IMPROVEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH RAILWAY CARRIAGE DOORS, AND THE PLATFORMS, FOOTBOARDS, OR STEPS OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bevitt, of Romford, in the County of Essex, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH RAILWAY CARRIAGE
DOORS, AND THE PLATFORMS, FOOTBOARDS, OR STEPS OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES."
Sealed the 3rd February 1880, and dated the 20th October 1879,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bevitt at the Office
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th October 1879.
WILLIAM BEVITT, of Romford, in the County of Essex.
CONNECTION WITH RAILWAY CARRIAGE DOORS, AND THE PLATFORMS, FOOTBOARDS,
OR STEPS OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES."
According to my Invention the platform, footboard, or step of the carriage is
made to swing on pivots or hinges, and so arranged that when the carriage door is
shut the platform, footboard, or step is in a vertical or a diagonal position, and as
the carriage door opens the platform, footboard, or step moves into a horizontal
position, the front edge of the said carriage platform, footboard, or step extending
near to or a short distance over the station platform. Ou the carriage door being
closed the carriage step, footboard, or platform moves back into its original position.
The said carriage platform, footboard, or step is held securely in place when the
carriage doors are shut by means of cams fixed on a rod or bar extending the whole
length of the train, and worked by the guard in charge thereof, so as to ensure that
the carriage doors can only be opened by passengers on the train stopping; or
instead of the carriage platform, footboard, or step being operated upon as just
described by the opening of the carriage door, it may be under the control of the
guard solely.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Bevitt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd February
1880.
"
WILLIAM BEVITT, of Romford, in the County of Essex. IMPROVEMENTS IN
CONNECTION WITH RAILWAY CARRIAGE DOORS, AND THE PLATFORMS, FOOTBOARDS,
OR STEPS OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES."
According to my Invention the footboard or step is made to swing on pivots or
hinges, as shewn in the annexed Drawing, and so arranged that the edge of the
footboard or step next to the carriage shall be the heaviest, so that it will move of
its own accord from a horizontal to a vertical or diagonal position when the doors
of the carriage are closed. On each door is fixed an arm containing a wheel, which
when the door is opened will press against the footboard or step, causing it to move
into a horizontal position; and will securely hold the same until the doors are closed.
The footboard or step is made of sufficient width to extend near to or over the
station platform, thereby giving much greater width of footboard than those at
present in use, thus enabling passengers to alight and enter the carriages with
greater ease and safety, and also prevent them slipping between the carriage and
station platform. When the train is in motion the footboards or steps can be
securely held in a vertical or diagonal position to prevent the carriage-doors being
opened before the train stops, or until the guard of the train thinks proper to
release them, by the cams marked T, which are fixed on a bar or rod marked V,
which bar I purpose connecting with a coupling, as shewn on plan, and marked W,
so as to allow for the vibration or curving of the train.
According to my Invention the footboards or steps will be kept dry on the tread
during wet or snowy weather. Or instead of the footboards or steps being worked
as above described, they can be under the control of the guard solely, they being
connected with couplings marked W.