Improvements relating to the Supports and Coverings of Railway Wagons or Trucks and the like, and the Means for Securing and Manipulating same.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Sept., 1896-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Supports and Coverings of Railway
Wagons or Trucks and the like, and the Means for Securing and
Manipulating same.
I, JAMES BACKHOUSE, of Whitchurch, Hants, Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to provide means whereby the covering or
uncovering of the usual well known tarpaulin cloths, and also fastening the ends
of the covering cloth to the sides &c. of the truck are effected in a more
expeditious and efficaceous manner than has been attainable by means of devices
hitherto adopted.
Now in accordance with my invention I mount the horizontal ridge pole, at
each end of the truck, upon two vertical arms or standards, having their bottom
ends forked and slotted so that they will be supported and capable of rocking
upon two pins or lugs, secured, by suitable brackets to the ends of the wagon or
truck. A spiral spring one end of which is attached at about the centre of the
end of the truck, and the other end to the vertical forked arm above referred to
is employed, and the function of which spring is hereinafter stated. I also secure
to the vertical forked arms or supports clip bolts or hooks, which partly encircle
double curved guide bars, for holding or retaining the said vertical forked arms
or supports in their proper position.
In cases where my improved coverings are adapted to shallow or low trucks
the forked ends of the vertical arms or standards are kneed inwardly, so as not to
interfere with the operator when in the act of coupling together the trucks.
The arrangement for fastening the ends of the cloths used in connection with
my invention are as follows; viz. :-I attach to the ends of the cloth at a suitable
distance apart, small straps or bands having eyelet holes therein, which fit over
drop cottar bolts which latter may either consist of a drop cottar bolt, such as
described in the Specification of my Patent No. 20217 of 1893; or, a drop cottar
bolt having a spring encircling same for retaining the drop cottar in its proper
position. Another device of drop cottar bolt, used in accordance with my
invention consists in providing in the base of the bolt a spiral or like spring
acting upon a small piston or plunger which bears against the drop cottar thus
holding same in position. I also make use of a spring hook, which is made
triangular in shape, and having a double hook at each end, so that separate bands
or straps, provided with eyelets-or ropes may be attached to the cloths for
fastening same to the trucks. When ropes are used suitable T bolts are employed,
to which latter the rope is fastened.
In proceeding, according to my invention, to apply the tarpaulin or covering to
a wagon or truck; the horizontal ridge pole is first thrown over to one side of
the truck, the force of its fall being reduced to a minimum by the action of the
herein before referred to spiral springs; the cloth or tarpaulin is then placed over
same and opened out, when the ridge pole is raised to its normal position, the
weight being partly carried by the spiral springs; the cloth is then brought over
to each side of the truck and finally secured by any of the means above
described.

page_text: I may also when desired secure to the inside of the cloth at their centres small
eyeletted bands for securing said cloth to the ridge pole for holding same in its
proper position when the wagon or truck is only partly uncovered for loading or
unloading purposes.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1895.
V. LAZARUS,
1 Furnival Street, E.C., Agent for Applicant.
Improvements relating to the Supports and Coverings of Railway
Wagons or Trucks and the like, and the Means for Securing and
Manipulating same.
I, JAMES BACKHOUSE, of Whitchurch, Hampshire, 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 :-
My invention has for its object to provide means whereby the covering or
uncovering of the usual well known tarpaulin cloths, and also fastening the ends
of same to the sides &c., of railway trucks or wagons, are effected in a more
expeditious and efficaceous manner than has been attainable by means of devices
hitberto adopted.
Now in accordance with my invention, I mount the horizontal ridge pole, at
each end of the truck, upon two vertical arms or standards, having their bottom
ends forked and slotted so that they will be supported and capable of rocking
upon two pins or lugs, secured by suitable brackets to the ends of the wagon or
truck. A spiral spring, one end of which is attached at or about the centre of the
end of the truck and the other end to the vertical forked arms above referred
to, is employed, the function of which spring is hereinafter stated. I also secure
to the vertical forked arms or supports, clip bolts or hooks, which partly encircle
double curved guide bars, for holding or retaining the said vertical forked arms
or supports in their proper position.
In cases where my improved coverings are adapted to shallow trucks or wagons,
the forked ends of the vertical arms or standards are kneed inwardly, so as
not to interfere with the operator when in the act of coupling or uncoupling the
trucks.
The means for fastening the ends of the cloths used in connection with my
invention are as follows:-
-
I attach to the ends and sides of the cloth at a suitable distance apart, small
straps or bands, having eyelet holes therein, to fit over drop cottar bolts, which
latter may either consist of a drop cottar bolt, such as described in the Specifi-
cation of my Patent No. 20217 of 1893; or, a drop cottar belt having a spring
encircling same for retaining the drop cottar in its proper position.
Another device of drop cottar bolt, used in accordance with my invention
consists in providing, in the base of the bolt a spiral or like spring acting upon a
small piston or plunger which bears against the drop cottar thus holding same
in position. I also make use of a spring hook, which is made triangular in shape
and having a double hook at its end, so that interchangeable bands or straps
(provided with eyelets) or ropes may be attached to the cloths for fastening
same to the trucks. When ropes are used suitable T bolts are employed, to
which the ropes are fastened.
I may also when desired secure to the inside of the cloth at any convenient
part, small bands or straps for securing the cloth to the ridge pole, thus holding

