Improvements in or relating to Railway Carriages, Cabins of
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 15th July, 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM JACKSON BRASHEARS, of Washington,
District of Columbia, United States of America, Car Builder.]
Improvements in or relating to Railway Carriages, Cabins of
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E. 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 railway, passenger cars, steam boats and steam ships and
has for its object to especially adapt them for long runs by reason of the fact that they
can be readily converted from a day or parlor coach saloon or dining room into a
sleeper or cabin and their construction is such that when used by day they are
complete in every respect for such purposes, no signs of sleeping arrangements being
visible, and when in use for sleeping purposes they are provided with all the
appliances of a perfect sleeper.
One of the most prominent advantages of this invention is the ease with which the
conversion from one form to the other may be effected.
This invention consists particularly in providing berth and berth supports, mounted
on rods or ways extending longitudinally of the compartment whereby they may be
slid on said ways to the ends and with receptacles located at the ends of the compart-
ments in which to stow the berths and berth supports; and generally in the improved
construction arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and
afterwards specifically pointed out in the claims.

page_text: In the drawings
Fig. 1 is a section taken longitudinally through the centre of the parlor section or
compartments of a car provided with these improved berths and berth supporters
showing six sections of berths made up, the three sections on the left of the figure
having both the upper and lower berths, and berth supports extending to the bottom
of the car, thus illustrating the manner in which these improvements are applied to a
parlor car provided with the well known parlor seats or chairs and the three sections
on the right having short berth supports mounted on ways and carrying only tho
upper berths thus illustrating the manner in which these improvements are applied to
a car constructed with rigid seats as in the ordinary and well known sleeping cars in
the Pullman style, the berth supports in this instance resting when the berths are in
position for use on the tops of the backs of such rigid seats and the lower berths being
made up of the backs and seats in the usual manner.
Fig. 2 is a similar longitudinal section through the parlor compartment the berths
being in their stowed away positions at the ends of the car the whole compartment
being provided with chairs and full length berth supports with upper and lower berths
as on the left hand side of figure 1 and the outside of the lockers in which the borth
supports are stowed away being omitted to show the position of the stowed berths.
Fig. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale of a full size berth support section made up
ready for occupancy the berths being in place and the chairs omitted.
Fig. 4 is a similar view of a section having' rigid scats such as are shown on the
right of figure 1 the parts being drawn on an enlarged scale.
Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section through one side of a car showing in elevation the
outer berth support of one of the series of sections furnished with a mirror, showing
the ways or rods and the manner of fastening the bottom of the berth supports to the
floor when the car is made up as a sleeper.
Fig. 6 is a view showing one of these sections the berth supports being in section
and partly separated to show the manner of folding the berths and ways and rods and
the supporting brackets and rollers in elevation.
Fig. 7 is an interior elevation of six berth supports folded together, the supports
being such as shown in figure 1 on the left for carrying upper and lower berths.
Fig. 8 is a similar view of six berth supports such as shown on the right of figure I
for carrying an upper berth only.
Fig. 9 is a detail view showing a modified form of fastening the berth supports in
position.
Fig. 10 is a view in front elevation of a portion of two berth uprights showing them
partially open and illustrating the spring catches for holding them together.
Fig. 11 is a central sectional view through figure 10 showing the same parts the
berth uprights being closed together.
Fig. 12 is a sectional view of part of one of the rear berth supports showing the
catch for fastening it to the pilaster of the car part of the pilaster being also shown.
Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view showing the plate in the pilaster with which the catch
shown in fig. 12 engages.
Fig. 14 is a vertical central sectional view showing the bracket and double rollers
for engaging the inner guide rail showing said rail also in section.
Fig. 15 is a sectional view on a plane at right angles to that on which fig. 14 is
taken showing the means for clamping the two rollers tightly on the guide rail.
Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section through a state room of a steam boat or steamship
showing one section of these improved berth arrangements applied therein the berths
being in position for use and
Fig. 17 is a similar view showing the berths closed.
Like letters of reference mark the same parts wherever they occur in the several
figures.
In illustrating this invention I have considered it unnecessary to show any more
than the parlor compartment inasmuch as a car having these improvements may he
provided with the usual styles of toilet and smoking rooms and buffet and those parts
may be altered at will without affecting this invention.

page_text: Referring to this invention by letters :
A marks the floor of the car, B B the end partitions of the parlor compartment,
C the roof of the car, D the roof of the ventilator, shown as composed of ventilating
blinds e and windows e¹, F marks the side of the car having pilasters F¹ ornamented
or filled in with mirrors between which are located windows f. G is the box which
usually covers the heating pipes and in which are located the series of registers g for
the admission of hot air into the car.
