Improvements in the Construction and Fitting of Railway Trains.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Sept., 1892-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction and Fitting of
Railway Trains.
1, JOHN WILLIAM POST of 12, Holbeck Road Kennington Park London
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction and fitting of railway
carriages and has for its object to build the said carriages in such a manner and
to so couple or connect them together that they will be proof against a smash or in
case of collision or derailment while at the same time the train and its contents
will be protected from burglarious attacks from the outside as well as against fire.
These improvements are effected with a simultaneous increase of comfort for
passengers, the shocks to whom, should one of the above named contingences occur,
will be sufficiently attenuated by the aid of springs and buffers in such a manner
as to be rendered harmless, the said passengers being further able to steady them-
selves in whatever posture they may be assuming at the time of the occurence of
the accident by means of handles conveniently fixed at hand in suitable parts of
the carriages.
In carrying my invention into practice I construct each carriage of a tubular
frame work made preferably of woven steel and provided with metal hoops at each
intersection of parts the whole being welded by electricity and covered over by
non combustible material. Each car is provided with compressible platforms con-
structed with short tubular supports placed in an axial line with the longitudinal
frame work of the carriages and arranged telescopically within the latter. These
short tubular supports abut against strong coiled spring bearing upon suitable
metallic collars arranged within the said framework; they are fixed in position by
pins bolts, or rivets, and furnished with india rubber collars the springs in con-
junction with the latter serving to attenuate or deaden the effect of shocks or
concussions.
The upholstery of the carriages is impregnated with non inflammable sub-
stances and hot or cold air is supplied according to the time of the year through
special passages formed in the carriages a fan or blower being provided to drive
the air onward while a furnace for heating the air is attached to the locomotive or
tender the combustion chamber of which furnace is filled in summer with non
corrosive receptacles containing blocks of ice. For the sake of safety the carriages
are lighted by electricity and are furnished with removable partitions so that they
may be divided according as required and with apparatus for indicating the
names of the stations at which the train stops and the time at which the train is
due thereat.
A fire and burglar proof safe is provided for the passengers to deposit their
valuables and the raising or lowering of windows is fully controlled and regulated
according to seasons, while ventilators regulated by pendant levers, lavatories,
buffets, and libraries are provided wherever desirable. Buffers extending in front
of the locomotive are likewise provided to receive and attenuate the first shock
should a collision occur. In some cases I provide an armour plated fortress or
cupola car furnished with suitable openings and designed to resist the attacks
of robbers or marauders and I fix thereto cylindrical doors rotating on central
pivots.
As my improvements are capable of some modification without departing from

page_text: the principle thereof I do not restrict myself to materials dimensions or the precise
form or placement of the parts thereof.
Dated this 11th dow of Fah 1900
F. G. CASSELL,
Of Cassell & Co.,
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction and Fitting of
Railway Trains.
1, WILLIAM POST of 12 Holbeck Road Kennington Park, London, Gentleman,
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:―
My invention relates to improvements in the construction and fitting of railway
trains and has for its object to build the carriages of these trains in such a manner
and to so couple and connect them together that they will successfully withstand
the effects of a collision or derailment while the train and its contents remain fully
fire proof.
These improvements are carried on while at the same time increasing the comforts
of passengers, the shocks to whom, should one of the above contingencis occur,
will be sufficiently attenuated by the aid of springs and buffers so as to be rendered
almost harmless, the said passengers being further able to steady themselves in
whatever posture they may be at the time of the occurrence by means of suitable
handles conveniently fixed at the back of the carriage seats.
In carrying my invention into practice each car or carriage consists of a tubular
frame work comprising a number of longitudinal tubes secured at intervals by steel
square and hoop like parts or ribs welded together by electricity, this frame bearing
upon two longitudinal tubular tie rods connected at intervals by suitable couplings
and carried by two bogie trucks, this framework being covered over with non
combustible material in the shape of interchangeable panels and the like.
The cars are provided at each end with a compressible platform constructed with
short horizontal tubular pieces placed in a line with the corresponding longitudinal
tubes of the carriage frainework, and arranged telescopically within the latter so as
to abut against strong coiled springs bearing upon suitable metallic collars secured
inside the said longitudinal tubes, these tubular picces are fixed within the latter
tubes by pins, bolts or rivets and are moreover provided with india rubber washers,
these washers and the coiled springs aforesaid serving to deaden the effect of shocks
or concussions.
The upholstery of the carriages is impregnated with a non inflammible substance,
and according to the season, hot or cooled air is supplied through special passages
formed in the carriages and provided with suitable openings or registers, a fan or
blower driving the air onward.
