Improvements in the Mode of and Means for Conveying Cycles and other such Articles by Passenger and other Trains.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Sept., 1899-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Mode of and Means for Conveying Cycles and
other such Articles by Passenger and other Trains.
I, WILLIAM HENRY CRUTCHLEY, of The Schools, Wolverley, Kidderminster, in
the County of Worcester, Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in the mode of and means for
conveying cycles and other such articles by passenger and other trains by which
I obtain the easy transit of cycles by passenger trains with a saving of space
and a reduction in the liability of such articles to damage while passengers may
have their machines more under their own supervision than hitherto.
In carrying my invention into effect I hinge a suitable platform or support
to one end of the railway carriage at a point just above and clear of the buffers
and other connections and which is of a size when in a horizontal position to
fill the space between two carriages when connected togeather with the exception
of a sufficient space which is left to allow for the movement caused by the
extreme compression or concussion of the buffers. This platform when let down
to the horizontal position is supported by suitable brackets provided upon the
ends of the carriages and can be raised on its hinges and fastened up flat against
the ends of the carriage when not in use.
For containing the cycles or other articles I provide a suitable case crate or
cage preferably made of strong wicker work and covered with waterproof
material and having a door at the end such case or cage being sufficiently large
to contain two safety cycles side by side when placed the reverse way to each
other and made so as to be readily placed upon or taken off the aforementioned
platform or support. A portion of the top of the cage may be made to open
to facilitate the arrangement of the cycles within and to allow of the cycles
being more easily secured against damage by oscillation.
The cage or receptacle is secured to the platform or supports by any suitable
arrangement of cotters or pins and the platform may be formed of any suitable
material although I prefer a wrought iron frame formed of light angle irons
and rods.
By means of this arrangement I utilize valuable space now wasted, and at
the same time obviate the incommoding of the guards van while new bicycles
can be carried without being wrapped up and without fear of damage.
The cycles may be packed in suitable crates at the works and secured upon
the platform and private individuals may have crates packed at their own resi-
dence and collected for transit in this manner.
The crates may be used to carry other light goods when not required for
cycles and may be hired by makers or others for conveyance of articles direct
from the makers to their customers.
1000

page_text: Improvements in the Mode of and Means for Conveying Cycles and
other such Articles by Passenger and other Trains.
I, WILLIAM HENRY CRUTCHLEY, The Schools, Wolverley, Kidderminster,
Worcester, Schoolmaster, 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 improvements in the mode of and means for
conveying cycles and other such articles by passenger and other trains by which
I obtain the easy transit of cycles by passenger trains with a saving of space
and a reduction in the liability of such articles to damage while passengers may
have their machines more under their own supervision than hitherto.
In carrying my invention into effect, I hinge a suitable platform or support
to one end of the railway carriage, at a point just above and clear of the buffers
and other connections, and which is of a size when in a horizontal position, to
fill the space between two carriages when connected together with the exception
of a sufficient space which is left to allow for the movement caused by the
extreme compression or concussion of the buffers. This platform when let down
to the horizontal position is supported by suitable brackets provided upon the
ends of the carriages and can be raised on its hinges and fastened up flat against
the ends of the carriage when not in use.
For containing the cycles or other articles, I provide a suitable case, crate, or
cage preferably made of strong wicker work and covered with waterproof
material and having a door at the end such case or cage being sufficiently large
to contain two safety cycles side by side, when placed the reverse way to each
other and made so as to be readily placed upon or taken off the aforementioned
platform or support. A portion of the top of the cage may be made to open
to facilitate the arrangement of the cycles within and to allow of the cycles
being more easily secured against damage by oscillation.
The cage or receptacle is secured to the platform or supports by any suitable
arrangement of cotters or pins, and the platform may be formed of any suitable
material although I prefer a wrought iron frame formed of light angle irons
and rods.
By means of this arrangement I utilize valuable space now wasted, and at
the same time obviate the incommoding of the guards van while new bicycles
can be carried without being wrapped up and without fear of damage.
The cycles may be packed in suitable crates at the works and secured upon
the platform and private individuals may have crates packed at their own resi-
dence and collected for transit in this manner.
The crates may be used to carry other light goods when not required for
cycles and may be hinged by makers or other for conveyance of articles direct
from the makers to their customers.
For purposes of illustration I will now refer to the annexed drawings in
which:
Figure 1, is a perspective view shewing my invention in position.
Figure 2, side view shewing platform in its raised position.
Figure 3, perspective view of cage.
Referring to Figure 1, c is the platform which is hinged or pivotally con-
nected to either of the carriages a or b, through the medium of the hooks d
Of
and carried upon the carriages a and b, and the hooks f upon the platform c.
course any other equally convenient arrangement may be employed for this pur-

page_text: pose. The platform is preferably formed of lattice work as shewn, but may be
of any convenient shape and material. The brackets e which are attached to
the carriages a and b are for the purpose of supporting the platform c as shewn
in Figure 1, sufficient play being left between the end of the platform c and the
carriage 6 or vice versa, for the purpose of allowing for compression and expan-
sion of the buffers. The hook his for the purpose of maintaining the platform c
in its raised position when required. The crate is formed of any suitable
material and may be provided with the opening for the purpose of arranging
the cycles therein, k being the door hinged at n for the insertion of the cycles.
The cycles are placed in this crate or carrier i which is then placed upon the
platform and secured in position by means of pins or such like which pass
through the apertures m in the projections and the apertures g on the plat-
form c.
Of course it will be readily understood that I do not confine myself to
the details of construction of the various parts.
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 improved mode of and means for carrying or conveying cycles and
other articles by passenger and other trains, substantially as described and illus-
trated herein and for the purpose set forth.
2. In means for carrying or conveying cycles and other such articles by
passenger and other trains, the utilization of the space between the ends of the
carriages or vehicles through the employment of a platform, connected to one
or other of the carriages and supported upon suitable brackets or supports,
sufficient distance being left between the carriage and the platform for the pur-
pose of allowing compression and expansion of the buffers, a cage or crate
adapted to contain the cycles or such like articles and having suitable openings
for their insertion and manipulation, said crate or cage being carried upon the
platform aforesaid and being secured thereon by means of locking pins or catches,
hooks or catches for maintaining the platform in its raised position when required,
substantially as described & illustrated herein and for the purpose set forth.
3. In means for carrying or conveying cycles and other such articles by
passenger and other trains the employment of a platform supported between the
carriages in such a way as to allow for compression and expansion of the open-
ings for the purpose of supporting the crate or cage, substantially as described
and illustrated herein and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of September 1899.