Apparatus for Automatically Closing and Securing Railway Carriage Doors on Leaving Platforms and Releasing same on Arrival at Platforms, and Apparatus connected therewith.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 21st Dec., 1892-Accepted, 4th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Automatically Closing and Securing Railway Carriage
Doors on Leaving Platforms and Releasing same on Arrival at
Platforms, and Apparatus connected therewith.
I, GEORGE THOMAS THORNHILL M.A. St. Kilda's Parsonage Lochbuie Isle of
Mull Scotland, Clerk in Holy Orders do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
:-
To the frame work of the carriage, on both sides, either above each door, or
below each door, or should circumstances require to right or left of each door, I
attach an iron frame in which are fitted two bars of steel or iron, one above the
other at a certain distance, which bars slide in and out.
These bars are each fitted with wheels on the ends which move outwards from
side of carriage.
The uppermost of these two bars is on one side furnished with a series of iron
teeth or cogs, which engage with the cogs on a cog-wheel or portion of a cog-wheel
attached to the end of an iron or steel rod, which is secured to the frame work of
the carriage behind each door, a short distance from the hinges and is capable of
being moved round, as much as may be required backwards & forwards its weight
being supported by abutments on itself, which play round resting upon the top of
the plates which secure rod to the frame work, and through which it passes which
rod extends from the cog-wheel on one end, either upwards or downwards to a
point above or below top or bottom of door.
To this rod are keyed firmly two pieces of steel or iron one just below top of
door the other near the bottom, or one piece of steel or iron only might be used
keyed to the rod & crossing about the middle of door. These pieces of steel or iron,
extend from rod across the door to its furthest side, where, after passing through a
plate secured to the carriage door through which plate, or under which plate, they
are capable of sliding backwards & forwards. They are kept from passing further
by a catch. These steel or iron pieces are so shaped and made as to curve outwards
from the door, and are thus capable of (when pressed by the action of the revolving
rod to which they are attached) extending in length by being more or less straightened
out of their curve. Thus when the iron bar which is uppermost in the iron frame
mentioned at commencement is forced to slide inwards the iron teeth upon its side
engage with the cogs on the wheel at end of bar which passes upwards or down-
wards behind door & carries the steel or iron pieces, and causes it to turn round,
which causes the steel or iron pieces to press on the opposite side of door so forcing
it to close, as it does so, the catch which keeps these pieces from extending their
length, is removed, by being forced outwards, from contact with top of slotted
iron or brass box prepared for reception of the end of these steel or iron springs.
This catch being removed the spring extends beyond side of door & enters this slot
or carriage frame prepared to receive it, thus securing door closed as they are
retained in this position till released.
The securing in this position and releasing of these steel or iron pieces is effected
by the action of the lower of the two bars which slide in the iron frame mentioned
at commencement.
This bar carries on its upper side, to which it is secured, or forms an actual
portion of the bar, a steel or iron plate, which is so constructed, that, on the bar
being driven outwards by the action of a spring which works behind the inside end
of this plate it forces upwards a catch, which enters a slot provided for that purpose
in the under side of the upper bar, when that har has been driven inwards a certain
distance, which slot is so made as to permit of the bar being driven further inwards

page_text: than is actually required, thus allowing for any rocking motion of carriage. The
catch holds the bar from moving again outwards beyond that point, till said catch is
withdrawn from slot. Thus it holds the rod behind door revolved a certain
distance, which presses and so extends the steel springs which pass across the door,
beyond the door & keeps them so extended, so securing the door.
Their release from this position is effected by pressure being brought to bear on
the wheel at outward end of this lower bar, which forces bar inwards with the
plate on it, which plate is so made that when this inward pressure takes place a
certain distance the catch holding the upper bar is drawn down out of the slot,
and so the upper bar is released, and is free to move outwards, if door is pushed
open.
These two bars are driven inwards, as required by the following arrangement or
devices.
At both ends of station platforms on both sides of station, i.e. arrival and
departure platforms, are placed inclined planes which run parallel to the rails on
which the carriages run, and have their highest point, or acme, inclining outwards
from side of platform towards the carriages.
