IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING PARTS OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1847

page_text: WILD
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
HEARD WILD, of Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, boaring date at Westminster, the Twenty-fourth day of February, in
the tenth year of Her reign, did give and grant unto me, the said Charles
Henrd Wild, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power,
exors,
sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Charles Heard Wild, my
aliiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Heard Wild, my
exors, adiñors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term of years
therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, uso, exercise, and vend,
within that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
called England, Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING PARTS OF RAILWAYS;" in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso requiring that I, the said
Charles Heard Wild, shall particularly describe and ascertain the naturo
of my said Invention, and in what manner the samo is to be performed, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be
inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
Letters Patent, as, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Charles Heard Wild, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,

page_text: and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say :-
These improvements consist of,―
Firstly, of an improved method of constructing the moveable tongue rails of
-switches.
Secondly, my Invention consists of improvements in constructing certain
parts of turnplates of railways.
Thirdly, my Invention consists of improvements in the arrangement or
placing of the rails upon turntables, and in the combination or arrangement
of such turntables to facilitate the transfer of carriages from one line of rail to
another.
I will now proceed, with the aid of some of the said Drawings, to describe
the said first part of my Invention, in connection with some of the switches, in
the construction of which this part of my Invention is applicable. In the
construction of switches as now commonly used on most railways, as is usual
to form the moveable tongues so that their ends may be placed in notches
formed in the fixed rails, the consequence of which arrangement is, that
the moveable ends or points of the tongues must either be made very thin, or
else very deep notches must be made in the fixed rails, both which arrange-
ments are objectionable. And it is also objectionable that the wheels of trains
passing over such switches, almost immediately they come over a tongue, are
supported partly by the point of the tongue, which, being thin, is not fitted to
bear any great weight. Now, according to the first part of my Invention, the
notches in the table or upper part of the fixed rails are dispensed with, and
the points of the tongues are so constructed that they may pass below, and be
housed under the upper part of the fixed rails. The upper surface of my
improved tongue rail is also made lower than the fixed rails at the point, and
for a considerable distance beyond, as shewn in the Drawings. The tongue
rail thus constructed, when in action, will act laterally against the flanges of
the wheels for a considerable length from the point before the wheels come to
be borne by the upper surface of the tongue.
Figure 1 is a plan of an ordinary form of railway switch, but furnished with
my improved tongue rails. Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, are sections of the various 3
parts of the switch shewn in Figure 1. In each of these Figures the same or
similar parts are indicated by like letters. In order that the various parts
may be the more readily traced, the fixed rails are tinted blue, and the moving
tongues are tinted red. The several parts marked S are the sleepers on which

page_text: the chairs are fixed; d are the joint chairs; c, the table chairs; and a and b
are the jaw chairs. e, f, g, h, and i, are the fixed rails of the main lino, which
aro secured to the chairs in the usual way. n, o, p, are the fixed rails of the
side line, which are also secured to the chairs in the usual way. 9 and 7 aro
the moving tongues, traversing freely upon the table chairs c, and secured
loosely in the jaw chairs a and b by means usually employed for that purpose,
and so as to allow of the requisite motion of the tongue rail. s is a connecting
rod by which the tongues 9 and r are connected together, and by means of
which also motion can be simultaneously communicated to both the moveable
tonguo rails in any ordinary manner.
9,
Figure 6 contains an end view of the tongue rail g, and a section of the
fixed rail against which the tongue rail is placed when it is in the position
shown by dotted lines in Figure 1. Figure 7 also contains an end view of the
tonguo rail
and a section of the fixed rail, but with the tongue rail in the
position shown by full lines in Figure 1, that is, when it has been drawn back
from the main line rail. The red lines in Figures 6 and 7 shew the contour
of each of several imaginary sections taken in the positions marked on the plan
(Figure 1), and referred to by the figures attached.
Figure 8 shows a side elevation of the tongue rail g, upon which is also
marked the several positions or places where the before-mentioned imaginary
sections are taken. The construction of the tongue r is similar to that of the
tongue q, but made so as to be suitable for the opposite hand or side.
Figure 9 is a plan of another ordinary description of switch for railways, but
having my improved tongue rails applied. The construction of this description
of switch is nearly similar to that of the switch shown by Figure 1, and the
same letters are used to indicate the parts common to both. The tonguo
rail r, forming a portion of the main line when the switch is in the position
shewn, is considerably shorter than the tongue rail q. The imaginary sections
shown in contour by red lines in Figures 6 and 7 are, however, applicable
to this tongue rail, the positions in which the sections aro supposed to bo
taken being indicated upon the plan Figure 9. The connecting rod s'
(Figure 9) serves merely to connect the tongues 7 and r, and by the
connecting rod s motion can be simultaneously communicated to both the
tongue rails.
Figure 10 shows another ordinary switch, as constructed with my improved
tongue rail. In this Figure the same letters are used to indicate parts similar
to those in Figures 1 and 9. The construction of the left-hand half of this
description of switch is similar to the left-hand half of the switches shown in
Figures 1 and 9, excepting that the chairs marked c' (one of which is shewn

