MENTS IN "MAIL BAG CATCHERS
Year: 1885

page_text: I HARRY DE LANOY of Hastings-upon-Hudson in the County of, Westchester
and State of New York one of the United States of America by occupation
Railway Station Agent, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN "MAIL BAG CATCHERS," and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to that class of mail bag catchers for railway postal service
adapted to simultaneously receive a mail bag from and deliver one to a catcher at
a station without checking the speed of a train. The object of my invention is to
construct a simple and inexpensive device of this character which will be durable
and reliable in operation under all ordinary circumstances and conditions and will
not obstruct the car door when not in use.
The invention will be fully described in the ensuing specification and the novel
features and combinations claimed in the clauses at the close thereof.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig 1 is a vertical sectional view of a car door frame fitted with my improved
catching and delivering apparatus, a mail bag being shown in position to be
delivered to the catcher at a station.
.
Fig. 2 is a plan showing the parts in operative position.
Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating a modified form of the delivering arms.
Figs 4 and 5. illustrate further modifications of the upper delivering arms.
Figs 6 and 7 illustrate modifications of the lower delivering arm shown in
Fig. 3.
°
Fig 8 is a perspective view of the station crane fitted with my improved catching
and delivering apparatus.
Fig. 9 is a detail showing on a larger scale a part of the station catcher.
Fig 10 is a perspective view of the spring clasp.
The same letters of reference are used in all the figures to designate corresponding
parts.
A shaft A is journalled in boxes a, a¹, secured to the opposite, sides of the
doorway of the car and embracing the shaft is a sleeve. or collar K having more or
less movement longitudinally but so constructed with relation to the shaft that it
will not rotate thereon.

page_text: This end may be attained by using a feather and spline or in any other well
known manner.
A catcher arın I is secured to the forward end of the collar K and interposed
between the rear end of said collar and the rear bearing a' is a coiled metallic
spring or rubber buffer B to yieldingly resist the rearward movement of the
collar K upon shaft A. The shaft A is provided at a point forward of the collar K
with a handle lever E and near one end with a stop G to abut against a fixed
stop H on the bearing and prevent the shaft from being turned beyond a point
at which handle E and catcher arm I will be in a horizontal plane with the
shaft.
This catcher arm I is secured to or forms a part of the collar K and has the same
general contour as those now in common use except that at its outer end it is bent
to form a rearward extension or delivering arın 1' as best shown in Figs 2 and 5
which terminates about midway between the sides of the door frame in a spring
clasp P to be hereinafter described.
The shaft A is at a point opposite the spring clasp P provided with a slot for
the reception of the upper end of an adjustable rod U which is removably secured
within the slot by a set screw or other equivalent means. The lower portion of
this rod U is bent to project at right angles with the upper portion and is provided
at its end with a spring clasp P similar to that already referred to. The upper or
main portion of this rod is preferably provided near the shaft A with a hinge joint to
enable the rod to be folded closely against said shaft when the device is not in
use.
A spring stop M is secured either to the shaft A. as seen in Fig. 1 or to the
catcher arm I as seen in Figs 3, 4 and 5 with its bent, free end normally extending
across the crotch of the catcher. To avoid various objections to which the device
constructed in accordance with the foregoing description may be open, I have
devised certain modifications of particular parts (shown in Figs 3 to 7 inclusive)
and will now proceed to describe the same. It is desirable for various reasons that
while the catcher is not in use it should take up as little of the open space of the
doorway as possible and to this end I have in lieu of the rigid rearward extension
hereinbefore described fitted the catcher arm with an adjustable extension I¹ which
may be folded up when not in use and drawn out when the catcher is to be
operated to deliver a bag to the catcher at a station I have shown two forms of
this adjustable extension in the accompanying drawings but do not confine myself
to the exact details of construction as they may be varied in many ways without
departing from the principle involved.
These forms are shown in Figs 3 and 4 that in Fig. 3 consisting of an arm I¹
connected by a shrouded hinge to the catcher arm I about midway of its length.
This adjustable extension I carries at its outer end a clasp P to hold the upper
loop of a mail bag.
In Fig 4 the catcher arm I is provided with a short rearward extension I?
terminating in a loop or eye which embraces the short sliding arm I¹
This short sliding or adjustable arm 1¹ is at its inner end provided with an eye
embracing the short rearward extension 12 and at its outer end with a spring clasp
to hold the upper loop of a bag When the catcher is not in use the adjustable
arm I may be forward out of the way. This same result would be obtained by
making the adjustable extension or delivering arın 1 tubular to slide upon the
part 1 and in this form as well as that shown in Fig. 3 a spring catch may be
arranged to hold the movable part I in either position of adjustment. In Fig 5
the shaft A is represented as square in cross section, its ends being turned off to
fit the boxes a, a' The inside of the collar K is formed to fit the shaft snugly
and is provided with the handle E by which the collar with its catcher arm may
be slid forward on the shaft A when not in use so that the catcher arm and its
rearward extension (which is used in this modification) will be removed from the
doorway as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5.

