US956935A

US956935A - Mail-bag catcher and delivery apparatus.

Info

Publication number: US956935A
Application number: US55290610A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clayton D Buss
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1910-04-01
Filing date: 1910-04-01
Publication date: 1910-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 1927-05-03

Description

G. D. BUSS. MAIL BAG CATCHER AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED mm: 12, 1909. RENEWED APR. 1, 1910.

Patented May 3, 1910.-

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Witness mnnzw ll. anAnAM co PNDYO-UMOGRA KERS. WASHINGTON. u C,

0. D. BUSS. MAIL BAG GATGHER AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1909. RENEWED APR. 1, 1910.

Patented May 3, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

armanl'oz Ms K Witness ANDREW (Iv 541mm c0 FMoYo-mnocmlnins. wAsumcnon.

CLAYTON D. BUSS, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BAG CATCHER AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 19.10.

Application filed June 12, 1909, Serial No. 501,846. Renewed April 1, 1910 Serial No. 552,906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAYTON D. Boss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Easton, in the county of Northampton, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail Bag Catchers and Delivery Apparatuses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to mail bag catching and delivering mechanism, the object of the same being to provide means whereby a mail bag may be received or caught by a moving train and another mail bag simultaneously delivered therefrom.

Another object of the invention is the provision of mechanism of this clmracter in which a mail bag may be delivered at a predetermined locality when a train is moving in either direction and at the same time the said moving train may receive or catch a mail bag simultaneously when the other mail bag is delivered.

A further object of the invention is the provision of mechanism of this character in which a mail bag may be automatically caught or grabbed when a train is moving at high speed and also may deliver a mail bag at a predetermined point when the train is traveling or moving in either direction.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of mechanism of this character in which a mail bag is automatically delivered and caught by a moving train when the train is passing a mail bag station receiving and delivery apparatus, the construction of the mechanism being simple, thoroughly eflicient in operation and inexpensive in the manufacture.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification is illustrated the preferred form of embodiment of the invention, which to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, will be set forth at length in the following description, while the novelty of the invention will be brought out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings :--Fig1.irc 1 is a sectional plan view in part of a car body .with the invention applied thereto and the coacting mechanism at one side of the track. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation partly in section of the train bag catching and delivery mechanism in a folded position. Fig. 1 is a sectional view on the line 4-4l of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

In the drawings, the nume 'al 10, designates generally a portion of the side of a railway car having the usual doorway formed by the door frame 11., through which mail bags are received and delivered in the usual or customary manner. Secured at any desirable point across the doorway to the side 10 of a car is a supporting board or plank 12, the latter having secured thereto near one end a U-shaped bracket forming spaced outwardlyprojecting parallel cars 13, supporting a detachable pivot 14, which forms a hinge connection for a swinging mail bag receiving and delivery device as will be hereinafter described. However the plank or board may be dispensed with and the bracket connected to the side of the car. This-mail bag receiving and delivery device comprises a U-shaped bracket 1.5,which latter is connected for swinging movement by the pivot 14, to the board or plank 12, and said bracket has secured thereto a rectangular-shaped block 16, in which latter is mounted a rotatable arm 17, the same being of squared formation in cross section throughout a greater portion of its length and provided at its inner extremity with a circular reduced terminal 18, which latter fits in a correspondingly shaped central bore contained in the block 16 and is held connected thereto by a cotter pin 19, so that the arm may be rotated to the desired degree and will be prevented from separation from the block 16, when in use.

Near the outer extremity of the arm 17, are arranged spaced mail ba holding devices each comprising a pair of ngers or catcher members 20, the same supported in suitable elongated slots contained in the arm 17, by means of pivots 21, which latter hold the arms in spaced relation to each other at their pivoted extremities and the opposite extremities of these fingers or members 20 are formed with curved outwardly diverging terminals 22, so as to permit the entrance of a mail bag therebetwcen and also the free delivery of a mailbag therefrom when in operation. The holding devices on the arm 17 are mounted to extend in opposite directions from each other to opposite sides of the arm so that one of the devices may receive a mail bag while the other may deliver a mail bag when the train is traveling in one direction or the other. To the pivotal extremities of the fingers or members 20 are connected retractile springs 23, which latter are also connected to the arm 17 so as to normally maintain the curved terminals 22, of the fingers or members in close or contacting relation with each other or in other words, to hold the devices closed. The circular reduced end 18 of the arm is formed with pairs of right angularly disposed sockets 24c, and 25, which are engaged by locking pins 26 to hold the fingers 20 of the mail bag holding devices either in vertical or horizontal position.

Mounted intermediate the ends of the arm 17 is an eye 27 projecting from one side thereof and this eye is' adapted to be engaged by a detachable brace rod 28, having hook terminals 29, one of which engages the eye 27 and the other engaging an eye 30, mounted in the board or plank 12, so as to hold the said arm 17, when in operation at right angles to the side 10, of the car.

At the outer free end of the arm is an eye 31, which latter is adapted to be engaged by a catch member 32, loosely connected to an eye 33, carried by the plank or board 12, so as to hold the arm 17 when swung inwardly to the side 10 of the car, in close parallel relation to the board or plank 12, to maintain the said arm in inoperative position.

