IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Sterne, of Victoria Chambers, in the
Ch
City of Westminster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY CARRIAGES."
Sealed the 18th July 1873, and dated the 20th May 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Sterne at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th May 1873.
; I, LOUIS STERNE, of Victoria Chambers, in the City of Westminster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY CARRIAGES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement
of the internal fittings of railway carriages, whereby such carriages can
be converted into sleeping carriages when required; and also to an
improved apparatus for ventilating the carriages, more particularly at
night, when the windows are usually closed.
For the purpose of enabling a carriage to be readily converted into a
sleeping carriage I divide the stuffed or spring back horizontally at a

page_text: point about midway between the top and the seat, in such manner that
the lower portion of the back may be brought down into the horizontal
position, so as to occupy the place of the ordinary cushion or seat, and
that the upper portion of the back may be raised out of the way. I
make the seat or cushion frame so that portions thereof can be drawn
out, with or without the legs or supports, into the centre of the com-
partment. I place pillows or bolsters, and if thought requisite, rugs,
blankets, or other like articles behind the stuffed back, and such pillows
or bolsters may either be loose or be attached to the stuffed back or to
the carriage frame behind the back.
-
The manner of converting the carriage into a sleeping carriage is as
follows: First draw out the seat frames with their scats or cushions
until those on the opposite sides of the compartment meet each other
or nearly so, then turn down the lower portions of the stuffed or spring
backs into the position previously occupied by the ordinary seats or
cushions, and turn up the upper portions of these backs out of the way.
There is thus obtained a couch or bed, the length of which is equal to
the whole width of the compartment, that is to say, there will be three
couches or beds in carriages of the ordinary gauge of 4′ 8. The upper
portions of the stuffed backs may when raised be secured in a horizontal
or nearly horizontal position, so as to form shelves upon which to place
articles of luggage or clothing.
If desired the turned up portions of the stuffed back may form
additional beds or couches, and for this purpose the pivots or hinges
upon which they turn may be capable of sliding in vertical guides, so
as to bring these portions of the back further from the roof of the
carriage when moved into their horizontal position.
In order to ventilate the carriages I fit to the upper part of the
carriage door, or to any other part of the carriage which may be thought
desirable, an outside longitudinal tubular chamber fitted at each end
with a valve. The valve I prefer is what is known as the heart valve,
described in the Specification of Perreaux's Patent of 8th May 1856,
No. 1076, but any other valve which will allow of the ingress and
prevent the egress of air may be employed. The chamber has one or
more openings communicating with the interior of the carriage, these a
openings being provided with slides, shutters, or other ordinary devices
by which they may be closed or partly closed when desired. When the
carriage is in motion the pressure of the atmosphere keeps the front

page_text: valve open while the back valve remains closed, a constant current of
air thus enters the chamber and passes through the openings into the
carriage.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Louis Sterne in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th November 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LOUIS
STERNE, of Victoria Chambers, in the City of Westminster, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Louis Sterne, Her special licence
that I, the 'said Louis Sterne, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Louis Sterne, my executors, administrators,
and 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 APPLICABLE TO RAIL-
WAY CARRIAGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Louis Sterne, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said 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 Louis Sternc, 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 thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement
of the internal fittings of railway carriages, whereby such carriages can be

page_text: converted into sleeping carriages when required; and also to an improved
apparatus for ventilating the carriages, more particularly at night, when
the windows are usually closed.
For the purpose of enabling a carriage to be readily converted into a
sleeping carriage I divide the stuffed or spring back horizontally at a
point about midway between the top and the seat, in such manner that
the lower portion of the back, which is a detached piece, may be brought
down into the horizontal position, so as to occupy the place of the
ordinary cushion or seat, and that the upper portion of the back may
be raised out of the way. I make the seat or cushion frame so that
portions thereof can be drawn out, with or without the legs or supports,
into the centre of the compartment. I place pillows or bolsters, and if
thought requisite, rugs, blankets, or other like articles behind the stuffed
back, and such pillows or bolsters may either be loose or be attached to
the stuffed back or to the carriage frame behind the back.
The manner of converting the carriage into a sleeping carriage is as
follows:-
-First draw out the seat frames with their seats or cushions
until those on the opposite sides of the compartment meet each other or
nearly so, then turn down the lower portions of the stuffed or spring
backs into the position previously occupied by the ordinary seats or
cushions, and turn up the upper portions of these backs out of the way.
There is thus obtained a couch or bed, the length of which is equal to the
whole width of the compartment, that is to say, there will be couches or
beds in ordinary carriages equal in number to the divisions in cach
compartment. The upper portions of the stuffed backs may when raised
be secured in a horizontal position, so as to form shelves upon which to
place articles of luggage or clothing.
If desired the turned up portion of the stuffed back may form
additional beds or couches, and for this purpose the pivots or hinges
upon which they turn may be capable of sliding in vertical guides,
so as to bring these portions of the back further from the roof of
the carriage and thus give ample space between the couch and the roof
when moved into their horizontal position.
In order to ventilate the carriages I fit to the upper part of the
carriage door, or to any other part of the carriage which may be thought
desirable, an outside longitudinal tubular chamber fitted at each end with
a valve. The valve may be what is generally known as the heart valve,
described in the Specification of Perreaux's Patent of 8th May 1850,

