AN APPARATUS OR MODE FOR COVERING TRUCKS AND WAGGONS ON. RAILWAYS, ROAD WAGGONS, AND CANAL BOATS, SO AS EFPECTUALLY TO PROTECT GOODS IN THE COURSE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT PROM THEFT OR DAMAGE, AND AT THE SAME TIME TO ALLOW OF SUCH TRUCKS AND WAGGONS BEING LOADED AND UNLOADED WITH EQUAL FACILITY
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROLAND
BROTHERHOOD, of Chippenham, in the County of Wilts, Railway Contractor,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Eighteenth day of July, in the
thirteenth year of Her reign, did give and grant unto me, the said Roland
Brotherhood, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial license, full power,
sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Roland Brotherhood, 'my exors,
admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Roland' Brotherhood, my
exors, adñiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter, during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might 'make, 'use, exercise,' and vend, within
that part
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England,
Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"AN APPARATUS OR MODE FOR COVERING TRUCKS AND WAGGONS ON. RAILWAYS,
ROAD WAGGONS, AND CANAL BOATS, SO AS EFPECTUALLY TO PROTECT GOODS IN THE
COURSE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT PROM THEFT OR DAMAGE, AND AT THE SAME TIME TO
ALLOW OF SUCH TRUCKS AND WAGGONS BEING LOADED AND UNLOADED WITH EQUAL
FACILITY;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso requiring that
I, the said Roland Brotherhood, shall particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
זי

page_text: by an instrument under my hand and seal, to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as, reference being thereunto
had; will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Rowland Brotherhood, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement and the Drawings here-
unto annexed:-
My Invention relates to a mode for covering trucks and waggons on rail-
ways, road waggons, and canal boats, so as effectually to protect goods in the
course of public transit from theft or damage, and at the same time to allow of
such trucks and waggons being loaded and unloaded with greater facility, and
consists of a covering or tilt upon longitudinal bearers, in combination with
radius rods moving about a common point in such manner as that the
covering or tilt may be removed wholly from either side of the truck, waggon,
or boat to the other side when the truck, waggon, or boat is required to be
uncovered, and fastened at each side, when the truck, waggon, or boat is
required to be covered. The radius rods are made of iron, and are either all con-
nected and fitted together at one end with what I term a compound joint, and
fitted together as for the whole to work on one centre or pin affixed to the end
of the waggon or truck, or to a cross bar or beam, as may be required, and as
hereafter described and shewn in Figure 2; or, instead of all the radius rods
being fitted together at a common point by the one joint on which the whole
may move, the joint end of the centre or any other of the radius rods may be
made with a branch joint on one or both sides; close to the centre or pin on
which the whole is made to work. Any outside rods may be made to work on
such branch joint while the other part of the apparatus remains at rest, and
yet so that the whole coving may be worked on the common centre point or
pin, as shewn in Figure 5*. The length and shape of these rods are made to
.suit the width and shape of the waggon, truck, or boat which may be required
to be covered, and may be either straight or curved, as shewn in Figures 4
and 4. The other end of these radius rods are made with a double strap or
forked end, curved more or less as may be required to suit the required form
of the covering, as shewn in the same Figures. This double strap or fork end
is made to receive the ends of the longitudinal bearers. The longitudinal
-bearers may be of wood or iron, and fastened into the fork of the radius rods
by means of two or more screw bolts at each end passing through the straps
or fork end of the radius rods and the longitudinal bearers, as shewn in the

page_text: Drawings, Figures 4 and 4*, so that they can be taken apart and disengaged
from each other when necessary. The covering, made of cloth, canvas, or
other flexible material, is fastened to the longitudinal bearers by means of
small flaps or other pieces of cloth or canvas sewn on to the under side of the
covering or tilt; and which flaps or pieces of cloth or canvas are laced, sewn
round, or secured in any suitable manner on to the said longitudinal bearers,
and as shewn by the dotted lines in Figure No. 1, at as many places as may be
necessary, according to the length of the bearer of the waggon or truck required
to be covered. The covering can be made to cover the radius rods to any
depth necessary, according as the shape or end of the waggon or truck may
require, and is fastened by a pin to each radius rod accordingly. This pin is
screwed into the radius rod, and passes through the covering with a copper or
leather washer by which means the covering is held tightly. The covering
has a rod at the end of it on cach side, set in a loop or seam lengthwise. This
rod is made of deal, lancewood, whalebone, or other material, for the better
securing or fastening down the sides of the covering to the waggon or truck
by means of ropes, straps, and locks, and also for the more easily covering and
uncovering the waggon or truck. The ropes are fastened on to such rod and also
to the lower longitudinal bearer on each side under the covering, and when
the waggon or truck is covered the remainder of the rope is coiled or twisted
round irons for the purpose fixed on to the sides of the waggon or truck. The
straps are affixed to each of the four corners of the covering or tilt, and
fastened on to the end of the waggon or truck. The locks are fastened partly
on to the edge of the covering or tilt and partly on to the side of the waggon
or truck. When the waggon or truck is required to be uncovered, the ropes
on that side of the waggon or truck are uncoiled and the straps. loosened,
and the lower longitudinal bearer lightly lifted up, when the whole appa-
ratus will move easily back from the side which is unfastened and lifted up,
and the radius rods at each end with the longitudinal bearers will carry
the covering or tilt over to the opposite side of the waggon, and lay it folded
along there, and thus the whole surface of the waggon or truck will be laid
open and rendered accessible by a crane, or in any way that may be necessary
for the convenience of loading and unloading. When the waggon or truck is
uncovered the ropes, as shewn coiled on the side of the waggon or truck,- will
be run out over the end of the said waggon or truck, and when it is required
to be covered again the cords are drawn back, which will open the radius rods
and bring the longitudinal bearers, with the whole apparatus, back again,
spread over the waggon or truck as before. By this arrangement the waggon
or truck may be uncovered and covered with great convenience and expedition.

