IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF METALLIC RAILROAD CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bernard Joachim La Mothe, of the City and State
of, New York, in the United States of America, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF METALLIC RAILROAD CARS AND
OTHER VEHICLES."
Sealed the 8th April 1862, and dated the 25th October 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bernard Joachim La
Mothe at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 25th October 1861.
I, BERNARD JOACHIM LA MOTHE, of the City and State of New York, in
the United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF METALLIC RAILROAD CARS AND OTHER
VEHICLES," to be follows:-
I make use of metallic pipes for the framework or ribs of my vehicles, and
as there is more strength required at the junction of the bottom and sides
than in the sides themselves, I employ a larger pipe for the bottom, and
introduce thereinto the pipe for the side, and bend the two together, thus
attaching the two pipes together, and increasing the strength. The same
general arrangement is pursued in the whole structure, namely to introduce a
pipe or bar within the pipe forming the rib wherever said pipe is to be bent.
I make use of iron bound beams to connect these ribs to each other, and also
[Price 8d.]

page_text: employ metal pipes running across the ribs so as to make the framework.
Metallic bands are also employed running horizontally, and either passing
through or around said pipes; and I make use of metallic clamps to connect
these bands and pipes together at the points of intersection, and also to connect
the metallic bands where they cross each other. The exterior surface of the
car or vehicle is to be closed with sheets of metal or panels of wood, or other
material, and suitable windows are provided. The interior of the vehicle is
to be cushioned or not according to the use intended.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Bernard Joachim La Mothe in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 24th April 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BERNARD
JOACHIM LA MOTHE, of the City and State of New York, in the United
States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Bernard Joachim La Mothe, Her special license that I, the said
Bernard Joachim La Mothe, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Bernard Joachim La Mothe, 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 Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
METALLIC RAILROAD CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Bernard Joachim La Mothe, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
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 J, the said Bernard Joachim La Mothe, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the

page_text: following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say): --
Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing part of a railroad car, a portion repre-
senting the exterior as finished, and the rest showing the framework; Fig. 2
is a sectional plan representing a portion of the car as finished, and another
part showing the framework; Fig. 3 is a cross section of the car frame.;
Fig. 4 is an elevation, and Fig. 5 is a plan of a mode of securing flat bands
at the point of intersection; Fig. 6 is an elevation, and Fig. 7 is a plan of a
variation in the mode of securing flat bands at the point of intersection; and
Fig. 8 shows a variation in the mode of securing flat bands to the pipes
forming the ribs. Similar marks of reference denote the saine parts.
The nature of my said Invention consists in the employment of metallic
bands and tubes for forming the ribs or framework of railroad cars, carriages,
or other vehicles, whereby great strength and lightness are obtained, and the
cost of construction is lessened in consequence of the facility afforded by my
Invention for attaching the parts together. I form the framework of the car
entirely of metallic tubes, or of metallic tubes combined with rods or bands of
metal, and I bind the parts together firmly, without any rivets or bolts per-
forating the parts. This construction enables me to preserve the entire
strength of the material, and prevent the same being weakened by holes for
rivets or bolts, and greatly facilitates the cheap and rapid construction of the
cars and other vehicles.
In the Drawing, the principles of my Invention are illustrated, although the
size and shape of the car or other vehicle may be varied according to the
peculiar requirements, or in conformity to the usual style of vehicle. I employ
a pipe, or several lengths of pipe, to form each of the transverse ribs of my
car or other vehicle; where one length is employed it is to be beut into the
desired form by suitable means when hot, and in order to strengthen the
pipes at the bends or angles, 1 introduce a short piece of pipe or a rod to
the proper point before bending, and then bend the two together. Where
two or more pieces of pipe are employed, I introduce oue within the other,
that is to say, the pipe forming the bottom is to be the largest, and the pipes
forming the sides are introduced into the bottom pipe for a short distance,
and the two are bent together at the angle between the bottom and sides.
The same operation may be performed with the pipes or rods for the roof;
by this means the transverse ribs are made of great strength, particularly at
the bends or angles where exposed to the most strain. These ribs are to be
bent to a mould or pattern to ensure uniformity; a, a, represent these
transverse ribs. In order to connect the various transverse ribs longitudinally,