page_text: same in its proper position when the wagon or truck is only partly uncovered for
loading or unloading purposes.
And in order that my invention may the better be understood I have appended
the accompanying four sheets of drawings in which Figure 1 Sheet 1, represents
an isometrical end view of a railway truck with my improvements adapted thereto.
Figures 2 and 3, Sheet 2, represent an end elevational and a sectional view
respectively of same; and, Figures 4 and 5, Sheet 3, are similar views to Figures 2
and 3, Sheet 2, shewing my improvements as adopted to shallow trucks.
Referring to the above mentioned views a represents the horizontal ridge
pole which may either be hollow or solid and of any suitable metal or material-
connected at each end to vertical arms or standards b one of which latter is only
shown in the drawings.
Said vertical arms or standards 6 have their bottom ends forked and slotted, so
that they will be supported and capable of rocking upon two pins or lugs c secured
by suitable brackets d to the ends of the wagon or truck.
e is a spiral spring one end of which is connected at or about the centre of the
end of the truck; whilst, the other end is connected at any desired part, to the
vertical arms or standards b. The function of said spring is hereinafter stated.
f is a clip bolt or book secured to the vertical arms or standards b which partly
encircle the double curved guide bars 9, and is employed for holding or retaining
the forked arms or standards b in their proper position, when being lowered to, or
raised from, the side of the truck; also the guide bars g may if desired have
their ends turned back, or provided with suitable stop pieces, so as to form a rest
or support for the vertical standards 6 when lowered to the side of the truck.
In cases where my improved coverings are adapted to shallow trucks or wagons
the forked ends of the arms or standards are kneed inwardly as shown Figures 4
and 5 so as not to interfere with the operator when coupling or uncoupling the
trucks, also the spring e in this instance is secured to the top of the truck instead
of the bottom as in the case of ordinary trucks.
Figures 6 and 7 Sheet 4 represents front and side views respectively of an
eyeletted band or strap / used in connection with my invention, secured to the
cloth by means of a spring clip or hook i.
I construct said clip from a piece of suitable wire provided with a hook at each
end, which, when the clip is caused to assume a triangular formation, overlap each
other, so that upon pressure being brought to bear upon the sides of the clip, the
hooks are caused to open thus allowing of the ready attachment and detachment
of same to or from the covering cloth.
Figure 8 is a view of a rope provided with a spring clip for attaching same to
the covering cloth. The end of said rope is fastened to the truck by twisting
same around suitable T bolts m as shown.
Figure 9 is a side elevational view of a drop cottar both provided with a spiral
spring n which when the drop cottar is down securely holds same in its proper
position.
Figure 10 is a side sectional view of another form of drop cottar bolt, provided
in its base with a small spiral spring o acting upon a piston or plunger p, thus
preventing the drop cottar returning to its vertical position unless forced back by
the operator.
In proceeding, according to my invention, to apply the tarpaulin or covering to
a wagon or truck; the horizontal ridge pole is first thrown over to one side of the
truck, the force of its fall being reduced to a minimum by the action of the
herein before referred to spiral springs, the tarpaulin or cloth is then placed upon
and preferably secured by the employment of the small straps above referred to,
to the horizontal ridge pole when the latter is raised to its normal position, the
weight being partly carried by the spiral springs above mentioned; the cloth is
then brought over to each side of the truck and finally secured by any of the means
above described.

page_text: 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 improvements relating to the supports and coverings of railway wagons
or trucks and the like, and the means for securing and manipulating same
substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. In supports for the coverings of railway trucks or wagons, the employment
of the forked arms or standards 6 and springs e substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and shown in Sheets 1 2 and 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. The means employed for securing the coverings to the ridge pole a and to the
sides &c., of the railway truck or wagon substantially as herein described and
shown in Sheet 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1896.
V. LAZARUS,
1, Furnival Street, Holburn, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.