Improvements in or connected with Safety Fenders or Attachments for Tramcars and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug., 1896-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Safety Fenders or Attachments
for Tramcars and the like.
I, ALBERT EDWARD HUGHES, of New Canaan Road, Darien, Connecticut,
United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
―
My invention relates to devices which are designed to be attached to the end of
a cable or electric car for the purpose of preventing a person from being run down
by the car or brought into contact with the wheels thereof and the invention consists
in the various novel and peculiar arrangements and combinations of the several.
parts of the apparatus all as fully hereinafter described.
In front of the dash board of the car is secured a suitable bracket or bed piece upon
which is mounted in slightly inclined position a slide having its range of up and down
movement determined by a slot which moves over a stud projecting from the inclined
face of the piece. This slide is provided upon its back with a guide-pin working
in a guide-way formed in the piece and springs which are secured between the
slide and fixed points serve to draw the slide down to its lowest limit of movement-
the springs in the present instance being each secured between a pin on the slide
and a pin on the fixed piece. A pair of arms are mounted at their inner ends
upon a stud so as to swing freely on a common centre and each arm is provided at
the same distance from its centre of movement with a longitudinal slot in which
travels a pin projecting from the slide so that the downward movement of the slide
will simultaneously draw down the arms with a sharp quick action in order to
project or shoot forward a telescoping screen to which the free ends of the arma
are respectively connected by links.
The telescoping screen comprises a section or frame which being arranged
uppermost I will term the upper frame and a section sliding upon or within the
upper frame in the same plane therewith and which will term the lower frame.
Both of these frames are similarly curved about a horizontal axis running parallel
with the dash-board and the radius of curvature is such as to permit of the screen
being carried within a small compass when drawn up into normal retracted position
but at the same time to bow sufficiently to give a good scoop-like action to the
screen when it is shot forward. The radius of curvature is such that the screen
when folded up or telescoped will occupy less space lengthwise of the car than in
the other constructions. The upper frame is mounted in the side-pieces extending
from the dash-board by means of slots formed in the side-pieces and studs projecting
from the side of the frame into said slots. In order to make the pins move smoothly
in the curved slots they may be provided with anti-friction rollers.
The lower frame is about the same length as the upper frame and is of the same
curvature but is shown in the present construction of slightly less width in order to
slide within the same the sliding connection between the two being provided by
means of a curved longitudinal slot formed in the lower frame one at each side
thereof and fixed pins projecting inwardly from the inner face of each side of the
upper frame. These pins are headed so as to keep the frames securely together
and they may also be provided with anti-friction rollers. The upper frame is
given a positive motion through means of the swinging arms or levers which have

page_text: already been described and which are indirectly connected therewith at the upper
end of the frame and as these levers are comparatively of great length they project
the screen forwardly with a very positive action when moved by the spring-actuated
slide. The lower frame is given an independent movement on the upper frame in
order to accelerate the speed with which the telescoping screen may be unfolded
when shot forward and I make particular claim to this idea. There are many
ways in which the lower frame may be caused to have its own movement upon the
sliding upper frame by positive motion though I have shown but one such way of
accomplishing it and that consists in a cord or flexible connection arranged one at
each side of the frames with one end secured to a stationary point (located upon
the side piece) passing thence around a pulley by preference turning upon one of
the pins of the upper frame to a fixed point or rod located at the upper end of the
lower frame. When now the upper frame is drawn downwardly each pulley draws
upon its flexible connection and thereby slides the lower frame upon the upper one
with even greater speed than the upper frame is itself moved.
In the present construction only the lower section or frame is provided with a
net since a flexible shield made for instance of a suitably thin sheet of rubber or
other suitable and preferably water-proof material is placed in front of the screen
and extends down to a sufficiently low point to entirely cover the main part of the
upper frame and in effect takes the place of a net in the upper frame. If preferred
however the upper frame may also be provided with a net.
This flexible shield is
secured at its upper end to the dash-board and its side edges are fastened to the
edges of the side plates so that in addition to acting as a fender or guard to prevent
any one falling against the dash-board or the projecting mechanism of the screen it
also serves as a housing for the mechanism. I also make special claim to this
flexible shield in conjunction with the sliding screen.
The net carried by the lower frame is secured therein between the end rods and
is made sufficiently loose to sag a considerable distance below the frame when a
person falls therein. The slack of the net is taken up by a set of coiled springs
which are directly secured to the net or incorporated therein in such way as to
keep the same taut when there is no weight upon it.
The telescoping screen is so mounted that it can descend only within such distance
of the ground as to permit the screen when projected to easily clear a prostrate
person for in the present construction the same is designed to strike a person when
standing erect at or about the knee in order to precipitate him into the net.
However the telescoping screen can be mounted so as to descend to the level of
the tracks if preferred. In practice I propose to provide the forward end of the
lower frame with a suitable cushion or spring device so as to harm the person_as
little as possible when struck thereby. At each side of the screen is arranged a
folding wing or net which is connected with the side-plates and the shooting screen
respectively. The arrangement of the side nets is such that they are each stretched
taut when the screen is projected in order to prevent a person when precipitated
into the screen from falling out sidewise.