page_text: in section at Figure 11) have exterior stops, so as to prevent the tongue rail 9
(Figure 10) being pushed out too far from the rail g. The right-hand half of
this switch is different from those already described, n being a fixed rail
forming a portion of the side line, and i a fixed tongue rail forming a portion
of the main line.
Figure 12 represents an ordinary three-throw switch, having my improved
tongue rails applied thereto. b, e, m, n, are rails of the main line fixed in
chairs in the usual way. a, g, d, are rails of the left-hand side line fixed
in the usual manner. e, f, and are rails of the right-hand side line, also
fixed in the usual way. i and j are the long tongue rails, fixed loosely in the
jaw chairs w and w' in the usual manner, so as to allow of the requisite motion
of the tongue rails, which traverse freely upon the table chairs p and 9. The
imaginary sections shewn in contour in Figures 6 and 7 are applicable also to
these tongue rails, the positions where the several sections are taken being
indicated upon the plan (Figure 12) by the same figures of reference.
h and kare the short tongue rails of this switch, loosely fixed in the jaw
chairs w and w' in the usual manner, and traversing the table chairs p and q.
Figure 18 represents an end elevation of the tongue rail h. The red lines
shew (in contour) imaginary sections taken in the positions indicated on the plan
Figure 12. The construction of the tongue rail k is similar in every respect,
but for the opposite hand or side. The tongue rail i and the short tongue
Tail are connected together by the connecting rod a. Motion is given to
both of them by means of the connecting rod y' in the usual manner. The
long tongue rail j and the short tongue rail h are similarly connected together
by the connecting rod a, and motion is communicated to them by means of
the connecting rod y in the usual way.
Figure 14 is a view corresponding with Figure 6, shewing a sectional
elevation of a main line rail and an end view of a tongue rail when in contact
with the main line. The object of this Figure is to shew that in case a rail be
used with the top table of such a thickness that the point of the tongue rail,
if made so low as to be capable of being housed under it, would be too far
below the bearing surface of the fixed rail to act upon the flanges of the
wheels, it will be necessary to pare off a portion of the thickness of the top
table
upon the inside, or that portion of the rail which is to receive the point
of the tongue rail, so that the point of the tongue rail may be made of a proper
height to act against the flanges of the wheels. It will be seen that although
my improved tongue rails are applicable in the formation of various kinds of
switches, they are all similar in construction and operation. By examining
the Drawings, it will be seen that in my improved method of constructing

