US866274A - Mail-bag delivery. - Google Patents

Description

I PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907. 'J. W. HARHAY.

MAIL BAG DELIVERY. APPLIOATION FILED IAY4. 1907.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. v

JOSEPH W. HARHAY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES H. HERRICK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MAIL-BAG- DELIVERY.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

Application filed May 4,1907. $eria1No. 371,856.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .Tosnrn W. HARHAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Delivery, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a mail bag delivery apparatus, designed especially to be carried on a car, and to support and deliver mail bags while the train is in motion, by means of a latch-operated device which supports the bags at the end of an arm projecting from the car and which will be tripped by a projection or obstacle located at the station where the bags are to be dropped.

A feature of the invention is that a plurality of bags may be supported and released at the saine time by the operating mechanisms.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus as applied to a mail car. Fig. 2 is an end view showing the parts set, ready to be tripped. Fig. 3 is an end view showing the latch tripped. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tripping post and receiving platform.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 10 indicates an arm pivotally carried upon the side of the car 39 by means of socket pieces 9 fixed to the side of the car. At the outer end the arm has a head 18 which is offset laterally at the bottom and recessed at the corner or angle to receive the ball 14 at the end of a finger 6, which extends through a recess 28 formed in the head at said angle, and which allows the finger to swing freely up and down.

A latch 22 is pivoted at 13 to a knuckle 17 fixed to the top of the head, the knuckle having a stud 25 which extends through a hole in the head and held by a cotter 7, and the knuckle is held in proper position and prevented from turning by means of pins 33 at each side thereof. The latch is angular in shape, and at its lower end has a hole 12 which receives the free end of the finger 6, said latch resting in a notch 23 on the under side of the finger to prevent accidental disengagement. The latch piece 22 has an upstanding arm 15 extending from the pivoted end thereof and projecting above the supporting arm 10. This arm 15 is arranged to strike an arm 38 projecting from a post 30 set at the station, and under or beyond the post is a curved receiving platform 36 to receive the bags when they are dropped, the platform having a closed side 32 to prevent the bags rolling or being drawn onto the track.

The arm 10 is conveniently set near the door of the mail car so as to swing in or out therefrom, and when swung out it may be supported by a brace rod 16. When swung in the bags can be conveniently put in place by the mail clerk at the door. Hooks 29 are used to support the bag, and these hooks have loops 24 which will it over the finger 6.

In use, the bags to be delivered at any particular station are placed upon the finger 6 before the said station is reached. Then the finger is engaged by the latch 22 and the arm then swung out from the side of the car. The trip arm 38 is located in proper position to strike the arm 15 as the car passes, and when so struck it throws up the latch, as indicated in Fig. 3, thereby releasing the front end of the finger and allow- .ing the same to swing down and drop the bags onto the platform shown in Fig. 4.

The same devices, with slight modifications, may be used to deliver the mail to a moving train, by supporting the arm and latch on a post or the like at the station and providing the car with a tripper and with a catcher or receptacle of some kind which will pass under the bags and receive the same as they are dropped. The finger 6 will be made long enough to hold a number of hooks and so support several mail bags for simultaneous delivery.

1 claim:

1. In a mail bag delivery apparatus, in combination, a supporting arm, a drop finger connectedat one end thereto, and a latch pivoted to the end of the arm and supporting when latched the free end of the finger and having a projection adapted to strike an obstacle beside the track and release the finger.

2. In a mail bag delivery apparatus, in combination, a supporting arm having at the end thereof a head with an angular or oflset portion at the bottom, the angle being slotted, a drop finger extending through the slot and hav ing an enlargement resting on said angular portion, a latch pivoted to the top of the head and extending outwardly and downwardly and cngageable with the free end of the finger to support the same, and an arm projecting upwardly from the latch and adapted to strike an obstacle beside the track and release the finger.

3. In a mail bag delivery apparatus, in combination, a supporting arm having at the end thereof an ofiset por tion, with a recess and slot at the angle, a finger extend ing through the slot and having a ball at one end, in the recess and a notch under the other end an angular latch pivoted at one end to the upper part of the head and having a hole in the lower end in which the free end of the finger is engageahle, and a strike-arm projecting upwardly from the latch and arranged to hit an obstacle beside the track and release the finger.

In testimony whereof I do afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH W. I-IARIIAY.

Witnesses JOHN A. BOMMHARDT, Enrrn D. COMER.

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