IMPROVEMENTS IN SWITCHES AND CROSSINGS OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Perceval Moses Parsons, of Arthur Street West,
London Bridge, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SWITCHES AND
CROSSINGS OF RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 27th January 1860, and dated the 30th July 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Perceval Moses Parsons
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 80th July 1859.
I, PERCEVAL MOSES PARSONS, of Arthur Street West, London Bridge, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SWITCHES
AND CROSSINGS OF RAILWAYS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in switches and crossings of
railways. In constructing switches according to my Invention, the tongue rails
are connected with the main rails by means of brackets or angle pieces; these
are attached to the rails on each side so as to form joints on which the tongue
rails turn, and the brackets or angle pieces resting on the sleepers also serve
to support the tongue rails. In order to connect the brackets or angle pieces
to the main rails and the tonge rails in forming the joints on which the
tongue rails turn, right and left handed screws are employed; these fastening
are also employed when the joints of the tonge rails are made with fish plates.
In constructing railway crossing according to my Invention, the point rail is
formed of cast steel or of cast iron, and it is combined with ring rails of steel, or
wrought iron steeled on the surface; the steel which it is preferred to employ
is that which is produced directly from cast iron by removing from it a portion
only of its carbon. The point rail and the wing rails are secured together by
right and left-banded screws passing through the whole. The wing rails I make
of the ordinary doubble headed form except that opposite the point where the

page_text: flanges of the wheels do not come in contact with them they are made square
on the inner edge of the table or head, in place of being rounded off at this
edge as is usual; thus a greater surface is obtained to support the wheels in
passing the points. In some cases in place of fixing the wing rails of crossings
as has been usual heretofore, I arrang them to move on joints somewhat in
the manner of the tongue rails of switches, the wing rails being pointed by fish
plates or brackets to the main rails where they run into them, and also con-
nected loosely together by links, the distance between the wing rails opposite
the point being sufficient only to allow the flange of a wheel to pass freely.
The wing rails are so supported that as they move away from the point rail,
they rise above the level of the point, so that a carriage approaching from in
front of the point runs on to the wing rail which is at a distance from the
point; the weight of the carriage causes it to descend to its lowest position
which is in contact with the point, and the two wing rails being linked together,
the same motion removes the other wing rail from the point, and makes way
for the flange of the wheel to pass. If a carriage in approaching from the
front of the point runs on to the wing rail which rests against the point, no
movement of the parts of the crossing takes place. When a carriage
approaches the crossing from behind the point, the flange of the wheel will, if
necessary, move the wing rail to open the crossing. In place of inclined
guides, other methods of supporting the wing rails may be resorted to, so that
the wing rails, when at a distance from the point, may be maintained at a
higher level than when in contact with it, and may be capable when the
weight comes on them of moving to their lowest position which is in contact
with the point. The point rail and wing rails are so formed that the point
rail houses itself under the wing rails when they are brought in contact with
it in a similar manner as the tongue rails of the switches now ordinarily used,
and which are known as Wild's switches; it will be seen that by the arrange-
ment above described a continuous bearing is provided for the wheels of the
carriages in passing crossings. If desired, one line of rails may be kept con-
stantly open by means of a weighted lever or otherwise.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine. in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Perceval Moses Parsons, Her special licence that I, the said Perceval Moses
Parsons, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Perceval Moses Parsons, my executors, administrators, and 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 "Ix-
PROVEMENTS IN SWITCHES AND CROSSINGS OF RAILWAYS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Perceval Moses Parsons, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, 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 Perceval Moses Parsons, 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 thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in switches and crossings of
railways. In constructing switches according to my Invention, the tongue rails
are connected with the main rails by means of brackets or angle pieces; these
are attached to the rails on each side, so as to form joints on which the tongue
rails turn, and the brackets or angle pieces resting on the sleepers also serve
to support the tongue rails. In order to connect the brackets or angle pieces
to the main rails and the tongue rails in forming the joints on which the
tongue rails turn, right and left handed screws are employed.
Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of a line of railway shewing the tongue rails
connected with one of the main rails in the manner above described; Figure 2
is a side view on a larger scale of the joint between the tongue rail and the
main rail; and Figure 3 is a section taken at the line 1, 1, Figure 1. a, a', a²,
are the main rails, and b is a tongue rail connected with one of them; c, c,
are two brackets or angle pieces, one of which is placed on the outer side of
the main rails a and a', at their junction, and the other bracket or angle.
piece c is placed on the inner side of the main rail a², and of the tongue rail b.
Between the two lines of rails there is placed a double bracket or angle

