IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY CROSSINGS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY CROSSINGS."
-A communication.
Sealed the 11th December 1857, and dated the 19th June 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents; with his Petition, on the
19th June 1857.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, cf the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said, Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY
CROSSINGS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in combining a flexible rail, which is fixed at one
end, with a fixed rail and point, and the supporting chairs. The elasticity of
the moveable rail is made to keep it in its place, and still allows it to yield
sufficiently to allow the flange of the wheel to pass.
The Invention also consists in placing a stop opposite the point of the
crossing, to support the rail at that point; also in securing the point of the
moveable rail from rising out of place by means of a hook and a rebated
chair.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 19th December 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of June, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and, grant unto me, the said
William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said William Edward
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY CROSSINGS," being a com-
munication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same.
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention of "Improvements in the Construction of Railway Crossings"
is described by my foreign correspondent as consisting in a method of combining
a flexible rail, which is fixed at one end, with a fixed rail and point, supporting
chairs of a peculiar form being employed. The elasticity of the moveable rail
is made to keep it in its place and still permit of its yielding sufficiently to
allow the flange of the wheel to pass.
The Invention also consists in placing a stop opposite to the point of the
crossing, for the purpose of supporting the rail at that point, as will be

page_text: hereafter more fully explained.
The point of the moveable rail is also
secured from rising out of place by means of a hook and rebated chair.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn various views of the improved
crossing and its appendages.
Fig. 1 is a plan of the improved crossing; Fig. 2 is a side elevation
thereof; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, shewing the parts immediately at the
left-hand side of the line W, W, as drawn across Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a
sectional elevation, shewing in like manner the parts at the left-hand of the
line X, X; Fig. 5 is a detail elevation, shewing the mode of securing the
point of the rail from rising out of its place, the chair represented as being
bisected upon the line Z, Z; Fig. 6 is an elevation of the parts immediately
at the left-hand of the line Y, Y. The rail used in making the frog is the
rail, properly bent and fitted.
common
A, A, are the cross sleepers which support the rails. The fixed point is
formed of two parts, as seen at B and C; the former part may, if required, be
made of steel or pointed with steel. D is a fixed and stationary rail, which
forms a part of the crossing, the line in continuation of the rail D being the
part C of the fixed point. The end of the rail E is not fixed down to the
chair, but is capable of moving laterally thereon. The end of the point B, C,
and also of the crossing rails D and E, are supported on the chairs K, L, M.
The points B, C, and the rail D, as also one end of the rail E, are fastened to
the chairs or sleepers by means of hooks, pins, or other fastenings. It will be
seen that the longitudinal line of the rails is along the side B of the point and
the spring rail E, and that when a carriage is required to cross the line
either from C to D, or vice versa, the flange of the running wheel will enter
between the point C and the spring or moveable rail E, and force back the
latter sideways on its chair; but owing to the elasticity of the rail, it will
resume its normal position immediately the pressure is removed. In order to
prevent the spring rail from rising from its chair or support, a hook J is
affixed to the under side of the rail, and made to enter and work in a rebate
or notch in the chair K, as shewn at Figs. 2, 5, and 6. A stop N is placed
opposite to the point of the crossing, in order to support the moveable rail at
that point.
Having now described the Invention of Improvements in the Construction
of Railway Crossings," and having explained the manner of carrying the same
into effect, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent as aforesaid,
I would observe, in conclusion, that what I claim and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is,-

page_text: The employment of a moveable flexible rail, arranged as described, by
which the elasticity of the rail itself is made to keep it in place when not
forced back by the pressure of the flange of the running wheel. I also claim
placing a stop opposite the point of the crossing, to relieve the moveable rail
from strain at that point, as set forth. I also claim the combination of the
hook J, and the rebated chair K, for keeping the rail E from rising out of its
place, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Eighteenth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)