IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND FITTINGS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William D'Alton Mann, of Mobile, in the United
States of America, at present residing at the Langham Hotel,
Langham Place, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES
AND FITTINGS."
Scaled the 3rd December 1872, and dated the 11th October 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William D'Alton Mann
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 11th October 1872.
I, WILLIAM D'ALTON MANN, of Mobile, in the United States of
America, at present residing at the Langham Hotel, Langham Place,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY
CARRIAGES AND FITTINGS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
railway carriages and fittings, whereby improved sleeping and other

page_text: accommodation is provided for night travelling or for long journeys, a
better system of warming and ventilation is obtained, with an improved
mode of opening and closing the doors and windows.
According to my Invention I propose to fit cach of the compartments
of my improved railway carriage with special sleeping accommodation,
which is made removable, or is capable of being changed so as to afford
accommodation for one or more sleepers during the night, whilst forming
sitting or lounging accommodation during the day.
The sleeping berths are according to my Invention disposed trans-
versely to the carriage, the lower ones which form the seats during the
day being made to draw out so as to form the foundation for beds
during the night.
A moveable table is provided in each compartment, which is adjusted
to the partition of the carriage between the seats when required for use
by hooked or other convenient attachments, and supported in front by a
hinged leg fitting into a socket in the floor.
If desired, upper berths may also be provided, which when not in use
are clevated to the roof of the carriage by the aid of cords and
counterweights, or barrel springs, the counterweights when used being
inclosed in an air space formed in the double partitions which separate
the several compartments of the carriage. Curtain rods carrying
curtains are provided for screening the berths at night. Each com
partment is provided with a lavatory supplied with hot and cold water,
also with a closet fitted with a seat and urinal, which closet is divided
from the rest of the compartment by a separate door of its own. Each
ompartment is warmed by a separate hot water, steam, or hot air coil
f pipe or apparatus connected by a cock or valve with the main heating
pipe from a boiler or heater placed in a separate compartment, by
preference at one end of the carriage. This compartment also contains
the hot and cold water tanks for supplying the lavatories, and suitable:
closets for containing linen or other articles required on the journey,
also a bed for an attendant, who is to travel with each car.
Bells or
gongs and indicators are also fitted in the attendant's compartment,
which may be sounded from any one of the passenger compartments by
bell pulls fitted therein, and free communication is had with any com;
partment by means of a footboard passing entirely round the carriage,
and a hand or safety rail from door to door.

page_text: The doors and windows may be of the usual construction, but I prefer
to make the doors to slide within the side of the carriage in lieu of
opening upon hinges. In this case the bottom of the door is grooved
and fitted with rollers inside the groove, which run along the top of a
metal ridge screwed to the sill of the door. The sides of the groove
should be lined with felt or other sound deadening and weatherproof
material. Each door whether of the ordinary or my improved con-
struction is fitted with a spring lock opened by a handle only from the
outside, and by a special key from the inside, which key is hung to the
inside of the car convenient to the hand of the passenger. An ordinary
latch opened by a handle only from the inside is also fitted to the same
door, which latch can only be opened from the outside by means of a
railway key. By this arrangement the officials have free access to any
compartment, whilst the occupants are protected from interference from
strangers so long as the inner latch is fastened.
I prefer to make the windows in the form of moveable frames made
adjustable to any height of opening, and to secure the same in any
position by locks or fastenings.
In some cases I propose to use double windows, the outer frame and
glass being removable, and replaced by a frame containing fine wire
gauze, which whilst admitting of free circulation of air will exclude dust
and cinders.
The roof of the carriage has a longitudinal raised portion formed
along the centre thereof, which is fitted at each side with ventilating
windows hinged at their lower edges, and when opened allowed to fall
inwards at the upper part to any required angle. A fine wire gauze
covers the spaces or openings of these windows on the outside for the
purpose before mentioned. Other ventilators are placed in the sides of
the carriage over the windows, which ventilators I prefer to consist of an
opening provided with adjustable louvres, and having a fine wire gauze
screen secured to the outside, which is protected from wet by a hood or
shield open on the under side only.
In cases where extra ventilation is required the carriage is provided
with an air flue extending under the floor of the carriage, and provided
at each compartment with a valve or register, so as to control the inlet
of air into any one or more of the compartments, as required. This
air flue communicates at each end of the carriage with an elevated