page_text: piece d, the form of which is clearly shown; and the bracket c, c, and d are
by preference connected with the rails by right and left handed screws, as is
shown at e; the two screws are formed on one stem, and the brackets are
tapped with corresponding right and left handed threads. Ordinary bolts, such
as that shown at f, may be used to connect the brackets with the ends of the
main rails a and a¹. The brackets c, c, and dare connected with the sleeper g
by trenails h, h; I also employ right and left handed screws when the joints
of the tongue rails are mado with fish plates. I would remark that I am
aware that right and left handed screws have before been employed to make
a joint between the ends of two main rails, fish plates or other connections
being by such screws secured to the ends of the rails to be connected.
What I claim in respect of this part of my Invention is, the connecting the
tongue rail of a switch with the main rail by means of brackets or angle pieces,
that is to say, pieces connected to the sides of the rails, and also resting on
the sleeper or bed supporting the joint.
I also claim the employment of right and left handed screws in making the
joint between the end of a main rail and a tongue rail.
In constructing railway crossings according to my Invention, the point rail
is formed of cast steel or of cast iron, and it is combined with wing rails of steel,
or wrought iron steeled on the surface. The steel which it is preferred to
employ, on account of cheapness, is that which is produced directly from cast
iron by removing from it a portion only of its carbon, but any kind of steel
wrought or rolled to the required section may be used; the point rail and the
wing rails are secured together by right and left handed screws passing
through the hole. The wing rails I make of the ordinary double-headed form
except that opposite the point where the flanges of the wheels do not come in
contact with them, they are made square on the inner edge of the table or
head in place of being rounded off at this edge as is usual; thus a greater
surface is obtained to support the wheels in passing the points.
Figure 4 is a plan of a crossing constructed according to this part of my
Invention Figure 5 is a section of the same taken at the line 1, 1, Figure 4;
Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9 are transverse sections on a larger scale taken at the
lines 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, and 5, 5, Figure 4, respectively. a, a, are the main
rails; 6 is the point rail which is cast to the form shown in the Drawing,
either in iron, ordinary steel, or steel prepared as above mentioned, as is now
well understood; c, c, are wing rails, by preference of steel; they may be cast
in steel of the sort above mentioned, and afterwards rolled or hammered to
form or the rails may be made in wrought iron as is usual, and then steeled
on the surface by the ordinary process of case-hardening, or by welding a plate

page_text: of steel on the surface; d, d, are the chairs; e, e, chocks or blocks of east
iron placed between the rails to maintain them at the required distances
apart; these may in some cases be cast in one piece with the point; f. f, are
right and left handed screws, which hold together the parts b, c, and e.
What I claim in respect of this part of my Invention is, the combination of
the cast-steel or cast-iron point rail with steel wing rails or wrought-iron
wing rails, steeled on the surface; also the making the immer edge of the table
or head of the wing rail opposite the point square, as herein described, and
the application of right and left handed screws to hold the parts of crossings
together.
In some cases, in place of fixing the wing rails of crossings as has been
usual heretofore, I arrange them to move on joints somewhat in the manner
of the tongue rails of switches. The wing rails being jointed by fish plates or
brackets to the main rails, where they run into them, and also connected
loosely together by links, the distance between the wing rails opposite the
point being sufficient only to allow the flange of a wheel to pass freely. The
wing rails are so supported that, as they move away from the point rail, they
rise above the level of the point, so that if a carriage approaching from in front
of the point, runs on to the wing rail which is at a distance from the point,
the weight of the carriage causes it to descend to its lowest position which is
in contact with the point, and the two wing rails being linked together, the
same motion removes the other wing rail from the point, and makes way for
the flange of the wheel to pass. If a carriage in approaching from the front
of the point runs on to the wing rail which rests against the point, no move-
ment of the parts of the crossing takes place. When a carriage approaches
the crossing from behind the point, the flange of the wheel, if necessary, moves
the wing rail to open the crossing. This may be effected by means of inclined
guides, or in place of inclined guides, other methods of supporting the wing
rails may be resorted to, so that the wing rails, when at a distance from the
point, may be maintained at a higher level than when in contact with it, and
may be capable when the weight comes on them of moving to their lowest
position which is in contact with the point.
The point rail and wing rails are so formed that the point rail houses
itself under the wing rails when they are brought in contact with it, as the
tongue rails of the switches now ordinarily used, and which are known as
Wilds' switches. It will be seen that by the arrangement above described, a
continuous bearing is provided for the wheels of the carriages in passing
crossings. If desired, one line of rails may be kept constantly open by means
of a weighted lever or other contrivance.

page_text: Figure 10 is a plan of a crossing arranged in the manner above described,
and Figures 11, 12, and 13 are sections on an enlarged scale taken at the
lines 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3. a, a, are the ends of two main rails; b is the point;
c, c, the wing rails; they are jointed by fish plates, as is shown, to the main
rails. The wing rails are linked together by links c', c'; d', d, d³, d³, d³, are
chairs; the wing rails are not fixed to these chairs, but rest on inclines d*
formed on them, pieces c* being bolted to the rails to give to them bearing
surfaces of sufficient extent. The chair d³ receives the point b, so as to hold
it securely in position. The action of the crossing has already been described.
A train passing in the direction from A to B, directly it comes on to the wing
rail, causes it to move out of the position in which it is shown in the Drawing,
the weight causing it to descend the inclines on the chair until it bears against
the point, and thus a continuous bearing is obtained for the flanges of the
wheels in passing the point. If afterwards a train passes in the direction
from C to D, it in the same manner moves the wing rails back to the
position in which they are shown in the Drawing, or should a train pass in
this direction when the wing rails are already in the position shown, then a
continuous bearing surface being already provided, no motion of the wing
rails ensues. A train passing in the direction from B to A, when the parts
are in the position shown, opens for itself a passage; the flange of the leading
wheel, coming against the wing rail which is now in contact with the point,
pushes it aside. A train passing in the direction from D to C will not move
the wing rails; the wing rails being linked together necessarily move the one
with the other.
What I claim in respect of this part of my Invention is, the arranging the
wing rails in such a manner as at all times to furnish a continuous bearing,
and still at the same time, and without adjustment, allowing a train to pass in
any direction, the weight of the train coming on the wing rail causing it to
move up to the point, if it is not already in this position.
In witness whereof, I, the said Perceval Moses Parsons, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.