IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY FASTENING OR UNFASTENING THE CARRIAGE DOORS OF A RAILWAY TRAIN
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Andrew Ross and Samuel Palmer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th January 1881.
ANDREW Ross and SAMUEL PALMER, of Larne, in the County of Antrim,
Ireland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY FASTENING OR
UNFASTENING THE CARRIAGE DOORS OF A RAILWAY TRAIN."
This Invention has for its object the construction of simple and inexpensive
apparatus to be fitted to à railway train to enable the guard to simultaneously
fasten or unfasten the several carriage doors; and the improved apparatus is
conveniently applicable to existing plant as well as in the construction of new
carriages.
In carrying out the Invention, according to one modification, there is fitted at
each side of each carriage a longitudinal rod carried in bearings or staples so as to
run along immediately beneath the bottom edges of the doors, and each of these
rods has at a part of it, corresponding to each door that it crosses, a projection or
short lever arm hereinafter termed a fastener, which when turned up obstructs
the bottom edge of the door and prevents the opening of the door. When the
doors are to be unfastened or set free the rods are turned half round so that the
fasteners on them will project downwards and be completely out of the way of
the doors.
The rods of the several carriages of a train are coupled between the carriages
and suitable apparatus is fitted in the guard's van for working them. There is a
line of the rods for each side of the train, and on each of the two lengths in the
guard's van there is according to one modification, a pinion which is geared to a
larger wheel either directly or through a pitch, chain, or strap, in order that a
small movement of the larger wheel may make the pinion and the rods make a
full half turn. The gearing in the guard's van may be arranged so that only the
doors on one side can be opened at once.
The manner of coupling the rods between the carriages is of great importance
as regards the practical applicability of the apparatus. The rods are always in
one or other of two positions, differing from each other by exactly half a turn,
and each rod end has a coupling piece attached to it by a joint allowing the piece
to move angularly in a vertical plane (that is to vibrate up and down). The
coupling pieces may be conveniently termed swords and scabbards, which taking

page_text: the corners of a carriage in rotation are arranged alternately, so that each sword
has a scabbard to couple with when the carriages are brought together. Each
sword is a comparatively thin elastic blade with its broad faces vertical, and each
scabbard (or skeleton scabbard as it might be more particularly termed) is a rod
or bar having a slotted piece at its outer end to receive the sword, the bar being
shaped so as not to interfere with such play of the point of the sword as it may
have when the train passes round a curve.
These swords and scabbards are easily
engaged with each other when coupling the carriages, being turned up on the
joints connecting them to their rods, so as to admit of the sword points being
entered into the scabbards, and they allow of the various differences between the
carriages, and of their various movements without becoming deranged.
The fastening rods may he arranged immediately above the carriage door instead
of beneath them, the fasteners being in that case turned down to fasten, and up to
unfasten, and parts may be provided to enable the engine driver to work the
.rods.