IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILROAD CROSSINGS
Year: 1885

page_text: I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323, High Holborn, in the City of London, England,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
RAILROAD CROSSINGS," 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 relation to railroad crossings; and it consists in the
construction and novel arrangement of devices, all as hereinafter set forth and
then pointed out in the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawings, the letter A, designates the crossing plate which
is bored at a, to form a bearing for the turn post B, and at c, c, to form bearings for
the bridge pivots C.
D, D', are the rail sections extending in one direction and E, E¹, the crossing
rail sections.
:
These rail sections are firmly secured to the plate, and are separated at the
crossing points by interval, as at F, in which the bridge pivots are located.
The ends of the rail sections adjacent to each bridge pivot are made transversely
concave usually, so that when the bridge pivots are turned into position, they will
fit between the ends of the rail sections closely.
G, G, are the corner stops, which are of angular form, and are fitted in between
the rail sections on opposite sides of the bridge pivot.
These stops are provided with overlapping guards d, adapted to cover the circular
flanges of the bridge pivots, so that the latter will be held in true position, and will
not be liable to rise above the level of the rail sections.
Each bridge pivot C, is formed entire with the bridge portion e, above and with
the stem g, which descends from the circular flange or enlarged bearing h, through the
bearing in the main plate, which is usually provided with a boss H, underneath, in
order to extend the bearing below, and to strengthen the plate.
The ends of the bridge portion e, are usually made convex, in order to fit the
ends of the rail sections neatly when adjusted in proper relation thereto.
The ends of the stems of the bridge pivots project below the plate A, and are
usually formed with squared seats for the reception of the arms K, which are secured
thereto.

page_text: Below these seats the stems may be threaded for the reception of securing nuts,
or the arms may be fastened to said stems by keys or by set screws.
The centre post B, having a head b, extends downward through the bearing a,
of the main plate, which is extended through a boss k, formed on the underside of
the plate.
To the lower portion of said turn post, which projects below the plate, is secured
the cross lever L, the arms m, of which extend obliquely outward from the post.
This cross lever is provided at a lower level with an arm N, which is designed to
be connected by a rod P¹, to an arm S, of the post V, of the turning target T.
Rods P, serve to connect the arms m, of the centre turning post to the arms K, 1
of the bridge pivots. Z, are couplings which are usually made in forked form and
pivoted to the arms of the pivots and turning posts, and are provided with right
and left threaded bearings v, for the right and left threaded ends P.
These rods are designed to be adjustable in order to facilitate the proper
adjustment of the bridge pivots so that they will always bear true relation to the
rail sections when adjusted between the same for the passage of trains.
The target post is arranged at a short distance from the tracks in the open
angle, and carries the target arm W.
When the target is turned to throw this arm across the track I, the bridge pivots
are brought into line with the rails of the crossing track J, which is then open for
travel.
And when the target arm is turned across the latter track, bridge pivots are by
the mechanism indicated turned to connect the rails of the track I, opening this
track for travel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st. The combination with the main plate A, baving bearing apertures, of the
rail sections, having an interval between their ends at the crossing points, the
bridge pivots at said crossing points, having arms under said plate, the central
turning post, having arms under said plate, and the adjustable rods connecting the
arms of the bridge pivots to the arms of the turn post, substantially as specified.
2nd. The combination with the turning target of the bridge pivots and central
turn post, all having arms below the level of the main plate to which the rail
sections are secured, and being connected by rods, whereby the bridge pivots are
turned at the same time with the target, substantially as specified.
Dated this 29th day of September 1885.