page_text: It is obvious that instead of arranging the collar K to slide the full length of
shaft A as shown, said collar may be given only a limited longitudinal play (as in
Figs 3 and 4) and the shaft A be constructed to slide longitudinally in its bearings.
In this instance the handle E could be secured to shaft A instead of collar K.
Below the boxes. a a¹ and at a proper distance above the car floor, are secured
journal boxes & d¹.the counterpart of those already described. Journaled within
these boxes d d is a horizontal shaft D provided about midway of its length with
an angular slot & in which is mounted. to slide an arm D¹ having the same cross-
sectional contour as the slot. This arm D' is provided at its outer end with a
spring clasp P which when the device is in position to deliver a bag to the
catcher at a station should be in a vertical plane, with the spring clasp carried at
the end of the extension I of the catcher arm I and is provided at its inner end
with a handle whereby the arm may be drawn inward to enable the attendant to
secure the lower loop of a bag within the spring clasp.
This shaft D is provided with a stop adapted to abut against a projection on one
of the bearings d or d¹ the purpose being to prevent the outer end of the arm D¹
from being thrown upward past a certain point, when the bag is taken from the
spring clasps. This stop and projection may be similar to the parts G and H
heretofore described as limiting the upward movement of the catcher arm.
In order to leave the lower part of the doorway unobstructed when the device is
not in use the shaft D may be made shorter and constructed to slide longitudinally
in the forward box d the rear box d¹ being dispensed with and the rear end of the
shaft being either left free as shown in Fig. 7 or swiveled in a bearing on the.
leg D'. The lower end of this leg D' is provided with a flat foot d³ adapted to
fit snugly within a broad flat staple S secured to the floor of the car as shown in
Fig. 6.
By this construction the shaft D may be slid forward to bring the arm D¹ (and
leg D' when used) close to the front side of the door frame as shown by dotted
lines in Figs 6 and 7. The apparatus used for attachment to a crane at a station
for delivering bags to and receiving them from a passing train may be similar to
any of the modifications heretofore described except that the lower delivering arm
is unnecessary. I prefer however to embody certain special features in the
apparatus which I will now describe.
The station catcher consists of the usual crane or frame N n to the upright N
of which is secured a horizontal cross piece n¹. The bearing boxes a. a¹ carrying
the horizontal shaft A and its adjuncts see Fig. 8, are secured near the ends of this
cross piece in a position to bring the spring clasp on the end of the rearward
extension of the catcher arm in a vertical plane with a spring clasp carried at the
end of the projecting piece n. The rear box a' is provided at its rear side with a
shoulder a² and a pin or key A¹ is secured to the shaft A the relative positions of
the shoulder a and pin A¹ being such that when the shaft A' is turned to bring
the catcher arm into operative position and moved slightly forward (say half an
inch) the pin will rest upon the shoulder and retain the catcher arm in its operative
position. But upon receiving the bag from the car the impact thereof will move
the shaft A rearwards thus dislodging the pin from the shoulder and permitting
the catcher arm to drop.
From the above it will be seen that on the approach of a postal car to a station
where a bag is to be delivered and one received the postman attaches one end of a
bag to the arm 1' and the other end to the bar U (or arm D' as the case may be)
and depressing the lever E toward the center of the car places the bag in position
for delivering and the apparatus in position to catch or receive a bag at the same
time. The top of a bag being fastened to the spring clasp at the end of the bar n
on the crane Ñ and the other end held by arm I of the apparatus upon the crane
the bag will be in position to be caught by the catcher on the car and at the same
time the bag for delivery from the car will be in position to be caught by the
catcher on the crane. At the moment of contact between catcher and bag (either
upon the car or crane) the bag will be. detached from the spring clip hooks and