The air is heated in winter by a furnace arranged in the fore or aft part of the
guards van which usually follows the tender, while in summer the combustion
chamber of this furnace is filled with non corrosive receptacles containing blocks
of ice-the cars or carriages are for the sake of safety lighted by electricity,
and I provide morcover means whereby the cars which are constructed of a shape
resembling that of Pullman cars, can be subdivided by means of collapsable and
extensible partitions into compartments similar to those of the railway carriages
used in England and on the Continent, the said cars being provided for this purpose
with a suitable number of side doors. Special means are also provided for
ventilating purposes and arranged at the top of the cars so that all the ventilators
may be closed or opened simultaneously. The locomotive engine and the tender

page_text: are likewise provided in front and at the rear with suitable spring buffers which
would go a long way towards reducing the force of the impact caused by another
train; the main object of my invention not being merely an improved con-
struction of railway car or carriage, but the creation of an indestructible and fire-
proof railway train.
In the accompanying drawings in which like letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts throughout the figures-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 a plan, and Fig. 3 an underside view of my
improved indestructible and fire proof car, Fig. 4 being a cross section of the same
on an enlarged scale.
Figs. 5, 6, and 7, are respectively a horizontal section of a buffer end, an under-
neath plan of the two central buffers, and part of the platform and a cross section
on line of Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section drawn at an enlarged scale of the ends of the
framework tubes wherein telescope the short tubular pieces of the collapsable
platform.
Fig. 9. is a view drawn at an enlarged scale of a portion of the bogie truck
shewing one axle or suspension box in section.
Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively a side and an end view of a locomotive engine
and tender fitted with spring buffers according to my invention.
Figs. 12 and 13 are respectively a vertical and a horizontal section illustrating
my improved heating and cooling appliances.
Fig. 14 is a diagrammetic view shewing the connection of the heating pipes and
the registers.
Figs. 15 16 and 17 are views partly in section shewing the heating pipe
connections.
Figs. 18 and 19 are respectively a rear view and an end view partly in section of
an improved construction of carriage seat.
Figs. 20 and 21 are respectively a part elevation and plan illustrating my improved
ventilating means.
Figs. 22 23 24 25 26 and 27 are views illustrating my improved construction
of collapsible and extensible partitions and the subdivision of the car into separate
compartments.
Fig. 28 is a side elevation of one of my improved interchangeable panels.
Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 4 my improved car C consists pre-
ferably of seven longitudinal steel tubes a joined at equal intervals by means of
rectangular and hoop like ribs or parts b and c respectively, the points of junction
of these parts and tubes being preferably welded by electricity. The ribs band c
are fitted above and below the two tubular draw bars a' a' which are carried by the
bogie trucks and are connected at suitable intervals by the straps a²-the latter are
furnished with pins & passing through the centre of the socket d' of the bogic and
with flanges surrounding the top part of the latter socket so as to prevent the
access of dirt between the bearing surfaces.
According to my improvements I form the bogie truck of tubes f, which are
suspended in the manner shewn in Fig. 9. f¹ is a box suspended to the tubular
frame of the truck and resting by means of an anti friction ball upon the upper
tube f. this box contains a spiral spring bearing at its lower end upon the axle
block and at its upper end against the underside of the tubular frame. P, are the
two compressible platforms arranged at each end of the car (Fig. 1) and furnished
with five tubular end pieces e (Fig. 8) and two tubular lower pieces h. Fig. 5 and 6.
The five tubes e enter the upper central tube a and the two adjacent tubes a on
both sides thereof (Fig. 4) as well as the two lower end tubes a of the framework,
the connection between the tubes a and e being clearly shewn in Fig. 8 wherein e³ is
a ring fixed inside the tube a and serving as a support for one end of the spring &
upon the other end of which bears the extremity of the tube e. The latter is
secured within the tube a by a pin e passing through an opening formed in both
tubes. are collars, e are the india rubber rings or washers, before mentioned
0

page_text: and e* curved tubes which connect two opposite collars e. The connection between
the two lowermost tubes h of the compressible platform and the tubes a' of the
frame work wherein they enter is shewn in Fige. 5. 6 and 7. a³ is the strap con-
necting the ends of the two lowermost tubes a¹ of the framework, in the centre of
which the coupling hook g is pivoted in a bolt gl passing through suitable openings
formed in the said straps. Bare the spring buffers, they are constructed in a
similar manner to that illustrated in Fig. 8. ' being the spring and the collar
or ring whereon the latter bears, while is the pin which like the pin e shewn
in Fig. 8 will have to be first broken in a collision before the spring buffers B.
and tubes e can act on the springs and respectively and the indin rubber
ring can come into play for the purpose of deadening the effect of the shock
received.