The telescoping screen is normally held in retracted position by means of a
locking and a tripping device which I shall now describe. A horizontally arranged
bar loosely mounted between the side-plates so as to easily turn on its axis carries
near each end a locking-arm the outer end of which projects downwardly and
forwardly and is provided with a projection or book adapted to engage the end of
the side of the lower sliding-frame and retain the same in locked position when
folded up. A spring bears upon each of the locking-arms and tends constaully
to press it into locking position so that upon folding up the screen they will suap
into locking position. This same locking and trip device also locks the spring-
actuated slide in elevated position by means of a blade which engages the under
side of the periphery of a roller carried by the slide-this construction of the roller
with a blade engaging its periphery ou a line parallel with the axis of the roller is
employed for the purpose of making the device very sensitive in its action. Upon
each of the locking-arms is pivotted a member formed with a transverse slot through

page_text: which projects a pin for limiting the swinging movement of the member on the
arm. These members project out beyond the forward end of the arms and are
connected by a bar which is normally carried a sufficient distance in advance of the
same and of the sliding-screen when in retracted position to strike or collide with
a person who may be in the way of the car. It will be noted that the centre about
which the members move on the arms is non-coincident with that about which the
arms themselves move. This construction is used in order to prevent the locking
device from binding and becoming inoperative when the trip strikes a person at a
certain angle. By virtue of having the tripping-device proper mounted independently
upon the locking mechanism and with its centre of movement non-coincident with
that of the latter the parts will not bind even though the trip device is struck by
an object in a downward or upward direction or at right angles.
My improved wheel-guard is arranged beneath the level of the car floor and
comprises essentially non-rigid or flexible members adapted to be forced into close
but yielding contact with the ground together with means for normally holding it
out of contact with the ground and this guard may or may not be used in con-
junction with the trip-device. In the construction shown the guard consists in a
broom-like device comprising a head or bar which is provided with thickly set
bunches of flexible fingers or blades. The head or bar is placed transversely with
respect to the car in horizontal position and is mounted to slide vertically on guides
and from each end projects a pin working in a slot formed in an arm arranged at
each end of the head-piece. The arms are secured fast upon a loosely mounted
shaft carried by side brackets and each one is acted upon by a spring normally
tending to draw the arm down and thereby force the flexible fingers of the guard
into close but yielding contact with the ground.
In order to prevent the flexible members of the guard from being forced back
past a certain point I place behind them a rigid piece or plate which in the present
construction is bolted to the car floor and depends therefrom in a forwardly
inclined position and also supports the guides upon which the bar or head-piece
slides.
This wheel guard is normally held in elevated position and under spring tension
by means of the sliding bars one of which is mounted upon the inner side of each
bracket by means of slot formed in the slides and pins projecting from the brackets.
These bars are each provided at their inner ends with a book which engages the
pin and thereby locks the guard in elevated position when the bars are at their
outer limit of movement. When these sliding-bars are moved inwardly toward
the wheels their hooked ends release the pins whereupon the guard is forced down
against the ground. The operation of the sliding-bars so as to release the guard
is automatically effected by means of a trip-device placed in advance of the guard
and which comprises a frame depending across the car and swinging upon the
horizontal axis which has its ends mounted in vertical slots formed in the respective
brackets so as to have a free vertical movement when the frame is pressed
upwardly as for instance when the body of a person should be encountered with
the lower end of frame and the car should rock or teeter. If in such case the
trip-frame could not readily yield or move upwardly it would pound or crush the
person. This frame is preferably provided with a netting stretched across it and
at each side it carries an inwardly projecting pin which is adapted to push against
a projection upon the outer end of each of the sliding bars so that when this
swinging-frame meets with a prostrate person it is swung inwardly and upwardly
and serves to force in the sliding bars by means of the pins bearing upon the
projection of the bars and thereby release the wheel-guard to the action of its
spring. If the trip frame is forced upwardly upon encountering a person such
upward movement will cause the sliding-bars to move inwardly and release the
guard by virtue of the rod of the swinging-frame sliding over the inclined faces of
the projections located at the outer end of each bar. It will thus be seen that the
trip-device of the wheel guard serves to operate the latter whether such device is
struck upwardly downwardly or at right angles as in case of the trip device of the

page_text: telescoping screen. It will be noted that when the wheel-guard is forced down-
wardly against the ground it will be practically impossible for a person to pass
under it or even for his clothes to be caught between the guard and the ground
by reason of the peculiar action of the closely set flexible fingers or blades which
being very long and resilient will move along in continuous and close contact
with the ground when they are jammed or crushed forcibly down against the
ground. One important advantage resulting from the use of the closely set
bunches of long flexible members is that when the guard is forced down the flexible
members are held in yielding contact with the ground and conform to the
inequalities in the surface thereof so that they will readily adapt themselves to any
formation of road-bed.
It is preferable to arrange the trip device for the guard such a distance in
advance thereof as to render it impossible for a person's arm or leg to get under
the trip-device and then under the guard before the former has been given sufficient
movement by the body of the person to cause the guard to close down.
In order to prevent a stone or similar obstacle on the track from actuating the
trip-device of the guard I provide mechanism which may be operated by the motor-
man or grip-man on the platform of the car whereby the trip-device may be raised
in order to clear such obstacle or be allowed to swing backwardly without at the
same time actuating the guard. The mechanism consists in a pull-cord having a
hand-ring located at a convenient point on the dash-board the other end of the
cord being connected with a projection on the trip-frame. By pulling upon the
cord this trip-frame may be swung forwardly and upwardly a sufficient distance to
clear an ordinary obstacle when desired and it may be permanently held in such
elevated position by hooking the ring over a hook located also upon the dash-
board.
