Improvements in Car Fenders.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Car Fenders.
I, FANNY EVELINE BEMELMANS, of 1518, Willington Street, Philadelphia, Penn-
sylvania, United States of America, 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 improvements in car fenders; the object thereof being
to supply an efficient device of this class adapted to be folded beneath the car
platform when it is not in use. The device is serviceable, light in weight and
inexpensive, and it is adaptable for attachment to any car of common construction.
The invention will be hereinafter fully described and specifically set forth in
the annexed claims.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is
a side elevation of my improved fender showing the same attached to the platform
of a car: Figure 2 is an inverted plan view and Figure 3 is a front elevation.
In the practice of my invention, I employ a lattice-work structure A, con-
structed upon the lazy-tong principle, and comprising a series of cross bars a,
pivotally connected to each other by rivets a¹. These said bars are composed of
metal, and they are of a thickness sufficient to insure durability, while at the
same time they are slightly resillient in order to withstand the strain of an im-
pact without danger of injury to the general structure.
The lattice-work is pivotally connected at its central rear section to a hanger B,
which depends from the car platform, and it rests upon longitudinal parallel
rods C, which slide within boxes d, of hangers D, depending from the car plat-
form, and preferably secured to the longitudinal beams 1, forming part of the car.
Connected to the outer ends of these said rods, is a transverse plate E, which
has a flexible cushion e upon the outer face thereof. This said plate is also
secured to the central forward sections of the lattice-work by means of a rear-
wardly projected lug or plate el. As a means for locking the lattice-work in its
forward or extended position, pins d', are provided. Thèse pins are connected to
chains, depending from the hangers D), and they engage apertures leading
through the boxes d, and the rods C, thus permitting the said rods to be securely
locked in position within the said boxes, as illustrated clearly by Figure 1 of the
drawings.
The invention further consists of a folding gate F, comprising a lattice-work
similar to the body of the fender, and composed of cross bars f connected to each
other by means of rivets f. One end of this said lattice-work engages a post G,
which depends from one side of the car platform, one end bar of the lattice-work
being pivoted to a rigid projection on the bottom of the post G, the other end bar
engaging a sliding collar adapted to move vertically upon said post, whereby the
whole gate can be folded against the post when the fender is not in use.
The end of the gate opposite to the post G, has a hook f, pivoted thereto, and
this said hook engages an eye f³, depending from the car platform for the purpose
of locking the gate in its open position as shown in the drawings.

page_text: This said gate acts as a means for preventing a body from being carried beneath
the car wheels, after it is picked up by the fender. The operation of this fender
is similar to that of any other fender, with the exception that when it is not in
use the fender is folded beneath the car, and in order to so fold the same, it is
simply necessary to remove the pins d', and fold up the lattice-work by pushing
upon the same in a rearward direction.
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 car fender comprising a lattice-work body constructed upon the lazy-tong
principle and adapted to be folded beneath the car, and means for hanging the
fender to a car, substantially as shown and described.
2. A car fender comprising a lattice-work body composed of a series of cross
bars pivotally connected to each other upon the lazy-tong principle, and sliding
rods carrying the said lattice-work, the said rods engaging boxes which depend
from the car platform, and means for locking the rods in extended position within
the said boxes, and a buffer located across the front of the lattice-work body of
the fender, substantially as shown and described.
3. In a car fender, the combination of a trestle-work body extended horizon-
tally beneath the car, the said body comprising a series of bars connected to each
other upon the lazy-tong principle, and depending supports for the said fender,
said supports comprising hangers and sliding rods, and a folding gate extended
transversely across the car to the rear of the said lattice-work body, the said gate
comprising a series of bars connected to each other upon the lazy-tong principle,
and means for hanging the gate and for locking the same in the extended or oper-
ative position, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 6th day of June 1899
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.