US530243A - Mail and express car - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

I. R'OWLEY. MAI; AND EXPRESS GAR.

Patented Dec. 4, 1894;

Eli

No. 530,243. N

Wilgesscs ZWL THE NORRIS PETERS co. PriOTO-LlTNO" WASHINGTON. n. c.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

FRANK ROWLEY, OF .WEST SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN.

MAIL AND EXPRESS CAR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 530,243, dated December 4, 1 894.

Application filed July 19, 1894. Serial No. 518,023- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, FRANK RowLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Superior, in the county of Douglas and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new'and useful Mail and Express Car, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail and express cars; and it has for its object to provide a new and useful car of this character that provides for the transportation of mail and express with safety from the attacks of train robbers.

To this end the main and primary object of the present invention is to construct a perfectly bullet and fireproof railway car especially adapted for mail and express purposes which will be entirely inaccessible to robbers, while the occupants of the car will be protected from violence and will have ample space and opportunity for fighting the robbers in all directions.

With these and other objects in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the drawingsz-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mail and express car constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof including slightly over one-half the length of the car. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View on the line 00-01; of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a side portion of the car body including one of the port holes and the window directly above such hole.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates the car body that is constructed in a length adapting the same for the double purpose of transporting, safely against the attacks of robbers, both mail and expressage, and the said car body is mounted upon the usual car trucks 2, in the ordinary manner.

The car body 1, is preferably made of steel plates or sections securely riveted together at their meeting ends, and the body of the car is preferably inclosed at the top by the separate roof portion 3, extending the entire length thereof and also made up of sections of steel plates securelyjoined together, and at its opposite side edges and ends the roof portion 3,

is provided with the securing flange 4, that together by means of bolts, rivets or other suitable securing means.

The metallic sectional car body 1, is provided with an intermediate squared portion 6, divided by a partition wall7, at the center to separate the car body into two compartments, one for mail and one for expressage under the charge of their respective messengers, and said intermediate squared portion 6, forms a passage-way to and from the opposite ends of the body, and formed in opposite sides of said intermediate portion 6, near to the central partition wall 7, are the door openings 8, that are inclosed by the doors 9, working from theinside and secured by means of suitable inside latches or securing means 10.

Leading 0E from both ends of the intermediate squared or contracted body portion'6, are the opposite enlarged cylindrical end portions 11, formed at opposite ends of the car body and providing enlarged fighting rooms which give the messengers an opportunity to fully protect the mail or expressage in their charge. The enlarged cylindrical end portions'll of the car body are widened out beyond the opposite sides of the intermediate portions 6, and are partly formed by rounding the body roof 3, at opposite ends thereof, as illustrated in the drawings, and by reason of the cylindrical shapeot these end portions of the car'body shots directed there-against will glance off, While at the same time the greatest possible amount of space is afforded to the messengers.

The enlarged cylindrical end portions 11 of the metallic car body 1, are provided in both sides as well as in theirends with a series of windows 12, through which the occupants within the car may observe the movements of the robbers outside of the car in whatever direction the robbers may be,inasmuch as the bulging or widened shape of the end portions 11, provides means for locating windows at points where the robbers may be observed at the sidesof the intermediate portion of the car as well as directly at the opposite ends thereof, and these windows 12, are fully protected against bullets or ride balls by means of the exterior protective gratings 13, covering the same, said gratings being formed of steel bars arranged sufficiently close to prevent the passage of a bullet or ride ball. 1mmediately under each window 12, in the sides and ends of the cylindrical portions 11, are formed the port hole sockets 14 in which are mounted for universal movement the fire arm supporting balls 15, which are provided therein with the fire arm openings 16, to receive the muzzle of a pistol or rifle. By inserting the muzzle of a fire arm in the balls 15, such fire arm may be turned up or (10W119 sidwise,

or in any direction whatever so that the occupants of the car can fire upon the robbers in any position.

At each end of the carand over theintermediate portion thereof, the car body roof 3, is provided with the ventilating openings 17, and fitted over these openings on the top or outside of the roof arelongitudinally disposed ventilating, tubes 18, provided at both ends with semi-conical downwardly disposed tube caps 19, which are sufticiently spaced above the roof to admit of the proper ventilation to and from the openings 17, while at the same time not weakening or affecting the protective character of the car body.

From the above it will be obvious that the herein described car is so constructed and equipped as to be almost impregnable against the attacks of train robbers, and it will be understood that changes in the form, proportion and the minordetails of construction 5 may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a mailand express car, the metallic car body having a separate roof flanged thereto and provided with a partitioned intermediate squared portion and opposite enlarged cylindrical end portions leading off from both ends of the squared portion and having in the sides and ends thereof a series of grated windows and port holes immediately under the windows, substantially as set forth.

2. In a mail and express car, an elongated metallic car body provided at both ends with enlarged cylindrical end portions, having in the sides and ends thereof a series of windows and port holes immediately under the windows, exterior protective gratings fitted over said windows, andperforated tire arm supporting balls mounted for universal movement in the port holes under the windows, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afti'xed my'signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK ROWLEY.

Witnesses:

T. V. BADGLEY, NILs J OHNSON.

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