Railway Travelling Trucks and Turn-tables, Portable Hand and Baling Presses, Hydraulic Hoisting Machines, &c.
Year: 1850

page_text: Railway Travelling Trucks and Turn-tables, Portable
Hand and Baling Presses, Hydraulic Hoisting
Machines, &c.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
DUNN, of the Windsor Bridge Iron Works, Pendleton, near Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Nineteenth
day of November now last past, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Dunu, my exors, adiñors, and
assigns, Her especial licence that. I, the said Thomas Dunn, my exors,
admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Dunn, my
exors, adñiors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR MOVING ENGINES AND
CARRIAGES FROM ONE LINE OF RAILS TO ANOTHER, AND FOR TURNING THEM;
ALSO FOR COMPRESSING CERTAIN SUBSTANCES, AND FOR RAISING AND LOWERING
HEAVY BODIES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging
me, the said Thomas Dunn, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention,

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same
to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the said Letters Patent, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Dunn, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention to
consist,―
First, in placing intermediate wheels, when such are used, in a traversing
truck, so that the peripheries of the wheels on the outside axes project beyond
the peripheries of the wheels on the adjoining intermediate axes, or those
next in line to them, whereby as the truck is passing over the flange gaps of
the permanent way the shocks are reduced.
Secondly, in attaching inclined planes by spiral joints to a traversing truck,
to enable a carriage to be easily passed upon it when required, and when the
inclined planes are not in use they can be folded to the ends of the truck to
be out of the way.
Thirdly, in constructing a traversing truck so that the shelving which has
no rail attached to it supports the carriage by the flanges of the wheels; and
such traverser may be lowered at one end between the rails of the permament
way, so as to form a gentle inclined plane of the full length of the traverser
for carriages to ascend, or the traverser may be wholly lowered, so as entirely
to dispense with the necessity for inclined planes.
Fourthly, in attaching a portion of what is usually called the permanent
line of railway to a frame, and in lowering such frame with a traverser upon
it until the surface of the rails of the 'traverser and those on the permanent
way are on the same level, so that an engine or any other description of
carriage may be 'run' upon it without having 'any of the weight to lift perpen-
dicularly to enable such carriage to be traversed from one line of rails to
another.
of –
Fifthly; in the construction of a traversing "truck with low horizontal plates
of wrought iron, supported by large external and 'small internal wheels framed
together by angle iron, which forms also the rail on the traverser."
Sixthly, in a railway turn-table, so constructed that "it requires "no pit to
work in.
..
..
→
21
Seventhly, in'a portable hand press made of two cylinders in the same
plane; with a handle over them by which they may be forced or compressed
upon any materials requiring pressure, such as letters when they are to be
copied.

page_text: Eighthly, in the construction of a double-acting horizontal press for baling
cotton and other substances.
Ninthly, in improved machinery for raising and lowering heavy bodies by
the weight or pressure of water.
:
Tenthly, in applying a water hoist to raise and lower railway carriages.
Eleventhly, in-an-oscillating force pump with a valve clearer attached.....
Twelfthly, in the 'application of a turbine to hoist or lower l'eavy bodies
when actuated by the water from works which supplies towns....And, -
Lastly, in the application of water from the waterworks of a town, to raise
and lower safes containing documents or other articles of value......
2.4
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS..
4.
In Sheet 1, Figure 1 represents an end view of.a traverser .for. moving
carriages from one line of rails. to another, to which certain of my..improve-
ments are applied... Figure 2, is a-sectional elevation. Figure..3, is a front
elevation, and Figure 4 a plan view of the same. In this view part of: the
covering plates are-removed to shew the, construction of the working parts,
and Figure 5 is a plan view of part of a traverser, to which another modifi-
cation of my improvements is applied. Figure. 6. is a sectional elevation
of another of my improved -traversers for moving carriages:: from one line
of rails to another. Figure 7 is another section, of the same traverser.
Figure 8 is a front view of the traverser shewn in Figures 6 and 7,
and Figure 9 is a plan view of the same, with one half of the covering
plates removed to shew the machinery for elevating and depressing the
traverser.
.
'
-In Sheet 2, Figure 10 is, an end elevation of another-of-my improved
traversers for moving locomotive engines or carriages,from one line of rails to
another. Figure 11 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 12 a plan view of
the same. Figure 13 is a sectional clevation of the peculiarly constructed
roadway to be used in connection with the traverser shewn in Figures 10, 11,
and 12. Figure 14 is a plan view of Figure 13. Figure 15 is a side eleva-
tion of another mode of constructing the roadway for the above-named
traverser, and Figure 16 is a plan view of Figure 15.
was
In Sheet 3, Figure 17 is a sectional elevation of my improved-turn-table or
platform. Figure 18 is a plan view of the same. Figures 19 and 20-are
two views on an enlarged scale of a scraper for clearing the circular- rails of
my improved turn-table or platform.
In Figures 1, 2; 3,4, and-5, a, a, represent the rails of the permanent way;
b, b, the sides of the traversing truck, made in this instance of wrought-iron

