IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF SECURING THE POINTS IN RAILWAY CROSSINGS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Capper, of Alma Hoad, St. Alban's, in the County
of Hertford, Inspector of the Permanent Way of Railways, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF SECURING THE POINTS IN RAILWAY
CROSSINGS."
Sealed the 14th May 1878, and dated the 14th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Capper at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th November 1877.
GEORGE CAPPER, of Alma Road, St. Alban's, in the County of Hertford, Inspector
of the Permanent Way of Railways.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF SECURING
THE POINTS IN RAILWAY CROSSINGS."
The object of my Invention is to form a safe and reliable crossing point for rail-
ways, which shall not be liable to move up and down, and thereby have a tendency
to throw trains, more especially those travelling at high speeds, from off the line.
My Invention consists, firstly, in providing the two wing rails and the point with
two elongated and intermediate jaws, which jaws I extend beyond the extreme end
of the crossing point, more particularly with the object of acting as an extended foot
for the purpose of sustaining firmly the point at such times as trains pass over it;
the jaws have also at such extension between them an open space. Through the
extended jaws and wing rails are passed a bolt or bolts, by means of which at any
desired time the point can be tightened up and compressed, and firmly secured from
moving up and down.
My Invention consists, secondly, in passing a bolt or bolts through the splice or
slice rail of the crossing, such bolt or bolts passing also through the wing rails and
jaws, and securing them from moving up and down, and also preventing the wing
rails from "driving ahead," at present a common occurrence..
My Invention consists, thirdly, in passing a bolt or bolts midway thro' the wing
rails, crossing point, and jaws, and at this place I put a support chair directly under
the crossing point.

page_text: It will be seen from the foregoing description that the bolts, the three sets, as
placed, act in combination (one against the other) so as to give solidity and stability
to the whole crossing, and this constitutes an important feature of my Invention.
I purpose applying fish-plates beneath the heads and nuts of the bolts.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Capper in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th May
1878.
GEORGE CAPPER, of Alma Road, St. Alban's, in the County of Hertford, Inspector
of the Permanent Way of Railways. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF SECURING
THE POINTS IN RAILWAY CROSSINGS."
"
The object of my Invention is to form a safe and reliable crossing point for rail-
ways, which shall not be liable to move up and down, and thereby have a tendency
to throw trains, more especially those travelling at high speeds, from off the line.
I. My Invention consists, firstly, in providing the two wing rails and the point
with two elongated and intermediate jaws, which jaws I extend beyond the extreme
end of the crossing point, more particularly with the object of acting as an extended
foot for the purpose of sustaining firmly the point at such times as trains pass over
it; the jaws also at such extension between them have an open space. Through the
extended jaws and wing rails are passed a bolt or bolts, by means of which at any
desired time the point can be tightened up and compressed, and firmly secured from
moving up and down.
II. My Invention consists, secondly, in passing a bolt or bolts through the splice
or slice rail of the crossing, such bolt or bolts passing also through the wing rails and
jaws, and securing them from moving up and down, and also preventing the wing
rails from driving ahead, at present a common occurrence.
III. My Invention consists, thirdly, in also passing a bolt or bolts midway
through the wing rails, crossing point, and jaws, and at this place I put a support
chair directly under the crossing point.
IV. It will be seen from the foregoing description that the bolts, the three sets, as
placed, act in combination one against the other, so as to give solidity and stability
to the whole crossing, and this constitutes an important feature of my Invention.
V. I purpose applying fish-plates beneath the heads and nuts of the bolts.
In order that the nature of my said Invention, and the means by which the same
is to be carried practically into effect may be distinctly described and ascertained,
this Specification is accompanied by a Sheet of Drawings having figures and letters
of reference marked thereupon, the like letter being used to denote a similar or
corresponding part in each Figures.
VI. In these Drawings Figure 1 shows the application of my Invention to an
acute crossing; Figure 2.is a section on the lines A, B; and Figure 3, à section on
the lines C, D, of Figure 1.

page_text: The wing rails are marked a, a; the points, b, b¹, the bolts (through the jaws c, c,
point b, b', and wing rails a, a,) are marked d, d. The bolts through the slice rail
are marked d¹, d', and the bolts through the wing rails a, a, crossing point b, b', and
jaws where the support chair e, e, comes are marked d², d².
The space mentioned herein-before in Section I. of this Specification, as being left
between the extended portion of the jaws c, c, is marked 8.
Figure 4.shows the application of my Invention to an obtuse crossing, the parts
being marked relatively the same.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be carried into effect, I wish it to be understood
that what I claim as of my Invention and desire to secure by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is, the means of firmly, solidly, and stably securing the
points in railway crossings, all as described in this Specification (in the sections
marked I., II., III., IV., V., and VI.), and illustrated in the Drawings accompanying
the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Capper, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight
Witnesses,
M. A. SOUL.
THO³. LEWIS.
G. CAPPER. (LS.)