IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY WAGONS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Robinson, of Skipton, in the County
Yorkshire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
RAILWAY WAGONS."
Sealed the 29th October 1872, and dated the 19th July 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Robinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with, his. Petition, on the
19th July 1872. .
I, HENRY ROBINSON, of Skipton, in the County Yorkshire, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY WAGONS," to be as follows :—
The objects of my improvements are to make the wagons stronger
and more durable, and also to effect. a great saving of both time and
.labour in the construction thereof.
In the first place I dispense with the wooden side rails which have
hitherto been employed and bolted to the side beams or sole; and I make.
the sole or side beams of the framework sufficiently broad, mounting

page_text: thereon the sides of the wagon, forming thereby a solid foundation for
them, instead of their being carried by the side rails, which are so liable
to break loose and let the wagon sides down.
.
Secondly. Instead of the "knee plates" which are usually employed as
stays for the sides I provide four pairs of plates or bars to which the sides
are bolted; these plates are carried down and secured to the sole or side
beams of the framework by means of bolts, and are then continued
downwards and take the place of the axle guards of ordinary con-
struction. By this arrangement the sides and sole beams are braced
firmly together, and the axle guards of ordinary construction are also
dispensed with, and the risk of straining or breaking the axle guards or
their bolts by spragging and other means, which so frequently takes
place when axle guards of ordinary construction are employed, is
prevented; the liability to split the sole or side beams of the framework
is also obviated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Robinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 17th January 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
ROBINSON, of Skipton, in the County Yorkshire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Henry Robinson, Her spécial licence that I,
the said Henry Robinson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Henry Robinson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY
WAGONS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry
Robinson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly

page_text: describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Robinson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, that is to
say:
The objects of my improvements are to make the wagons stronger and
more durable, and also to effect a great saving of time and labour in the
construction thereof, and in order that my Invention may be clearly
understood reference is given to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation, Fig. 2 a transverse section, and
Fig. 3 a portion of plan shewing one side of a wagon all constructed
according to my Invention.
.
In the first place I dispense with the wooden side rails which have
hitherto been employed and bolted to the side beams or sole, and I
make the sole or side beam of the frame sufficiently broad, as shewn
at a, mounting thereon the sides of the wagon b, thereby forming a
solid foundation for them, instead of their being carried by the side rails,
which are so liable to break loose and let the wagon sides down.
Secondly. Instead of the "knce plates" which are usually employed
as stays for the sides I provide four pairs of plates or bars c to which
the sides are bolted. These plates c are carried down and secured to
the sole or side beam a of the framework by means of bolts d, and are
then continued downwards as shewn, and take the place of the axle
guards of ordinary construction. By this arrangement the sides 6 and
sole beams a are braced firmly together, and the axle guards of ordinary
construction are also dispensed with, and the risk of straining or breaking
the axle guards by "spragging" and other means, which so frequently
take place when the axle guards of ordinary construction are employed,
is prevented. It will also be readily understood that the liability to
split the sole or side beams a is also obviated. The other parts of the
wagon not described are of ordinary construction.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I would remark in
conclusion that I do not limit myself to the exact limits, details, and
configuration of parts I have explained and shewn, as the same may of
course be varied or modified without in any way departing from my
Invention, but what I do claim and desire to be secured to me by
Letters Patent is,―
First. The arrangement and construction of plates cand side beams a,
substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Second. The arrangement, construction, and application of the various
parts either separately or in combination with the old parts herein
explained and shewn..
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Robinson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.