H on the right hand side of figure 1 and in figure 4 mark seat frames having the
ordinarily constructed seats, backs &c. whereby may be formed the lower berths as
shown.
I in figures 1 and 2 show parlor chairs which are swelled on the pedestals I¹ said
pedestals being inserted in sockets i, secured in the floor A and provided with racks i
into which suitable pawls (not shown) engage whereby said seats may be raised and
lowered at will and secured in any desired positions. The backs of these chairs are
pivotted so that they can be folded flat down on the seats.
J figures 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11 mark the berth supports of which there are two
to each section. The berth K and K (the former being the upper and the latter the
lower berths) are pivotted or hinged to these supports by pivots or hinges k and are
pivotted centrally as at k k forming each into two parts
and
These berth supports are vertical and are provided, with brackets L (shown on
enlarged scale in figures 14 and 15) which carry grooved rollers M, M' which rollers
embrace a guide rod N secured or suspended from the roof of the car at or about the
point where the sides of the elevated ventilator walls join said roof by means of suitable
brackets.
The berth supports are supplied at their rear upper ends with similar grooved
rolls 00 for similarly clasping a guide rod P suitably supported at or about the point
of juncture of the side wall and the roof of the car. A single grooved roll Q is secured
or mounted at the rear lower end of each berth support to engage a guide rail Q on
the truss board or top of the heater box and each berth support may be provided with
a grooved roller R to engage a rail R¹ secured to the floor of the car.
The main portion of the berth supports does not extend to the floor (see figure 5)
and as a consequence when the roller R and rail R¹ are used the front of the support
must be carried down to the floor and is braced by a suitable bracket as at R" in said
figure. Instead of extending the front down a short piece may be hinged to it long
enough to reach the floor to be used merely as a part to engage a fastening by which
to secure it in place. In the construction viz. where the front extends to the floor
and the roller R is used a spring catch figure 5 is used which when not in uso
is let into the floor but when in use engages by means of its perforation the
projecting end of the pintle of the roller R. When the hinged piece is used
a catch as shown in figure 9 is preferred in which a pin engages a perforation in
said hinged piece.
:
I have shown the parlor compartment as of a size to accomodate six sections on
each side of the car consequently I show in figure 2 six berths supports at each end.
These are in their folded or stowed away condition as when the car is in use
as a day car and are in a small locker at each end of the parlor compartment the
front of said locker being removed to show the berth supports.
When the berths are made up the sections are pulled out as in figure 1 and
in order to prevent them from being pulled too far the last support of the end
sections is connected to the partition by pivotted links S of which there may be
as many as necessary three being shown on the left of figure 1 their pivots s being
connected by a rod s¹ to cause them to move in unison.
When the berths are stowed they are held in position by spring catches the end
support being secured to the partition in the back of the locker and each support being
jointed to its neighbour by one or more of such catches. A catch for this purpose is
shown in detail in figures 10 and 11 in which a plate T is sunk into one of the supports
| carrying a latch T¹ pivotted at t and held in its inactive or flush position by means of

page_text: a spring which also causes it when two supports are brought together to
automatically engage a tooth in a groove in a plate T sunk in the adjoining
support. The action of this catch will be apparent at a glance.
To release it it is
only necessary to raise the hook by pressing upon the rear end back of the pivot.
To hold the supports in their outer positions (when the car is made up as a sleeper,
are provided, in addition to the latches for holding to the floor, latches such as shown
in detail in figures 12 and 13. In these U is a plate sunk in the pilaster of the car
above or below the mirror or both having a tooth u to engage a hook u pivotted in a
metallic plate U¹ sunk or mortised into the rear edge of the berth support operated
from the front in substantially the same manner as the catches to hold the adjoining
supports together.
When an upper and a lower berth are used as in the left of figuro 1 and in figure 2
it is necessary or at least very desirable that both berths shall move in unison in folding
and unfolding. A rod as clearly shown in figures 3 and 6 is therefore provided to
connect the central hinges of the berths K and K. When the double berth supports
are used, & in fact, when the single berth supports are used a person having a whole
section may desire only the lower berth. In such case the upper berths are provided
with movable pivots for their central hinges so that said upper berths may be folded
into the berth supports and the lower berth allowed to remain extended for use.
Each portion K and K is provided with any desirable form of hook or catch to
secure it in such folded condition.
