Improved Compensating Apparatus for Rod Connections Operating Switch Points, Locks, Bolts, Signals, and such like Purposes on Railways.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1857
Complete Left, 3rd Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 4th May, 1888
Improved Compensating Apparatus for Rod Connections Operating
Switch Points, Locks, Bolts, Signals, and such like Purposes
on Railways.
I, HENRY WILLIAMS of Gowanbrae, Crosshill Glasgow, Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for IMPROVED COMPENSATING APPARATUS FOR ROD
CONNECTIONS OPERATING SWITCH POINTS, LOCKS, BOLTS, SIGNALS AND SUCH LIKE
PURPOSES ON RAILWAYS to be as follows:-
:-
In carrying my invention into effect or practice I fix midway of the length of the
rod connection my compensating apparatus which divides or cuts into two halves the
full length of such connection that the halves shall telescope into each other at the
centre a suitable distance to allow of the notion or travel required and also by that
caused by heat or cold of the atmosphere or instead of the halves telescoping as above
I sometimes arrange that the halves shall slide past each other at the centre, in either
case in or on suitable bearings with friction pulleys, rollers, or their equivalent above
and below, so as to allow of the whole length of such rod connections shortening or
lengthening automaticly. To each of these halves I hinge or attach a short diagonal
strap preferably about twelve inches long to join together at the centre which when at
half travel or motion are at angles of forty five degrees from the general line of the
rod connections and at right angles to each other. In joining these two straps together
I arrange the one to form a jaw over the eye of the other through which I pass a
centre pin which pin must be long enough to project say about one inch beyond the
full outside width of the jaws of this joint and on the projections of this centre pin I
arrange a friction thimble or pulley on each side to work or turn on such pin. For
the perfect vertical guidance of these thimbles with their joint and diagonal straps I
arrange in a suitable cast iron or metal base or framing, preferably of a box shape,
two slots or grooves one in each opposite side so as to allow of the two diagonal straps
with their friction thimbles or pulleys to work vertically up and down therein. These
two slots or grooves will always be at exact right angles to the general line of the rod
connections. Thus when a pull is made on either half of the rod connections it gives
a push on the opposite half, and vice versa and providing a direct and parallel action
Dine 37

page_text: which will afford perfect compensation to the rod connections instead of a radial
motion as is now generally in uso which does not give such compensation neither
direct action nor maintaining its full power of such operation. Immediately above or
below the centre of the vertical action of these two diagonal straps I have a part of
the cast iron or metal framing arranged with friction pulleys to receive the onds
of the two halves of the rod connections so as to properly carry them in their
telescoping or sliding action.
Instead of having the two halves of the rod connections to telescope into each other
at the centre as described, by an equivalent arrangement I have four diagonal straps
of the same length as when only two are employed, each strap at an angle of ninety
degrees to each other, and at two of the opposite diagonal or alternate corners I would
join the halves of the rod connections each of which would also work in a slot or
groove, and when such connections were at half their travel or motion cach of the
four diagonal straps would be at a line of forty five degrees from the general line of
their rod connections. In this latter arrangement I would provide friction thimbles
or pulleys for each of the four joints to work in their respective slots or grooves..
Each of these slots or grooves would be at right angles to each other thus producing
the same reverse action on the two halves of the rod connections as described in the
former arrangement.
Under another arrangement of my improvements for performing the same functions
I arrange two flat plates of metal say about eight inches wide by about sixteen inches
long by about three quarters of an inch thick to slide on their edge horizontally and
closely side by side through each of these plates I cut a slot preferably to an angle of
forty five degrees from the horizontal working line the one slot right and the other
left hand when the two plates are in a position for working. Through these slots and
to engage with both I pass a centre pin and upon it I pass four friction thimbles or
their equivalent to turn freely.
Each one of the two middle thimbles would be moved by the working of its own
plate and the two outer thimbles would be arranged to work up and down in two side
slots or grooves in a suitable iron framing (which would be of a somewhat box shape).
These slots or grooves in the framing being at exact right angles to the horizontal
action of both plates. To one end of each of these plates I weld or otherwise secure
a short lng so as to give direct and rigid action, and to these lugs I cotter or otherwise
attach the rod connections. Or instead of welding any lug to the plates I can joint
the rod connections with ordinary radial joints. Thus when a pull is made on either
half of the rod connections it produces a push on the opposite half by the power being
transmitted through the centre pin which is eased of friction by the thimbles.
Dated this Sixth day of Iul 1897

