Improvements in Locks or Fastenings for Railway Carriage, Brougham; or other Doors, and for other Purposes, and in the Manufacture thereof.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 1st Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 1st Apr., 1887.
Improvements in Locks or Fastenings
for Railway Carriage,
Brougham; or other Doors, and for other Purposes, and in the
Manufacture thereof.
I JOSEPH WROE of 269 Stockport Road, Gorton, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
My invention relates more especially to Latches or Locks, such as are commonly
used to hold fast or closed, Railway carriage and other doors, and is designed and
formed, to give greater security to the same by so constructing the Lock, that it will
lock itself by the act of closing the carriage or other door, and at the same time it
retains all the Simplicity of an ordinary latch as at present in use, by most Railway
and other Companies.
In constructing Locks upon my improved design, I form the case or box of brass,
iron or other suitable material, either cast or wrought, in two or more parts; the one
forming the case or box and containing the working parts the other forming the lid or
cover with front part to the case or box.
The lid or cover, and the case or box, I hold together or make into one piece or
complete box, by one or more screws, rivets or pins or by dovetailing.
The principal bolt I form in the usual manner and of the ordinary pattern, but with
one side at the front end end cored, or cut out, forming a groove to receive a
connecting rod which is made of any suitable material. This connecting rod is
attached by a hook or other means to a steel spiral spring, or of rubber or any suitable
material, either a close, or open or flat spring, and having hoops or loops or other
means for attaching the ends. This spring is placed either inside or outside the box or
case, and is held by the lower end fast to the bottom of the front plate. The other
end of this spring is connected by rod to the principal bolt.
This connection thus gives a continuous down pull upon the principal bolt, no
matter in what position it may be placed, and always causing the principal bolt to
return to a right angle with the box or case, when liberated by small bolt hereafter
described. To hold the principal bolt in a vertical position, when the door containing

page_text: the lock is open, and to liberate it when the door is slammed to or closed, I place at
the top of the box or case, and over the end of the principal bolt, when it is turned
from its horizontal position to a vertical one, another small bolt of iron, brass or
other suitable material.
This small bolt works in a box, formed by a rib, which is cast on the inner side of
box or case; or works by a pin made to work in a slot at the upper part of the box or
case. This bolt has also a spiral or other spring made of steel, rubber or other suitable
material, and working in a cavity in the bolt made to receive and hold it. This spring
is so fixed that it presses the small bolt outward continuously and the small bolt is
made of sufficient length to project through the front plate at top part of box or case
when the whole force of the spring in its cavity or slot, is applied to it, and of the
right length to allow of its being forced back until its end is flush or level with the
front plate of box or case, by the act of closing the door to which it is applied. This
bolt is bevelled, rounded, or contains a wheel or loose ball, or is otherwise made at its
outer point or projecting end, so as to cause an easy, sliding motion, when the door is
closed or opened to which it is applied. This small bolt is for the purpose of holding
the main bolt in its vertical position inside the box or case, when the door is
open, and is also formed to free the main bolt when the door is closed. When the
door opens the spring which is enclosed in the cavity of small bolt, presses the bolt
outward, and thus causes it to project through the front plate whilst the door remains
open. When the door is closed, this projecting end or nib comes in contact with
a striking plate on the opposite side of door post, or frame, thus pressing the bolt
inwards and liberating the main bolt. This main bolt is then brought down by the
spring fixed at bottom of box or case, through a slot constructed in the front
plate and into a cavity or slot made to receive it in the striking plate which is fixed to
the frame of the door. The manner in which the small bolt holds the main bolt
vertical, or liberates as required is as follows:-When the small bolt is shot out by
the spring in its cavity,-which is only when the main bolt is lifted by the handle, or
turned into a vertical position, and the door is pushed open-the square or full portion
at the inner end of small bolt, rests closely against the end of the main bolt, but when
the small bolt is pushed inwards--which takes place as the door is closed-a recess
formed on its under side in the right position, is brought over the end of the main
bolt, and thus gives it a greater radius to work in from its centre, and being held no
longer by the fall or square portion of the small bolt, the main bolt at once answers to
the downward pull of the spring attached to it from the bottom of the box or case,
and assumes a horizontal position, thereby locking or fastening the door to which
it is fixed.
Thus the door is held firmly and securely fast by the main bolt in its horizontal
position, until it is turned from that horizontal position to an angle of 45 degrees, when
the door may be pushed open, to allow the small bolt to shoot out and secure it in its
vertical position until the door is closed again.
The action of the lock in fastening is thus automatic, and the main bolt is so held
that it cannot work loose, or allow the door to open until the handle or key is turned
round to the required angle and the door is pressed or pushed open.
Now
1900

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locks or Fastenings for Railway Carriage,
Brougham, or other Doors, and for other Purposes, and in the
Manufacture thereof.
I JOSEPH WROE of 269 Stockport Road, Gorton, Manchester in the county of
Lancaster, Engineer, 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:-
My invention relates more especially to latches or locks, such as are commonly
used to hold fast or closed, railway carriage and other doors; and is designed and
formed to give greater security to the same by so constructing the lock, that it will
lock itself by the act of closing the carriage or other door and at the same time it
retains all the simplicity of an ordinary latch as at present in use by most railway and
other companies.
In constructing locks upon my improved design, I form the case or box of brass,
iron or other suitable material either cast or wrought in two or more parts the one
forming the case or box and containing the working parts, the other forming the lid
or cover with front part to the case or box. The lid or cover and the case or box,
I hold together or make into one piece or complete box, by one or more screws, rivets,
or pins, or by dovetailing.
The principal bolt, I form in the usual manner and of the ordinary pattern, but
with one side at the front end, cored or cut out, forming a groove to receive a
connecting rod which is made of any suitable metal or other material. This con-
necting rod is attached by a hook or other means to a steel spiral, flat or rubber or
other spring, either close or open spring, and having hooks or loops or other means
for attaching the ends. This spring is placed either inside or outside the box or case;
and is held by the lower end, fast to bottom of the front plate. The other end of this
spring is connected by rod to the principal bolt. This connection thus gives a
continuous down pull upon the principal bolt, no matter in what position it may be
placed, and always causing the principal bolt to return to a right angle with the box
or case when liberated by small bolt hereafter described. To hold this principal bolt
in a vertical position when the door, containing the lock, is open; and to liberate it
when the door is slammed to or closed, I place at the top of the box or case, and over
the end of the principal bolt when it is turned from its horizontal position to a vertical
one, another small bolt of iron, brass, or other suitable material.
This small bolt works in a box formed by a rib which is cast on the inner side of
box or case, or works by a pin made to work in a slot at the upper part of the box or
case. This bolt has also a spiral or other spring made of steel rubber or other material
and working in a cavity in the bolt made to receive & hold it. This spring is so fixed
that it presses the small bolt outward continuously and the small bolt is made of
sufficient length to project through the front plate at top part of box or case, when
the whole force of the spring in its cavity or slot is applied to it, and of the right

page_text: length to allow of its being forced back until its end is flush or level with the front
plate of box or case by the act of closing the door to which it is applied. This bolt is
bevelled or rounded or contains a wheel or loose ball or is otherwise made at its outer
point or projecting end so as to cause an easy sliding motion when the door is opened
or closed to which it is applied.
This small bolt is for the purpose of holding the main bolt in its vertical position
inside the box or case when the door is open and is also formed to free the bolt when
door is closed. When the door opens the spring which is enclosed in the cavity of
small bolt, presses the bolt forward and thus causes it to project through the front
plate whilst the door remains open. When the door is closed this projecting nib
comes in contact with a striking plate on the opposite side of door post or frame thus
pressing the bolt inwards and liberating the main bolt. This main bolt is then
brought down by the spring fixed at bottom of box or case through a slot constructed
in the front plate, and into a cavity or slot made to receive it in the striking plate
which is fixed to the frame of the door. The manner in which the small bolt holds
the main bolt vertical or liberates it as required is as follows. When the small bolt
is shot out, which is only when the main bolt is lifted into a vertical position and the
door is pushed open, the square or full portion at the inner end of small bolt rests
closely against the end of the main bolt, but when the small bolt is pushed inwards-
which takes place as the door is closed-a recess formed on its under side in the right
posit on is brought over the end of the main bolt and thus gives it a greater radius to
work in from its centre and being held no longer by the full or square portion of the
small bolt the main bolt at once answers to the downward pull of the spring attached
to it from the bottom of the box or case & assumes a horizontal position and thereby
locks or fastens the door to which it is fixed.
Thus the door is held firmly and securely fast by the main bolt in its horizontal
position, until it is turned from that horizontal position to one of 45 degrees when the
door may be pushed open to allow the top bolt to shoot out and secure it in its vertical
position until the door is closed again.
The aciion of the lock in fastening is thus automatic and the main bolt is so held
that it cannot work loose, or allow the door to open until the handle or key is turned
round to the required angle and the door pressed or pushed open.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood & readily carried
into effect, I have hereunto annexed two sheets of drawings.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the lock with bolts in the position they are in when
the door is locked.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section with the bolts in the position they are in when the door
is open.
Fig. 3 is a front view.
Fig. 4 is a section transversely through the top bolt & the upper portion of
the box.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section with a different arrangement of spring to main bolt
& without showing the spring to the top bolt.
Fig. 6 is a side view of top bolt fitted with a roller.
Fig. 7 is a plan of bolt with angular nose.
Fig. 8 is a plan of lock.
I construct the lock case, or box of two parts, one marked a forming the front and
one of the sides as shown in Fig. 8; & the other part marked forming the back,
top, bottom and other side. The two parts a and b are held together by screws rivets
or pins at 3, or they may also be dovetailed together. Two slots are formed in the
front of the case a, through which the bolts c and d work. The main bolt or catch c
is formed with bosses c which work in holes formed to receive them in the two sides
of the case, the catch or bolt c thus be ng free to rotate. The bolt c is cored or cut
ous as shown at c³, so as to allow a connecting rod e², which is hooked or pivotted on
a pinc suitably fixed in the bolt c, to move as desired freely when c is turned up-
ward. The connecting rod is attached at its lower end to a piece of brass or other
suitable material e on which a spring e rests, the upper end of the spring pressing

