MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 61 



Sleeping in Kail-road Cars. Mr. S. Culver of Newark, Wayne County, N.Y. 

 has invented a very simple and comfortable apparatus by which a traveler 

 can sleep in a rail-road car without any of the inconveniences usually attend- 

 ing that recreation. The apparatus consists of a bit of welting fastened by a 

 hook to the roof of the car, with a net at the end in which the head can be 

 laid at any elevation or angle desired. It is a most ingenious contrivance, 

 and so light as to be easily carried in one's pocket. 



Replacing Cars off the Track. Mr. S. P. Coon of Milwaukie, has recently 

 patented a device for moving cars, which, although operating slowly and by 

 man-power alone, appears to be a decided improvement, on the usual process 

 for putting cars on track again after a rail-road accident. Our first impression 

 was decidedly unjust, it appearing to possess little novelty; but in practice it 

 has since been demonstrated to work with more ease, certainty and rapidity 

 than any other (if we except the practice on some of the coal rail-roads of jerk- 

 ing the wrecks unceremoniously out of the way, perferring to smash a few 

 cars rather than detain another train for a single moment). Coon's apparatus 

 consists of hand-screws somewhat like screw-jacks, which are made readily 

 applicable to a common T rail, by slipping the clamp on over the ends, so 

 that by placing a rail transversely under each truck and applying the screws 

 at each side the car may be safely lifted without guys, and entirely supported 

 on the cross rails. In this situation, suitable small rollers being previously 

 provided between the swing beam and the rail, the car may be readily 

 moved sidewise by a rope and a small windlass fitted on an end of each. The 

 great difficulty arising from the disposition of the trucks to swivel about on 

 their centers is completely avoided by this process ; but in case any slight 

 degree of deflection in this respect may be required by the circumstances, it 

 may be given by bending the rail before screwing up. New York Tribune. 



Improved Car Coupling. Mr. D. A. Hopkins of Elmira, N. T. has .recently 

 patented a cheap, durable and simple drawhead, which may be made self- 

 coupling or otherwise at pleasure. The end or face of the drawhead is of 

 cast iron, and somewhat heavier than the wrought iron ones usually employed. 

 The mouth is flaring or funnel-shaped, which allows the link to stand at a 

 considerable angle when necessary. The link is held by pins in the usual 

 manner, but the chief advantage of this invention consists in the introduction 

 of a piece of iron immediately behind the pin, which piece is pressed forward 

 by a slight spiral spring. The pressure of this piece against the end of the 

 link is sufficient by the aid of a narrow throat to maintain the link at any 

 elevation desired, so that in coupling the link may be adjusted to meet the 

 mouth of the opposite drawhead. To make the opposite drawhead self-coup- 

 ling it is only necessary to partially withdraw the phi, so that the spring 

 piece shall pass under its extremity and support it. As the cars come toge- 

 ther the link enters its mouth, presses back the spring piece, allows the pin 

 to drop into place, and the union is completed. 



Footers Car Ventilator. The principle of this ventilator, which has been 

 introduced on the New York and Erie Kail-road, is as follows : In the center 

 of the car, underneath the floor, is a transverse tank, containing twenty-five 

 gallons of water. On each side is a case, with glass windows, reaching from 



