IMPROVEMENTS IN. THE CONSTRUCTION OF WAGONS OR TRUCKS USED UPON RAILWAYS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Simon Leach, of Chorley, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN. THE CONSTRUCTION OF WAGONS OR
TRUCKS USED UPON RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 9th January 1880, and dated the 11th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Simon Leach at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th July 1879.
SIMON LEACH, of Chorley, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF WAGONS OR TRUCKS USED UPON RAILWAYS."
"
My Invention relates to the construction of what are known as "hopper wagons'
used for the conveyance of coal and other minerals wherein the floor is formed of
two hinged doors for the discharge of the load. The Invention consists principally
in providing such hinged doors with balanced levers and catches so arranged, that
the load can be at once discharged from either side of the wagon, and the doors
will be held open by catches. As soon as these catches are released, the balanced
levers lift up the doors, and they are kept closed by other catches.
The balanced levers are bolted to the hinged doors, and their outer ends are so
weighted, that they will close the doors when the catches are released, if there is no
weight upon the doors, that is to say, if there is no load upon the wagon or truck ;
but when the truck is loaded, the weight of the load upon the doors overcomes the
weight of the balanced levers, and the doors fly open, discharging the load. The
balanced levers would then immediately close the doors, but they are caught and
held open by catches as the load is being discharged, and hence they will not close
till these catches have been released.
On the other hand, when the doors are closed, they are caught and held closed
by balanced catches attached to the frame of the wagon or truck, so that they
remain quite firm whilst the wagon is being loaded, and will not open to discharge
the load until these catches have been released.
Both catches are acted upon simultaneously from either side of the wagon or
truck by an arrangement of sliding rods and a lever.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Simon Leach in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th January 1880.
SIMON LEACH, of Chorley, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF WAGONS OR TRUCKS USED UPON RAILWAYS."
My Invention relates to the construction of what are known as "hopper wagons"-
used for the conveyance of coal and other minerals, wherein the floor is formed of
two hinged doors for the.discharge of the load. The Invention consists principally
in providing such hinged doors-with balanced levers and catches so arranged, that
the load can be at once discharged from either side of the wagon, and the doors
will be held open by catches. As soon as these catches are released, the balanced
levers lift up the doors, and they are kept closed by other catches.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood,
I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked
the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof.
In the annexed Drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 an under-
neath plan view of so much of the frame of a "hopper wagon," as is necessary to
show the application of my Invention thereto. a, a, is part of the framing, and b, b,
are the hinged doors (one of which is shown open in Fig. 1), having bolted to them
balanced levers c, c, so weighted, that the levers will close the doors when there is
no weight or load upon them. f,f, are the catches for holding the doors open
whilst discharging the load, and g, g, are the catches for holding them closed whilst
loading or when loaded.
The balanced levers c, c, are bolted to the hinged doors b, b, and their outer ends
are so weighted that they will close the doors when the catches f, f, are released, if
there is no weight upon the doors b, b, that is to say, if there is no load upon the
wagon or truck, but when the truck is loaded, if the catches g, g, should be with-
drawn, the weight of the load upon the doors b, b, overcomes the weight of the
balanced levers c, c, and the doors b, b, fly open, discharging the load. The balanced
levers would then immediately close the doors, but they are caught and held open
by the catches f. f, as the load is being discharged, and hence they will not close
till these catches have been released.
On the other hand, when the doors b, b, are closed, they are caught and held
closed by the catches g, g, attached to the frame of the wagon or truck, so that they
remain quite firm whilst the wagon is being loaded, and will not open to discharge
the load, until these catches g, g, have been released.
Both catches g, g, are acted upon simultaneously from the side of the wagon or
truck by an arrangement of sliding rods h, h, and a lever i, i.
The catches f, f, are also provided with levers k, k, by means of which they can
be released from the side of the truck in like manner where it is required to close
the doors for loading the truck.-
Having how described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, 1 wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention the application to
the hinged doors of "hopper" wagons of balanced levers and catches, constructed
and operating substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the
Drawing annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Simon Leach, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight