Improvements in Mail-bag Racks and Distributing Tables.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mail-bag Racks and Distributing Tables.
A communication from abroad by STEPHEN STRANGE, of Los Angeles, California,
United States of America, Contractor and Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the racks and tables employed in post offices and postal
cars in distributing the mail.
In the invention the racks for containing the bags and distributing tables are
formed of horizontal rods, mounted on bents consisting of pipe sections secured
together by pipe fittings to form a horizontally united series of perpendicular,
rectangular frames; a series of pipe sections of equal lengths screwed into the
fittings on the lower side of such frames to form the legs of the bent; pipe sections
of relatively increasing length screwed into the fittings on the upper side of the
frames and projecting upward therefrom to form supports for the horizontal rods of
the rack, and provided with pipe fittings in which such rods may be secured.
Two of these racks are fixed parallel with each other, leaving a narrow unobstructed
aisle between them, and one or more running distributing half tables are movably
mounted upon each rack frame and project therefrom half way across the aisle to
form, with its opposing half table, a complete distributing table, when the opposing
tables are made to coincide with each other.
The tables are preferably hinged to the hangings by which they are secured to
their respective running rails, and are adapted to be dropped, to hang down out of
the way when not in use.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mail-bag Racks and Distributing Tables.
A communication from abroad by STEPHEN STRANGE, of Los Angeles, California,
United States of America, Contractor and Manufacturer.
I WILLIAM PHILlips Thompson, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil 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 invention relates to the racks and tables employed in post offices and postal
cars in distributing the mail.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rack having four bents.
Figure 2 is an end view of the improved rack, showing one-half table on one frame
of the rack raised, and one-half table on the other frame of the rack lowered.
Figure 3 is a view of the half table and its supports looking towards the edge of
the table.

page_text: Figure 4 is a plan view of a rack frame of three bents showing four half tables
thereon, all raised in position for use.
Figure 5 is a plan of one of the half tables, showing, in dotted lines, the positions
of the rollers and braces.
Figure 6 is a sectional detail of the lower end of the swivelled lateral brace of the
table, when extended to support the table.
Figure 7 is a sectional detail of the rear of the half table and the top of the centre
or lateral brace when such brace is thrown back to allow the front of the half table to
drop. This section is taken on line a - Figure 5, when the brace is thrown back
and the table allowed to drop.
Figure 8 is a section on line y
between the rollers of the table.
-
- y Figure 5 showing the running rail clamped
Figure is a view of the hanging mechanism pertaining to the table, showing the
positions of the several parts when the table is raised.
Figure 10 is an end view, showing the upper part of the table hanging mechanism.
Figure 11 is a vertical, longitudinal section of a portion of the middle of the table,
on line z - :, Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a section showing the construction of the support rod and the swivelled
lateral brace.
The most convenient form of mail bag racks comprises a number of horizontal
rods of various relative heights upon which the bags are hung, the rods nearest,
'the distributor being the lowest. In the racks in ordinary use, these rods are
sustained by stong iron brackets having eyes therein into which the rods are inserted.
One object of this invention is to produce a form of rack lighter in weight and
cheaper of construction than those now used, and made almost wholly of gas pipe
and fittings, thereby reducing the difficulty of constructing such rack where large
castings are not easily procurable.
This object is accomplished by providing bents for sustaining the horizontal rods,
consisting of pipe sections secured together by T and cross pipe fittings to form a
horizontally united series of perpendicular rectangular frames; a series of pipe
sections of equal lengths screwed into the fittings on the lower side of such frames,
and projecting downward therefrom to form the legs of the bent; and pipe sections
of relatively increasing lengths screwed into the fittings on the upper side of the
frame and projecting upward therefrom to form supports for the horizontal rods
of, the rack, and provided with fittings into which such rods may be secured. The
legs of the bent are screwed into cast iron bases which are secured to the floor.
3
In the drawings, A A' represent the sections which form the rectangular frames,
B B are the T-fittings which secure the outside sections A' to the cross section A,
Care the cross fittings, D are the leg sections, and E E E E are the head
sections. The head sections of the bents forming the ends of the racks are provided
upon their upper ends with elbows F, and the head sections of the other bents are
provided with T-fittings G into which are screwed the ends of the horizontal rods
which are preferably made of gas pipe. H are the cast iron bases into which the leg
sections D are screwed.
Another object of this invention is to economise floor space and at the same time
increase the convenience and accessibility of the rack.
In order to accomplish this object, two rack frames are fixed parallel to each other
as commonly placed in railway postal cars, with a narrow, unobstructed aisle between
them, and each frame is provided with one or more running distributing half tables
movably mounted upon the frames and projecting therefrom half way across the
aisle to form with its opposing half table, a complete distributing table, when the
opposing half tables are made to coincide with each other. This feature of the
invention is clearly illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4.
I l'are the half tables, two of which are shown at the right of the sheet in Figure 4,
in their coincident position to form a complete distributing table, while two other
tables are shown separated to leave a passage-way there between, whereby easy access
is given to all parts of the aisle and to the tables which are made coincident.

page_text: The manner of using this feature of the invention is as follows:-
The mail bags for different destinations are grouped upon the rack with reference
to their relation to the postal service, and the mail which is destined for the placos
represented by one of such groups is placed upon one of the half tables or upon a
complete table which is placed near such group of bags, and the mail is distributed
and thrown in, in the usual manner. When it is desired to remove the bags, the
tables may be slid out of the way and made to alternate in their opposite positions,
so as to leave an unobstructed zigzag passage-way from end to end of the rack.
The tables are provided along the back and ends of their upper face with upright
guards J, square at the free edge of the half table, so that, when two of the half
tables are made to coincide to form the complete distributing table, the square
ends of the opposing guards will brace against each other and strengthen the
table whenever the weight upon the table is so great as to spring it and bend it
down at the mid-line between such two half tables.
In order that the tables may be readily moved from one end to the other of the
racks and be well supported at all times and in all positions, there is provided an
upper and a lower running rail along the aisle side of such rack frame.
The upper
running rail K is secured upon the top ends of upright bracket arms L, the bases of
which are secured to the aisle sides of the bents of the rack and project therefrom
into the aisle so as to leave a space between the rail and the bents of the rack
frame to allow for the passage of the table hangers.
The rail K is greater in
diameter than the bracket arm L. The top and sides of the upper rail are thus
left free from projections. The lower running rail M. is secured to the tops of
lugs N on the aisle bases H', and the top of the rail is left free and unobstructed.
The table is secured to the racks by suitable mechanism or hangers, illustrated by
Figures 3 and to 12 inclusive.
Two perpendicular grooved wheels O are secured to the under side of the table
near to the rear edge thereof with their front peripheries on a line parallel with the
axis of the table, and two vertical anti-friction rollers P are secured to the under side
of the table with their rear peripheries on a line parallel with the axis of the table,
and with a space between the line of the front peripheries of the grooved wheels and
the rear peripheries of the anti-friction rollers approximately equal to the diameter of
the running rail K, so that when the table is in position, as shown in Figure 10, the
running rail is clasped between the grooved wheels and anti-friction rollers. The
table rests upon a perpendicular support rod Q secured to the under side of the table
and having at its lower end a grooved caster wheel R, which rests upon the top of the
lower running rail M. The rod Qis braced by longitudinal braces S S, secured to
the lower end of the support rod Q and to the bottom of the table. The flanges of
the grooved caster wheel hold the lower end of the support rod Q upon the lower
running rail M. A lateral brace U is secured to and extends from the rod Q up to
the under side of the table near its front edge to support the table.
In order that the table may be dropped, as shown in Figures 2 and 7, it is
preferably divided longitudinally near the rear edge of the table, and between the
anti-friction rollers and the front edge of the table, so that the hangers of the table
are all mounted upon the rear section I. Hinges T, fastened to the under side of
the table, secure the front and rear sections of the table together. Thus the front
section I is hinged to the rear section I', which is rigidly secured to the running
rails of the rack, by the hangers, consisting of the grooved wheels, caster wheel,
anti-friction rollers, and support rod and braces. The lateral support arm or brace U
is swivelled upon the perpendicular support rod so as to swing back and forth
beneath the table. It is secured to the support Q by two T-fittings V VI, forming
journals around the support rod Q.
The fitting V is held at the height desired by a collar W and set screw X, and the
lower fitting V is held in place by a collar Y which may be secured in like manner
or by being screwed upon the rod, as shown in Figure 6.
The supports which sustain the table are of such length as to hold the table a
slight distance above the upper running rail, so that the whole weight of the table

page_text: i
is sustained by the caster wheel R. The lateral pressure is sustained by the grooved
wheels and anti-friction rollers which clasp the upper running rail.
