IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY AND OTHER WAGONS, AND IN THE METHOD OF DISCHARGING CARGO THEREFROM
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Roberts Hutton, of Barrow in Furness, in the
County of Lancaster, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY AND OTHER WAGONS, AND IN THE METHOD OF
DISCHARGING CARGO THEREFROM."
Sealed the 15th July 1879, and dated the 19th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Roberts Hutton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th April 1879.
THOMAS ROBERTS HUTTON, of Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of Lancaster,
Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY AND
WAGONS, AND IN THE METHOD OF DISCHARGING CARGO THEREFROM."
OTHER
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of railway and other
wagons, and in the method of discharging cargo therefrom, and consists in an
improved arrangement of the floors of wagons or trucks, whereby increased facilities
are afforded for discharging coals, minerals, and other like materials through the
bottom of the wagon or truck.
The floor of my improved wagon is provided midway of its length with drop
doors arranged in the ordinary manner. Those portions of the flooring on either
side of the drop doors, instead of being fastened down to the body of the wagon, as
usually constructed, are according to my Invention made loose so as to permit of
their being raised or tilted; thus the material or cargo resting thereupon may, upon
the drop doors being opened, be caused to slide or roll down and discharge itself
through the space in the centre of the wagon. The wings or loose portions of the
flooring are supported at their inner ends upon a hinge or joint, and the raising or
tilting of their outer ends may be effected by any suitable mechanical means. Опе
mode which I employ for this purpose consists in affixing to the underside of the
wing a toothed rack, which gears into a pinion affixed to a shaft running trans-
versely of the wagon. The ends of the shaft project somewhat beyond the sides of

page_text: the wagon, and are provided, one at each end, with bosses or nuts having perfora-
tions, into which one end of a bar or lever may be inserted when it is desired to
rotate the shaft. Each shaft is also provided with at least one notched or catch
wheel and pawl, so that as the wing with its load is raised it may remain in its
elevated position whilst the bar or lever is withdrawn for insertion into another
hole of the boss or nut.
The arrangement of loose floor or wings for the purpose of expediting the dis-
charge of cargo through the bottom of the wagon, as above described, is applicable
to existing stock as well as in the construction of new vehicles.
In adapting my Invention to existing stock which have no end doors the outer
ends of the wings may be provided with narrow flaps or drop doors, which on being
opened will permit the cargo or material adjoining the ends of the wagon to drop
through; thus when the wings are to be raised or tilted the friction of the material
against the end of the wagon will be obvinted. The wings may also be provided
with backs, or ends, or with sides, so as to prevent friction of the material against
the ends and sides of the wagon.