In most of the figures I have shown the rollers as simply pivotted in the bracket
without any provision for adjustment towards each other or means for clamping the
guide rod by bringing them forcibly together but in figure 14 is shown the bracket
with an overlang L' at the top in which the top roll Mis pivotted on a bolt m secured
by a nut m'.
Projecting from the lower part of the bracket is an arm V in which is vertically
pivotted a stem V1 carrying on its top a fork V" in which is pivotted or journalled
the lower roll M upon a pin or bolt m¹. A spring Vrests in a pocket v, in the arm
V, encircling the stem V₁, and bearing upward against the fork V", whereby the
lower roll carried by said fork is normally held in its upper position in spring contact
with the guide rod N. The arm V is slotted horizontally (see figure 15) to receive a
wedge which also passes through a slot v¹, in the stem V₁, so that when the
wedge is pushed in, the stem is forced up carrying the fork and roll with it, and
securely clamping the guide rod N, between the rollers M, and M', and holding the
bracket L, and the berth support to which it is attached firmly in any position.
When desired, slight downward bends may be made in the guide rods and rails to
receive the rolls when the berth supports are in the position in which they are to be
rigidly secured such bends serving to stop the rollers, but allowing them to be pushed
over them when desired.
Ordinarily, in using the bends, one of them would be made at each point where a
berth support is to be stopped whether the berths be open as in figure 1 or stowed away
(as in figure 2) in the lockers.
As before stated on the right hand of figure 1 and in figure 4 is shown how the
main feature of this invention may be applied to cars provided with rigid seats frames
and seats and backs which may be adjusted to form the lower berths as in cars now in
uso. In this instance the berth supports are one of a length to reach from the top of
the car and when in position as shown rest upon and are secured to the top of said
frames by spring catches of any desired construction and are secured to the pilasters
and guide rod in the same manner as are the full length berth supports. When
stowed away they occupy the upper half of each locker in the position shown in
Figure 8 the lower half being utilized for other purposes.
Ware rods upon which to hang the curtains usually used in sleeping cars and are
sufficiently rigid to serve as auxiliary means for stiffening the whole structure when
the berths are made up the sides of the berths and the links S serving the
the same purpose making the structure very firm and stiff.

page_text: The parlor chairs I are as before stated pivoted or swivelled on their pedestals so
that they may he revolved at will thereon the pedestals remaining stationary said
pedestals being cylindrical in section or otherwise and fitted in sockets set into the
floor of the car and correspondingly shaped.
These pedestals are adapted to be raised and lowered in said sockets and may be
held at any desired height by means of a pawl engaging a ratchet or rack on one side
of each pedestal so that they may be adjusted in height to suit the persons occupying
them or let down until the seats rest on the floor as shown in figure 1 in which position
the backs are folded down on the seats so that the lowered and folded chair will offer
no impediments to the sliding of the berth supports and will remain under the lower
berths when they are made up as shown in Figure 1.
-
The operation of this invention may be briefly described as follows viz.
Supposing the car to be in the position shown in Figure 2 as a parlor car and it
being desired to convert it into a sleeping car the porter will proceed to fold down
the seats of three sections dropping them to the floor. He now releases the catches
which hold the berth supports in the locker and draws out three sections-six
supports which will extend to the centre of the compartment and secure them in
such position (as shown in figure 1).
As they are drawn out the berths automatically unfold. This is repeated for each
series of three sections and all the berths will be in position in a very short length of
time.
The modus operandi with the short upper berth is substantially the same.
To change again to a parlor car the operation is simply reversed it being necessary
in doing so to start each berth to folding in the beginning.
The outer berth of each series is finished with a mirror as seen in Figure 5 so that
when the berths are stowed away as in Figure 2 there will be a mirror in each corner
of the parlor compartment.
This invention may also be applied with good effect in the smoking room or the
buffet usually provided in sleeping cars by putting up berths in such compartments.
It will also be of incalculable value in converting steam boat dining rooms into
sleeping cabins or saloons thus doing away with the necessity of placing the dining
room below deck as is now often done.
Another important use to which this invention may be applied is in furnishing the
state rooms of steamboats. Of a necessity such apartments are small and if one of
these improved berth sections were set up therein it could be readily stowed in one
end of the state room during the day and drawn out at a moment's notice for use
during the night. In such instances one of the berth supports would be fixed at one
end of the state room (or the end wall of the room could be made to act as one of the
berth supports) and the berths hinged to it and its fellows the proper rods being put
up and proper catches being used for the purpose of securing the supports in either
the open or closed position."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the same is
to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A compartment provided with upright bed supports in combination with
horizontal ways upon which said supports slide longitudinally of the compartment as
set forth.
