US80184A - Ague judson - Google Patents

Description

A. JUDSON.

' Sleepihg-Caf Berth.

Patented July 21,1868,

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Letters Patent No. 80,184, dated July 21, 1868.

IMPROVED SLEEPING-BERTH FOR RAILROAD-CARS,

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, AGUR JUDSON, of the city of Newark, in the county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in SlecpingJZerths for RaiIroa'dCars; and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification, is a description of my invention sulficient to enable those skilled in the art topractiseit.

The object of my invention is to combine a. day and night railway-car, by rendering-a day-car, of ordinary construction, capable of being readily converted into a sleeping car; and also to render the berths themselves more comfortable and convenient.

My improvements'consist in certain novelties of construction, whereby one or more upper berths may besuspended from the ceiling or root of the car, and readily let down and lifted up, and locked to placeout of the way, when not in use, and when so locked to place, leaving beneath them a perfectly free,clear space between them and the usual seats for passengers, and occupying no room required for the accommodation of the traveller in ordinary day travel. They consist also in other details, hereinafter enumerated.

In the drawings- 1 Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improvements applied to an ordinary day-car, the berths being let down. i

Figure 2 represents the same on a smaller scale, theberths being closed.

Figure 3 is a front view, and

Figure 4 a cross-section. I

The same letters designate the same parts in all the figures.

v A represents a portipn of one side of the interior of a car, with two of my improved berths, B N, applied thereto, the berth B being suspended, as hereinafter desci'ibcd, from the roof of the car, and the other one, N, suspended from B. I i

O C are metallic sheets or wings, of about the breadth of the berth, and hinged, one at the head and the other at the foot of the berth, so that they may, when the 'bcrth is locked up out 'ot'place, fold up above the same, and lie in a horizontal position, and, when the berth is down, sustain it in the whole line-of itsbreadth.

In orderto insure their leaving their vertical position, and assuming this horizontal position by the mere l act of elevating the berth, the top of each wing C is provided with a hcrizontal rolling shaft, 0, having disks or rollers at each end, and having its hearings in the wing, and these rollers are of proper size to run in ways or grooves D, in fixed side pieces E E, secured to the ceiling, and at the front and back of the berth, a pair of such pieces being at the head, and a pair at the foot of the berth. The curvature given to these grooves is such that, at the commencement of the rising of the berth, the tops of the wings will immediately be deflectedinward, and will gradually, as the berth ascends, approach each other, until, when the berth is at its highest point, they will lie fiat upon its top, the converse of this motion taking place when the-berth is let down.

Depending from the ceiling, and at both ends of the berth, is a stout bracket, F, situated in line with the longitudinalcentre of the berth. In each ofthese brackets is an opening, f, to receive the end of a lockingbolt, to hold the berth securely in place when elevated.

' G G are vertical supporting-rods secured to the side of the car, and \vhiclnby means of eyes upon the back of the berths, and through which the rods pass, steadily guide and aid in firmly sustaining the berths at all times.

The wings Q C, which also answer the purpose of head and foot-boards, and serve as partitions between the berths and those next adjacent, are provided at their bottoms with rods I, having knobs or nuts 2' thereon, and a spiral spring, K, surrounding the knob, the lower part of the spiral resting on the knob, and the upper part bearing against the frame of the berth, so that the whole weight of each berth rests directly and entirely upon the springs, of which there are four for each berth, namely, one for each of its corners. This provision allows each berth to yield to thejolting andjostling of the car, and, in a great measure, to meet-and neutralize them; thus affording a spring-bed, instead of the unyielding and uncomfortable car-berths now in use, and which so effectually prevent quiet repose.

Secured centrally to each wing C is a guide-rod, L, for the purpose of supporting other hinged wings, M M, from which hang the lower berth, N, the rods I passing through eyes 0 on the wings M, these lower berths also being sustained and steadied by the guide rods G and eyes, in the manner above described. These wings M are hinged to metallic plates Q, which rise fromthe ends of the lower berth, and when this berth is elevated, so that its top shall meet the bottom of the upper berth, the wings M rise and slide on the rods L, until they become parallel with the'wings G C, after which the upper berth is elevated, and the wings O C, in passing to their horizontal position, as before described, carry with them and fold away. similarly the wings M, thus shutting both up in the space above the top berth. I

A small opening, m, is provided in each of the wings M, to receive the ends of the same locking-bolts, which are employed, as above mentioned, to lock'the top berth to the bracket, the lower berth being first locked to the hpper, and this latter next locked to the bracket, thesame lock answering for both purposes.

Any ordinary lock will answer in which the bolt may first be projected a given distance to lock one berth,

and then a further distanceto lock the other one, and hence I-have not. illustrated it, as I claim nonovelty therein; v 7 v I R Rare pieces secured to the'head and foot of the lower berth, and inside of the plates Q Q. 7

S S represent a cord secured to the ceiling at opposite ends of the top berth, and thence descending to and around guide-pulleys s s, and thence to a pulley or windlass, 'l, operated by a removable hand-crank, U.-

V i an ordinary key, for operating and locking the bolts which fasten theberths up out of the way, as shown in fig. 2, in which case the'key and crank areboth removed by thcattendant. I

W represents a swinging wire curtain-fraine for each berth, (one only being shown,) which, when in use, is sustained, in the position shown in the drawings, bystationarysprings X, having slight notches or bends therein to grasp the wire, but whennot in use, this frame is pressed backwards, to dislodge it from the springs, and laid flat withiuthe berth as in a box.

Y is a quadrangular box or chest, depending from the under side of a berth, as a: convenient receptacle for packages, Ezc. It is made with all its sides and back and front hinged, so that itmay be folded into a flattened condition when the berths are to be closed against each other and put up.

The red lines show the same with its sides and bottom partially flattened to place. The back first folds within the box, the sides then fold over it, and the front then folds upon the sides, the whole, like the curtain andfrazne and bod-clothing, interposing-no' obstacle to prevent theberths closely closing up against each other and against the ceiling. I I V i v Whilst I contemplate the application and adaptationof the above-named novel features to cars as ordinarily constructed for day travel, except, perhaps, that in some cases it may be found desirable to make the roof at the sides of the car a little higher than usual, to allow ample room for-elevating the berths out of the way, yet it is evident that my whole constructionpermits the ordinary'seats (such as are shown in the drawings) to be used, or, instead, such as are on table of being converted into beds or couches may be used equally well with my'iinproveinents. i

1. The combination, with the lower plate M and its guide, of the upper plate and its guides, substantially in theruanncr and for the purpose herein described. v v

2. Also, the combination, with the berths,-of the fixed hanging pieces F having an opening, f, toreceive the bolts which lockthe berths to place.

3. Also, the arrangement, substantially as described, of Windlass, cords, and pulleys, in combination with the berths, whereby the latter may be raised and lowered.

4- Also, the arrangement, substantially as described, of springs within the berths, when supported and catches, to hold itin position foruse, substantially as set forth.

held in position by the plates C G and M M. g

5. Also, the combination, with a car-berth, of a folding case or chest, substantially as and for the purpose setforth. I

6. Also, the combination, with a car-berth, of a hinged or pivoted curtain-frame, and self-acting springs or AGUR. J UDSON.

Witnesses:

JonN S. BALL, ADI-N Pann'utur.

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