A New or improved Apparatus for simultaneously Locking and Unlocking Railway Carriage Doors.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1886
Complete Left, 9th Nov., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 7th Jan., 1887.
A New or improved Apparatus for simultaneously Locking and
Unlocking Railway Carriage Doors.
I, GERSON EPSTEIN of 77 Regents Park Road N.W. in the county of Middlesex,
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in means for locking and unlocking
Railway carriage doors and has for object to prevent the opening of the door until
the train is at a standstill, and thus prevent many accidents which occur through
passengers opening the doors and alighting whilst the train is in motion.
In carrying out the invention, there is to be placed in the guard's carriage any
suitable electric battery and a wire is led from said battery the whole length of the
train over the doors, and in connection with this wire at each locking" there will be a
magnet which will act when the current is passed on one arm of a pivotted bent lever
to bring the other arm across the jam of the door thus securely locking it. When the
current is cut off the arm will be released by the magnet and will fall to its normal
position thus bringing the other arm of the lever free so that the door may be opened.
G. GWILT
COTSWORTH,
10, Liverpool Street.
Walworth, S.E..
Applicam's Agent.

page_text: Unlocking Railway Carriag
1, GERSON EPSTEIN of 77 Regents Park Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Chemist, 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:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in arrangements for locking and 5
unlocking the doors of Railway Carriages, and has for its object the prevention of
accidents, by placing the control of the carriage doors under the care of the Guard, so
that when a train arrives at a platform, the doors cannot be opened until the train
ceases to move.
Moreover by its means the objectionable slamming of the doors when a train is about
to depart may be dispensed with.
This can be managed by using hinges with sloping joints so as to cause the doors
to fall to and close automatically, or if preferred a spring can be employed to close
the door.
When the door is closed, the Guard will be able, with my apparatus to fasten each
door simultaneously. Should however it become necessary to open the door from the
inside a simple disconnector will enable the passenger to effect this and a signal may be
communicated to the Guard informing him which door has been opened.
In carrying out my invention, I place a suitable Electric battery in the Guards van,
From the battery or other
or generate the current in any other convenient way.
source of Electricity, a wire is led the whole length of the train, passing over the doors
of the carriages, so as to form a proper electrical circuit. In connection with this
wire, at each door where the locking is required, a magnet is placed, which when the
current passes acts on the arm of a pivotted bent lever in such a way, as to bring the
other arm across the door or into the door so as to lock it securely.
Similarly the current being cut off the lever resumes its normal position and the
door is open. If preferred the magnet and lever can be enclosed in a case, or placed
inside the ordinary or a special lock or latch.
there must be a
In each carriage, in order to provide against a sudden emergency,
disconnector so placed as to allow any one travelling in the carriage to be able to cu
off the current. As before state: this disconnector can be made to give notice to the
Guard of the current being disconnected and of the number of the carriage in which
this takes place.
My apparatus would also be suitable in certain cases for fastening the doors i
spacious or public buildings and for similar purposes.
In the accompanying drawings
A is the magnet.

page_text: These drawings shew only two forms of many in which my invention could be
applied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A system of closing and fastening the doors of Railway Carriages or Cars, by
Electricity or Electricity combined with mechanical contrivances.
2. The use of an Electric current and magnet or magnets operating on bolts or
levers so as to securely fasten the doors of Railway Carriages.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, E.C.
Patent Agent.