2. A compartment provided with a horizontal longitudinal rail and upright berth
supports having devices to engage with and slide on said rail for the purpose set
forth.
3. In combination with a pair of upright parallel berth supports a berth or berths
made in two parts hinged centrally together and each part hinged to one of said berth
supports and horizontal ways longitudinally placed upon which said berth supports
slide toward and from each other as set forth.
4. In combination two parallel upright berth supports brackets secured thereto

page_text: carrying rollers a horizontal guide rod with which said rollers engage and a berth
or berths made in two parts hinged centrally together and to the two berth supports
as set forth.
5. A sleeping car compartment provided with longitudinal horizontal guide rods
and with a series of parallel vertical berth supports which slide horizontally upon said
guide rods as set forth.
6. A sleeping compartment, having berth supports carrying rollers and longitudinal
guide rods upon which said rollers engage to permit the longitudinal sliding of the
berth supports as set forth.
7. A sleeping compartment having vertical parallel longitudinally sliding berth
supports and lockers wherein they may be stowed away as set forth.
8. A sleeping compartment having longitudinally sliding berth supports carrying
folding berths and lockers in the ends of the car wherein said supports and berths may
be stowed as set forth.
9. A sleeping compartment having berth supports lockers in the end of the car
wherein said berth supports may be stowed and longitudinal guide rods extending
from end to end of the car into said lockers whereby said berth supports may slide
into and out of said lockers as set forth.
10. A sleeping car having two series of parallel vertical berth supports on each
side two lockers, one at each end of said side, and guide ways and rollers whereby one
series or half the berths on said side may slide into and be stowed away in each of
said lockers as set forth.
11. A sleeping car having two series of berth supports on each side thereof two
lockers on each side and guide rods located horizontally and longitudinally on each
side whereby one series and half the berths and supports on each side may slide into
one of said four lockers as set forth.
12. A sleeping compartment having vertical parallel berth supports two adjacent
ones of each of which carry the borths of one section provided with two berths an
upper and lower one the former having a central loose hinge whereby the two parts
may separate and be folded into the supports while apart
as set forth.
13. The combination with a berth support and a horizontal longitudinal guide rod
of a bracket attached to the berth supports and carrying two grooved rollers which
embrace and move on said guide rod as set forth.
14. In combination, a horizontal guide rod a berth support a bracket attached
thereto and two grooved rolls to embrace the guide rod and bear thereon with a
spring pressure as set forth.
15. In combination a horizontal longitudinal guide rod a berth support a bracket
secured thereto and two grooved rollers carried by said bracket one of which is
adjustable toward and from the guide rod and has a securing device substantially as
described.
16. In combination a horizontal guide rod a berth support a bracket secured thereto
and upper grooved roll pivoted or journalled in said bracket and a lower grooved roll
journaled in a spring pressed bearing mounted in an arm of said bracket as sot forth.
17. In combination two berth supports an upper and lower berth each composed of
two parts centrally hinged together and hinged to said berth supports and a rod con-
necting the two berths to cause them to fold simultaneously as set forth.
18. In combination parallel vertical borth supports carrying grooved rollers and
longitudinal horizontal guide rods above and below said berth supports with which
rods said rollers engage whereby the said supports may slide longitudinally of the car
as set forth.
19. In combination longitudinal guide rods N and P berth supports J brackets
secured thereto and double grooved rollers which clasp and roll on said rods as set forth.
20. In combination longitudinal rods N P and Q¹and berth supports J having
rollers to engage and move on said rods as set forth.
21. In combination longitudinal rods NP Q' and R' above and below and berth
.supports J carrying rollers to engage and move on said rods as set forth.

page_text: 22. In combination horizontal longitudinal guide rods vertical parallel berth
supports having rollers which engage and move on said rods and catches on said berth
supports which engage with fastenings in the sides of the car for securing said berth
supports in position as set forth.
23. In combination horizontal longitudinal guide rods vertical parallel berth
supports carrying rollers which engage and move on said rods and spring catches
whereby said berth supports may be secured together as set forth.
24. A sleeping compartment having longitudinal guide rods vertical parallel berth
supports carrying rollers which engage and move on said rods and catches for securing
the berth supports to the sides and floor of the compartment as set forth.
25. In combination the guide rods the sliding berth supports the lockers and the
pivoted links whereby the end berth supports are prevented from moving out of the
lockers as set forth.
26. In combination the horizontal guide rod the vertical berth supports sliding
thereon and the clamping mechanism engaging said rod whereby the berth supports
are held at any desired point on the rod as set forth.
11
1009
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents.