IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAVELLING POST OFFICES AND TENDERS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AND RECEIVING MAIL BAGS AND PARCELS
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Woodroffe at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
January 1868.
I, CHARLES WOODROFFE, of Hill Street, Rugby, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAVELLING POST
OFFICES AND TENDERS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AND RECEIVING MAIL
BAGS AND PARCELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in travelling post
offices and tenders, and in apparatus for delivering and receiving mail
bags and parcels.
In order to deliver a bag from a railway carriage in motion I arrange
within the carriage and close to the side thereof a rotating post or
vertical axis, to which near the bottom an arm is jointed in such
manner that it can be turned down so as to stand out radially from
the post or axis, or be turned up so as to lie close in against the post
or axis and parallel to it. At the end of the arm a blade is jointed and
is fitted with a spring acting upon it as the spring of a pocket knife
acts on the blade. The bag to be delivered has connected with it a
metal stem with a suitable head, and this stem is shut in between the

page_text: arm and its spring blade. This being done within the carriage a trap
in the side is opened and the post or axis is turned half round, which
causes the arm to project out from the side of the carriage with the bag
suspended from it. When the bag enters the receiving net arranged
on the line of railway the shock opens the spring blade out from the
arm and the bag is released. There is a cord connected with the arm
which passes over a pulley let into the post or axis, then up and over"
a pulley at the top of the carriage, whence it descends and receives
a counterpoise weight; this weight as soon as the bag is released draws
the arm up so that it may not be liable to strike the piers of bridges
or other obstructions. If the receiving net should not be prepared
to take the bag from the arm the arm may be raised and turned
into the carriage by pulling on the counterpoise cord and turning
the post or axis by means of a handle upon it, all which may be done
from within the carriage, whereas as such apparatus has been heretofore
constructed the taking a bag in from the delivery arm requires the
attendant to go out on to the step of the carriage, and is a service of
some danger.
In order to receive a bag from a delivery arm at the side of the line
I employ a net arranged somewhat as heretofore with a frame turning
down on horizontal axes, so as to project from the side of the carriage.
To raise and lower this frame I, according to my Invention, mount a
handle on one of the axes, so as to project within the carriage; I also
on the outside of the carriage arrange a roller shutter to draw down
over the net, so as to protect it from the weather when not in use, and
also to close the side of the carriage.
In order to warn the attendant in the railway post office when to
prepare to deliver or receive a bag I arrange a weighted lever on the
carriage, which when moved actuates the striker of a bell or gong, and
on the railway at the place required to give notice I arrange another
weighted lever in the path of the lever on the carriage; when these
levers strike together the bell or gong is sounded, both levers being
able to yield, and not being very heavy the blow of the levers the one
on the other need not be severe. Together with the striker of the bell
or gong I cause the motion to be given to a pawl or driver which at
each action moves a ratchet wheel a step forward, so as to register the
number and if desired to indicate the names of the delivering and
receiving stations which are passed, so that the attendant may always

page_text: know the position of the train, which otherwise is sometimes à matter
of difficulty.
The travelling post office may be connected with its tender by a
gangway enclosed by a flexible and wind tight material.
Ventilating pipes or channels are provided in the roof of the post
office carriage to carry off the heated air from the numerous lamps
which in these carriages are requisite.