page_text: moveable tongue rails the upper part of the points of each of such rails is
Devilled off upon both of its faces, so as to make the upper side of it in the
form of a wedge, the thin edge being uppermost, and the point is kept so far
below the bearing surfaces of the adjacent fixed rails that for a considerable
distance from the point the moveable tongue only acts laterally against the
flanges of the wheel passing along the railway. No weight is taken by the
tongue rail for a considerable space, extending from its point to a place where
it gradually rises to a level with the adjacent rails, the tongue rail having at
such place become sufficiently strong for this purpose. Owing to the bevelling
of the upper surface of that part of my tongue rail which comes in contact
with the fixed rails in manner herein-before described, and the lowering the
point of my tongue rail, a portion of the thickness of it, when brought into
contact with the adjacent fixed rail, is housed under the bearing surface of
such fixed rail. And by constructing my said tongue rail in manner hereîu-
before described I am enabled to make the point thereof sufficiently strong,
without having recourse to the objectionable expedient of notching the bearing
surface of the fixed rail against which it is to be placed.
I will now proceed to describe the second part of my Invention, with the
aid of a portion of the said Drawings, in which similar parts are marked and
referred to by similar letters or characters. Figure 15 represents the plan of
a turntable having my said improvements applied thereto, and Figure 16
represents a sectional elevation of the same. The plan shewn in Figure 15 is
divided into four quarters, each quarter showing a different portion of the work.
The left-hand top quarter (comprised in the angle A, F, E,) shews a portion of
the table in its complete state, with the covering boards in their places. The
left-hand bottom quarter (comprised in the angle A, F, G,) shows a quarter of
the table complete, with the exception of the covering boards. The right-hand
bottom quarter (comprised in the angle B, F, G,) shews a quarter of the table
with the top plate completely removed, and the right-hand top corner quarter
(comprised in the angle B, F, E,) shews a quarter of the table with the top
plate and live ring removed. The sectional elevation shewn in Figure 16 is
taken through the centre of the lever apparatus, the top plate being placed in
such a position that the lines A, B, and C, D, (Figure 15,) coincide. a, a, a,
are brickwork foundations, upon which the central stone b, and the timber
curb c, c, are bedded in the usual way. d is the cast-iron curb (cast in several
pieces), acting also as a path for the rollers e to run upon. f is a central
bearer bolted down to the foundations by bolts passing through the lugs g, and
concentrically fixed to the curb & by means of the radial rods h. i is a cylin-
drical block working freely in the central bearer f, pressed upwards by the
[

page_text: weights ; acting by means of levers k turning upon axles l. m, m, are guides
secured to the central bearing f, in which the levers work freely. n is a brass
step supported by the block-i, with which it rises and falls, and the central pin
of the top plate works freely in the step (n. 0, 0, is a disc working freely
upon the outside of the central bearer f, to which the radial axes p are bolted,
the other extremities of these axes being maintained in their relative positions
by means of the iron hoop 9, to which they are bolted. e are the rollers
working freely upon their axes "p. s are loose washers, by shifting which the
position of the rollers upon their axes may be adjusted. is the top plate
(shewn as if cast in three pieces), and bolted together at u. vare the rails
bolted to the top plate by the bolts and cotters w. * are the covering boards.
is one of the catch plates, and z its catch. My said improvements in the
construction of this turntable consist in the mode of counterbalancing the top of
the table by a lever apparatus, as above described, and the arrangement of the
conical rollers e, with all their upper bearing edges in the same plane, so that,
although by the surge or lateral force of trains passing over the turnplate the
top plate t may be driven somewhat out of its proper position, the top plate will
still bear evenly and equally upon the rollers.
y
I will now proceed to describe the third part of my said Invention.
Figures 17, 18, 19, and 20, shew several modes of combining turntables
upon railways at stations or elsewhere, a, b, c, and d, in each of these Figures,
representing four parallel lines of railway, which, for the sake of convenience,
I will call through lines. Each of these four Figures represents an arrange-
ment or combination of turntables, with four lines of through rails, by which
vehicles may be passed from any one of the four lines to any other of the four
lines of rails. In Figures 17 and 18 the turntables are arranged or combined
in manner heretofore known or used; and these Figures are given in the said
Drawings hereunto annexed merely to facilitate the explanation of my mode
of arranging or combining turntables, which is exhibited by Figures 19 and 20.
If a vehicle were upon the line a, Figure 17, and it were required to pass sit
into the line d by aid of the turntables shewn in Figure 17, it would be
passed on to the turntable e, that table would then be turned a quarter of a
revolution, and the vehicle passed across to the turntable h, which being then
turned through a quarter of a revolution, the vehicle would be passed on to the
line d, there being in this case but two turning operations necessary to effect the
required cbject. The diameter of the turntables may, however, be limited by
the distances between the adjacent lines of railway, and if the tables be
required to be of larger diameter than can be used if they are arranged as in
Figure 17, they must be arranged diagonally. Turntables may also for other

