US919336A - Mail-pouch catching and delivery device. - Google Patents

Description

G. M. FOLEY. v MAIL POUGH GATOHING AND DELIVERY DEVICE.

- APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 6, 1908. 919,336. 7 I

Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. 0902' eMfiZe G. M. FOLEY. MAIL POUCH OATOHING AND DELIVERY DEVICE.

APPLIOATION TILED F313. 5, 1908.

Patented Apr. 27 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Int/b12110 rgeMF'olqy Geo G. M. FOLEY.

MAIL POUGH GATOHING AND DELIVERY DEVICE.

APPLIOAiIIION FILED FEB. 6 1908. 27

3 $HEETJSHEET 3.

L 529 :8 W W/ J? a 57 El 41 00 a a *4 a lt a 45 o- GEORGE M. FOLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MAIL-POUCH CATCHING Specification of Letters Patent.

AND DELIVERY DEVICE.

Patented April 27, 1909.

Application filed February 5, 1908. Serial No. 414,346.

To all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, GEORGE M. FOLEY, a

. citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Mail-Pouch Catching and Delivery Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mail catching and delivery devices, and the object of my invention is to provide a device for delivering a mail pouch from a rapidly moving train and for catching the same in such a manner as to avoid undue strain or shock to the pouch.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device as mentioned, which may be readily reversed in order to deliver and receive a pouch from a train moving in either direction. I

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view my invention consists generally in a delivery device arranged upon the train in combination with a receiving device arranged beside the track and comprising a member rotatably mounted upon a suitable support, a locking device normally holding said member against rotation, a receiving arm pivotally connected to said rotary member and adapted to extend radially therefrom when in receiving position. and to be swung back upon said member by the momentum of the pouch, said arm in swing ing backward retracting said locking device and setting the rotary member to turning, thereby bringing the pouch to rest gradually and without undue shock.

My invention further consists in a receiving device characterized as above mentioned and provided with means for locking the arm with relation to the rotary member after having been swung backward thereon, to hold the pouch close to the support and prevent it and the arm from swinging back into an extended position where it might cause serious accidents.

My invention further consists in a delivery device arranged upon the train and comprising a reversible wind guard, hingedly connected to the mail car and means on said wind guard for supporting thereon the pouch to be delivered.

My invention further consists in various details of construction and arrangements of parts all as will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by. reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mail catching device embodying my invention in its preferred form, Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, Fig. 3 is a section on the line x-rc of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line y-y of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the catching device, Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view, of the reversible hook at the end of the receiving arm, Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the locking member which normally locks the rotary member against turning, Fig. 8 is a detail of the latch for looking the arm in backward or retracted position, Fig. 9 is a plan view of the delivery device illustrating the same mounted upon a car, Fig. 10 is, an edge view thereof, Fig. 11 is a face view of the delivery device and, Fig. 12 is a per spective view of the transfer device.

As before stated, the receiving device comprises a rotary member mounted upon a suitable support and an arm pivotally mounted upon said rotary member and adapted to eX- tend radially therefrom when in receiving position and means normally locking said member against rotation when the arm is we tended and means for retracting the locking device when the arm is swung inwardly.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive 1 indically arranged post having the upper end. reduced in diameter forming a vertically disposed journal, 2 upon which the rotary member is mounted. T he rotary member comprises a cylindrical hub or sleeve, 3 mounted on the journal, 2 and provided with the radial arm, 4 and lugs 5, 5 and 6.

Pivotally connected to the end of the arm, 4 as at 7, is the receiving arm, 8, to the outer end of which is connected the receiving hook, 9. When the arm is in receiving position, it extends radially from the rotary member, as illustrated in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, and at such times the device is locked against ro tation in a manner hereinafter described.

tion, suitable means must be employed for holding the same against turning upon the pivot 7 until engaged by the pouch. Suitable means may be employed for. positively locking the arm in extended position at such times, but I prefer to employ a frictional device in order to avoid any possibility of breaking the same. To this end I provide When the arm is extended in receiving posicates the support which consists of a vertithe spring member, 10. This comprises a. strip of flat spring steel heir into the shape shown and having its free ends secured to the lugs, 6. The ends may he secured in any suitable manner, hut I prefer to bend them downwardly and pzure lel with each other as at 11 and. secure them to the legs, 6 by the ep screws, 1?.

The lugs, ere d metric-ally i from encn other end ding redizill :r said lugs are the supporting arms, 1 arms being at suhstantiuily right an the arm, 4 and the lugs, 6. T he tirin comprise the horizontal top portion, 1: tending from the upper face of the lugs, impinging against the iuu erhwe of the memher,1 0 Ll 1.5end pref, oly secured thereto as by the rivets, l6, and the bottom portion 1.7, the end or which is cred to the underl'nce oi? the lu s 'llhe urins ol strip of spring steel and A 1 her, 10 u nvnrdly a ainst the i the arm, 8 with sultieient for 214% dental movement oi the l he noted that the member,

a horizontal plane and cor iti. es El 1 [or the erin, to swing upon. l fhen p is delivered to the llOUxC 9, the nioinentuurol the pouch su'in, n to the position shown in dott i 1. i stop. 18 limiting the inviurd sui ther of, a. spring latch, 1i) preio the arm l'roin T returning to extended posi ion.

