Improvements in the Construction of Trucks, Trolleys, Barrows, and the like for the Transport of Goods.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 18th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Trucks, Trolleys, Barrows, and
the like for the Transport of Goods.
1 CHARLES SMITH of 40 Lawrence Road, Bow, in the County of Essex Dock
Superintendent to Messrs. Alexander Howden & Co. do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
The object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient means of
constructing trucks etc. whereby the strength and durability of the trucks etc. are
greatly increased and the facilities for repairs much simplified, without increasing
the weight or the original cost.
It has hitherto been the custom to make the cross bars or bearers of trucks or
trolleys of wood, morticed into the side frames. This form of construction
weakens the side frames considerably owing to the amount of wood removed for
the mortice, necessitating the side frames being made much heavier and rendering
it necessary in the case of a breakdown for the truck or trolley to be taken to
pieces in order to repair the same.
Now according to my invention I construct the cross bars or bearers of metal
(preferably of malleable iron) and I attach the same to the inside of the side
frames by bolts. These cross bars or bearers are preferably made shaped in
cross section, the horizontal web lying almost flush with the top of the side
frames.
Where the bearers are attached to the side frames, the horizontal web turns
downwards at right angles so as to fit snugly between the side frames, and the
bearers are secured thereto by a single bolt on either side. The horizontal web of
the bearer is now turned under the side frames thus serving to support them. The
vertical web follows the contour of the horizontal web.
It will be seen that by this form of construction a bearer of great strength is
secured while it is easily inserted between the side frames of the truck and secured
as before described by a bolt on each side.
To remove the bearers it is only necessary to take out the side bolts when the
bearer will be free to drop out.
The necessary legs for the truck to rest upon in its horizontal position I prefer
to form in one with the rearmost bearer, either cast with or otherwise secured
to the portion of the web of the bearer which underlies the side frames on either
side.
These legs are preferably of a cruciforin section and taper downwards, the upper
part where they join the web being extended laterally to form flanges, thus securing
great rigidity.
Dated this 19th day of July 1894.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Trucks, Trolleys, Barrows, and
the like for the Transport of Goods.
I, CHARLES SMITH of 40 Lawrence Road Bow in the County of Essex, Dock
Superintendent to Messrs. Alexander Howden & Co. 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 invention is to provide a simple and efficient means of
constructing trucks &c. whereby the strength and durability of the trucks etc. are
greatly increased and the facilities for repairs much simplified, without adding to
the weight or the original cost.
It has hitherto been the custom to make the cross bars or bearers of trucks or
trolleys of wood morticed into the side frames. This form of construction weakens
the side frames considerably owing to the amount of wood removed for the
mortice, necessitating the side frames being made much heavier and rendering it
necessary in the case of a breakdown for the truck or trolley to be taken to pieces
in order to repair the same.
Now according to my invention I construct the cross bars or bearers of metal
(preferably of malleable iron) and I attach the same to the side frames by bolts.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 shows in underneath plan view a truck or trolley constructed according to
this invention.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same on the line 1-2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a partial cross section on an enlarged scale showing one end of a
bearer. Fig. 4 a similar view showing one end of another form of bearer, and
Figs. 5 and 6 show in partial cross section and side view one of the side frames of
a truck with one end of a bearer cast with a leg or support for the truck to rest
upon.
A. A. are the side frames of the truck and B. B¹ B' the cross bars or bearers.
These cross bars or bearers are preferably made shaped in cross section the
horizontal web b lying almost flush with the top of the side frames A. A.
Where the bearers are attached to the side frames the web b is turned downward
at right angles so as to fit snugly between the side frames A. A. and the
bearers B. B B are secured to the side frames by bolts and nuts C on either
side. The web b of the bearer B' is turned under the side frame A as shewn in
the enlarged view Fig. 3 and serves to support the side frame.
The vertical web of the bearer follows the contour of the web as clearly
indicated in the figures.
In the bearer B shown at Fig. 4 the web b does not underlie the side frame A.
This form of bearer is of the simplest construction and is placed at the forward
end of the truck where it is not absolutely necessary to support the side frames.
Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6 it will be seen that the bearer B² is cast with a
Jug which with the web b forms a socket for the side frame A the bolt C passing
through this lug as well as through the web thus ensuring greater rigidity.
The portions of the web b which underlie the side frames are cast with legs
or supports DD. The upper part of these legs or supports where they join
the bearer B³ are formed with laterally extending flanges or plates d for
the side frames to rest upon and the lower portions of the legs or supports are
preferably cruciform in cross section as shown. This form of bearer with its legs
in one casting forms an exceptionally strong and rigid support there being no
tendency to twist or cant in any direction under any strain though held in position
by two bolts only.

page_text: When applying the above described bearers to trucks or trolleys to be used for
carrying casks or bags &c. I prefer to curve the bearers so as to fit somewhat the
contour of a cask, they being attached to the truck or trolley precisely as above
described.
It will be seen from the foregoing description that by the above method of
construction a truck or trolley of great strength and lightness is secured and
repairs made easier, it being only necessary to remove the side bolts C when any
one of the bearers may be renewed or repaired as desired, without displacing the
other bearers, or other portions of the truck or trolley.
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 the construction of trucks trolleys barrows and the like the application of
metal cross bars or bearers constructed and fitted in the manner shewn and described
and for the purpose set forth.
2. A truck trolley barrow or the like constructed with metal cross bars or
bearers as shown and'described and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 18th day of Anril 1895
CHARLES SMITH.