IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN PARTS OF RAILWAYS TO FACILITATE THE CROSSING OF NAVIGABLE RIVERS AND CANALS "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Newall Molesworth-Hepworth of Manchester
in the County of Lancaster. for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN PARTS OF RAILWAYS TO FACILITATE THE CROSSING
OF NAVIGABLE RIVERS AND CANALS "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Newall Molesworth-
Hepworth at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th February
1883.
EDWARD NEWALL MOLESWORTH-HEPWORTH of Manchester in the County of
Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN PARTS OF RAILWAYS
TO FACILITATE THE CROSSING OF NAVIGABLE RIVERS AND CANALS
"
The object of this invention is to enable a railway to cross a navigable river or
canal without the necessity for raising the level of the permanent way above the
height of an ordinary bridge, and without interfering with the passage of ships or
vessels of a large size at the same time that the permanent way is always open for
traffic and the danger and other evils attendant upon ordinary swing-bridges or
draw bridges are remedied..
In carrying out these objects I propose that a certain distance on each side of
the river or canal the railway shall be caused to diverge to the right and left so
as to form (as it were) two loop lines which shall cross the river or canal at such a
distance apart from each other as to leave a basin or section of the river or canal
between them of sufficient dimensions to admit of one or more ships or vessels of
the largest size.
After having crossed the river or canal the two loop lines will then be caused to
converge again until they unite in a continuation of the main lines.
The two loop lines are each provided at the point where they cross the river or
canal with a swing-bridge or draw-bridge and at the points where they diverge
and converge again from and to the main line they are provided with switching
points for directing the trains onto either the upper or lower loop line.

page_text: Supposing now (for example) that a vessel were descending the river and that
an up or down train (or both even) were due at about the same time the pointsmen
at the diverging points would switch all trains, whether up or down the line onto
the lower loop line and signal to the man at the swing or draw bridge on the
upper loop line that they had done so.
Such being the system on which I propose to construct and work this portion of
a railway I will now describe the invention by means of which such system is
rendered practicable and safe.
According to my invention I propose to connect the "switches" (or some con-
venient part of the mechanism by which they are worked) to bolts at the swing or
draw bridges in such a way that neither of the said bridges can be opened by the
bridgeman till its bolt has been withdrawn or released by the switch man, and
that the moving over of the switches so as to direct the approaching trains over
one bridge shall withdraw or release the bolt from the other bridge which can then
(and then only) be opened by the bridge-man.
Having received the signal from the switch man that the switches were rightly
arranged for the lower loop line the bridgeman over the upper loop line could then
be at liberty to open his swing or draw bridge and allow the vessel or vessels to
pass into the section or basin between the two loop lines and having done so he
closes his swing or draw bridge and signals to the pointsmen that he has done so.
The latter then switch all trains onto the upper loop line, and the bridge man at
the lower loop line having received the signal and his bridge being unlocked by the
reverse movement of the switches, can then open his bridge and allow the vessel or
vessels to pass through to the lower part of the river and thus the traffic upon the
railway and the river can be carried on simultaneously without interfering with
each other and without danger of accident.
The switching points may be of the ordinary construction but I prefer to make
them according to an invention for which I have obtained Letters Patent N° 5587
dated November 24th 1882, as they are better adapted to work in connection with
my present invention.
The handles under the control of the pointsman and the bridge-men being as
above stated provided with locking levers so arranged, that the pointsmen cannot
signal to the bridgemen nor unlock either bridge until after they have both worked
their switches; (the bridges being double locked) and the bridgemen cannot open
their respective bridges, until they have received the signals from both pointsinen
that the switches are in the right position, and that the pointsmen have unlocked
the levers of the bridge to be opened.
Thus it will be evident that one or other of the loop lines will always be open
for through traffic on the railway, whilst at the same time any vessel or vessels
may pass the two swing or draw bridges one after the other in either direction
without interfering with the traffic on the railway.
And by the use of the locking levers and the system of signalling as above
described all danger of a train being passed onto one of the loop lines whilst its
respective bridge is open is avoided.
The distance from the river or canal where the loop lines diverge and their
distance apart where they cross the river or canal will depend upon the exigencies
of each particular case but they must in all cases be such that the resulting curve
shall be gradual and not too sudden.
