IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WAGONS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Brown, of Darlington, in the County of
Durham, Mining Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WAGONS."
Sealed the 28th April 1854, and dated the 31st October 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 31st October 1858.
I, JOHN BROWN, of Darlington, in the County of Durham, Mining
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WAGONS" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction of all wagons, but prin-
cipally intended for coal or mineral traffic, and consists in making the
bodies or freight spaces in such a manner that they shall be suspended
from their framework in place of resting thereon, the lower portion
of the body descending below the axles to within a very short distance.
from the surface of the ground. The wagons are preferred to be of a.

page_text: circular conical shape, the narrow portion being below, so as to permit
the contents the better to slide through the bottom, which is so con-
structed as to slide when acted upon by a lever handle, and thus allow
the contents to drop into any receptacle below. The slide door in the
bottom may move on friction rollers in the guides at each side to lessen
the friction in opening and shutting, and may also have a rack and
pinion to open it or a screw; if thought preferable; or the door may be
made to open ongaccentre, or in any other convenient mode. It is
obvious that the same principle may be successfully applied to the con-
struction of any wagons that it is desirable to discharge below instead
of from above or alongside.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 29th April 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN BROWN, of Darlington, in the County of Durham, Mining
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of October, in the
year of our Lord. One thousand eight hundred and-fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Brown,. Her special
license that I, the said John Brown, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Brown, 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 WAGON'S," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said John Brown, by an instrument in writing under hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said

page_text: 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 John Brown, 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 by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say:
-
?
but,
My said Invention, relates to the construction of all wagons,.
principally intended for coal or mineral traffic, and consists in making,
the bodies or freight spaces in such a manner that they shall be sus-
pended from their framework in place of resting, thereon, the lower
portion of the body descending below the axles to within a very short.
distance. from the surface of the ground. The wagons are preferred: to
be of a circular conical shape, the narrow portion being below, so as to,
permit the contents the better to slide through the bottom, which is so
constructed as to slide when acted upon by a lever handle; and thus
allow the contents to drop into any receptacle below. The slide door, in
the bottom may move on friction rollers in the guides at each side to
lessen the friction in opening and shutting, and may also have a rack
and pinion to open it, or a screw, if thought preferable, or the door may:
be made to open on a centre, or in any other convenient mode. It is,
obvious that the same principle may be successfully applied to the con-
struction of any wagons that it is desirable to discharge below instead,
of from above or alongside.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, represents a side elevation-of
one of my improved wagons: Figure 2, is a corresponding plan of the
same, shewing one half of the cover of the wagon and the discharging:
at the bottom; and Figure 3, is an end elevation of the wagon. The
body of the wagon A is composed of wrought iron, and is suspended
from the frame work B by the straps or brackets C. The bottom of
the wagon,
which is of a conical rectangular shape with rounded
corners, is made to project below the level of the axle, and is fitted with

page_text: a discharging hinged door D, working on the hinges E, and secured
when closed by the fastenings F. A cover G of wrought iron is fitted
to the top of the wagon by hinges at H, which are formed with pro-
jecting stop pieces I upon them, to prevent the cover from turning
back entirely when opened. Covered wagons of this description will
be found very advantageous for loading coke ovens.
T
Figure 4, on the same Sheet of Drawings, represents a side eleva-
tion of another wrought iron waggon of a circular conical form;
Figure 5, is a plan of the body of the waggon; and Figure 6, an end
elevation of the same. The body of the waggon A is similarly sup-
ported in this arrangement to the arrangement already described. A
cover may also be fitted to this waggon, but in place of being hinged
thereto it would be let into a ledge formed round the upper portion
of the waggon. The discharging door C in this waggon, in place of
working. on hinges, is fitted in slides, as shown in the detail, Figure 7.
This door is actuated by à lever handle D, working on the fixed
centre E, and connected by a short link F to a lug or double eye
formed on the side of the door.
Figure 1, on Sheet 2 of my Drawings, represents a side elevation
of a rectangular waggon with the bottom extended below the axles;
and Figure 2, is a corresponding end elevation and partial section
of the same. In this waggon, in place of the discharging door being
fitted to the bottom, it is fitted to the side or end of the waggon
at A.
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 I do not confine
or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have
had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of my
said Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and there-
fore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hercin-before.in part
recited Letters Patent; is,
First, the construction of waggons with their bottoms projecting below
the axles, of wrought iron or other material, of a circular, oval, oblong.

page_text: or square shape, with the bottoms and discharging apertures below the
axles.
Second, the application and use of the sliding or hinged doors at the
bottom of the waggons, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the
Twenty-seventh day of April, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-four.
JOHN BROWN. (L.S.)