As shewn in Figs. 10 and 11 the locomotive engine as well as the tender are
provided in front as well as at the rear with buffers B. of the above described con-
struction, tubes a¹ being fitted alongside these vehicles. The two front buffers of
the locomotive engine may be connected by a cross bar as shewn in dotted lines in
Figs. 10 and 11. so as offer a greater buffer surface to the impact from a colliding
engine or other vehicle.
To heat the air in winter I place on the guards van next to the tender the tubular
furnace shewn in Figs. 12 and 13. This furnace consists of a tank t containing
water and enclosing a combustion chamber provided with a chimney t² which is
closed by a damper t' actuated by the rod t guided at the top of the box to. The
fuel is fed through an opening in the said box to which is closed by a suitable door,
air being admitted through the door and driven by the fans actuated by the
axle through the pipes into the passage to whence it passes through the vertical
tubes into the passage tissuing in a heated state from the air pipe in order
to be supplied to the various cars composing the train through the lowermost
tubes a of the framework of such cars (Figs. 4 and 14) which tubes a are provided
for this purpose with registers j (Fig. 14) and with tapered ends (Figs. 14. 15. 16
and 17) containing a spiral spring bearing at one end against the ring or flange
and carrying a curved disc or valve at the other which abuts against the flange
when closed-these tapered ends are connected together by means of india rubber
pipes provided with faucets in the slots of which engages when the tubes a
are connected together (Fig. 17) the pins fixed to the tapered end j³, the rod j",
fixed inside the faucet compressing the spiral spring j³ so as to form a free
passage for the heated air.
The seats s used in my improved cars are constructed with a moveable back s¹
pivoting on the side rods s' and secured in position by bolts & passing through
guides and secured at their ends one to the car wall K and the other to the side rest
or frame of the seat, while their inner ends are joined by a rod or lever s
pivoted at to the back s', this pivot having a square head operated by a
suitable key in order to shoot or release the bolts when it is required either to
rigidly secure the backs s¹ in position or to move them. These backs are further
provided with handles 88 which passengers can readily grasp in the case of a
collision.
My improved ventilating means consist of a number of ventilators (Figs. 20
and 21) pivoting in the openings formed therefor at the top of the cars Cand
provided with arms joined together by a connecting rod actuated by a hand
lever pivoted at and furnished with a handle 2 whereby all the ventilators w can
be opened or closed together.
To convert the long cars above described into railway carriages such as used in
English and Continental railways I have devised the moveable partitions and panels
shewn in Figs. 22 to 28. I fix at suitable intervals so that the partitions may enclose
two opposite rows of seats, Fig. 22 a number of recessed metal channels m which
are let in the flooring of the cars, and I weld to the upper tubes a of the frame-
work a number of short tubular pieces m' arranged at corresponding intervals and
designed to enter tubular uprights m¹ secured in position in the cars as shewn in

page_text: Fig. 22, and containing spiral springs m³ one end of which is fixed to the piece m'
and the other inside and at the foot of the upright m' which is free to turn on a
suitable bearing and has a constant tendency to wind up the partition. These
partitions M which are made of slats of fire proof material are drawn across the
car from each side thereof so as to meet in the centre where they are joined by
means of a clamp m* suspended when not in use in any convenient part of the car
and fastened over the moveable bars m³ me pivoted at the ends of the partitions with
which they are wound when detached around the upright aforesaid. The bars m
form at one end a fork together as shewn in Fig. 24 to receive the other or opposite
bars m. The two partitions are furnished with handles m³ for convenience of
manipulation. To complete the subdivision of the cars the seats & Fig. 22 on each
side are rendered continuous by means of sliding seats & stored under the side seats
in one row and furnished with hooks whereby they can be fastened when drawn out
to rings fixed to the seats in the opposite row to which the former are to be con-
nected. I further provide interchangeable fire proof panels p (Fig. 28) which are
fixed along the framework and have lateral doors so that the exit should not be at
the ends as in Pulman cars but at the sides as in ordinary railway carriages. All
the parts such as roofing, flooring, panels, and which are fixed to the tubular frame-
work above described are made of fire proof material, the upholstery being
impregnated with any suitable fire proof substance.
Having now fully described the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. An indestructible and fire proof train composed of collapsable and fire proof
cars or carriages driven by a locomotive and tender fitted with means for reducing
the force of the impact in a collision or derailment substantially as herein described
and shewn.
.
2. In indestructible and fire proof trains such as above claimed the construction
of tubular cars bearing upon two longitudinal draw rods connected at intervals by
suitable couplings and the means for heating and ventilating the same.
3. In indestructible and fire proof trains such as above claimed the special
construction of carriage seats substantially as herein described and shewn and for
the purpose set forth.
Dated this 25th day of August 192.
F. G. CASSELL,
Of Cassell & Co., Patent Agents,
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, Agent for the Applicant.