IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND SLEEPING CARS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING THE SAME
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Ernest de Pass at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th August
1875. A communication from abroad by Jean Baptiste Vidard, of
17, Boulevart Saint Martin, Paris, France.
I, ERNEST DE PASS, of Flect Chambers, 68, Fleet Street, in the City
of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF
RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND SLEEPING CARS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING THE
SAME," communicated to me from abroad by Jean Baptiste Vidard, of 17,
Boulevart Saint Martin, Paris, France, to be as follows:-
At present there are in use throughout the world mainly three systems
on which railway carriages are constructed, only differing from one.
another in detail, so as to suit them to the countries where they are in
These three systems are known as the English, American, and
French. Each system has its advantages and disadvantages, into the
merits or disadvantages it is not necessary to enter.
use.
According to the present Invention the inconveniences of each of
these systems aforesaid is avoided. The first part of the Invention

page_text: consists in the construction and application as herein-after described to
railway carriages of the under frame thereof, and for this purpose
lengths of cut sheet iron strengthened by angle iron are rivetted
thereto. These lengths are lighter than double T iron, and they are
better adapted for the different forms or shapes of the carriages, at the
same time having the necessary space for the axle boxes allow for
the working of the bearing springs below the axle boxes and of
the application to the sides of the draw bars and break slides.
The sheets of iron may be made in one piece or in several picces
rivetted together.
The second part of the Invention consists in the employment of
bearing springs at the bottom of the axle boxes, the ends of the springs
being attached to the side of the sheet-iron lengths by the draw bars
by means of tension screws or otherwise, in such manner that the
springs may be regulated at pleasure. This condition is indispensable
for the carriages to be comfortable for the travellers, and this remark
applies whether the bearing springs are placed over or below the axle
boxes. Suspension springs are used to receive the axle boxes, which
are supported from the boxes themselves.
In order to pass from one carriage to the other the platform of the
staircase is raised in such manner that it can be brought on a level with
the upper platform. The hand railings are also arranged so as to have
provided on each platform an iron door or double door. Each double
door on opening or closing lowers or raises a platform by a combination
of levers similar to those employed for the steps of private carriages,
and by this means a continuous passage between two adjacent carriages
is made or cut off according to whether the doors are open or closed.
Provision is made for securing the doors by locks or otherwise, or for
keeping them open. When open the doors form side guards.
At the entrance of each upper stage at each side of the passage there
are two closets closed and isolated from the other compartments by
partitions. One of these closets is a watercloset, with water reservoir
above, the soil from which is carried outside by means of a pipe leading
from under the pan of the seat, and traverses the floor of the second
stage, and the bottom of the carriage under the curve of the pavillion a
and above the beadings of the first stage. This pipe afterwards descends

page_text: outside by the side under the carriage between the frame and the draw
spring. Opposite the moveable seat there is a washing stand provided
with all necessary requirements. A water pipe leading from the reservoir
supplies the basin with water.
In the second closet, which is opposite the first, the materials for a
refreshment bar are provided. There is a scat which may be raised or
lowered at will intended for the person in charge of the two closets,
viz., the bar and the watercloset. The doors of the refreshment bar and
watercloset are opposite cach other. Both open in the longitudinal
passage, which is enlarged at this point in order that two persons can
easily pass one another.
Access to these closets and places in the upper stage is obtained by
the travellers from the lower compartments during the stoppage of the
train at a station, and travellers can make use of them without having
to leave the train.
It is not necessary that each carriage be fitted with these closets; it
will be found sufficient to have them fitted to each break carriage, in
order that each train may be sure to have at least one set attached.
At the right and left of the central passage of the upper compartment
seats are placed with backs, each having room for two passengers. The
seats are placed two and two facing each other in such manner that the
union of two seats thus arranged forms a half compartment of two
places. Each compartment can at the will of the occupiers be left open
or closed. To close it a vertical frame, forming a rack placed in a slide
in the partition forming the back, is raised at the back and front, and this
rack, which may be kept at any desired height by means of springs, can
be raised to join the bottoms of the beadings, placed as in the lower
compartment above the seats. Privacy is completed by drawing
curtains on the passage side sliding on longitudinal rods; these rods,
at the same time serving as hand rails, are fixed at the upper part of
each side of the passage. During the day the curtains are open, and
fastened by straps to the columns which support the upper parts, and on
the brackets of the beadings.
The seat of each place is independent of the couch or seats on which
it rests. It is mounted on a frame with an axle in such manner that it
may be raised to make it swing on the supports fixed to the seat, and
become a second cushion with a hinge folded under the seat, where it is

page_text: kept by means of a spring bolt, which is opened by means of a key.
This supplementary cushion is provided with hooks, which engage in
two corresponding eyes in the opposite seat, and when unfolded forms a
couch on which the traveller can lic. At the same time the hinged
backs, which are maintained in place by the moveable frame of the seat,
are disengaged by the swinging motion imparted to the seat to unfold
it. These cushions are freed by means of springs, and form pillows for
the head at one end, and a shelf at the other. Under this shelf the
traveller can stretch his legs as far as the partition without injuring the
back cushions. The cushion forming pillows is supported by a small
hinged flapboard, and the cushion forming shelf is supported by a hinged
bracket; both of them when not in use are pushed back in their recesses
behind the back of the seats.
Each half compartment of four places can accommodate two travellers
lying down.
A hinged table between the seats, folded and maintained by a pin
against the side of the carriage, can be lowered, and a jointed foot sup-
ports the end of the unfolded table, which are simple in construction,
and being placed in the carriage are constantly at the disposal of the
travellers, and they cannot be lost or removed.
The lower compartment contains four compartments divided from
one another, the two end compartments form "coupes." Each seat opens
out to a bed chair by means of a swinging action, which causes the seat
and the back of the couch to be brought forward. Seats fitted in the
frame can be pulled out for the legs, thus forming a bed. Seats are also
fitted to the two middle compartments, which are divided from one
another by glass partitions, against which cushions may be placed when
required.
Carriages constructed according to this Invention will carry more
passengers than any carriages heretofore constructed and known as
sleeping cars. In time of war they may be used for conveying soldiers
to the scene of action and for bringing back the wounded. The car-
riages may be lighted by oil candles or compressed gas. When candles
are used they are placed in lanterns, and such lanterns may receive
coloured glasses for serving as signals. The two closets, the partitions of
which are in the axis of these lanterns, are also lighted by the same.

page_text: These lanterns may also be used for compressed gas. For this purpose
it is only necessary to replace the cylinder or socket carrying the candle
by a burner placed on a small pipe, which is in communication with
a moveable reservoir containing compressed gas. Each lantern is pro-
vided with its own reservoir, which contains the necessary supply of gas.
All the reservoirs are isolated and independent of each other; as they
are made of thin sheet iron or steel, they are very light and easily
removed when empty to be replaced by others full. They are placed in
recesses formed outside the carriage placed longitudinally on the pro-
jection formed by the top of the lower compartment at each side of the
upper carriage. A pressure regulator is employed for regulating the
pressure of the gas supplied to the burners, the gas being conveyed
from the regulator by flexible tubes. The pressure of gas is kept at an
even pressure when the pressure in the regulator decreases, owing to
the consumption of the gas, by having a small supplementary receiver
under the regulator, through which the gas passes before reaching the
burner. This small reservoir is intended to obviate the oscillations of
the flame occasioned by the trepidations of the valve in the regulator,
and the result is facilitated through having cach lighting apparatus
independent of one another.