An Improved Apparatus for Locking and Unlocking the Doors of Railway Carriages.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 25th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Locking and Unlocking the Doors of
Railway Carriages.
I WALTER SMITH of 9 Albert Hill Terrace Bishop Auckland in the County
of Durham Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and yet sure and efficient
apparatus by which all the doors of all the carriages of a railway train can at any
time be easily quickly and securely locked by the guard or other desired person and
as easily and quickly be unlocked and released when and as required.
To carry out this object I mount on each side of each carriage an horizontal rod
in suitable bearings in such wise that no longitudinal movement can be given to
the rod but only rotary motion in such bearings and this rod extends along the
whole length of the carriage and projects a certain desired distance beyond both
ends of the same being situated preferably just below the doors although it may
also be just above the doors. Near the free edge of each door that is near the
vertical side thereof by which it is not hinged is secured a plate which projects
beyond the door either downwards or upwards according as the rod is below or
above the doors and in the projecting part of this plate are formed jaws and in the
corresponding position is fitted on the rod a stud with an enlarged head which by '
the rotation of the rod can be caused to enter between the jaws in the plate and
then the door cannot be opened by reason of the enlarged head and can be retired
from between these jaws when the door can be opened. This apparatus is so fitted
on and for each door of the carriage on both sides.
To connect the rod on each side of the one carriage to the rod on each side of
the next carriage I fit the following apparatus. On the end of each rod I fit an
horizontal transverse box or shoe wherein can slide a block to which block is
attached a short arm which is in line with the rod, and on each of the open ends of
the shoe is arranged a covering plate provided with a recess whereinto passes a
projection on the end of the sliding block and the covering plates are connected
together by coiled or other springs so that while these plates tend to keep the
sliding block in the middle of the shoe they will still allow so much sliding move-
ment as may be arranged for. To the free end of the arm of the sliding block is
jointed a connecting link which is at right angles to the travel of the block in the
shoe and to the other end of this link is jointed another short arm which can be
kept in line parallel with the rod on the carriage by preferably two coiled or other
springs extending from the sliding block to the free end of this arm and on this
end of the arm is a small block on the top whereof may be a stud circular in plan
but preferably of a dovetailed shape while on the bottom thereof may be a
corresponding slotted recess or vice versa. When therefore two carriages are
brought together and it is desired to connect their locking apparatus aforesaid the
stud on the end of the apparatus on the one carriage is caused to enter the
corresponding slotted recess in the end of the apparatus on the other carriage and
is drawn towards the end of such slotted recess and there retained by the aforesaid
spring or springs while it can turn therein when desired.
To actuate the locking apparatus say from the guard's van which is or may be
the most desirable position I mount therein a short shaft on the inner end whereof
is a lever handle or other similar appliance while on the outer end thereof which
This arm
passes out horizontally through the side wall of the van is a short arm.
in the usual manner engages over a stud fitted to or on a short sleeve which

page_text: surrounds the locking rod of the van which can very conveniently be enlarged in
this position. In this sleeve is made an helical slot which in its length describes
preferably half a circle and in this slot is held and along the same can travel a
stud fitted on the locking rod inside the sleeve. The sleeve in any couvenient
manner and by any usual or other appliance is not allowed to revolve but can by
the lever or otherwise be caused to move longitudinally and as the rod cannot move
longitudinally but can revolve it is obviously caused so to do by the travel of the
stud in the helical slot and all these parts are so formed and arranged that this rod
and therefore all the rods with which it is connected rotate through preferably half
a circle or thereabouts causing all the locking studs with enlarged heads to describe
this half circle on the underside of the rods when the same are below the doors
and vice versa and thus all the doors are locked or unlocked.
This apparatus
likewise is so fitted on both sides in and on the van or wheresoever it is desired to
actuate the locking apparatus.
All the parts of this apparatus are preferably so fitted and formed and arranged
that when the locking rods are so turned that the studs thereon are between the
jaws in the plates on the doors whereby these doors are locked the connecting
apparatus aforesaid is mainly above the line of the rods and forms a kind of
double Z each Z being caused to face each other thus SZ the upper arms being
connected together as aforesaid while on the ends of the lower arms are the blocks
that slide in the transverse shoes which when the apparatus is in this position are
horizontal. According to this arrangement when it is desired to unlock the doors
the rods are so turned that the connecting apparatus is mainly below the line of
the rods the shoes again being in an horizontal position but inverted and the rods
will obviously assume this position of themselves if any fracture or disconnection
or similar accident occurs.
Dated this 28th day of December 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Looking and Unlooking the Doors of
Railway Carriages.
I WALTER SMITH of 9 Albert Hill Terrace Bishop Auckland in the County of
Durham Gentleman 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 :-
The object of this my invention is to provide a very simple and yet quite
sure and extremely efficient apparatus by which all the doors of all the carriages
of a railway train can at any and every time and under all circumstances casily
quickly and securely and also simultaneously be locked by the guard of the train
or by other desired person thereon and as easily and quickly and also simultaneously
be unlocked and released when and as required.
In order the more clearly to explain this my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I refer to the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a
side elevation of parts of a railway carriage and of a railway guard's van as fitted
with my apparatus while the other figures shew details of my apparatus as will
hereinafter be explained.
On each side of each carriage A is mounted preferably just below the floor A¹
thereof an horizontal rod B in suitable bearings 'B' in such wise that no longitudinal
movement can be given to this rod B but only rotary motion in such bearings B¹
through half a circle or complete revolution or thereabouts and this rod B extends
along the whole length of the carriage A and projects certain desired distances
beyond the two ends of the same. Near the free edge of each door A' of the
carriage A or that is to say near that vertical side thereof by which it is not hinged
to the carriage is secured a plate C which in this case projects downwards beyond

page_text: the door A' and in the projecting part of this plate C are formed jaws C¹ and in
the corresponding position on the rod B is fitted a stud D with an enlarged head
which stud D by the rotation of the rod B can be caused to describe half a circle
or thereabouts on the underside of the rod B and in one position to enter between
the jaws C in the plate C as is shewn by dotted lines in Figure 2 which is a
transverse section of part of this carriage A. taken at a 6 in Figure 1 when the
door A' cannot be opened and is locked by reason of the enlarged head of this
stud D and then by the reverse rotation of the rod B the stud Ď can be retired
from between the jaws C¹ when the door A' can be opened and is unlocked.
This apparatus herein before described is so fitted on and with and for each door
of the carriage on both sides and although as is herein before stated the locking
rod is preferably mounted just below the floor and therefore also below the doors
of the carriage where there is very frequently a recess as shown in Figure 2 yet
when I may deem it desirable or expedient so to do the locking rod can be similarly
mounted just above the doors in which case the plates with jaws would project
upwards beyond the doors and the rod would so rotate as to cause the studs to
describe half a circle or thereabouts on the upperside of the rod and the action and
effect of this apparatus when so arranged would be precisely similar to that herein-
before described.
To connect the locking rod on each side of the one carriage to and with the
locking rod on the corresponding side of the next carriage I fit the apparatus
now to be described and which is shewn in situ in Figure 1 and Figure 3 is a side
elevation on an enlarged scale of one member of this connecting apparatus
Figure 4 is a section thereof taken at c d in Figure 3 and Figure 5 is a section
thereof taken at ef in Figure 4.
On the end of the rod B is fitted a transverse shoe or box E wherein can
transversely slide a block F to which block F is attached a short arm G passing
out through the partly open face of the shoe E in line with the rod B and on each
of the open ends of the shoe E is arranged a covering plate E¹ provided with an
aperture whereinto and wherethrough passes a preferably conical projection F' on
each end of the sliding block F by and on which these covering plates E' are
carried and supported and the covering plates E' which project beyond the shoe E
both upwards and downwards are connected together by coiled or other springs H
arranged above and below the shoe E so that while these plates E' tend to keep
the sliding block F in the middle of the shoe E they will still allow as is shewn by
dotted lines in Figure so much sliding movement of the same as may be arranged
for when such movement is necessary. To the free end of the arm G is properly
jointed one end of a connecting link K which is always at right angles to the line
of travel of the sliding block F in the shoe E and to the other end of this link K
is properly jointed one end of a short bar L which can be kept in a line parallel
with the line of the rod B by preferably two coiled or other springs M one of the
ends whereof would be connected to the sliding block F near each end thereof
while the other end would be connected to a small block N on the free end of this
bar Z on each side thereof and on the upper surface of this block N may be a
stud N' circular in plan but in elevation preferably of a dovetailed shape while in
the lower surface thereof may be a corresponding and complementary slotted
recess N' which is closed towards the extreme end of the bar L or vice versa the
stud may be on the lower surface while the recess may be in the upper surface of
the block.
