IMPROVEMENTS IN WAGGONS AND TRUCKS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Campbell Martin, of Kurhurballed Collieries,
Giridhi, East India Railway, in the Province of Bengal, in the East Indies,
but at present of Calcutta, in the East Indies, for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENT FAR
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Campbell Martin at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd June 1881.
JOHN CAMPBELL MARTIN, of Kurhurballee Collieries, Giridhi, East India
Railway, in the Province of Bengal, in the East Indies, but at present of Calcutta,
in the East Indies. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WAGGONS AND TRUCKS."
My Invention relates to the facility by which any loaded waggon or truck,
whether used on railway or common road, can be emptied of its load in such a
manner as to leave its road quite clear of the discharged load.
The object of my Invention is to reduce the labor required for unloading railway
or other waggons or trucks to a minimum, and also to make them answer the
double purpose of carrying loads which require to be unloaded in the ordinary
manner, or of carrying loads which may be allowed to drop or fall, such as coal,
grain in bulk, lime, soorkee, ballast, etcetera.
The floor or bottom of the waggon or truck is adjustable, and may be fixed so as to
be level or higher along its longitudinal line than other parts of its surface, like a
double slope roof.
The sides are attached to the body of the waggon by double and single eyes
and pinbolts, which act as hinges, and allow them to open out (when released by
the lever or handle provided for that purpose) by the tendency of the load in the
waggon seeking its natural angle. When loaded, or adjusted for loading, these
sides are kept in their places by iron weigh bars and claws connected to a handle
by two dragbars.
The adjustment from the level to any required slope of the floor is obtained by
a rack and pinion worked by a handle or ratchet at either end, and which is con-
nected with a sliding collar, to which are attached by means of single and double
[Price Sd1

page_text: The waggon may be constructed for special purposes without the rack and
pinion adjustment above described.
The floor is not only supported by the struts already described, but also by
supports which are attached close to the extremities of the ribs, and which as soon
as the floor is brought to the level become plump and drop into a seat.
Below the adjustable floor another is provided, and the space between the two
can be utilized in various ways.
TABLE OF PRINCIPAL PARTS.
First. The framework of the waggon, axles, and wheels.
Second. The flaps, which are hinged to the top pieces of the framework of the
body and form the sides of the waggon.
Third. The hinges which attach the flaps to the frame; fourth, claws keyed and
pinned to a horizontal bar which serves the purpose of keeping the claws fast
against the bottom of the flaps or of releasing the flaps when required; fifth,
metal brackets bolted to the bottom of the frame of the body to carry the horizontal
bar aforesaid; sixth, a lever, to which are attached two draw bars, the other ends
of which are connected to the horizontal bar aforesaid by means of two arms;
seventh, the bottom of the vehicle, which may be either a fixture or it may be
movable, and 80 constructed as to be merely hinged together and kept detached
from the framework of the waggon, to be used only when required, by being fixed
either permanently or temporarily to uprights and horizontal pieces or to either so
as to form when so placed a centre ridge from which the bottom acquires a
descending slope towards the sides.
In shape, the waggon to be fitted with my Invention may be either rectangular
or with slant sides.
The sides as flaps may be kept fast to the frame by any other means than the
system of levers already described as by pins.
The sloping bottom may or may not extend beyond the frame of the body.
THE MODE OF ACTION 18 AS FOLLOWS:-
By releasing the side flaps, either by means of the system of levers already
described or by removing the pins, or by any other suitable means, the load in the
waggon is discharged by sliding down the two inclined planes which the bottom
forms. Without forming any impediment to either the forward or backward
progress of the waggon because the impetus acquired by the load in sliding down
the inclined plane trajects it sufficiently beyond the rails (if a railway) or course
(of a road) to prevent the natural angle of the discharged load becoming an
obstruction.
For unloading covered waggons from one of the sides only on to a wharf, the
pin arrangement is necessary in addition to the lever adjustment to prevent the
reverse side from springing open, but the lever appliance is intended principally
for materials which have to be unloaded on both sides of the waggon's road.
Appliances for unloading elsewhere can of course be made to suit the circumstances
of the case.
The sloping bottom can bo constructed so as to be capable of being raised to a
level so as to render any waggon or truck, etcetera, fitted with my Invention
servicable for carrying loads which do not need or will not bear being trajected
down an inclined plane. A waggon, truck, or vehicle so fitted may be utilised for
carrying material of any sort, and at the same time possess the capability of
discharging itself when requisite with a minimum expenditure of labor.
