars by the coupler. With the hook thus open the porter draws the curtain over the diaphragm and passes the curtain-handle 5 over the hook. Should the cars be uncou led at any time, the parting of the same wou d first exert a pull on the wire 19. This pull would draw the pin 17 out of engagement With the hook and socket 16, thus leaving the hook to freely swing back under the draft of the curtain, the latter rothe curtain to wind on its roller under the action of the spring commonly used on shaderollers. Of course the length of the wire 19 is such as to pull the pin out of its socket before the curtain begins to exert any undue tension on the hook or before the curtain can become wholly unwound on its roller. The line of draft on the wire 19 is at an obtuse angle to the pin, so that the latter will readily respond to a moderate pull. Thus the hook becomes released automatically with the uncoupling of the cars, and there is no danger of a curtain tearing with the parting of the cars after uncoupling.

I may of course depart in a measure from the details here shown without in any wise departing from the nature or spirit of my invention. By hook is herein contemplated any swinging or hinged member operating in substantially the manner heredescribed, and I do not wish to be limited to any form of this member.

Having described my invention, what I claim is l. A vestibule-curtain hook comprising a swinging hook on one car for engaging the free end of the curtain on the adjacent car, a suitable support for the hook, a pin passed through the hook and into the support for retaining the hook in position for engagement with the end of the curtain aforesaid, and a cord secured to the pin and adjacent car re spectively for withdrawing the pin upon parting of the cars and thus releasing the hook and the curtain held thereby, substantially as set forth.

2. A vestibule-curtain hook comprising a swinging member or hook in one car, said member having a perforated base for the reception of a in, a support for the hook, a socket formed in the support and registering with the perforation in the base and adapted to receive the pin passed through said perforation, a cord connecting the outer end of the pin to the adjacent car, said hook adapted to engage the free end of a curtain carried on the adjacent car, the parts operating substan tially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a car, a post having a suitable pocket or cavity, a reinforcing-plate for the edges of the pocket, ears on said plate, a hook hinged between said ears and adapted to swing into and out of said pocket, the base'of the hook being perforated for the reception of a suitable pin, the post having a socket at one end of the pocket adapted to register with the perforation when the hook is swung out of the pocket, means for coupling the pin to the adjacent car, the latter carrying a curtain whose free end is adapted to be connected to the hook when the latter is swung out of the pocket, the parts operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

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

HENRY SPRINGER.

Witnesses:

EMIL STAREK, MARY D. VVHITOOMB.

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