IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SWITCHES AND IN MEANS FOR OPERATING THE SAME
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN RAILWAY SWITCHES AND IN MEANS FOR OPERATING THE SAME." A com-
munication from abroad by Henry Greenway, of the City of Brooklyn, in the
County of Kings, State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 10th October 1879, and dated the 6th May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th May 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SWITCHES AND IN MEAN SFOR
OPERATING THE SAME." [A communication from abroad by Henry Greenway, of
the City of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, State of New York, United States of
America.]
The object of this Invention is to place the switches of a railroad under the full
control of the engine driver, and also to permit of his shifting the switches when
the train is in motion, and if necessary without checking the speed. The Invention
is more especially intended for elevated railroads in cities, where frequent trains
and heavy traffic increases the liability of accidents from misplaced switches, and
time is of great importance in the management of the trains.
The Invention cousists, first, in the construction of the switches whereby they
are adapted for being operated from the train, and may also be moved by hand in
the usual manner when required; and, secondly, in the application to the engine,
tender, and carriages of what are termed rudders, together with levers and suitable
connections for operating the rudder, whereby as the train moves the switch will
be shifted according to the desire of the driver, and without it being necessary for
him to know the exact condition of the switch.
In carrying out this Invention I fit at the forward end of the locomotive and in
advance of the wheels a short vertical shaft or arbor, which is supported by an
annular flange or collar that rests on a cross bar beneath the framing. The shaft
carries at its upper end a cross bar lever, or double crank, to the opposite ends of

page_text: which are connected rods that pass backward between the side frames of the loco-
motive to the cab, where the said rods are attached to suitable hand levers, which
are provided with pawls or catches to retain them in position. To the lower end
of the shaft is attached a forwardly projecting arm which is termed a rudder, this
rudder being tapered to a point or wedge shape at its forward end, and also tapered
at its rear end but more abruptly. The rudder is swung horizontally to the right
and left by the hand levers acting through the connections described, the move-
ment of rudder in either direction being limited by a stop.
The switch rails are connected together by a cross bar as usual, and the rudder
acts on a lever fulcrumed to a cross tie or other fixed support midway between the
rails, and having its longer arm pivoted to a cross bar that is fitted to slide cross-
wise beneath the rails and outer ends of the switch rails. Lugs or projections on
the upper side of this bar cause the movement of the switch rails therewith. The
rudder acts on a pin or projection on the end of the lever to move the switch when
the train is moving in one direction, and a second lever provided with a projection
on its longer arm engages by a toggle joint with the short arm of the first lever, so
that the train when moving in the other direction will move this second lever and
also operate the switch.
The operation is as follows:-Supposing the locomotive to be moving on the
main line and the switch set for the branch the driver will draw back one of the
band levers which will throw the rudder over, and as soon as the rudder renches
he end of the lever its inclined side will act upon the projection, move the lever,
and set the switch for the main line; or if the switch be set correctly the rudder
will simply pass the lug without effect. It is not necessary for the engine driver
to know the position of the switch, for the reason that if he desires to take the
right or left hand line he simply moves the right or left hand lever as the case
may be.
When backing over a switch the rear point of the rudder passes the pro-
jections of the switch levers without effect.
Although the Invention is described as being applied only to the front end of a
locomotive so as to operate by the forward movement of a train it may be applied
equally as well to a tender or a carriage to operate when the train is backing.
The switch will also be fitted with the usual switch bars and levers for operation
when desired by a switch tender, and the movement of the switches will be used
to operate and display the usual signals. To render the parts less rigid and com-
pensate for wear springs may be used in connection with the rudder and switch.
For instance, a block of rubber can be inserted between the switch rails and the
projection on the lever to permit perfect adjustment under all circumstances.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
November 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SWITCHES AND IN MEANS FOR
OPERATING THE SAME." A communication from abroad by Henry Greenway, of
the City of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, State of New York, United States
of America.
The object of this Invention is to place the switches of a railroad under the full
control of the engine driver, and also to permit him to shift the switches when the
train is in motion, and if necessary without checking the speed.
The Invention is more especially intended for elevated rail roads in cities, where
frequent trains and heavy traffic increases the liability of accidents from misplaced
switches, and time is of great importance in the management of the trains.
The Invention consists, 1st, in the construction of the switches, whereby they
are adapted for being operated from the train, and may also be moved by hand in
the usual manner when required; and, 2nd, in the application to the engine,
tender, and carriages of what are termed rudders, together with levers and suitable
connections for operating the rudders, whereby as the train moves the switch will
be shifted according to the desire of the driver, and without it being necessary for
him to know the exact condition of the switch.
