IMPROVEMENTS IN LAYING THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAYING THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS, AND IN
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."-A communication from abroad by
Philippe Vitali, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer.
Sealed the 22nd May 1872, and dated the 30th March 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th March 1872.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAYING THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS,
AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication to me from abroad
by Philippe Vitali, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer, to be
as follows:

page_text: mounted on flanged running wheels driven by a steam engine and
gearing for transporting the complete apparatus along the line as fast as
it is laid. This gearing carries also a second and independent steam
engine and a steam generator for actuating through an endless chain or
rope a travelling crane, which runs along rails on the top of the carriage
framing, such rails extending along overhanging bracket at the front
and rear of the apparatus.
Breaks are fitted to the travelling wheels of the carriage for the
purpose of controlling the movements of the apparatus upon inclines.
The permanent way to be laid is first prepared in sections of any con-
venient length, each section comprising the two rails already secured to
their sleepers. These sections are piled one upon another on a double
bogie truck, which is coupled to and is hauled by the carriage before
referred to.
Lateral uprights connected by cross chains or bars serve to maintain
the pile of sections in position laterally whilst being transported.
In laying the permanent way the top section of the pile is elevated
by the chain from the travelling crane and is then conveyed over the top
of the apparatus to the front end, where it is lowered on to the ballast
and joined to the end of the section previously laid. The entire apparatus
and truck are then moved forward along the railway and another section
is deposited in like manner, and so on till the truck is empty.
The empty truck is then lifted from off the rails and placed on one
side out of the way by a separate crane for that purpose situate at the
rear end of the travelling frame or carriage, in order to allow of the
next full truck of the train being coupled up to the carriage, when the
operation proceeds as before. By this method of laying permanent way
of railways a great economy of time and labour is effected.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson,
my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LAYING THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS, AND IN APPA-
RATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication to me from abroad by Phillippe
Vitali, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-
The said Invention relates to a combination of apparatus for trans-
porting and laying the permanent way of railways in an expeditious
manner.
In the construction of railways it is extremely important to reduce to
a minimum the time occupied in carrying out the works.
The construction of a railway comprises several distinct parts besides
the buildings and the stationary and rolling stock, viz., the offices,
earthworks, ordinary and special works of art, tunnels; and, lastly, the
laying of the permanent way. Various known means skilfully applied.

page_text: The apparatus is composed of a strong frame A mounted on wheels,
such frame carrying uprights, to which is connected a metal trellis
framework which extends so as to overhang both in the front and rear
in order to support the carriage C, which is destined to act as a travelling
crane to take the portions of the line on the trucks I, lift them off, and
transport them successively to above the place where they are required
to be laid. The frame A is provided with a boiler G which is intended
to feed a large double cylinder horizontal engine M, which propels the
whole of the apparatus, and also a double cylinder vertical engine N,
which actuates the travelling carriage C. The carriage C is actuated
through the medium of the endless chain or wire rope x passing over the
large pullies p, p¹, of the carriage. These pullies are mounted on a shaft
provided with clutch boxes (as shewn in Figure 2), which admits of the
back-and-forward motion of the carriage being suspended in order to
actuate the windlasses t, t, intended to raise or lower the section or
portion X of the line which is suspended as shewn in Figure 1.
The engine M, which is intended to move the whole of the apparatus
forward in proportion as the portions of line are laid and to draw at a
slow speed a loaded train, actuates the driving axle through a train of
gearing, which imparts the velocity desired. The two driving wheels are
capable of transmitting motion to the other axles by means of connecting
rods so as to obtain suitable adhesion. On the axis of the engine M
there is keyed a windlass barrel m which may be brought into action
after the gearing which determines the onward motion of the whole of
the apparatus has been disengaged.
Brakes ff, are provided which admit of the motion of the apparatus
being regulated when running on gradients and ensure its stopping at
the desired moment.
At the back of the apparatus there are disposed two small rotating
cranes H, which are actuated as required by the engine N and serve for
taking up the trucks I which form the wagons when the latter are dis-
charged and placing them on one side.
The wagons or vehicles for transporting the portions of the permanent
way are composed of two small trucks I, I', as shewn in Figure 1, such
trucks being united by moveable girders i, ¹, which are connected to the
trucks by axes / disposed so as to allow the necessary amount of play for
passing round curves.

page_text: The portions of the line which are charged on the vehicles, as herein-
before stated, are maintained laterally by uprights & united or bound
two by two by a chain, as shewn in Figure 4.
From the preceding description the operation of the apparatus will be
readily understood. When the apparatus has arrived at the end of the
line to be continued the travelling carriage C which has been brought
over the trucks I takes up the first portion of the line, conveys it to
above the place where it is required to be laid, and lowers it to within a
short distance of the ballast. This portion having thus been put in its
place and bolted the apparatus moves forward with the whole train the
length of a rail. The motions for propelling the apparatus and for the
transport being completely independent it results therefrom that the
operations are simultaneous, and that the time necessary for the laying
and for moving the apparatus forward is considerably diminished.
When a wagon has been discharged it is requisite that it should make :
room for the following wagon, for which purpose the two girders i, i¹, are
lifted off and deposited at the side of the line, and the trucks I, I', of the
laying apparatus brought together, which by means of the cranes H are
also deposited at the side of the line. In this manner a vacant place is
prepared for the following wagon, which is drawn along together with
the train by the windlass m of the laying and traction apparatus.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be use or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me 2
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the construction
and use of combined apparatus for transporting and laying the permanent
way of railways, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to
this my Specification set my hand and seal, the Thirtieth day of 3
September One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.