Apparatus for Upholding Tarpaulins, Centrally or otherwise, in Railway Wagons and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug., 1890-Accepted, 27th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Upholding Tarpaulins, Centrally or otherwise, in
Railway Wagons and the like.
I, WILLIAM HAMILTON BLAKENEY, of Edengrove, Arbroath Road. Dundee, in the
County of Forfar, Mechanical and Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to an arrangement for raising the tarpaulins-generally used
on railway wagons and similar vehicles in the centre, that is to say in a long ridge.
The object of my invention is to simplify in construction an apparatus for this purpose,
and in so doing to lessen the price of said apparatus.
According to one modification, I carry my invention into effect in the following
manner.:-
When adapted to an ordinary railway wagon, I place at both ends or both sides,
preferably the ends, two semicircular pieces of iron tubing or other suitable material.
If placed at the ends these semicircular pieces will make an arch, each across the end
on which it is fastened. I also make these bridges, as I will call them, flat sided, that
is to say cone shaped. The bridges are constructed with a drop, cut, link or loop at
their apex or at any number of places upon the sides of same, for purposes to be
enumerated afterwards. The outer or lower ends of these bridges are slipped into
sockets or holders which are fixed on the ends or the sides of the wagons. Sliding on
these bridges, with a bearing on each bridge, is a rod, chain, rope or other suitable
supporter, having springs, pulleys or hooks attached to, or bearing on the bridges at
the several ends of said wagon. Under ordinary circumstances, when say the rod,
rope, chain or other suitable supporter is out of action and not required; it is lifted
slightly up out of the drop, cut, link, loop or other device in the bridge, at whatever
place these are placed, and is slid down the side of said bridge to the outer edge on
which-ever side of the wagon it is most convenient to have it. For purposes of
unloading goods, the supporter would be slid down so as to rest on the opposite side
to that from which the goods were being taken out of. The supporter is for the purpose
of laying the tarpaulin over and thus keeping it up at the centre, so that any moisture
may run away freely. When I use a chain supporter, I propose to cover the chain,
with leather, rope, sacking, canvas, or other suitable material to preserve the tarpaulin
from contact with the metal. If I use a rod of metal I propose to cover it either
partially or wholly with wood, either in the form of a tube, such as bamboo, or simply
a piece of wood partially covering the iron, the wood being sufficient to prevent the
tarpaulin from coming in contact with the iron. I may use two or more supporters
for the tarpaulin, and say I used three, then I could place one at the apex if the
bridges were cone shaped and one at each side, say half way down.
According to another modification, I propose to hinge the bridges, on one or the
other side, or both sides if necessary for the purpose, when the supporters are down at
the side, say the side I want them to swing from, to push them round until they are
longitudinally placed with reference to the vehicle, and thus be able to take a load of
say long beams which protrude over the ends of said vehicle. I may place several of
these bridges along the sides, and may use only half of them if necessary, and only
partially cover the wagon. For convenience in working I may place at each end of the
supporter, a rod, swivel or other device, and also a socket fixed to such swivel or loose

page_text: joint. Then say the two bridges were turned towards each other and the supporter
still on the apex of the cone of the said bridges, the result would be that the supporter
would be pushed out at each socket on account of the distance between the centres of
the bridges lessening, and thus it would remain in its. elevated position while the
bridges were side on and it might be used, should a lopsided or other peculiarly
shaped load be on the wagon.
According to another modification of this part of the apparatus I might place a
davit at each end and also davits at the middle of the wagon with swivelling supports
in which the supporter may slide. The supporter may be arched or curved, or it may
be in two pieces, with a joint in the centre, said joint being formed in such a manner
as to keep the supporter from coming down in the centre. The bridges may also be
made so that they may be divided in the middle, and thus. made to. collapse, or either
end may be made to lift out of a catch, socket or. other device and fall or be laid
down, under the level of the sides or ends of the wagon. There, may be hinges pro-
vided in the sockets at the sides or ends for this purpose, and a socket joint in the
centre of the bridge, or a hook catch, or other device and the bridge might under
these circumstances be strengthened in the centre by an upright support. If the
bridges were made to divide when placed in the centre of the wagon, they might be
made to fit into a recoss, or other device. on the side of the wagon, or lie down flat at
the sides; to suit the conditions pertaining to a particular wagon or other vehicle.
