Improvements in or appertaining to the Windows of Railway and other Carriages.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 21st July, 1890-Accepted, 23rd Aug.. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to the Windows of Railway and
other Carriages.
I, GEORGE HERBERT FOLLOWS, of Fairfield, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is designed chiefly for railway carriage windows but may be applied
to the windows of other carriages.
The object of the invention is primarily to provide mechanism for retaining the
window at any position and to hold it closed in position immediately over the well of
the door.
The carriage door and window sash will be constructed precisely as heretofore. To
the window sash at each side is attached a rack or strip with a series of corrugations
against which a pawl or catch engages. To the door immediately inside the window
and at the top of the well is fitted a bar or lever which extends across the top of well
at each end carrying a catch or pawl. These catches engage with the racks on the
sides of the window sash and maintain the sash in any position. A spring preferably
formed of a twisted steel rod is placed below the bar or lever carrying the catches and
holds them against the teeth of the rack. To the centre of the bar is attached a
second lever which curves over the top frame of the well. This is fitted with a rollor
which when in position is over the window strap, by raising this second lever the first
lever or bar is turned about its longitudinal axis and the catches withdrawn from the
racks.
When the window is raised to the top the catches pass beneath the window sash or
into a deeper indentation in the racks. Outside the window is placed an inclined bar or
strip preferably of steel. At the ends this ongages with catches connected to the
inside bar preferably part of the rack catches and the two catches together forming
a T at each end of the inner bar. When the window is lowered the catches hold the
outside bar away but when the window is closed and the inner catches slip beneath
the window sash the outer catches draw the outer bar forward against the sash to
prevent the entrance of rain or draught.
A knob or suitable handle may be attached to the overhanging lever for lifting or
raising it by and a handle or projecting piece may be connected to the outside bar by
drawing which forward from the outside the window may be opened.
The catches engage with the racks to maintain the window in any position and the
window is raised by the usual strap. The strap as it is raised comes in contact with
the overhanging lever and lifts it, withdrawing the catches so that they offer no
resistance to the raising of the window. By raising this lever by hand the catches are
released and the window falls of its own gravity or may be lowered by the strap.
Dated this 18th day of October 1980.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to the Windows of Railway and
other Carriages.
I, GEORGE HERBERT FOLLOWS, of Fairfield, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical
Engineer, 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 chiefly to the windows of railway carriages but may be
applied also to the windows of other carriages. It is designed primarily to provide

page_text: mechanism to retain the window at any position and when closed to hold it in a position
immediately over the well of the door.
It consists essentially in supporting the window by means of clips or catches held
tightly against the two sides of the frame fitted with a twisted rod or similar spring
and with a lever or handle against which the strap bears when lifted or by means of
which the window can be released.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1, is a front elevation of railway carriage door (with front removed) constructed
according to my invention.
Fig. 2, side elevation in section (the window raised to the top).
Fig. 3, part elevation in section to enlarged scale.
Fig. 4, sectional plan on line, y:
Fig. 5, cross-section of bar F which carries the clips or catches E.
Fig. 6, end elevation of catch or clip E.
The carriage door A, is constructed in the usual way with a central well B to receive
the vertically sliding window sash C. To the side frames of the window sash Care
fitted two strips D of metal or other hard material. These may be notched or serrated
but I find that a smooth surface answers the purpose. Against the strips D, catches
or clips are held tightly by a spring, which prevent the window moving of its own
weight and hold it in any position at which it may be placed.
To the door A, at the top of the well B, is fitted a bar or bracket F which extends
across the door and carries the two catches or clips E, one at each end. Inside or
below the bar F, is placed a spring G, preferably in the form of a twisted steel rod,
which acts to throw the bar over against the window sash and holds the catches or
clips E against the strips D. The bar F is pivoted at each end to a bracket H in the
side of the door. The rod or spring G passes through the catches or clips E on the
end of the bar F and is secured to the brackets H; forming pivots on which the bar F
and clips E move. The twisted steel rod G is held in one bracket H so as not to
move therein and in the other bracket H it is free to move in a circular hole.
end at which it is held in the bracket H it passes freely through the catch E and at
the other end is held so that the bar and spring move together.
At the
At its centre the bar F carries a handle or lever I which is curved to project over
the top frame of the well. By means of the handle or lever I the bar or bracket F
may be turned about its longitudinal axis and the catches withdrawn from contact
with the window sash. The lever I, is preferably fitted with a roller and placed over
the window strap J, which runs over a roller in the door frame. The lifting of the
strap J raises the lever I and releases the window which may be raised or lowered in
the usual way. As soon as the strap is dropped the lever I falls and the catches again
come in contact with the window to hold it in the position desired. A stop or stops
may be applied to the frame to come in contact with the bar For catches E to prevent
the lever I being raised as high as to bind the top part of the bar F or catches E
against the sash frame. When the window is raised to the top it is held there by the
catches or clips E. If desired these may be made to pass beneath the sash or
indentations may be made in the strips of metal D to receive them.
In addition to the spring device for holding the window, if desired, there may be
placed to the outside of the door an inclined bar or strip to act as a weather bar. This
bar will be preferably made of steel and at its ends will engage with catches attached
to or forming part of the catches E. When the window is lowered these catches hold
the outside bar away but when the window is closed and the catches E slip beneath
the window sash the outer catches draw the outer bar forward against the sash to
prevent the entrance of rain or draught.
A knob or suitable handle may be attached to the lever I for lifting or raising it
and a handle or projecting piece may be connected to the outside bar to draw it
forward to open the window from the outside.
The catches engage with the strips D to maintain the window in any position and
the window is raised by the usual strap. The strap as it is raised comes in contact
with the overhanging lever I and lifts it, withdrawing the catches E, so that they

page_text: offer no resistance to the raising of the window. By raising this lever by hand the
catches E are released and the window falls of its own gravity or may be lowered by
the strap.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a door for railway or other carriages the combination with the window for
the purpose of holding or retaining it at any position of a bar or lever carrying catches
or clips which engage with the two sides of the frame a twisted rod or other spring
which acts upon the lever to press the catches against the window sash and a handle
or lever connected to or attached to the said bar for releasing the catches substantially
as described.
2. A carriage window having spring catches held tightly against the two sides of its
frame by means of a twisted rod or other spring and a handle or lever attached or
connected thereto with which the strap comes in contact when lifted, releasing the
catches substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 19th day of July 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.