NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS FOR COVERING THE OUTSIDE OF TRAM-CARS OR OMNIBUSES TO PROTECT THE OUTSIDE PASSENGERS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest Howard Grey, of Islington, in the County of
Middlesex, for an Invention of "NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS FOR COVERING
THE OUTSIDE OF TRAM-CARS OR OMNIBUSES TO PROTECT THE OUTSIDE
PASSENGERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest Howard Grey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th September 1881.
ERNEST HOWARD GREY, of Islington, in the County of Middlesex. "NEW OR
IMPROVED MEANS FOR COVERING THE OUTSIDE OF TRAM CARS OR OMNIBUSES TO
PROTECT THE OUTSIDE PASSENGERS."
The object of this Invention is a simple and efficient means for forming a
covering to protect the passengers on the top of a tram car or omnibus. This I
propose to effect substantially as follows:-
Along the length of the car or omnibus and by preference at the back of the
seats, I suitably mount a roller or rollers, and on the said roller or rollers I wind
some covering (by preference waterproof). The side rails I extend in height, so
that upon the covering being drawn over it shall leave sufficient space for the
conductor or passenger to walk along the top without inconvenience. Over the
aforesaid roller or rollers I form a narrow covering to protect such rollers, and
underneath same, say, between the backs of the seats, I form a gutter to catch any
drippings from the covering if wound up wet. I also in some cases form transverse
rods as supports for the covering.
The rollers may be worked by a spring or otherwise. By the above means I
form a very simple and effective covering for the protection of outside passengers,
which is quite out of the way when not required for use, but which can be brought
into position immediately.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Ernest Howard Grey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th March 1882.
ERNEST HOWARD GREY, of Islington, in the County of Middlesex. "NEW OR
IMPROVED MEANS FOR COVERING THE OUTSIDE OF TRAMCARS OR OMNIBUSES TO
PROTECT THE OUTSIDE PASSENGERS."
The object of this Invention is a simple and efficient means for forming a
covering to protect the passengers on the top of a tram car or omnibus. This I
propose to effect substantially as follows:-
Along the length of the car or omnibus, and by preference at the back of the
seats, I suitably mount a roller or rollers, and on the said roller or rollers I wind
some covering (by preference waterproof). The side rails I extend in height, so
that upon the covering being drawn over it shall leave sufficient space for the
Over the
conductor or passenger to walk along the top without inconvenience.
aforesaid roller or rollers I form a narrow covering to protect such rollers, and
underneath same, say, between the backs of the seats, I form a gutter to catch any
drippings from the covering if wound up wet. I also in some cases form transverse
rods as supports for the covering. The rollers may be worked by a spring or
otherwise. By the above means form a very simple and effective covering for the
protection of outside passengers, which is quite out of the way when not required
for use, but which can be brought into position immediately.
And in order to explain ny said Invention more fully, I will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, which
represents my said Invention applied to a tram car.

page_text: that should the covering be wound up wet it will carry off the drippings; m is a
handle by means of which the spindle is turned.
The action is as follows:-The handle m being turned in the direction of the
arrow's flight will wind the cords h, h, on the pulleys e, e, which will have the
effect of pulling down the covering n any desired distance on both sides at once,
and upon turning the handle in an opposite direction the pawis f on the roller d
will engage the ratchet wheels g on the pulleys e, e, and thus turn the roller d and
wind the covering n thereon. In the modification shewn at Figure 9, a cog
wheel is fitted to each end of roller d; these gear into two other wheels v¹, v',
keyed on the spindle 2 which carries a pulley e¹ on which the cords h work. By
this arrangement being placed at each end the pawl and ratchet wheels are
dispensed with, and the end arches b, b, are brought further in as shewn.
The castings c carry the spindles w, w; o is a hood which is attached to the front
end of the covering by any suitable means so as to prevent a draught through
same. It is obvious that although I have described the apparatus working with
one roller that two might be employed, the ends gearing so that they may turn in
an opposite direction, in which case the covering would be made in two pieces.
The covering could be applied to an omnibus in the same way as to a tram car,
but for an omnibus the arches would preferably be made capable of being
folded.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature and object of my said
Invention, and the manner whereby the same may be carried into practical effect,
I would remark in conclusion that I do not intend to confine myself to the precise
details herein described, as the same may be varied without departing from the
principle of my said Invention, but what I claim as my Invention is, the roller
covering for omnibuses and cars, substantially as set forth,
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest Howard Grey, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
ERNEST HOWARD GREY. (L.S.)