page_text: •
The lower parts or sides of the covering or tilt may also be turned back and
fastened up, by means of two or more buttons or loops, for convenience of
carrying sheep or other live stock requiring air and shelter. The waggon or
truck can also be partially opened to any extent necessary for the convenience
of loading and unloading in wet weather, and thus keep the waggon or truck
and the goods protected and dry. This is done by loosing the cords and
lifting up the side longitudinal bearer, with the covering or tilt, to whatever
opening may be required for the loading and unloading of the same.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews a waggon or truck with the covering or tilt spread over or
covered and fastened with the side locks and ropes. a, a, a, shews the locks.;
b, b, the two ropes by which the apparatus is worked. c, c, shews the ropes
coiled up on the irons at the sides of waggon or truck. d, d, d, d, the dotted
lines shewing the flaps or pieces of cloth or canvas by which the covering is
fastened on to the longitudinal bearers.
Figure 2 shews an end elevation of the waggon or truck, with seven radius
rods a, a, a, a, a, a, a, set together in the compound joint on one centre or
pin b, on which they all work. Figure 2 shews an end elevation of the waggon
with seven radius rods, with a branch joint on each side of the centre rod a, on
which the three radius rods a, a, a, and a, a, a, on each side of it, may work
independent of the centre pin. At the other end of the radius rods in both
instances the covering or tilt is brought over down the end of the waggon or
truck, and fastened with seven screw pins and washers c, c, c, c, c, c, c, by
which the covering or tilt is fastened on to the radius rods. d, d, are straps
and buckles or other means of fastening by which the corners of the covering
are fastened down to the end of the waggon or truck.
Figure 3 shews the waggon or truck uncovered, with the longitudinal
bearers laying alongside, and the covering or tilt folded along the side of the
waggon or truck. a, a, shews the ropes as they are run out over the end of
the waggon or truck from the opposite side..
Figures 4 and 4* shew a longitudinal section of the centre longitudinal
bearers and two radius rods. a, a, shews. the end joint of radius rods on the
centres or pins, as the rods may be either straight or curved. b, b, shews the
strap or forked ends of the said rods into which the longitudinal bearer d is
fixed and fastened by the screw bolts c, c, c, c. These straps are about thirteen
inches long, one and three quarters wide, tapering off to about one and a
quarter of an inch at the end, and about three sixteenths of an inch thick.
Figure 10 shews a transverse section of the longitudinal bearers a, and, in

page_text: connexion with Figures 4 and 4", will give a description of the same both
ways. The upright piece Figure 10 is about three and a quarter inches by
seven eighths in the middle, tapering off to two and a half inches by seven
eighths at the ends, where it is fixed in the forked end of the radius rods.
The top piece is about two and three quarter inches by three quarters in the
middle, and tapers off to about two and a half inches by three quarters at the
ends where the straps. or fork is fastened into it. The other longitudinal
bearers on each side I make of the same form and section, only a little lighter,
as the middle one has the greater part of the weight to carry. The ends I fill
or pack up on each side of the fork or straps of the radius rods to form a
broader surface of about three inches wide to carry the covering or tilt.
Figure 5 shews a plan of the compound joint fitted and put together on one
centre or pin on which it works. Figure 5 shews a plan of the compound
joint fitted and put together on one centre or pin on which the whole covering
may work, and also a branch joint fixed on each side of the centre radius rod
on which the three radius rods on each side can work independently of the
centre if required.
Figures 6 and 7 shew the ends of the radius rods with male and female joints.
Figure 8 is a section, of half full size, of the compound joint, fitted together
as it works on one centre or pin a, with the two nuts c, c, one at each end, one
to fasten it to the end of the waggon or truck, the other to keep the radius
rods right together at the joint. b, b, b, b, b, b, b, shews the compound joint of
male and female as they work on the centre or pin and into and round
cach other.
Figure 8 shows a sectional plan of the centre pin, with the branch joint and
three radius rods on each side, as shewn in Figures 2 and 5º.
Figure 9 shews the end view of the waggon or truck when open, with the
radius rods closed on one side.
Figure 11 shews a transverse section of the covering or tilt when closed,
and a section of the longitudinal bearers c, c, c, c, c, c, c. d, d, shews the two
rods set in the loops at the edge of the covering. e, e, are two pieces of timber
or battens fixed to the truck to which the covering is fastened.
In applying the above mode of covering to canal or other boats which are of
too great length to have one entire covering, the boat is to be divided into
convenient lengths, of, say, fifteen feet, and cross bars or uprights being fixed
in any suitable manner to carry the radius or radial bars to which the longi-
tudinal bearers and other covering are to be connected, as already described.
Having thus described the nature of this my Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim as

page_text: of my Invention or the exclusive use of the several details or particular parts
herein-before described and referred to, except when the same are used for the
purposes of my Invention, as herein-before described. And I hereby declare
that I claim as my Invention the covering waggons, trucks, and boats by a
covering supported on longitudinal bearers in combination with radial bars
moving about a centre, with or without branch joints, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Rowland Brotherhood, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty.