Improvements in Locks for Railway Carriages.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1895-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1895
Improvements in Locks for Railway Carriages.
I, RAFFAELE TRANQUILLI, of 27 Piazza della Padella, Rome, in the Kingdom
of Italy, 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 :-
My invention relates to certain improvements in the means for locking and
unlocking the doors of railway carriages, and has for its main objects first, to
enable the traveller to release or fix the bolt by simply turning the handle of the
lock; second, to provide the means whereby the traveller can lock himself in the
compartment from the inside in such a manner that from the outside the door can
only be opened by one of the railway officers provided with the key; third, to
provide an alarm whereby the traveller is advised by the ringing of a bell if the
door is not properly closed.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which
Figure is a front view of the outside of a door of a railway carriage showing
the handle of the lock connected with the lower bolt, by means of a connecting rod.
Figure 2 is a view of the lock from the inside of the carriage, showing also an
additional lock, which, from the inside, can be opened or closed by the traveller,
by simply moving a handle, whereas from the outside it can only be opened by
means of a key, and the means for advising the traveller if the door is not locked.
Figure 3 is a section through the door, showing the connection between the
lock and the alarm.
With reference to Figure 1, it will be seen that the handle A B C, and the
bult D E are connected together by a connecting rod A D, so that they are both
operated simultaneously. This arrangement so plain that it needs no further
description. The dotted lines show the position of the parts when the lock and
bolt are open.
With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the shaft R of the handle has mounted on
its inner end two arms G H at a normal angle to each other. Upon one of them
is written the word "Open," and upon the other the word " Closed," and they can
only be seen through an opening when in horizontal position, the reading upon the
horizontal arın indicating the position of the lock. As at times travellers may not
notice the reading, or not be able to read it on account of the darkness, I fix
also upon the shaft of the lock a bell M which when the lock is closed, stands
in an horizontal position, the hammer P resting upon its side, and thus being
inoperative, whereas, when the lock is open it stands perpendicular, and in this
position the slightest movement of the carriage causes the bell to ring, so that
the traveller is at once made aware that his door is not locked, thus preventing
accidents which may happen when a passenger leans against an open door believing
it to be closed.
U is the shaft of the lock, which is ordinarily closed, from the outside only by
the railway officers by means of a key. I extend said shaft through the whole
thickness of the door and fix upon its inner end a handle V, which enables the
passenger to open or close this lock from the inside. This is of great convenience
for the safety and comfort of passengers, because they can thus lock themselves in
their compartments, so that no one, except the railway officers provided with the
key can enter their compartiment while the train is in motion, thus ensuring a
greater safety for the life and property of the travelling public.

page_text: Upon the door, and just below the horizontal position of the handle V may be
arranged a small hinge X which, when opened will form a projection preventing
the lock being opened from the outside, in cases when one or more travellers
desire to have a compartment to themselves, and do not want to be disturbed
during the journey.
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 the means used for locking railway carriages, a connecting rod connecting
the handle of the lock and the bolt, so that they are both actuated by one
operation, substantially as set forth.
2. In combination with a lock for railway carriages, a bell so arranged as to
be inoperative when the door is locked, and to ring when the door is unlocked,
substantially as described and set forth.
3. A lock for railway carriages, operated from the inside by a handle, and from
the outside by a key, and a suitable projection to prevent the handle inside from
being moved when the lock is fastened, substantially as described and set forth.
Dated this 12th day of June 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.