IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES. WAGGONS. AND TRUCKS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO VEHICLES FOR COMMON ROADS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Wilson, of the City and Connty of
Edinburgh, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
RAILWAY CARRIAGES. WAGGONS. AND TRUCKS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO VEHICLES FOR COMMON ROADS."
Sealed the 6th November 1860, and dated the 10th May 1800.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th
May 1860.
I, ALEXANDER WILSON, of the City and County of Edinburgh, do hereby
declare the nature of the suid Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUC.
TION OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WAGGONS. AND TRUCKS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE TO VEHICLES FOR COMMON ROADS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in the construction of carriages, waggons, trucks, and
other vehicles for railways and common roads consists in building such car-
riages or parts thereof with lattice iron frames and bodies, that is, frames and
bodies constructed of channel T-angle or flat iron bars arranged diagonally to
the side and end sole bars of the carriage, and rivetted together where they
intersect or cross each other. Carriages framed upon the above principle
will possess great strength, stiffness, and durability; also the weight of the
same will be less than when constructed in the ordinary manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th November 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
WILSON, of the City and County of Edinburgh, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Alexander Wilson, Her special licence that 1, the said Alexander Wilson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Wilson, 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, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY CABRIAGES. WAGGONS. AND TRUCKS, WHICH IMPROVE.
MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO VEHICLES FOR COMMON ROADS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Wilson, my executors or admi-
nistrators, 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 Alexander Wilson, 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 thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the figures and letters marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention relating to the construction of carriages, waggons, trucks,
and other vehicles for railways and common roads consists in building such
carriages with lattice built iron or steel frames, bodies,and under frames either
in combination or otherwise. Flat, channel, augle, or T-iron or steel are the
most suitable sections for the purpose, and are arranged diagonally to the side
and end sole bars of the carriage, and rivited together where the diagonal bars
intersect orcross each other. Carriages and frames thus constructed will possess
great stiffness, strength, and durability, and the weight of the same will be
less than those constructed in the ordinary manner.

page_text: The strength of the lattice principle of construction has been well demon-
strated in the case of the well-known "lattice" girder," and it will be at once
evident that a triangular system of construction, such as the lattice principle
combines, must be much stronger than a system of construction such as has
hitherto been adopted.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood, I shall now proceed
to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall refer to the several Figures
on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts throughout each set of Figures.
Figures 1 of the Drawings is a sideelevation of the under frame of a railway
carriage constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2 is a plan view; and
Figure 3, an end view of the same.
Letter (a) is a rectangular frame of L-iron; (6) is an intermediate cross-
bar to form a bearing for the draw springs; (c) are straps binding the
corners of the said frame; (d) is a series of channel iron bars, crossing each
other so as to form "lattice-work," which are rivited to each other at the
points of intersection; (c) is an angle iron frame, connecting the ends of
the diagonal bars, and forming the outer edge of the framing. The fittings are
the same as those in common use. The flooring can be made of wood or iron;
when of wood, the same should be laid in two thicknesses, one between the
courses of diagonal bars, and the other crossways on the top of the upper
course; but when of iron the same need only be laid on the top of the upper
course of diagonals.
Figure 4. is a side elevation of a box waggon, constructed according to my
Invention; and Figure 5 is an end view of the same. Letter (f) is a
rectangular frame of L-iron; (g) is a series of channel iron bars, forming the
lattice-work construction. In this case the diagonal bars are returned or bent
up, so as to form the sides and ends of the waggon into strong "lattice
girders," which most effectually prevent the "hogging" or twisting so frequent
in the case of wooden built waggons. In the above described box waggon the
lattice principle of construction is preserved throughout in its integrity, as
would be the case in all carriages where openings are not required in the sides
Where, however, such openings are required in the sides,vertical stiffness could
be obtained by returning or bending the lattice bars downwards instead of
upwards, and by adopting a suitable axle guard an exceeding stiff underframe
would be obtained. In the case of coal waggons with opening ends,the angle
iron at each end would be returned or bent up at each side, and to this the
lattice sides would be attached, thus preserving their lateral stiffness when
deprived of the additional support of the said ends. As regards passenger and

page_text: other carriages, where it is thought desirable to retain the use of wooden
frames, the same can be greatly strengthened by means of a light lattice frame
placed beneath the flooring, the side and frame bars being bound by a light
angle irou, to which the said lattice frame would be rivited. The above
described principle of construction is also applicable for vehicles on common
roads.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into
practical effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not confine or
restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had
occasion to refer to, as variations may be made in the same without
deviating from the principle or inain features of the said Invention; but what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the method of constructing railway and common road carriages with
lattice-work iron, or steel frames and under frames.as herein-before described.
Second, the method of constructing railway and common roa-l carriagebodies
with lattice-work iron or steel bars, as herein-before described.
Third, the method of construction and use of lattice-work iron or steel
frames, under frames, and bodies in combination with each other for railway
and coinmon roads, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Wilson, have hercunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
WN. H. BOWERS,
71, Fleet St., London.
ALEXANDER WILSON. (L.S.)