The flexible guard may be used without a trip-device and in this construction
the broom-like guard is together with the back plate swung on a horizontal shaft
and is provided with an upwardly projecting arm provided with a pin which moves
through an arc-shape slot for limiting the movement of the guard on the axis.
Suitable springs serve to hold the guard in elevated position but yield and allow
it to be jammed down against the ground when the guard itself strikes agaiust
a person.
The wheel-guard may be pivotted or hinged to swing on an axis so that by its
own weight it tends to close down on the ground. A horizontal bar pivotted
between its ends is arranged at each side of the guard with which it is connected
by means of a pin projecting laterally from the end of the piece and a slot formed
in the bar. Each bar is provided with a spring acting upon the inner end thereof
so as to draw it downwardly. In its normal position each tilting bar is maintained
against the action of its spring by means of the swinging-frame which keeps the
tilting bars locked on a dead centre and until the frame is swung inwardly a certain
distance. The locking of the tilting arms on a dead centre is provided for by
means of a slot formed in each of the tilting-arms through which travels a'pin
projecting from the frame. These parts are so adjusted that when the frame is
swung inwardly on its axis so as to pass the dead centre point the springs together
with the weight of the guard serve to force the latter downwardly against the
ground and hold it in close contact therewith. The guard and the tripping and
locking-device after being thus actuated may be reset so that the parts resume
their normal positions by pressing down the vertically moving rod or treadle which
engages with its lower end the outer end of the tilting bar and depresses it so as
to allow the swinging trip frame to gravitate past the dead centre point and into
its normal position and thereby automatically locking the guard in elevated position
ready to be again called into action. The several parts described may be reset in
normal positions without the use of the push-piece or treadle by grasping the free
end of the swinging trip frame and drawing it downwardly until it assumes the
vertical position. In fact by making the trip-frame sufficiently heavy it will act
to reset itself by gravity.

page_text: In order to permit the trip frame to encounter a small obstacle such as a stone
and pass over the same without actuating the guard I so construct it that it may be
swung inwardly a considerable distance before passing the dead centre point and
consequently without actuating the guard. This I do by curving the outer end of
the slot of the tilting-bar so that the pin of the trip-frame may move through the
curved portion of the slot before passing the dead centre and thus permit sufficient
idle movement of the trip-frame to allow it to be knocked inwardly by a stone
lying on the track and thereby raise it so as to clear the stone.
The wheel-guards may be of such construction that they may be conveniently
placed under the car a sufficient distance from the end thereof to avoid in any way
interfering with the ordinary draw-gear or coupling apparatus that is carried
beneath the platform of the car for coupling the cars together. Instead of having
the lower edge of the swinging trip-frame provided with a rigid bar a wire rope or
other yielding material could be substituted in order not to injure the body of the
person during the teetering motion of the car.
When it is desired to lock the sliding screen so as to prevent its being operated
by its trip device this may be done by moving the bolt mounted on the dash-board
so as to bring it under the lower end of the slide and thereby prevent the springs
acting on the slide from moving it downwardly.
My invention is not limited to the constructions herein described as the principles
upon which the different features work may be embodied in other forms without
making a material departure from the spirit of my invention.
Dated this 5th day of November 1895.
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent.
Improvements in or connected with Safety Fenders or Attachments
for Tramcars and the like.
1, ALBERT EDWARD HUGHES, of New Canaan Road, Darien, Connecticut,
United States of America, Gentleman, 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 :—
My invention relates to devices which are designed to be attached to the end of
a cable or electric car for the purpose of preventing a person from being run down
by the car or brought into contact with the wheels thereof; and the invention
consists in the various novel, and peculiar arrangements and combinations of the
several parts of the apparatus, all as fully hereinafter described, and then pointed
out in the claims.
I have illustrated types of my invention in the accompanying drawings,
wherein―
Figure 1 is a side view of one end of an ordinary cable or self-propelled street-.
car having attached thereto my improved sliding screen, with its trip device, and
my improved wheel-guard, with its trip device, all of the parts being shown
in normal position, a portion of the side bracket of the wheel-guard being broken
away in order to show the details of the same.
Figure 2 is a side view of the wheel-guard and its trip device, showing the
several parts in the positions assumed by them when the trip device has been
swung backwardly by striking against a prostrate person on the track and the
guard has thereby been forced down against the ground.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a front view of the parts shown in Fig. 1, but with the car proper
omitted and the flexible shield removed from in front of the sliding screen.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, the plane of the section being indicated by
line 4 4, Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a view of a vertical section taken on a plane indicated by line 5 5,
Fig. 3, with the several parts shown in normal positions, and with the flexible
shield in place. Fig. 6 is a similar view to that shown in Fig. 5, but with the
sliding screen projected, the dotted line below the screen indicating the position
assumed by the sagging net when a person is precipitated into it.
Fig. 7 is a view of a horizontal section of the wheel-guard and its trip device,
the plane of the section being indicated by line 7 7, Fig. 1.
Fig. 8 is a side view of a modified form of the yielding broom-like wheel-guard,
the dotted lines in said view showing the position assumed automatically by the
guard when it comes in contact with a prostrate person and is pressed backwardly.
Figs. 9 and 10 are side views of a modified form of the tripping and locking
device for the wheel-guard, the former view showing the parts set in normal
positions, while the latter shows them in the positions which they assume when the
trip device bas actuated the guard and caused it to be forced down against the
ground.