page_text: plates connected together by the cross stays b' and diagonal bars b²; c, c, are
the wheels which support the traverser; four of these wheels are placed at each
end of the traverser in sucli wise that the periphery of one wheel passes by the
periphery of the other, as seen in Figure 4. By this means of placing the
wheels, the traverser, in passing over the gaps which are made in the train
rails d to admit the flanges of the carriage wheels, is at all times supported by
six out of the eight wheels, thereby greatly diminishing the shock imparted to
the traverser when the wheels c are passing from the train rails over the rails
of the permanent way. The wheels c, c, may either be placed in the relative
positions shewn in Figure 4, or they may be placed in any intermediate
position, as shewn in Figure 5, the main object of this part of my Invention
being to bring the centres of the axes of the wheels c so near together that
they mutually support the weight of the traverser, and thereby diminish the
shock which would otherwise be given to the traverser in passing over the
flange gap and rail of the permanent way. e, e, represent portable points or
inclined planes connected to the traverser by the spiral joints f, see Figure 3.
The right-hand pair of points are open, and in requisite position for guiding a
carriage on to the shelving or rail g of the traverser. The left-hand pair of
points are closed together, or in the position they are put into when the
carriage to be moved from one line of rails to the other has been brought on
to the traverser. The object of the spiral joints f,f, is to raise the points e, e,
above the level of the rails of the permanent way when the traverser is in
motion. The points e, e, after being folded to, are held in their places by the
drop catches h, h, which are hinged to the end of the traverser. i is a covering
of corrugated iron to prevent the carriage hooks from catching any portion of
the framing of the traverser when they are being moved on to or off the same.
From the above description it is apparent that when these traversers are
employed no alteration whatever is made in the permanent way of the railway
to which they are applied.
In Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9, many of the parts being similar to those repre-
sented in the foregoing Figures, I have marked them with corresponding
letters of reference. In the traverser I am now going to describe the rails of
the permanent way are also left intact, and I dispense with the points or
inclined planes above described, by lowering one end or both ends of the
traverser by means of the shafts j and k and parts in connection therewith..
These shafts revolve in bearings attached to the end cross stays b', and the
bearing wheels c are supported by bearings 'fixed to the intermediate cross
stays . The end cross stays b¹ are united together by the bars b*, seen in
Figures 6, 7, and 9. Near each end of the traverser, and between the inter-