Ballast waggons or trucks used in lying out railways in the course of construction,
or other roads, can be made with the sloping bottom latitudinally as well as

page_text: longitudinally, thus allowing the ballast to be discharged in any position necessary
or convenient. In the case of latitudinally angular bottoms the slope can be fixed
at any required angle.
REMARKS.
First. For general use the horizontal angle or the slope of the bottom may be
thirty degrees; second, the loss in the carrying capacity occasioned by the bottom
being pent can be made good by increasing either the length or height of the
waggon without elevating the centre of gravity to any appreciable extent, because
the height to be increased for this purpose is to the height of the ridge of sloping
bottom only as one half is to one; third, arrangements can easily be made, by
means of which the load can be made to fall under the waggon after coming through
its sides for the purpose of shipping coal, et cetera, from jotties or gears; but I do
not claim such arrangement as any part of my Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Campbell Martin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd December 1881.
JOHN CAMPBELL MARTIN, of Kurhurballee Collieries, Giridhi, East India
Railway, in the Province of Bengal, in the East Indies, but at present of Calcutta,
in the East Indies. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WAGGONS AND TRUCKS."
My Invention relates to the facility by which any loaded waggon or truck,
whether used on railway or common road, can be emptied of its load in such a
manner as to leave its road quite clear of the discharged load.
The object of my Invention is to reduce the labor required for unloading railway
or other waggons or trucks to a minimum, and also to make thein answer the
double purpose of carrying loads which require to be unloaded in the ordinary
manner, or of carrying loads which may be allowed to drop or fall, such as coal,
grain in bulk, lime, soorkee, ballast, et cetera.
The floor or bottom of the waggon or truck is adjustable and may be fixed so as
to be level or higher along its longitudinal line than other parts of its surface, like
a double slope roof.
The sides are attached to the body of the waggon by double and single eyes and
pinbolts, which act as hinges and allow them to open out (when released by the
lever or handle provided for that purpose) by the tendency of the load in the
waggon secking its natural angle. When loaded or adjusted for loading these sides
are kept in their places by iron weigh bars and claws connected to a handle by two
dragbars.
The adjustment from the level to any required slope of the floor is obtained by
a rack and pinion worked by a handle or ratchet at either end, and which is
connected with a sliding collar, to which are attached by means of single and
double eyes and pinbolts two struts; the off ends of these struts are similarly
attached to the ribs which support the adjustable bottom of the waggon.
The waggon may be constructed for special purposes without the rack and pinion
adjustment above described.
The floor is not only supported by the struts already described, but also by
supports, which are attached close to the extremities of the ribs, and which as soon
as the floor is brought to the level become plumb and drop into a seat.
Below the adjustable floor another is provided and the space between the two can
be utilized in various ways.
The advantages of waggons so constructed over those at present known or
invented are as follows:-Economy of time and labor for unloading, being actually
self unloading. Durability; it being subject to less wear and tear than ordinary
tip trucks, inasmuch as it does not require to be tilted. This quality is also
obtained by its load discharging itself without causing the least shock or strain on
any part of the waggon. Simplicity of construction as compared with other
descriptions of tip waggons; its weight of load being lower down on the axles
secures greater case in running and occasions less wear and tear to itself and its
road; it discharges its load clear of its road; it is suitable for railways or ordinary
roads and for any gaugo; it answers the purpose of an ordinary hopper waggon,
and has much more carrying capacity. For ballasting roads for railways it is
admirably adapted and requires an infinitesimal amount of labor to unload as
compared with that required to unload an ordinary ballast waggon. It is as
serviceable as any ordinary waggon for carrying packed merchandize or goods of
any description, public works material, army commisariat or ordnance stores,
troops, or cattle. It is especially suitable for coal tubs, coal waggons, waggons for

page_text: carrying building materials, such as lime, soorkee, sand; and for all 100se 10ads,
ballast, et cetera, it is unequalled. For wharves the waggon can be provided with
detached or portable shoot, by means of which its load can be discharged with a
minimum of labor into any other waggon, ship, or depot lower than the wharf it is
running on.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is the end elevation of a vehicle of rectangular section fitted with my
Invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverso
section of the same; Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 5 is
half the end clevation of a vehicle with slant sides fitted with my Invention ;
Fig. 6 is half the vertical transverse section of ditto; Fig. 7 is the end elevation of
a vehiclo (with part of the shell removed) shewing an arrangement by means of
which a waggon, cart, truck, or vehicle fitted with my Invention may be used either
for ordinary purposes or for the purpose of discharging its own load.
