US976041A - Mail-bag catcher. - Google Patents

Description

W. A. CARPENTER.

MAIL BAG GATGHER.

ARPLIOATION FILED MAR.4, 1910.

976,041 Patented No'v.15,'1910.

2 SHEETS-8HEET 1.

W. A. CARPENTER.

MAIL BAG OATGHERL APPLICATION FILED NARA, 1910.

Patented N0 v.15, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1n: ncruu: Plfl'RS 5a., wsmnaron, n. c.

7 ran, a citizen of the United States of below the eyes 4:. A similar WILLIAM A. CARPENTER, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

MAIL-BAG GATCI-IER.

976,041. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 4, 1910.

To all whom it may concern: 1 rectangular form and provided with eyes 4 Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. CARrnN- i at opposite sides thereof and similar eyes 5 frame 6 also Patented Nov. 15, 1910. Serial No. 547,344.

America, residing at Charlotte, in the formed of a county of Mecklenburg and State of North lar form of substantially the same size as Carolina, have invented new and useful Im the frame and is disposed in parallel relaprovements in Mail-Bag Catchers, of which I tion to the frame 3, and connecting these the following is a specification. l two frames is a reticulated wire cloth This invention relates to mail bag catchscreen or protector 7 which extends around ers, and one of the principal objects of the between the frames 3 and 6 and holds them same is to provide a mail bag catcher of in parallel relation, as shown. Extending simple constructlon which is adapted to i from end to end and across the frame 3 is swing out from the door of a mail car and I a reticulated metal door 8 which 18 adapted to catch a mail bag suspended from a crane/ to lit in the door opening 2 of the car. A at the station while the train is passing reticulated metal catcher or basket is formed the station at the usual speed.

of metal rod frame bars 9 provided with Another object of the invention is to prohooks 10 at their rear ends, said frame bars vide a combined wire fabric door and basket 1 being curved at their front portions, as at for catching a mail bag suspended from a l 12, and Connected by upright members 13. crane, said door and basket being hinged to I This catcher or basket is covered with I I the door open ng of the car and adapted to be I reticulated metal fabric 14 at the sides and swung out in position for use whenever/ bottom. On the frame bars 6 downwardly required. projecting hooks 15 are provided, and a latch 16 is also connected to said frame. The hooks 15 are adapted to be pivoted in eyes 17 secured to the door frame of the car, and the latch 16 is adapted to be used for holding the door closed.

The crane consists of a post 18 having at its upper end a yoke 19. Mounted in the yoke is an oval-shaped supporting device 20 for the rod or arm 21. The supporting device is provided with integral trunnions 22, and these trunnions are pivoted in bearing plates 23 secured to the upper ends of the yoke 19. The arm or rod 21 is adjustably of a mail car shdwing the reticulated door connected to the supporting device 20 by and bag catcher hinged in the door opening means of set screws 21 which extend through and closed to form a ventilating door and the ring and bearing upon the arm 21 to catcher. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hold it in adjusted position. At the outer door and catcher removed from the door end of the arm 21 is a spring metal bag opening, the reticulated fabric being partly sup sort comprising a ring 25 having outbroken away. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of wardly projecting members 26 and a spring the entire device for suspending and catch- 27 connected to the arm 21 at a central point ing the mail bag. Fig. 4E is a detail perand provided with downwardly extending spective view of the crane and bag support. spring feet 28 which normally bear against Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 the projections 26 to hold a mail bag 29 designates the side of a mail car provided suspended from the arm 21 by means of the with a door opening 2. The combined door ring 30 engaging the projection 26 underand catcher for the mail bag comprises a neath the spring feet 28, as shown more rectangular frame 3 preferably formed of a particularly in Fig. 4:. At the opposite end of the arm 21 a chain 31 is connected to a metal rod of the required gage for the pur-. pose, said rod being bent into substantially ring 32 on the arm, the opposite end of the Still another object of the invention is to provide a crane having a ring pivoted to the upper end thereof and a mail bag supporting arm adjustably mounted in the ring and having a spring device for holding a bag in position to be caught by the catcher on the moving train, said arm being held in horizontal position by means of a chain connected to the arm and crane.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the construction illustrated in l the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a side elevation of a portion chain being connected to a staple 33 and the post 18 to hold the arm 21 in horizontal position and to permit said arm to be lowered for permitting the bag tobe suspended therefrom. Formed upon the upper bar of the frame 6 are loops 34: said loops being bent downwardly, as shown in Fig. 2. Stops 35 are secured to the side of the car to prevent the door from rising to detach the same from the eyes 117.

The operation of my invention may be briefly described as follows:-,The mail bag 29 is connected to the arm 21 in the manner already described, and the chain 31 is connected; to the staple 33 to hold the arm. 21 in horizontal position. When the car is nearing a. station, the catcher is thrown in the position shown in Fig, 3. by disconnecting the latch. 16 and swinging the door outward until one edge thereof rests against the side of the car with the basket projected in the direction of movement of the train. As the train passes the crane, the bag 29 is pro jected. against the loop. 3% to detach the bag from the spring supporting device and to drop the same within the catcher or basket. It will be understood that the arm, 21 is of sufficient height to pass over the top. of the door of the car and that the loops 34: are at the required height to hit the bag above a central, point to detach it from the springsuspending device. Whenever it is desired to use the basket or catcher for bundles of mail the basket may be adjusted vertically by placing the hooks 5 in the rings t, thus holding. the same at the required height for the purpose. The hooks 15 may have upwardly projecting points, and thebasket can be reversed to. either side of the car door when the train is running in either direction.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that my invention is of simple construction, can be made of wire cloth of the required gage l l a series of projecting metal slight cost, is reliable in operation and requires but little attention.

1.. A combined door and mail bag catcher consisting of metal frames having reticulated metal fabric covers forming a door and a basket or catcher connected thereto, means for suspending the door and basket in the door opening of a car, and means adjacent to the t ad: for suspending a mail bag in position to be detached therefrom by contact with the basket.

2. A mail bag catcher comprising a reticulated metal door, a reticulated adjustable basket or catcher connected to the frame, metal detaching loops connected to the upper side of the frame, means for adjusting the basket vertically in the frame, and a crane provided with an adjustable arm having means for detachably suspending a bag therefrom.

for the purpose at 3. A mail bag catcher comprising a reticu-' lated metal door frame and catcher, in combination with a crane comprising a post, a yoke secured to the post, a support pivoted to the yoke, port, means for holding the arm in hori- Zontal position, and means for yieldingly suspending a mail bag upon the outer end of the arm.

t. A mail bag catcher comprising a reticulated metal door having a curved basket or catcher adjustably connected thereto, means for hinging the door and basket in the door opening of a car, a crane provided with a pivoted arm, means for folding said arm in horizontal position, and means for supporting a mail bag on the outer end of the arm.

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

WILLIAM A. CARPENTER.

\Vitnesses J. B. CARPENTER, J. \V. CARPENTER.

an arm adjustable in the sup

Images