Referring to the said drawings, in which like numbers of reference indi-
cate like parts throughout, 2 designates an ordinary street-car having end
platform 3, and dashboard 4, and 5 indicates the level of the car-tracks or surface
of the road-bed over which the car runs. In front of the dash-board is secured a
suitable bracket or bed-piece 6, upon which is mounted in slightly-inclined position
a slide 7, having its range of up-and-down movement determined by a slot 8,
which moves over a stud 9, projecting from the inclined face of the piece 6. This
slide 7 is provided upon its back with a guide-pin 10, working in a guide-way 11
formed in the piece 6, and springs 12 12, which are secured between the slide and
fixed points, serve to draw the slide down to its lowest limit of movement, the
springs in the present instance being each secured between a pin 13 on the slide
and a pin 14 on the fixed piece 6. A pair of arms 15 15 are mounted at their
inner ends upon a stud 9, so as to swing freely on a common center and each arm
is provided at the same distance from its centre of movement with a longitudinal
slot 16, in which travels a pin 17, projecting from the slide 7, (see Fig. 3) so that
the downward movement of the slide will simultaneously draw down the
arms 15 15 with a sharp quick action in order to project or shoot forwardly the
telescoping screen, to which the free ends of the arms are respectively connected
by links 18 18.
The telescoping screen comprises a section or frame 19, which, being arranged
uppermost, I will term the "upper" frame, and a section 20, sliding upon or within
the upper frame in the same plane therewith and which I will term the "lower"
frame. Both of these frames are similarly curved about a horizontal axis running
parallel with the dash-board, and the radius of curvature is such as to permit of
the screen being carried within a small compass when drawn up into normal
retracted position, but at the same time to bow sufficiently to give a good scoop-
like action to the screen when it is shot forward. In Figs. 9 and 10 the radius of
curvature is greater than that of the other figures and consequently the screen
when folded up or telescoped will occupy less space lengthwise the car than in
the other constructions. The upper frame 19 is mounted in the side pieces 21,
extending from the dash-board, by means of slots 22, formed in the side pieces,
and studs 23, projecting from the side of the frame into the said slots. In order
to make the pins 23 move smoothly in the curved slots, they may be provided with
antifriction-rollers.
The lower frame 20 is about the same length as the upper frame and is of the
same curvature, but is shown in the present construction of slightly less width in
order to slide within the same, the sliding connection between the two being
provided by means of a curved longitudinal slot 24, formed in the lower frame,

page_text: one at each side thereof, and fixed pins 25 projecting inwardly from the inner face
of each side of the upper frame 19. These pins 25 are headed, so as to keep the
frames securely together, and like the pins 23, they may also be provided with
antifriction-rollers.
The upper frame 19 is given a positive motion through means of the swinging
arms or levers 15 15, which have already been described and which are indirectly
connected therewith at the upper end of the frame, and as these levers are of
comparatively great length they project the screen forwardly with a very positive
action when moved by the spring actuated slide 7. The lower frame 20 is given
an independent movement on the upper frame in order to accelerate the speed with
which the telescoping screen may be unfolded when shot forward, and I make
particular claim to this idea. There are many ways in which the lower frame may
be caused to have its own movement upon the sliding upper frame by positive
motion, though I have shown but one such way of accomplishing it, and that'
consists in a cord or flexible connection 26, arranged one at each side of the
frames, with one end secured to a stationary point 27, (located upon the side
piece 21,) passing thence around a pulley 28, shown by preference, as turning upon
one of the pins 25 of the upper frame, to a fixed point or rod 29, located at the
upper end of the lower frame. When now the upper frame is drawn downwardly,
each pulley 28 draws upon its flexible connection 26, and thereby slides the lower
frame upon the upper one with even greater speed than the upper frame is itself
moved. In the present construction, only the lower section or frame 20 is provided
with a net, (indicated by the numeral 30,) since a flexible shield 31, made, for
instance, of a suitably thin sheet of rubber or other suitable and preferably.
waterproof material; is placed in front of the screen and extends down to a
sufficiently low point to entirely cover the main part of the upper frame and in
effect takes the place of a net in the upper frame. If preferred, however the
upper frame may also be provided with a net. This flexible shield 31 is secured
at its upper end to the dashboard, and its side edges are fastened to the edges of
the side plates 21 21 so that in addition to acting as a fender or guard to prevent..
anyone falling against the dashboard or the projecting mechanism of the screen it
also serves as a housing for the mechanism. 1 also make special claim to this.
flexible shield in conjunction with the sliding screen.
The net 30, carried by the lower frame 20, is secured therein between the end
rods 29 and 32 and is made sufficiently loose to sag a considerable distance below
the frame when a person falls therein, the position assumed by the net under such.
condition being indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 6. The slack of the net 30 is.
taken up by a set of coiled springs 33, which are directly secured to the net or
incorporated therein in such a way as to keep the same taut when there is no
weight upon it. The telescoping screen is so mounted that it can descend only
within such distance of the ground as to permit the screen when projected to easily
clear a prostrate person, for in the present construction the same is designed to
strike a person when standing erect at or about the knee in order to precipitate
him into the net. However, the telescoping screen can be mounted so as to
descend to the level of the tracks, if preferred. In practice 1 propose to provide
the forward end of the lower frame with a suitable cushion or spring device, so
as to harm the person as little as possible when struck thereby. At each side
of the screen is arranged a folding wing or net 34, which is connected at 35
and 36 with the side plates 21 and the shooting screen respectively (see Figs. 1
and 6) the arrangement of the side ucts is such that they each are stretched
taut when the screen is projected in order to prevent a person when precipitated
into the screen from falling out sidewise. The telescoping screen is normally
held in retracted position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, by means of a locking and
tripping device, which I will now describe. A horizontally arranged bar 37,
loosely mounted between the side plates 21, so as to easily turn on its axis, carries
near each end a locking-arm 38, the outer end of which projects downwardly and.
forwardly and is provided with a projection or hook 39, adapted to engage

page_text: .
