IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR ALTERING THE POSITION OF ENGINES AND CARRIAGES ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Dunn, of Pendleton, near Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, Hugh Greaves, of Man-
chester aforesaid, Engineer, and William Watts, junior, of Miles
Platting, near Manchester aforesaid, Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR ALTERING THE
POSITION OF ENGINES AND CARRIAGES ON RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 16th February 1853, and dated the 15th December 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Dunn
Hugh Greaves, and William Watts at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 15th December
1852.
We, THOMAS DUNN, HUGH GREAVES, & WILLIAM WATTS, junior,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR ALTERING THE POSITION OF ENGINES AND
CARRIAGES ON RAILWAYS" to be as follows:-
First, in improved modes of constructing moveable points for railway
traversers and surface turntables, the moveable points being self-acting
and self-retaining to diminish labour.

page_text: Secondly, in raising, elevating, or supporting machinery, known by
the name of "low shelved railway traversers," by hydraulic or any
suitable mechanical means, so as to be able to turn the same clear of
the permanent way to answer the purpose of a turntable.
Thirdly, in raising railway carriages for the purpose of moving them
from one line of rails to another by means of hydraulic pressure acting
on a ram fixed to a moveable-lurry running on rails-placed within the
main line of rails, to which ram is attached a cross head placed under
the axles of the carriage. When the carriage has been raised high
enough for the flanges of the wheels to clear the rails of the permanent
way it is turned partly round on the ram, the water is then let off, and
the carriage is lowered on to slightly hollowed inclined rails, which
receive the flanges of the wheels and conduct the carriage on to the
required line of rails.
Fourthly, in raising carriages for the purpose of moving them by
means of a lever actuating a shaft, on which are two cams placed under
the ends of two rails forming part of the permanent way; when one end
of a a carriage has been elevated by the lever above mentioned the centre
prop and cross head for supporting the axles of the carriage are elevated,
sò that when the ends of the rails are lowered the carriage is borne by
the cross head, and can be swivelled round to any angle. When the
carriage has been lowered on to the line of rails on which it is wanted,
the prop and cross head are. sunk into a recess flush with the road.
Two pair of shafts and cams may be used to lift the rails horizontally.
Instead of lowering the prop and cross head into a recess in the ground,
they may be attached to a lurry travelling on rails placed inside the
rails of the permanent way; in this case when the carriage is elevated
the lurry is pushed under to support the carriage when the rails are
lowered. We also propose to have moveable rails placed inside or
outside the fixed rails of the permanent way; by this means the move-
able rails are made to elevate the carriage for the prop and cross head
to be placed under it, as before described, or the rails on which the
carriage rests may be lowered horizontally; when the central prop is
raised to support the carriage by its axles the rails on which it is
intended to place the carriage may be lowered at one end, so as to

page_text: allow the flanges of the wheels to pass over them, and when the
carriage is in the desired position they are again raised.
Fifthly, in working any convenient. number of cross roads by
a corresponding number of hydraulic rams connected together by
a pipe in communication with a force pump or other mechanical:
means, each ram by acting when required on a cross head would.
clevate a railway carriage by its axles, and when the same had been
turned round would in descending deposit the carriage on to the line of
rails on which it was required.
Sixthly, in an improved swivel turntable for reversing the direction
of engines and tenders or other carriages, the object being effected by.
placing the pivot on which the table swivels nearer to one end than the
other, for the purpose of reducing the space required on viaducts or in.
other places where room is of great value; and,
Seventhly, in an improved segmental surface turntable for altering
the position of carriages on four lines of rails crossing each other.. The.
segmental surface turntable is supported by rollers on circular rails, and
it is furnished with a radial arm on one side, which is hinged to a pivot
placed in the centre of the four lines of rails. The carriage to be moved,
having been run on to the segmental surface turntable up inclined:
points in the usual manner, is removed the required portion of a revo-*
lution, and run down the points on to the line of rails on which it is.
wanted. By this means space, material, and labor are economised, and
the same apparatus may be used for two or more lines of rails.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,"
filed by the said Thomas Dunn, Hugh Greaves, and William'
Watts in the Great Seal Patent Office, on the 15th June 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL, we, THOMAS
DUNN, of Pendeton, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, HUGH GREAVES, of Manchester aforesaid, Engineer, and
WILLIAM WATTS, junior, of Miles Platting, near Manchester aforesaid,
Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of December, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Thomas Dunn, Hugh Greaves, and William Watts, junior,
Her special licence that we, the said Thomas Dunn, Hugh Greaves,
and William Watts, junior, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said Thomas Dunn, Hugh Greaves, and
William Watts, junior, our 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 MACHINERY AND
APPARATUS FOR ALTERING THE POSITION OF ENGINES AND CARRIAGES ON
RAILWAYS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Thomas Dunn, Hugh Greaves, and William Watts, junior, by an
instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand
and seal of either of us, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, 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 we, the said Thomas Dunn, Hugh Greaves,
and William Watts, junior, do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment (that is to say):
Our Invention consists,-First, in improvements applicable to the
machinery known as low shelved railway traversers, whereby the points
or inclined planes up which the engines or carriages ascend are made
self-acting and self-retaining. Secondly, in improved combinations of
machinery to be used in place of railway turntables, whereby the en-
gine or carriage to be turned is raised by hydraulic pressure, or by
mechanical agents acting on a swivel frame by which the engine or

