An Apparatus for Depositing and Lifting Mails and such like by Trains in Motion.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1892
An Apparatus for Depositing and Lifting Mails and such like by
Trains in Motion.
WILLIAM HAMILTON BLAKENEY 33 Bath Street Glasgow, Mechanical and
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to a means for transferring mail bags and such like, from
trains in motion to trains in motion, or from trains in motion to roadside stations, or
appointed places on the line or adjacent to same. Such apparatus would be of most
use to the post office, but might be used with advantage by common carriers of
goods, where such goods had to be deposited or taken up at various points en route.
I carry my invention into effect in the following manner: I place a rod or rods
held at a point and running either forward or aft, from the point of fixture preferably
both. This rod or "clutch" as I will call it for convenience, is capable of being
drawn or lifted into the carriage, it may be on a gradient. I place a similar
"clutch or " clutches" on the roadside, the arms of these "clutches" may be of
any convenient length or shape. The "clutches" may be in any position relative
to the carriage, i.e. on top, underneath, at the ends, or sides, preferably, running
parallel for some distance to the sides, when placed there. The part of my apparatus
which is attached to the mail bag, or bags or goods to be lifted or deposited is a
simple ring, hook, or eyelet, preferably a ring, and I may have a ring similar to a
watch holder or any convenient arrangement, to enable being put on at any point
in the length of the "clutch."
"
These rings may be any size or shape, large enough for the purpose required,
The mails
and to evade the chance of a miss, in the "clutch" not taking the ring.
are either secured with a strap, or otherwise to the ring, there is preferably a spring
intervening between the ring and the parcel, or springs may be put on the upper
end of the "clutches" to avoid shock to articles being transmitted.
"clutch"
To effect transmission, it is only necessary to slip ring attached to parcel, to be
delivered, over one of the "clutches" i.e. the delivering one which would look aft.
The respective levels of the "clutches; " which can be altered; to suit direction or
other requirement are preferably the discharging one above and the catching or
lifting one below. They may be placed somewhere about the ordinary platform
level or as circumstances may require. The train or coach travelling at whatever
speed, will pass the carriage discharging
over the catching one
on the roadside, and the receiving one on the coach under the transmitting one on
the roadside; so that each, and every ring, with its parcel or bag attached may be
caught by either set of apparatus. may carry the one end of each receiving
"clutch "right up into the carriage, and there form a circle so that the impetus of
parcels received may spend itself, without damaging the parcels or mails, this is
applicable to the roadside "clutches" as well.
•
I
1001

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Depositing and Lifting Mails and such like by
Trains in Motion.
I, WILLIAM HAMILTON BLAKENEY, of 33 Bath Street, Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, Mechanical and Electrical 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 relates to a means for transferring mails and such like, from trains
in motion to trains in motion, or from trains in motion to roadside stations, or
appointed places on the line or adjacent to same. Such apparatus would be of most
use to the post office, but might be used with advantage by common carriers of
goods, where such goods had to be deposited or taken up at various points en route.
carry my invention into effect in the following manner :--
I place a rod or rods held at a point and running either forward or aft from the
point of fixture, preferably both.
"
c
"
"
This rod or clutch "as I will call it for convenience is capable of being drawn
or lifted into the carriage, and it may be on a gradient. I place a similar "clutch
or "clutches on the roadside, the arms of these "clutches may be of any con-
venient length or shape. The "clutches" may be in any position relative to the
carriage, i.e. on top, underneath, at the ends or sides, preferably running parallel
for some distance to the sides; when placed there.
The part of my apparatus which is attached to the mail bag or bags or goods to
be lifted or deposited, is a simple ring, hook, or eyelet, preferably a ring, and I
may have a ring similar to a watch holder or any convenient arrangement to enable
it being put on at any point in the length of the "clutch." These rings may be
any size or shape, large enough for the purpose required and to evade the chance
of a miss in the "clutch" not taking the ring. The mails are either secured with
a strap or otherwise to the ring, there is preferably a spring intervening between
the ring and the parcel; or springs may be put on the upper end of the "clutches"
to avoid shock to articles being transmitted. To effect transmission, it is only
necessary to slip ring attached to parcel to be delivered over one of the "clutches,"
i.e. the delivery one, which would look aft. The respective levels of the
"clutches" which can be altered to suit direction or other requirement, are
preferably the discharging one above and the catching or lifting one below. They
may be placed somewhere about the ordinary platform level or as circumstances
may require. The train or coach travelling at whatever speed, will pass the
carriage discharging "clutch" over the catching one on the roadside the receiving
one on the coach under the transmitting one on the roadside, so that each and every
ring with its parcel or bag attached may be caught by either set of apparatus. !
may carry the one end of each receiving "clutch" right up into the carriage and
there form a circle, so that the impetus of parcels received may spend itself,
without damaging the parcels or mails, this is applicable to the roadside "clutches'
as well.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The drawings show one modification of iny apparatus fitted to a post office van,
and illustrate the method of transferring mails and such like, from a train in motion
to a roadside station or vice versa.
"
Figure 1. represents a side elevation of the van, the "clutch on the said van
being in the act of transferring the mail bag from the roadside station,
Figure 2. a plan of same,
Figure 3. an end view looking on A, an
Figure 4. a plan with the mail bag in the act of being transferred from the train
to the roadside station.

page_text: In these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
"
5. is the van, supposed to be moving in the direction of the arrows and provided
with a lifting "clutch" 6. and a depositing "clutch" 7. The roadside station 8.
is similarly fitted with a depositing "clutch" 9, and a lifting "clutch 10. It will
be understood that if the van be moving in the opposite direction, the lifting
"clutches" will be required to operate as depositing "clutches," and the depositing
as lifting "clutches," the levels of the "clutches on the roadside station being
altered to suit. 11. is the bag which has to be transferred from "clutch" 7, to
"clutch
"
10 while 12. is the bag which has to be transferred from "clutch 9.
to "clutch" 6, 13. being the rings to which the bags are attached.
Figure 2. is shown one way in which the "clutches may be drawn in towards the
van, or stowed when not in use.
At 14.
The apparatus operates in the following manner :- -The roadside attendant
hangs the bag 12. which he wishes transferred to the train in motion, upon the
"clutch 9.
כי
About the same time the sorter in the van hangs the bag 11, which he wishes
transferred to the roadside station, upon the "clutch" 7. As the van passes the
station, the "clutch" 6. passes through the ring of the bag 12. and then slips it
off 9, and immediately afterwards the "clutch 10. passes through the ring of the
bag 11. and then slips it off' 7.
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 :-
:-
In apparatus for depositing and lifting mails, and such like by trains in motion:
(1) The general construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth, together with any modification or
modifications thereof.
Dated this 14th day of December 1891.
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
Applicant's Agents.