IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DOORS OF PASSENGER RAILWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June, 1886.
Complete Left, 3rd Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th Apr., 1887.
I FREDERICK WILLIAM HENRY DURANT, of 28, Peel Place, Bradford in the
County of York, Insurance Broker, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DOORS OF PASSENGER RAILWAY CARRIAGES, to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to novel and useful improvements in railway carriage doors,
and the object of the said invention is to enable such doors to be opened from either
the right or the left hand side; thus, greatly adding to the safety and convenience of
passengers getting into such carriages or alighting therefrom.
My improvements consist in fitting a handle to both the right and left hand of the
carriage door and hinges of special construction are also fitted at each side, or at each
corner, of such door; the said handles and hinges being so arranged and connected
that on one of the handles being turned, or opened, the hinges on that side of the
door are simultaneously disconnected, thus allowing the door to be opened and swing
on the hinges at the opposite side. On the door being closed fastening the handle
reconnects the hinges on that side. The handles are preferably connected to each
other or otherwise arranged so as to prevent them both being opened at once.
As a modification of the above arrangement the handles and hinges may be so
constructed and arranged that when a handle is opened the hinges at the opposite
side of the door are then connected.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1886.
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Bradford, Agents.

page_text: improvements in the Doors of Passenger Railway Carriages.
1 FREDERICK WILLIAM HENRY DURANT, of 28, Peel Place, Bradford, in the County
of York, Insurance Broker, 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 :-
This invention relates to novel and useful improvements in railway carriage doors;
and the object of the said invention is to enable such doors to be opened from either
the right or left hand side, thus greatly adding to the safety and convenience of
passengers getting into such carriages, and alighting therefrom.
My improvements consist in fitting a handle to both the right and left hand side of
the carriage door, and hinges of special construction at each side or at each corner of
such door, the said hinges and handles being so arranged and connected that on one
of the handles being turned or opened the hinges on that side of the door are
simultaneously disconnected, thus allowing the door to ho opened and swing on the
hinges at the opposite side. On closing the door returning. the handle again connects
the hinges at that side. The handles are preferably connected to each other or other-
wise.arranged so as to prevent them both being opened at once.
In order to more particularly describe my invention, reference is to be had to the
accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1, represents an elevation of a railway carriage door constructed in
accordance with my invention. Figure 2, is a similar view in which the beading
covering the connection between the handles and the hinges is removed, and the
woodwork enclosing the connection between the two handles is also broken away.
Figure 3, is an edge or side view of such door. Figure 4, is a plan of the same.
Fi
figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are views of details hereinafter referred to.
The spindles A, and A', of the handles B, and B', fitted on each side of the door
are provided with eccentrics C, which are preferably enclosed beneath the metallic
covers D. The said eccentrics engage with slots E, formed in the rods F, one of
which is separately represented by Figure 5. The said rods lie in grooves formed in
the door, covered by the beading D', and slide through the eyes G, secured to the
door. Eyes or knuckles H, are also secured to the door at the extremities of the
rods F through which the cranked ends of the said rods pass forming hinge pivots I.
Similarly formed knuckles J, are secured to the framework of the carriage K, upon
which the knuckles H, bear and support the weight of the door.
When both handles are closed in the position represented by B', the knuckles H
and J, are pinned together by the pivots I, passing through the same; but turning
either of the handles to the position of B, causes the eccentric C secured to the spindle
thereof to turn through 90°, thereby raising the rod F, in connection therewith and
withdrawing the pivots I, from the knuckles J, on that side of the door, thus per-
mitting the door to be opened and swing on the hinges at the other side formed by

page_text: the knuckles H, and J, pinned together by the pivots I. The said knuckles are
preferably arranged to project from the door and framework to allow the handle on
the fast side to clear such framework.
In order to prevent both the handles B and B', being opened together, and thus
withdrawing the pivots I, from the knuckles J, at each side of the door and leaving it
without support, the connection between the handles separately represented by
Figures 6, and 7 is provided.
The eye N, of a cross rod O, is passed over one of the eccentrics C, preferably
behind the rods F, the other end of the said rod slides in the eye P, (shown in section
Figure 2) secured to the framework of the door and when both handles are closed the
end of such rod is arranged to approximately touch the periphery of the disc R
concentric with, and secured to the spindle A¹. The said disc is formed with a slot or
notch S, adapted to receive the end of the rod 0, when such rod is moved towards
the spindle A¹ by the action of the eccentric C, on the spindle A, thereby locking
such disc and preventing the landle B' from being turned. On the other hand when
the handle B', is open the end of the rod O, abuts against the periphery of the disc R,
as shown in Figure 7, thus holding the said rod stationary and so locking the
eccentric on A, and preventing the handle B, being turned. Figure 8 represents a
larger view of the eccentric C, on the spindle A, and Figure 9, shows the disc R and
eccentric C, on the spindle A¹.
It is obvious that fasteners of ordinary form may be also secured to and operated
by the spindles A and A¹ as an additional means of securing the door.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare what I claim is :
1. In a carriage door, the general construction and arrangement of mechanism
adapting said door to open from either the right or left hand side, substantially as
herein shown and described.
2. In a carriage door, the combination with handles and hinges at each side of the
door, of rods respectively capable of being operated by the handle connected thereto
for the purpose of engaging or disengaging the hinges also connected to said rods,
substantially as herein shown and described.
3. In a carriage door having two handles, the construction and arrangement of
locking or connecting mechanism adapted to prevent both handles being opened
together, substantially as herein shown and described.
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Bradford, Agents.