'
These
the end of the side of the lower sliding frame 20 and retain the same in locked
position when folded up. A spring 40 bears upon each of the locking-arms 38,
and tenda constantly to press it into locking position, so that upon folding up the
screen they will snap into locking position. This same locking and trip device
also locks the spring-actuated slide in elevated position by means of a blade 42
which engages the under side of the periphery of a roller 43, carried by the slide.
This construction of the roller with a blade engaging its periphery on a line
parallel with the axis of the roller is employed for the purpose of making the
device very sensitive in its action. Upon each of the locking-arms 38 is pivoted
at 44 a member 45, formed with a transverse slot 46, through which projects a
pin 47 for limiting the swinging movement of the member on the arm.
members 45 project out beyond the forward end of the arms 38 and are connected
by a bar 48, which is normally carried a sufficient distance in advance of the same,
and of the sliding screen when in retracted position, to strike or collide with a
person who may be in the way of the car. It will be noted that the center about
which the members 45 move on the arms 38 is non-coincident with that about which
the arms themselves move. This construction is used in order to prevent the
locking device from binding and becoming inoperative when the trip strikes a
person at a certain angle. By virtue of having the tripping device proper mounted
independently upon the locking mechanism and with its center of movement non-
coincident with that of the latter the parts will not bind even though the trip
device is struck by an object in a downward or upward direction or at right angles.
My improved wheel-guard is arranged beneath the level of the car-floor, and com-
prises, essentially, non-rigid or flexible members adapted to be forced into close but
yielding contact with the ground, together with means for normally holding it out
of contact with the ground, and this guard may or may not be used in conjunction
with the trip device. In the construction shown the guard consists in a broom-like
device comprising a head or bar 50 which is provided with thickly-set bunches of
flexible fingers or blades 51. The head or bar 50 is placed transversely the car in
a horizontal position and is mounted to slide vertically on guides 52, (see Fig. 7)
and from each end projects a pin 53, working in a slot 54 formed in an arm 55,
arranged at each end of the head-piece 50. The arms 55 are secured fast upon a
loosely mounted shaft 99, carried by side brackets 56, and each one is acted upon
by a spring 57, normally tending to draw the arm down, and thereby force the
flexible fingers of the guard into close but yielding contact with the ground, as
shown in Fig. 2. In order to prevent the flexible members of the guard from
being forced back past a certain point, I place back of them a rigid piece or
plate 58, which in the present construction is bolted to the car-floor and depends
therefrom in a forwardly-inclined position and also supports the guides 52 upon
which the bar or head-piece 50 slides. This wheel-guard is normally held in
elevated position and under spring-tension by means of the sliding-bars 59, one of
which is mounted upon the inner side of each bracket 56 by means of slot 60,
formed in the slides, and pins 61, projecting from the brackets. These bars are
each provided at their inner ends with a hook 62, which engages the pin 53, and
thereby locks the guard in elevated position when the bars are at their outer limit
of movement. When these sliding bars 59 are moved inwardly towards the
wheels, their hooked ends release the pins 53, whereupon the guard is forced down
against the ground. The operation of the sliding-bars 59, so as to release the
guard is automatically effected by means of a trip device placed in advance of the
guard, and which comprises a frame 63, depending across the car and swinging
upon the horizontal axis 64, which has its ends mounted in vertical slots 65, formed
in the respective brackets 56, so as to have a free vertical movement when the
frame is pressed upwardly-as, for instance, when the body of a person should be
encountered with the lower end of frame 63 and the car should rock or tecter.
in such case the trip-frame 63 could not readily yield or move upwardly, it would
pound or crush the person.
If
This frame 63 is preferably provided with a netting stretched across it, and at

page_text: each side. it carries an inwardly-projecting pin 66, which is adapted to push against
a projection 67 upon the outer end of each of the sliding-bars 59, so that when
this swinging frame meets with a prostrate person it is swung inwardly and
upwardly and serves to force in the sliding-bars by means of the pins 66 bearing
upon the projection 67 of the bars and thereby release the wheel-guard to the
action of its spring. If the trip-frame 63 is forced upwardly upon encountering a
person, such upward movement will cause the sliding-bars to move inwardly and
release the guard by virtue of the rod 64 of the swinging frame sliding over the
inclined faces of the projections 98, located at the outer end of each bar 59. It
will thus be seen that the trip device of the wheel-guard serves to operate the
latter, whether such device is struck upwardly, downwardly, or at right angles, as
in case of the trip device of the telescoping screen. It will be noted that when
the wheel-guard is forced downwardly against the ground it will be practically
impossible for a person to pass under it or even for his clothes to be caught
between the guard and the ground, by reason of the peculiar action of the closely-
set fingers or blades which, being very long and resilient, will move along in
continuous and close contact with the ground when they are jammed or crushed
forcibly down against the ground. One important advantage resulting from the
use of the closely-set bunches of long, flexible members is, that when the guard is
forced down the flexible members are held in yielding contact with the ground and
conform to the inequalities in the surface thereof, so that they will readily adapt
themselves to any formation or road-bed. It is preferable to arrange the trip
device for the guard such a distance in advance thereof, so as to render it
impossible for a person's arm or leg to get under the trip device and then under
the guard before the former has been given sufficient movement by the body of the
person to cause the guard to close down. In order to prevent a stone or similar
object on the track from actuating the trip device of the guard, I provide
mechanism which may be operated by the motorman or gripman ou the platform
of the car whereby the trip device may be raised in order to clear such obstacle or
be allowed to swing backwardly without at the same time actuating the guard.
The mechanism shown consists in a pull-cord 70, having a hand-ring 71, located at
a convenient point on the dashboard, the other end of the cord being connected
with a projection 72, on the trip-frame 63. By pulling upon the cord of this trip-
frame may be swung forwardly and upwardly a sufficient distance to clear an
ordinary obstacle when desired, and it may be permanently held in such elevated
position by hooking the ring 70 over a hook 73, located also upon the dashboard.
In Fig. 8 the flexible guard is shown without the use of a trip device, and in this
construction the broom-like guard 50 51 is, together with the back plate 58, swung
in a horizontal shaft 80 and is provided with an upwardly-projecting arm 81,
provided with pin 82, which moves through an arc-shaped slot 83, for limiting the
movement of the guard on the axis 80. Suitable springs 84 serve to hold the guard
in elevated position, which yield and allow it to be jammed down against the
ground, when the guard itself strikes against the person. In Figs. 9 and 10 the
wheel guard 50, 51 is pivoted or hinged to swing on an axis 86, so that by its own
weight it tends to close down on the ground, as shown in Fig. 10. A horizontal
bar 87, pivoted intermediate its ends at 88, is arranged at each side of the guard,
with which it is connected by means of a pin 89 projecting laterally from the end
of the piece 50, and a slot 90, formed in the bar. Each bar 87 is provided with a
spring 91, acting upon the inner end thereof, so as to draw it downwardly. The
normal position of each tilting bar 87 is shown in Fig. 9 in which position it is
maintained against the action of its spring by means of the swinging frame 63,
which keeps the tilting bars locked on a dead-center and until the frame is swung
inwardly a certain distance. The locking of the tilting arms on a dead-center is
provided for by means of a slut 92, formed in each of the tilting arms, through
which travels a pin 93 projecting from the frame 63.
These parts are so adjusted that when the frame 63 is swung inwardly on its
axis 64, so as to press the dead-center point, the springs 91, together with the
B

page_text: weight of the guard, serve to force the latter downwardly against the ground and
hold it in close contact therewith, the several parts then assuming the positions
shown in Fig. 10. The guard and the tripping and locking device, after being
thus actuated may be reset, so that the parts resume their normal positions (shown
in Fig. 9) by pressing down the vertically-moving rod or treadle 94, which engages
with its lower end, the outer end of the tilting bar 87 and depresses it, so as to
allow the swinging trip-frame 63 to gravitate past the dead-center point and into
its normal position, and thereby automatically locking the guard in elevated
position, ready to be again called into action. The several described parts may
be reset in normal positious without the use of the push-piece or treadle 94 by
grasping the free end of the trip-frame 63 (see Fig. 10) and drawing it downward
until it assumes the vertical position shown in Fig. 9. In fact, by making the
trip-frame 63 sufficiently heavy it will act to reset itself by gravity. In order to
permit the trip-frame. 63 to encounter a small obstacle, such as a stone, and pass
over the same without actuating the guard, I so construct it that it may be swung
inwardly a considerable distance before passing the dead-center point, and
consequently without actuating the guard. This I do by curving the outer end
of the slot 92 of the tilting-bar, so that the pin 93 of the trip-frame 63 may move
through the curved portion of the slot before passing the dead-center, and thus
permit sufficient idle movement of the trip-frame to allow it to be knocked
inwardly by a stone lying on the track, and thereby raise it, so as to clear the
stone. The range of idle movement or lost motion of the swinging-frame 63 is
shown by the full and dotted line positions thereof in Fig. 9-that is, the trip-
frame 63 may be idly swung inwardly to the dotted line position without setting off
the locking device of the guard, though a further inward movement causes the
dead center to be passed and the guard thrown into action, unless the treadle 94
is depressed, so as to hold up the tilting arm 87. The wheel-guards here shown
are of such constructions that they may be conveniently placed under the car a
sufficient distance from the end thereof to avoid in any way interfering with the
draw-gear or coupling apparatus that is carried beneath the platform of the car
for coupling the cars together. Instead of having the lower edge of the swinging
trip-frame 63 provided with a rigid bar a wire rope or other yielding material
could be substituted in order not to injure the body of the person during the
teetering motion of the car. When it is desired to lock the sliding screen, so as
to prevent its being operated by its trip device, this may be done by moving the
bolt 85, mounted on the dashboard, so as to bring it under the lower end of the
slide 7, and thereby prevent the springs acting on the slide from moving it down-
wardly. In the form of wheel-guard shown in Figs. 1 to 7 the parts may be reset
in normal position, after having been thrown into operation, by passing a hand-
hook through opening 101 in the platform of the car and engaging therewith an
eye or staple 100 on the head-piece of the guard and lifting the same until the
pins 53 come into position to be re-engaged by the hooked ends of the sliding
bars 59, which are at the same time drawn forwardly.