These inclined planes are so placed as to engage the wheels on the iron bars
respectively, that is the inclined plane which is to engage the upper of the two
bars is a certain distance further from the ground than the one to engage the lower
wheel. This inclined plane for engaging lower wheel is always slightly nearer
centre of platform than the other one.
These planes incline outwards towards the carriages, just far enough as that the
bars attached to wheels are driven in the required distance when the wheels pass
over the highest point of the incline.
These inclined planes may be fixtures or may be so made, as to be capable of
being put into position to engage wheels, or not, either by a man on the spot, or by
lever worked from signal box of station.
There is also fixed to side of carriage a handle which in case of an accident will
enable a passenger in the carriage or guard or other person outside to release the
catch & permit door to be opened. This handle may be capable of being locked,
so as to be unavailable by passengers.
The rod carrying the steel closing and securing springs may, should circumstances
on different railway lines make such preferable to, the side action above described,
be revolved by an inclined plane below carriage on ground acting upwards, or the
same may be accomplished by an inclined plane fixed to some structure over-
hanging carriage & acting downwards. The same applies to arrangement for
acting on the securing & releasing bar wherever placed, namely the lower of the
two bars in the iron frame.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. I. shows door of carriage closed. a rod behind door on which are keyed
two springs F. 1. sloted piece of iron or brass through which they work.
S. catch to hold ends of springs F from extending. S₁ spring to act on catch.
L slots into which extended springs pass & secure door. a abutments on rod to
support its weight. D' plates securing rod to frame work & through which it
passes & plays. D. cog wheel on end of rod. B & B₁ iron frame work. E upper
bar. X. wheel on end of same. Z wheel on end of lower bar. d d¹ plate on top
of same.
5. handle to release bar in case of accident. 6. lock on same. 7. rod
connected with end of lower bar by lever which compress spring behind plate to
release.
Fig. I side view of springs across door, extended.
Fig. II. shows section of iron frame with door closed, & wheels removed. D cog
wheel, driven in. B & B iron frame. E upper bar showing N slot to receive
catch. H catch. & f¹ abutments on H on which d & d act to drawn down
catch out of slot N. d' part of plate on under bar. R inclined plane to force up H
view of under frame of railway carriage.
into slot N. S side

page_text: Fig. III. shows end view of carriage, with frame carrying the two iron bars.
P is part of a platform at station. O inclined plane up which the wheel of under-
bar has just been forced to run & so released the upper bar E.
Fig. III. O inclined plane for engaging wheel on lower bar.
Fig. III. W. inclined plane for engaging upper bar wheel.
Fig. IV. shows top view of S. (frame of carriage) to which the iron frame B is
attached. B iron frame. E upper bar extended showing teeth on side also
wheel X on end. a iron rod. D cog wheel (portion of) forming end of rod a.
Fig. V. shows side view of section of iron frame & bars vv. B & B frame.
E & R. upper & lower bars with their wheels X & Z. N slot on upper bar.
H catch. d & d iron plate on R. with openings in it g & g' which receive H.
d slide on same which forces H up into slot when M spiral spring forces R out.
d slide on upper part of plate which acts on f & f¹ to extract H from slot on R
being forced in.
Dated this Sixteenth day of March 1892.
GEORGE THOMAS THORNHILL,
Clerk.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Automatically Closing and Securing Railway Carriage
Doors on Leaving Platforms and Releasing same on Arrival at
Platforms, and Apparatus connected therewith.
I, GEORGE THOMAS THORNHILL M.A. St. Kilda's Parsonage, Lochbuie, Isle
of Mull Scotland, Clerk in Holy Orders, 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 :-
To the frame work of each railway carriage on both sides, either above or
below each door, or, should circumstances require, to right or left of each door, I
attach an iron frame, in which are fitted two bars of steel or iron, one above the
other at a certain distance.
These bars slide in and out and are each fitted with wheels or rollers on the
ends which move outwards from the side of the carriage.
The uppermost of these two bars is on one side made with rack teeth which
engage with the teeth on a toothed segment attached to the end of an iron or steel
spindle which is mounted in bearings on the frame work of the carriage, behind
each door, a short distance from the hinges and is capable of being turned as much
as may be required backwards or forwards.
To this spindle are fixed two arms one just below the top of the door, the other
near the bottom, or one arm only might be used. These arms extend across the
door to the side farthest from the spindle, and slide through or under a plate
secured to the carriage door.
