Improvements in Car Platforms.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 17th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 20th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Car Platforms.
I, CHARLES ALBERT GOULD of 120 Broadway, New York City, in the
County and State of New York, United States of America, President do hereby.
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates generally to improvements in the construction of yielding
platforms of the construction in which springs are used to preserve the alignment
of the platforms, and to compensate for the shocks and jars incident to the use of
railway cars. The main object is to provide a continuous platform between the
cars, and to avoid uneven movement of two platforms in contact with each other.
Specifically, the invention consists in pivoting the platform centrally, the pivot
connection bearing against a rod centrally located and controlled by a powerful.
center spring, to secure the proper degree of resiliency. This rod extends
longitudinally, and the spring is preferably coiled between shoulders formed on the
rod. The platform is also pivoted at each end to a rod extending longitudinally,
and supported in the car frame, and these rods are each provided with springs
coiled about them, and confined between suitable shoulders. By this construction
the platform is made exceedingly resilient, and is forced to preserve a substantially-
perfect alignment with the platform of the other car with which it is in contact,
when the train is rounding a curve, and assumes its normal position, still preserving
such alignment, when the train is moving in a straight line. In rounding a curve,
one of the side springs is always compressed, and as the car moves in a straight
line, the tension of this spring is sufficient to force the platform to its normal
position. The invention includes details of construction relating to the arrange-
ment and construction of the pivotal connections, and the springs whereby the
most efficient results may be obtained, and the invention also includes the
combination with the platform of a threshold plate, secured to, and overlapping,
the same, whereby a uniform and even surface is obtained, and passengers are
enabled to pass from one car to another without danger of tripping.
Dated this 10th day of May 1894.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Car Platforms.
I, CHARLES ALBERT GOULD, President, of 120, Broadway, in the City,
County and State of New York, United States of America, 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 invention relates generally to improvements in the construction of yielding
platforms of the construction in which springs are used to preserve the alignment
of the platforms, and to compensate for the shocks and jars incident to the use of
railway cars. The main object is to provide a continuous platform between the
cars, and to avoid uneven movement of two platforms in contact with each other.
Specifically; the invention consists in pivoting the yielding platform centrally, the
pivot connection bearing against a rod centrally located and controlled by a
powerful center spring, to secure the proper degree of resiliency. This rod extends
Price 8d1

page_text: longitudinally, and the spring is preferably coiled between shoulders formed on the
rod. The platform is also pivoted at each end to a rod extending longitudinally,
and supported in the car frame, and these rods are each provided with springs
coiled about them, and confined between suitable shoulders. By this construction
the platform is made exceedingly resilient, and is forced to preserve a substantially
perfect alignment with the platform of the other car with which it is in contact,
when the train is rounding a curve, and assumes its normal position, still preserving
such alignment, when the train is moving in a straight line. In rounding a curve,
one of the sidesprings is always compressed, and as the car moves in a straight line,
the tension of this spring is sufficient to force the platform to its normal position.
The invention includes details of construction relating to the arrangement and
construction of the pivotal connections, and the springs whereby the most efficient
results may be obtained, and the invention also includes the combination with the
platform of a threshold plate, secured to, and overlapping, the same, whereby a
uniform and even surface is obtained, and passengers are enabled to pass from one
car to another without danger of tripping.
In the drawing illustrating my improvements, I have shown a top plan view
of the frame-work of a car platform, with my improvements connected thereto, the
parts being shown partially in section.
The yielding platform consists of a buffer plate A, which is an extension of the
platform proper, and is centrally pivoted at B, to a rod C, which I term the
buffer stem. This rod C, is secured in the frame-work as shown, its inner end
projecting into the recessed portion D. On this rod or buffer stem C, are
formed two shoulders E, E¹, between which a double coiled spring F, is
arranged. The buffer plate A, is also pivotally connected near each end to a
rod G, extending longitudinally and supported in the frame-work, and these
rods are each provided with springs H, coiled about them, and confined between
suitable shoulders. The pivotal connections of the rods C, and G, to the
buffer plate, are vertical in each case. It will be observed from this construction
that the buffer plate can rotate on its center pivot. B, when the train is rounding a
curve, compressing, when this occurs, either one or the other of the side springs H,
and when the car again moves in a. straight line, the tension of this spring will
force the buffer and its platform to the normal position. The double spring F,
and side springs H, are to be made of sufficient strength to secure the proper
degree of resiliency, and take up the shocks and jars incident to the movement of
the train of cars, and to prevent the uneven movement of the two platforms of this
construction in contact with each other. To secure a uniform and even surface for
the passengers to pass from one car to another, I provide a threshold plate I, which
is bolted to the top of the buffer A, and extends inwardly a sufficient distance to
secure this result. This threshold plate is shown by the dotted lines in the
drawing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A yielding platform comprising an extensible buffer pivoted at the center and
near each end to spring-controlled rods, which extend longitudinally into the car
frame, and are properly secured therein, substantially as described
2. A yielding platform comprising an extensible buffer pivoted at the center and
near each end to spring-controlled rods, which extend longitudinally into the car
frame, and are properly secured thereon, and a threshold plate secured to said
buffer, substantially as described.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.