Improvements in and pertaining to Tramway Points.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and pertaining to Tramway Points.
We, ROBERT ABBOTT HADFIELD, of the Grove, Endcliffe Vale Road, Sheffield,
in the County of York, Steel Manufacturer, and ALEXANDER GEORGE MACKENZIE
JACK, of Fir Vale House, Sheffield aforesaid, Steel Works Manager, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to tramway points of the kind in which there is
combined with a stationary casting and a tongue capable of limited radial move-
ment within a hollow or recess (hereinafter called "the hollow") formed in
said casting, a spring bolt, plunger or part, so formed as to allow the thin end
(hereinafter called the "free" end) of the tongue to pass from either side to
the other of the hollow, but to prevent the said end of the tongue remaining
in an intermediate position.
We so construct such points that, without the use of special bolts, the tongue
is, with the aid of the spring bolt, prevented from rising, but can, by pushing
back the spring bolt, be readily taken out of the hollow, and as readily replaced.
The general form of the tongue may resemble that ordinarily adopted, but at
each extremity there is a lug-like extension or projection, that at the wider end
of the tongue being arranged to enter a recess formed to receive it in the stationary
casting, and that at the free end being arranged so as to be overlapped when
in the central position, by an appropriately-formed portion of the spring bolt,
and in lateral positions of the free end of the tongue to be overlapped by portions
of the stationary casting.
The spring bolt works in an appropriately-shaped chamber formed for it in
the stationary casting; beyond that end of this chamber next the free end of
the tongue the upper portion of the casting is formed at each side with a short
horizontal (or approximately horizontal) wall-like projecting part, such that
there is left at each side between such wall-like part and the surface on which
the bottom of the tongue rests, a recess to receive the projection of the free end
of the tongue, and thus prevent its rising when in either of its lateral positions.
The construction is such that the tongue can he readily removed from the
hollow by pushing back the spring bolt, placing the free end of the tongue in
line with the centre of the bolt, and then lifting that end of the tongue.
A hollow or recess may be provided in the tongue to receive a hook or instru-
ment by which the more easily to lift the tongue.
An arrangement to facilitate the moving back of the spring bolt comprises
a hole in the casting, a lever with a stud or pin adapted to enter the hole in the
casting. and a short rod or pusher jointed to the lower end of the lever. so that
when this appliance is in position for use, by pulling the long arm of the lever
its shorter arm will be caused to press the pusher against the front end of the
spring bolt, and push it backward.

page_text: When the tongue has been withdrawn from the hollow, the bolt can also be
readily withdrawn and replaced.
The bolt may be formed with a hole to receive a hook or tool for facilitating
its withdrawal.
The details of construction may be more or less varied to suit circumstances.
In the construction of tramway points according to our invention, we in some
cases use, in combination with a stationary casting made of cast steel, a tongue
made of what is commercially known as manganese steel" (a product manu-
factured by Hadfield's Steel Foundry Co. Limited, Sheffield).
66
In other cases, we make both the stationary casting and the tongue of such
manganese steel.
In other cases again, we make the stationary casting of manganese steel as
aforesaid, and use, in combination therewith, a tongue made of ordinary carbon
steel, cast or forged.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.
Improvements in and pertaining to Tramway Points.
We, ROBERT ABBOTT HADFIELD, of the Grove, Endcliffe Vale Road, Sheffield,
in the County of York, Stee! Manufacturer, and ALEXANDER GEORGE MACKENZIE
JACK, of Fir Vale House, Sheffield aforesaid, Steel Works Manager, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has reference to tramway points of the kind in which there is
combined with a stationary casting and a tongue capable of limited radial move-
ment within a hollow or recess (hereinafter called "the hollow") formed in
said casting, a spring bolt, plunger or part, so formed as to allow the thin end
(hereinafter called the "free" end) of the tongue to pass from either side to
the other of the hollow, but to prevent the said end of the tongue remaining
in an intermediate position.
We so construct such points that, without the use of special bolts, the tongue
is, with the aid of the spring bolt, prevented from rising, but can, by pushing
back the spring bolt, be readily taken out of the hollow, and as readily replaced.
The general form of the tongue may resemble that ordinarily adopted, but at
each extremity there is a lug-like extension or projection, that at the wider end
of the tongue being arranged to enter a recess formed to receive it in the stationary
casting, and that at the free end being arranged so as to be overlapped when
in the central position, by an appropriately-formed portion of the spring bolt,
and in lateral positions of the free end of the tongue to be overlapped by portions
of the stationary casting.
The spring bolt works in an appropriately-shaped chamber formed for it in
the stationary casting; beyond that end of this chamber next the free end of
the tongue the upper portion of the casting is formed at each side with a short
horizontal (or approximately horizontal) wall-like projecting part, such that
there is left at each side between such wall-like part and the surface on which
h

