IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POINTS OR SWITCHES FOR RAILWAYS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS. EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Henry Fish, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
POINTS OR SWITCHES FOR RAILWAYS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS.
EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE.”
33.
Sealed the 3rd May 1878, and dated the 14th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Henry Fish at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th November 1877.
"IMPROVE-
GEORGE HENRY FISH, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POINTS OR SWITCHES FOR RAILWAYS, AND IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE."
Hitherto the points or switches for the permanent way of railways have been
made by planing the rails to a taper point by means of an ordinary planing
machine, which is a slow and expensive process, and causes a great waste of
material.
My Invention consists, firstly, in making such points or switches by rolling the
same to a taper point by means of suitably grooved rolls, instead of planing them,
which is a quicker and more economical process, and does not waste any of the
material.
According to one modification of my Invention I employ a pair of rolls, geared
together, and mounted in the usual manner in a suitably strong frame, being pro-
vided also with pressure screws to give the pressure required. On the periphery of
these rolls I cut grooves of a suitable form, which are tapered gradually in depth to
give the shape required, the deepest part corresponding with the full thickness of
the rail, and the shallowest part with the extreme point of the switch.
One of the rolls is provided with two projections or punches, and the other with
two corresponding holes, by means of which the bolt holes are punched or formed
through the switch as it is being rolled..

page_text: The rolls are usually formed with (say) four grooves, two right-handed and two
left-handed, but a greater or lesser number may be employed if desired.
The rolls do not revolve continuously in one direction, but are so driven as to
make almost a revolution in one direction to draw in the rail and roll it off to a
taper point, and then their motion is reversed, and they roll it back again and
release it.
In another modification of my Invention I use a top roll only, and instead of the
bottom roll I have a reciprocating table like that of a planing machine, and the
lower half of the groove corresponding with those in the roll is cut or formed in the
surface of the table.
The table is moved to and fro by a rack and pinion motion, or otherwise, at the
same speed and in the same direction as the surface of the roll travels, and it runs
on V slides working on grooved rollers carried by the bed of the machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Henry Fish in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
May 1878.
"IMPROVE-
GEORGE HENRY FISH, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POINTS OR SWITCHES FOR RAILWAYS, AND IN
THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE."
Hitherto the points or switches for the permanent way of railways have been
made by planing the rails to a taper point by means of an ordinary planing
machine, which is a slow and expensive process, and causes great waste of
material.
My Invention consists, firstly, in forming such switch rails by passing them
through or partially through suitably grooved rolls, which form the necessary taper
part on the rail; this being hot during the process admits of the required extension,
thus saving both material and time.
According to one modification of my Invention I employ a pair of rolls, geared
together, and mounted in the usual manner in a suitably strong frame, being pro-
vided also with pressure screws to give the pressure required. On the periphery of
these rolls I cut grooves of a suitable form, which are tapered gradually in depth
to give the shape required, the deepest part corresponding with the full thickness
of the rail, and the shallowest part with the extreme point of the switch.
The rolls are usually formed with (say) four grooves, two right-handed and two
left-handed, but a greater or less number may be employed if desired.
In one modification of my Invention the rolls do not revolve continuously in one
direction, but are so driven as to make almost a revolution in one direction to draw
in the rail and roll it off to a taper point, and then their motion is reversed and they
roll it back again and release it.
In another modification of my Invention I use a top roll only, and instead of the
bottom roll I have a reciprocating table like that of a planing machine, and the lower

page_text: half of the groove corresponding with those in the roll is cut or formed in the
surface of the table.
The table is moved to and fro by a rack and pinion motion, or otherwise, at the
same speed and in the same direction as the surface of the roll travels, and it runs
on V slides working on grooved rollers carried by the bed of the machine.
I prefer, however, to make the rolls in the manner illustrated by the annexed
Drawing, having the grooves cut in the following manner :-For a part of the
circumference the grooves are of equal depths from the surface; the rest of the
circumference the grooves are cut to form the taper part of the rail; these rolls have
a continuous motion, and revolve in a direction which would deliver the rail on the
side of the operator; the rail is inserted to the required distance during the time
the equal depths of grooves are together, the taper parts then gripping the rail at
once form the taper part on rail, and deliver it; the rolls may be stopped for
insertion if required.
The Drawing shows in section three positions of the rolls.
Fig. 1 shows the first position; the parallel part of the groove, from a to b, is cut
deeper than the half section of the rail c, c, so that the latter can be introduced at
any portion of this part of the revolution, and passed forward to the required position,
leaving about four feet nine inches to be tapered. As soon as the points b, b, arrive
at the position, Fig. 1, tapering of the rail commences. Fig. 1* shows the section of
the rail at this point.
Fig. 2 shows the second position, about one-half of the tapering being accomplished,
and Fig. 2* shows the section of the rail at this point.
Fig. 3 shows the third position, the operation being just completed, and Fig. 3*
shows the section of the end of the rail at this point, the tapered part being now
about six fect.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention,-
First. Forming the tapering part of such points or switches by rolling instead of
by planing or hammering, as heretofore.
And, Secondly. I claim the construction and use, for such purposes, of rolls with
suitably tapering grooves, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Henry Fish, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
G. H FISH (LQ)
G. H FISH (IS)