The appliances and devices hereinbefore described and shewn in Figures 3, 4
and 5 constitute as is aforesaid one member of the connecting apparatus and they
are similarly and in like manner fitted on each end of each rod on each carriage or
van or other coach and therefore when two carriages or vans or other coaches are'
brought together and it is desired to connect their respective locking apparatus
herein before described the stud N¹ on the end of the one member of the connecting
apparatus is caused to enter the corresponding and complementary slotted recess N
in the end of the other member of the connecting apparatus which is so formed

page_text: and arranged as very easily to receive it and this stud N¹ is drawn towards the
closed end of the slotted recess N' and is there retained by the spring or springs M
so that there is little or no danger that these two members of the connecting
apparatus shall by accident misadventure or otherwise become separated or discon-
nected. This connecting apparatus herein before described therefore will allow of
any curvature of the train by reason of the stud N' which being circular in plan
can turn in the recess N and it will also allow of any side movement of the
carriages or vans or other coaches by reason of the sliding block F in the shoe E
governed by the spring controlled plates E¹ and it will further allow of any
change in the distance between the carriages or vans or other coaches by reason of
the connecting links K all of which effects and consequences are allowed by this
apparatus without in any wise interfering with or endangering its due and proper
required action in connecting and ensuring the rotation of the rod B on the one
carriage or van or other coach with the rotation of the corresponding rod B on the
other carriage or van or other coach as is desired. The same effects and con-
sequences will obviously also be allowed by this apparatus if and when the
adjoining carriages or vans or other coaches are of different styles or shapes or
dimensions as the several appliances and devices will in the same manner easily
adapt themselves thereto.
:. To actuate the locking apparatus on each side of the train hereinbefore described
say from the guard's van which is or would generally be the most desirable and
convenient position I fit the apparatus now to be described and which likewise is
shewn in situ in Figure 1 and Figure 6 is a transverse section thereof and of
part of the van on an enlarged scale taken at g h in Figure 1 and Figure 7 is a plan
of the operating part thereof.
Inside the 'van P just above the floor P¹ thereof is transversely mounted in
suitable bearings a short shaft Q on the inner end whereof is a lever handle Qiby
which it can be oscillated while on the outer end thereof which passes. out
horizontally through the side wall of the van P is a short arm R. The horizontal
rod B is similarly and in manner as hereinbefore described mounted in bearings B¹
on the van P preferably also just below the floor P' thereof and it can most
conveniently be somewhat enlarged in diameter as shewn at S in these figures near
where the shaft Q is mounted as aforesaid and round and on the rod B or the
enlarged part S thereof is placed and arranged a short sliding sleeve T whereon or
whereto is fitted in any usual or other convenient manner a stud T which passes
through and can work in a slot R' made therefor in the end of the arm R and in
this sleeve T is made a long helical slot V which in its length describes half a
circle or complete revolution round the same or thereabouts and in and by this
slot V is held and along the same can travel a stud W fitted in the proper position
on the rod B or the enlarged part S thereof. This sleeve T is so fitted in aný
usual or other manner that it cannot rotate but can move longitudinally and one
convenient arrangement is shewn in Figures 6 and 7 wherein a guide piece X is
fitted on the frame of the van P in the proper position and on the outside of the
sleeve T diametrically opposite to the stud Ti is formed a longitudinal projection Y
which extends along the whole length of the sleeve T and is preferably of a
dovetailed shape in cross section and a corresponding and complementary groove
is formed along the guide piece X whereinto this projection Y can be entered and
wherealong the same can slide. When therefore the sleeve T is caused by the
handle through the arm R which is engaged over the stud T¹ to move longi-
tudinally on the rod B or the enlarged part S thereof as this sleeve T cannot
rotate while the rod B can rotate but cannot move longitudinally as is hereinbefore
stated this rod B will be caused to rotate by reason of the stud W thereon which is
engaged in the helical slot V in the sleeve T and all these parts and appliances
and devices are so formed and arranged that this rod B and therefore all the
similar rods B with which it is connected in manner as herein before described
will thus rotate through half a circle or thereabouts causing all the studs D with
enlarged heads also to describe half a circle or thereabouts on the undersides of

page_text: the rods B as is hereinbefore described and thus all the doors of all the carriages
of the train on the one side thereof are locked or unlocked.
