US889545A - Mail-crane. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

I. H. PRINGLE.

} MAIL CRANE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2,1907.

Eluwntcz w; in @0020 IRA HENRY PRINGLE, OF WHISTLER, ALABAMA.

MAIL-CRANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 2, 1907.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Serial No. 395,608.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRA HENRY PRINGLE, citizen of the United States, residing at Whistler, in the county of Mobile and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail- Cranes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in railway mail appliances, and more particularly to a novel form of crane for supporting the bag and retaining it in proper position for en gagement by the catcher upon the car.

The object of the invention is to design a crane in which the bag supporting arms are peculiarly mounted so as to be automatically swung to one side when the bag has been removed, thereby preventing injury to rail road employees and passengers.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of amail crane embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the lower bag engaging arm.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings bythe same reference characters.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 1 designates the standard which comprises an upright post suitably braced in any approved manner such as that illustrated. A frame 2 is located at the upper end of the standard 1 and comprises vertically spaced cross bars 3' having openings formed therein in alinement with each other. Journaled within these openings is an upright rod 4 which is adapted to revolve about a vertical axis. The upper extremity of the rod 4 is bifurcated and the bag engaging arm 5 is pivotally mounted between the arms of the bifurcation in such a manner as to be swung either into a horizontal or vertical position. Applied to the rod 4- is a spring strip 12 which engages the bar 5 and normally tends to hold the same in a vertical position, the said spring serving to stretch the mailbag in the usual manner for engagement by the grab upon the mail car. It will be observed that the lower end of the rod 4 is rounded as indicated at 6 and rests upon a rounded progaged by the grab upon the car.

tuberance 7 at the base of the frame 2, the friction due to the weight of the bag being thereby greatly reduced. Projecting from the standard 1 is a bracket 8 having the extremity thereof bifurcated and the arms of the bifurcation being provided with the upwardly extending ears 9. Pivotally mounted between the said ears 9 is the lower arm 10 of the crane which is adapted to co operate with the upper arm 5 in the usual manner. A rearward extension 11 projects from the pivot end of the lower arm 10 and serves to engage the bracket 8 to limit the upward swinging movement of the arm. This construction enables the arm to swing downwardly but prevents it from being moved upwardly beyond a horizontal position. It will thus be apparent that the lower arm 10 is mounted so as to swing about a horizontal axis while the upper arm 5 is so mounted as to swing about both a horizontal and vertical axis. When the mail bag is supported between the extremities of the two arms in the customary manner the lower arm 10 prevents the same from being swung to one side by the action of the wind. As soon however as the baghas been grasped by the catcher upon the mail car the lower arm 10 falls into avertical position while the upper arm 5 is thrown upwardly into a vertical position by the spring 12, both of the arms being moved into such a position as to prevent injury to railroad employees and passengers.

As has been previously stated the main object of the invention is to provide a crane which will hold the sack for the grab in the usual manner, but in which the upper bag holding arm is peculiarly mounted so as to be easily moved aside by any object coming into contact therewith. Owing to the fact that the lower arm does not swing about a vertical axis the bag will be prevented from being moved into such a position as not to be en The upper arm is the one by which the engineers and firemen or other employees on the front of the train are always injured, and in the present instance this arm is designed to be made of very light and durable material and is mounted upon the upright rod 4 which revolves with very little friction. It will thus be a parent that an accidental blow on the head or other part of the body must of necessity be practically without danger to the person receiving the blow since the arm 5 will ,upper portion of the standard, a lateral arm pivota y connected to the vertical rod, a spring normally tending to swing the lateral arm upwardly, a second lateral arm projecting from the standard below the first mentioned lateral arm and mounted to revolve about a horizontal axis, and a stop for limiting the swinging movement of the second mentioned lateral arm.

2. In a mail crane, the combination of a standard, a frame at the upper. end of the standard, a vertical rod journaled within the frame, a rounded protuberance at the base of the frame upon which the lower end of the vertical rod rests, a lateral arm carried by the vertical rod, a bracket projecting from the standard, a second arm pivotally mounted upon the bracket to swing about a horizontal axis, the said second arm being adapted to cooperate with the first mentioned arm and being provided with a stop to limit its swinging movement.

3. In a mail crane, the combination of a standard, a frame at the up er end of the standard comprising vertical y spaced bars having alining openings therein, a vertical rod journaled within the said openings, a rounded protuberance at the base of the frame upon which the vertical rod rests, a lateral arm carried by the vertical rod, a bracket projecting from the standard, and a second arm pivotally mounted upon the bracket to swing about a horizontal axis and cooperating with the first mentioned arm, the said second arm being provided with a stop for limiting its swinging movementj In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IRA HENRY PRINGLE. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

A. O. HOFFMAN, G. W. PARKER.

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