A catch-plate Z, having its under face bevelled at the ends, is secured to the centre
of the under side of the table in the path of the upper convex end or head a of the
support brace. There is a slight depression in the centre of the under face of the
catch-plate, into which the head a will seat itself when the brace is thrown around to
support the table, as shown in Figure 3. The head a is higher than the bottom line
of the upper running rail k. so that when it is thrown back to allow the front section
of the table to drop, the head will strike upon the rail and will be thereby held
from swinging against the brackets L, so that when the table is dropped, as shown in
Figure 7, it can be pushed freely along from one end to the other of the rack.
When it is desired to remove the tables from the rack, they are pushed along the
running rail and off at the end thereof. The racks are capable of indefinite extension,
and any desired number of tables may be placed upon the racks by running them on
at the end of the rail. The grooved wheel and the grooved caster R effectually
prevent the tables from being removed in any other way than by running them off at
the end, as above set forth. The end of the upper running rail is provided with a
screw cap which serves as a stop to prevent the table from being accidentally run
I from the rail. The cap is unscrewed when it is desired to remove the tables. The
aisle bases H need not project so far from the rack as is desirable for the bracket
arm L, but it is necessary that the support rod Q be perpendicular so that the support
brace will swing in a level plane: the support rod therefore has its upper end curved
outward from the rack into the aisle to escape the brackets L. d. d. represent the
mail bags. e e ele are the horizontal rods of the rack.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a mail bag rack, bents for sustaining the horizontal rods, consisting of pipe
sections secured together by pipe fittings to form a horizontally united series of
perpendicular rectangular frames: a series of pipe sections of equal lengths screwed
into the fittings on the lower side of such frames to form the legs of the bent; and
pipe sections of relatively increasing length screwed into the fittings on the upper side
of the frames, and projecting upward therefrom to form supports for the horizontal
rods of the rack, and provided with pipe fittings in which such rods may be secured.
2. A mail bag rack comprising the combination of two rack frames fixed parallel to
each other with a narrow unobstructed aisle between them, and one or more running
distributing half tables movably mounted upon each rack frame and projecting there-
from half way across the aisle to form, with its opposing half table, a complete
distributing table when the opposing tables are made to coincide with each other.
3. In a nail bag rack such as set forth, the combination of two rack frames fixed
parallel to each other with a narrow unobstructed aisle between them; a movable
running distributing half table provided along the back and ends of its upper face
with upright guards J square at the free edge of the table, mounted upon one of such
frames and projecting therefrom half way across such aisle and a like table similarly
mounted upon the other frame.
4. In a mail bag rack such as set forth, the combination with the frame of the rack
of the upright bracket arms L secured to the bents of the rack and projecting
therefrou into the aisle; the upper running rail, greater in diameter than the
bracket arins, secured upon the top ends of such arms; the lower running rail M ;
two perpendicular grooved wheels O secured to the under side of the table near to
the rear edge thereof with their front peripheries on a line parallel to the axis of
the table; two vertical anti-friction rollers secured to the under side of the table
with their rear peripheries on a line parallel with the axis of the table, and with a
space between the line of the front peripheries of the grooved wheels and the rear
peripheries of the anti-friction rollers approximately equal to the diameter of the
upper running rail; a perpendicular support rod secured to, the under side of the

page_text: table and having at its lower end a grooved caster wheel, resting upon the top of
the lower running rail; longitudinal braces secured to the lower end of the support
rod and to the bottom of the table, and a lateral support brace secured to the
support rod and extending up to the under side of the table.
5. In a mail bag rack such as set forth, the combination of the running, movable
half table secured to the rack by suitable mechanism and divided longitudinally near
the rear edge, between such mechanism and the front edge of the table; hinges
securing the front and rear sections of the table together, the perpendicular support
rod, and the lateral support brace U swivelled upon the support rod.
6. In a mail bag rack such as set forth, the combination with the running rails
of the rear section I' of the table rigidly secured to the running rails by suitable
hangers; such hangers; the front section I of the table hinged to the rear section ;.
and a swivelled support brace secured to the rear section of the table.
7. In a mail bag rack such as set forth, the combination with the running rail
of the rear section I¹ of the running table, provided with suitable hanging
mechanism; the front section 1 of the running table hinged to the rear section,.
the perpendicular support rod Q, the T fittings V V₁ forming journals around the
support rod Q; the collar W and set screw X, the collar Y; lateral support brace U
with the convex head a on its upper end; the catch plate Z secured to the table
and having its under face bevelled at the ends and having a slight depression /
in the under face of the catch plate.
Dated this 19th day of October 1889
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.