IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO STREET RAILWAY CARRIAGES, PART OF WHICH ARE SUITABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Francis Train, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO
STREET RAILWAY CARRIAGES, PART OF WHICH ARE SUITABLE FOR OTHER
PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Ralph Nowell Musgrove,
coniding at Philadelphia United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Francis Train at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th
November 1860.
I, GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS APPLICABLE TO STREET RAILWAY CARRIAGES, PART OF WHICH ARE SUITABLE
FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows (that is to say):-
This Invention consists in certain improvements which are mainly
applicable to railway omnibusses used on the improved system of street
railways, for which the applicant obtained Letters Patent bearing date the
26th day of April 1860, No. 1051.
The first part of this Invention consists of an improved rail clearer, one to
be carried in front of each of the leading wheels of railway cars, for removing
stones or other obstructions. This rail clearer consists of a piece of metal
ID 13

page_text: or other suitable substance, having the under side thereof formed to coincide
with the contour of the section of the rails, and at the front pointed vertically,
so as to cause it to remove obstructions either to one side or the other of the
rails. The rail clearers are mounted on suitable arms projecting from the
carriage frame, and are carried immediately above and in close proximity to
the rails, a little in advance of the leading wheels.
The second part of this Invention consists in an improved folding seat,
which is peculiarly suitable for the drivers or conductorsofrailwayomnibusses.
This seat consists of a suitable flap or seat jointed to the vertical side or end of
the railway omnibusses or other situation, in such a way that the seat will
admit of being folded upwards, and has a straight rod of metal jointed to or
near to the front edge thereof, the lower end of which rod works through
a bushed hole in the floor of the platform of the vehicle the required dis-
tance to allow the seat to be brought to an horizontal position for use, a
stop being attached to the rod to prevent its passing further downwards.
When the seat is turned upwards to be out of the way, the rod assumes a
vertical position, where it is held by springing into a notch formed on the
side of a small metal projection situated a little below the seat.
The third part of this Invention relates to a peculiar description of spring
slide to prevent the windows and shutters of railway omnibusses and other
carriages rattling, and consists of two small vertical pieces of metal placed
parallel to each other, and having their inner sides bevelled off for a given
distance to receive a short flat, wedge-sided piece of metal, which is kept
pressed against the twin pieces by a small helical spring placed on the back of
the wedge piece, which is provided with a small horizontal projecting stud
which takes into the centre of the spring. The several parts are placed in a
recess formed to receive them in the edge of the window or shutter frame and
are kept in position by the sash groove.
The fourth part of this Invention consists in a peculiar catch or bolt for the
windows and shutters of railway omnibusses and other carriages, and consists
of an S-shaped bolt placed in a box or recess on the side or edge of the shutter
or window frame, which S-shaped bolt is actuated by a small vertical bar,
which has a small projection on about the centre of its length, which abuts
against the under side of the upper curve of the S-shaped bolt or catch.
The fifth and last part of this Invention consists of an improved catch and
handles for the sliding doors of railway omnibusses or other sliding screens,
and consists of a bent lever working on a transverse axis, the inner end of
which projects downwards. This lever is fitted into a suitably shaped mortise-

page_text: lock frame or box. The outer end of the lever is formed with a latch hook,
and has cut in one side a circular recess, which surrounds its fulcrum, to
receive a wire spring, one end of which rests against the inner side of the back
of the lock box, the other being bent downwards rests against the lower limb
of the lever. The action of this wire spring is to elevate the outer end of the
lever, which works in an open recess in the front edge of the lock box. The
staple of the latch, as well as the end of the working lever, resembles the
ordinary latch hook, and engage with each other when pressed together. The
latch is disengaged by means of handles, one being placed on each side of
the door, and which outwardly resemble the ordinary loop handles used for
sliding doors; but in place of the handles being rigidly fixed to the handle
plates, they are connected thereto, so that one end will turn as on a pivot, and
the other working through a small slot is attached to a vibrating lever, which
has its fulcrum or suspension on the same axis as the reverse end of the
handle. These vibrating pieces of metal work within a recess formed in the
back of the handle plates, and carry short transverse studs, which are in con-
tact with the lower limb of the bent latch lever.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Francis Train in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th May 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
FRANCIS TRAIN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unio
me, the said George Francis Train, Her special licence that I, the said
George Francis Train, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said George Francie Train, 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 STREET RAILWAY CARRIAGES, PART OF WHICH ARE
SUITABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES," as communicated to me from abroad by