Located to one side of the track upon which the car is adapted to travel where mail is received and delivered is a station mail bag receiving and delivering device. This station device comprises a vertical post 34, having projecting at right angles therefrom a stationary arm 35, which latter projects into the path of movement of the mail bag receiv ing and delivering device mounted upon the car but in a plane slightly below the same. Mounted at the outer extremity of this stationary arm 35, in suitable elongated slots are spaced oppositely directed mail bag holding devices each comprising a pair of spaced fingers or members 36, which latter are connected to said arm 35, by means of pivots 37, which hold the same in spaced relation to each other. These fingers 36 have curved outwardly diverging terminals 38, to permit the insertion therebetween of a mail bag and also the free removal of the latter therefrom. These curved terminals 38 are held in close relation or contact with each other by means of retractile springs 39, which latter are connected near the pivoted ends or extremities of the fingers 36 and also to the stationary arm 35. In other words the holding devices are held closed by these springs.

On one of the fingers or members 20 of the pair at the outer end of the arm 17, is mounted a spreader device 40, the latter having a bifurcated end 11, to engage the opposite finger or member 20, of the outer holding device so as to maintain the said fingers at their outer curved terminals 23, spread apart or separated to permit the free entrance of a mail bag supported at the station mail bag catcher and delivery device while the train is traveling. This spreader device 410 when not in use engages a hook member 12, and when in this position the fingers or members 20, are closed to retain or hold a mail bag.

Connected to one of the fingers 36 of the outermost pair of holding devices supported by the arm 35, at one side of the track is a spreader device 413 having a bifurcated extremity a4, to engage the opposite finger 36, of the outermost bag holding device so as to normally hold the spread fingers in spread or separated relation to each other to permit the free entrance of a mail bag therebetween and to be delivered from the passing train. This spreader device 413 when not in use engages a hook member 15, so as to not interfere with the working of the fingers of the mail bag holding device.

Detachably mounted on the vertical post 3%, above the stationary arm 35 thereof is a hanger 16, having a hook terminal 47, to engage the loops of a mail bag when suspended between the fingers 20, of the innermost bag holding device so as to overcome any possibility of the accidental release of the bag from the holding device when it is in position to be received by a passing train.

Normally the mail bag catching and delivery mechanism upon the train or car is swung inwardly by having its arm 17 ar ranged in close parallel relation to the board 12, at the side 10 of the car. Now when the car approaches a station an operator withdraws the locking pins 26, then turns the bar 17, into a position so as to have the fingers 20 of the holding devices lie in a horizontal plane and a mail bag is inserted between the fingers 20 of the inner holding device. Should it be desired to receive a mail bag from a station the operator sets the spacer device 410, to spread the fingers 20, of, the outermost holding device, whereby a mail bag supported by the catching and delivery mechanism at the station will be automatically received during the moving of the train, it being understood of course that the arm 17 is swung outwardly at right angles to the side 10 of the car and held in such position by the brace 28, until the exchange of the mail bags from the car and station mechanism has been made. The

catcher and delivery mechanism at the station previous to the arrival of the train is set so as to have the outer holding device in a position to receive the mail bag from the car and this is done by separating the fingers 36 thereof by the spreader device 44:, and a mail bag to be received by the passing train is inserted between the fingers 36, of the innermost holding device and this bag is suspended in this manner by means of the hanger 46 on the vertical post 44, located at the station or other locality. It will be clearly obvious that there will be an automatic exchange of mail'bags between the passing train and the station by the mechanisms heretofore enumerated.

What is claimed is 1. In mechanism of the class described, a supporting means adapted to be mounted upon a moving car, a swinging arm pivoted to said means, bag holding devices extending in opposite dlrections from each other and arranged in spaced relation upon said arm, means for locking the holding devices in either vertical or horizontal position, means for spreading one of said holding devices, and means for holding the arm against movement when in either operative or inoperative position.

2. The combination with a car, of mail bag catching and delivery mechanism carried thereby, an arm supporting said mechanism, means for locking the mechanism in either a vertical or horizontal plane, and means for holding the arm against movement when in operative or inoperative position.

3. In mechanism of the class described, a supporting board, a U-shaped bracket secured near one end of said board, a block hinged to said bracket, an arm rotatably supported by the block, bag holding devices carried by the arm and extending in opposite directions with respect to each other, and means for locking the arm against rotation to hold the bag holdin devices in either vertical or horizontal plane.

4. In mechanism of the class described,

a supporting board, a U-shaped bracket secured near one end of said board, a block hinged to said bracket, an arm rotatably supported by the block, bag holding devices carried by the arm and extending in opposite directions with respect to each other, means for locking the arm against rotation to hold the bag holding devices in either vertical, or horizontal plane, and means for locking the arm when in an outwardly or inwardly swung position.

5. In mechanism of the class described, a U-shaped bracket secured near one end to the side of the car, a block hinged to said bracket an arm rotatably supported by the block, bag holding devices carried by the arm and extending in opposite directions with respect to each other, means for locking the arm against rotation to hold the bag holding devices in either a vertical or horizontal plane, means for locking the arm when in an outwardly or inwardly swung position, and means for holding one of the bag holding devices in an open position.

(5. In mechanism of the class described, a supporting board, a U-shaped bracket secured near one end of said board, a block hinged to said bracket, an arm rotatably supported by the block, bag holding devices carried by the arm and extending in opposite directions with respect to each other, means for locking the arm against rotation to hold the bag holding devices in either a vertical or horizontal plane, means for looking the arm when in an outwardly or inwardly swung position, means for holding one of the bag holding devices in an open position, and mail bag catching and receiving mechanism being located at a station and adapted to cooperate with the holding devices.

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

CLAYTON D. BUSS. lVitnesses:

ROY R. FUHNER, S. STUART DRAKE.