This actuating apparatus hereinbefore described is likewise so fitted on both sides
of the van and when the locking rods are mounted above the doors of the carriages
which may as is hereinbefore stated sometimes be the case this apparatus would.
correspondingly and preferably invertedly be fitted in the van with the handle
extending downwards and the action and effect of this apparatus when so arranged
would be precisely similar to that hereinbefore described.
In the same manner this actuating apparatus may if and when desired be placed
in any other position on or in the train.
'
All the parts of this apparatus herein before described are preferably formed and
fitted and arranged in such wise that when the locking rods are so placed and are in
such position that the doors of the carriages are not locked the connecting apparatus
aforesaid is mainly below the line of the rods as is shewn in Figure 1 and the
transverse shoes thereof are horizontal and it may be the sleeve that causes the
rotation of the rods is in its rearmost position but when the locking rods are so
placed and are in such position that the studs with enlarged heads thereon are
between the jaws in the plates on the doors of the carriages whereby these doors
are locked the connecting apparatus aforesaid is mainly above the line of the rods
as is shewn by dotted lines in Figure 1 and the transverse shoes thereof are again
horizontal but inverted and it may be the sleeve that causes the rotation of the
rods is in its foremost position the effect and consequence of which formation and
fitment and arrangement are that the locking rods will of themselves assume the
former position whereby the doors of the carriages are free and can be opened if
and when any fracture or disconnection or other accident of any nature may occur
to this locking apparatus.
I would state that as a general rule I preferably make all parts of this my
apparatus hereinbefore described of steel and also that I consider the shapes and
styles of construction and fitment and arrangement of the several parts of the
same as shewn in the accompanying drawing to be very convenient and extremely
suitable to and for the sure and efficient working of this my locking apparatus and
further that I preferably use all parts of this my apparatus together and at one
and the same time and in and for one and the same case but at the same time I
would have it clearly understood as indeed is sufficiently obvious that I do in no
wise limit myself thereto for I can make all parts of this my apparatus of any
suitable material or materials and also of any desirable shapes and styles of con-
struction and fitment and arrangement that may be expedient in each particular
case and further that when I may desire so to do I can use any ordinary means and
appliances to cause all the locking rods which are connected together in manner as
is hereinbefore described to rotate amongst which I may mention a crank formed
in one of the locking rods which crank could be operated as is customary and again
I can use any ordinary means and appliances to connect one of the locking rods
which is rotated in manner as is hereinbefore described to and with the corre-
sponding locking rod on the next adjoining carriage or van or other coach in such
wise as to ensure their desired combined and simultaneous rotation amongst which
may mention a long sleeve whether with or without an universal joint.
I
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In an apparatus for locking and unlocking the doors of railway carriages the
combination with rotatable rods B having studs D with enlarged heads and plates C
on the doors of the carriages having jaws C' to receive the studs D of transverse
shoes E on the ends of the rods B having spring controlled end plates E' sliding
blocks F in the shoes E with attached arms G links K jointed to the arms G and
spring governed bars L jointed to the links K on the ends of which bars L are

page_text: blocks N having studs N' and slotted recesses N' substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described and declared.
2. In an apparatus for locking and unlocking the doors of railway carriages the
combination with plates C on the doors of the carriages having jaws C¹ rotatable
rods B having studs D with enlarged heads to engage the jaws C¹ and a non-
rotatable sliding sleeve T on one of the rods B having an helical slot V wherein
can travel a stud W on this rod B of a transverse shaft Q oscillated by an
handle Q and having an arm R.which engages over a stud T₁ on the sleeve T to
cause the same to move longitudinally substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described and declared.
3. The improved apparatus for locking and unlocking the doors of railway
carriages substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 00-11
1000
HART & Co.,
186, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agents.