Improved Appliances or Means for Controlling the Lowering of Rail- way Wagon-doors and for assisting in Raising or Closing same.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improved Appliances or Means for Controlling the Lowering of Rail-
way Wagon-doors and for assisting in Raising or Closing same.
I, JOHN DONNELLY, 309, Bury New Road, Higher Broughton, Manchester,
Lancashire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This my invention has reference to improved appliances or means for attach-
ment to railway-wagons having a side door or a door in their flooring or bottom
for preventing such doors banging when lowered or opened and to assist in raising
such doors when pressure or weight is removed from same, or when being lifted
or closed.
In carrying this invention into practice I bolt or otherwise attach two suitably
shaped cast-iron or cast-steel eye-bearings or brackets to the underside of the
crib-rail or sole-bar of such vehicles at a suitable distance apart and at a suitable
distance from the hinges connecting the door of such wagons to their framing for
supporting the ends of a wrought-iron or steel rod or shaft of suitable size
parallel to or about parallel to such crib-rail or sole-bar, and on such shaft adjacent
to or against either of the said bearings or brackets I mount a suitably shaped
toothed metallic wheel having a circular or segmental flange or lug cast on one of
its sides and I pivot a suitably shaped metallic pawl above the said toothed-wheel
to the bearing bracket nearest thereto.
On or around the said shaft I loosely mount a coiled steel spring of suitable
size and length so that its end nearest to such toothed-wheel may be connected
or fastened to the circular or segmental lug at the side of such wheel, the opposite
end of such spring being doubled or lengthened out for a suitable distance at
right-angles, or at about right-angles to the axis of the said shaft beneath the
door of such wagons so as to press upward after being adjusted, such spring being
retained in such adjusted position by the said pawl engaging with the said toothed
wheel beneath same.
After a suitable catch, bolt or fastening has been released such wagon-door will
be counterbalanced or nearly so by the said coiled spring: but if goods, weight
or pressure are bearing down upon such doors they will be forced downward thus
liberating the goods or material bearing on same and at the same time tightening
such coiled spring on the said shaft; which compressed spring when downward
pressure is removed from such door will assist to raise such door.
In a modification of the above and in addition thereto I loosely mount a suit-
ably shaped metallic sleeve or pulley having a circular or segmental flange or lug
cast on one of its sides on the said horizontal shaft against or adjacent to the
eye-bearing or bracket opposite to that against which the toothed-wheel is fitted
and to the lug of which wheel one end of the said coiled spring is fastened, the
other end of such spring I connect to the flange or lug of such sleeve or pulley
instead of bending such end of the said spring at right-angles to the axis of its
shaft, and to such sleeve I pivottally connect one end of a steel or like suitable

page_text: metallic chain so as to partially embrace such sleeve after such spring has been
adjusted, the other end of such metallic chain being pivottally connected to one
end of a suitably shaped steel or other suitable metallic link or lever, the other
end of such link being pivottally connected to one end of a wrought-iron or like
suitable metallic bar rigidly bolted or fixed to the door of such wagons.
After a suitable catch, bolt or fastenings have been released such wagon doors
will be counterbalanced or nearly so by the adjusted coiled spring of such
appliances; but if pressure or a weight bears against or upon such doors, such
doors will be forced outwards or downwards and cause the metallic chain to
rotate or partially rotate the metallic sleeve or pulley and tighten or compress
the coiled spring at the same time, after weight or pressure has been removed from
such doors the said tightened or compressed spring will close or assist to raise and
close such doors.
When it is found that the resiliency or strength of such spring is impaired or
weakened such impairment is compensated by rotating the toothed-wheel on its
shaft by any suitable means so as to tighten or compress such spring, and is
retained in such compressed state by the free end of the pawl engaging with the
said toothed-wheel to prevent such wheel receding.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1898.
JOHN NEWTON,
Longport, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs,
Agent for Applicant.
Improved Appliances or Means for Controlling the Lowering of Rail-
way Wagon-doors and for assisting in Raising or Closing same.
I, JOHN DONNELLY, 309, Bury New Road, Higher Broughton, Manchester,
Lancashire, 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:-
This my invention has reference to improved appliances or means for attach-
ment to railway-wagons or like vehicles having a door or doors in or at one or
both of their sides, or in their bottom or flooring, the objects of my said invention
being to prevent such doors banging when lowered or opened, and to assist in
raising or closing such doors when pressure or weight is removed therefrom, or
when being lifted or closed.
In order that my said invention may be more readily understood and explained
in detail I have hereunto annexed two sheets of drawings on which letters of
reference are marked.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
i
Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of such appliances which I preferably
bolt or attach to the outer surface of the crib-rail or sole-plate of such vehicles
which have a side door or doors.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by
arrow A as it would appear after removal of one of its bracket-bearings.
Figure 3 is an end sectional elevation of the crib-rail of a railway-wagon having
a bottom door, shewing a modified form of such appliance fitted thereto.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the appliance shewn at Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an elevation of one side of a railway-wagon shewing the position
in which I prefer to fit or fix such appliances to the hinged door and crib-rail of
such wagons.

