IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN SECURING THE DOORS OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND TRAM CARS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Joseph Meredith and Richard Thomas
Meredith, both of the Town of Bridgenorth, in the County of Salop, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN SECURING
THE DOORS OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND TRAM CARS."
Sealed the 24th January 1879, and dated the 20th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Joseph Meredith
and Richard Thomas Meredith at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 20th November 1878.
WILLIAM JOSEPH MEREDITH and RICHARD THOMAS MEREDITH, both of the
Town of Bridgenorth, in the County of Salop. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
10 BE EMPLOYED IN SECURING THE DOORS OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND TRAM-CARS."
We employ several modifications of apparatus; the first consists in providing
a case of wood or other none conducting material to each door to be secured;
this case we place on the top of a carriage or car over the jamb containing the
securing bolt, which bolt is provided with a linked wire terminating at its upper
end in an armature placed under the poles of an electro-magnet, the negative
pole of one magnet being connected by an insulated wire to the positive pole
of the next adjacent electro-magnet; the armature and electro-magnet is con-
tained in the non-conducting case before named; the positive and negative
wires of the magnets are terminated at or upon the engine, or tender, or break,
or at both ends in such a way that the driver or stoker at one end of a train or
the guard at the opposite end of the train by simply raising or depressing a
handle connects or disconnects the wires with a galvanic battery of suitable
strength, of the usual construction, or with a magneto-electrical machine, which
may be driven by the engine of the train by either of the wheel axles of either
or any carriage or car, immediately upon connection being made the armatures
are forcibly drawn to the magnets and the locking bolts are each raised into a

page_text: slot in a plate secured to the edge of the door, thus firmly securing each door
until the carriage stops, and the wires being then disconnected by the driver,
stoker, or guard, the locking bolts will fall and the doors may then be opened
in the usual way.
The second modification consists in employing a case inserted in the side of
the carriage; this case contains an electro magnet and armature attached to the
lower slotted end of a rocking lever, having its upper end slotted to receive a
pin on the side of a sliding bolt which enters a slot in the plate on the door,
upon the connection being made as before described the two wires of the
magnet being connected to two insulated wires on the top of the carriage upon
the carriage stopping, and the wires being disconnected the bolt may be with-
drawn by a coiled or plate spring in the case.
The third modification consists of a locking bolt, the inner end of which
forms the positive pole of a permanent magnet placed opposite the core of an
electro-magnet, connected to insulated wires as before described; upon connee-
tion being made the positive current repels the locking bolt which enters the
slot in the door plate and secures it until the carriage stops and the wires
being disconnected, the bolt being withdrawn by a coiled or plate spring.
The fourth modification has the locking bolt placed in the door style, and is
drawn into a slot in the door jamb by an electro magnet when connection is
made, the magnet being contained in the side of the carriage and connected to
two insulated wires as first described, when the carriage stops and the wires
being disconnected the locking bolt is withdrawn by a coiled or plate spring.
In each of the above described modifications we connect the positive and
negative wires respectively by the following means; --Each pair of wires are
carried on the top of the carriage or car the whole length and are brought
down over each end and secured in an insulating plate or block, the ends of
the wires which may form plates are flush with the outer surface of the insulat-
ing plate or block, each block is provided at one end with a spring catch and
at the other end with a clip, so that upon the outer surfaces of two next adjacent
blocks, one from each carriage or car being pressed together the blocks are
held together with the ends of the several wires in connection, the slack ends
of each pair of wires are contained in an elastic tube, thus allowing the
carriages or cars to approach to or recede from each other without disconnecting
the wires. When a magneto-electrical machine is employed the motive power
may be furnished by a small auxilliary engine supplied with steam from the
driving engine.
By such means we are enabled to firmly secure the doors of carriages or cars
while running or stationery at the discretion of the driver, stoker, or guard,
and thus prevent the passengers from alighting or entering until the carriages
or cars stop, thus avoiding the frequent source of accident and injury heretofore
experienced.

