Improvements in Apparatus for Exchanging Postal Matter with Trains in Motion.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 30th Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Exchanging Postal Matter with
Trains in Motion.
I, WILHELM WENSTRÖM, of 32, Kommendörsgatan, Stockholm, Sweden,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement; --
This invention relates to apparatus for exhanging postal matter with trains in
motion.
On the annexed drawing Figs. 1 and 2 shew a part sectional side elevation
and a plan view respectively of the apparatus, fixed to a post car.
A is an arm
or bar, extending horizontally from a fastening block F, said bar, which runs
in both directions and which is parallel with the rails of the railway, being
located at a suitable level and at a suitable distance from the car. Figs. 3 and 4
shew a side elevation and a plan view of the apparatus as it is arranged at a rail-
way station. S is a standard and T is a cross piece, in which the arm or bar Bis
fixed in a horizontal position, running in both directions parallel with rails and
being so located that the same and the bar A are at the passage of a post car
in the same vertical plane and at a certain distance from one another.
K are casings, into which the postal matter is introduced and from which the
same is removed through a door L, provided with a lock. Fig. 5 shews a cross
section of such a casing. R designates two tubes or sleeves on each casing, which
tubes or sleeves are placed the one above the other in a plane, in which the
centre of gravity of the casing is situated. The distance of the axes of the tubes
or sleeves R is equal to that of the axes of the bars A and B. The mouths of the
sleeves are widened, and the ends of the bars are pointed, so that the ends may
enter into the mouths notwithstanding the oscillations and shaking of the car.
In order to prevent a mistake, when the casings are hung on the bars A and B,
these bars, as well as the sleeves, are of different cross sections. Fig. 6 shews
bars of different cross sections, the sleeves being, however, of the same cross
section in Fig. 5.
For reducing the shock exerted on the bar fastenings by the casings, when these
are delivered as well as when they are carried away, the bars are provided with
buffers D formed by helical springs, India rubber cushions or any other elastic
devices. These buffers are not shewn in Figs. 2 and 4. They are at their one
ends fixed to the corresponding bar fastenings and are at their other, free ends
provided with hooks H, which at the concussion come into engagement with the
flange-shaped ends of the sleeves, so that the casings are not thrown away, when
the buffers recede. The hooks H may be arranged in such a manner that they
cannot be caused to let go their hold of the casings except by the employment of
a special kev.
Figs. 1 and 2 shew a casing suspended outside the car, ready for being delivered
at the next station. The train moves in the direction of the arrow. Figs. 3
and 4 shew a casing suspended on a station standard so as to be caught by the

page_text: free end of the bar, mounted on the post car of the train moving in the direction
mentioned. When the train moves in the opposite direction, the bars act in a
reversed manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
-
Apparatus for exchanging postal matter with trains in motion, said apparatus
having on the post cars as well as at the stations, delivering and catching arms
or bars with buffers, the apparatus being characterized by the construction of the
following devices, viz.; arms or bars for the cars and for the stations, parallel
suspension tubes or sleeves, corresponding to the arms or bars and fixed in a hori-
zontal position on the casings containing postal matter, the tubes or sleeves being
provided with widened ends, in order to facilitate their pushing on to the pointed
ends of the corresponding arms or bars, and hooks on the free ends of the buffer
springs, which hooks serve to engage with the flange-shaped ends of the tubes
or sleeves, so that the casings are not thrown away when rebounding, substan-
tially as described and shewn.