US913715A

US913715A - Mail-bag-delivery apparatus for cars.

Info

Publication number: US913715A
Application number: US40779707A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lewis J Evans
Original assignee: COE TYLER; JOHN M DAVIDGE
Current assignee: COE TYLER; JOHN M DAVIDGE
Priority date: 1907-12-23
Filing date: 1907-12-23
Publication date: 1909-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 1926-03-02

Description

L. J. BVAN S.

MAIL BAG DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR GARS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.23, 1907. n

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

Attest:

L. J'. EVANS.

MAIL BAG DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR GARS.

APPLICATION FILED 1320.23, 1907.

913,715. Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

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Attest: Inventor.

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L. J. EVANS.

MAIL BAG DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR CARS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 23, 1907.

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES TENT OFFCF.

LEWIS J.,EVANS, OF KIRKWOOD, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR Ol" ONE-FOURTH TO COE TYLER AND THREE-EIGHTHS lO JOHN M. DAVIDGE, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

MAIL-BAG-DELIVERY APIPARATUS FOR GARS.

Speciication of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Application filed December 23, 1907. Serial No. 407,797.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS J. Evans, citizen of the United States, residing at Kirkwood, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Mail-Bag-Delivery Apparatus ior Cars, oi which the iollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus ior use in the railwayT mail service, and particularly to means 4for delivering mail bags from the cars at the different post ollices along the road.

In carrying out my invention I aim to provide means whereby the various conditions of the service may be niet with saiiety to the employees, and whether the car be running in the one direction or the other, or whether the invention be used upon a single, double or four-track road delivering night or day.

One object of .my invention is to provide a simple and eil'ectivc mechanism which will positively eject the mail bags irom the car without requiring the railway mail clerk to assume a position ci danger, the apparatus being so arranged that it may be employed at either side of the car.

y The invention consists in the ieatures and combination and arrangement ot' parts here inafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the acconipanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ci a railway mail car and the net by my ii'nproved 'form adapted to receive the mail bag therefrom. Fig. '2 is a cross sectional view of a car with my improvements attached thereto. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a dill'crent way oi operating the delivery mechanism from that shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view oi' a part of a car and the post which carries the catcher in proper relation thereto and the net which is adapted to receive the mail bag from the car. Fig. 5 is a detail front view ol the delivering apparatus and indicator indicating stations night or day. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the delivering apparatus. Fig.

7 is a view of a chute oi large,capacity adapted to take a number oi mail bags. Fig. 8 is a view of a battery oi delivery chutes adapted to deliver one, two or three mail bags as may be needed 'from the car at approximately the same time. Fig. 9 is a detail view ci the indicating chart. Figs. 10 and 11 are views oi a receptacle or receiver ada )ted to be arranged along side of the traci and between the tracks to receive the bag from either track.

In these drawings 1 represents the railway car oi substantially ordinary construction. I provide in the side of the car an opening 2 through which the mail bag is delivered. Extending from the inside of the car transversely thereof is a chute or trough 3 having its end projecting through the opening in the side of the car, the said chute being of substantially cylindrical form in cross section, but having an open top to permit the mail bag to be placed therein. The chute is curved from end to end on the arc of a circle struck from the point 4 as a center and the chute is supported at this point 4 by means of