page_text: funnel-shaped mouth piece covered with a fine wire gauze screen, so
that in whatever direction the carriage is running a current of cool air
freed from dust and cinders will be caused to traverse the flue and enter
the compartments.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William D'Alton Mann in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 10th April 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
D'ALTON MANN, of Mobile, in the United States of America, at present
residing at the Langham Hotel, Langham Place, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the 36th
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William D'Alton Mann, Her special license
that I, the said Williamı D'Alton Mann, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William D'Alton Mann, my
executors, administrators, or 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 CARRIAGES AND FITTINGS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William D'Alton Mann, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
scal, 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 William D'Alton Mann, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and

page_text: ル
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say :—
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement
of railway carriages and fittings, whereby improved sleeping and other
accommodation is provided for night or day travelling, or for long
journeys, and a better system of ventilation is obtained.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I
shall now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that
purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of
Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts
in all the corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a partial side
elevation and longitudinal vertical section of my improved railway
carriage; Figure 2 is a corresponding sectional plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken through the doorways
of one of the sleeping compartments; Figure 4 is a similar section
taken through the compartment occupied by the travelling attendant.
Figure 5 is a sectional detail shewing the manner in which I prefer
to make the lower portion of a sliding door for railway carriages,
the upper portion being similarily constructed but reversed; and
Figures 6 and 7 are details of a side window fastening, the window
being made to open by raising the same, but I make no claim either
to the door or to the fastenings for the windows.
According to my Invention I propose to fit each of the passenger
compartments of my improved railway carriage (four of such compart-
ments numbered respectively 1, 2, 3, 4, being shewn in Figures 1 and 2)
with special sleeping accommodation which is made removeable, or is
capable of being changed so as to afford accommodation for one or more
sleepers (accommodation for four sleepers in each compartment being
shewn in my Drawings) during the night, whilst forming sitting or
lounging accommodation during the day. The sleeping berths or couches
A, A', A", A", are disposed transversely to the carriage, the lower
ones A, A, A", which form the seats during the day (as shewn in
compartment No. 3) being made to draw out as hereinafter explained,
so as to form beds during the night, as shewn in the compartment 2

page_text: (Figure 1), and in the compartment 4 (Figure 2); a moveable table B
(shewn in compartment 3, which is arranged for day use) is provided
in cach compartment, which is adjusted to the partition C of the
carriage, between the seats A', A', as shewn on the right hand side of
the compartment 3 of the carriage, when required for use, by hooked
or other convenient attachments at a, and supported in front by a
hinged leg fitting into a socket in the floor.
h
The cushions A', A', are made according to an arrangement which has
been already proposed, and is well understood, on wooden frames in two
parts hinged or otherwise connected together so as to fold up at a right
or an obtuse angle the one to the other when used as a seat, the one
part folding up and forming the padded back of the seat, and the other
part forming the seat itself, as shown in compartment 3, the occupants
of the two seats A', A', facing each other on each side of the table.
When required for night use the table or flap B is unhooked from the
partition C, its leg or prop is folded under, and the whole is dropped
into a recess made to receive it behind the opposite seat A", as shown at
B. The hinged cushions A', A', are then drawn out till they meet each
other and fill up the space previously occupied by the table B, as shown
on the right hand side of the compartment 4 (Figure 2), thus forming a
transversely disposed sleeping couch, the overhanging portions of the
seats when thus drawn out being supported on the ledge c attached to
the partition. The opposite scat A" is disposed transversely to the
carriage, and when required for night use is slid or drawn out so as to
increase its width for sleeping upon, as shewn clearly on the left hand
side of compartiment 4 (Figure 2). The cushion, like that of the
seats A', is made on frames in two parts, hinged together so that the
back of the seat will when drawn out form a portion of the bed.
If desired one or more upper borths A may also be provided,
consisting of wooden supports or frames containing each a bed or
mattrass; these supports when not in use are elevated nearly to the
roof of the carriage, as shown in compartment 3 (Figure 1), by lifting
or pushing up the same by hand cords d, d, in connection with the
winding barrels, and barrel springs e, e, serving to relieve the weight.
Or if preferred, counterwights and cords may be employed, the weights
being enclosed in an air space formed in double partitions, which separate
the several compartments of the carriage. When lowered for sleeping
purposes (see compartment 2, Figure 1), or when elevated and out of