The feature of the yielding wheel-guard comprising bunches or sets of long
flexible fingers or members adapted to be forced into contact with the ground to
obstruct the passage of a person thereunder is shown but not claimed in my
Patent No. 3105 dated February 12th 1895, the claims thereon having been
reserved for this application. My invention is not limited to the constructions
herewith illustrated and described, as the principles upon which the different
features work may be embodied in other forms without making a material
departure from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A wheel-guard for a car consisting essentially of long flexible fingers or
members arranged closely together and projecting from the car downwardly toward

page_text: the ground normally clearing the same and serving themselves essentially as the
guard, and ineans for forcibly jamming said members endwise against the ground
for preventing a person from passing under them.
2. A wheel-guard for a car comprising closely arranged sets of long flexible
fingers or blades extending obliquely downward with their lower ends normally
clearing the ground so that the impact of the prostrate person against them will
cause them to move into close yielding contact with the ground and receive the
person and prevent him from passing thereunder, said members serving themselves
essentially as the guard.
3. A wheel guard for a car comprising non-rigid or flexible members adapted
to be forced end wise into close but yielding contact with the ground thereby
conforming to inequalities of the same, and serving themselves essentially as the
guard means for holding said members normally out of contact with the ground,
and a trip-device extending normally in advance of said guard for actuating the
same when said device collides with a person.
4. The combination of a wheel-guard carried normally out of contact with
the ground and adapted to be forced into close contact therewith, a trip device
extending normally in advance thereof for actuating the same upon colliding with
a person, and means for elevating the trip-device at will and independently of the
action of the guard whereby the trip device may be caused to clear an obstacle on
the track.
5. A wheel-guard carried normally out of contact with the ground and adapted
to be forced into close contact therewith, springs tending to force the guard
against the ground, sliding locking mechanism for normally holding the guar:1
against the action of the springs and a swinging vertically-movable trip device
for actuating said locking mechanism.
6. The combination of a wheel-guard carried normally out of contact with the
ground and adapted to be forced into close contact therewith, and a trip device
swinging on a horizontal axis with its bearings or axle vertically movable and
extending normally in advance of the guard for actuating the same upon colliding
with a person, said device being constructed to move out of the way after colliding
with a person and actuating the guard.
7. The combination of a wheel-guard carried normally out of contact with the
ground but tending to move into contact therewith, sliding locking-mechanism for
normally holding said guard clear of the ground, a trip device swinging on a
horizontal axis with its bearings or axle vertically-movable and extending
normally in advance of the guard and controlling the movement of said locking-
mechanism.
8. The combination of a rigid back-plate placed beneath a car in advance of
the wheels and a wheel-guard mounted thereon and consisting of a broom-like
device having the head-piece thereof mounted in guides upon said back-plate,
springs tending normally to move the same downwardly so as to force the fingers
or flexible members of the broom into close but yielding contact with the ground
and means for normally holding the guard against the action of the springs.
9. A wheel-guard comprising in combination a broom-like device extending
transversely the car in front of the wheels thereof and adapted to be moved
downwardly so as to force the free ends of the fingers or members of the broom
into close but yielding contact with the ground, and a non-yielding back-plate for
preventing the fingers or members of the broom from being forced backwardly
beyond a prescribed limit.
10. The combination of a car and a telescoping screen comprising a curved
screen section moving in the arc of its curvature and another screen section
sliding upon the same.
11. The combination of a car, a curved telescoping screen mounted in front of
the dashboard and sliding in the arc of its curvature, a net arranged in said screen
with its upper and lower ends made fast therein and left free at its sides so as
to move independently thereof and having springs incorporated in the body of

page_text: .
the net for normally holding it taut but permitting it to sag under the weight of
a person.
12. The combination of a car, a telescoping screen mounted in front of the
dashboard and comprising a upper sliding-frame and a lower frame sliding thereon
and provided with a net, said upper frame being adapted to slide downwardly and
forwardly upon being released, and means for sliding said lower frame on the
upper one simultaneously with the sliding of said upper one whereby the projection
of the screen may be accelerated.
13. The combination of a car, a telescoping screen mounted in front of the
dashboard and comprising an upper sliding-frame and a lower-frame sliding thereon
and provided with a net, said frame adapted to slide downwardly and outwardly
upon being released, connections intermediate said upper and lower frames
whereby the lower one may be slid on the upper one while the latter itself is
moving.
14. The combination of a car, a telescoping screen mounted in front of the
dashboard and comprising an upper sliding frame and a lower frame sliding thereon
and provided with a net, said upper frame being adapted to slide downwardly and
outwardly upon being released, a rope, chain, or the like made fast to a point near
the upper end of the lower frame and to a suitable stationary point near the frame
and passing about a fixed point on said upper frame for sliding the lower frame
upon the upper when the latter is moving forwardly.
15. The combination of a car, and a screen placed forwardly of the dashboard
thereof for receiving a person thereon, said screen being provided with a loose net
having spiral springs incorporated in the body of the net for holding it taut and
permitting it to sag under the weight of any person.
16. The combination of a screen adapted to be projected forwardly, a pivoted
locking device for holding the screen in retracted position, a frame pivoted to
said locking device having a limited range of movement thereon, said frame
projected in advance of said locking-device and the screen when the latter is
retracted and acting as a trip-device.
17: The combination of a screen adapted to be projected forwardly, a pivoted
locking-device for holding the screen in retracted position and tending constantly
to swing into locking position, a frame pivoted to said locking-device having a
limited range of movement thereon, said frame being carried by said locking device
and projecting in advance of the same and the screen when the latter is retracted
and acting as a trip-device.
