Improvements in Funeral Carriages.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1896-Accepted, 16th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Funeral Carriages.
I, REUBEN ALLEN MCCAULEY, of 10 South Carey Street, in the City of
Baltimore and State of Maryland, United States of America, Machinist, 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 certain improvements in that class of inventions which
are designed to affect economy in funeral expenses, by dispensing with a hearse, the
coffin or casket being carried on the top of a vehicle adapted for the conveyance of
persons attending the funeral.
In the description of the invention which follows, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which-
Figure 1 is an exterior side view of the improved funeral carriage.
Fig. 2 is an exterior rear view of Fig. 1.
Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are details of the invention, hereinafter particularly
described.
Fig. 7 illustrates a modification in the invention.
Referring now to the drawings, A represents the body of a wheeled vehicle,.
arranged and constructed to carry a number of persons, and with this in view, it is
provided with suitable seats arranged preferably on the sides of the vehicle so that.
there will be a longitudinal passage-way between them.
The body A may be divided by a partition, if desired, to separate the space into
two compartments, and when such construction is adopted, the forward compart-
ment, which would be occupied by the immediate relatives of the deceased, or the
chief mourners, would have a side door a so that they could enter without passing
between the seats in the other and larger compartment.
Both compartments will have properly arranged windows, preferably draped and
provided with blinds, as is common in carriages used for funerals. The rear-
compartment has folding or sliding doors b, through which the persons to ride
enter.
B is a receptacle for the casket, erected on the top or roof of the vehicle. It is
suitably ornamented and glazed to exhibit the contained casket, and provided with
ventilators c for obvious reasons.
The bottom d of the receptacle B is pivoted or hinged at one end at e, and at the
other end it is suspended by cords f, which pass over suitable sheaves g, to a
winding drum C secured to a shaft à journaled in the side walls of the receptacle B,.
where it is hidden from view from the outside of the carriage..
D is the winding shaft provided with a crank i which is removable, whereby the
drum C is revolved through the medium of a train of gearing j. A ratchet wheel k
and pawl m
are employed to hold the cords f in a wound condition and thereby
support the bottom d in a horizontal position, or any position within range of its
movement.
The casket which is denoted by E rests on rollers n on the bottom d, in order
that it may be easily placed in position and moved smoothly as it is taken from the
vehicle.
The bottom d is flanged, (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5, in which the flanges are denoted
by ) to catch any water which may enter the receptacle through the ventilators
in driving rain storms. This provides for a contingency which will rarely occur,.
but it is thought best to have the bottom fitted with flanges as described.

page_text: G is the seat for the driver, who, at the proper time, manipulates the crank
mechanism to lower and raise the floor or bottom of the casket receptacle and the
casket.
To prepare the carriage for the reception of the casket, the floor or bottom d is
lowered as shown by its dotted delineation in Fig. 1. The casket is then entered
through the doors 6 and pushed onto the bottom and chocked by means of any
suitable device. The bottom is then raised up by means of the hoisting appliances
described, until the casket assumes the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
The invention has been described as forming a part of a road vehicle, but it may
be used in connection with an electric, cable or other car. In Fig. 7 it appears in
an electric car.
It is evident that both ends of the bottom d may be fitted with winding cords
and the bottom lowered and raised in a horizontal position. This alternative
arrangement is not considered as good a one as the one first described, as it tends
to complication and expense, without any substantial advantages.
Catches s, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, serve to hold the bottom d in place when
elevated. These catches may be operated so as to release the bottom, from the
inside of the carriage.
While this invention is specially adapted for a funeral carriage, it may be
employed for pleasure excursions, in which case the casket receptacle, which is
removable, is taken off and a ventilator shown in Fig. 6 substituted for it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a funeral carriage, the combination of a wheeled vehicle, a casket receptacle
situated on the roof of the vehicle, a bottom for the receptacle susceptible of
elevation and depression, and means to operate the said bottom whereby the casket
is raised to its position on the vehicle or lowered so that it may be removed
therefrom, substantially as specified.
2. In a funeral carriage, the combination of a wheeled vehicle, a casket receptacle
elevated on the top or roof of the same, there being an opening between the
receptacle and the interior of the carriage, a floor or bottom for the receptacle,
adapted for elevation and depression, means to raise and lower the said bottom,
and catches to retain the bottom in an elevated position, substantially as specified.
Dated this 27th day of February 1896.
REUBEN ALLEN MCCAULEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.