A New or Improved Apparatus for Preventing Locomotives and Vehicles from Leaving the Rails.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 17th Feb., 1894
עם UTI
A New or Improved Apparatus for Preventing Locomotives and
Vehicles from Leaving the Rails.
I, MATTHEW BELK, of Palmerston North, in the Colony of New Zealand..
Feather-dyer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
The objects of my invention are to provide a simple method and apparatus
whereby locomotives and carriages can be prevented from leaving the rails or
permanent way when traversing curves or meeting with obstructions or when
subjected to unusual shocks or collisions.
It is well known that in many cases and from various causes locomotives and
carriages leave the rails and thus give rise to serious accidents and that this is in
many cases caused by obstructions being accidentally or purposely placed on the
rails, also that in the case of passing round curves there is at high speeds a great.
tendency to fly outwards; moreover if the driving wheels are not perfectly smooth
(which sometimes arises from contact with irregularities or projections on the ends
or edges of the rails) the wheels have a tendency to mount by the power of the
engine itself which often gives rise to mysterious accidents by the locomotive
leaving the rails without any apparent cause.
Now my invention by preventing too great an oscillation and the rise of the
locomotive or carriage render it almost impossible for the vehicle to leave the rails
even though there may be a tendency so to do.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing on which (a) are the
rails of the permanent way having fish plates (a¹) and (a2), the fish plate (a2) being
narrowed at its upper edge for a purpose to be hereinafter described.
(b) are the ordinary wheels of the locomotive or carriage which carry in the
usual manner by means of horn blocks and springs the framing (c).
(d) are additional wheels or rollers which according to my invention are fixed as
shewn on the drawing at about an angle of 45 degrees with the rail and have
axles (d') which are carried in bearings (2) fixed to the framing (c) in any con-
venient and suitable manner. The wheels (d) can be fixed at any suitable angle
from the vertical but in such a manner that the flange (d³) may underlap the edge of
the upper flange of the rail (a) at the same time allowing play for the usual oscillation
and variation of the wheels (6) between the rails (a). The fish plates (a2) are
narrowed or cut away at their upper edges when necessary to allow the flange (d³)
to pass and the flanges (a³) are so formed as to pass through points, crossings and
guard rails freely.
It will be seen from this description of the several parts and by reference to the
drawing hereunto attached that a main part of my invention consists in placing a
pair of wheels or rollers at such an inclination to the vertical position that they
may be free from touching the rails whilst the locomotive or carriage is running
under ordinary circumstances in its normal position but so soon as any obstruction
causes the locomotive or carriage to oscillate unusually the wheels (d) bear against
the inner sides of the upper flanges of the rails (a) and revolving against the same
steady the vehicle and preserve it in position between the rails, and should the
said vehicle have a tendency to lift off the rails the flanges (d³) will revolve under
the edge of the upper flange of the rail and completely prevent any rise of the
vehicle.
Under the frame (c) I sometimes place an axle (e) carried in bearings (e¹) fixed
to the framing (c) in any convenient manner and on the axle (e) I form collars or

page_text: rotatory pulleys (2) against which (if there is any play or spring in the axle (d') the
wheels (d) will press and thus the flange () is kept in the exact position so that
it may in no case be able to leave its position from under the upper flange of the
rail (a) without first of all thrusting the said rail from its position.
I thus provide a guide to hold a locomotive or other vehicle on the ail even
when acted upon by a collision or obstruction.
I wish it to be understood that my invention may be varied or modified as to the
angle of the guide wheels (d) and the position of the several axles and bearings,
without departing from the principle of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is,―
1st. The combination with a railway locomotive or vebicle of pulleys or rollers
such as (d) having axles (d) and bearings (d) as and for the purposes substantially
as described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
2nd. The combination with a railway locomotive or vehicle of pulleys or rollers
such as (d) having axles (d') and bearings (d') axle such as (e) having collars such
as (e) and bearings (e) as and for the purposes substantially as described herein
and illustrated.
Dated this 5th day of January 1894.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.