page_text: the bottom of the tongue rests, a recess to receive the projection of the free end
of the tongue, and thus prevent its rising when in either of its lateral positions.
The construction is such that the tongue can be readily removed from the
hollow by pushing back the spring bolt, placing the free end of the tongue in
line with the centre of the bolt, and then lifting that end of the tongue.
A hollow or recess may be provided in the tongue to receive a hook or instru-
ment by which the more easily to lift the tongue.
An arrangement to facilitate the moving back of the spring bolt comprises
a hole in the casting, a lever with a stud or pin adapted to enter the hole in the
casting, and a short rod or pusher jointed to the lower end of the lever, so that
when this appliance is in position for use, by pulling the long arm of the lever
its shorter arm will be caused to press the pusher against the front end of the
spring bolt, and push it backward.
When the tongue has been withdrawn from the hollow, the bolt can also be
readily withdrawn and replaced.
The bolt may be formed with a hole to receive a hook or tool for facilitating
its withdrawal.
The details of construction may be more or less varied to suit circumstances.
In the construction of tramway points according to our invention, we in some
cases use, in combination with a stationary casting made of cast steel, a tongue
made of what is commercially known as manganese steel' (manu-
factured by Hadfield's Steel Foundry Co. Limited, Sheffield).
"
"
In other cases, we make both the stationary casting and the tongue of such
manganese steel.
In other cases again, we make the stationary casting of manganese steel as
aforesaid, and use, in combination therewith, a tongue made of ordinary carbon
steel, cast or forged.
Referring to the accompanying illustrative drawings,
Figs. 1 and 1 together, show in side elevation,
Figs. 2 and 2 together, shown in plan, and
Fig. 3 shows in cross section on the line A, A, of Fig. 2, a tramway point
constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 4 is a detail view hereinafter referred to.
is a stationary casting formed with a hollow in which works a tongue
whose free end is capable of radial movement from side to side within the said
hollow b. is a bolt that is able to move endwise within a chamber e formed
in the casting a and is constantly pressed towards the orifice of the chamber o
by a spring flocated between the rear end of the bolt and the inner end of the
chamber. The bolt is at its front end formed with an extension g the forward or
outer edge of which has a cam-like surface g₁ that is normally caused to bear
against the free end c¹ of the tongue c, the cam-like formation being such as to
allow the said free end of the tongue to pass from either side to the other of the
hollow but to prevent it remaining in an intermediate position.
Each extremity of the tongue c is formed with a lug-like extension, the lug h
at the wider end of the tongue being arranged to enter a recess t formed in
the casting a, and the lug m at the free end of the tongue, entering, when in
either of the lateral positions, one or other of two recesses n formed one at each
side of the hollow between short horizontal wall-like projecting portions o
of the casting a and the surface of the casting on which the bottom of the tongue
rests. In the example shown, the overlapping portions o are formed by the
front end of the horizontal top wall of the bolt chamber e and are separated by
a gap o¹ of a size that will admit of the passage therethrough of the lug m, and
the side portions of the extension g of the bolt d extend under the horizontal
portions and over the lug m. As will be seen, by the construction described,
when the tongue c is in its central position, the lug m is overlapped by the
extension of the bolt, whilst when the tongue is in either of its latera!
positions the said lug m is overlapped by the corresponding horizontal portions o

page_text: of the casting, and, in the example shown, by the extension g so that, the tongue
is in all positions prevented from rising. The tongue c can however, when
desired, be readily removed from the hollow g by pushing back the bolt d against
the action of its spring f, placing the free end of the tongue in line with the
centre of the bolt d, and then lifting that end of the tongue. In the example
shown the free end of the tongue is formed with a hole p to receive a hook
or other instrument by which the tongue can be more easily lifted.
Fig. 4 shows, in perspective, an appliance to facilitate the moving back of
the bolt e. This appliance (which will often be found convenient, though its
use is not essential) comprises a lever q provided with a lateral stud or pin r
and a short rod or pusher & jointed by a pint to the lower end of the lever 7.
In Figure 1, the dot and dash lines indicate the appliance in position for use.
The pin on the lever q is placed in a hole u formed in the casting at one side
of the hollow b, in which position, by pulling the long arm of the lever 7 its
shorter arm will be caused to press the pusher s against the front end of the
bolt and push the bolt backward against the action of the spring f. If, as
shown in Fig. 2, the free end of the tongue is in that lateral position wherein
the hole is covered by the tongue, the free end c¹ of the tongue must be moved
over to its other lateral position before the appliance for moving back the spring
bolt can be placed in position. Or a hole u may be provided in each of the
side walls of the hollow in which case the bolt moving appliance could be inserted
in whichever lateral position the tongue may be.
When the tongue has been lifted from the hollow b, the bolt d and its
spring can also be readily withdrawn from the chamber o and as readily
replaced. In the example shown the bolt d is formed with a hole to facilitate
its withdrawal
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A tramway point of the kind herein referred to, wherein the casting and
the tongue are so formed and arranged in conjunction with a spring bolt that
the tongue will be kept in place so as to be prevented from rising without the
use of special bolts but can by pushing back the spring bolt, be readily removed
from the casting and as readily replaced, substantially as described.
2. A tramway point of the kind referred to in the preceding claim, in which
the tongue is formed at each extremity with a lug-like extension, that at the
wider end being arranged to enter a recess in the stationary casting and that at
the other or free end being arranged so as to be overlapped by an appropriately
. formed portion of the spring bolt, substantially as described.
3. A tramway point of the kind specified in the preceding claims wherein
the lug on the free end of the tongue is arranged to be overlapped and prevented
from rising by an appropriately formed portion of the spring bolt when the
tongue is in its central position and to be overlapped and prevented from
rising by one or other of two horizontal projecting parts of the stationary casting
when the tongue is in one or other of its lateral positions, the construction more-
over being such that the tongue can be readily removed from the hollow in the
point casting by pushing back the spring bolt, placing the free end of the
tongue in line with the centre of the bolt, and then lifting that end of the tongue,
substantially as described.
4. A tramway point of the kind herein referred to, wherein the stationary
body is constructed of cast steel and the tongue of what is commercially known
as manganese steel (Hadfield's). substantially as described.
5. Tramway points of the kind referred to wherein both the stationary body
and the tongue are constructed of manganese steel as aforesaid, substantially as
described.
6. A tramway point of the kind referred to, wherein the stationary casting is

page_text: constructed of manganese steel, as aforesaid, and the tongue of ordinary carbon
steel, cast or forged, substantially as described.
7. The improved tramway point, constructed, arranged and operating sub-
stantially as herein before described with reference to and shown in the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of August 1900.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.