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Joseph Meredith and Richard Thomas Meredith in
the Great Scal Patent Office on the 15th May 1879.
WILLIAM JOSEPH MEREDITH and RICHARD THOMAS MEREDITH, both of the
Town of Bridgenorth, in the County of Salop. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
TO BE EMPLOYED IN SECURING THE DOORS OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND TRAM-CARS."
We employ several modifications of apparatus; the first consists in providing
a case of wood or other non-conducting material to each door to be secured;
this case we place on the top of the carriage or car over the jamb containing
the securing bolt, which bolt is provided with a linked wire terminating at its
upper end in an armature placed under the poles of an electro maguet, the.
negative pole of one magnet being connected by an insulated wire to the posi-
tive pole of the next adjacent electro magnet; the armature and electro magnet
is contained in the non-conducting case before named; the positive and nega-
tive wires of the magnets are terminated at or upon the engine tender or brake,
or at both ends, in such a way that the driver or stoker at one end of a train or
the guard at the opposite end of the train by simply raising or depressing a
handle connects or disconnects the wires with a galvanic battery of suitable
strength of the usual construction, or with a magneto electrical machine, which
may be driven by the engine of the train or by either of the wheel axles of
either or any carriage or car; immediately upon connection being made the
armatures are forcibly drawn to the magnets, and the locking bolts are cach
raised into a slot in a plate secured to the edge of the door, thus firmly securing
cach door until the carriage stops, and the wires being then disconnected by
the driver, stoker, or guard, the locking bolts will fall and the doors may then
be opened in the usual way.
The second modification consists in employing a case inserted in the side of
the carriage; this case contains an electro magnet and armature attached to the
lower slotted end of a rocking lever, having its upper end slotted to receive a
pin on the side of a sliding bolt which enters a slot in the plate on the door.
upon connection being made, as before described, the two wires of the
magnet being connected to two insulated wires on the top of the carriage; upon
the carriage stopping and the wires being disconnected the bolt may be with-
drawn by a coiled or plate spring in the case.
The third modification consists of a locking bolt, the inner end of which
forms the positive pole of a permanent magnet placed opposite the core of an
electro-magnet connected to insulated wires as before described, upon connee-
tion being made the positive current repels the locking bolt which enters the
slot in the door plate and secures it until the carriage stops, and the wires
being disconnected the bolt being withdrawn by a coiled or plate spring.
The fourth modification has the locking bolt placed in the door style and is
drawn into a slot in the door jamb by an electro magnet when connection is
made, the magnet being contained in the side of the carriage and connected to
two insulated wires, as first described, when the carriage stops and the wires
being disconnected the locking bolt is withdrawn by a coiled or plate spring.
In each of the above described modifications we connect the positive and nega-
tive wires respectively by the following means: Each pair of wires are carried
on the top of the carriage or car the whole length, and are brought down over
each end and secured in an insulating plate or block; the ends of the wires
which may form plates are flush with the outer surface of the insulating plate
or block, each block is provided at one end with a spring catch and at the other
end with a clip, so that upon the outer surface of two next adjacent blocks,
one from each carriage or car being pressed together, the blocks are held
together with the ends of the several wires in connection, the slack ends of
each pair of wires are contained in an elastic tube, thus allowing the carriages
or cars to approach to or recede from each other without disconnecting the
wires.

page_text: When a magneto electrical machine is employed the motive power may be
furnished by a small auxiliary engine supplied with steam from the driving
engine.
By such means we are enabled to firmly secure the doors of carriages or
ears while running or stationary at the discretion of the driver, stoker, or
guard, and thus prevent the passengers from alighting until the carriages or
cars stop, thus avoiding the frequent source of accident and injury heretofore
experienced.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 represents one arrangement of the first modification of our improved
apparatus; Figure 1 is a plan of a block hereafter referred to; and Figure 1
is a side view of a second arrangement of the first modification.
Figure 2, a side view of a second modification.
Figure 3, a side view of one arrangement of the third modification.
Figure 3, a side view of a second arrangement of the third modification, and
Figure 4a side view of the fourth modification.
Figure 5 is an end view of the body of a railway carriage, shewing portion
of our improved apparatus applied thereto; Figure 5ª, view of a block here-
after referred to.
Figure 6, a side view of the ends of two adjacent carriages.
Figure 7, a plan of the roof of one carriage, and
Figure 8, a sectional view showing the interior of portion of one compart-
ment of a carriage supplied with our improved apparatus.
The corresponding parts in each Figure are indicated by the same letters
where necessary.
In the arrangement of apparatus, shewn at Figures 1 and 1ª, we provide a
case A of wood or other nonconducting material to each door to be secured;
this case we place on the top B of the carriage or car over the jamb containing
the securing bolt or the slotted plate or socket which receives the bolt, the
bolt C turns upon an axle pin D carried by a plate secured in a recess B¹ formed
in the side of the carriage or car. The bolt C is provided with a linked wire E,
terminating at its upper end in an armature placed under the poles of an
electro magnet G, the negative pole of one electro magnet being connected
by an insulated wire to the positive pole of the next adjacent electro magnet
the armature and electro-magnet is contained in the non-conducting case A
before named; the ends of each electro-magnet are provided with short studs G¹
which prevent undue adhesion of the armature or bolt it operates. The electro
magnets are provided with suitable coils of insulated wire connected at G, G³
being the negative wire and G2 the positive wire, when the bolt C is in posi-
tion and the door is locked. When the door is unlocked the bolt occupies the
position shewn by the dotted lines in cach Figure. The armature F is of steel,
and rises and falls in the recess of a block F', of ebonite or other insulating
material, shewn in plan at Figure 1". The positive and negative wires of the
electro magnets are connected to main wires which terminate at or upon the
engine tender or brake, or at both ends, in such a way that the driver or stoker
at one end of a train or car, or the guard at the opposite end of the train or
car, by simply raising or depressing a handle connects or disconnects the wires
with a galvanic battery of suitable strength of the usual construction, or with
a magneto-electrical machine, which may be driven by the engine of the train
or car or by either of the wheel axles of either a carriage or car.
Immediately upon connection being made the armatures are forcibly drawn
to the electro-magnets, and the locking bolts are each raised into a slot in a
plate I, secured in the edge of the loor of the carriage or car, thus firmly secur-
ing each door on the wires; being disconnected by either attendant the lock-
ing bolts will fall and the doors may be opened in the usual way.
In the second arrangement of the first modification, shewn at Figure 1b, and