page_text: carriage to be turned is elevated by the flanges of its wheels. Thirdly,
in improved combinations of machinery to be used for moving railway
engines or carriages laterally from one line of rails to another, or for
turning them by means of bearing bars elevated by hydraulic pressure
or other power acting on the axles of the engine or carriage to be
moved. Fourthly, in improved combinations of machinery to be used
in place of railway turntables, whereby the engines or carriages to be
turned are clevated by bearing bars acting on the axles, the said bearing
bars being put in operation by hydraulic pressure or by mechanical
agents. Fifthly, in an improved combination of machinery for moving
engines or carriages from one line of rails to another, consisting prin-
cipally of a truck or lurry or low shelved traverser which vibrates
from a fixed centre; and, lastly, in an improved swivel turntable, par-
ticularly applicable for moving engines and tenders where there is not
sufficient space for a turntable of the ordinary construction. And in
order that our Invention may be fully understood, and readily carried
into effect, we will proceed to describe the means pursued by us,
reference being had to the annexed two Sheets of Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, represents an end clevation of a low shelved railway
traverser to which our improvements are applied; A, are the rails of a
permanent way; B, the rails for the traverser C, the construction of
which is well understood by railway engineers, and therefore does not
require to be described here; D, are the moveable points or inclined
planes, seen best in Figure 3, up which the engine or carriage to be
moved is run on to the traverser. The points D, are jointed to the end
of the traverser as shewn in Figure 3, and each point is provided with
a weighted lever E, the object of which is to raise the points off the
rails A, as soon as the engine or carriage to be moved has been run up
the points; the weights E', on the levers E, are supported by studs
E², as shewn by the dotted lines to the left hand of Figure 1, and as
the short end of each lever acts on the under side of one of the points
D, it is evident that the weight E', will overcome the weight of the
point, and will lift it into the position shewn by dots in Figure 3, as

page_text: soon as the wheel of the engine or carriage has been run on to or off*
the traverser. In traversers of the ordinary construction the points
have been raised by the attendants, but by making the points self-
: acting time and babour are saved. Figure 2, represents an end eleva-
tion, and Figure 3, a side view of part of a railway traverser to whiche
a modification of our improvements is applied; in these views A, B, C,
and D, are similar to the parts marked with the same letters in reference
to Figure 1. In these views the points D, are raised off the rails A,
by means of the spring F, shewn by dotted lines; the bar G, passes
through the spring F, and is jointed to the lever H', keyed to the shaft
H, to which are also fixed the points D. When the traverser is at rest
the spring F, acting on the nuts at the end of the bar G, draws the
lever H, towards the end of the traverser, thereby elevating the
points D, into the position shewn by dots in Figure 3; as soon as
the front wheel of the engine or carriage which has to be moved
arrives at the position marked I, it comes against the end of the
point D, and in advancing towards the traverser the wheel lowers
the point D, on to the rail A, thereby forming an inclined plane
up which the engine or carriage rises on to the low shelving of the
traverser; when the pressure of the wheels is removed the spring
F, again elevates the points D, so that they may be clear of the rails
when the traverser is being moved along the rails B. In Figures 4,
and 5, the points D, are also fixed to a cross shaft H, but in this
instance the points are lifted off the rails by the spring K, fixed to a
brackėt projecting from the end of the traverser acting against the s
under sides of the points, as seen in Figure 4. Figure 6, represents a
side elevation of part of a traverser to which our improved self-retain-
ing points are applied. this view the points D, are jointed to the
end of the traverser, and each point is furnished with a weight D';
when the traverser has to be moved along the rails B, the attendants &
throw the points up into the position shewn in red, and they are
retained in that position by the weights D¹, until again lowered by the
attendants. Figure 7, represents another modification of our self-
acting points. In this instance the points D, are jointed to the end of
the traverser, and they are lifted off the rails into the position shewn
by dots in Figure 3, by the weights L; the wheels of the engine or