arms

5, 6, extending from near the opposite ends of the chute to the point oi' support Li. The supporting pin at this point is supported in the up-turned sides 7 of a base plate or bracket S, which is attached to the lloor ol the car. lhe chute is slotted longitudinally along its lower side at 9, in which slot the delivery arm or ejector 10 is adapted to move. This delivery arm or ejector is provided with a cup shaped head or member 11, adapted to receive the bottom of the mail bag when this is placed in the chute. The delivery arm 10 is under tension of a spring which is coiled about the supporting pin 4l to which the arm 10 is fixed. rlhe arm 10 is rigidly vfixed to a collar 12 and this in turn is suitably fixed to the pin or shaft ll. The coil spring at one end engages the arm 10 and at the other end it bears upon a 'fixed part of the structure. By drawing the arm back in the position shown in Fig. 2 it is placed under the strong tension of the spring mentioned, and for locking the arm or setting it in this position I employ a detent or catch 12 pivoted to the base at 13 to swing in a direction longitudinally oi the car, the said detent having a lug or tooth 11i projecting laterally to engage a lug or projection 15 on the delivery arm 10. I prefer to make the under side of the tooth 14 slightly concave to receive the projection 15 so that the catch will be maintained securely in engagement with the lug 15.

For operating the detent so as to release the delivery arm 10 and thereby discharge the mail bag from the car I employ a rod or link 15 attached to an arm 16 extending horizontally from the detent or setting catch, the upper end of said link being connected withhanjarm 17 carried by a trip lever 18 pivoted at 19 to the car structure and having its upper end projecting as at 20 above the roof of the car. This trip lever is thus located in the path of a suitable projection at the post oflice station, so that as the car passes the trip lever will be operated by .contact with said projection or arm at the station, thus swinging the detent lever 12 from engagement with the delivery arm 10 and allowing the spring 8 to exert its force to move the de'- livery arm to the left and thus eject the mail bag from the chute out through the side of the car. 1 provide, in the path of the delivery arm, a buffer spring 21 which will return the delivery arm 10 to a point Within the car after it has performed its delivery action. The force of thespring 8 is sufficient to carry the delivery arm a considerable distance beyond the location of the buffer spring 21 so as to discharge the mail bag With certainty.

For returning the delivery arm to the position shown in Fig; 2, I provide a handle 22 adapted to detachably engage the head 23 of theV delivery arm, and when the parts are set in theposition of Fig. 2 this handle may be removed and placed in a suitable support, such for instance as is shown on the side of the chute inV Fig. 2 at 24, Where it will be readily accessible for use. For attaching the delivery apparatus to the floor of the car 1 provide a projection 25 on the base adapted to engage an eye 26 onthe iioor of the car at one end, the other end of the base having an extension 27, which is hel-d by a screw 28 passing therethrough and into a socket 29 in the' car floor. rl-"here is one of these sockets and one of the eyes 26 at each side of the car, and in order to deliver mail through the side of the car opposite to tha-t shown in Fig. 2, the screw 28 is removed and the whole delivery apparatus is detached from the eye 26 at one side and isV shifted to the opposite side of the' car where it is engaged by the eye 26 andi the screw 28 is then used to secure the base pla-te to the other socket 29. In order to allow this shifting of the delivery apparatus to be performed the chute must first be withdrawn from the opening in the side of the car and this is readily done by simply swinging the chuteitogether with the arms 5 and' 6 inwardly about the pivot et.

l prefer to form the chute with a decided downward' trend at or near the side of the car, whereas the inner end of the chute T prefer to have only slightly inclined' downwardly so that the chute, say for one-half' its length fromv its inner end is of such form as to hold the bag substantially horizontally, while the outer end of the chute curves downwardly at a sharp angle so that with a heavy bag minimum amount of pressure or force will be necessary in order to start it on its flight,v an'df the decided downward trend of the outer portion of the chute will materially assist in the discharge action and render it possible to deliver heavy bags with a minimum force of spring pressure.

l may, instead of operating the catch 12 from an overhead connection, employ an arm as shown at 28 Fig. 3, pivoted at 29 to the car floor. This arm has a detent 14 at its upper end and its lower end is arranged to be operated by projections along side of the track.

As shown in Fig. l, 1 prefer to operate the trip lever 2O by means of an arm 30 on a mail bag catcher mechanism shown generally at 31, this catcher being supported on a post 32 arranged at the station along side of the track, and its function being to hold a mail bacV so that it may be caught by the car as it passes the station and this catching action results from the operation against the arm 3() of a projection on the car. This projection in the present embodiment of my invention consists of the trip lever 20. The parts are so related that when the

members

20, and 30 contact with each other the trip lever 2() will be the iirst to yield, thus releasing the delivery mechanism for the discharge of the mail bag from the car and this trip lever having been operated to its limit provides enough resistance to then cause the tripping of the arm 30 of the mail bag catcherl mechanism, resulting in the discharge of the mail bag from the catcher mechanism 31 and its delivery to the ear. The car is equipped with a chute as indicated at A, Fig. 1, by which the mail bag, from the catcher 31, is caught and directed from the top of the car into the interior thereof.

T may employ, as shown in Fig. 7, a chute of suflicient capacity for three mail bags at once, or as shown in Fig. 8 l may employ a 105 battery of chutes to be operated atsubstantially the same time. Of course more or less of these battery chutes may be employed, those that are not employed for discharging the mail simply remaining inactive, in other words their delivery arms not being set for action.

For receiving the mail bag at the station l employ a net 33 which is hung from a supporting frame which may consist of a spring V arm 34 journaled on the post 32. This swinging arm is used when the net is employed on a single or double track road. For a four track road the net is provided with two compartments divided by the vertical partition 35 having two mouths at 36, 37, so that a mail bag can be receivedfrom either side. `When this double form of net is employed it is hung from a rigid bar 38 as shown in Fig. 1. Springs 39 attached to 125 the net serve to hold the same in position. I show in Fig. 1 the position assumed by the end of the net when a mail bag is discharged into the same.

1n order to indicate the approach to' a 130 station I employ an indicator' 39 set up along side of the delivery mechanism as shown in Fig. 5, this consisting ot a suitable chart having the names ot the stations thereon and a pointer l1() which is operated through a shaft 41 and a suitable train ot mechanism extending to the car axle l2 substantially as shown, so that thc mail clerk by glancing at the chart can tell at what point along the route the car then is, and he can determine how much time he has to place the bag in the chute for the next delivery. I provide a loop at 41./ to act as a stop against which the delivery arm bears when fully retracted and by which the machine may be drawn when reversing same to other side of the mail car.

It will be observed that with my improvement the operations ol taking the bag or catching it and delivering into the car as well as the operation of discharging or delivering the bag from the car are performed through means located above the car and in a position which is best for the sa'l'ety ot the mail clerk or the crew on the train.

The net of double 'form as employed by me can be used between the tracks el either a double or a `tour-track road and is representative ol' any suitable l'orm ot' receiving means to be located between the tracks and receive a bag from either side. The delivery arm may be set by power gearing particularly when it is intended to deliver a number oi' bags.

Instead of the net I may employ a receptacle composed of rigid material as shown in Figs. 10, 11, this comprises a partly cylindrical trough or receiver 42/ which is rigidly supported in a casing 43. Extending longitudinally of this trough is a partition pivoted at its upper end so as to swing in either direction. rIhe trough is adapted to receive a mail bag from either side and can thus be used on a double or four-tracl-i road as well as upon a single track. The pivoted partition on the impact of the bag swings to one side and-its lower edge strikes against the side ot' the trough and it thus forms a continuation of this side of the trough and directs the bag into the trough whereupon the bag is directed by means of the curved end 44 ol' the trough into the receptacle Ll5 beneath the trough and access to this receptacle can ibe had only through a door, the lock ot which is controlled by the postmaster. Each end ol' the trough has the curved shield or directing portion so that the apparatus will operate with a train running in either direction. No matter which side the bag is thrown from into the trough it will strike the hinged partition, which by abutting against the opposite side of the trough will direct the bag into the same.

I claim as my invention 1. A mail bag delivery apparatus comprising a chute arranged transversely ol' the car olI curved torni, a delivery arm pivetally supported below the chute and movable along the chute, means lor applying power to the delivery arm, means l'or setting the arm ready l'or action and means l'or releasing the said arm tor the discharge ol the mail bag, said means being actuated when the ears arrive at the delivery station, substantially described.