page_text: Ralph Nowell Musgrove, residing at Philadelphia, United States of America,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Francis Train,
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 George Francis Train, 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 (that is to say):-
This my said Invention consists in certain improvements which are mainly
applicable to railway omnibusses used on the improved system of street
railways, for which I obtained Her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent, bearing
date the 26th April 1860, and numbered 1051.
The first part of this my said Invention consists of an improved rail clearer,
one to be carried in front of each of the leading wheels of railway cars, for
removing stones or other obstructions. This improved rail-clearer consists of
a piece of metal or other suitable substance, having the under side thereof
formed to coincide with the contour of the section of the rails, and at the front
pointed vertically so as to cause it to remove obstructions either to one side
or the other of the rails. These improved rail clearers are mounted on suitable
arms projecting from the carriage frame, and are carried immediately above
and in close proximity to the rails, a little in advance of the leading wheels.
The second part of this my said Invention consist in an improved folding
seat, which is peculiarly suitable for the drivers or conductors of railway
omnibusses. This improved seat consists of a suitable flap or seat, jointed to
the vertical side or end of the railway omnibus or other situation, in such a
way that the seat will admit of being folded upwards, and has a straight rod
of metal jointed to or near to the front edge thereof; the lower end of which
rod works through a bushed hole in the floor of the platform of the vehicle the
required distance to allow the seat to be brought to an horizontal position for
use,a stop being attached to the rod to prevent its passing furtherdownwards.
When the seat is turned upwards to be out of the way, the rod assumes a
vertical position, where it is held by springing into a notch formed on the side
of a small metal projection situated a little below the seat.
The third part of this my said Invention relates to a peculiar description of

page_text: spring slide to prevent the windows and shutters of railway omnibusses and
other carriages rattling; and consists of two small vertical pieces of metal
placed parallel to each other, and having their inner sides bevilled off for a
given distance to receive a short flat wedge-sided piece of metal, which is
kept pressed against the two pieces by a small helical spring placed on the
back of the wedge piece, which is provided with a small horizontal pro-
jecting stud, which takes into the centre of the spring. The several parts
are placed in a recess formed to receive them in the edge of the window or
shutter frame, and are kept in position by the sash groove.
The fourth part of this my said Invention consists in a peculiar catch or
bolt for the windows and shutters of railway omnibusses and other carriages,
and consists of an S-shaped bolt placed in a box or recess on the side or edge of
the shutter or window frame, which S-shaped bolt is actuated by a small vertical
bar, which has a small projection on or about the centre of its length, which
abuts against the under side of the upper curve of the S-shaped bolt or catch.
The fifth and last part of this my said Invention consists of an improved
catch and handles for the sliding doors of railway omnibusses or other sliding
screens, and consists of a bent lever working on a transverse axis, the inner
arm of which projects upwards. This lever is fitted into a suitably shaped
mortise lock frame or box. The outer end of the lever is formed with a latch
hook, and Las cut in one side a circular recess which surrounds its fulcrum to
receive a wire spring, one end of which rests against the inner side of the back
of the lock box, the other being bent upwards rests against the upper limb
of the lever. The action of this wire spring is to depress the outer end of
the lever, which works in an open recess in the front edge of the lock box.
The staple of the latch, as well as the end of the working lever, resemble
the ordinary latch hook, and engage with each other when pressed together.
The latch is disengaged by means of handles, one being placed on each side
of the door, and which outwardly resemble the ordinary loop hundles used for
sliding doors, but in place of the handles being rigidly fixed to the handle
plates, they are connected thereto, so that one end will turn as on a pivot,
and the other working through a small slot is attached to a vibrating lever,
which has its fulcrum or suspension on the same axis as the reverse end of
the handle. These vibrating pieces of metal work within a recess formed
in the back of the handle plates, and carry short transverse studs, which
are in contact with the lower limb of the bent, latch lever.
That the said Invention may be the more readily seen and understood,
I have hereunto annexed Drawings illustrating the several improvements.

