IMPROVE- MENTS IN RAILWAY AND OTHER CARRIAGES, AND VARIOUS PARTS OF THE GAME
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Offord, of Wells Street, Oxford Street, in
the County of Middlesex, Coach Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN RAILWAY AND OTHER CARRIAGES, AND VARIOUS PARTS OF THE
GAME."
Sealed the 24th March 1868, and dated the 4th October 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Offord at the
Ollice of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
4th October 1867.
the
I, JOSEPH OFFORD, of Wells Street, Oxford Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Coach Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY AND OTHER CARRIAGES, AND VARIOUS PARTS
OF THE SAME," to be as follows:-
First. My improvements consists in the application of india-rubber to the
axle boxes of carriages. I fixed two flanges to the axle box some distance apart
from each other, and fit metal sockets covered with india-rubber on their out-
sides between the two flanges; these sockets are to hold the spokes of the
wheel in their places.
Secondly. Making axle blocks of metal and india-rubber combined together
in the process of vulcanizing. I take two plates of metal with holes made in
them, or lugs to receive the bolts to fix them to the axle and spring; I then
take india-rubber prepared for the purpose and of the desired thickness, and
[Price 8d.]

page_text: place it between the two plates; I then subject the two plates with the india-
rubber between to a process of vulcanizing which will cause the two plates to
adhere firmly to the india-rubber.
Thirdly. Making the glass frames of carriages of metal, and fixing india-
rubber or other soft material round their edges to prevent their rattling against
the window frames.
Fourthly. Preventing the rattling of carriage lamps. I adopt the following
method make metal sockets and line their insides with india-rubber or
other soft material to isolate the lamp iron from the carriage, or the lamp
from the lamp iron.
Fifthly. In making railway carriage lamps. I fix a bell or other similar
contrivance to the lamp; the lamp is placed in the roof of the carriage as at
present, but by means of a racket or pulley and wheel the lamp and bell can
be raised from the inside of the carriage some distance above the roof by a
passenger when required, and the lamp can be seen and the bell heard by the
attendants on the train.
Sixthly. In making railway carriage doors. I make them to slide through
a displacement made in the pillar to receive it, or they can be made to slide
within or without the carriage body.
Seventhly. In making locks for carriages I adopt the following plan to
keep them small:-I make my lock with a spiral, coiled, or india-rubber spring
inserted in the bolt of the lock to save space. I also employ a spring or dead
lock, or one made according to the above plan, and fix it on the inside of the
door instead of being let into the frame of the carriage door, as is now donc.
In some cases I dispense with the inside lock and fix with a inside handle
with a lug to press against the fore pillar to keep the door closed.
I also propose to fasten carriage heads by the following method:-I make
a button which works on on a screw thread, whereby i am enabled to draw the
head of a carriage into its place I in addition to the screw I sometimes employ
an india-rubber washer to prevent all rattling.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Offord in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th April 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME. I, JOSEPH
OFFORD, of Wells Street, in the County of Middlesex, Coach Builder send
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Joseph Offord, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph Offord,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Joseph Offord, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
"IMPROVEMENTS
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
OTHER
CARRIAGES AND
PARTS OF
VARIOUS
THE
SAME,"
IN RAILWAY AND
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Offord,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Offord, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
First. My improvements consist in the application of india-rubber to the
axle boxes of carriages. I fix two metal flanges to the axle box some distance
apart from each other, and I then fit metal sockets covered with india-rubber
on their outsides between the two metal flanges; these sockets are to hold
the spokes of the wheel in their places. Fig. 1 is a front view of an axle
box with the flange displaced, shewing the position of the metal sockets.
A, A, A, metal sockets; B, india-rubber; C, metal flange.
india-rubber combined
Secondly. Making axle blocks of metal and
together in the process of vulcanizing. I take two plates of metal with holes
made in them or lugs to receive the bolts to fix them to the axle and spring;
I then take india -rubber prepared for the purpose and of the desired thick-
ness and place it between the two metal plates; I then subject the two plates
with the india-rubber between to a process of vulcanizing which will cause
the two plates of metal to adhere firmly to the india-rubber.
section of an axle block with the india-rubber combined together.
plates; B, the india-rubber.
Fig. 2 is a
A, A, metal