page_text: in all other modifications a flat or oval-electro magnet may be employed with
suitable coils of insulated wire, the electro-magnet lifting the bolt to lock the
door without the intervention of an armature and linked wire, the locking bolt
and electro-magnet being contained in a recess B₁ formed in the side of the
carriage or car.
In the second modification the locking bolt may be placed above the electro-
magnet, as shewn at Figure 2, or be reversed by placing it below the electro-
magnet; either way we employ an electro-magnet and armature attached to or
forming a rocking lever C, rocking on an axle pin D at one end and being
connected at the other end to a locking bolt C by a pin passed through the
end of the lever which may be forked to clip the end of the bolt, the pin sliding
in a short slot in the bolt, or the pin may be secured in the bolt and slide in
slots in the fork of the lever. The bolt enters the slot in the plate I, let in
the edge of the door upon connection being made, as before described (the two
wires of the electro magnet being connected to. two insulated wires on the top
of the carriage), upon the carriage or car stopping and the wires being discon-
nected the bolt will be pushed back by a coiled or plate spring C² pressing the
outer face of a flanged plate C3 flush with the edge of the door.
The third modification, as shewn at Figure 3, has a locking bolt C which is
a permanent magnet, one end of which is repelled by the positive pole of the
electro magnet and attracted by the negative pole; the other end of the bolt
enters the slot in the door plate and secures it, and upon the poles being reversed
the bolt is withdrawn to the position shewn by the dotted lines, or upon the
carriage stopping, and the wires being disconnected the bolt may be with-
drawn by a coiled or plate spring.
In the second arrangement of the same modification, shewn at Figure 3ª, the
bolt C may be attached, as before described, to a rocking lever C₁ operated by
the electro-magnet, the lever C being a permanent magnet.
The fourth modification has the locking bolt placed in the door style, and
is drawn into a slot in the door jamb or carriage or car side by an electro-
magnet when connection is made and thrown back by a spring (2 when released.
In each of the above described modifications, except the first, we connect
the positive and negative wires respectively by the following means:--Each
pair of wires are placed in a pipe or recess J in the side of the carriage, shewn
by dotted lines at Figure 8, and connected to the main wire or wires contained
in an insulated cable K on the top of the carriage or car, the whole of its
length seen in plan at Figure 7, and are brought down over each end and
secured in an insulating plate or block L, shewn in end and side views respec-
tively at Figures 5 and 6.
The ends of the wires which may form plates are flush with the outer surfaces
of the insulating blocks; these blocks are each provided at one side with a
spring catch and at the other side with a clip, so that upon the two outer sur-
faces of two next adjacent blocks one from each carriage or car being pressed
together, the blocks are held together with the ends of the several wires in
connection; the slack ends of each pair of wires are contained in an elastic
tube, thus allowing the carriages or cars to approach or recede to or from each
other without disconnecting the wires.
At the end of the last carriage of a train each pair of wires are connected by
a loose block, shewn at Figure 5ª, provided with two broad plates L instead
of four narrow ones; this block has a spring catch at one side and a clip at
the other side to secure it to the block L.
When a magneto-electrical machine is employed the motive power may be
supplied by a small auxiliary engine supplied with steam from the driving
engine.
In each of the above described modifications the axle pin of each locking
bolt, or the axle pin of the lever which actuates the bolt, either forms a square
stud or socket, as shewn by dotted lines at Figure 1. to receive the locking

page_text: key of the guard or other attendant applied from the outside of the compart-
ment when requisite.
The electro-magnets in each arrangement or modification are carried by a
bar H secured thereto by screws shewn by dotted lines at Figure 1, such bar
being held to the case A or to one of a space prepared for it in the side of the
carriage by screws H', which are insulated by ebonite or other blocks which
line the holes through which the screws pass..
By such means we are enabled to secure the doors of carriages or cars while
running or stationary, and thus prevent the passengers from alighting until
the carriages.or cars stop, thus avoiding the frequent source of accident and
injury heretofore experienced.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed,―
We declare that we claim the construction and employment of locking devices
actuated by an electric current or currents to secure the doors of railway
carriages or tram cars, substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
in the Drawings annexed, and also for securing railway carriage and tram-
car doors by the use of electric current or currents.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Joseph Meredith and Richard
Thomas Meredith, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twelfth
day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy nine.
WILLIAM JOSEPH MEREDITH. (.s.)
RICHARD THOMAS MEREDITH. (...)