page_text: mediate cross stays 63, is fixed a screw nut 1, see Figure 7, and the screws m
take into the threads of the said nuts. The upper ends of the screws m are at
all times in contact with the under side of the bars ', and support the ends of
the traverser. To each screw m is fixed a worm wheel n, which is turned by
the worms and ", on the shafts j and k above referred to. The shaft is
.furnished with a crank handle j², and a similar handle can also be fitted to the
end of the shaft k. It is advantageous in this instance to make the slielvings
.or supports g¹ enter between the rails of the permanent way, and to support
the carriage that has to be moved from one line of rails to another by means
of the flanges of the wheels instead of by the tread of the wheels.
In using
this improved traverser, if it is requisite to lower the right-hand end, the
attendant, by turning round the crank handle j', causes the screw m to screw
itself into the nut l, and as this nut is attached to the intermediate cross
stays 63, and the screw m supports the end of the traverser, it is evident that
the turning round of the screw will lower in a corresponding degree the end
of the traverser. The depth to which the end of the traverser must be lowered
depends upon the height of the flanges on the wheels of the carriages to be
moved; consequently, if the said flanges are one inch in height, the shelvings
or supports g¹ must be lowered .until they are one inch below the level of the
rails a of the permanent way. When one end of the traverser is lowered it is
evident that an inclined plane will be formed, up which the carriage to be
moved from one line of rails to another can be pushed. As soon as the
carriage is on the traverser, the attendant, by turning the handle in the
contrary direction to that in which it had previously been worked, raises up
the end that had been lowered, and the traverser, with the carriage upon it, is
moved to the line of rails on which the carriage is required. If the carriage is
wanted on the same side of the traverser as it had previously been raised
from, the attendant then turns again at the angle until the carriage
runs down the inclined planes again formed by the shelvings or supports g¹;
but if the carriage is required on the contrary side of the traverser, the
left-hand end must be lowered by turning the shaft k. When the traverser
is used without inclined planes, it is brought in a line with the rails of the
permanent way on which the carriage to be moved is placed; the attendants,
by then turning both the shafts j.and k, lower the traverser until the
shelvings or supports 9. are below the level of the permanent way; the
carriage to be moved is then pushed over the traverser, and the attendants
by again turning the shafts and k, elevate the traverser, with the carriage
upon it, until the lower side of the shelvings 9 clear the tops. of the rails of the
permanent way. The traverser can then be moved to its required position,.

page_text: and the shelvings ġ¹ are again lowered until the tread of the wheels bear upon
the rails of the permanent way. I wish to remark; that by making the
screws m and worms j' and ' of' suitable pitches this improved traverser may
be worked with very little manual labour; as, by doing away with the inclined
planes, and the consequent labour of running the carriage up them, very little
more power is required to move carriages from one line of rails to another than
to move the same carriages on the level permanent way.
I will now proceed to describe the improvements represented' in Sheet 2 of
the annexed Drawings. These improvements consist in lowering or depressing
the rails of the permanent way to make room for the 'traverser, and elevating
them again to their original position after the traverser has completed
it's work..
"
....
Figures 10, 11, and 12 represent my improved traverser to be used when
the rails of the permanent wayfare lowered and raised," "as above referred to,
and Figures 13, 14, 15; and 16 represent two methods of raising and lowering
the rails of the permanent way: In Figures 12, 13, 14, 15, and-16, a, a, are
the rails of the permanent way; and dare the 'tram rails' placed about two
inches and a half below the level of the rails as or more or less; as may be
found necessary to suit the particular work for which the traverser is intended:
The shelvings or rails y are in this case made of two strong pieces of angle
iron rivetted or otherwise secured to the three pairs of transverse plates o.
The sides of the traverser are" formed of the plates b, to which aid to the
transverse plates o are fixed the bearings p of the exterior wheels c, which are
fixed on shafts extending from one end of the traverser to the other. The
interior wheels''c' are fixed on short shafts supported in bearings fastened to
the plates o, and they are so placed that they assist in supporting and evenly
distributing the weight of the traverser: As these traversers are intended for
moving locomotive engines or lieavily laden waggons from one line of rails to
another, the attendants can work them along the tram rails d by means of the
handles 2. These handles are fixed on the same shafts as the pinions q
gearing into the intermediate wheels 9, which gear into the wheels q³, cast
with or otherwise, attached to the wheels c. By this arrangement a loco-
motive engine may be easily removed from one line of rails to another.
In Figures 13 and 14 I have represented the requisite mechanism for
lowering and raising the rails of the permanent way. In these views the rails
a', which form part of the permanent way, are supposed to have been lowered
so as to allow the traverser represented in Figures 10, 11, and 12, to occupy
the space between the ends of the rails a. When the traverser is in its place
between the rails a, the shelvings or rails y are on the same level as the rails a,

