A Swing Bridge for Railways, for Conveying Luggage and the like from Platform to Platform.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Swing Bridge for Railways, for Conveying Luggage and the like
from Platform to Platform.
I, JOHN MACKENZIE, of the Post Office, Kingussie, in the County of Inverness,
North Britian, Gentleman, 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 :—
This invention relates to a swing bridge for railways, which bridge is arranged
level or approximately so with the platforms so that passengers' luggage and the
like, can be readily wheeled or otherwise conveyed by means of the said bridge from
platform to platform. By my said invention labour is saved, and the transference
of luggage and the like, from platform to platform is effected quickly.
But in order that my invention may be more readily understood and easily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the same with reforence to the accompanying
drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan, Figuro 2 a cross section and Figure 3a side view of one method
of carrying out my said invention, the parts being shewn in the position taken by
them when the bridge is in use.
And Figures 4 and 5 are detail views of modifications of the same.
I employ two swinging platforms, wings or arms A each of which is mounted on
the top ends of upright spindles or shafts B which work in suitable bearings b
formed in or provided in the framework of the platform C, the said bearings
being preferably composed of one bottom bearing and one or more eyelet or other
top bearings which are sunk in the framework or masonry of the platform C. The
said wings or arms A when in their normal position lie in recessed portions D of
the platform C, said portions being provided with a metal or other soleplate E and
covered by metal or other plates El preferably mounted in suitable frames e. The
beds, floors or soleplates E of the said recessed portions D may also be provided
with one or more friction rollers so as to ensure the wings or arms A being swung
easily into place.
The swinging of the said arms or wings A may be effected by various means,
though I prefer to employ an arrangement of levers, cranks and rods. as shown in
the drawings, that is to say I mount, on the lower end of each of the upright
spindles or shafts B: a crank or lever arm G to which is attached the one end of
an adjustable connecting rod H the other end of which is attached to the one arm
of a pivotted bell crank lever J the other arm of which is connected to the one end
of a link or arin K the other ends of both of the said links K being connected to
the main operating rod L which as well as the connecting rods H is provided with
one or more adjustable right and left hand screw nuts M. The bell crank levers J
may be provided with one or more stops ; so as to prevent them overreaching.
The main operating rod L is actuated from the cabin, signal box or other place by
means of an upright spindle or rod N shewn in detail view Figure 4, the lower
end of which is connected to the end of rod L by means of bell cranks n'and
adjustable rod or rods n². The upper end of the said rod N is connected to the
arm of a pivotted lever N' the other end a³ of which is preferably formed as a spür
or toothed quadrant into which gears a correspondingly toothed quadrant, or wheel'n',
the spindle or shaft of which has keyed or otherwise mounted on it the operating
lever P the said lever P being suitably connected to the interlocking frame or bar
of the signal operating mechanism, so that if line was signalled clear the bridge
conld not be used and rice versa.
In order to support the outer ends of the-wings-A-I employ a central support or

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platform in the six foot way having one or more uprights and a central filling in
piece 9: the said platform has also a normal stop q and if desired one or more
weighted or other automatically acting catches which come into action when the
bridge is in a position across the lines. The wings or arms A are provided with
raised edges a, or with, sunk tracks a' or with both so. as 'to admit of a sure and safe
run for the truck or barrow, also they are provided with anitable means at their
rear or inner ends so as to enable the wheels of the barrow or truck to. enter
and leave the bridge easily from both platforms C: also if desired automatic acting
stops may be provided at the outer ends of the wings A for retaining them in their
closed positions.
!
The whole of the foregoing cranks, rods, etc., may if desired be enclosed within
suitably covered boxes so as to keep them clean and in good order.
As a modification I may so mount the arms or wings. A so as to be capable of
moving away from each other in opposite directions (as shewn in detail plan Figure 5)
that is to say ench wing A would more so as to close the bridge in the same directio:i
as the train goes forward on the line crossed by the respective wings A. The
arrangement of the cranks and levers being as shewn in Figure 5, that is to say, I
mount the crank G of the one upright spindle or shaft B of the one wing A in the
reverse manner to the opposite wings' crank G, and I also correspondingly lengthen
the arms of the pivotted bell crank lever J for actuating the same or suitably bend
the connecting rod H as shown at h, so as to cause the wings to move in the direction
of the arrows. In this case the central support Q may be provided with two normal
stopsig and automatic.catches.
As a further modification I may pivot the bridge on a fixed central support at
a level with the platforms; the said support being in the middle of the six
foot way. The arrangement being such that when the bridge is not required it
would be swung round into a position parallel with the lines and then tilted up edge-
ways so as to leave as much room in the six foot way as possible. The swinging
round and tilting of the bridge may be effected by any suitable arrangement.or
arrangements of levers, cranks, etc.
Various other modifications may be employed for lifting, swinging or tilting the
bridge wing or wings out of the way of the lines, as for example the, bridge sides
may be made collapsible or capable of being folded or tilted upwards in the
six foot way, by any suitable means. Various, other arrangements of operating
mechanism may be employed in the signal box, cabin, or elsewhere. If desired
may provide means whereby the approaching train causes the bridge to be opened
to allow the train to pass.
Having now particularly described and' ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1st. The arrangement for transferring luggage and the like; from one railway
platform to another, consisting of the swinging wings or arms A which when, in
peration form a level bridge across the rails substantially as hereinbefore described
and shown in the accompanying, drawings..
2nd. The arrangement whereby the bridge may be operated from the cabin,
signal box or other place, substantially as hereinbefore desoribed and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
3rd. The general arrangement, construction and combination of parts constituting
the swing bridge for railways for conveying luggage and the like from platform to
platform, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying
drawings..
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11 7
JOHNSONS,
115 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.