IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
ADJUSTING THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS." A communication from
abroad by Jean Baptiste Mencière, of Coutras, in the Republic of France.
Sealed the 3rd October 1879, and dated the 17th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1879.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS." A
communication from abroad by Jean Baptiste Mencière, of Coutras, in the Republic
of France:
The Invention consists in constructing a single-armed curved lever turning at one
end on a horizontal axis fixed to a shoe or plate of metal strengthened by angle-
irons or otherwise, while the other end of the lever forms or carries the nut for a
screw spindle placed nearly at a right angle to the lever, held at its lower end in a
slot on the said shoe, and provided at its upper end with a suitable head so as to
enable the same to be turned by hand by means of a key or lever, in order to
screw up the nut on the spindle, thereby raising the lever to which it is attached.
The upper surface of the lever which supports the rail to be elevated is curved in
such a manner as to avoid any sliding of the rail, and the lower surface of the shoe
is made convex so as to slide readily under the rail. The length of the screwed
spindle is sufficient to allow the elevator to be used in the construction of new
lines as well as for re-adjusting old ones, and the slot in which the lower end is
movable approximately parallel to the bearing surface of the shoe is long enough to
keep the spindle nearly radial to the shoe.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
October 1879.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
communication from abroad by Jean Baptiste Mencière, of Coutras, in the Republic
of France.
A
The Invention relates to a tool for adjusting the permanent way of railways, and
may be used in the construction of new lines as well as for re-adjusting old lines.
In describing the Invention reference will be had to the accompanying Drawings,
which show an example of the new tool, Fig. 1 being a plan; Fig. 2, a cross
section C, D; and Fig. 3, a longitudinal section of the adjuster; while Fig. 4 shows
a key which forms an accessory to the tool. The adjuster consists of a single
armed curved lever J turning at one end on a horizontal axis fixed to a shoe or
plate of sheet metal A strengthened by angle irons T, while the other end of the
lever forms the nut for a screw spindle K placed nearly at a right angle to the
lever, held at its lower end in a slot on the said shoe, and provided at its upper end
with a suitable head so as to enable the same to be turned by means of a key or
lever (Fig. 4), in order to raise the lever to which the nut is attached or of which
it forms a part. The upper surface of the lever which supports the rail to be
elevated is curved in such a manner as to avoid any sliding of the rail, and the
lower surface of the shoe is made convex so as to slide readily under the rail; B is
a washer; C, a guide; D, a steel plate between A and C; H, a wedge; a, b, is the
travel of the spindle K (=146 millimeters); c, d, the length of the slot (=180
millim.); o, g, h, the are described by the axis of the spindle; m, m³, the inner, and
m³, m³, the outer end of the lever face; n, n¹, the axis of the rail (first position),
and n², n³, the axis of the rail (second position). The Drawings give also the most
convenient dimensions for the various parts of the tool (in millim.). The tool can
be worked by one or two men. After removing with a space some earth from the
base of the rail where the tool is to be applied, the latter is inserted under the rail
and the spindle turned by means of the key until the rail has reached the required
height. Where the soil is very soft a plank may be placed under the shoe.
CLAIMS.
1. The combination of a curved shoe with a hinged lever and a screw spindle,
substantially as described and illustrated and for the purpose set forth.
2. The construction of the shoe with a plate A of sheet metal, and a pair of angle
irons T, substantially as described and illustrated.
3. The screw spindle K guided at the bottom in a slot of the shoe provided with
a head for the application of a key, and turning either in the end of the lever or
in a metal bush fixed to the latter, substantially as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of October, A.D. 1879.
TT T HADDAN
T
H. J. HADDAN
표
T