page_text: carriage to be moved are now supposed to have lowered to the points
D, consequently the weights L, are raised as shewn in the Drawing.
Other modifications of self-acting points might be given, but the fore-
going are sufficient to illustrate this part of our Invention. Figure 8,
represents a sectional elevation, and Figure 9, a plan of one of our
improved combinations of machinery to be used in place of the ordi-
nary turntable; in these views M, are the rails of the permanent way,
and M¹, the cross rails on to which the engine or carriage is to be
moved. In the centre between the rails M, and M³, is bedded the
cylinder N, furnished with a ram O, to the upper end of which is fixed
across frame P, supporting the side rails Q; these rails lie parallel to
and within the rails M, and they are hollowed out to catch the flanges
of the wheels to be moved. In Figure 8, the wheels and axle of a
carriage are shewn with the flanges of the wheels fitting in the rails Q.
The elevating of the carriage so as to be able to turn it round is
effected in the following manner:-The lower end of the cylinder N,
is furnished with a screw nut for the screw N¹; upon the screw nut is
fixed the wheel R, which is turned round by a worm fixed on the shaft
R¹, at the other end of which is a bevel wheel, receiving motion from
the fly wheel S, on the upright shaft S¹. The mode of operation is as
follows:-The carriage or engine to be turned having been brought
over the cross frame P, the attendant, by turning the handle in the fly
wheel S, gives motion to the wheel R, in the proper direction for
causing the screw N¹, to elevate the ram O; the rails Q, being raised
with the ram, lift the engine or carriage the requisite height to enable
the under side of the rails Q, to clear the rails M, when the cross head
is being turned round. As soon as the rails Q, have been brought in a
line within the rails M', the attendants push the engine or carriage off
the rails Q, on to the rails M'; but as the rails Q, had to be raised
above the rails M, it is evident that the rails M', must be laid as much
higher than the rails M, as the rails Q, require to be lifted, as seen in
Figure 10. In Figure 10, we have shewn another combination of
machinery for effecting the same object as the machinery shewn in
Figures 8, and 9; the parts M, M, N, O, P, and Q, are similar to those
before referred to. The cross head and rails Q, are in this instance
raised by hydraulic pressure in the following manner :-The handle T,

page_text: is fixed on the same shaft as the bevel pinion 'T', which gears into the
wheel U, through the boss of which passes the screw U₁; this screw
is connected to the plunger V, which in descending forces the water
below it through the pipe W, into the cylinder N, thereby clevating
the ram O, and with it the carriage or engine to be turned; as soon
as the carriage or engine has been run on to the rails M', the
attendants turn the cross frame back to its original position, and by
turning the handle T, in the contrary direction the plunger V, is raised,
thereby allowing the rails Q, to drop again into their original position
between the rails M. The same plunger V, may be inade to act for
two cylinders N, by closing the tap W', and sending the water from the
plunger through the pipe W. We would remark here that the
machinery or apparatus shewn in Figures 8, and 10, may be varied to
suit particular cases, the object of this part of our Invention being to
raise the engine or carriage by the flanges of its wheels, one great
advantage of this arrangement being that the rails of the permanent
way are not in anywise interfered with, consequently when the turning
apparatus has been used the line is free from all obstruction. Figure
11, Sheet 2, represents a sectional elevation, and Figure 12, a plan of
another modification of our improvements in machinery for altering the
position of engines or carriages on railways; in these views a, a, arc
the rails of the permanent way; and b, b, are a pair of rails laid within
the rails a. Upon the rails b, run the wheels c, c, of the lurry d, in the
centre of which is the fixed ram c. The cylinder f, cast with or attached
to the cross head f¹, fits on the ram e, and to the cross head f¹, are fixed
the carrying bars g. by which the engine or carriage to be moved is
raised. The hydraulic pump h, by which the cylinder f, cross head f¹,
and bars g, are raised, is attached to one of the bars g, as shewn in
Figure 12; and the handle ', shewn in dotted lines for working the
plunger, vibrates on a fulcrum also fixed to one of the bars g; i, are
the wheels, and ¹, the axles of the carriage to be moved. The mode of
operation is as follows:-The carriage to be moved so as to alter its
position from one line of rails to another having been brought into the
position shewn in the Drawing over the lurry d, the attendant by
working the handle h', causes part of the water in the cistern h³, to
enter between the head of the ram e, and the cylinder f, thereby raising

