IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR FRAMEWORK FOR COVERING RAILWAY OR OTHER WAGGONS OR VEHICLES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Brough Berrey, of Rainford Mill, in the County*
of Lancaster, Corn Miller, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
OR FRAMEWORK FOR COVERING RAILWAY OR OTHER WAGGONS OR VEHICLES."
Sealed the 24th February 1880, and dated the 27th August 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Brough Berrey at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th August 1879.
WILLIAM BROUGH BERREY, Rainford Mill, in the County of Lancaster, Corn
Miller. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR FRAMEWORK FOR COVERING RAILWAY
OR OTHER WAGGONS OR VEHICLES."
My Invention consists in a simple hinged framework which when not required
lies flat against the top of the wagon sides without being in the way, and yet can
be raised up and set firmly in place at a moment's notice and cover any reasonable
height of goods that may occupy the wagon. The apparatus is bolted or socketted
firmly to the ends of the wagon; at the level of the top of the low sides it is pro-
vided with a hinge so that it can be turned over and lie flat on the edge of the
wagon sides, when however it is placed vertically a pair of hooks fitting into eyes.
in the standard hold it rigidly in place.
The standard is telescopic, so that it can be raised and lowered to the requisite
height, and pegs put through holes in the two tubes forming the telescoping keep
the apparatus at the height required.
The upper tube is curved to an elbow and is connected with the corresponding tube
at the other end by a tube joining the two together in one solid piece of tubing. Along
this tube or ridge pole I place at intervals thin swivelling iron or steel lath's, which
when not in use lie flat along the side of the ridge pole, but when erected and
supporting a cloth stand out at right angles, and bending down on each side serve
to support the cover. The tubes are preferably gas pipe, painted. In actual work
when the wagon is empty or emptying the struts are unhooked, the cross laths
swivelled into line, and the whole laid flat on the top of the wagon. When required
the main apparatus is erected into a vertical position, the struts hooked on, the pins
put in so as to set the ridge pole the required height, the laths swivelled at right
angles, and the oil cloth thrown over at a minute's notice, changing an ordinary
low open wagon into what is nearly equal to a van, and far superior to a van in
cheapness, convenience of unloading, and lightness for haulage.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Brough Berrey in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 27th February 1880.
WILLIAM BROUGH BERREY, of Rainford Mill, in the County of Lancaster, Corn
Miller. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR FRAMEWORK FOR COVERING RAILWAY
OR OTHER WAGGONS OR VEHICLES."
Fig. 1 represents a waggon with a simple useful form of my mechanism
,attached; and Fig. 2, a full size working Drawing of the attachment of the apparatus
to the waggon. My Invention consists in a simple hinged framework which when
not required lies flat against the top of the waggon sides without being in the way,
and yet can be raised up.and firmly fixed in place at a moment's notice and cover
any reasonable height of goods (by means of a tarpaulin stretched over it). The
apparatus is bolted or socketted firmly to the ends of the waggon. "At or near the
level of the top of the low sides it is provided with a hinge so that it can be turned
over and lie flat on the edge of the waggon sides; when however it is placed
vertically a pair of hooks fitting into eyes in the standards or top hold it rigidly in
place.
The standard is telescopic, so that it can be raised or lowered to the requisite
height, and pegs put through holes in the two tubes forming the telescoping keep
the apparatus at the height required. In the Drawing this telescoping is not
shown, the Drawing being taken from a waggon employed always in the carriage of
grain where one uniform height is required, and in practice this will be found the
case with most waggons.
The upper tube is preferably curved to an elbow, as shown in the Drawings
at (A), but can be made rounded, as shown in dots, or other forms can be used. It
is connected to the corresponding tube at the other end by a tube joining the two
together in one solid piece of tubing.
Along this tube or ridge pole I sometimes place at intervals thin swivelling cane,
wood, iron, or steel laths, which when not in use lie flat along the sides of the ridge
pole or waggon, but when erected and supporting a cloth stand out at right angles,
and bending down on each side serve to support the cover.. In the Drawing two
bars (B) and (C) are shown, acting the part both of the laths and of the struts or
hooked bars that hold the central ridge pole and standards in position. They are
preferably of tubing placed in sockets like the standards, but have a hook screwed
into one end. These hook into holes in the yoke of sheet iron round the central
pole, and when not in use and the pole lying flat they can be hooked into eyes-on
the side of the carriage, or the two struts can be linked permanently to the ridge
pole yoke and hooked to eyes on the waggon sides.
=
The tubes are preferably gas pipe, painted. In actual work when, the waggon is
empty or emptying the struts are unhooked, the cross laths (if used) swivelled in
line, and the whole laid flat on the top of the waggon sides or floor.
When required the main apparatus is erected into a vertical position and the struts
hooked on.
If the standards are telescopic the struts must be telescopic likewise,
or else must be fastened low down to near the bottom of the standards. In that
case the standard only is lengthened, the pins put in so as to set the ridge pole the
required height, the laths, if used, swivelled into position at right angles to the
ridge pole and the oil cloth thrown over at a minute's notice, changing an ordinary
low open waggon into what is nearly equal to a van, and far superior to a van in
cheapness, convenience of, unloading, and lightness for haulage.
In conclusion I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
exact details as herein described and delineated in the Drawings, especially in the
form of the attachment, illustrated, as when my apparatus gets better known and
appreciated I purpose bolting instead of cramping it to the waggon sides and ends;
but at present find a difficulty in getting anything new introduced unless it can be
3

page_text: thoroughly tested without cutting, disfiguring, or altering existing stock. I, myself,
indeed prefer to do without one of the jaws of the cramp and substitute a substantial
bolt for the cramp screw (D).
Having now described my Invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect I wish it to be understood that I do not claim the use of permanent
irremoveable framework for waggon covers, nor yet waggon cover frames that are not
colapsible and capable of being let down and set up again; nor yet waggon covers
and frames all in one when not formed in the manner I have described; nor yet
stiff or rigid waggon covers that are put on and lifted off a waggon whole and
unaltered; but that what I claim as new and desire to protect under the herein
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The manufacture and use of framework for covers of railway wagons and
other vehicles composed of gas piping or its equivalent hinged to the ends of the
waggon, and supported by struts or their equivalents in such manner that they can
at will be unrigged and lie flat on the sides or floor of the waggon, or otherwise out
of the way, substantially as described.
Second. The manufacture and use of framework for covers for railway waggons and
other vehicles composed of gas piping or other light framing, made collapsible or
telescopic so as to be raised to any required height within certain limits and held
in that position by struts, pins, or their equivalents.
Third. The manufacture and use of framework for covers of railway or other
waggons or vehicles composed of a light framework, held in sockets or attached to
the sides or ends of the waggon, arranged and constructed substantially as herein
described.
In testimony whereof, I, the said William Brough Berrey, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of February,
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
W. BROUGH BERREY. (L.S.)
Witness,
WM P. THOMPSON,
of the Firm of W. P. Thompson & Co.,
Patent Agents,
323, High Holborn,
London, W.C.,
& 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool.