Improvements in Vans or Wagons for Use in Conveyance of Laundry Goods and for other Uses.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 19th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1899
Improvements in Vans or Wagons for Use in Conveyance of Laundry
Goods and for other Uses.
A communication from abroad by WILLIAM AUGUST EDWIN HENRICI, of
762, Broadway, Chelsea, County of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, United
States of America, Manufacturer.
We, THE BRITISH HENRICI LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY LIMITED, of
10, 11, and 12, Hosier Lane, West Smithfield, in the City of London, Laundry
Engineers and Outfitters, and MICHAEL FRANCIS CONNORS, of the same place,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows: —
This invention relates to improvements in the construction or arrangement
of parts of wagons, or vans for use in the conveyance of laundry goods and for
other uses.
The improved van, or wagon, is provided with a body, and usual under parts
and wheels, preferably four in number, also with suitable means for the attach-
ment of a draught animal or animals, except when it is provided with a self
motive power.
The body of the van, or wagon, has a substantially level body and sides and
ends, which preferably are solid as regards the ends and sides for say eighteen
inches, or thereabouts, from the level of the floor and lie within the bearing
wheels. From the said height to the roof line, the sides and end consist of a
number of posts or supports which carry the roof. The spaces between the sup-
ports at the sides are filled with openwork, preferably wire lattices, rigidly
framed in panels, removably attached to the framings by sockets or stops and
at top by turn buttons or locks. These upper sides of the improved van project
over the wheels and beyond the lower portions first described for-say in a wagon
body of twelve feet in length, about one foot, more or less, and are joined to the
lower sides by a slightly inclined shelf at each side.
The back end of the lower wall of the van may be hinged and capable of
swinging open, and be provided with suitable locking means. The front end of
the body say from the line of the driver's seat board--may be provided either
with a leather or equivalent waterproof curtain, provided with eyelets and studs
to correspond on the van's frame, or the enclosing means may be rolled up on a
spring or like roller. Like means of enclosing the sides are provided, preferably,
outside of the lattice, or openwork, and a similar enclosing means is provided
at the back.
The panel of openwork at the back may swing outwardly from the upper edge.
The driver's perch is preferably protected by a waterproof hood, which is more
conveniently arranged to fold back.
By these means a useful, commodious; convertible conveyance of light strong
construction especially adapted for laundry, military and and other uses is pro-
vided, capable in fine dry weather of being used as an open wagon, free to the

page_text: air and light with or without the protective locked openwork panels at sides
and end, and in damp or stormy weather as a close weather proof van with water-
proof covered sides and ends, released from their straps, or retainers and fastened
tightly around the open portions thereof.
The shelves, or side projections, may be supported by metal or wooden attach-
ments therefrom to the frame or lower body of the van. Suitable apron arrange-
ments are provided to protect the driver, or others in charge.
The curtains can all be snugly stowed and secured, so as when withdrawn from
use to prevent little or no detrimental effect to the contour of the conveyance.
Dated the 10th day of Naramban 1802
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Vans or Wagons for Use in Conveyance of Laundry
Goods and for other Uses.
A communication from abroad by WILLIAM AUGUST EDWIN HENRICI, of
762, Broadway, Chelsea, County of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, United
States of America, Manufacturer.
We, THE BRITISH HENRICI LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY LIMITED, of
10, 11 and 12, Hosier Lane, West Smithfield, in the City of London, Laundry
Engineers and Outfitters, and MICHAEL FRANCIS CONNORS, of the same place,
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 improvements in the construction or arrangement
of parts of wagons, or vans for use in the conveyance of laundry goods and for
other uses.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figs. 1 and 1 show a side view of the improved van, the vehicle being shown
cut in two vertically on the lines 1-1 for convenience of the drawing, the
former figure showing the fore part and the latter the hind part.
A portion of the curtain f in these figures is shown as if broken away or torn
upon the line 2-2 the portion forward being shown as if rolled up and confined
within straps f2 and the portion rearward of said line being in its position when
in use as a protection to the goods.
Fig. 2 is a front view of the van.
Fig. 3 is a back view of the same and herein also the curtain is divided on the
line 3-3 the portion towards the near side being shown down and the portion
towards the off side being gathered up and upheld by loops.
Fig. 4 shows a partial sectional view to a smaller scale of the main parts of
the van indicated by Figs. 1-3.
Fig. 5 is a detail indicating a convenient way of connecting the wirework to
the frames, drawn to a larger scale than the preceding figures.
The improved van, or wagon, is provided with a body a, and usual under parts
and wheels b b here shown as being four in number, also with suitable means
not shown for the attachment of a draught animal or animals, except when it is
provided with a self motive power.
The body a of the van, or wagon, has a substantially level floor a¹, sides a³,

page_text: and front and back ends a³, a', which preferably are solid as regards the ends
and sides for say eighteen inches or thereabouts, from the level of the floor and
lie within the bearing wheels. From the said height to the roof line the sides
and end consist of a number of posts or supports c which carry the roof d. The
spaces between the supports c at the sides are filled with openwork, here shown
as wire lattices e¹, rigidly framed in panels e, removably attached to the fram-
ings by sockets or stops and at top by turn buttons or locks. The upper sides c¹
of the improved van project over the wheels b and beyond the lower portions aª
first described for-say in a wagon body of twelve feet in length, about one foot,
more or less, and are joined to the lower sides by a slightly inclined shelf a5
at each side and the shelf is supported by irons a from the body a.
The back end a of the lower wall of the van may be hinged and capable of
swinging open, and be provided with suitable locking means. The front end a³
of the body say from the line of the driver's seat board h¹-may be provided
either with a leather or equivalent waterproof curtain at f provided with eyelets
and studs to correspond on the van's frame or the enclosing means may be
rolled up on a spring or like roller. Like curtains or means of enclosing the
sides at fare provided, preferably as shown, outside of the lattice, or openwork,
and a similar curtain or enclosing means is provided at the back at f¹ with
straps and studs f3 on the framing to engage the straps.
The panels e e of openwork at the back above at as shown can swing out-
wardly from the upper edge upon hinges g g and be secured by catches g¹ g¹.
The driver's perch h¹ is shown as being protected by a waterproof hood h
which may be conveniently arranged to fold back when required (see Fig. 4).
2 is the foot board.
By these means a useful, commodius, convertible conveyance of light strong
construction especially adapted for laundry, military and other uses is provided,
capable in fine dry weather of being used as an open wagon, free to the air and
light with or without the protective locked openwork panels at sides and end,
and in damp or stormy weather as a close weatherproof van with waterproof
covered sides and ends, released from their straps, or retainers and fastened
tightly around the openwork portions thereof.
The shelves, or side projections, may be supported by metal or wooden attach-
ments therefrom to the frame or lower body of the van. Suitable apron arrange-
ments are provided to protect the driver or others in charge.
The curtains can all be snugly stowed and secured, so as when withdrawn from
use to prevent little or no detrimental effect to the contour of the conveyance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a van or wagon for use in the conveyance of laundry goods and other
uses a wagon body, with solid sides for a limited height, in combination with a
superstructure embodying roof and panel supports, projecting side panels, and
end panel, wirework or like openwork fillings therefor and removable curtains
for such openwork panels, substantially as set forth.
2. A van or wagon for use as stated and constructed, substantially as set forth
and shown by the drawings.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
i
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.