Improvements in Wagons, Carts, and Railway Trucks.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wagons, Carts, and Railway Trucks.
I, FRANK EASTBORN HESTON, of Rushland, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., Carpenter
and Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more especially to wagons; but it is also applicable in
connection with all kinds of vehicles used for carrying goods in a loose state,
such as grain, coal or stones. The invention is also applicable to railway wagons.
The object of the invention is to provide efficacious means whereby the vehicles
can be caused to discharge their contents in bulk or gradually as the vehicle
proceeds, as may be required; the latter provision being found especially useful
for depositing stones on roads, or gravel on pathways being repaired.
By my invention, the wagon, truck or the like is provided, midway its length,
with an inverted V-shaped partition, and a movable bottom capable of recipro-
cation beneath the partition. The bottom has an opening which, when in its
normal position, is covered by the partition.
pinions at its ends
Grooved pulleys on
similar pulleys on
A drum is revolubly mounted below the bottom and has
adapted to mesh with racks on the underside of the bottom.
the ends of the drum are connected by endless cables with
the hubs or shafts of the supporting wheels of the vehicle; there being a loose
pulley either on the vehicle axle or the drum, as desired, so that the cables can
be moved thereon by means of a lever or the like when motion of the drum is
not required. If preferred, a clutch or similar device may be employed for the
same purpose. The cable on one side of the drum may be crossed, and the
cable on the other side not crossed, so that by putting either one or the other of
the endless cables into motion the bottom of the vehicle is moved either in one
direction or the other to discharge the contents on either side of the partition
as the vehicle progresses.
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P. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicant.
I, FRANK EASTBORN HESTON, of Rushland, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., Carpenter
and Builder, 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 more especially to wagons; but it is also applicable in

page_text: connection with all kinds of vehicles used for carrying goods in a loose state,
such as grain, coal or stones. The invention is also applicable to railway wagons.
The object of the invention is to provide efficacious means whereby the vehicles
can be caused to discharge their contents in bulk or gradually as the vehicle
proceeds, as may be required; the latter provision being found especially useful
for depositing stones on roads, or gravel on pathways being repaired.
Reference being had to the drawings hereunto annexed:-
Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a vehicle constructed in accordance with
my invention; Fig. 2 is an inverted plan thereof; Fig. 3 a cross section on the
line of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail view of the clutch mechanism.
A vehicle constructed in accordance with my invention comprises a rectangular
base frame consisting of side pieces 1, end pieces 2 and cross-pieces 3; the body 4
of the vehicle being built thereon.
The bottom of the vehicle comprises a frame 5 boarded on its upper side
and having metal guides 7 on its under side, between which and the side pieces 1
anti-friction rollers 8 are interposed. The centre of the bottom is formed with
an opening 9 which, when the bottom is in its normal position, is immediately
beneath the inverted V-shaped partition 10.
A rack 11 is secured to the underside of the bottom, and is engaged by a
pinion on a transversely journalled shaft 12 which also carries two sprocket
wheels 13, 14 which are connected to similar wheels 15, 16 mounted on the
front drive-shaft by chains 17, 18; the latter of which is crossed as shewn. The
wheels are preferably made in halves so that they can be fitted over the reduced
portions 19 of the shaft and axle carrying them. A clutch 20, of ordinary con-
struction, is mounted upon the axle and is adapted to be operated to engage and
lock either wheel 15 or 16 by means of the pivoted levers 21 which extend for-
wardly to a point in convenient reach of the driver.
When the clutch engages one of the wheels the bottom of the vehicle is moved
in a direction to bring the opening on one side of the partition, thus permitting
the contents on that side to fall through, and an opening is formed between the
end of the bottom and the end of the vehicle at the other side of the partition
to discharge the contents on that side. When the other wheel is put info opera-
tion, the bottom is drawn back and the openings closed. The motion is transmitted
to the shaft 12 by the forward movement of the vehicle and rotation of the front
axle, as will be readily understood.
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
1 claim is:-
A wagon, cart, or railway truck having a centrally arranged inverted V-shaped
partition, the bottom of the truck longitudinally reciprocable beneath said parti-
tion; an opening in the bottom coincident with the partition, a rack secured to
the underside of the bottom, a shaft journalled beneath the rack and carrying
a pinion adapted to engage the rack, sprocket wheels mounted on said shaft, a
clutch mounted on the vehicle axle adapted to engage the wheels alternately,
similar wheels mounted on the aforesaid shaft, chains connecting said sprocket
wheels, and a lever for operating the clutch, all substantially as described, illus-
trated in the drawings, and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 26th day of January 1900