page_text: sliding along the arm I¹ will depress spring M in passing to strike against sliding
sleeve K said spring reacting preventing the bag from falling froin the apparatus
On raising lever E the bag will be drawn into the car and may be removed from
the crotch upon depressing spring stop M.
As before stated the ends of the delivering arms I D¹ & n terminate in spring
clasps P, those upon the apparatus secured to the car pointing with their open enda
toward the rear of the car and those upon the station crane pointing with their
open ends in the direction of motion of a train to which a bag is to be delivered.
These clasps P consist of a cross piece or head p from which two legs pl p³ project
rearward, the lower leg p² extending beyond the end of the upper leg pl and
having its end curved upward as shown. A deep notch p is formed in the inner
end of the lower leg p' at the side nearest the car and a similar notch p³ is formed
in the opposite side of leg p¹. A clip or keeper p* is hinged about midway of its
length to the upper end of the head p, one end extending rearward and resting
normally upon the upwardly curved end of the leg p³ and its other end extending
forward over the delivering arm I¹ (or D' as the case may be) between which and
the keeper a spring P¹ is interposed the stress of which is exerted to hold the rear
end of the keeper in contact with the upwardly curved end of the lower leg p³.
During the operation of attaching a mail bag to the delivering arms said arms aro
hanging down in a nearly vertical position, thus causing the underside of the
lower leg p to face the side of the car and in this position the open end of the
notch p will point upward while the open end of the notch p³ in the upper leg
will point downward. If now the ring or loop of a bag is passed in between the
ends of the lower leg p² and the keeper ps said ring will enter both notches, p³ and
p and can only be disengaged by hand.
When raising the delivering arms to a horizontal position the notches will also
gradually assume a horizontal position and the rings or loops of the bag will be
released therefrom when the arms are near their highest point, said rings then
being held only by the lower leg p² and the spring p so that they may be stripped
from the spring clasps upon coming in contact with the catcher arm at the station
or upon the car as the case may be.
If deemed desirable the clasp P upon the lower delivering arm D' of the car may
be secured in a position the reverse of that herein described thus bringing the leg p³
uppermost.
I prefer to construct all shafts and bearings in such a manner that the shafts
may be reversed in their bearings thus enabling the catcher arm to be pointed in
either direction to receive a bag.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a mail bag catcher, the conibination substantially as before set forth of the
horizontal shaft the catcher arm projecting at an angle from said shaft, to form a
crotch and the automatic stop held normally across the crotch by spring pressure.
2. In a mail bag catcher, the combination substantially as before set forth, of the
horizontal shaft secured to rotate in its bearings, the collar mounted to turn with
said shaft, the catcher arm secured to the collar and the automatic stop held
normally across the crotch by spring pressure.
3. On a mail bag catcher, the combination substantially as before set forth of
the horizontal shaft the catcher arm and its collar secured to turn with said shaft
and the spring actuated stop secured to the horizontal shaft with its free end held
normally across the crotch of the catcher.
4. In a mail bag catcher the combination with the horizontal shaft of the catcher
arm secured to said shaft and provided at its outer end with a rearward extension
and the detachable angle rod secured to the horizontal shaft with its free end
terminating in a vertical plane with the end of the rearward extension of the
catcher arm substantially as before set forth.

page_text: 5. In a mail bag catcher, the combination substantially as before set forth, of the
horizontal shaft secured to rotate in its bearings, the catcher arm having its collar
keyed to said shaft but adapted to move longitudinally thereon, the pin G secured
to the shaft the fixed pin H, and the spring to yieldingly support the catcher arm
against rearward movement.
6. In a mail bag catcher, the combination substantially as before set forth of the
horizontal shaft, the catcher arm having its collar keyed to said shaft but adapted
to move longitudinally thereon the spring actuated stop secured to the horizontal
shaft and held normally across the crotch of the catcher, and the spring to
yieldingly support the catcher arm against rearward movement.
7. In a mail bag catcher, the combination substantially as before set forth of the
horizontal shaft fixed longitudinally but adapted to rotate in its bearings the
handle or lever to said shaft, the catcher arm keyed to the shaft but adapted to
slide longitudinally thereon and the spring to yieldingly support the catcher arm
against rearward movement.
8. In a mail bag catching and delivering apparatus the combination of the
horizontal shaft, the catcher arm and the extension or delivering arm secured to
the catcher arm, said catcher arm being mounted to slide on the horizontal shaft
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
9. In an apparatus of the class described the combination with a horizontal
shaft and a catcher arm mounted thereon of the adjustable extension secured to
the catcher arm substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10. The combination with the horizontal shaft and the catcher arm mounted
thereon of the adjustable extension pivoted to the catcher arm substantially as
before set forth.
11. The combination with the horizontal shaft, the catcher arm, and an extension
of a lower horizontal shaft mounted to turn in bearings, and provided with a
delivering arm substantially as set forth.
12. The combination with a mail bag catcher, of an extension secured to the
catcher arm and a lower horizontal shaft having an angular slot and a delivering
arm adapted to fit and slide within said slot substantially as before set forth.
13. The combination with a mail bag catcher, the catcher arm of which is
provided with an extension of a lower horizontal shaft having a delivering arın,
said shaft being mounted to rotate and slide in a fixed bearing substantially as
before set forth.
14. The combination with a mail bag catcher, the catcher arm of which is
provided with an extension of a lower horizontal shaft having a delivering arm, said
shaft being at one end mounted to rotate and slide in a fixed bearing and near its
other end journalled in a bearing formed in a movable support substantially as
specified.
15. A bag holder for mail bag delivering apparatus, consisting substantially as
before set forth, of a head, a short leg notched upon one side, a long upwardly
curved leg having a notch facing oppositely to the notch in the short leg and a
keeper the outer end of which is held normally in contact with the outer end of
said long leg by spring pressure.