New or Improved Mechanism for Opening and Closing Doors of Railway Carriages, and for Indicating the Station Stopped at.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 21st Sept., 1891-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Mechanism for Opening and Closing Doors of
Railway Carriages, and for Indicating the Station Stopped at.
1, ROBERT ALFRED FRASER, of the Bank of Victoria North Melbourne in
the Colony of Victoria, Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"NEW OR IMPROVED MECHANISM FOR OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS OF
RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND FOR INDICATING THE STATION STOPPED AT," to
be as follows:-
My object is to provide mechanism which will serve the four following purposes,
that is to say :-
Firstly. For automatically opening and closing from the engine the doors of
either side of railway carriages.
Secondly. For allowing the doors to be opened or closed by the passengers
irrespective of the mechanism.
Thirdly. For preventing the doors injuring any person or object with which they
may come into contact whilst in the act of closing.
Fourthly. For indicating to passengers within each carriage the names of the
stations stopped at.
The mechanism upon both sides of a carriage is alike, but for the sake of
clearness, I shall describe that which is arranged upon one side.
Upon each carriage but adjacent to the end thereof is arranged a cylinder which
is fitted with a piston to which is connected a horizontal rod.
Said rod is suitably supported by guide blocks and is extended to the other end
of carriage where it engages a spiral spring situated between a collar upon said rod
and the buffer beam.
According to the number of doors so there will be a corresponding number of
projections upon said rod to connect with spiral springs.
To cach door is secured a bent arm the vertical portion of which moves in a
bracket. The lower portion of each arın is formed at right angles to the vertical
portion to connect with the beforementioned spiral springs.
A number of inclined planes are formed upon the beforementioned rod to operate
vertical spindles arranged one in each frame which receives the carriage doors.
The lower end of each spindle is provided with a roller to engage said inclined
planes, whilst, near the upper end is also formed an inclined plane to press the
spring bolt of the ordinary loop handle locks which are generally used for the
carriage doors. A slot is formed in each spindle to engage pins secured one in
each door frame to act as guides, and brackets are arranged to guide the lower
portion of spindles.
An air pipe or flexible tube is extended from the compressed air main reservoir
of the Westinghouse automatic brake upon the engine, to the end of train.
Said pipe is arranged beneath the carriages and is provided with an air inlet
branch which leads to the side of the cylinder previously mentioned.
Said inlet pipe also acts as a discharge passage for the air exhausted from said
cylinder for the opening of the door.
The carriages are provided each with the ordinary hose couplings to unite the
lengths of air pipes.
The indicator, forming part of my mechanism, consists of a small casing within
which are arranged two rollers to carry an endless metallic band upon which are
printed the names of the stopping stations along the line.
To one of said rollers is secured a ratchet wheel which is operated by means of
a finger piece projected from one of the vertical rods beforementioned.

page_text: Another finger piece is projected from the said rod to operate a pivoted lever
arranged to strike a bell which is situated within the door frame.
The mode of operation and action of the mechanism upon either side of the
carriage are as follows:-
When all the doors upon either side of a train or line of carriages are to be
opened, then, the engine driver turns on air to admit it into the side cylinder.
through the medium of the air inlet pipe, so as to move the piston and horizontal
rod towards the end of train.
By this movement the inclined planes upon the horizontal rod come into contact
with the rollers upon the vertical rods, and thereby cause the inclined planes of the
latter to engage the spring bolt of the locks to release the carriage doors as also to
operate the indicator mechanism.
The foregoing movement also causes the horizontal rod to compress the spiral
springs which act upon the arms, consequently, the doors are opened and the end
spring is simultaneously compressed.
By discharging the air from the side cylinder through a two way cock fitted in
the air inlet pipe and operated by the engine driver, the end spring will assume its
original tension and consequently impart a return movement to the horizontal rod
and piston, by which action the spiral springs will force the doors to a closed
position.
In this case the vertical spindles move downwardly and allow the spring bolt to
fasten the doors.
Should at any time à person or object retard the closing of the doors, then the
spiral springs between the arms and horizontal rod will give, and thus avoid an
accident.
A pivoted catch may be arranged upon the inner face of the carriage door so
that a passenger may keep it closed, or he may by turning the handle of the lock
of the door open it irrespective of the working of the mechanism.
Dated this 6th day of July 1891.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Mechanism for Opening and Closing Doors of
Railway Carriages, and for Indicating the Station Stopped at.
I, ROBERT ALFRED FRASER, of the Bank of Victoria, North Melbourne, in
the Colony of Victoria, Clerk, 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 object is to provide mechanism which will serve the four following purposes,
that is to say,
Firstly. For automatically opening and closing from the engine the doors of
railway carriages.
Secondly. For allowing the doors to be either opened or closed by the passengers
irrespective of the mechanism.
Thirdly. For preventing the doors injuring any person or object with which they
may come into contact whilst in the act of closing.
Fourthly. To provide a means of indicating to passengers within each carriage
the name of the station stopped at.
My invention will be better understood upon reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings, in which.
Figure 1, illustrates an elevation of a railway carriage provided with my
mechanism, the central portion of carriage being omitted in order that the complete
arrangement of parts may be clearly seen.
7

