Improvements in Rolling Stock and Permanent Way of Railways.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1896-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rolling Stock and Permanent Way of
Railways.
1, GUSTAV BEDEUS VON SCHARBERG, President of the High Court of Justice
at Leschkirch, Transylvania, in the Empire of Austria-Hungary, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The devices forming the subject of this invention are for the purpose of
adapting the rolling stock of narrow-gauge railways for use on railway lines
of normal gauge, without necessitating any displacement or adjustment of the
wheels.
The above object is attained according to this invention by providing upon each
axle of the rolling stock two pairs of wheels of different diameters so arranged
that the smaller wheels whose distance apart corresponds to the gauge of the
narrow track lie between the larger wheels whose distance apart is adapted to
the gauge of the wider track, the gauge of the narrow rails being so chosen, and
the proportion of the diameter of the larger (outer) pair of wheels to the diameter
of the smaller (inner) pair of wheels being such that when a narrow track is
traversed, the larger wheels will not come in contact with the ballast of the
permanent way, but will be free to rotate in the air.
This proportion of the diameters must of course be the same in all pairs of
wheels, and the rails of the narrow track must at those places where the rolling
stock is to be transferred from a narrow track to a wide track and vice versa, be
proportionately raised with regard to the level of the rails of the wide track.
At these places of transition the rails of both tracks extend a certain limited
distance one within the other, so that both pairs of wheels of each axle run upon.
their respective rails.
As it would be necessary to discontinue the rails of the narrow track at
crossings, in order to afford a free passage to the large outer wheels, all crossings
and points are according to this invention constructed with wide tracks the narrow
track passing into the wide track on each side of such crossing or points.
The difference between the radii of the larger and smaller wheels must be
such that the smaller wheels will quite clear the rails when traversing a
crossing.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 represents an axle travelling upon a wide track and provided with
two pairs of wheels..
Figure 2 represents the same axle travelling upon a narrow track.
Figure 3 shows in cross section a place of transition, that is to say, a place
where one track passes into another, aud
Figure 4 is a diagrammatical view of a crossing constructed in accordance with
this invention.
It is evident that the invention is applicable for rolling stock of any kind and
that it is entirely indifferent whether animal or steam power, electricity or any
other means of propelling vehicles upon railways be employed.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
Devices permitting of the same rolling stock being employed upon lines of
-different gauges and consisting in:
1. The arrangement of two pairs of wheels of different diameters upon each axle
in such a manner that the smaller pair of wheels, whose distance apart corresponds
to the gauge of the narrow track, is arranged between the larger pair of wheels,
whose distance apart corresponds to the gauge of the wider track.
2. The method of providing all crossings, and points with rails of the wider
gauge corresponding to the distance apart of the larger wheels, while on each side
of such crossings as well as at all other places where the rolling stock is required
to pass from the narrow track to the wide track or vice versa, the rails of both
tracks are made to extend a limited distance, one within the other, and each at
its proper level, so that, at such places, or passages the vehicles have all four
wheels of each axle in contact with their respective rails, substantially as
-described.
Dated this 30th day of May 1896
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.