The details will be described in connection with the accompanying Drawing,
wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of a railroad track and switch, and a locomotive
fitted with the Invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same partly in section ;
and Figure 3 is a front view in section transversely of the track.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Although the Invention is shown as applied only to the front end of a locomotive
so as to operate by the forward movement of a train it should be understood that
it may be applied equally as well to a tender or a carriage to operate when the
train is backing.
A is the frame of the locomotive; B, the bogie frame or pilot truck; and C, the
cab, which parts are of usual character. At the forward end of the truck B and in
advance of the wheels a short vertical shaft or arbor a is fitted in the centre
sidewise of the truck. The arbor a is supported by an annular flange or collar b
that rests on the cross bar c of the truck. Upon the upper end of arbor a is fixed
a cross bar, lever, or double crank d, to the opposite ends of which are connected
rods e, e¹, which pass backward between the side frames of the locomotive to the
cab C, where the said rods e, e¹l, are attached to the hand levers f. f³, respectively.
The levers f, fl, are provided with pawls or catches to retain them in the desired
position. Attached to the lower end of shaft a is a forwardly projecting arm g,
which is termed the rudder. This rudder is tapered to a point or wedge shape at
its forward end, and at rear end is also tapered, but more abruptly. The rudder
is swung horizontally to the right and left by manipulation of levers f,f', acting
through the connections described. The movement of rudder g in either direction
is limited by a pin that takes against projections on cross bar c.
I will now describe the switch. E, E, represent the rails of the main line; and
F, F, the rails of a siding or branch intersecting the main line. The inner rails F
and E¹ terminate in the pivoted points or tongues h, h, that are connected together
by a cross bar i k is a lever, fulcrumed at to a cross tie or other fixed support
midway between the tracks, and having its longer arm pivoted to a cross bar m
that is fitted to slide crosswise beneath the rails and outer ends of the points h, h¹.
Lugs or projections m', m³, on the upper side of the bar m cause the movement of

page_text: the points h, h¹, with bar m. Upon the end of lever le is a pin, lug, or projection n,
that is acted upon by the rudder g to move the switch when the train is moving in
one direction. A second lever p fulcrumed at pl and provided with a projection q
on its longer arm engages by a toggle joint with the short arm of lever k, so that
the train when moving in the other direction will move this second lever and i
operate lever k properly.
The operation is as follows:-Supposing the locomotive to be moving on the
main line in the direction of the arrow, and the switch set for the branch, as shown,
the driver will draw back the right hand leverf which will throw the rudder g to
the right. As soon as the rudder g reaches the end of lever / its inclined side will
act upon the projection n, move lever k, and set the switch for the main line; or if
the switch be set correctly the rudder will simply pass the lug without effect. It
is not necessary for the engine driver to know the position of the switch, for the
reason that if he desires to take the right or left hand track he simply moves the
right or left hand lever as the case may be. When backing over a switch the rear
point of the rudder passes the projections of the switch levers without effect. The
same operation as described takes place in connection with the projection 9 of
lever P when the train is moving backward by a rudder at the rear of the tender
or rear carriage of the train.
By the above described construction the operating of the switch is rendered
positive and placed under the control of the engine driver. At the same time the
switch will be fitted with switch bars and levers in any usual or desired manner
for operation when desired by a pointsman, and the movement of the switches will
be used to operate and display the usual signals. To render the parts less rigid
and compensate for wear springs may be used in connection with the rudder and
switch. For instance, a block of rubber can be inserted between the points h, h',
and the projection m¹ to permit perfect adjustment under all circumstances.
Having described the nature of the said Invention I would observe that I do not
limit myself to the details of construction exactly as shown and described, as they
may be varied without departing from the Invention, and that what I claim as the
Invention to be protected by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. In combination with a locomotive, tender, or railroad carriage a pivoted
rudder, fitted for being swung by suitable connections, and acting by contact with
the moving parts of the switch to set the same as the train moves, substantially as
described.
2nd. In combination with a locomotive, tender, or railroad carriage the pivoted
rudder g, lever or crank arm d, rods e, e', and levers f, f', substantially as described
and shown, and for the purposes set forth.
3rd. In combination with the bogie frame or pilot truck of a locomotive the
pivoted rudder g, fitted for being swung by cranks and levers from the cab, sub-
stantially as described and shown, and for the purposes set forth.
4th. In a railroad switch the combination with the moving points h, h', of the
lever k, provided with the projection n and the cross bar m, fitted for operation,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5th. The combination with the switch lever k of the lever p provided with the
projection q, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
A. M. CLARK. (LS.)