page_text: Thirdly. Making the glass frames of carriages of metal. and fixing india-
rubber or other soft material round their edges to prevent their rattling
against the window frames. The india-rubber can be placed on thin strips of
brass or other metal and vulcanized to the brass or other metal, or to the sides
of the metal glass frames in the process of vulcanizing, so that the metal and
india-rubber. will adhere firmly together; the strips of brass or other metal
with the india-rubber can be fixed to all kinds of glass frames. Fig. 3 is a
section of a glass frame of metal, or they can be made of wood or other
similar material. A, A, metal glass frame; B, india-rubber.
Fourthly. Preventing the rattling of carriage lamps. I adopt the following
method I make metal sockets, and line their insides with india-rubber or
other soft material to isolate the lamp iron from the carriage or the lamp from
the lamp iron. Fig. 4 is a section of a lamp socket: A, the lamp iron;
B, metal socket; C, C, india-rubber lining.
Fifthly. In making of railway carriage lamps. I fix a bell or similar con-
trivance to the lamp; the lamp is placed in the roof of the carriage as at
present, but by means of a ratchet or pulley and wheel the lamp and bell can
be raised from the inside of the carriage some distance above the roof by a
passenger when required, and the lamp can be seen and the bell heard by the
attendants on the train. Fig. 5 is a section of a roof of a railway carriage
and two lamps, one shewing it in its position within the carriage and the other
raised above the roof; the two lamps are lettered similar. A, the lamp;
B. the lamp guard; C, C, the ratchet; D, the bell; E, pad for bell to rest
upon when not in use; F, F, roof of carriage: G, G, springs to keep lamp
and bell up when raised. Fig. A is a section of the bell and a method of
firing off a charge of gunpowder or other explosive compounds to give notice
to the attendants on the train by the passengers within the carriage. A. the
bell; B, the ratchet passing through the roof to the inside of carriage;
C, bracket to support the bell and apparatus to fire off signal; D, hammer to
strike percussion cap; E. lever to press the trigger; F, pad for bell to rest
upon when not in use to prevent its rattling; G, handle to ratchet to be
pulled down when desired by the passengers; II, roof of the carriage; I, spring
to keep the ratchet down when pulled; J, nipple for percussion cap to fire off
charge of gunpowder or other explosive compound; the lamp or the bell
cannot be pulled or raised to its first position again without a person getting
upon the roof of the carriage and releasing the spring from the ratchet, so
that the attendants on the carriages will be enabled to know the passenger
who has used the signal.
Sixthly. In making railway carriage doors, instead of hanging them upon

page_text: hinges as at present. I make them to slide through a displacement made in
the pillar to receive it. or they can be made to slide within or without the
carriage body. I prefer to make the carriage door to go up a slight incline
upon guide rods or upon india-rubber rollers or small wheels of other
material, so that the momentum of the carriages when travelling will close
the doors without assistance. and to prevent these doors jamming I make a
narrow groove about one-eighth of an inch in width. more or less, as may be
desired on the outer edges of the door, and insert a strip of india-rubber or
other soft material in this groove, the india-rubber to project beyond the
wood framing, so that the india-rubber only comes in contact with the framing
of the carriage; or sometimes I use india-rubber washers or buttons with
small metal washers inserted in them with holes in their centres, and fit them
on the edges of the door with screws or similar means, allowing the india-
rubber to project beyond their heads. This plan can be applied to glass
frames, the heads of the india-rubber being larger in their diameter than the
width of the frame; the windows of these doors can be made to slide in the
same direction as the door by adopting the same plan as shewn by the door
by the use of guide rods, and displacing one side of the door frame. Fig. 6
a side view of part of a railway carriage with portions of the door displaced,
shewing the rollers: A. the carriage door: B. B. the india-rubber rollers.
Fig. A is an end view of the carriage door and pillar cut through; C. carriage
door; D. D. door pillar.
Seventhly. In making locks for carriage doors, I adopt the following method
to keep them small--I make them with a spiral, coiled, or india-rubber
spring inserted in the bolt of the lock to save space, and I likewise. in lieu
of the tumbler shewn in the Drawing, sometimes use instead a small cog
wheel, and in the bottom side of the bolt of the lock I form a ratchet to fit this
wheel so that it moves the bolt backward or forward with great ease.
Fig. 7 is a section of a spring lock shewing the bolt out. A. the bolt B. the
spiral spring inserted in the bolt: C. the tumbler: D. the case. Fig. 8 is a
section of a dead lock: A. the bolt out: B, spiral spring: C. the tumbler:
D, the case: E. wheel or stud acted on by the spiral spring. so that when the
tumbler is moved it will depress it and force it into the next hollow in the case
to receive it.
carriage heads by the following
works on a screw thread. whereby
carriage into its place with greater
Eighthly. I also propose to fasten
method: I make a button of metal which
I am enabled to draw the head of the
ease than at present: I sometimes use an india-rubber washer to prevent the
button rattling on the screw. Fig. 9, a section. A, A, two plates; B, button

page_text: to draw the plate down. I also employ a spring or dead lock to carriage
doors; thus, instead of being let into the frame of the carriage as is now done,
I fix it on the inside of the door, so that the bolt shall overlap the pillar.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Offord, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
U. F. SCOTT,
JOSEPH OFFORD. (L.S.)