page_text: "
consequently the engine or waggon to be moved from one line. of trails .to
The lower
another can be brought on to the traverser with the greatest ease.
side of the rails a' are made. with six or any other convenient number of
These. bottom
inclined-planes, which enter into grooves, in the bottom-rails r.
rails are made fast to the wooden sleepers r', and they serve as supports for
the ends of the rails a, a. s-is a shaft, working at each end in a bearing.fixed.to
the hollow bottom rails r. In the centre of this shaft is a socket for the lever s¹,
and the arms s and s are fixed to the, shaft immediately under the rails a¹.
The upper arms is connected by a pin to the sliding bar t, and the lower
arms is connected to the sliding bar t' by the link t. These sliding bars are
provided with anti-friction rollers & near. their upper surfaces, and-when it is
requisite to bring the rails.a to the same level as the rails a, the attendant, by
depressing the lever s¹ causes the arms s2 and 3 to assume the direction indi-
cated by a red line, thereby moving the sliding bars tand thin the direction of
the arrows upon them, and causing the anti-friction rollers. t to act on the
inclined planes under the rails a', thereby elevating them to the required level,
as shown by the red line in Figure 13.. The rails at are furnished at each
end with a slot through which and through the, bottom railsr the pins. are
passed; these slots and spins are to retain the rails a¹ in the proper position
when they are raised and lowered by the sliding barst and t, as above
described.
.+
.
..
From the foregoing. description it will be seen that when the traverser is
not in use, the rails a' are on the same level, and form part of the permanent
way, but as soon as the traverser is required for moving an engine or waggon
from one line of rails to another, the attendant elevates the lever s' into the
position shewn in dotted lines in Figure 13, and by so doing the-rails a' are
lowered; the traverser is then rolled along the tram rails a until the shelvings
or rails gare in line with, the rails a; the engine or waggon to be moved is
then brought on to the traverser, and the attendants, by turning the handle q,
cause the traverser to travel until it is in line with the rails on which the
engine or waggon is required. By depressing the lever s the rails. a¹ are
again brought to the level of the permanent rails a, and the traffic on the line
can be resumed without interruption. Traversers of this construction are also
calculated to save labor, as the only weight that has to be raised perpen-
dicularly is the weight of the rails a¹, the engine or waggon to be moved
remaining at all times on the same level.
The machinery represented in Figs. 15 and 16 is for the same object as the
sliding barst and t, shewn in Fig. 13, namely, to lift the intermediate rails
In this instance the intermediate rails are
a' to the level of the rails a.

page_text: marked a², and instead of being raised by inclined planes, they are raised by
the excentrics u fixed on the shafts u. The rails a³ are also guided by slots
and pins, as in the above-described apparatus. At one end of the shafts u¹
are fixed the worm wheels u² gearing into the worms u³, fixed on the longi-
tudinal shaft ut. To the end of this shaft is fixed a bevel wheel gearing into.
another wheel on the upright shaft u³, to which a cross handle or other suitable
lever is applied. By this arrangement of parts it is evident that by turning
round the shaft us a rotary motion is given to the shafts u¹; by which means
the excentrics u gradually raise or lower the rails a² for the purposes before
described.
I am aware that other means may be employed for effecting the same
object, but the foregoing will be sufficient. to illustrate this part of my
.Invention.
My improvements in machinery and apparatus for turning engines and
carriages are represented in Figs. 17, 18, 19, and 20, of Sheet 3 of the
annexed Drawings. In Figs. 17 and 18, a, a, are the ends of the rails of the
permanent way, and v is a centre plate, in the centre of which is a hole for the
fulcrum pin on which my improved turn-table or platform revolves; v' is the
.outer, and is the middle ring, formed of bent rails in a manner well known
and in use. The rings vand 2 are supported by railway chairs, which, with
the centre plate v, are bedded on wooden sleepers or in any other convenient
way. The moveable portion of this turn-table consists principally of the two
rails w, which are connected together by and secured to the centre cross plate
w and the four segmental cross plates w³. The centre cross plate is furnished
with the fulcrum pin us, and to it are attached the bearing boxes w¹ of the
rollers which work on the circular rail forming part of the centre plate v.
The inner segments w² carry the bearing boxes w' of the rollers which work
on the inner ring v2, and the outer segments w² support the bearing boxes w
of the rollers which work on the outer ring v¹. The rings v, v', and v², are
all kept free from dirt by means of the self-acting scrapers x, seen detached in
Figs. 19 and 20. These scrapers are hinged to the plates ', which are made
fast to the plates w¹ and w²; only three of them are marked in the plan view,
Fig. 18, but the position of the others will be readily ascertained from those
that are shewn. The boarding w' is supported by and fixed to the rails w, as
seen in Figs. 17 and partly in Fig. 18.
Having now described the improvements comprised in the first part of my
Invention, I will proceed to describe those relating to machinery and appa-
ratus for compressing certain substances. On Sheet 1, Fig. 21 represents a
plan view of my improved portable press for compressing letters, so as to