page_text: the latter, and with it the carrying bars g, which lift the axles », of the
engine or carriage to be moved until the flanges of the wheels i, arc
clear of the rails a; the carriage can then be swivelled round one
fourth of a revolution and deposited on the rails a', at right angles to
the rails a, or the whole lurry d, with engine or carriage upon it, can
be moved along the rails b, until it arrives in a line. with another pair
of rails parallel to a', on which it can be lowered if requisite; it is
evident that the above machinery can be used for moving carriages at
stations or in warehouses where many lines of rails are required. In
Figures 13, and 14, we have shewn in elevation and plan an improved
combination of machinery to be used in place of a turntable; in these
views j,j, are two rails forming part of the permanent way; k, k, arc
two other rails in a line with j, j, but capable of being raised at one end
by the cams 1, so as to bring the rails k, into the position indicated in
Figure 18; the cams l, are fixed on a shaft m, and are actuated by the
lever m'; n, n, are two bearing bars similar to those marked g, in
Figure 18; these bars swivel on a shaft supported by the prop o,
which is fixed on a shaft p, to which the handle p', is attached. The
various parts are shewn in the plan in a state of rest, but when a
carriage has to be turned from the lines j, to the lines j', the
attendant by clevating the lever m', raises the rails k, into the
position shewn in Figure 13; the carriage to be moved is then
run up the rails, so that its wheels 9, arrive at equal or nearly
equal distances from the rails j'; the attendant then raises the lever
p, so as to elevate the prop o, and bearing bars n, and when this
is done the lever m², is lowered, consequently the carriage which had
been supported in a slanting position by the rails k, is then at liberty
to assume a horizontal position, being supported by the bearing bars n,
which swivel on the prop o. The rails k, are raised rather more than
twice the height of the flanges on the carriage wheels, and therefore
when the carriage is supported on the bearing bars n, the flanges of the
wheels are raised above the level of the rails j; by this means the
carriage can be swivelled partly round, so that when the prop o, is
lowered the wheels of the carriage come on the rails j'; as soon as
the carriage has been moved clear of the bearing bars n, these bars are
brought back to their original position, and the prop o, is lowered so as

page_text: to leave the line perfectly free for traffic. In some cases it may be
preferable to employ two shafts m, and cams l, to lift the rail k
parallel, instead of slanting as shewn in Figure 18. In Figures 15,
and 16, we have shown in plan and transverse sectional. clevation
another modification of our improvements in machinery to be used in
lieu of a turntable; in these views 8, is a cylinder of an ordinary
hydraulic press, this cylinder is supported on a suitable foundation, and
it is furnished with a ram s³, to the upper end of which is fixed a cross
heads, and the bearing bars 3; the ram is caused to rise in the
cylinder by water forced through the pipe s', by a pump of the ordinary
construction. When an engine or carriage has to be turned it is
brought on the rails a, over the cross head s³; the pump for forcing
water into the cylinder s, is then worked either by hand or steam
power, and the ram s¹, thereby elevated until the bearing bars s
come in contact with and raise the engine or carriage by its axles; so
soon as the flanges of the wheels are clear of the rails a, the cross
heads, is turned round, and when the wheels of the engine or carriage
are over the rails a', the attendant by turning the taps, allows the
water in the cylinders, to escape, thereby bringing the wheels to bear
on the rails a¹; the attendants then bring the cross head s², and parts
in connection therewith, back to their original position flush with
the ballast, as shewn in the Drawing. It is evident that when this
machinery is required for working many lines of rails the same force
pump can be used to work all the rams s¹. Figure 17, represents a
sectional elevation, and Figure 18, a plan of another modification of
our improvements in moving engines and carriages from one line of
rails to another; a, a, are four lines of rails which are shewn in the
plan as crossing each other at right.angles; r, is a fulcrum stud fixed
in a plate, placed exactly in the centre of the four lines of rails;
and 2, are two circular rails on the same level as the rails a, upon
which the rollers t', of the lurry t, revolve; this lurry is similar to the
low shelved railway traversers referred to in Figures 1, to 7, and it is
provided with points D, which may be made self-acting like those
before described, or they may be of the ordinary construction as shewn
in the Drawing; the lurry is connected to the fulcrum r, by the
triangular framing 7. The mode of operation is as follows:-When

