Improvements in Apparatus for Compensating for the Varyings in the Lengths of the Operating Rod Connections of Switch Points, Locks, Signals, and similar Appliances on Railways.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 21st June, 1890-Accepted, 26th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Compensating for the Varyings in
the Lengths of the Operating Rod Connections of Switch Points,
Locks, Signals, and similar Appliances on Railways.
I HENRY WILLIAMS of Gowan Brae Crosshill Glasgow Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction or
arrangement and combination of the parts of a compensator to automatically and with
the minimum of friction take up or give out the varying of the lengths of the
operating rod connections of switch points, locks, or signals of railways caused by the
varying influences of the temperature of the atmosphere and thus at all times, and
under all influences these operating rod connections will by the employment of these
improved appliances receive perfect.and automatic compensation.
In carrying my Invention into effect or practice under one arrangement to
compensate the operating rods of switch points or such purposes on railways I fix
midway of the full length of such rod connections (my improved device which cuts or
divides in two halves the full length of the rod connection, and each of these halves
I connect to the arranged sliding part of the compensator by welding, cottering, or
bolting, or by the use of an ordinary radial plain joint and pin, or equivalent connec-
tion direct to the sliding parts of the compensator which will be arranged to receive
these halves of the rods. I preferably make these two sliding or actuating rods of
round iron about 14 inch diameter and under two feet long and arrange them to
work parallel to each other in a suitable guide or box, and the one end of both I so
forge or form to give a direct connection to the half of the rod that is to
be connected thereto. In or near the centre of these sliding parts I attach
a gland, or claw, or jaw, or forge a pin, or special formed link, or links,
or equivalent attachment, so as cach to secure itself to an endless chain,
band, or rope, which chain I arrange to work round or on two suitable pulleys
preferably at a distance apart of about fourteen inches centres which pulleys shall
turn freely on suitable centre pins in the same metal framing or boxing as the sliding
actuating rods or parts do. The position of glanding or fixing of the sliding rods to.
the chain shall be so as to give the same length of chain each side each gland or
fixings so as to make the slightest action on the rods-give a corresponding action on
the endless chain. Thus when a pull is made on. either half of the rod and so
on to its corresponding sliding part of the compensator, it will transmit a push
on the other sliding part and so to its half of the rod. by means of the chain passing
round its pulleys, and vice-versa, and thus procure the motion to give this perfect and
automatic compensation with the minimum of friction. Instead of employing an
endless chain I by an alternative arrangement use two chains or bands or topes
so as to form with the glands or fixing mechanism one complete endless chain,
or I in some cases instead of running the chain round the two pulleys so as to
give a parallel action of the chain between the pulleys, cross the chain in
the space between the pulleys in which case I would bring the two sliding
parts to the same side of the compensator and connect them to the chain
near their pulleys and by the crossing of the chain would bring about a
reversing of the action of the sliding pieces: That is to say a push to produce a pull,
or vice-versa, as will be brought about as before described, I will also arrange one or
both of the pulleys to slide in their fixings on or in a sliding jaw with a screw and nut
so as to facilitate tightening or slackening the tension of the chain at any time when
found necessary.
Under another arrangement of my improvements 1 mount 'two'

page_text: parallel pulleys side by side on the same spindle within the metallic casing, each
pulley carrying its short length of chain or rope in its course would not be endless
but of a shape shackled or connected at its ends to the opposite sliding pieces.
Dated this 21st dow of Santamban 1000
HENRY WILLIAMS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Compensating for the Varyings in
the Lengths of the Operating Rod Connections of Switch Points,
Locks, Signals, and similar Appliances on Railways.
I HENRY WILLIAMS of Gowan Brae Crosshill Glasgow Engineer 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:
This Invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction
or arrangement and combination of the parts of mechanism of a compensator, to
automatically and with the minimum of friction take up, or give out; the varyings of
the lengths of the operating rod connections of switch points, locks, or signals, of
railways, caused by the varying influences of the temperature of the atmosphere, and
thus at all times and under all influences these operating rod connections will by
the employment of these improved appliances receive perfect and automatic compen-
sation. And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing or
carrying the same into effect or practice may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended two sheets of explanatory Drawings, in which the same reference letters
are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures where shown.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 is a side elevation of one arrangement of my improved com-
pensator, in which I use an endless chain A passing round two grooved pulleys B, B,
and connected to the rods C, by the tenon eye links C', sliding within the casing D,
the rods C being jointed to the switch or point rod connections C² shown broken
away.