page_text: obtain impression from them, or for compressing other materials. Fig. 22
is a side elevation, and Fig. 23 an end view of the same..
Fig. 24 is a side view of another modification of the above press.
In Sheet 4 Fig. 25 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a press for
pressing cotton or other substances. Fig. 26 is a section through the line
A, B, on Fig. 25. Fig. 27 is a section through the line C, D, on Fig. 25.
Fig. 28 is a section through the line Y, Z, on Fig. 25. Fig. 29 is a plan
view of the press, also shewn partly in section.
In Figs. 21, 22, and 23, A, A, represent the pressing cylinders or rollers
which revolve in bearings provided in the standards B. These standards are
connected above by a handle or stay C, and below by another stay C. The
method of operating is as follows.-The letter or other document from which
an impression has to be taken is covered with a sheet of damped paper, over
which blotting or glazed paper is put; the operator then takes hold of the
handle C with both hands, and presses the rollers A backward and forward
over the blotting or glazed paper above mentioned. The operation must be
continued until the impression on the damped paper is sufficiently visible.
Fig. 24 is a side elevation of another press for similar purposes. This press
is about half the width of the one above described, and only one roller A' is
used, as it is intended to work this press with one hand.
The various Figs. on Sheet 4 represent my improved press for pressing cotton
and other substances. In constructing presses for effecting the same objects as
the one I am going to describe, it has been customary to place them vertically.
Such presses require a solid foundation to stand on, and require a building of
great height, besides being inconvenient to get at. In my improved press I
overcome all these objections by placing it horizontally; and by making it at
the same time double-acting, I effect also a great saving of time in working
the press. D and E are the right-hand and left-hand boxes or receivers in
which the cotton or other substance to be pressed is put in a loose state.
These boxes are supported upon blocks of wood or stone, as shewn in the
Drawing. D and E' are end plates supported by the standards D² and E²,
which must be strong enough to resist the pressure of the followers D³ and E³,
both of which are connected to the ends of the screw F, and are guided above
and below by antifriction rollers, seen best in Fig. 27. The boxes D and E
are furnished with lids D' and E, and with end plates D5 and Es. These end
plates support the gearing by which the followers are put in motion, and are
bored out to receive the ends of the screw nut F', on which is keyed the
wheel G. The necessary motion is given to this wheel by the pinion G³ fixed
on the shaft G, near the extremity of which is keyed a wheel G³, driven by