page_text: No. 1076, but any other valve which will allow of the ingress and prevent
the egress of air may be employed. The chamber has one or more
openings communicating with the interior of the carriage like those
now existing, these openings being provided with slides, shutters, or
other ordinary devices by which they may be closed or partly closed
when desired. When the carriage is in motion the pressure of the
atmosphere keeps the front valve open while the back valve remains
closed, a constant current of air thus enters the chamber and passes into
each compartment through the openings, a thin layer of loose cotton
being interposed, which forms according to Professor Tyndall's theory
one of the best draught and dust excluders, and which can be casily
renewed at a mere nominal cost.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood, I have annexed
hereto two Sheets of Drawings illustrative of the same.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, Figure 2 a horizontal section, and
Figure 3 a transverse section of a railway carriage constructed according
to my improvements.
Figure 4 is a section of one of the compartments shewing a mode of
securing the cushions in a position somewhat resembling an American or
reclining chair.
Figures 5 to 10 represent several forms of my ventilators.
Referring to compartment No. 1 of Figure 1, which is represented in
central longitudinal section, it will be seen that the stuffed or spring
back is divided horizontally at a into a lower portion 6 and upper
portion c. It will also be seen that there are pillows or bolsters d, d,
behind the several lower portions b, where pillows, rugs, or blankets may
also be stowed.
Compartment No. 2 of Figure 1, the sectional line of which is taken
just within the side frame of the carriage, is shewn converted into a
sleeping compartment, and thus utilizing the entire space between each
dividing partition of the carriage. It will be observed that portions e, e,
of the cushion frames f, f, have been drawn out into the centre of the
compartment together with the cushions g, g, that the portions b, b, of
the stuffed back have been brought down into the place before occupied
by the cushions g, g, and that the upper portions c, c, of the back as
well as the division arms h, h, have been turned up out of the way, the
portions c, c, being supported by stays i, i. Compartment No. 3 of
Figure 1 is the same as No. 2, except that the upper portions c, c, of

page_text: the stuffed back are made somewhat higher, and that the pivots or
hinges on which these portions turn are fitted in vertical guides k, k,
which enable the now converted couch when turned up into the hori-
zontal position to be an ample distance from the roof of the carriage; 1, 1,
are chains or cords for securing these upper couches in the horizontal
position.
Referring to Figure 2, compartment No. 1 is shewn with the parts in
their normal position as for day use. In compartment No. 2 they are
shewn in position for sleeping purposes with rugs or blankets and pillows
exposed for use. At one side of compartment No. 3 a top view of the
upper sleeping berth is shewn, while at the other side the mode of con-
structing the cushion frames so that they may be drawn out as before
explained is represented.
In the transverse section Figure 3 two of the divisions of the com-
partment are shewn in their normal position, and the other division
converted for sleeping purposes.
In Figure 4 it will be seen that there are notches or catches in the
cushion frames f, f, to enable the movable portions c, e, thereof to be
held at any required position according to the angle at which it is
desired to fix the cushions, and thus serve as comfortable lounging
and sleeping carriages.
Referring to the ventilators, Figures 5 and 6 are respectively a hori-
zontal section and a transverse section of a ventilator fitted with a pair
of Perreaux or heart valves. m, m, are the two valves one at each end
of a longitudinal tubular chamber n, which is fitted to the upper part
of the door of the compartment outside the ordinary ventilating
openings o, as seen in Figure 3, or in other convenient position. The
side of the chamber n, next the carriage is open but is packed with
cotton, wool, or other like material to act as efficient dust and draught
excluders.
Figures 7 and 8 are similar views to Figures 5 and 6, but shewing the
valves m, m, cach composed of two india-rubber flaps which when closed
bear against a skeleton frame p.
Figures 9 and 10 are respectively a longitudinal section and a
transverse section of a ventilator in which the valves are cach formed
of a single flap of india-rubber, which when closed also bears against
a skeleton frame.

page_text: And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim :—
1st. The general arrangements or combinations of parts of the internal
fittings of railway carriages whereby such carriages may when required
be converted into sleeping carriages, substantially as herein-before
described.
2nd. Dividing the stuffed or spring back of railway carriages hori-
zontally, so that the lower portion thereof may be detached and brought
down into a horizontal or nearly horizontal position and the upper
portion raised up out of the way, substantially as and for the purpose
herein-before described.
3rd. Fitting the pivots or hinges of the said upper portions so that
they may be made to slide in vertical guides, substantially as and for
the purpose herein-before described.
4th. Constructing the seat or cushion frames of railway carriages so
that portions thereof may be drawn out, substantially as and for the
purpose herein-before described.
5th. Constructing railway carriage ventilators, substantially as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Sterne, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of November, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
L STERNE (T)