IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY AND OTHER WAGGONS, AND IN THE METHOD OF DISCHARGING CARGO THEREFROM
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Roberts Hutton, of Barrow-in-Furness, in the
County of Lancaster, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY AND OTHER WAGGONS, AND IN THE METHOD OF
DISCHARGING CARGO THEREFROM."
Sealed the 19th July 1878, and dated the 30th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Roberts Hutton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th April 1878.
THOMAS ROBERTS HUTTON, of Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of Lancaster,
Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY AND OTHER
WAGGONS, AND IN THE METHOD OF DISCHARGING CARGO THEREFROM."
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of railway and other
waggons, and in the method of discharging cargo therefrom, and consists in an
improved arrangement of the floors of waggons or trucks, whereby facilities are
afforded for discharging coals, minerals, and other like materials through the bottom
of the waggon or truck in an expeditious manner.
According to my Invention the floor of the waggon is divided into two or more
sections or parts which form wings, and these wings are pivoted at or near their
centres so as to be free to rotate. The action of these pivoted wings, when dis-
charging cargo, is such that the two adjacent edges of the wings will move down-
wards until an opening or aperture is formed between the wings, through which the
contents of the waggon may freely descend. Levers or other suitable mechanism
may be employed for moving the wings back into position, or they may be so
moved back by hand. These said wings or sections rest on a suitably shaped bar
of metal or wood, arranged transversely in such a manner that upon the bar being
turned the wings are free to pass the bar and open out, as above described, or a bar or
bolt may support them, the withdrawal of which allows them to rotate. The outer
ends of the wings may be provided with sides or backs corresponding with the ends
of the waggon which they adjoin, or the ends and sides of the waggon itself may be
made to move with the floor on a pivot, as above described.

page_text: In some cases it may be convenient to arrange the wings or sections, so that when
in the closed position their edges shall overlap one another.
The improved waggon, having its floor constructed as above described, is available
for carrying other cargo than coals or minerals equally with ordinary freight waggons
or trucks, and may moreover be constructed at small cost as compared with other
forms of mineral waggons which discharge their contents at the bottom.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Roberts Hutton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
October 1878.
THOMAS ROBERTS HUTTON, of Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of Lancaster,
Merchant. " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY AND OTHER
WAGGONS, AND IN THE METHOD OF DISCHARGING CARGO THEREFROM."
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of railway and other
waggons, and in the method of discharging cargo therefrom, and consists in an
improved arrangement of the floors of waggons or trucks, whereby facilities are
afforded for discharging coals, minerals, and other like materials through the bottom
of the waggon or truck in an expeditious manner.
According to my Invention the floor of the waggon is divided into two or more
sections or parts which form wings, and these wings are pivotted at or near their
centres so as to be free to rotate.” The action of these pivotted wings, when dis-
charging cargo, is such that the two adjacent edges of the wings will move down-
wards until an opening or aperture is formed between the wings through which the
contents of the waggon may freely descend. Levers or other suitable mechanism
may be employed for moving the wings back into position, or they may be so moved
back by hand. These said wings or sections rest on a suitably shaped bar of
metal or wood, arranged transversely in such a manner that upon the bar being
turned the wings are free to pass the bar and open out, as above described, or
a bar or bolt may support them, the withdrawal of which allows them to rotate.
In the accompanying Drawings,—
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 an end elevation of a common form of waggon,
constructed with pivotted wings according to my Invention.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, shewing one wing open and the
other closed.
Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view, shewing one half of a wing open and the other
half closed.
A represents the sole of the waggon; B, the sides; C, the end doors; D, the
middle longitudinal, running between the cross bearers E, the latter being preferably
in a diagonal position, as shewn.
a, a, are rotating wings, which may be formed of cross timbers b, b, supported