It will be evident to any Engineer conversant with such subjects that the
unlocking of the bridges by the movement of the switches at the diverging points,
and the opening of the bridges themselves may be effected in a variety of ways
and by mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic means; but I prefer to work the
bridges each by a separate hydraulic Engine both actuated from a single accumulator
and so to arrange the valves admitting the water to the same that only one engine
can be worked at a time one valve being closed by the same action that opens the
other; the handle that works these two valves being fast locked in its position
during the whole time that either bridge is away from its position by the action of

page_text: the bridge turning, and being held in that position until the bridge is put back
again when only it can be released.
Thus the power can only be communicated to one bridge at a time and only
transferred from one to the other at such a time as both bridges are in a closed
position, although the power can be shut off from both at any time by the valve on
the main pipe leading from the accumulator.
The valve lever should be so connected with the bolt worked or released by the
switches (as above explained) that the valve lever cannot be moved so as to put
either hydraulic engine into operation, till the bolt of its respective bridge has been
withdrawn.
I would here remark that I do not claim as a patentable invention the mere
duplication of the line of railway so as to pass a canal or river by two swing or
draw bridges at a certain distance apart from each other, and to open or close these
bridges alternately so that the traffic upon the canal or river and upon the railway
can be carried on at the same time without interruption, and without the necessity
for raising the railway and erecting high level bridges although this is a most
necessary and important part of the invention, but the principal novel feature of
my invention consists in connecting the "switching points" of the railway (at the
points of divergence) with the locking apparatus of the swing or draw bridges in
such a way that it will be impossible to divert the train over either bridge until
that particular bridge has been safely locked in position; and that it will be
impossible to unlock and open either bridge until the "switching points" have
been so moved as to direct the train over the other bridge.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Newall Molesworth-Hepworth in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th August 1883.
EDWARD NEWALL MOLESWORTH-HEPWORTH of Manchester in the County of
Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN PARTS OF RAILWAYS
TO FACILITATE THE CROSSING OF NAVIGABLE RIVERS AND CANALS"
The object of this invention is to enable a railway to cross a navigable river or
canal without the necessity for raising the level of the permanent way above the
height of an ordinary bridge and without interfering with the passage of ships or
vessels of a large size at the same time that the permanent way is always open for
traffic and the danger and other evils attendant upon ordinary swing bridges or
draw bridges are remedied.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect and in order that the same may be clearly understood I
have annexed hereunto a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof and have marked
the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof.
In carrying out these objects I propose that a certain distance on each side of the
river or canal a, a Fig. 1 of the annexed drawings, the railway b, b shall be caused
to diverge to the right and left so as to form (as it were) two loop lines b' and b,
which shall cross the river or canal a, a at such a distance apart from each other
as to leave a basin or section a¹, a' of the river or canal between them of sufficient
dimensions to admit of one or more ships or vessels of the largest size.
After having crossed the river or canal the two loop lines will then be caused to
converge again until they unite in a continuation of the main lines. The two loop
lines 6, and 6 are each provided at the point where they cross the river or canal
with a swing-bridge c, c¹ see also Fig. 2 (or a draw bridge) and at the points where
they diverge and converge again from and to the main line they are provided
with switching points d, d for directing the trains onto either the upper or lower
loop line.
Supposing now (for example) that a vessel were descending the river and that
an up or down train (or both even) were due at about the same time the pointsmen
at the diverging points d, d would switch all trains whether up or down the line
onto the lower loop line 6" and signal to the man at the swing or draw bridge c
on the upper loop line that they had done so.
Such being the system on which I propose to construct and work this portion of
a railway I will now describe the invention by means of which such system is
rendered practicable and safe.
According to my invention I propose to connect the "switches" d, d (or some
convenient part of the mechanism by which they are worked) to bolts or levers e, e
at the swing or draw bridges, in such a way that the switch man cannot move his
switches until the corresponding bridge has been fixed in proper position, and that
the moving over of the switches so as to direct the approaching trains over one
bridge shall withdraw or release a bolt in a similar manner from the other bridge
which can then (and then only) be opened by the bridge man.
