IMPROVEMENTS IN OPENING AND CLOSING THE BOTTOM DOORS OF HOPPER, COAL, AND OTHER RAILWAY WAGONS, AND IN FASTENINGS AND OTHER APPARATUS FOR THE PURPOSE."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Rufus Morton, of Newton Heath, near Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OPENING
AND CLOSING THE BOTTOM DOORS OF HOPPER, COAL, AND OTHER RAILWAY
WAGONS, AND IN FASTENINGS AND OTHER APPARATUS FOR THE PURPOSE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Rufus Morton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th February 1879.
RUFUS MORTON, of Newton Heath, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OPENING AND CLOSING THE BOTTOM DOORS OF HOPPER, COAL,
AND OTHER RAILWAY WAGONS, AND IN FASTENINGS AND OTHER APPARATUS FOR
THE PURPOSE."
The object of this Invention is to enable the bottom doors of hopper, coal, and
other railway wagons to be opened simultaneously without the attendant having
to go beneath the wagon, or from one side to the other as hitherto practised.
An arm
In carrying out my Invention I mount a shaft transversely across the bottom of
the wagon, and at either extremity of this shaft I key an actuating lever so as to
enable the same to be worked from either side of the line of rails.
branching from this shaft is connected by a link to a weighted double lever suspended
underneath the framework of the wagon, the shorter arms of which lever are designed
to hold the doors in the closed position, after releasing the ordinary bolt. This
arrangement of lever is capable of being locked in the closed position, and by its
means the doors may be opened simultaneously from either side of the wagon:
Another modification of my Invention to enable such bottom doors to be opened and
closed simultaneously from either side of the wagon consists in the shaft hereinbefore
mentioned being provided with a pair of arms, one for each door, and the extremities
of which are designed to move along the outside of the bottom doors, and thus not
only to raise and close the same, but to hold them in the closed position.
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page_text: -1879-
RUFUS MORTON, of Newton Heath, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster:
"-IMPROVEMENTS IN OPENING AND CLOSING THE BOTTOM DOORS OF HOPPER, COAL,
AND OTHER RAILWAY WAGONS, AND IN FASTENINGS AND OTHER APPARATUS FOR
THE PURPOSE."
The object of this Invention is to enable the bottom doors of hopper, coal, and
other railway wagons to be opened or closed simultaneously without the atten-
dant having to go beneath the wagon or from one side to the other as hitherto
practiced.
And in order that this my said Invention may be the more readily understood
and carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed two Sheets of Drawings
illustrative of my improvements, and will now proceed to describe the same,
reference being had to the letters of reference marked on the several views.
Fig. 1 is a side and Fig. 2 an end exterior view, and Fig. 3 is a side and Fig. 4
an end sectional view of a hopper coal wagon-constructed and fitted in accordance
with this Invention; Fig. 5 is a plan of the same wagon, half being shewn par-
tially in section to illustrate the underneath framework of the wagon.
In all the views A is the body portion of the wagon, and B the hopper, at the
bottom of which and opening downwards are the double doors C hinged to the
sole bar C¹ in the ordinary manner, and both closing against the one common
central or longitudinal bar 0%. These doors have a constant tendency to close
imparted to them by the chains D connected to their hinges D¹, such chains passing
over the rollers D2 and pulleys D³, and having counterbalance weights D* attached
to their extremities, as illustrated. E is a shaft mounted transversely across the
under side of the wagon, and having keyed at each of its extremities an actuating
lever F so as to enable such shaft to be worked from either side of the line of rails;
G is an arm branching from this shaft, and connected by a link H to a forked
lever I mounted upon a bolt J passing through the underneath longitudinal bar K.
The shorter arms I¹ of this forked lever are designed to hold both the doors C in
the closed position, as will be best seen by reference to Figs. 3 and 4.
In order to fasten the doors C in either the closed or open position I apply a
suitable drop catch L on either side of the wagon, such catches being secured at
opposite extremities of a shaft M passing through the framework from one side of
the wagon to the other, these catches L being each provided with a slot to catch on
to one or the other of the two shorter arms F1 of the actuating lever F, according
as to whether it is desired to retain the doors C in the open or closed position.
This arrangement of levers permits of the doors C being opened or closed simul-
taneously from either side of the wagon without the attendant having to pass
beneath the wagon or from one side to the other.
The action of this Invention is as follows:-Assuming that the doors C are
closed, as shewn in the various views, and it is desired to open them, all that is
requisite is for the attendant to lift the drop catch L by means of its knob or
handle L, and then to pull the actuating lever F on one side (until the drop catch
falls on to the other shorter arm F¹ of the actuating lever F) when the doors C
will immediately open by reason of the weight of coal or other materials lying
upon them, and thus the contents of the wagon will be discharged.
In order to secure the doors C remaining open meanwhile, and to counteract the
closing tendency imparted by the weights D³ I attach a length of chain N to each
of the doors, and provide the same with a ring O capable of being hooked on to a
hook P secured to the framework of the wagon.
The wagon having been thus emptied the ring ☐ is removed from its hook,
when the balance weights D* will be free to close the doors, and the same may be

page_text: locked in the closed position by once more releasing the drop catch L, and allowing
it to grip the other shorter arm F¹ of the actuating lever F.
A modification of my Invention to enable the bottom doors of railway wagons
to be opened and closed simultaneously from either side of the wagon consists in
the shaft E being provided with a pair of arms, one for each door, and the
extremities of which are designed to move along the outside of the bottom doors,
and thus not only to raise and close the same, but to hold them in the closed
position, this modification being however only applicable to wagons with small
doors, and which are sufficiently light in weight to be lifted by one man.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, together with the best methods with which I am acquainted for carrying
the same into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine my-
self to the precise details, relative proportions, or dimensions of the various parts of
the mechanism hereinbefore described, and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing,
as the same may be considerably varied without departing from the Invention, but
what I claim is,-
The combination and arrangement of mechanism whereby the actuating and
securing the bottom doors of hopper, coal, and other railway wagons can be effected
from either side of the wagon or line of rails, substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described, and illustrated on the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Rufus Morton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
RUFUS MORTON. (L.S.)