page_text: reasons be required to be arranged or combined diagonally. Figure 18 shews
such a diagonal arrangement of turntables of the ordinary form. In order to
pass a vehicle from the line a to the line d (Figure 18), it would be passed
on to the table i, which would then be turned into the position shewn in dotted
lines, so that the rails upon which the vehicle has been placed may coincide
with a diagonal line across the lines of railway, as also shewn by dotted lines
in Figure 18). The turntables j, k, l, (Figure 18,) being also turned into the
positions shewn in dotted lines, so as to coincide with the diagonal line, the
vehicle would be passed from the turntable i to turntable 1, which would then
be turned into the position shewn in full lines at 7, and the vehicle be passed on
to the line d. The turntables i, j, and k must now be again turned into their
original positions (as shewn in full lines), in order to complete the through
lines of railway, which are required at all times to be maintained in that state
when the tables are not in use for passing carriages from one line to another.
Thus, upon this system or combination of turntables, eight turning operations
are necessary to effect the required object, for which, by the arrangement shewn
in Figure 17, two only were sufficient. By the arrangement shown in
Figure 18, therefore, much time is lost, as compared with that shewn in
Figure 17, owing to the rails upon the turntables not being always in such
O positions as to complete both the diagonal and the through lines. Now, the
object of this part of my Invention is so to arrange or place the rails across
turntables, and to arrange or combine such turntables when arranged or placed
diagonally across parallel lines of railway, that, when the tables are not in
action, the through line and the diagonal line of rails may at all times be
5 complete, so as to allow of the passing of a vehicle across the table and along
either of those lines, and save a considerable amount of the labour necessary
for transferring vehicles from one line to another. In Figure 19, the rails
a, b, c, d, and the turntables q, r, s, and t, are arranged and combined according
to this part of my Invention. The turntables are laid at an angle of sixty
0 degrees to the through lines, and there are three lines of railway upon or across
each turntable, forming six ways by which vehicles may be passed on to or off
the turntable, such lines of railway forming with each other angles of sixty
degrees, the number of degrees of the angles so formed in this and every
other variety of turntable made for the purposes of this part of my Invention
35 being or forming multiple parts of a circle, and the diagonal line in which
the turntables are combined or arranged across the parallel lines of: any number
of railways must form the same angle with each of those parallel lines as the
lines of railway across the turntables form with each other. By this means, in
whatever position any one of the tables may be left after the passing of a

page_text: vehicle along either the through or diagonal line, each of those lines will b
complete, thus reducing the turning operations nécessary to be performed in
transferring a vehicle from one parallel line to another to the least possible
number. In Figure 20, the rails a, b, c, and d, and the turn tables u, v, w
and a, are also arranged and combined according to this
part of my Invention
The turntables are laid at an angle of forty-five degrees with the through lines,
and there are four lines of railway upon or across each turntable, forming
eight ways by which vehicles may be passed on to or off each table, such lines
of railway forming with each other angles of forty-five degrees.
By this
means the same advantages are realised as by the arrangement shewn in
Figure 19, and à still larger diameter of turntable may be introduced than
by that arrangement. The turntables to be used for this part of my Invention
may be constructed according to the second part of my Invention, before
described, or in any other manner they may be deemed adviseable; the arrange-
ment or placing of the lines of rails upon or across their top plates and rails
being modified to suit the particular arrangement or combination. of turntables
which may be adopted, the construction of the turntables in other respects
being immaterial, so far as relates to this part of my Invention.
Although I have in Figure 19 and 20 shewn turntables, when arranged or
combined according to this part of my Invention, placed close together, yet
they may, when the parallel lines of railway are far apart, be placed at a
distance from each other, as shewn in Figure 21. I do not, however, claim
my Invention any particular mode of arranging or placing rails upon or
across turntables, except in connection with and for the purpose of combining
or arranging such turntables according to this part of my Invention.
as of
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that I claim as of my
Invention,-
Firstly, the mode of constructing and applying moveable tongue rails of
railway switches, as herein-before described.
Secondly, the mode of counterbalancing the top plates of railway turntables,
and the mode of arranging the conical rollers, as herein-before described.
And, thirdly, the mode of arranging or placing rails across turntables, and
of combining or arranging such turntables, in manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Heard Wild, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.
CHA HEARD. (L.S.) WILD.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fourth day of August,
in the year of our Lord 1847, the aforesaid Charles Heard Wild came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-soven.