US1606604A - Mail-bag-catching device - Google Patents

Description

N ov. 9, 1926.

C. STETLER vMAIL BAG GATCHING DEVICE Filed August 17. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l IIJ" Charles Shatter` INVENTDR Nov. 9 l1926. 1,606,604 C.STETLER MAIL BAG CATCHING DEVICE Filed August 17, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 V-F'l'.2. 70 q (y y(Z'havrtes Stetlen 4? 6 111:11, INVENTDR Avrov RNEV Nov. 9, 1926.

1,606,604 C. STETLER MAILBAG CATCHING DEVICE Filed August 17 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 i t /7 @u Charles Steler' BY I .wm

v ATI'DRNEY Patented Nov.V 9, 1926.

ttete CHARLES STETLER, OF CLARK SUMMIT, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BAG-CATCI-ILNG DEVICE.

Application filed August 17, 1925. Serial No, 50,753.

'lhe object ot this invention is to provide improved means for supporting a mail bag above a track, in such manner that the bag will be released upon engagement by c a lever operated member adapted to be swung upwardly from the root' of a mail car, as the latter approaches a station.

i further object is to provide a supporting device comprising a vertical element i2" and a crossl bar rotatably connected with the lower end thereof, this bar having pivotally connected with its ends two depending arms which detachably support a horizontal strip holding the mail sack, and from which it is released by contact oi' the aforesaid lever operated member carried by the car.

lilith the Jforegoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement ot elements described, illustrated and claimed, it being understood that modiiications may be made within the scope oi the claims without departing from the spirit ot' the invention.

ln the drawings forming part or" this application,

Figure l shows an arch-like structure to be erected over the track at the point where the mail is to be picked up by moving trains, this view also showing the car carried catching device, all in elevation;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same structure g Figure 3 is a vertical section, on line 3-3 oiI Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view in vertical section and elevation, showing the bag supporting means mounted on the upper portion of the arch oi' Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view in section and elevation, showing the bag supporting means per se, and in the position assumed when the bag is being released;

Figure 7 shows the structure ot Figure 6, when looking from the right in that view;

Figure 8 shows the lower apertured bar ot Figures 5 and 6, designed to receive a ring member by means of which the bag is suspended with a short rope.

In Figure 1 the track structure including the rails is designated 10, and a car body is shown conventionally and is designated 11. Columns 12 and 13, on opposite sides of the track, support upper parallel girders or bars 14 andl, Figures 1 and 2, thus completing the structure, 'which for convenience may be termed an arch. i i

On' the upper portion ot the arch a ver tical tubular member 16 is mounted, this element being covered by a guard 17 providing a small housing 18 for pulley `wheel 18 'for guiding rope l() which passes to one of the side columns and over pulley 20, vand thence downwardly to a securing device 21. V7ithin tube 16 is a bar 23, connected with the cord or rope 19, the bar being accurately guided within the tube, so that the bag will retain proper position centrally of the track.

A cross bar 24 is swiveled or rotatably connected on the lower end ot bar 23 includes ears 24 for mounting depending pivoted bars 25, 26, each aperturcd at 2i for supporting the ends ot lower cross bar 28. The latter suspends the mail sack by means of cord and ring member or loop 31. The bag may swing about the pivotal point 23, but the car carried device referred to below, will bring it to the position ot' Figure 6, owing to contact of ring member 3l with depending bar 25 or 26 of the frame.

Since bar 28 must be kept from falling, I provide cords or chains 34, 35, secured at 36, and having their lower portions passing through apertures 27, and thence to pins 37 entering apertures or slots 38 in bar 28. After the bag takes the position ot Figure 6, strain on chain 34 releases one pin 37, but bar 28 is held by the other chain. Vertical bar 23 may then be drawn upwardly by rope 19. In Figure 6 the left end ot the bar 28 having been released, all of the strain is on the left pin 37, and this tends to free itself and release tbe bag, and as there is no further strain on the bar 23 the latter would usually be retained by trictional engagement with the walls of the aperture 27 at the right. However the temporary loss ot' the bar 28 under unusual circumstances is not of great importance, as it costs little, and may often be recovered,

but the replacing of the bar is a simple matter, assuming that extra bars are on hand.

The car carried device includes rack 40` shown especially in Figures 3 and 4, and comprising a 'frame 'formed of curved bars suitably connected, and carried by rotatable rod 42 mounted in bearing brackets 43 within the car and below the root thereof, The root 43 has an opening 44 closed by a trap door 45 hinged or pivoted at 46,

and the door ishlii'ted when hand lever 47 swings the frame or rack 40 for throwing it to operative position. In this position the sack is directly caught, as indicated in Figure l, and drops into the car at once, or as the result of the operation of lever et.

A mail car using this device will be equipped with two swinging frames, to permit or operation in both directions, and the apparatus is especially designed to permit ot' use t'or picking up mail by airplanes in flight, it being understood that much greater space within the arch would be provided.

wWhat is claimed isl. A. mail bag supporting device, comprising a track bridging structure, a verticl 'tubular element carried thereby, a rod telescoping with the tubular element, a cross bar swiveled to the rod, depending arms pivoted to the cross bar, in spaced relation, and a detachable bar passing loosely through end portions ot' the depending arms.

2. A mail bag supporting device, comprising a vertical element, a cross bar having rotatable connection therewith, depending arms pivoted to the cross bar, a detachable bar loosely connected with the depending arms, and ieXible devices inpendent ot the arms and of greater length,

these devices being connected with the cross bar and removably connected with the detachable bar and separable therefrom under strain.

3. A mail bag supporting device, co1nprising a vertical element, a cross bar swiveled thereto, depending arms pivoted to the ends of the cross bar, and movable outwardly from a vertical position, the lower ends of the arms being apertured, a lower bar having its ends entering the apertures, and a ring member through which the lower bar passes, the ring` member being adapted to support a bag.

4. A mail bag supporting device, comprising a vertical element, a cross bar piv oted thereto, depending arms pivoted to the ends or the cross bar and movable outwardly from a vertical position, the lower ends of the arms being apertured, a lower bar having its ends entering the apertures, a ring member through which the lower bar passes, the ring member being adapted to support a. sack, and flexible devices connected with theV cross bar and with' said lower bar. y

In testimony whereof l atiix my signature. i

CHARLES STETLER.

Images