Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 19th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 22nd June, 1888
We, WILLIAM CLIFFORD and EDWARD CLIFFORD, both of Southstoke, in the County
of Somerset, carpenters, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention consists in constructing the floor or bottom of railway wagons or
trucks of two leaves or doors hinged at the sides or ends and which, when closed, meet
in the centre.
Under one arrangement, the division is longitudinal. The wagons or trucks are
designed for discharge of the load through the bottom. Fixed to the frame and
bearing against the underside of the said leaves or doors are springs which tend to
force the leaves or doors upwards into the closed position. At each end of the wagon
or truck is a plate fixed to a rod connected to a hand lever pivotted at the side of the
vehicle. When the leaves or doors are closed, the plates are, by the actuation of the
hand lever in the proper direction, brought to bear against the underside of the leaves
or doors which are thereby supported in the closed position. The plates are so
arranged as to support each leaf or door of the bottom equally.
In order to discharge a load from a wagon or truck constructed in accordance with
this invention, the hand lever is moved in the proper direction for turning the
supporting plates downwards, and the leaves or doors are then forced apart by the
When the load has, in this
weight of the load which descends between them.
manner, been discharged the leaves or doors are raised by the springs aforesaid and
the supporting plates are returned by actuation of the hand lever and rods accordingly
to close the bottom.
The mechanism may be adapted for operation at either side of the vehicle.
Under another arrangement the doors or leaves aro hinged at the ends of the
vehicle the division being transverse: and, under a third arrangement, the doors or
leaves are hinged to a transverse beam situated midway between the ends of the
vehicle.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: We, WILLIAM CLIFFORD and EDWARD CLIFFORD, both of Southstoke, in the county
of Somerset, carpenters, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to he particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
The improved railway wagon or truck in which this invention consists is designed
to discharge its load through the bottom, and, for this purpose, it is fitted with a
divided floor suitably hinged to the frame of the vehicle.
By means of plates secured to rods connected to a hand lover the divided floor of
the vehicle is held up, or in the closed position, to receive the load when the hand
lever has been operated to effect this. When, now, for the purpose of discharging
the load, the hand lever is moved in the reverse direction to that necessary for closing
the floor, the plates are withdrawn and the doors of the floor are forced apart by the
load which descends through the aperture to the place of discharge.
After discharge of the load the doors are returned to the closed position either
automatically by means of springs acting upon them, or they may be drawn up by
hand through the medium of a chain or rope or by equivalent means. When the
floor is closed, the plates aforesaid are returned to bear against the underside thereof
by actuating the hand lever accordingly. Division of the floor may be longitudinal
or transverse.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents a side elevation, Fig. 2
an end elevation and Fig. 3 a plan of the underside of a railway wagon or truck the
floor of which is divided longitudinally along the centre of the vehicle and hinged to
the frame in accordance with one arrangement comprised in this invention.
At each end of the vehicle are plates a secured to rods carried in suitable eyes
fixed in the frame of the vehicle. The rods are connected at the outer end by links c
and d to a hand lever e, Figs. 1 and 2, pivotted at f to the side of the vehicle. When
the hand lever e, working in a notched guide g, is in the position shewn at Fig. 1, the
plates a are horizontal and bear against the underside of the divided floor / upon which
the load may now be placed.
To discharge the load the hand lever e is moved to the opposite end of the rack
and the plates a are by consequent rotation of the rods 6 removed from contact with
the floor the doors of which, yielding to the pressure of the contents, open on their
hinges and assume the position shewn at Fig. 2 and permit the loud to be discharged.
The floor is returned to the closed position after discharge of the load either
automatically by springs such as I carried on the frame and acting upwards upon the
doors of the floor, or it may be returned by hand through the medium of a chain or
rope connected to the doors and conducted through a suitable opening in the side
or end of the vehicle.
The plates a are then returned by the hand lever a to their former position to
support the floor.

page_text: When the vehicle is fitted with a chain or rope, or the equivalent thereof, for the
purpose of closing the floor after discharge, the arrangement is such that no check is
given to the opening of the doors after the plates a have been turned down, the chain
or rope having a free run for a sufficient length through the aperture by which it is
conducted outside the vehicle.
The hand lever and connecting links by which the plates a are operated may be
arranged at either side of the vehicle.
Instead of being divided longitudinally, as shewn in the drawings, the floor may he
divided transversely and the doors hinged either to the ends of the frame or to a
beam extended across the vehicle at or about midway from the ends.
Under another modification the floor of the vehicle consists of one flap or door only
which is suitably hinged to the frame and arranged for discharge of the load through
the bottom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is:-
1. In a railway wagon or truck providing a divided floor the doors composing which
are hinged to the frame and arranged to open downwards to discharge the load.
2. In a railway wagon or truck the use of a floor consisting of a flap or door hinged
to the frame and arranged to open downwards to discharge the load.
3. The plates a or equivalent supports for maintaining the floor in the closed position
and operated by a hand lever e and intervening mechanism, substantially as described.
4. The hereinbefore mentioned springs for automatically returning the floor of the
vehicle to the closed position after discharge of the load, substantially as described.
5. The use of a chain or rope, or the equivalent thereof, for manually raising the
floor of the vehicle to the closed position after discharge of the load, substantially as
described.