page_text: the pinion G on the shaft G³.
.
Both the shafts G and G are made with
square ends for crank handles, so that the press may be worked by hand, or a
fast and loose pulley can be fitted on the shaft Go, and steam power employed
for that purpose. The lids D' and E' are all raised and lowered by means of
segments, fixed to the lids, and pinions keyed to the cross shafts, to which the
handles D and E are fixed. These lids are prevented from rising when the
press is in operation by means of the bolts and pins shewn in the Drawing, or
other suitable fastenings. The followers D3 and E³, and the end plates
D and. E' are grooved, as shewn at the left side of Fig. 25, to admit the
cords or hoop irons, required for securing the bale, and the side doors
D and E are to allow the bale to be easily removed when the cording
or hooping is completed. The method of operating is as follows:-The
followers D³ and E³ being in the positions shewn in the Drawings the lids D*
must all be opened to allow the attendants to throw into the box D the cotton
or other substance that has to be packed. When the box D is full the lids D*
are closed and secured by their proper fastenings, and the power is applied
for causing the screw F and follower D³ to move in the direction of the arrow
in Fig. 29, and gradually compress the contents of the box D. Whilst this
operation is going forward the attendants have time to complete the cording
or hooping of the bale in the box E and remove it from the press... When the
follower Ds has completed its office, and the bale in the box D has been
corded, the lids E', which had before been closed, must be opened to allow the
attendants to fill the box E, on, completing which the driving wheel must be
made to revolve in the contrary direction to that in which it had before
been working, so as to impart the requisite motion to the screw, F, and
follower E³, for compressing the substances in the box E. In this manner
the operations can be repeated with great economy of labour, and very little
more time is required for working this double-acting press than a single-
acting one of the ordinary construction. It will be evident that hydraulic
power may also be applied in the same manner, and single-acting presses may
also be beneficially used in a horizontal position.
I will now proceed to describe the particulars of the last part of my Inven-
tion, consisting of improvements in machinery and apparatus for raising and
lowering heavy bodies. On Sheet 3, Fig. 30 represents an improved water
hoist for raising and lowering heavy bodies. Fig. 31 is a water hoist applied to
railway purposes. Fig. 32 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 33 a side elevation
of an improved pump, applicable to water hoists and other purposes.
Fig. 34 is a sectional elevation of another of my improved pumps.
On Sheet 5, Fig. 35 is an elevation of another modification of my improve-

page_text: ments in machinery for raising and lowering heavy bodies to which a turbine
is applied for giving the motive power. Fig: 36 is a plan of the turbine,
shewn in Fig. 35, and Fig. 37 is an elevation of an hydraulic apparatus, by
which safes are raised and lowered. In Fig. 30 I have represented a water
hoist, by the aid of which heavy bodies may be raised or lowered through
about three times the space traversed by the vessel containing the water, which
more than counterbalances the bodies to be raised. In this view H is the
load to be raised or lowered, supported in the cradle H', and I the rope by
which it is suspended. This rope after passing over suitable guide pulleys is
made fast to the circumference of the drum J, fixed on the shaft N; on this
shaft is fixed the small drum K, from which descends the rope L for supporting
the vessel M: To the shaft N is also fixed. the break O, furnished with a
friction clip O', and weighted lever O of the ordinary construction. O³ is a
cord by which the attendant puts the break on or takes it off as required.
M' is the pipe through which the water flows into the vessel M. The load H
is now supposed to be ricar its highest point and the vessel M nearly down,
and as the drum J is about three times the diameter of the drum K, it' is
evident that the descending of the vessel M will cause the load H to ascend in
P is
the proportion of speed of the difference in diameter of the two drums.
a cord attached to the valve at the bottom of the vessel M, by which the
water in the said vessel is let off when requisite; to the other end of the cord
P is a weight to keep it tight. As soon as the load H has arrived to the
height required, the attendant, by letting go the cord P, allows the lever O to
drop from the position indicated by a red line, in which he had previously been
holding it, thereby tightening the clip O¹ round the break O, and suddenly
arresting the descent of the vessel M. The articles that have been hoisted must
then be removed from the cradle H', and the attendant, by then pulling at
the cord P, allows the water in the vessel M to escape until the weight of the
cradle H preponderates over the vessel M and thereby brings down the cradle
and elevates the vessel M into the position nearest the drums J and K. The
operations are then repeated as before. The above-described water hoist. is
best suited to those situations where the articles to be raised or lowered have
to pass through a greater space than the water by which they are actuated ; but
I wish to point out that a similar contrivance may be advantageously applied
where the contrary is the case; for instance, where a small quantity of water
falls through a great space, it may be made to raise or lower heavy bodies by
attaching the rope from the load H to a small drum, and the rope from the
vessel M to a large one.
In Figure 31 1 have shown how the water hoist may be advantageously