page_text: Figure 2, is a transverse section through a door shewing an arm to which a spiral
spring is attached.
Figure 3, illustrates a front elevation of the indicator whilst,
Figure 4, represents a sectional view of same, shewing it attached to the case-
ment or door frame, and
Figure 5, a rear elevation.
The mechanism upon both sides of the carriage is alike, but for the sake of
clearness, I shall describe that which is arranged upon one side.
Upon each carriage but adjacent to the end thereof is arranged a cylinder (a)
which is fitted with a piston (b) to which is connected a horizontal rod (c).
Said rod is suitably supported by guide blocks similar to (d) and is extended to
the other end of carriage where it engages a spiral spring (e). This spring is fitted.
between the collar (f) and the buffer beam (g).
According to the number of doors so there will be a corresponding number of
projections upon said rod (c) to connect with spiral springs similar to (h). To
each door is secured a bent arm (i), the vertical portion of which moves in the
bracket (). The lower portion of each arm is formed at right angles to the.
vertical portion to connect with the end of said spring (h).
A number of inclined planes (4) are formed upon the beforementioned rod (c) to
operate vertical spindles similar to (1) arranged one in each door casement.
The lower end of each spindle is provided with a roller (m) to engage said
inclined planes (k), whilst near the upper end is formed an inclined plane (n) to
press inwardly the spring bolt (o) of the loop handle-locks which are generally used
upon the carriage doors. (p) is a slot formed in said spindle (1) to engage a
pin (7) secured in the door casement to act as a guide. (r) is a bracket to guide the
lower portion of spindle (?).
An air pipe or flexible tube (s) is extended from the compressed air main
reservoir of the Westinghouse or other suitable brake upon the engine, to the end.
of train. Said pipe is arranged beneath the carriages and is provided with a two-
way cock, as also with branches similar to (t) which lead to the various cylinders.
Said inlet pipe also acts as a discharge passage for the air exhausted from the
cylinders for the opening of the doors.
The carriages are provided each with the ordinary hose couplings to unite the
lengths of air pipes.
It may be here explained that similar parts to those lettered from (h) to (9)
inclusive are required in connection with each door.
Within a small wooden casing (1) affixed upon each door casement are arranged
two metal rollers (2) and (2) made square in transverse section to carry an endless..
band (3), consisting of metal links.
This band has printed upon its outer surface the names of the different stopping:
stations along the line, and between each name there is a blank link.
To one of said rollers is secured a ratchet wheel (5) the teeth of which project.
through the slot (6). (7) and (8) are two finger pieces jointed to the upper end of
the beforementioned spindle (1).
(11) is a pivoted arm. (9) is a spiral spring connected to said arm as also to the
stud (12). (10) is a signal bell.
(13) is a bridge arranged to keep the band (3) close to the opening (4) in the
casing (1). (14) is a flat spring arranged to allow the ratchet wheel (5) to pass,
as also to prevent its backward rotation.
An L shaped pivoted catch may be arranged upon the inner face of the carriage
door so that a passenger may keep it closed, or he may by turning the handle of
the lock of the door open it irrespective of the working of the mechanism.
The mode of operation and action of the mechanism upon either side of the
carriage are as follows:-
When all the doors upon either side of a train or line of carriages are to be
opened, then, the engine driver operates the aforesaid two-way cock to admit air
into the side cylinder (a) through the medium of the air inlet pipe (s) so as to move

page_text: the piston () and horizontal rod (c) towards the end of train. By this movement
the inclined planes (k) upon the horizontal rod (c) come into contact with the
roller (m) upon the vertical spindle (1) and thereby cause the inclined plane (n) to
engage and release the spring bolt of the door locks, and also to actuate the finger
pieces (7) and (8). The last mentioned piece (8) trips the lever (11) which con-
sequently strikes the bell (10), whilst, the first piece (7) moves the ratchet
whcel (5), which communicates inotion to the band (3). A station name upon this
band is shewn when the doors are in the act of opening, a blank being shewn when
the doors are closed.
The foregoing movement of the rod (c) also compresses the spiral spring (h)
which acts upon the arm (i), consequently, the doors are opened and the end
spring (e) is simultaneously compressed.
By discharging the air from the side cylinder (a) through the two-way cock
fitted in the air inlet pipe and operated by the engine driver, the end spring (e)
will assume its original tension, and consequently impart a return movement to the
horizontal rod (c) and piston (6), by which action the spring (h) will force the
doors to a closed position. In this case the vertical spindle (1) moves downwardly
and allows the spring bolt (o) to fasten the door.
Should at any time a person or object retard the closing of the doors, then the
spring (/) between the arm (i) and rod (c) will give and thus avoid an accident.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
Firstly. In mechanism for opening and closing doors of railway carriages, the
cylinder (a) and piston (6) arranged in combination with a rod (c) provided with
springs similar to (h) to connect with arms (i), one for each door, substantially as
herein before described, and as illustrated in my drawings.
Secondly. In mechanism for opening and closing doors of railway carriages, the
combination and arrangement of the end spring (e) to work in conjunction with the
rod (c) connected to the piston (b), substantially as hereinbefore described, and as
illustrated in my drawings.
Thirdly. In mechanism for opening and closing doors of railway carriages, the
combination and arrangement of the rod (c) having inclined planes (4) to work in
combination with the vertical spindle (7), substantially as herein before described,
and as illustrated in my drawings.
: Fourthly. The combination and arrangement with the mechanism herein described
and illustrated for opening and closing doors of railway carriages of the station
indicator operated by the spindle (!), and consisting principally of two rollers (2)
and (2), band (3), ratchet wheel (5), spring (14), finger pieces (7) and (8),
and lever (11), spring (9), and signal bell (10), substantially for the purposes
specified.
Dated this 21st day of September 1891
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.