IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY TRUCKS FOR CATTLE AND HORSES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Arthur Henry Beavan at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th May 1878,
ARTHUR HENRY BEAVAN, of No. 221, Brompton Road, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY TRUCKS FOR CATTLE AND HORSES."
The framework of the sides of the truck are made low, about 30 inches from the
floor, and topped at that distance with a broad timber, which projects beyond the
sides, forming a sort of ledge. From this point the sides of the truck are completed
and strengthened by means of stout iron bars, curved at the ends, let into iron
plates, and then bolted through the pillars of the framework of truck. Wooden
slats are fastened as usual to the lower frame, and at suitable intervals at right
angles to the bars of the upper frame, their lower ends inserted into the ledge, and
their tops fastened upon a corresponding but lighter ledge bolted on to the pillars,
and which at an elevation of about 33 inches from the lower ledge completes the
sides of the truck. This method gives to a truck, however narrow, increased width
at the upper part, so enabling any beast to stand straight across without cramping.
The width can be increased to the limit of the working gauge of the railway line.
The lower ledge is employed for supporting an open water or hay trough, which,
when not in use, can be reversed, and allowed to remain in its place without
occupying much space. The trough has slightly projecting flanges at its ends; these
fit into corresponding flange plates bolted through the pillars, and fixed on a level
with the lower ledge inside the truck.
The ledge can, if required, be converted into a permanent manger or trough for
bay or other food by the addition of a low batten or plank, either hinged or fixed
along the inner edge of the ridge.
The doors of the truck are fitted with iron bars curved in a similar manner, and
corresponding in gauge, but fixed, not horizontally, but vertically, to the sides, and
there is no upper or lower ledge in their framing.
The flaps upon which the animals enter and leave the truck have their front and
rear edges rounded off to prevent stumbling and injury to the feet. The little space
also between the truck's sides and the flap is filled up for a similar purpose.
In the interior, and made to fit into position between the door pillars at the
opposite sides of the truck, are two divisions of stout open woodwork about 40
[Price 2d1

page_text: inches in height, and nearly the entire width of the lower part of truck. When
in position they are secured at top by eyes attached by pins to corresponding eyed
bolts let through the door pillars, and at the bottom by pins projecting from them
and entering slots in plates at the bottom of the sides of the truck. When not in
use they are released at the top from the eye bolts, and turned downwards to lio
upon the floor of the central part of the truck.
Being deeper than the width between the door pillars, the pins at their lower
ends run along horizontal slots in the slotted plates before mentioned, which are
fixed in the rear of the door pillars along the side of the truck, thus allowing room
for both divisions to lie down flat upon the floor of the truck. The divisions are
battened to prevent the animals from slipping upon them.
In order that the divisions may be entirely removed, if needed, there is an
opening formed at the top of one end of the horizontal slots in the slotted plates
before mentioned, so that when the pins at the bottom of the divisions are at this
end of the slots the divisions may be lifted away and removed.
The slotted plates are partly let into the flooring frame, and bolted to the lower
slats of the side of truck. These divisions can be used singly or both together,
dividing the truck into suitable compartments.
When the divisions are in position they are secured below from moving by
dropping into a small notch at the bottom of the horizontal slot in the slotted
plate, and by a small pin projecting slightly from the inside of the door pillars.
The advantages obtained by constructing cattle trucks in the manner above
described, are that increased width of the upper part of the truck is obtained
without altering the general build of truck or interfering with the lower frame or
roof; that divisions are provided which can be readily removed if not wanted, or
left inside as part of flooring, and will add to safety of animals; and that by the
method of using and fixing open troughs upon a ledge facility is given for providing
the animals with food and water, whilst the troughs when not in use can be turned
over and kept clean.