Figure 2 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 1, with the top part of the casing D
removed.
Figure 3 is a side elevation with one side of the casing D removed, of another
arrangement of my improved compensator in which two pulleys B, B, are mounted
parallel side by side on one spindle B₁, and in which two chains A are used each
jointed at its free ends by links and studs C to the sliding rods C.
>
Figure 4 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 3 with the top part of the casing D
removed.
Figure 5 on Sheet 2 is a side elevation with one side of the casing D removed, of
another arrangement of my improved compensator, in which two parallel chains A, A,
are employed, in gear with a toothed wheel or pinion B, and connected to the sliding
rods C by links and studs C¹.
Figure 6 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 5 with the top part of the casing D
removed.
Figure 7 is a side elevation, with one side of the casing D removed, of another
arrangement of my improved compensator, in which two octagonal sided pulleys B, B,
are used for a long linked endless chain A to pass or work round, the chain A being
connected to the sliding rods. C.by stud links C¹.
Figure 8 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 7 with the top part of the
casing D removed.
Referring to these Drawings:-In carrying my invention into effect or practice
under one arrangement to compensate operating rods of switch points or such
purposes on railways I fix midway of the full length of such rod connections my
improved device which cuts or divides in two halves the full length of the rod
connection, and each of these halves I connect to the arranged sliding part of the
compensator by a collar and screw and nut at 0³, or by welding; cottering, or bolting,

page_text: or by the use of an ordinary radial plane joint and pin or equivalent connection direct
to the sliding parts C of the compensator which will be arranged to receive these
halves of the rods.
1 preferably make these two sliding or actuating rods C of round iron about 1"
diameter and under or about two feet long, and arrange them to work parallel to
each other in a guide or box casing D and the one end of both I so connect forge,
or form to give a direct connection to the half of the rod C³ that is to be connected
thereto.
In or near the centre of these sliding parts C I attach a special tenoned
formed eye, or link, or links or a claw, or jaw, or forge a pin or other
equivalent attachment so as each to secure itself to or form part of an endless
chain A or band or rope as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and 7 and 8, which chain A
I arrange to work round or on two suitable pulleys B, B, preferably at a distance
apart of about twelve inches centres which pulleys B, B, shall turn freely on suitable
centre pins in the same metal framing or box casing D as the sliding actuating rods
or parts C do. The position of glanding or fixing of these sliding rods C to the
chain A shall be so as to give the same length of chain A on each side each gland
or fixing so as to inake the slighest action of the rod give a corresponding action
on the endless chain A.
Thus when a pull is made on either half of the rod C and so on to its corresponding
sliding part of the compensator it will transmit a push on the other sliding part C and
so to its half of the rod by means of the chain A passing round its pulleys B, B and
vice versa and thus produce the motion to give this perfect and automatic compensa-
tion with the minimum of friction.
Instead of employing an endless chain A as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and
7 and 8, 1 by an alternative arrangemont as shown in Figures 3 and 4 and 5 & 6
use two chains C, or bands or ropes. In the arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4.
I mount two parallel pulleys B, B, side by side on the same spindle B within the
metallic casing D, each pulley B carrying its short length of chain C or rope in its
course. These chains Care each of a shape shackled or connected at its ends to
the opposite sliding pieces by the tenon link C. In the arrangement shown in
Figures 5 and 6 the chains A are made parallel acting in gear with the spur wheel
or pinion B, each being connected at its ends by tenon or studs C¹ to the sliding
rods C, and can be adjusted or tightened up when they get slack by a screw link or
bolt and nut at C. In any of these arrangements of my improved compensator
I can employ spherical travelling ball bearings so as to minimise any friction
that may arise in the working of the sliding rods C, this being shown in Figures 3
and 7.
Having thus 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 I
claim is :-
First. The construction, or arrangement and combination of the parts of apparatus
in which a chain or chains or their equivalent, are employed for compensating for the
varyings in the lengths of the operating rod connections of switch points, locks, siguals,
and similar appliances on railways, substantially as herein described in reference to, and
by way of application shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The construction and use of a chain or chains or their equivalent substan-
tially as and in the manner and for the purposes herein described in reference to and
by way of application shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The use of a chain or chains, or their equivalent connected to sliding or
actuating rods in combination with pulleys or wheels, substantially as and in the
manner and for the purposes herein described in reference to, and by way of applica-
tion shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Datad this day of June 19ÙN