Improvements in the Construction of Railway Carriages, Tramcars, and other Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct.. 1893
Complete Specification Left, 14th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Railway Carriages, Tramcars,
and other Vehicles.
I, CHARLES RALEIGH, of Johannesburg, in the South African Republic,
Milling Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of railway carriages, tramcars and
other vehicles; its object being to render such vehicles free from the excessive
vibration which takes place on all ordinary vehicles when running at a high speed,
such vibration causing the passengers discomfort, besides damaging, and diminishing
the endurance of, the vehicles.
My invention, which is specially applicable to sleeping and saloon railway
carriages where comfort is one of the first considerations, consists in mounting the
bodies of railway carriages or other vehicles upon cushions containing au elastic
fluid.
These cushions may be inserted between the body of the vehicle and the vehicle-
frame, or between the vehicle-frame and the truck-frame, or between the truck-
frame and the axles, or in any other suitable position.
The elastic fluid may be confined in flexible bags composed of any suitable
material, such as rubber and canvas. or leather.
By preference, I make the cushion rectangular in shape, and nearly as long and
wide as the vehicle-body; such cushion being fixed between the vehicle-body and
the truck-frame. This cushion, which is of any suitable depth, may be separated
by webs into compartments so as to maintain a proper distribution of the fluid
throughout the cushion.
The vehicle-body may be raised by screws fixed on the truck-frame; the elastic
fluid being then pumped into the cushion so as to fill all the compartments. The
body would then be lowered on the cushion, and loosely held in place by any
suitable flexible coupling.
Dated the 13th day of October 1893.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Railway Carriages, Tramcars,
and other Vehicles.
I, CHARLES RALEIGH, of Johannesburg, in the South African Republic,
Milling Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to the construction of railway carriages, tramcars and
other vehicles; its object being to render such vehicles free from the excessive
vibration which takes place on all ordinary vehicles when running at a high speed,
such vibration causing the passengers discomfort, besides damaging, and diminishing
the endurance of, the vehicles.

page_text: My invention, which is specially applicable to sleeping and saloon railway
carriages, where comfort is one of the first considerations, consists in mounting the
bodies of railway carriages or other vehicles upon cushions containing an elastic
fluid.
These cushions may be inserted between the body of the vehicle and the vehicle-
frame, or between the vehicle-frame and the truck-frame, or between the truck-
frame and the axles, or in any other suitable position.
The elastic fluid may be confined in flexible bags composed of any suitable
material, such as rubber and canvas or leather.
By preference, I make the cushion rectangular in shape, and nearly as long and
wide as the vehicle-body; such cushion being fixed between the vehicle-body and
the truck-frame. This cushion, which is of any suitable depth, may be separated
by webs into compartments so as to maintain a proper distribution of the fluid
throughout the cushion.
The vehicle-body may be raised by screws fixed on the truck-frame; the elastic
fluid being then pumped into the cushion so as to fill all the compartiments. The
body would then be lowered on the cushion, and loosely held in place by any
suitable flexible coupling.
In the accompanying drawings, which serve to show how my invention may be
carried into effect,
Fig. 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of a railway
carriage having air-cushions placed between the vehicle-body and the truck-
frame.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the truck-frame and air-cushions.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation corresponding with Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section drawn to a larger scale and
illustrating certain details of construction. Fig. 5 is a corresponding side
elevation.
Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section showing one of the flexible couplings or
spring-pins employed for connecting the vehicle-body to the truck-frame. Fig. 7 is
a corresponding side elevation.
Fig. 7 is a section on the line x, x (Fig. 7).
Fig. 8 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in longitudinal section
representing one mode of mounting seats in a railway-carriage or like vehicle.
Fig. 9 is a similar view illustrating a seat independently mounted. Fig. 10 is a
corresponding side elevation and transverse section.
Fig. 11 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in cross section of a Hansom
cab embodying my invention.
Fig. 12 shows a modified construction of Hansom cab.
A is the body of a railway carriage. B is a flexible bag divided into compart-
ments by webs b; each compartment containing compressed air or other elastic
fluid. is the truck-frame. D is a pin surrounded by a spring E; the pin and
spring forming a flexible coupling for connecting the body A to the truck-frame C.
The heads of the pins D engage with and work in perforated plates, such as F,
secured to the body A; the springs E bearing against perforated lugs G projecting
from the truck-frame C and through which the pins D pass.
Seats such as H may be secured to a floor J resting on the inflated bag B; the
latter serving for numerous seats. Or each seat may be independently mounted on
a floor J* supported by an independent bag B*. The inflated bags pertaining to
these independent seats may be thrown out of action by means of cams or other
devices for engaging with and raising the floor J*; this arrangement enabling the
floor J* and the bag Bx to be brought into operation on the payment of an
extra fee.
In the Hansom cab shown in Fig. 11, an air-bag B' is placed between the axle K
and the spring L. In Fig. 12, the body of the vehicle is isolated from the
remainder of the vehicle by air-bags B2.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. The improved means, substantially as described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings, for rendering railway carriages, tramcars and other vehicles free
from excessive vibration.
2. Mounting the bodies of railway carriages, tramcars and other vehicles upon
cushions containing an elastic fluid, substantially as and for the purpose herein
set forth.
3. In a railway carriage, tramcar or other vehicle, inserting a cushion containing
an elastic fluid between the body of the vehicle and the frame, or between the
frame and the truck-frame, or between the frame and the axle, substantially as
herein described.
4. In a railway carriage, tramcar or other vehicle, the employment of a flexible
bag separated by webs into compartments, substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
5. In a railway carriage, tramcar or other vehicle the body of which is placed
over a flexible bag adapted for containing an elastic fluid, raising the vehicle-body
by means of screws, then pumping the elastic fluid into the flexible bag, and
thereafter lowering the vehicle-body on to the bag containing the elastic fluid,
substantially as herein described.