A is the framework of the waggon; B are the flaps, which are hinged to the top
picces of the framework of the body and form the sides of the waggon; C aro the
hinges which attach B to A; D are claws keyed and pinned to E, a horizontal bar,
which serves the purpose of keeping the claws D fast against the bottom of the
flaps B, or of releasing tho flaps B when required; F are metal brackets bolted to
the bottom of the frame of the body to carry the horizontal bar E; G is a lever, to
which are attached two draw bars H, H, the other ends of which are connected to
the horizontal bars E by means of two arms J, J; K is the bottom of the vehicle,
which may be either a fixture or it may be moveable and so constructed as to be
merely hinged together and kept detached from the framework of the waggon, to
be used only when required, by being fixed either permanently or temporarily to
uprights L, shewn in Fig. 6, and horizontal pieces M, or to either, so as to form
when so placed a centre ridge from which the bottom acquires a descending slope
towards the sides.
In shape the waggon to be fitted with my Invention may be either rectangular,
as in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, or with slant sides, as shewn in Figs. 5 and 6, marked P.
The sides as flaps may bo kept fast to the frame by any other means than the
system of levers already described, as by pins, shewn in Figs. 5 and 6. The sloping
bottom may or may not extend beyond the frame of the body.
The mode of action is as follows:-By releasing the side flaps either by means
of the system of levers already described, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, or by
removing the pins P, P, shown in Fig. 5, or by any other suitable means, the load
in the waggon is discharged by sliding down the two inclined planes which the
bottom K forms. Without forming any impediment to either the forward or
backward progress of the waggon, because the impetus acquired by the load in
sliding down the inclined plane trajects it sufficiently beyond the rails (of a
railway) or course (of a road) to prevent the natural angle of the discharged load
becoming an obstruction.
For unloading covered waggons from one of the sides only on to a wharf, the pin
arrangement shewn in Fig. 5 is necessary in addition to the lever adjustment
to prevent the reverse side from springing open, but the lever appliance is
intended principally for materials which have to be unloaded on both sides of the
waggon's road. Appliances for unloading elsewhere can of course be made to suit
the circumstances of the case.
Variety of Application-In Fig. 7 is shewn a means by which the sloping
O bottom can be constructed so as to be capable of being raised. to a level so as to
render any waggon or truck, et cetera, fitted with my Invention serviceable for
carrying loads which do not need or will not bear being trajected down an inclined
plane. A waggon, truck, or vehicle so fitted may be utilised for carrying material
of any sort, and at the same time possess the capability of discharging itself when
5 required with a minimum expenditure of labor.

page_text: Ballast waggons or trucks used in laying out railways in the course of
construction or other roads can be made with the sloping bottom latitudinally as
well as longitudinally, thus allowing the ballast to be discharged in any position
necessary or convenient. In the case of latitudinally angular bottoms the slope
can be fixed at any required angle.
Remarks. 1. For general use the horizontal angle or the slope of the bottom
may be thirty degrees. 2. The loss in the carrying capacity occasioned by the
bottom being pent can be made good by increasing either the length or height of
the waggon without elevating the centre of gravity to any appreciable extent,
because the height to be increased for this purpose is to the height of the ridge of
sloping bottom only as one half is to one. 3. Arrangements can easily be made by
means of which the load can be made to fall under the waggon after coming
through its sides for the purpose of shipping coal, el cetera, from jetties or gears;
but I do not claim such arrangement as any part of my Invention.
Having now described my Invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new and desire
to protect under the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The manufacture of waggons or trucks with the floor fixed obliquely to
the horizontal, substantially as and for the purposes described.
Second. In the manufacturo of waggons or trucks, constructing and supporting
the floor in such manner that while its overhang is approximately equal all round,
by releasing hinged or removeable sides or equivalent apparatus the bottom, while
still vertically over the framework of the wagon, shall be rendered sloping for
the purpose of discharging its load either at the side or end, substantially as
described.
Third. The method of adjustment, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 7.
Fourth. The combination of the fixed or adjustable angular bottom and the
sides connected and kept in position as above described, and which by the releasing
action of the levers allows an almost instantaneous discharge of the contents of the
waggon or truck with the smallest amount of manual power, and in a much
smaller period of time than that occupied in unloading any non-tipping waggon
with fixed floor at present in usc.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Campbell Martin, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
H. H. REMFRY,
Solicitor,
J. REMFRY,
5, Fancy Lane,
Calcutta.
Attorney at Law,
5, Fancy Lane,
Calcutta.
JOHN CAMPBELL MARTIN. (L.S.)