Improvements in Mail Bag Catchers and Dischargers.
Year: 1899

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mail Bag Catchers and Dischargers.
I, IRA FLAVIOUS JOSEPHUS MCKINSTER, Minister of the Gospel, of Grayson,
in the State of Kentucky, United States of America, 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 mail bag holders and particularly to that class in
which the mail bag is delivered and removed at a continuous operation.
The object of the invention is to provide novel means for holding the mail bag
in place that a cross-arm attached to the passing car may remove the same;
furthermore, the object of the invention is to provide a novel device for
receiving and holding the bag deposted from the passing car. The invention
has for its still further object to provide loosely connected rings for receiving
and suspending the mail bags and in so forming the cross-arm that one of said
rings may be held in a novel manner, so as to project thereabove.
Finally, the object of the invention is to produce a device of the character
noted, in which the parts will be strong, durable and efficient, satisfactory in
use and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.
With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel
details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to
be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.
In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accom-
panying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein like characters of
reference denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which:
Fig. 1, is a view in perspective showing my invention in operation.
Fig. 2, is a view in elevation.
Fig. 3, is a detail perspective view of one end of the supporting arm.
In these drawings, 1, indicates a stepped base, 2, a standard and 3, an arm
extending from the standard toward the railway track.
Arranged transversely of the arm near its end is a cross-arm 4, having bifurcated
ends 5. The upper surface of the cross-arm is also provided with notches G, at
about the center of the bifurcated sections.
Near the center of the cross-arm to the side of the arm 4, are undercut notches 7,
which receive the rings as they are deposited on the cross-arm from the passing
car, and it will be noted that the lower ring has passed through it the mail bag
which is to be deposited or taken. The ends of the cross-arm are practically
duplicated and the operation is the same regardless of the direction the car is
going.
The rings 8, are joined together loosely, two rings being required for each
deposit or removal of the mail bags. By having the rings loosely connected there
will be no joints to break and the cost of production will be reduced, and the
application of the rings to the cross-arms will be facilitated.
Acting in conjunction with the cross-arm 4, is a second cross-arm 9, having
near its ends, notches 10, and near the center undercut notches 11, the former
being for the purpose of receiving the ring to be deposited on the stationary

page_text: cross-arm and the latter for receiving the ring taken from the stationary cross-
The mail bags are attached to the rings in the usual manner by having
the bag supported in the center.
arm.
The cross-arm 9, is connected with an arm 12, and the the arm 12, in turn is
secured to a bar 13, rotatable in bearings 14, on the side of the car.
Stay rods or wires 15, connect the end of the arm 3, with cross-ties 16, for
the purpose of giving rigidity to the structure and enabling it to withstand the
impact of the mail bags."
As will be seen from the drawing the upper ring lies transversely of the
cross-arm with its lower end resting in the notch, while the lower ring, support-
ing the bag, lies between the two extremities of the arms; thus turning of the
rings is prevented and the upper one is alined to receive the moving cross-arm.
The weight of the mail bag and the pull exerted by the lower ring suffices to
hold the upper ring. It will be observed, in view of the fore going that ordinary
use will not cause any serious deterioration of the several elements of the
invention.
The construction, operation and advantages will, it is thought, be appreciated,
and it is noted that various changes in the proportions and other details of
construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
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 combination, a suitable standard and arm, having a cross-arm with
bifurcated ends, and rings one of which lies between the forked ends, the second
ring standing on its edge transversely of the arm and held by first named ring,
substantially as described.
2. In combination with a standard arm, a cross-arm having bifurcated ends,
two rings loosely connected, one of said rings standing on its edge transversely
on the cross arm, and the other lying in the bifurcated section and holding the
upper ring upright, and a travelling arm adapted to remove the rings from the
cross-arms, substantially as described.
3. In combination with a standard arm, a cross-arm having bifurcated ends,
two rings loosely connected, one of said rings standing on its edge transversely
on the cross-arm, and the other lying in the bifurcated section and holding the
upper ring upright, and a travelling arm adapted to remove the rings from the
cross-arms, said travelling arm being adapted to carry a ring to be deposited on
the stationary arm, substantially as described.
4. In combination with a standard and an arm having stay rods, a cross-arm
having bifurcated ends, two rings loosely connected, one of said rings standing
on its edge transversely on the cross-arm and the other lying in the bifurcated
section and holding the upper ring upright, adapted to remove the rings from the
cross-arms, substantially as described.
5. In combination with a standard and arm, a cross-arm having bifurcated
ends, notches and undercut notches, two rings loosely connected, one of said
rings standing on its edge transversely on the cross-arm, and the other lying in
the bifurcated section and holding the upper ring upright, and a travelling arm
adapted to remove the rings from the cross-arms, substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of Anril 1890
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.