Carriage Doors and for Unlocking or Unlatching same.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 12th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 12th Aug., 1887.
Carriage Doors and for Unlocking or Unlatching same.
We THOMAS OSBORNE, and CHARLES HENRY WOODHOUSE, both of Hexthorpe Brass
Works, Doncaster in the County of York, Manufacturers, and JOHN THOMAS
SHIPMAN, Engineer of Arbitration Street, Doncaster aforesaid, do hereby declare the
nature of our said invention for IMPROVED MEANS OR APPLIANCES FOR LOCKING OR
LATCHING RAILWAY CARRIAGE DOORS, AND FOR UNLOCKING OR UNLATCHING SAME to be
as follows:-
Our invention relates to an improved means, or system, or appliances, for locking
or latching the doors of Railway Carriages or for unlocking or unlatching the said
doors, and it consists in a series of levers or cranks and other mechanism attached to
each carriage, and connected to each lock or latch, and so arranged that the apparatus
throughout the Train can be worked from the Guards Van, the Engine, or other
suitable position, or if preferred each carriage may be arranged to be worked
separately.
It consists briefly in fixing upon the roof (preferably) or in any other suitable
position, a tubular rod having a sliding movement longitudinally in brackets or slides;
the extent of movement in either direction being controlled by springs which always
return the tube to its original or normal position.
Through the tubes before mentioned we pass a cord, each end of which is attached
to the tube and forms a loop, by means of which and any coupling device, the tube of
one Carriage is connected with that of the other.
A number of studs (corresponding with the number of doors in the Carriage)
project from the tube, and engage with a cranked lever and other suitable connections,
which are finally attached to or connected with the catch or bolt of the lock or latch
in such a manner that by a longitudinal movement of the tube, the catch or bolt is
raised or withdrawn from the latch or lock, so as to release the door.
Instead of cranked levers, a straight lever may be used having a segmental rack at
its bottom end, and gearing into a pinion fixed upon the latch spindle, thus a slight
vibrating movement of the straight vertical lever will turn the spindle in either
direction as desired.
Dated the 0th dow of October 1886

page_text: Carriage Doors and for Unlocking or Unlatching same.
We THOMAS OSBORNE, and CHARLES HENRY WOODHOUSE, both of Hexthorpe Brass
Works Doncaster, in the County of York, Manufacturers and JOHN THOMAS SHIPMAN,
Engineer, of Arbitration Street, Doncaster, aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :
Our invention relates to an improved system, means, or appliances for securing and
releasing the doors of Railway Carriages, either for a portion or for the whole length
of the Train.
It consists briefly of a series of levers or cranks corresponding with the number of
doors, attached to each carriage, in any suitable position, and connected with a latch
or bolt or their equivalent in such a manner that the apparatus on each and every
carriage, may be actuated from the Guards Van, the Engine or other desired part of
the Train.
And in order that our invention may be clearly understood, we annex a sheet of
drawings illustrating the same.
In carrying out the invention as illustrated in the drawing, we fix upon the roof
of the carriage (but we wish it to be understood that we do not bind ourselves to
this position) a tubular rod A, having a longitudinal sliding movement in a number
of brackets or other supports B, B, the extent of its movement being controlled in
either direction by means of spiral (or other) Springs C, C, which always return the
tube to its original position when the applied force is withdrawn.
Through the tubes A, we pass a cord D, each end of which is attached to the tube A,
by a ring E, or by other means, the part which projects from the tube forming a loop,
by means of which either alone, or in conjunction with an adjustable coupling device,
the tubes of adjacent Carriages are connected.
Studs or projections F, fixed to the tube A, engage with the forked or slotted end
of the levers G, which either directly, or by intermediate levers or connecting rods H,
are attached to and are capable of moving a latch, catch, or bolt, I, either in or out
of a recess, slot or other portion of the door, so as to effectually secure the said door
when it is closed, or release it when desired. Instead of the lever G, and the inter-
mediate connections H, we may use a straight arm J, terminating in a segment of a
toothed wheel K, which is geared with the teeth of a wheel (or part of a wheel) L, on
the axis of which is a bolt or catch M, which enters a recess in the door when the
arm J, is in its normal position, but is disengaged when the wheel is caused to
rotate.
The end of the cords is preferably secured to a wheel or other mechanism N, in the
guards van by means of which the cord can be tightened and the tubular rods A,
drawn back so as to release the catches or bolts when desired.

page_text: Thus when a train has started on its journey, the Guard can lock all the doors and
keep them so locked until the Train has absolutely come to a standstill, and thus
accidents arrising from passengers leaving the train before it has stopped will be
avoided.
It will be understood that the apparatus will be applied to both sides of the Carriage,
and that it can be worked from either end of the Train.
When it is desirable that our appliance shall also answer as a passengers com-
munication cord, it is modified as follows; instead of a tube we use a rod, fitted with
studs as described before, and having a cord attached at both ends and passing through
eyelets as at present in use, the connection between each carriage being made as before
described in connection with the tubular rods.
The cord so fitted when pulled by a passenger will be sufficient to ring the usual
bell, but not to unlock the doors, to accomplish this a direct pull is required.
The wheel at present in use, could in most cases be utilized for the purpose, and
made to act for either side of the Carriages.
A more simple arrangement of the mechanism can be made if the rod or sliding
bar is fixed to work immediately above or below the door; in this case the sliding
bar would be provided with a number of slots, corresponding with the number of
carriage doors, and cach slot engaging with the end of a short pivotted bar, so as
to work it in either direction. The opposite end of the pivotted bar would enter a
recess in the door so as to lock it, but when drawn by the rod to either end of its
action, it would be disengaged from the recess, and the door would be released.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
1-The improved means or appliances for locking or latching Railway Carriage
Doors, and unlocking same, substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated.
2-In combination with Railway Carriages, a system of sliding rods or bars (such
as A,) connected with intermediate levers or cranks, arranged to operate a number of
latches or bolts, so that the doors of the Carriages can be locked or unlocked by the
Guard or other appointed person, for the purpose specified and substantially as
described.
3-The combination with a system of mechanism for locking and unlocking the
doors of one or more Railway Carriages simultaneously, of the Passengers Communi-
cation Cord, substantially as herein before described.