A NEW OR IMPROVED AUTOMATIC DOOR-FASTENER FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Scourfield of 25 Mostyn Road, Bow in the
County of Middlesex Engineer for an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
AUTOMATIC DOOR-FASTENER FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND OTHER PURPOSES "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Scourfield at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th November 1882.
THOMAS SCOURFIELD of 25 Mostyn Road Bow in the County of Middlesex.
Engineer "A NEW OR IMPROVED AUTOMATIC DOOR FASTENER FOR RAILWAY
CARRIAGES AND OTHER PURPOSES
"
This Invention relates to a new or improved door fastener apparatus for railway
carriage and other doors and to means or apparatus for releasing such fastenerings
the object being to automatically secure the fastening of the door without
necessarily turning the handle and to reduce the wear and tear upon the working
parts and also to provide convenient means for releasing the fastening from the
inside of the door
In carrying the invention into practice I provide a metal box for the reception
of latch and bolt consisting of side and front plates secured together the edge of
the box forming a band and extending backward where it is provided with a
central boss for the purpose of bearing the pressure of the spring and to act as a
guide for the spring thrust rod.
The thrust rod is passed through the boss of the boxing and carries a steel
spiral spring which is surrounded with india rubber tubing for the purpose of
preserving it from dirt and rust and also acts as an auxilary the spring is
compressed between a shoulder on the fore part of the thrust rod and the boss
at the rear of the boxing so that the nose of the said thrust rod presses in a
longitudinal direction on a rocking lever which rocks on a central stud or pivot.
This rocking lever has a halfround notch at the front edge which notch
bears on the said central stud and the back edge of the lever is provided with
a half square notch to receive the flat ended nose of the thrust rod pressing
against it.

page_text: Both ends of the rocking lever are articulated or jointed the top end to a distance
link and the bottom end to a shooting bolt and the other end of the distance link
is jointed to the latch or fastener.
This latch or fastener works in the box and is formed of a piece with the handle
or spindle boss which boss is on each side let into the side plates of the boxing in
the ordinary way.
The latch with the bottom
off projects beyond the face of the box
when the handle is down so as to allow it to run up the hub of the striking plate
on the pillar of the door."
The shooting bolt is jointed at the inner end of the rocking lever and the
outer end is chamfered off and is inside the box and when the handle is turned to
open it is in position projecting through the face plate of the box and runs up the
incline on the striking plate below the hub.
These parts being connected in this manner the handle on being turned from an
open to a shut position causes the latch and bolt to work in opposite directions so
that when one is projecting out of the box the other is within
The striking plate with inclines suitable for latch and bolt is fixed to the
standing pillar of the door and as the door is closed the latch and bolt run up
on these inclines and causes the handle to shew whether the door is closed
or open.
On closing the door with the lock in its normal position the bolt is the first
to come in contact with a horizontal incline of the striking plate which causes
the latch to fall over a second oblique incline and pass the same as the striking
plate is at that part cut away to receive the latch at the back thereof.
The advantages of this fastener is to ensure safety to guards and porters as the
handle indicates and prevents great risk as there is no need of touching the handle
to shut the door
It is impossible for the handle to fall down when the door is open but
should it be turned down by munipulation it will then right itself to open on
the door just "going to " without being fastened but with a little more pressure
it will fasten.
By this safty fastener all wear is avoided on the end of the bolt as the spring
in forcing down the latch draws in the bolt by the rocking lever and spring rod
passing over the centre line, and the latch cannot rise unless the spindle and
handle turns with it but as soon as the latch is raised sufficiently high to clear the
oblique incline of the striking plate the shooting bolt runs down its horizontal
incline and leaves the handle up thereby indicating that it is open.
When the door is fastened the whole of the spring force has to be overcome
before the door can come open as the striking plate prevents the bolt shooting out
of the box, but it is not so when the door is open because there is no more strain
on the spring than will allow the rocking lever to pass over its centre and hold the
parts in which way they may be placed.
This lock is constructed so that it will shut easily as the bolt does not offer
much resistance on the striking plate, and the bolt is sent in half its distance while
the latch is falling and at that point they are both well on their chamfered parts
and it is also constructed so as to open easily without second movement.
This fastener having a spiral spring confined on a rod there is no possibility of
the door flying open as it would with other springs for if the spring should break
there would always be some force left to keep it fastened and the chances of its
breaking is brought down to a minimum as it is retained in its full compression
only at the time of its being opened or shut.
It is easy to shut by the handle and there is no chance of its being turned
outside the staple while in the act of closing the door as is so frequently done by
the ordinary fasteners whilst the train is in motion.
For the purpose of releasing the door fastener from the inside of the carriage
I provide a doubled steel spring which passes through the standing pillar in a direct

page_text: line with the latch fastener the bottom or tail end of the said spring being screwed
to the pillar and the other end (which is formed with an eye) is free so that the
latch justs rests upon it; a steel rod with a turned end working in the eye of the
spring is let into the rabbet of the standing pillar and at the top end of the rod
an eye is formed for the purpose of connecting a lever handle of various design
working in a suitable bracket for raising the spring end and latch, by this means
the rod and spring is lifted simultaneously by the pulling down of the lever handle
thereby lifting the latch out of its locked position, the lever handle can be placed
at any point above the handle of the door to insure safety.
This arrangement is suitable for ordinary mortice locks as well as patent locks
without their being disturbed, there is no need of touching the handle from the
outside of the door, thereby avoiding all dirt and wet which has been so much
complained of, it will also enable passengers to get out of the carriage without
being taken beyond their destination through not being able to open the door from
the outside. It will further prevent rain from beating into the compartments and
wetting the seats
This inside lever handle I fix to the standing pillar being much safer than any
other kind fixed to the doors.
The rods can either work on the door or as above described..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Scourfield in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th May 1883: -
THOMAS SCOURFIELD of 25 Mostyn Road Bow in the County of Middlesex
Engineer "A NEW OR IMPROVED AUTOMATIC DOOR FASTENER FOR
CARRIAGES AND OTHER PURPOSES
"
RAILWAY 5
This Invention relates to a new or improved door fastener apparatus for railway
carriage and other doors and to means or apparatus for releasing such fastenings
the object being to automatically secure and indicate the fastening of the door
without necessarily turning the handle by manipulation and to reduce the wear
and tear upon the working parts and also to provide convenient means for
releasing the fastening from the inside of the door and to indicate when the
door is unlocked.
In order that the said Invention may be well understood I have annexed
hereto two sheets of drawings illustrative thereof wherein :-
Fig. 1 is a side view of the lock with the side plate removed and showing the
latch raised and the trip bolt in projecting position, the door being open and the
parts in normal position.
Fig. 2 like view with the latch projected, the door being closed and the trip bolt
pressed back by and against the trip portion of the striking plate
Figs. 3 and 3a are edge and face views respectively of the striking plate of the
door pillar used with the raising and falling latch lock Figs 1 and 2.
Figs 4 and
are like views to Figs 1 and 2 respectively of a modification
showing the trip bolt combined with a shooting latch.
Figs. 6 and 6 are edge and face views respectively of the striking plate of the
door pillar as used with the shooting latch lock Figs. 4 and 5.
Figs 7 to 11 are details in side and edge views of working parts.
Fig. 12 shows an edge view of the door pillar and illustrates the application of
the safety inside opening device combined with the raising and falling latch lock
construction Figs. 1, 2, 3, 3ª, 7, 8, 9 and 11.
Fig. 13 a front outside view of the door edge and door pillar with lock in closed
position.
In carrying the invention into practice there is provided for the reception of the
working parts a metal box. A, for the reception of the latch A', and trip bolt A³,
consisting of side and front plates screwed together, the edge of the box forming a
band and extending backward where it provided with a central boss A³ for the
purpose of bearing the pressure of the spring and to act as a guide for the spring
thrust rod B.
The thrust rod B is passed through the boss of the boxing and carries a steel
spiral spring which is surrounded with india rubber tubing for the purpose of
preserving it from dirt and rust and also acting as an auxiliary; the spring is
compressed between a shoulder on the fore part of the thrust rod B, and the
boss A³ at the rear of the boxing, so that the nose of the said thrust rod presses in
a longitudinal direction on a rocking lever D, (detail Fig. 8) which rocks around a
central stud or pivot D¹.
This rocking lever D, has a half turn round notch at the front edge which notch
bears on the said central stud D', and the back edge of the lever is provided with a
half square notch to receive the flat ended nose of the thrust rod B, pressing
against it.
Roth ends of the rocking lever D are articulated or jointed the top end to a

page_text: distance link C (detail Fig. 7) and the bottom ond to the trip bolt A2 and the other
end of the distance link is jointed (according to Figs 1 and 2) to the latch or
fastener A¹ (detail Fig. 9).
This latch or fastener A¹ works in the box A and is formed with a boss E' and
a square hole for reception of, or of a piece with, the handle (indicated in dotted
lines) which said handle boss E¹ is on each side let into the side plates of the
boxing in the ordinary way
The latch A Figs 1, 2, 3, 3º, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 13 with the nose thereof chamfered
off projects beyond the face of the boxing A when the handle is down so as to
allow it to run up the curved incline F of the striking plate (detail Figs. 3, 3ª, 12
and 13) on the pillar P of the door.
The trip bolt A³ (detail Fig. 11) is jointed at the inner end to the rocking
lever D and the outer end or nose is chamfered off so as to run up the straight
incline G on the striking plate when the door is pushed to.
The striking plate with inclines F and G suitable for the latch A¹ and trip
bolt A is fixed to the standing pillar of the door opening and incline F has a
portion cut away at F' where there is provided a recess in the door pillar and as
the door is closed either by simply pushing or by manipulation the latch and trip
bolt run up on these inclines compressing the spring through rocking lever D.
Now when the latch A¹ reaches the recess portion the spring acts to throw it
behind the striking plate and so secure the door whilst the nose of the trip bolt
stands against the solid portion Q¹ of the incline G thus accentuating the power of
the spring and in this closed position the handle will occupy a horizontal position
indicating "closed" or safety (as indicated in dotted lines Figs 2 and 5). When
the door is unlocked as in Figs. 1 and 4 the handle will occupy a diagonal position
indicating "open" or danger."
The advantages of this fastener is to ensure safety to guards and porters as the
handle indicates and so prevents great risk as there is no need of touching the
handle to shut the door but simply to push the door too.
It is impossible for the handle to fall down when the door is open but should it
be turned down by manipulation without the locking of the door being effected it
will again right itself to open indicating "danger" but with a little pressure on the
door itself without manipulation of the door handle it will close and fasten
This lock is constructed so that it will shut easily as latch A¹ does not offer
much resistance on the striking plate and the trip bolt A³ is sent in half its
distance before the latch A¹ comes into action and at that point they are both well
on their chamfered parts and it is also constructed so as to open easily without
a second movement.
It is easy to shut the door by manipulation of the handle and there is no chance
of its being turned outside the staple or striking plate F whilst in the act of
closing the door as is so frequently done by the ordinary fasteners whilst the train
is in motion.
In the modification Figs. 4 and 5 the distance link C is not necessary as the
latch A¹ shoots instead of rising and falling therefore the jointing of lever D is
made direct upon the latch body and the handle-spindle-boss E' is provided with
the follower H which joints to the body of latch A' at H¹ to operate the with-
drawal of the latch from the recess or staple F¹ of the striking plate in unlocking
the door by the necessary manipulation for that purpose.
For the purpose of releasing the door fastener having the rising and falling latch
from the inside of the carriage I provide a double steel spring I which passes through
the standing pillar in a direct line with the latch fastener A¹ the bottom or tail end
of the said spring I being screwed to the pillar at K and the other end (which
is formed with an eye) is free so that the latch A¹ just rests upon it, a steel rod L
with a turned end L' working in the eye of the spring I is let into the rabbet of
the standing pillar and at the top end of the rod L an eye L' is formed for the
purpose of connecting a lever handle M of various design working in a suitable
bracket N for raising the spring end and with it the latch A¹ thereby lifting the

page_text: said latch A¹ out of its locked position; the lever hande M can be placed at any
point above the handle of the door to ensure safety.
The striking plate Fig. 3ª is shown cut away at L³ for reception of the turned
end L of the rod L.
This arrangement is suitable for ordinary mortice locks having rising and falling
latches as well as these patent locks without their being disturbed as there is no need
of touching the handle from the outside of the door, thereby avoiding all dirt and
wet which has been so much complained of, it will also enable passengers to get out
of the carriage without being taken beyond their destination through not being
able to open the door. It will further prevent rain from beating into the com-
partments and dampening the seats when the windows have been left down after
passengers have alighted.
This inside lever handle I fix to to the standing pillar and it is much safer than
any other kind fixed to the doors.
The rods may however be set to work on the door or as above described.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention in such
wise that the same may be carried into practical effect I claim :—
First. In mortice locks as herein described the latch A' whether a rising and
falling latch or a shooting latch in combination with the trip bolt A connected
together by the rocking lever D, acted upon by spring thrust rod B said latch A¹
and trip bolt A² acting upon and together with the striking plate having
inclines F, F and G G₁ as and for the purpose herein set forth and shown the
respective figures of the accompanying drawings.
Second The construction of mortice locks with the latch A' and trip bolt Ai
operating together with the striking plate to indicate "closed" or safety position
of the door handle as and for the purpose herein set forth and shown by the
drawings.
Thirdly. In a mortice lock as herein specified with a rising and falling latch the
inside handle and lifting rod and spring device for lifting the latch and unlocking
the door constructed and operating as and for the purpose herein set forth and
shown by Figures 12 and 13 of the drawings.
In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Scourfield have hereto set my
hand and seal this fifteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three
In presence of
WALTER A. BARLOW
Patent Agent & Engineer
6 St Pauls Churchyard
London E.C.
THOMAS SCOURFIELD (L.S.)