page_text: Figure 1 is a side view of a rail clearer for the left hand leading wheel;
Figure 2 is a front view; and Figure 3 is a top view of the same. A
(Figures 1, 2, and 3) represent a left hand rail clearer, which is attached to
the under sido of the carriage body in front of the leading wheels, by B, a
carrying arm of iron or steel (shown in Figures 1 and 2 as broken off), and
which is made to act as a spring to allow it to yield upwards, or the arm may | be
riged in itself, but be jointed to the carriage body and kept down by a suitable
spring acting thereon; Figure 4 is a front view of the improved folding sent,
shown folded up; Figure 5 is a side view of the same; and Figure 6 is also
a side view of the seat shown folded down for use. C, portion of the body of
the carriage, to which is attached D, the folding seat; E, joints by which the
seat (D) is attached to the body of the carriage; F, supporting rod, by which
the seat (D) is held in position, and which at its upper end is jointed to the
front edge of the seat, and the lower end working through a bushed hole in
the floor of the vehicle to which it is applied; G, a small metal projection
having a notch formed on one side, into which the supporting rod (F) springs
when it assumes a vertical position when the seat is turned up to be out of
the way; H, a transverse stop pin to prevent the rod (F) passing too far
down when the seat is in use; Figures 7, 8, and 9 show the several parts of
the improved spring slide to prevent the rattling of the windows and shutters
of carriages, drawn full size; Figure 7 represent the two.sliding pieces into
and against which the flat wedge-faced pieces shown at Figure 8 is pressed
by the action of the helical spring on the back thoreof; Figure 9 is a front
view of the flat wedge piece, shown at Figure 8; I and I' are two small
pieces of metal, baving their inner sides bevilled off for a given distance to
receive the front of K, a short flat wedge-sided piece of metal formed at the
back with L, a short stud, which is encompassed by M, a small helix spring
which, acting acting against the back of the wedge piece K, presses it in between
the pieces I and 1' forces them apart in the sash groove, and consequently
holds the window or shutter to which they are fitted so as to prevent concus-
sion between the window or shutter frame and the sash to which they are
fi'ted. I may remark that I prefer to fit two or more sots of them down each
side of a shutter or window. Figure 10 represents the improved catch or
bolt for the windows and shutters of railway omnibusses and other carriages,
shown with the covering plate removed; Figure 11, tho covering plate for
ditto; Figure 12, the 8-shaped bolt shown detached; and Figure 13, small
vertical bar for actuating the S-shaped bolt, seen from the reverse side to
which it is shown at Figure 10; N, the bolt rase or box; O, the S-shaped

page_text: locking bolt, which is formed from a flat piece of metal shown detached
at Figure 12; P, the bar, having an up-and-down motion which acts on the
S-shaped bolt through Q, a projecting stud on the inner edge of the vertical
bar P; 'q, holes for screw nails for fixing on the bolt; R (Figure 11), bolt
box cover. Figure 14.is an external view of the improved catch for sliding
doors of railway omnibusses and other sliding screens; Figure 15, the latch
box cover; Figure 16, the staple which is fixed to the door cheek, and into
which the latch engages on being pressed against it; Figure 17 is an internal
view of the handle plate detached, showing the vibrating lever which carries
the stud piece (X), which acts against the bent lever catch (T); Figure 18
is a side view of the same; S, the catch box; T, a bent lever, having its
fulcrum at t. and which is formed with a recess around the transverse pin,
upon which it works to receive U, a bent wire spring, one end of which acts
against the upper arm of the lever catch, and the other against the inside of
the box; V, the handle plates, which are recessed on their inner side, in
which work W, vibrating levers, which have their fulcrum at w, and travel a
given distance at the top, and carry X, horizontal transverse studs, which
acting against the upper arm of the catch lever (T) upon the handle of the
latch being drawn to open the door to which they are attached release the
latch from the staple when locked with it; Y, the looped handles, which are
attached to the vibrating plates W, the lower end turns a given distance on
its axis, and the handle plates being slotted at the upper end, allows the
amount of action required to elevate the latch on the end of the bent lever T
to be released from the staple when locked therewith. I may here suggest
that I prefer to apply a handle plate and its appendages to each side of the
door so that it can be opened from either side.
Having now fullydescribed and ascertainedthenature of the said Invention,
and how I believe the improvements may be best carried into practical use, I
would remark that I do not confine myself to the precise details or the relative
dimensions herein-before described and set forth, as it will be readily seen that
the same may be considerablymodified without departing from the Invention;
but what I claim is,―
First, the peculiar form of rail clearer herein-before described or any mere
modification thereof.
Secondly, the use of the rod for supporting the seat in combination with the
notched projecting piece of metal for holding it in position when the seat is
turned up.
Thirdly, the peculiar arrangement, combination, and form of the various

page_text: parts herein-before described for preventing the windows and shutters of
carriage windows rattling, or any mere modification of the same.
Fourthly, the peculiar form, arrangement, and combination of the various
parts herein-before described when usedin the formation of bolts for windows,
and other purposes.
And, lastly, the combination and arrangement of the various parts herein-
before described, as applied to the construction of a latch for sliding doors,
or any mere modification of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Francis Train,have hereunto placed
my hand and affixed my seal, this Twenty-fifth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
GEO. FRANCIS (L.s.) TRAIN.
J. I. ISAACSON,
of 16, Norfolk St.,
Strand, W.C.