2. In combination in a mail bag deivery apparatus, a curved chute extending transversely ol' the car ol,` substantially cylindrical l'orm in cross section and having an open top to receive the bag, a delivery arm pivoted at 8O a point below the chute, means tor operating and controlling said arm, said chute being slotted l'or the movement ol' the ain therein, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the delivery chute having an open top to receive the bag, a pivoted delivery arm movable along the chute and having a cup shaped member lo receive the end oll the bag and means vl'or controlling and actuating the delivery arm, substantially as described.

4. In combination, a chute to receive the mail bag having its outer end directed laterally ol' the car and downwardly, and a discharge arm pivotally supported and movable along the chute with means lor opera l1- ing and controlling the discharge arm, substantial ly as described.

5. In combination in an apparatus ol the class described, a chute within the ear having its end directed to the opening in the car, said chute being oll curved l'orm with a steep incline at its outer end and its inner end curved slightly downward, and an ejector movin@P in the said chute with means for controlling and operating the same, substantially as described.

6. In combination with a car, a delivery chute extending to an opening in the car and with its end in said opening, an ejector' lor 110 discharging the mail bag working in the chute, and pivoted supporting means for the chute, said means swinging in a vertical plane to withdraw the chute from said opening, substantially as described.

7. In combination with a chute having its end extending into an opening in the car, said chute being curved on substantially the arc of a circle and a su )port for the said chute pivoted substantially at the center oll the said arc and means i`or ejectin the mail bag from the chute, substantial y as described.

S. In combination with a chute, a pivoted support therefor, an arm arranged to turn about the said pivot, a spring 'l'or pressing the said arm, and means -for holding and releasing the arm, substantially as described.

9. fn combination with a chute and the pivoted arm operating transversely ol the car, a detent engaging a projection on the arm, said detent being pivoted to swing in a direction longitudinalhT ol' the car, substan tially as described.

10. ln combination with the delivery means Within the car, means at the top oi' the car l'or controlling the said deli ery means and a mail bag holding device to actuate the said controlling means, said controlling means reacting on the mail bag holding device to cause the same to actuate to permit the car to catch the mail bag therel'rom, substantially as described.

11. in combination with the chute, a spring pressed delivery arm and a spring buffer against which the arm impinges, said butter tending to return the arm, substan# tially as described.

12. ln combination in an apparatus oi the class described, a receptacle for the bag having its interior divided into two compartments to receive a mail bag from either side, and means i`or supporting said receptacle whereby it may be employed alongside or between the tracks, substantially as described. Y

13. In combination with the delivery apparatus on the car, the catcher apparatus, a trip i'or the delivery apparatus, a trip for the catcher apparatus, said trips being operated by contact with each otaer, substantially as described.

14. in apparatus oll the class described, a receiving trough having a hinged partition extending longitudinally thereoll and adapted to receive the impact oi' the bag from either side and to direct the bag into the trough, substantially as described.

15. In combination With a trough, the receptacle beneath the same and means for directing the bag from the trough into the receptacle, substantially as described.

16. In combination With a trough, the receptacle beneath the same and means 'for directing the bag from the trough into the receptacle, said means consisting oi' the curved shield at the end ol the trough, substantially as described. n

17. in combination in apparatus of the class described, a trough to receive the mail bag from either side, a receptacle beneath the trough and a curved shield at each end of the trough to direct the mail into the receptacle no matter in which direction the train is running, substantially as described.

18. ln combination with the chute and the delivery arm, a detent engaging a part of the said delivery arm, said detent having a concave face whereby it Will be maintained in position until sullicient force is applied, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, l aHiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LEWS J. EVANS.

Tl'itnesses: Y

HENRY E. Coornn, VALTER DONALDSON.