Improvements in or Connected with Railway Trucks or the like for Supporting Tarpaulins.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1886
Complete Left, 13th Sept., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 14th Oct., 1887.
TROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with Railway Trucks or the like
for Supporting Tarpaulins.
I, JOHN LITTLE of Paternoster Row, and Castle Street, Carlisle, Wine and Spirit
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a convenient support for the tarpaulins
employed to cover open topped railway and other similar vehicles; at present the
tarpaulins are generally thrown over the trucks and if these be not fully loaded or if
the sides are higher than the centres depressions are formed in the waterproof cover
which in wet weather fill with water. By the present invention this is avoided.
A convenient means of carrying out this invention consists in two upright posts
preferably of iron fitting in sockets one at each end of the wagon; the posts have
hooks shoulders of equivalent means for supporting a chain rope wire-tubing or
equivalent which extends longitudinally across the wagon its ends being held by the
posts. The tarpaulin is thrown over this chain and is thus held high in the middle so
that the water drains off to the sides. The chain and posts can be removed when not
required, and will fit any length of Wagon.
Dated this Eleventh day of December 1886.

page_text: Tor Supporting Tarpaulins.
I, JOHN LITTLE of Paternoster Row, and Castle Street Carlisle, Wine and Spirit
Merchant, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide a convenient support for the tarpaulins
employed to cover open topped railway and other similar vehicles; at present the
tarpaulins are generally thrown over the trucks and if these be not fully loaded or if
the sides are higher than the centres depressions are formed in the waterproof cover
which in wet weather fill with water. By the present invention this is avoided.
A convenient means of carrying out this invention consists in two upright posts
preferably of iron fitting in sockets one at each end of the wagon; the posts have
hooks, shoulders or equivalent means for supporting a chain, rope, wire-tubing or
equivalent which extends longitudinally across the wagon its ends being held by the
posts. The tarpaulin is thrown over the chain and is thus held high in the middle so
that the water drains off to the sides. The chain and posts can be removed when not
required and will fit any length of wagon.
In the accompanying drawings:
:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation one half in section, of a wagon fitted with one form of
this apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan, Fig. 3, 4 and 5 details of the supporting hook and
socket, and Fig. 6 an end view of a wagon showing the hook and socket in place.
A is the supporting post or hook of any required form which is placed in the
socket B, figures 3 and 4, with the hook portion A', facing the interior of the truck.
One of these supports A is provided at each end of the truck the chain C hooked on
at each end and the tarpaulin D thrown over the wagon the chain C raising the centre
and preventing the lodgement of water upon the tarpaulin; this is clearly shown in
figures 1 and 2.
When not required for use the posts A are removed from the sockets and with the
chain can be promptly replaced when wanted.
These drawings represent the manner of attaching a chain as I consider that to be
much the handiest form of the support; nevertheless as stated above I do not bind
myself to use the chain only.

page_text: 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. As a means of supporting a tarpaulin on railway wagons the combination with
the wagon of two posts or standards such as A so secured to the wagon ends as to be
readily removable and supporting the ends of a chain pole or equivalent over which the
tarpaulin is thrown the whole constructed and operating substantially in the manner
and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. A tarpaulin support for railway wagons consisting of two movable posts and
connecting chain pole or equivalent substantially as described.
Dated this Ninth day of September 1887.