IMPROVED APPARATUS TO FACILITATE
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Harrison, of Birkenshaw, near Leeds, in the
County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS TO FACILITATE
Sealed the 19th February 1867, and dated the 23rd August 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Harrison at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd August 1866.
I, WILLIAM HARRISON, of Birkenshaw, near Leeds, in the County of York,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS
TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PASSENGERS AND GUARDS OR DRIVERS
OP RAILWAY TRAINS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in having lengths of metal tubing extending from
end to end of the train, each length being, by preference, the same as that of
the carriages, and coupled to those on either side of it by means of india-
rubber or other flexible tubing, the object of this being that the tubing may
accommodate itself to curves. Each end of a carriage is furnished with a

page_text: swivelling bow standard having a hook on its extremity for the tubing to rest
in, the object of the swivel being to accommodate the hook to either side of
the carriage, as may be required. Within the guard's van (or, when required,
upon the engine) a bell is placed in a convenient position, and a wire or other
suitable cord passing through the tubing is connected to the striker of the
same; also holes are pierced in the tubing opposite to the compartment to
allow of connecting cords or wires being attached for the use of the passengers.
When the tubing is in working position it lies in front of the doors of the
carriages, and consequently they cannot be opened, therefore upon any alarmed
passenger púlling the string which he holds, and thus ringing the bell, egress
from the compartment is prevented, and the guard is enabled, by using the
tubing as a hand rail, to pass along the step rail to the compartment where
he is required. The end tube is connected by means of an elbow to the pin
of a balance lever, and on the train pulling up at a station it becomes neces-
sary, by means of the balance lever, to raise the whole tubing over the top of
the carriages to admit of the doors being opened. Where two guards' vans,
one at each end of the train, are used, both guards may assist in such raising.
When it is desired to change the tubing from one side of the carriage to the
other the bow standards are swivelled round and the tubing thrown over by
the balance lever just described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Harrison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd February 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HARRISON, of Birkenshaw, near Leeds, in the County of York, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Iler
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Harrison, Her special licence that I, the said William Harrison,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Harrison, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel

page_text: Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS TO FACILITATE
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PASSENGERS AND GUARDS. OR DRIVERS OF RAILWAY
TRAINS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Harrison,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Harrison, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in having lengths of metal tubing extending from
end to end of the train, each length being, by preference, the same as that of
the carriages, and coupled to those on either side of it by means of india-
rubber or other flexible tubing, the object of this being that the tubing may
accommodate itself to curves. Each end of a carriage is furnished with a
swivelling bow standard having a hook on its extremity for the tubing to rest
in, the object of the swivel being to accomodate the hook to either side of
the carriage, as may be required. Within the guard's van (or, when required,
upon the engine) a bell is placed in a convenient position, and a wire or other
suitable cord passing through the tubing is connected to the striker of the
same; also holes are pierced in the tubing opposite to the compartments to
allow of connecting cords or wire being attached for the use of the passengers.
When the tubing is in working position it lies in front of the doors of the
carriages, and consequently they cannot be opened, therefore upon any alarmed
passenger pulling the string which he holds, and thus ringing the bell, egress
from the compartment is prevented, and the guard is enabled, by using the
tubing as a hand rail, to pass along the step rail to the compartment where
he is required. The end tube is connected by means of an elbow to the pin
of a balance lever, and on the train pulling up at a station it becomes neces-
sary, by means of the balance lever, to raise the whole tubing over the top of
the carriages to admit of the doors being opened. Where two guards' vans,
one at each end of the train, are used, both guards may assist in such raising.
When it is desired to change the tubing from one side of the carriage to the
other the bow standards are swivelled round and the tubing thrown over by
the balance lever just described.
Having now stated my mode of proceeding, I wish it to be understood that

page_text: what I claim is the facilitation of communication between guards, passengers,
and drivers by my described method.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Harrison, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of February, in the year of
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
B. H. SHARP,
Leeds,
Feb. 22nd, 1867.
WILLIAM HARRISON. (L.S.)