page_text: upon and secured to angle T, or other suitable section of irons c, c, as shown; d, d,
are shafts, supported in the bearings e, fastened down by screw bolts to the sole A
of the waggon; ff. are plates keyed on to the shafts d, and secured to the angle
irons c by screw bolts, as shewn. One or more additional bearings for the shafts d
may be arranged as found convenient between the two outer bearings.
In practice I prefer to place the shafts and bearings in such a position as to give
a slight preponderence of weight to the inner side of the wings, so as to facilitate
the operation of opening the wings and discharging the cargo. The wings, instead
of being arranged in a slightly sloping position, as shewn, may be in a horizontal
position, and that portion of the wings between the shafts or pivots may be made
with steps or sunk, so as to form a recess in the central portion of the waggon,
thereby increasing its capacity.
In the Drawings the wings are shewn supported on shafts and bearings arranged
below; they may however be suspended from pivots arranged above.
India-rubber pads may be placed upon the cross bearers E to receive the blow of
the angle irons c as the wings a descend when opening.
g, g, are handles fastened upon the ends of the shafts d. The handles g in addition
to being useful for actuating the wings a, also assist in holding the wings in position
by being locked each in a guard h by a pin i (shewn enlarged at Figs. 5 and 6).
The pin i is formed with a notch 2 at its lower side, a corresponding opening or
slot being made at the upper side of the hole 4. The pin is turned upside down,
in order that the notch 2 may enter and pass through the guard. The handle 5,
upon being turned down alters the position of the notch, so that the pin
cannot be withdrawn until the notch be again brought in front of the slot or
opening.
The inner ends of the wings, when closed, rest upon a bolt; withdrawable from
the outside by the lever k (shewn in a sectional view at Fig. 7).
The lever k may
be provided with a link or guard 6, as shewn, and may be arranged in a horizontal
instead of a vertical position; are chains arranged so that a crow bar or lever,
having the plate m as a fulcrum, may be employed for opening or starting
the wings when more power is required for that purpose than is availble from
the handles g.
Instead of having fixed handles g, as shewn, a detached bar may be employed
arranged to enter a perforated boss or enlargement formed upon the extremities of
the shafts d. Several other methods of opening and closing the wings may evidently
be applied, as for instance, a worm wheel may be fitted to the end of each shaft,
and worms, actuated from the end of the waggon, may be caused to rotate them.
A chain affixed to each end of the wing may also be operated from a shaft or wince
below. But I prefer to employ handles, as shewn and described, as being a simple
arrangement, the use of which is at once apparent.
The outer ends of the wings rest upon the cross pieces or sills n, blocks o being
also provided, upon which the wings may rest.
My Invention is shewn in the Drawings, as applied to a waggon having a middle
longitudinal D, that is to say, a central piece of timber, running lengthwise of the
waggon. The wings a are therefore constructed with openings to permit of their
being moved downwards. Hinged metal covers or sleeves q, arranged as shewn,
are provided to prevent material entering the orifice made between the wings and
middle longitudinal during the operation of opening.
It will be evident that my Invention is equally applicable to waggons, having the
centre piece running crosswise, in which case a separate.bolt to each wing might be
provided, or a double-forked bolt working at each side of the centre piece might be
operated by a single lever.
With the centre piece running crosswise of the waggon it will obviously be
unnecessary to make a slit or long opening in the wings as required, when the centre
piece runs lengthwise. The upper edge of the centre pieces is preferably chamfered,
as shewn, to prevent the lodging of material thereupon.
The outer ends of the wings may be provided with sides or backs, or both, or the

page_text: ends and sides of the waggon itself may be inade to move with the floor on a pivot,
as above described, if desirable.
In some cases it may be convenient to arrange the wings or sections, so that when
in the closed position their edges shall overlap one another.
The improved waggon having its floor, constructed as above described, is available
for carrying other cargo than coals or minerals equally with ordinary freight
waggons or trucks, and may moreover be constructed at small cost as compared
with other forms of mineral waggons which discharge their contents at the
bottom.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and explained the manner
of carrying it into practical effect, I would have it understood that I do not claim
as of my Invention, or the exclusive use of the several parts herein-before described
or referred to, except when the same are used in and for the purpose of my said
Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is as
follows (that is to say):-
Constructing the floors of waggons or trucks in sections or parts, each able to
turn on an axis, substantially as herein-before described.
I also claim the combination of parts constituting the improved waggon, con-
structed and arranged as shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Roberts Hutton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TRUITTON
(ra)