page_text: an engine or carriage has to be moved from one of the lines of rails to
the other, the attendants place the points D, over the rails a, and run
the engine or carriage on to the low shelving of the lurry; the lurry
with engine of carriage upon it is then turned one fourth; or..one half
of a revolution round its fulcrum r, thereby bringing the engine
or carriage over the line of rails on which it is required; the points D,
are then lowered, and the engine or carriage pushed down the points on
to the rails a, in the usual manner. We wish to remark, the same
machinery may be used where only two or three lines of rails cross or
run parallel to each other.
,
:
We will now proceed to describe the last part of our Invention,
which consists of an improved turntable, particularly applicable for.
turning engines and tenders in places where there is not room for a
turntable of the ordinary construction. Figure 19, represents a plan
of our improved turntable on a small scale. Figure 20, is a plan, and
Figure 21, a section of part of the same on an enlarged scale; a, a,
are the rails of the permanent way; u, the fulcrum; u³, and ³, are
two circular rails near the fulcrum; u³, another circular rail of about
half the diameter of the outer segmental rail us. The moving part of
the turntable consists of the cross frame v, to which the fulcrum u, is
attached, and the two side rails v³, bolted to the cross frame v, and con-
nected by the frames v³, and . The bearing rollers v', run on the outer
rail u, and the rollers v³, run on the rail us; the rollers vo, and v, are
supported by the inner rails u', and w²; the mode of working the turn-
table is clearly shewn in Figure 20. w, is a driving roller, supported by
the rail ; on the same shaft as the roller w, is fixed a spur wheel w¹,
driven by the pinions w², and w; this latter is fixed on the same shaft
as the wheel w', driven by the pinion w, on the crank handle shaft w³;
this driving apparatus may be placed, if necessary, at each side of the
fulcrum, as shewn in Figure19. When an engine and tender have to
be turned they are brought along the rails a', on to the turntable; the
attendants by turning the crank w, on the shaft w, move the turntable
with the engine and tender upon it in the direction of the arrow on
Figure 19, until the rails v¹, come in a line with the rails a², on to which
the engine and tender is then run. From the above description and
Drawings it is apparent that the fulcrum u, is nearer to one end of the

page_text: turntable than the other, by which arrangement less space is required
for turning an engine and tender than in the usual mode of construction.
Having now described the nature of our improvements, and the
best means with which we are acquainted for carrying the same into
effect, we wish it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the
details herein set forth, as the same can be varied without departing
from the nature of our Invention; but what we claim is,-First, the
application of self-acting points to low shelved railway traversers, and
the improved mode of constructing self-retaining points, as shewn and
described in reference to Figures 1, to 7. Secondly, the improved
machinery, as shewn and described in reference to Figures 8, 9, and 10,
for raising engines or carriages by the flanches of their wheels, and for
turning or moving them from one line of rails to another. Thirdly, the
improved machinery, as shewn and described with reference to Figures
11, and 12, for raising engines or carriages by their axles, and for
moving them from one line of rails to another, or for turning them.
Fourthly, the improved machinery or apparatus represented in Figures
13, 14, 15, and 16, for raising engines or carriages by their axles, and
for turning them. Fifthly, the improved machinery, as shewn and as
described in reference to Figures 17, and 18, for moving engines and
carriages from one line of rails to another, consisting of a lurry or a low
shelved railway traverser vibrating from a fixed centre. And, lastly, the
improved swivel turntable, shown in Figures 19, 20, and 21, in which
the fulcrum is nearer one end than the other, whereby less space is
required for turning an engine and tender than in turntables of the
ordinary construction.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Dunn, Hugh Greaves,
and William Watts, junior, have hereunto set our hands and
seals, this Thirteenth day of June, One thousand eight hundred