Having received the signal from the switch man that the switches were rightly
arranged for the lower loop line the bridgeman could then be at liberty to open the
upper or north swing bridge c and allow the vessel or vessels to pass into the
section or basin a, a¹ between the two loop lines and having done so he closes his

page_text: swing bridge c and signals to the pointsman that he has done so. The latter then
switches all trains onto the upper loop line 6', 6' and the bridgeman having
received the signal, and the lower or south bridge c' being unlocked by the reverse
movement of the switches, he can then open this bridge and allow the vessel or
vessels to pass through to the lower part of the river, or the same effect may be
produced by so arranging the interlocking system that the switch is always locked
to the bridge which is in use, and thus the traffic upon the railway and the river
can be carried on simultaneously without interfering with each other and without
danger of accident
The switching points may be of the ordinary construction but I prefer to make
them according to an invention for which I have obtained Letters Patent N° 5587.
dated November 24th 1882, as they are better adapted to work in connection with
my present invention
The handles under the central of the pointsmen and the bridge-man being as
above stated provided with locking levers so arranged, that the pointsmen cannot
signal to the bridgeman nor unlock either bridge until after they have both worked
their switches; (the bridges being double locked) and the bridgeman cannot open
either of the bridges until he has received the signals from both pointsmen that the
switches are in the right position, and that the pointsmen have unlocked the levers
of the bridge to be opened.
Thus it will be evident that one or other of the loop lines will always be open
for through traffic on the railway, whilst at the same time any vessel or vessels
may pass the two swing (or draw) bridges one after the other in either direction
without interfering with the traffic on the railway.
And by the use of the locking levers and the system of signalling as above
described all danger of a train being passed onto one of the loop lines whilst its
respective bridge is open is avoided.
The distance from the river or canal where the loop lines diverge and their
distance apart where they cross the river or canal will depend upon the exigencies
of each particular case but they must in all cases be such that the resulting curve
shall be gradual and not too sudden.
It will be evident to any engineer conversant with such subjects that the
unlocking of the bridges by the movement of the switches at the diverging points,
and the opening of the bridges themselves may be effected in a variety of ways,
and by mechanical hydraulic or pneumatic means; but I prefer to carry each
bridge upon a central hydraulic ram f, f (see Fig. 2) working in a hydraulic
cylinder g, g fixed in a central pier gx, g*, both rams being actuated from a single
accumulator h, h (see Fig. 1 and also Fig. 3. horizontal section) and so to construct
the valve admitting water to the same that only one ram can be worked at a time.
This may be constructed as shown at Fig 4. i, i being the passage from the
accumulator, k, I the passage to the north bridge ram. 1, the passage to the south
bridge ram, and m, m the escape which I prefer to make with a reduced opening so
as to lower the bridge slowly into its bed.
In this case the bridges when closed rest in recesses in the masonry and neither
of them can be turned until it has been raised from its bed by the action of the
rams, making each one practically a permanent bridge when in use, and as only
one ram can be in action at once it follows that the two bridges cannot by any
possibility be raised at the same time. The turning of the bridge when raised may
be effected by a small engine n, n and bevil gearing o, o or in any other convenient
manner. Thus the power can only be communicated to one bridge at a time and
only transferred from one to the other at such a time as both bridges are in a
closed position, although the power can be shut off from both at any time by
turning the valve to the dead point.
The valve lever should be provided with a stop so situated that the lever can
only be turned a certain distance in one direction, so that after raising one bridge
it must be lowered before raising the other, and the lever must be so connected
with the bolt worked or released by the switches (as above explained) that the

page_text: valve lever cannot be moved so as to put either hydraulic ram into operation till
the bolt of its respective bridge has been withdrawn.
I would here remark that I do not claim as a patentable invention the mere
duplication of the line of railway so as to pass a canal or river by two swing or
draw bridges at a certain distance apart from each other and to open or close these
bridges alternately so that the traffic upon the canal or river and upon the railway
can be carried on at the same time without interruption, and without the necessity
for raising the railway and erecting high level bridges although this is a most
necessary and important part of my invention; but the principal novel features
and what I claim as my invention is connecting the switching "points" of the
railway (at the points of divergence) with the locking apparatus of the swing or
draw bridges in such a way that it will be impossible to divert the train over
either bridge until that particular bridge has been safely locked in position; and
that it will be impossible to unlock and open either bridge until the "switching
points have been so moved as to direct the train over the other bridge
substantially in the manner herein before described.
In witness whereof I the said Edward Newall Molesworth-Hepworth have
hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of August in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty three
E N. MOLESWORTH-HEPWORTH (L.S.)