These arms are curved outwards from the door and are more or less straightened
by the turning of the spindle to which they are attached.
Thus when the rack is forced to slide inwards its teeth engage with those of
the segment causing the spindle to turn partly round, its arms forcing the door to
close, and as they extend, entering catches so as to hold the door closed.
The holding and releasing of these arms are effected by the action of the lower
of the two sliding bars above mentioned.
This bar has an iron or steel plate, which, on being pushed outwards by a spring
forces upwards a catch into a slot in the underside of the upper bar. When that
bar has been driven inwards a certain distance the catch prevents it from moving
outwards again. Thus it holds the spindle partly turned and its arms in position
securing the door.
Their release is effected by pressure brought to bear on the roller at the end of
the lower bar which forces the bar inwards so as to release the catch holding the

page_text: upper bar, which is thus left free to move outwards if the carriage door is pushed
open.
These two bars are driven inwards, as required by the following arrangement.
At both ends of the arrival and departure platforms of a station, are placed
inclines parallel to the rails and having their highest points presented outwards
from side of platform towards the carriages.
These inclines are so placed as to engage the rollers on the sliding bars
respectively, the incline which engages the upper of the two bars being above the
incline which engages the lower bar. The incline for engaging the lower roller is
always slightly nearer the middle of the platform than the other.
These inclines may be fixed in position or may be capable of being put into
position to engage the roller either by hand or by mechanism worked from a signal
box.
There is also fixed to the side of the carriage a handle which, in case of an
accident enables a passenger or guard or a person outside to release the catch and
permit the door to be opened. This handle may be capable of being locked so as
not to be available for passengers.
The spindle carrying the arms may be turned by an incline on the ground or by
an incline fixed overhead.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Referring to the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification,
Fig. I shews the door of a carriage closed.
a spindle on which are fixed two spring arms F,-I guides through which they
work. S. catch to hold the ends of the arms from extending. S₁ springs to act
on catches. L slots into which the ends of the spring arms pass to secure door.
a bearings for spindle, D' plates securing spindle to framework and through which
it passes and plays, D toothed segment on end of spindle, B and B¹ iron frame
work, E upper bar, X roller on end of same. Z roller on end of lower bar, d d plate
on top of same; 5, handle to release bar in case of accident, 6 lock on same, 7. rod
connected with end of lower bar by lever which compresses spring behind plate to
release.
Fig. I plan of spring arm across door.
Fig. II shews section of iron frame with door closed the rollers being removed
D toothed segment B and B iron frame, E upper bar with slot N to receive catch H.
ff tappets on H on which d d act, to draw down catch out of slot N, d' part of
plate on under bar R with incline to force up H into slot N. S side under frame of
railway carriage.
Fig. III shews end portion of carriage with frame carrying the two iron bars,
P is part of a platform at station.
O incline up which the roller of the under bar
has just been forced to run and so has released the upper bar E.
Fig. III. O incline acting on roller on lower bar.
Fig. 111. W. incline acting on upper bar roller.
Fig. IV. shows top view of S. to an enlarged scale. S frame of carriage to
which the iron frame B is attached. B iron frame, E upper bar extended showing
rack teeth also roller X on its end a spindle, D toothed segment on the end of the
spindle a.
Fig. V shews side view of iron frame and bars. B and B' frame, E and R upper
and lower bars with their rollers X and Z, N slot on upper bar. H catch, d d iron
plate on R with openings in it g and g¹ which receive H, d' slide on same, which
forces H up into slot when M spiral spring forces R out, d slide on upper part of
plate which acts on ff to extract H from slot on R being forced in.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In combination with the door of a railway carriage a vertical spindle and

page_text: bent spring arms thereon crossing the door, so arranged that when the spindle is
partly turned in the one direction the arms close the door and become straightened
and extended engaging in catches on the door jamb, thus holding the door closed,
substantially as described.
2. In combination with the spindle and its arms above referred to and a toothed
segment fixed on the spindle, a sliding rack bar and a catch bar on the carriage
operated by fixed inclines over which rollers on these bars pass as the carriage
enters and leaves a station, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of December 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the-Applicant.