page_text: I employ flat bands of iron in some instances, and in other places make
use of pipes or rods.
In the Drawing, I have shown the platform or floor of the car, as formed
by the employment of three groups of iron pipes b,b, b, running longitudinally
of the car above and below the ribs a, a, and each pipe is to be slightly
indented at the point of intersection; and I employ clasps c, c, to confine each
group of pipes tegether, and to the ribs a, a. These clasps are to be formed
either solid, or welded, screwed, or riveted together at the ends, and by having
them fit the pipes tightly when introduced about midway between the. ribs,
the pipes will be bound together immovable by driving said clasps closely up
to each side of the transverse ribs a, a. The same plan is to be pursued
in attaching all the other pipes d, d, that form longitudinal bands around the
sides and top of the car, and placing the said clasps on at a point where the
pipes or bands will spring slightly, as about midway between the transverse
ribs, the intersections will be immovably connected by the compression due to
driving these clasps up against both sides of the respective ribs, or said clasps
may be shrunk on after heating. The whole frame of the car may be put
together and sustained accurately in place before these clasps are driven up,
which will render the whole structure very strong and rigid, but at the
same time very little weight of metal is employed.
The same character of clasps c are shown in Figs. 4 and 5, as employed to
bind flat bands e and f together, which it will be seen is accomplished without
the use of rivets. These flat bands may, in some instances, be more con-
venient in use in portions of the car than the pipes or rods (d), and where
the bands (f) intersect the pipes (a), they may pass on each side, and be
secured by said clasps (c), or may pass though a slot or mortice cut in the
pipe, as seen in Fig. 8. Where the clasps (c) cannot be introduced con-
veniently, I employ plates g, g, one on each side, at the point or crossing of
the bands, and introduce rivets, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7, that set close up
into the angles between the bands, and not only bind the parts firmly together,
but also prevent any change in the angle of intersection. Fig. 9 is a section
of pipes a and d in larger size.
The ends of the car should be provided with platforms made upon
the pro-
jecting ends of the tubes b, b, and for this purpose said tubes should be confined
by and firmly attached within the socket h, and this should also take the
buffer spring. The centre range of tubes takes the strain in drawing the
cars, and the tubes are to be firmly united at the ends to the draft head or
block that is provided with any usual coupling and buffer spring. The
steps to the car and the hand railing and brakes are to be of any usual

page_text: character, and the wheel or trucks may be of any desired kind. The doors
of the car are to be located at any convenient places, and I form the frame
of the same of bent pipes, that are attached at their lower ends to the
ribs a, a, and the longitudinal bauds d, d, terminate in said door frames,
where they are attached by bending the ends to pass into openings in said
pipes i, or by any convenient device.
The windows/are to be made in any convenient manner, but I prefer and
use a metal frame surrounding the glass, and sliding on a metal rib connected
to the sides of the tubes forming the transverse ribs. The panels o between
and above and below the windows may be closed by wood, felt, or any suitable
material, but I prefer and use sheet metal made more or less ornamental by
ribs, panels, or other devices pressed in the same, which increase the beauty,
and tend to keep the sheet metal straight and stiff. These sheets of metal
may be of a length to extend from top to bottom between the windows, and
be bent back and around the tubes forming the ribs,. so as to securely attach
said sheets in place; of course the edges of the sheets are notched opposite
the various longitudinal bands. The panels above and below the windows
may also be formed of sheet metal introduced vertically, with their ends
wrapped around the horizontal bands.
The interior of the car is to be floored and finished up in any way to suit
the use to which it is to be applied. For freight cars a lining of wood should
be employed to take any wear, while for passenger cars cushions and orna-
mental finishing and seats should be introduced. The whole or a part of
the car may be divided off into compartments holding four or more persons.
I have represented such compartment as at m, where a partition p is
vided, leaving a doorway 9, and also a passage way is left through the
middle of the car to go from end to end; over this passage way the roof
may be raised, as at 7, to leave a space for ventilation or the introduction
of light, as at s, 8,
pro-
Platform and box cars may be constructed of metallic tubes on the aforesaid
plan. By providing a central passage way through the cars, the travellers
and attendants can pass from end to end without the risk now attendant in
going along the outside; beside this, I can provide a watercloset at the end
of each car, either on the platform, or just inside the car, which will obviate
the inconveniences now experienced,and the injury to health from the neglect
in providing for the comfort of travellers often confined for many consecutive
hours in railroad cars. The sides of my car are much thinner than those
made of wood, which gives more room in the inside than the present cars;
and by leaving off the exterior steps and benches now usual, the car can be

page_text: made wider, whereby ample space will be obtained for a passage way through
the middle of the car.
What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is forming the ribs
or framework of cars and other vehicles of metallic pipes strengthened at
the angles or bends, substantially as specified.
I also claim the combination of aforesaid ribs with tubes, rods, or bars
connecting said ribs to each other, as specified.
I also claim the clasps (c) connecting and securing the pipes, bands, or
1ods at the points of intersection, as specified.
And I claim the longitudinal pipes (b,b,) applied, substantially as specified,
to form the bottom or platform of a car, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bernard Joachim La Mothe, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of March, A.D.
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witnesses,
LEMUEL W. SERRELL,
121, Nassau St.,
New York.
THO. GEO. HAROLD,
121, Nassau St.,
New York.
B. J. LA MOTHE. (L.S.)