Dated this 9th day of December 1889.
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Upholding Tarpaulins, Centrally or otherwise, in
Railway Wagons and the like.
I, WILLIAM HAMILTON BLAKENEY, of Edengrove, Arbroath Road, Dundee, in the
County of Forfar, Mechanical and Electrical 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 to an arrangement for raising the tarpaulins-generally
ased on railway wagons and similar vehicles—in the centre, that is to say in a long
ridge.
The object of my invention is to simplify in construction an apparatus for this
purpose, and in so doing to lessen the price of said apparatus.
According to one modification, I carry my invention into effect in the following
manner :-
When adapted to an ordinary railway wagon, I place at both ends or both sides,
preferably the ends, two semicircular pieces of iron tubing or other suitable material.
If placed at the ends these semicircular pieces will make an arch, each across the end
on which it is fastened. I also make these bridges, as I will call them, flat sided, that
is to say cone shaped. The drawing which illustrates my invention, and which is
hereinafter described shows these bridges flat sided. The bridges are constructed
with a drop, cut, link or loop at their apex, or at any number of places upon the sides
of same, for purposes to be enumerated afterwards. The outer or lower ends of these
bridges are slipped into sockets or holders, which are fixed on the ends or the sides of
the wagons, or they may be fastened permanently to the wagons if desired. Sliding
on these bridges, with a bearing on each bridge, is a rod, chain, rope or other suitable
supporter, having springs, pulleys or hooks attached to, or bearing on the bridges at
the several ends of said wagon. Under ordinary circumstances, when say the rod,
rope, chain or other suitable supporter is out of action and not required; it is lifted
slightly up out of the drop, cut, link, loop, or other device in the bridge, at whatever
part these are placed, and is slid down the side of said bridge to the outer edge on
whichever side of the wagon it is most convenient to have it.

page_text: For purposes of unloading goods, the supporter would be slid down so as to rest
on the opposite side to that from which the goods were being taken out of. The
supporter is for the purpose of laying the tarpaulin over and thus keeping it up at
the centre, so that any moisture may run away freely. When I use a chain supporter,
I propose to cover the chain, with leather, rope, sacking, canvas, or other suitable
material to preserve the tarpaulin from contact with the metal. If I use a rod of
metal I propose to cover it either partially or wholly with wood, either in the form
of a tube, such as bamboo, or simply a piece of wood partially covering the iron, the
wood being sufficient to prevent the tarpaulin from coming in contact with the iron.
may use two or more supporters for the tarpaulin, and say I used three, then I could
place one at the apex, if the bridges were cone shaped and one at each side, say half
way down.
I
According to another modification, I propose to hinge the bridges, on one or the
other side, or both sides if necessary for the purpose, when the supporters are down
at the side, say the side I want them to swing from, to push them round until they
are longitudinally placed with reference to the vehicle, and thus be able to take
a load of say long beams which protrude over the ends of said vehicle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
The drawing shows a railway wagon in perspective provided with my apparatus,
and illustrates the method of carrying out my invention, according to one
modification.
In the drawing the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like
parts, wherever they are repeated.
1. 1. are the bridges used to support the rod 2. These bridges are held firmly in
5 the sockets or hollers 3. and are provided with a drop or loop 4. for the purpose of
keeping the rod 2. in the desired position. 5. 5. are the bearings which are made
so that they may slide upon the bridges 1. 1. 6. is the tarpaulin upheld by the rod 2.
and shown partially covering the wagon 7. The rod 2. is shown covered with wood
so as to keep the tarpaulin from direct contact with the iron rod 8. 9. are the side
sockets for holding the one end of each bridge when it is required to carry a load
which protrudes over the ends of the wagon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to understood that
I am aware that it has been proposed to arrange longitudinally a horizontal rod or
bar capable of being laid alongside the wagon, and I lay no claim at large to such
construction but, I declare that what I claim is :-
(1) In apparatus for upholding tarpaulins centrally or otherwise, in railway wagons
and the like, the general construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substan-
tially as and for the purposes herein set forth, together with any mere modification or
modifications thereof.
(2) In apparatus for upholding tarpaulins the use of the side sockets 9. for holding
the bridges when the wagon is loaded with articles which protrude over the ends.
Dated this 18th day of August 1890.
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
Applicant's Agents.