page_text: use, each berth rests upon spring bolts f, entering holes in the sides of
the carriage; or fixed rests or supports may be attached to the sides of the
carriage to receive the berth when lowered, other supports being employed
attached to springs so as to yield and allow the berths to pass freely on
being elevated, and to spring outwards again to form a support for the
herth in its elevated position. Curtain rods D carrying curtains E are
provided for screening the berths at night, and for separating the bed
room from the dressing room (E¹) of that compartment. The dressing
room of each compartment is provided with a lavatory F, fitted with
mirrors, and supplied with hot and cold water by the pipes g and h.
i is the waste pipe, carried down through the floor of the carriage; I is
a closet, fitted with a seat and urinal J, which closet is divided from the
rest of the compartment by a partition and separate door K of its own.
Each compartment may be warmed by a separate hot water, steam, or
hot air branch pipe L, connected at one end by a cock or valve / with
the main heating pipe M leading from the boiler or heater G (when
steam or hot water is used), and at the other end with the return
pipe M' (Figure 3). The heater which may be of any convenient or
well known construction is situate in a separate compartment (5), by
preference at one end of the carriage, or in lieu of connecting one end of
the branch or separate pipe L by a cock, with the main pipe M, and
the other end of the branch with the return pipe M', in each compart-
ment, the pipe M may have a branch leading from and returning to it in
each compartment, a cock in the main pipe allowing the circulation to
pass either directly along the main pipe, or into any of the branches as
required, or a continuous flow pipe or pipes extending in an unbroken
manner round the entire carriage may be employed so as to insure at all
times a uniform temperature in all the compartments in lieu of having a
branch to each compartment, with provision for regulating the tempe-
rature in each. I make no separate claim however to these modes of
warming a railway carriage. The compartment 5 contains special hot and
cold water tanks (not shown in the Drawings) for supplying the
lavatories, also suitable closets N for containing linen or other articles
required on the journey, also a bed O and washhand basin P for an
attendant who is to travel with each carriage.
The heating or circulating pipes may either be laid on the surface of the
floor or sunk below the surface so as to offer no obstruction, in the latter
case they would be laid in a metal lined trough covered by a grating G'.

page_text: (Figure 4) is a pipe for supplying the boiler with water from the supply
tank H. Gongs Q, Q, and indicators are also fitted in the attendant's
compartment which may be sounded from any one of the passenger
compartments by bell pulls fitted therein, and free communication is
had with any compartment by means of a foot board R passing along
each side the carriage, and a hand or safety rail from door to door.
The doors and windows may be of the usual construction, but I
prefer to make the doors to slide within the side of the carriage in
lieu of opening upon hinges, in this case the bottom and top of the
door S would be grooved, as shown in the transverse vertical section,
Figure 5, and would be fitted with rollers inside the groove, which
rollers run along the edge of the metal ridge secured across the
bottom and top of the door aperture. The rollers on the top of the
door should be mounted on springs so as to yield slightly and prevent
any binding or jambing of the door. The sides of the grooves should
be lined with felt or other sound-deadening and weatherproof material,
as shewn at m, m. I prefer that each door should be fitted with a
spring lock opened by a handle n only from the outside, and by a
special key from the inside, which key is hung by a cord or chain o
to the inside of the carriage convenient to the hand of the passenger.
An ordinary latch opened by a handle p only from the inside is also
fitted to the same door, which latch can only be opened from the
outside by means of a key carried by the guard or other attendant.
By this arrangement the officials have free access to any compartment,
whilst at the same time the occupants are protected from interference
from strangers so long as the inner latch is fastened. The windows T
may be of the usual construction, but I prefer to make them in the
form of moveable frames to open by raising them, and made adjustable
to any height of opening, and to secure the same in any position by
suitable locks or fastenings.
Figure 6 is a detail shewing a portion of a window T、 made to open
by sliding upwards, the frame of such window carrying a self-acting
gravitating catch lever q which when released engages by its own
gravity with one or other of the notches made in the stationary
metal strip 8 fixed to the side of the window opening, or to engage
into holes made in side plates fixed to the window casing, as shewn
in Figure 7. When the window is lifted for the purpose of opening
the same the upward pressure of the finger against the tail of the

