Patent GB-190313561-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the Automatic Delivery of Packages such as Mail Pouches, from a Moving Railway Train.
Inventor: TAYLOR WILLIAM WALLACE
Filed: 1903-06-17
Granted: 1904-01-21
Abstract: 13,561. Taylor, W. W., and Bossert, W. F. June 17. Mail-bag catchers and dischargers.-In a railway mailbag transfer system, the receiving and delivering apparatus on the vehicle is arranged to be extended automatically from the side of the vehicle as the vehicle approaches the fixed receiving and delivering apparatus, and then to be retracted automatically as the vehicle leaves. The apparatus may be extended or retracted by the action of electricity, steam, or hot-water, but it is preferred to use compressed air from the brake system. The receiving-box G, Fig. 11, on the vehicle is carried by a slide t which is connected to the piston-rod r<1> of an actuating-cylinder C. The box G slides through an open frame 46 in the side of the vehicle and closes the opening, both when in its extended and when in its retracted position. The mail bag P which is to be delivered is suspended from the end of a bar j, which slides through the top of the box G and is connected at its inner end to a lever D. This lever receives motion from the box G through a rod 75 provided with adjustable tappets so that the bar j is moved further in and out than the box G, and so that its outer end comes over a compartment F of the box G when the parts are in their retracted position. The compartment F, which is open on the outer side, can be turned on a hinge 73 into the position shown in dotted lines, and can be fastened in its vertical position by buttons 71. When the parts are in their retracted position, the clerk places the bag P in the compartment F and hangs it from a bolt 63 in the bar j. When the parts are extended, the bag P is carried out to the position shown. The inner end 64 of the bolt 63 is turned upwards and is acted upon by a spring 66 to keep the bolt in engagement with the loop of the bag. On passing the fixed station, an arm 36, Fig. 9, on the fixed apparatus engages a lever q, Fig. 10, which is pivoted to the box G at v and is arranged to draw back the bolt 63, Fig. 10, and thus release the bag P. At the same time the bag P', Fig. 9, suspended from the fixed apparatus is released from its hook 90 and is caught by a net in the box G, Fig. 11. The bag delivered from the vehicle is caught by a net 20, Fig. 6, in a fixed box f. A rotary valve k, Fig. 11, by which air is admitted to and exhausted from the two ends of the cylinder C alternately, is actuated by a plunger 57 passing through the floor of the vehicle and carrying a roller 60 for engaging inclines g, Fig. 5, placed in the permanent way on each side of the fixed apparatus. As the roller 60 rides up the first incline, a hinged tappet 56 on the head of the plunger 57 engages one of four lugs 55 on the head of the valve k and gives it a quarter turn. The valve is then held stationary by a pivoted catch 53 while the plunger 57 is lowered again by a spring 58. The second incline repeats the action, giving the valve k another quarter turn, and each quarter turn is arranged to reverse the motor cylinder C so that it first extends the box G and then retracts it. Each of the inclines g, Fig. 5, is double, so as to work in either direction, and consists of bars 30 resting at the ends on channel guides 17 and at the middle on a plunger 22 which can be moved up and down in a guide by toggles 21, Fig. 4, and rods and levers connected to a pivoted arm b, Fig. 8, from which the mail bag to be delivered to the passing vehicle is suspended. The weight of the mail bag is thus arranged to raise the inclines g automatically. After the delivery of the bag, the inclines are prevented from falling too quickly by a dash-pot d.