18. The combination of a screen adapted to be projected forwardly, a pivoted
locking device for holding the screen in retracted position and a frame pivoted to
said locking device and having a different pivotal axis from that of the said locking
device, said frame being carried by said locking device and having a limited range
of movement thereon and projecting normally in advance said device and said
screen when the latter is retracted and acting as a trip device.
'
19. The combination of a screen adapted to be projected forwardly, a pivoted
spring-actuated locking-device for holding the screen retracted and tending
normally to swing into locking position, a frame pivoted to said locking device
below the pivotal line of the same and having a limited range of movement thereon
and projecting normally in advance thereof and also in advance of the screen when
the latter is retracted.
20. The combination of a sliding-screen normally tending to shoot forwardly, a
roller mounted upon a moving part adapted to move simultaneously with said
screen, a pivoted locking-device provided with a blade for engaging the periphery
of said roller to hold the screen retracted, a trip-device extending normally in
advance of said locking-device and also of the screen when the latter is in retracted
position and controlling the movement of said locking-device.
21. The combination of a sliding screen normally tending to shoot forwardly and
a roller mounted upon a moving part adapted to move simultaneously with said
screen, a pivoted locking-device adapted to engage and lock said screen iu retracted

page_text: position and provided with a blade for engaging the periphery of said roller, and
a trip device controlling the movement of said locking device projecting
normally in advance thereof and also in advance of said screen when the latter-
is retracted.
22. The combination of a sliding screen adapted to be projected forwardly, a.
spring-actuated slide connected therewith and provided with a roller, a locking
device provided with a blade for engaging the periphery of said roller to hold the
screen retracted, and a trip-device controlling the movement of the locking device.
extending normally in advance thereof and in advance of said screen when
retracted.
23. The combination of a sliding screen comprising telescoping sections with.
connections intermediate said sections and a fixed adjacent point for moving one-
section on the other as the latter is itself moved, a pair of arms each pivoted at.
one end to a fixed point so that their free ends have a wide range of movement
and said free ends connected with said screen for moving it and means for
simultaneously moving the arms on their centers to project the screen.
24. The combination of the dashboard of a car, of a curved screen mounted in.
front thereof and adapted to be slid downwardly or forwardly in the are of its
curvature, and a shield consisting of a sheet of rubber placed forwardly of said
screen and covering the same when in retracted position but forming substantially
a continuation thereof when the screen is projected.
25. A car fender having a telescoping screen comprising a sliding screen section
with another screen section sliding upon it.
26. A telescoping screen comprising a sliding section having another sliding
section mounted upon it, means for projecting said screen forwardly when released,
a locking device engaging said means and normally holding it so as to keep the
screen retracted and also engaging the outermost section of the screen to hold it
retracted, and a trip-device for actuating said locking device.
27. The combination of a car, a vertically movable swinging guard adapted to.
be forced into close but yielding contact with the ground and consisting of a broom--
like device comprising a horizontal shaft or head having long flexible fingers or
members depending obliquely therefrom and serving themselves essentially as the
guard, a rigid piece or frame arranged back of said flexible fingers or members for
limiting the rearward movement thereof, springs for forcing said fingers or
members in contact with the ground and means for normally holding the same out
of contact with the ground.
28. The combination of a car, a vertically moving swinging-guard adapted to be
forced into close but yielding contact with the ground and consisting of a broom-
like device comprising a horizontal shaft or head having long flexible fingers or
members depending obliquely therefrom and serving themselves essentially as the
guard, a rigid piece or frame arranged back of said flexible fingers or members for
limiting the rearward movement thereof, springs for forcing said fingers or
members in contact with the ground and means for normally holding the same out.
of contact with the ground, a trip device extending normally in advance of said'
guard for actuating the same on colliding with a person, means for elevating the
trip-device at will and independently of the action of the guard whereby the trip-.
device may be caused to clear a small obstacle on the track.
29. The combination of a sliding screen, a pivoted locking device 38, for holding
the screen in retracted position, a frame 45 pivoted to said locking device having a
limited range of movement thereon and projecting in advance of the screen when
the latter is retracted and acting as a trip device.
30. The combination of a screen adapted to be projected forwardly, a slide
connected with and controlling the movements of said screen and provided with a
roller 43, a pivoted locking device 38, provided with a member or projection for
engaging the periphery of said roller 43 to hold the slide in normal position, and.
a trip-device 45 pivoted to said locking device and having a limited range of
movement thereon and projecting in advance of the screen.

page_text: 31. A wheel-guard carried normally out of contact with the ground and adapted
to be forced into close contact therewith, means for holding the guard in normal
position, and a trip device 63 swinging on a horizontal axis with its bearings or
axle vertically-movable and adapted to engage and actuate said locking means.
32. A wheel-guard carried normally out of contact with the ground and
adapted to be forced into close contact therewith, slides 59, 59, for normally
engaging said guard and holding it out of contact with the ground, and a trip-
device 63 swinging on a horizontal axis with its bearings or axle vertically-movable
for engaging and actuating said slide.
33. A wheel-guard comprising a member 50 provided with non-rotating long
flexible fingers or blades 51, projecting obliquely toward the ground, springs for
drawing the guard downwardly in close contact with the ground when released,
locking-mechanism for holding the guard against the action of the springs, and a
trip-device for actuating said locking-mechanism.
Dated this 30th day of July 1896.
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.