page_text: against the cross bar.6ª forming part of the case, a slot being made in to allow of
the passage of the connecting rod. When the bolt c is turned upwards by means of
a handle or key fitting in the hole c. in the centre of the bolt the spring e is com-
pressed and the tendency of the spring e to pull down the bolt c is increased. Instead
of making the connecting rod e terminate in the block it may be formed into a loop
as shown at Fig. 5. The spring e can be formed with hooks at each end one of these
hooks being attached to the connecting rod & the other to a loop e¹ formed on, or
attached to the bottom of the case b. In this case when the bolt c is turned upwards,
the spring e is extended, but as in the case of arrangement shown in Figs. 1 & 2 the
tendency always existing to pull down the bolt c is increased.
The top bolt d is arranged to slide horizontally in the box or case, being con-
structed as follows. The nose or nib is narrower than the body of the bolt the
wider part of the bolt coming against the case a when the bolt d is pressed outwards,
the case thus acting as a stop & limiting the range of action of the bolt. A recess is
formed at one side of the bolt in which the spring d is placed, being held in its place
between the bottom of the groove and the side of the case. The spring is of such a
length as always to be slightly in compression and to push out the bolt d. A groove
below the recess just named is formed in the bolt d, and fits a rib or projection </¹
formed on the inner surface of the case. The rib d¹ and the top of the case form
a slide for the bolt d which is thus kept in a horizontal position.
The action of the mechanism just described is as follows. When the door to which
the lock is attached is closed the bolt d is pressed inward to the position shown in
Figs. 1 & 5 by means of a plate fastened to the frame of the carriage where the door
fits, this plate acting as a striker plate, the spring d being thus compressed as shown
in Fig. 1. The bolt c is then in the position shown in Figs. 1 & 5 and goes into a
slot formed to receive it in the carriage frame, the spring e then being in its normal
position. When the bolt is turned upward sufficiently to allow the door to open it
is in the position shown in Fig. 2. On opening the door the spring d³ forces the
catch or bolt d outwards into the position shown in Fig. 2, when the projection d
comes in contact with the bolt c as shown in Fig. 2 and maintains it in its vertical
position as long as the door is open. The spring e is then compressed as in Fig. 2 or
extended when applied as in Fig. 5. When the door is again closed the nose d²
of the bolt d comes in contact with the striker plate on the carriage door frame
and is forced into the position shown in Fig. 1. The projection de is thus pushed off
the bolt c which is thus released. The projection dª is so large as to ensure that its
radial distance from the centre of the bolt c is less than that of the main body of the
bolt d. In this way the bolt c when released is in no danger of being caught & held
by the rest of the bolt d. A projection formed at the back of bolt c prevents it
from being turned too far back.
The springs are all shown as spiral springs and are intended to be made of steel
brass or other suitable material. They may however be made of india rubber
if desired. The bolt d may be formed at its nose either with a roller as shown in
Fig. 6 or with an angular nose as in Fig. 7, or may be made of any suitable and
convenient shape. The spring e may be attached at its lower end by a pin passing
through the hook at its lower end and rivetted in the case at each side instead of
being attached as shown in Fig. 5. The case a may be cast, stamped or forged as
desired.
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 :-
1st. The construction of locks or fastenings with two bolts, one bolt rotating on its
axis when operated by a handle or key, and ordinarily pulled downwards by the action
of a spring or springs, operating through a connecting rod or link; and the other
bolt sliding inwards and outwards, being capable of being pressed outwards by the
action of a spring and placed at such a distance from the centre of the rotating bolt
as to sustain the latter in a vertical position when required substantially as herein
described and illustrated.

page_text: 2nd. The combination of two bolts, one rotating and the other sliding, for the
purpose and in the manner substantially as herein described and illustrated.
3rd. The use of a rotating bolt or catch combined with a connecting rod or link and
a spring or springs for the purpose herein before described and illustrated.
4th. The use of an auxiliary sliding bolt or catch pressed outward by a spring or
springs and placed in such a position as to lock the main rotating bolt when the
latter is in a vertical position for the purpose as herein described and illustrated.
5th. The manufacture of locks or fastenings in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Dated this 1st dox of Marah 1987