page_text: Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of Figure 5 taken on the line B--C looking
in the direction indicated by arrow D, and
Figure 7 is a similar elevation of the wagon-side to that shewn at Figure 5;
but having two of such appliances fitted thereto.
On referring to the drawings hereto annexed a, b represent cast-iron, malleable
iron or steel brackets bolted to the crib-rail or sole-plate c of a railway-wagon
for supporting horizontally a cylindrical wrought-iron or steel shaft d parallel
to, or about parallel to such crib-rail, on such shaft d adjacent to the bearing-
bracket a I mount or loosely fit a cast-iron or like suitable metallic toothed-
wheel e having a circular lug f formed on its inner side, and a metallic pawl g
pivotted to such bracket above such toothed-wheel.
On or around the said shaft d I loosely mount a coiled steel or other suitable
metallic spring so that its end nearest to such toothed-wheel may be fastened
or connected to the said lug f, the opposite end of such spring I fasten or connect
to the circular or segmental lug cast or formed on the side of the grooved
metallic sleeve or pulley ; loosely mounted on the said shaft d adjacent to one
of the bracket bearings, to such pulley within its groove I pivottally fasten or
fix one end of a steel, a copper or like suitable band, strap or chain of suitable
length, width and thickness, the other end of such band, strap or chain being
pivottally connected to one end of a suitably shaped steel or other suitable
metallic link or lever m, the opposite end of such link being pivottally connected
to one end of the wrought-iron or steel strap or bar n bolted to the door of
such wagon.
After a slidable or other suitable catch, bolt or fastenings have been released
the wagon door o will be counterbalanced or nearly counterbalanced by the
adjustable coiled spring of such appliances; but if pressure or weight bears
against the inner surface of such door, the outer or free end of such door will be
forced downwards, and cause the metallic band, strap or chain to partially rotate
the metallic sleeve or pulley j and tighten or compress such coiled spring at the
same time, after pressure or weight has been removed from such door, such
tightened or compressed spring will assist to raise and close such door.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings hereto annexed which shew a
modification of the appliance illustrated at Figures 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7, and intended
for attachment to railway-wagons having a door or doors in their flooring or
bottom I dispense with the pulley j, band, strap or chain 7, lever or link m, and
strap or barn, and double or lengthen out the free end h² of the coiled spring h
at right-angles or at about right-angles to the axis of the shaft d so as to press
upward after being adjusted against the wagon-door o.
After a suitable catch, bolt or fastenings has been released such bottom door
will be counterbalanced or nearly so by the upward pressure of the free end h²
of the said coiled spring h; but if weight is bearing down upon such door; the
outer or free end of such door will be forced downwards so as to liberate the
goods or material bearing on same, at the same time compressing or tightening
The spring by bearing down upon the doubled or lengthened out free end h² of
such spring, which spring when weight or downward pressure is removed from
such door will assist to raise such door.
A wrought-iron, a steel or other suitable metallic plate 3 of suitable size may
with advantage be screwed on to, or recessed into the underside of such doors to
prevent damage thereto by the pressure and rubbing of the free-end 2 of such
spring when such door is being lowered or closed.
The coiled spring of such appliances may be left uncovered as shewn at
Figure 4; but I prefer to enclose or surround such springs with a wrought-iron,
a steel, a brass or other suitable tubular covering h* of suitable length and
thickness to prevent dust or other matter settling thereon.
When it is found that the resiliency or strength of the spring of such appliances
is impaired or weakened, such impairment can be compensated by rotating or
partially rotating the toothed wheel e and its lug f on the shaft d. by placing

page_text: one end of a suitable "tommy-pin" or bolt alternately in the holes of such
lug, such tightened spring being retained in its compressed state, and the wheel e
with its lugf from recoiling by the free end of the pawl g engaging into or with
the said toothed-wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The novel or improved arrangement or combination of appliances for
attachment to the crib-rail e and outer surface of the side door or doors o of
railway wagons or like vehicles hinged at their lower side in which an adjustable
metallic coiled spring around a horizontal metallic shaft d is compressed or
tightened each time such vehicle doors are lowered or opened, and the means for
compensating the resiliency of such coiled spring, for ensuring impetus to assist
in raising or closing such vehicle doors as herein substantially described, arranged
and illustrated at Figures 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 on the drawings hereto annexed.
2. The novel or improved arrangement or combination of appliances for attach-
ment to the crib-rail c of railway-wagons having a hinged door or doors in their
flooring or bottom in which an adjustable coiled spring h around a horizontal
metallic shaft d is compressed each time such vehicle door or doors are lowered
or opened and press down upon the free or lengthened out end h² of the coiled
metallic spring h to ensure impetus for assisting to raise or close such vehicle
doors as herein substantially described, arranged and illustrated at Figures 3 and 4
on the drawings hereto annexed.
JOHN NEWTON,
Longport, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs,
Agent for Applicant.