page_text: applied to railway purposes. In this view Q is the waggon to be raised
-supported in the cradle Q2, which is suspended by the cord R; to the other end
of this cord is attached the vessel S, which is filled from the cistern S¹ by the
hose Sº. When the weight of water admitted into the vessel S overcomes the
weight to be raised, the vessel gradually descends into the pit S³ until the
waggon Q is high enough to be run on to the rails Q. The water in the
*vessel S is then allowed to escape by opening a valve or plug connected to the
handle or lever St, until the weight of the cradle Q preponderates, and brings
back the vessel S and cradle Q into the positions shewn in Figure 31. The
attendant must be careful to stop the escape of the water from the vessel S as
soon as the cradle Q begins to descend, otherwise there will be a loss of
power in replacing the water when the next waggon has to be hoisted. The
lever S may be made self-acting, by coming in contact with a projection when
the vessel S is down, which projection would hold the valve open, and as soon
as the vessel begins to rise, the lever, on leaving the projection, would close the
valve. Near the bottom of the pit S3 is an off pipe S for the overflow water.
When water hoists are used in the manner described with reference to
Figure 31, I recommend a constant supply of water to be pumped into the
cistern S', so that the cistern may at all times be sufficiently full to supply the
' vessel S. By this means the water in the cistern will answer the purpose
of a reserved source of power, which can at any time be made available
for raising or lowering railway carriages.
The principal novelty in the pump represented in Figures 32 and 33 con-
'sists in making the barrel to oscillate, and in applying an instrument for
breaking or cutting any substance that might clog the valves or prevent them
from acting. T represents the two standards to which the various parts of the
pump are attached. T' is the crank shaft, and T the driving wheel. U is the
barrel of the pump, which oscillates in stuffing boxes made in the standards T;
and U is the plunger connected above to the crank shaft T. V is a feed-
ball valve, made of gutta percha, and V' is a chamber containing the agitator
or pronged instrument V2, by which any substances that may have been
introduced from the suction pipe V3 may be broken or cut up before it arrives
at the feed valve V. The agitator V2 is made to revolve by a crossed band from
the driving shaft T', as shewn in Figure 33. V is the eduction valve, also
made of gutta percha, leading to the off pipe V. The above pump is par-
ticularly applicable to agricultural purposes, where the fluids to be raised are
frequently mixed with substances in a solid state, which, by having to pass
through the chamber containing the agitator, could not enter into the pump
without being, acted upon by it as above described.

page_text: The pump represented in Figure 34 is very similar in most respects to
other pumps now in use, my improvements in this pump consisting in the
peculiar construction of the barrel W. It has heretofore been customary to
bore out the barrels of pumps to ensure the efficient working of the pump.
bucket, but I now propose to prepare the cores on which pump barrels are
cast with a mixture of salt and lime, or any other suitable case-hardening
substances, so that when the pump barrel is cast, the interior surface shall be-
hard and sufficiently smooth for the proper working of the leather pump
bucket W. By this means I dispense with the operation of turning or boring
the interior of the pump barrel, and obtain a hard and smooth surface. The
other parts of this pump do not require to be particularly described, as they are
clearly shewn in the Drawing.
Another of my improvements in machinery and apparatus for raising and
lowering heavy bodies is represented on Sheet 5 of the annexed Drawings.
This Drawing shews the application of an hydraulic engine, generally known
by the name of a "turbine," to raising and lowering heavy bodies. This
engine is particularly serviceable as a motive power in those places where
water under considerable pressure is supplied in towns. In Figures 35 and 36
A is the turbine or small horizontal water wheel fixed on a vertical shaft B,
ascends and
through the lower portion of which the water from the pipe
escapes out of the openings in the circumference of the wheel A. The pipe C
is in connection with a main pipe supplied with water under suitable pressure,
and the velocity and force of the wheel A depends on the quantity and
pressure of water admitted.
D is a casing, the interior of which is furnished
with blades or ridges against which the water impinges as it escapes from the
openings in the wheel A. Upon the shaft B is fixed a bevel wheel B¹ geering
into the wheel E fixed on the shaft E, to which is also fixed the drum E³.
The rope F is made made fast to and is wound round this drum, and the load
to be raised is attached to the other end of the rope F. When the load to be
raised is comparatively light the wheels B and E, and parts in connection
therewith, can be dispensed with, and the pulley B' used in their stead.
This pulley has a cord G fastened to it and passing round the pullies H¹ and
H, leading to the load to be raised or lowered.
.
The above-described cranes are chiefly intended to be used in warehouses
situated in those towns where the pressure of water on the main pipes is
sufficiently great to give the requisite power, and the consumption of water
may easily be ascertained by causing it to pass through a water meter. The
water, after it leaves the casing D through the off pipe D¹, can be. col-
lected into a cistern from whence it is drawn off as required.
:

