Improvements in Apparatus for Gauging and Testing Rails and the like, applicable also as a Rule or Measure and a Level.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1894-Accepted, 8th Sept., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Gauging and Testing Rails and the
like, applicable also as a Rule or Measure and a Level.
I, PIERRE SOULÉ residing at Billere near Pau, Department of the Lower
Pyrenees in the Republic of France, 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 for improvements in apparatus for gauging and testing rails and
the like, applicable also as a rule or measure and a level has for its object to produce
a light and reliable instrument applicable more especially for testing the variation
in the gauge of a railway at curves or otherwise and for determining the cant of
the rails.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings:
Figs. 1 and 2 are side elevations of an apparatus constructed according to this
invention and in which the main body is made of steel plate and
Fig. 3 is a similar view with the cover plate removed and shown below.
Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 1 showing an apparatus with a wooden body
covered with sheet metal.
-
Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 1 showing an apparatus constructed of sheet
metal.
The main body of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is constructed of a central
web piece m secured to a head piece o and base piece p to form a double channel.
The web is secured to the head and base pieces by projections on its edges taking
into holes in the head and base pieces and riveted therein. Fig. 1 also shows the
body strengthened by cross pieces r secured to the web and head and base pieces in
a similar manner.
The ends st of the body are made solid and secured to the body. One end is
formed as a pike for use in sounding or testing wooden sleepers.
The end t
is provided with a slide piece a operated by the milled nut working on a screw
secured to the slide piece which is guided by the rod g. The end t is graduated so
that its position can be ascertained with accuracy.
i
The centre of the body is formed as a box h to contain a level. The lid d of the
box is secured to the body by screws and is provided with openings behind which
the web is graduated vertically. A counterweighted double ended pointer c is
pivoted in the centre of the box to the web and its ends pass over the graduations
behind the openings i. A screw e in the cover serves to jamb the counterweight
against the web when the apparatus is not in use. The pins aid in securing the
cover and limit the movement of the needle.
When desired to gauge the rails, the apparatus is placed on the rails as shown
and the nut is operated until the heads and sliding piece a fit loosely as shown
between the rails when the reading on the scale is taken and shews when the gauge
is correct or how much it is altered. At the same time the reading of the level
scale gives the cant, and the double scale ensures accuracy.
The rule shown in Fig. 4 is made of wood and is covered on three sides with
sheet copper or other suitable metal. The other parts are similar to those shown
in Figs. 1 to 3.
The rule shown in Fig. 5 is made of sheet metal of channel shape and the sliding
piece consists of a rod a passing through a hole at t¹ and is secured by a thumb
screw passing through an elongated slot in its end and screwing into the channel
piece.
The body of the apparatus may be graduated so as to form a rule.

page_text: Having now 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 :-
:-
1. An apparatus for use in testing the permanent way of railways consisting of a
combined gauge tester and cant indicator.
2. The improvements in apparatus for gauging and testing rails and the like
applicable also as a rule or measure and a level, substantially as described with
reference to the drawings.
Dated this 26th day of June 1894.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.