Improved Apparatus for Supporting Railway Wagon Sheets or Covers.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left. 24th May., 1897-Accepted, 24th July, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECI
An Improved Apparatus for Supporting Railway Wagon Sheets
or Covers.
GEORGE HONEYBALL Clerk 42 Turin Street Stoke Ipswich Suffolk and JOHN SMITH
Engineer 30 Cobbold Street Saint Margarets Ipswich Suffolk. We do hereby declaro
the nature of our invention for an Improved apparatus supporting railway
wagon sheets or covers to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to an improved means of tilting and supporting apparatus for
the sheets or covers on railway wagons, forming when in use a roof stretching from
end to end of the wagon and having central elevation thus forming a shoot in all
directions. The said apparatus consists of two or more bars, joined in the centre by
knuckle joints, and to each end is attached a jointed clip or crutch for the purpose of
placing on each end of the railway wagon for supporting the beforementioned sheets
or covers, which effectually protects all goods loaded into the said wagons from
inclement weather. The apparatus is made detachable and when placed on wagons
is self supporting and cannot possibly get out of position until the sheet or cover is
removed. The tying down of the sheets or covers adds pressure which expands the
levers and locks the apparatus in position.
Dated this Twenty second day of August One thousand eight hundred and
ninety six.
JOHN SMITH.
GEORGE HONEYBALL
An Improved Apparatus for Supporting Railway Wagon Sheets
or Covers.
GEORGE HONEYBALL Clerk 42 Turin Street Stoko Ipswich Suffolk, JoпN SMITH
Engineer 30 Cobbold Street Saint Margarets Ipswich Suffolk 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:-
Our invention relates to an improved means of tilting and supporting apparatus for
the sheets or covers of milway wagons, forming when in use a roof stretching from
end to end of the wagon and having central elevation, thus forming a shoot in all
directions.
The said apparatus consists of two or more bars joined in the centre by knuckle
joints and to each end of which is attached a jointed clip or crutch for the purpose of
placing on each end of the wagon for supporting the beforementioned sheets or
covers which effectually protects all goods loaded into the said wagon from inclement
weather. The apparatus is made detachable and when placed on the wagon is
self-supporting and cannot possibly get out of position until the sheet or cover is

page_text: removed. The tying down of the sheets or covers adds pressure which expands the
levers and locks the apparatus in possition.
We will now proceed to describe our invention having reference to the accompanying
Drawings in which Fig. 1. is a Longitudinal Elevation of the Apparatus as fixed upon
the Truck or Wagon in readiness for the sheet or cover, Fig. 2 is an end elevation of
the clip or crutch, and Fig 3 a General end view of the clip or crutch with Bar
attached.
Referring to the Drawings Fig. 1. A is the Longitudinal Jointed Bar made of well
seasoned ash and strengthened on the under side with Iron Bars B¹ bolted on as
shown. Bis the Central Knuckle Joint or hinge the links of which are Forged on
the ends of the strengthening Bars B. B is a cotter pin or Rivet passing through
the links by which the joint is made. CC are similar joints to B for connecting the
supporting Bars to the clips or crutches on either end of the Truck or Wagon.
D Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the clip or crutch as fixed upon the end of the
Truck a section of which is shown at D1 Fig. 1. The apparatus is shown constructed
partly of Wood and partly of Iron. It will be obvious that the whole of the parts
may be constructed entirely of Iron or other Metal if found desirable and also that the
form of the clip or crutch may be modified as experience may suggest.
It will also be understood that the Supporting Bars may be provided with any
required number of knuckle or folding joints to Facilitate removal from the
Truck.or Wagon and to Economise space in storo when not in use. The mode of
Application of the apparatus is to simply place the clips or crutches upon the ends of
the Truck or Wagon afterwards applying a little pressure to the Bars the compression
of which forces outwards the clips or crutches which bind tightly on to the ends of
the Truck or Wagon. The sheet or cover being afterwards drawn over and tied down
securely it is impossible for the apparatus to become dislodged until the covers are
removed.
In some cases additional support is given to the sheets or covers by the use of
transverse Bars or cords. In some cases also the apparatus may be made to span the
Truck or Wagon in a Transverse instead of the Longitudinal Direction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our
invention and the manner in which it is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is-
Claim 1. A clip or crutch made in any suitable form to set on the ends of the Truck
or Wagon capable of carrying Bars or rods for supporting sheets or covers, thus
forming a Tilt or roof over the Truck or Wagon substantially as described and
illustrated in the Drawings annexed.
Claim 2. In combination with the clips or crutches mentioned in Claim 1 two or
more Bars joined together by hinge or knuckle jointe which when placed in position.
on the Truck or Wagon forms the apex of a roof shaped Tilt.
.
Claim 3. In combination with the jointed Bars one or more side stays or cords giving
additional support to the sheet or cover.
Claim 4. In combination with the parts mentioned in the three preceding claims
the use of sheets or covers such as are used by all Railway Companys whereby we
are enable to Protect all goods loaded in the aforesaid Trucks or Wagons from.
Inclement weather.
Dated this the 22nd day of May 1897.
GEORGE HONEYBALL.
JOHN SMITH.