page_text: The last of my improvements in machinery and apparatus for raising and
lowering heavy bodies consists in applying the water from the main pipes of
towns, to raising safes or other receptacles containing property from pits or
chambers made to receive them. This machinery and apparatus is represented
in Figure 37, in which view L'is a strong iron 'safe fitting easily into a pit or
chamber L, and furnished below with the ram M, fitting into the cylinder N.
There is a leather packing ring at "N' to make a' water-tight joint in the
ordinary manner. The cylinder N is secured to a suitable foundation which
forms the bottom of the pit L', and water is admitted into the cylinder L
from the pipe O. This pipe is carried through as many of the floors of the
building in which it is erected as may be found convenient, and in each
floor it is furnished with stopcocks, as shewn at 0, 0%, and 03. By opening
these stopcocks, the water, which is supplied under suitable pressure to the
pipe O, is admitted into the cylinder N, and elevates the ram Mand safe L to
the level of the floor Q, 'as shewn in the Drawing, or into the requisite
position for obtaining access to the safe. When the safe has to be lowered
into the pit L the stopcock in the off pipe P has to be opened, thereby
allowing the water in the cylinder N to escape and the safe L to descend until
the top of the safe is level with the floor Q, or as much lower as is required.
By this arrangement safes of great size and weight can be secured against fire
and violence in a most effective and economical manner, and by placing the
stopcocks O', 03, 03, in different floors, of the building no burglars or other
unauthorized persons could let the water on to raise the safe out of the pit
without breaking into all the rooms containing the various stopcocks.
Having now.
described the nature of my Inventions, and the manner in
which I carry them into effect,. I declare that I claim,-.
First, placing intermediate wheels, when such are used in a traversing
truck, so that the peripheries of the wheels on the outside axes project beyond
the perepheries of the wheels on, the adjoining intermediate axes, being those
next in line to them.
Secondly, attaching inclined planes by spiral or other folding joints to a
traversing truck.
Thirdly, a traversing truck so constructed with shelving hearings that a
carriage will be supported thereon by its wheel flanges, and so also, that the
truck may be raised or lowered between the rails, as shown and described.
Fourthly, in combining, a portion of the permanent line of a railway with
other apparatus, so as to lower and raise it for the purposes described.
Fifthly, a traversing truck constructed of horizontal plates of wrought iron,
supported by large external and small internal wheels.

page_text: Sixthly, in a turn-table, constructed as shown and described.
Seventhly, a portable hand press, such as that shown and described.
Eighthly, a double-acting press placed horizontally, such as that shown and
described.
Ninthly, machinery for raising and lowering heavy bodies, such as that
shown and described, by the weight or pressure of water.
Tenthly, in the application of a water hoist to raise or lower railway
carriages.
Eleventhly, a force pump, made to oscillate, and a valve clearer to a pump,
such as are shewn and described; also case-hardening the barrel of a pump, as
described in reference to Figures 32, 33, and 34.
Twelfthly, the application of a turbine to raise or lower heavy bodies by the
force of water supplied from the waterworks of a town. And,
Lastly, the application of water from the water works of a town to raise and
lower safes containing documents or other articles of value.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Dunn, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.