Vfhen the arm, it; is eiitend ed ii position, to receive the pouch the rote-"v ineznher upon which it is mounted locked against rotetion. The locking member comprises e liOlil, 20 which extends through an opening, 21 in the lug, 6 end sleeve, 3 into :1 rece 22 in liivotnlly mounted as at crank levers, 15, one being arranged noon L I, n 1 V' rvl A, eucn side or the dense. ihe snort aim, at

of each lever is ro uiectei'l by link, to t bolt, 2'0 so thnt pressing the long arm,

inwardly, that is, toward the (enter of th. device, the bolt Will be retracted the 0 tr e an n,

5 Vin lug or pin, 29 I livery position the ring lies at right angles to It for this reeson that the portion 14 of the erms 1.3, end the rear portions 30 of the member 10 are depressed as shown It should be noted that the portion 14 serves :is a support or guide for the arm in order that the device may be used tor catching mail from trains passing in either prises s direction the hook, 9 is nurde reversible. To this end. the outer end of the arm, 8 is provided with the pnrallel lugs or tongues, 31 and the she. it, 92 of the hook is provided with corresponding apertures to receive 'l w lugs, 31 and the apertures, 33 are each of the same size, hence the hook may he reversed desired either of the lugs, 31 1 mg in either of the apertures. l' v' l'LGlI the hook is in position. on the arm, pins or bolts, 3d are dropped through the holes 35 and 36 in tshank, 32 and the lugs, 31 respectively, preventino eccidentnl removal of the hook.

sepurntion or disengagement of the pouch from the hook.

Referring to ii dieetes the side 0 3? one side or the door frame are e pair of perzlllGl arms, 41. Detechnhly mounted upon the arms, -11. is a wind. guard, 42. This coinpr ses a piste, preferably oi iron and progs. l) to 12 inclusive, 38 ine. cer having the d oer-Way,

48, formed of strep iron and constituting n tQitl ib by which it is mounted upon the arms, the arms being slid or passed through the loops as shown in Figs. 10 and 1.1. It is obvious the t the Crevice may be arranged. upon J 2i spring, 4-7 d rowing the blocks together.

'lhe trains]. ring, the llOOli, 9;,

device which I employ cornedspted. to be engaged by and provided with an integral upon one face with the loops or eyes,

overhangs the arms, an d upon V .ilingedly connected to lu s, 40 upon' block, 40 from -which depends the eye portion, 50.

p the device the mail pouch is otherwise secured to the eye, 50 he hloclr, 4%; placed between the dloelis, anti 4:6 which clamp it in position, the ring, 45 then heing parallel with. the arms. f! hen the device is swung outwardly into tie the tract: 11 the hook, 9.

To assist in supporting the weight of the pouch .i 5 'ide the her or red, 51 which extends tvrnrdly from the plate, 42 beneath the pouch. in ordeto support pouches of dillertnit sizes, that is, pouches which are more or lull, the ball, 51 is vertically adjustable upon tlr. plate, 42. To this end, it is secured to e hloclr, .52 slidrihly mounted on said plate fl-D l extends through a slot, 53 therein. A. suitable ratchet device is proproper position to he engaged by vided for holding the leer, 51 and the block,

52 in proper position. To this end, one edge ol the block, is serrated as at 54 and is ent t'ary member mounted upon a suitable supgaged by a spring member, 55. After pouch is suspended upon the device the bar, 51 is raised up close beneath it. preaching the receiving station, the delivery device is swung outwardly into the position shown in Fig. 9. The hook, 9 enters the the port, in combination with an arm pivotally mounted upon said member and adapted to d hen apextend radially therefrom when in receiving position and to swing back upon said member by the momentum. of the pouch,

ring, 48 and removes the transfer device toi gether with the pouch from the delivery device on the train. The momentum of the pouch. swings the arm, 8 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 releasing the bolt, 20 and starting the rotary member to turning. It is obvious that this will bring the pouch to rest without undue shock or strain thereon. The arm, 8 is locked between the members, 18 and 19 preventing it from being extended while the device is retating, thus avoiding serious accidents which might otherwise occur.

' Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. in a device of the class described, a delivery device arranged upon. car, in combination with a receiving device arranged beside the track and comprising a member rotatably mounted upon a suitable support, a locking device normally holding said member against rotation, a receiving arm pivotally connected to said rotary member and adapted to extend radially therefrom when in receiving position and to be swung back upon said member by the momentum of the pouch and means automaticall operable by the swinging of said arm for unlocsing said rotary member as and for the purp=. se specitied.

2. A mail catching device comprising a rotary member mounted upon a suitable support, in combination with a locking device normally holding said member against rotation, receiving arm pivotally connected to said rotary member and adapted to extend radially therefrom when in receiving position and to swing back upon said member by the momentum of the pouch, means for looking the arm with relation to the rotary mem her after having been swung backward thereon and means automatically operable by the swinging of said arm for unlocking said rotary member, substantially as described.

3. A mail catching device comprising a rosaid arm having a receiving hook at the free end thereof, and a spring member forming a track or slide for said arm and adapted to press against the under-face thereof, as and for the purpose specified.

r. A mail catching device comprising a rotary member mounted upon a suitable support in combination with an arm pivotally mounted on said. member and adapted to extend radially therefrom when in receiving position and to swing back upon said member by the momentum of the pouch, said arm having a receiving hook at the free end thereof, a bolt normally locking said rotary member against rotation and means for retracting said bolt to release said member as the arm swings backwardly thereon, substantially as described.

5. A mail catching device comprising a rotary member mounted upon a suitable support, in combination with a receiving arm pivotally mounted upon said member and adapted to extend therefrom when in receiving position and to swing back upon said. member by the momentum of the pouch, a bolt normally locking said rotary member against rotation and a bell crank lever operable by the swinging of said arm for retracting said bolt as and for the purpose specified.

6. A mail catching device mounted upon a suitable support and comprising a rotary member, in combination with a receiving arm pivotally mounted upon said member and adapted to extend therefrom when in receiving position and to swing back upon saidv member by the momentum of the pouch, said arm having a receiving hook at the free end thereof, said hook being reversible as an d for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE M. FOLEY.

Witnesses A. VAN BERGEN, HELEN F. LILLIs.

Images