page_text: catch lever releases the catch from its notch; but when the pressure
is removed the catch engages again by its own weight with one or other
of the notches and maintains the window at the desired clevation.
When shut down the catch engages into a reversed notch r, (Figure 6),
which effectually locks the window down in its closed position. If
desired a spring may be added to assist the descent of the catch
lever.
In some cases I propose to use double windows, as shewn in Figure 2,
the outer frame and glass being removable and replaced when required
by a frame containing fine wire gauze, which whilst admitting of free
circulation of air will exclude dust and cinders, the inner frame and
glass being made to open, as above described.
The roof the carriage has a longitudinal raised portion U formed
along the centre thereof, which is fitted at each side with ventilating
windows V, V, hinged at their lower edges, as shewn clearly in Figure 3,
and when opened are allowed to fall inwards at the upper part to any
required angle. A fine wire gauze covers the spaces or openings of these
windows on the outside for the purpose before mentioned. Other
ventilators are placed in the sides of the carriage over the windows T,
which ventilators I prefer to consist each of an opening provided with an
adjustable louvre or other regulator t, and having a fine wire gauze
screen u secured to the outside, which is protected from wet by a hood
or shield (see Figures 3 and 4) open on the under side only. In cases
where extra ventilation is required the carriage is provided with an air
flue W (Figures 1 and 2) extending under the floor of the carriage, and
furnished at each compartment with a valve or register at X, so as to
control the inlet of air into any one or more of the compartments, as
required. This air flue communicates at each end of the carriage with
an elevated funnel-shaped mouth piece Y covered with a fine wire gauze
screen, and provided with a self-acting flap or other valve to opening
inwards, so that in whatever direction the carriage is running a current
of cool air, freed from dust and cinders, will be caused to enter the
mouth of the front or leading end of the flue, and to traverse the flue
and enter those compartments, the regulators or registers X of which
have been left open. The flap valve in the front or leading mouth will
open by the pressure of the air and allow it to enter, but that in the rear
mouth will close, and by obstructing the free exit of the air therethrough
will ensure its entering one or other of the compartments. If preferred

page_text: the self acting valve to may be replaced by valves or dampers regulated
by the hand of the attendant.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that 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 combination of transversely disposed sleeping berths or
beds, and a watercloset or a lavatory supplied with hot and cold water,
and furnished with mirrors, or both a watercloset and a lavatory in a
single compartment of a railway passenger carriage, substantially as
herein-before described.
Second. The combination with the above of a baggage and service
room, which may or may not be fitted with a heater or hot water
apparatus, store closets, and facilities for preserving and serving refresh-
ments, the said baggage and service room being situate at the end or
middle of the carriage, as herein-before described.
Third. The use in cach compartment of a valve or register whereby
cool air can be admitted at pleasure, as herein-before described, from an
air flue under the floor.
Fourth. The general combination and arrangement of the internal
fittings of railway carriages, as and for the purpose herein-before
described and illustrated by the Drawing annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William D'Alton Mann, have to
this my Specification set my hand and scal, this Eighth day of
April One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.