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Compensating Apparatus for Rod Connections Operating
Switch Points, Locks, Bolts, Signals, and such like Purposes
on Railways.
I, HENRY WILLIAMS of Gowanbrac, Crosshill Glasgow, Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for IMPROVED COMPENSATING APPARATUS FOR ROD
CONNECTIONS OPERATING SWITCH POINTS, LOCKS, BOLTS, SIGNALS AND SUCH LIKE
PURPOSES ON RAILWAYS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
In carrying my invention into effect or practice I fix midway of the length of the
rod connections my compensating apparatus which devides or cuts into two halves the
full length of such connection that the halves shall telescope into each other at the
center a suitable distance to allow of the motion or the travel required and also by
that caused by heat or cold of the atmosphere, or instead of the halves telescoping as
above I sometimes arrange that the halves shall slide past each other at the center, in
either Case in or on suitable bearings with friction pulleys rollers, or their equivalent
above and below so as to allow of the whole length of such rod connection shortening
or lengthening automatically. To each of these halves I hinge or attach a short
diagonal strap preferably about twelve inches long to join together at the center,
which when at half travel or motion are at angles of forty five degrees from the
general line of the rod connections, and at right angles to each other. In joining
these two straps together, I arrange the one to form a jaw over the eye of the other
through which I pass a center pin, which pin must be long enough to project
say about one inch beyond the full outside width of the jaws of this joint, and on
these projections of this center pin, 1 arrange a friction thimble or pulley on each
side to work or turn on sbuch pin. For the perfect vertical guidance of these thimbles
with their joint and diagonal straps I arrange in a suitable cast-iron or metal base or
framing, preferably of a box shape two slots or grooves one in each opposite side so
as to allow of the two diagonal straps with their friction thimbles or pullies to work
vertically up and down therein―These two slots or grooves will always be at exact
right angles to the general line of the rod connections. Thus when a pull is made
.
on either half of the rod connections it gives a push on opposite half-and vice versa,
and providing direct and parellel action which will affoard perfect compensation to
the rod connections instead of a radial motion as is now generally in use which does
not give such compensation neither direct action nor maintaining its full power of
such operation.
Immediately above or below the center of the vertical action of these two diagonal
straps I have a part of the cast iron or metal framing arranged with friction pullies to
receive the ends of the two halves of the rod connections so as to properly carry them
in their telescoping or sliding action.
Instead of having the two halves of the Rod connections to telescope into each
other at the center as described; by an equivalent arrangement I have four diagona!

page_text: straps of the same length as when only two are employed each strap at an angle of
ninety degrees of each other when at half travel, and at two of the opposite
diagonal or alternate corners I would join the halves of the rod connections each of
which would also work in a slot or groove, and when such connections were at half
travel or motion, each of the four diagonal straps would be at a line of forty five
degrees from the general line of their rod connections. In this latter arrangement
I would provide friction thimbles or pullies for each of the four joints to work in their
respective slots or grooves. Each of these slots or grooves would be at right angles
of each other thus producing the same reverse action on the two halves of the rod
connections as described in the former arrangement. Under another arrangement of
my improvements for performing the same functions 1 arrange two flat plates of metal
say about eight inches wide by about sixteen inches long by about three quarters of
an inch thick to slide on their edge horizontally and closely side by side, through each
of these plates, I cut a slot preferably to an angle of fourty five degrees from the
horizontal working line, the one slot right and the other left hand when the two plates
are in a position for working. Through these slots and to engage with both I pass or
enter a pin, and upon it I pass four friction thimbles or their equivalent to turn freely.
Each one of the two middle thimbles would be moved by the working of its own
plate, and the two outer thimbles would be arranged to work up and down in two side
slots or grooves in a suitable iron framing (which would of a somewhat box shape).
These slots or grooves in the framing being at exact right angles to the horizontal
action of both plates. To one end of each of these plates I would weld-cast-or
otherwise secure a short lug so as to give direct and rigid action, and to these lugs I
cotter or otherwise attach the rod connections, or instead of welding or casting any
lug to the plates I can joint the rod connections with ordinary radial joints. Thus
when a pull is made on either half of the rod connections, it produces a push on the
opposite half by the power being transmitted through the center pin which is eased of
friction by the thimbles.
In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention relates, to under-
stand and carry my improvements into effect or practice I have hereunto appended
an explanatory sheet of drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to
indecate the same or equivalent parts in all the figures where shown:-Figure I is a
side elevation, and Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line I. I. of
Figure I, showing one arrangement of my new or improved compensating apparatus
for rod connections, in which angled or diagonal movable links or straps are used.
And Figure 3 is a side elevation, and Figure 4 a corresponding plan of a modified
arrangement of my improved compensating apparatus for rod connections, and in
which parallel moving or sliding plates with angled or diagonal slots are used, instead
of the connecting straps in the arrangement shown in Figures I and 2. Referring to
the arrangement of my improved compensating apparatus, shown in figures I and 2,
I use a tube A. into which I slide telescopically a rod A' on the under surface of the
tube A. I cast, forge, or other wise form a lug or support B, and to the rod A¹ I form
in similar manner a lug B to each of these lugs B. B' I joint by a pin or cotter b. or
otherwise attach the upper end of the diagonal straps C. C. The lower end of these
diagonal straps C. are connected or jointed to a transverse pin B². These ends
being preferably in the form of a jaw c. c. and central eye c¹ as shown in Figure 2, and
on the outer or projecting ends of the pin B are mounted thimbles or small anti-
friction rollers &,, which freely turn on the pin B2 and slide up and down in a
groove or recessed guides formed at d. d' in the opposite sides of a vertical carrying
frame or box D. D. The metallic frame or box D. DI would be bolted down at Z Z.
on each side to a wooden frame or other support. On the upper ends of the vertical
carrying frame D. D' are mounted two transverse pullies E. E' by cottered pins e.
which guide the telescopic tube A. parallelly in its reciprocatory motion. This improved
compensating apparatus would be placed midway in the length of the rod connections,
and the one half or part of the rod would be jointed to the tube A. preferably by
sliding into its end and securing it by a pin or cotter as shown at a Figure I, while
the other end or part of the rod would be secured to the rod A¹ preferably by a pin

page_text: or cotter at a. The action of the improved apparatus is as follows:-When the rod A
is drawn by the rod or line connection outwards, the upper end of the strap C is moved
with it, which action moves the Pin B (connected to other end of strap C) upwards
by its thimbles or antifriction rollers b. and the lower end of the strap C being
connected to this piu B2 the motion is transmitted through this strap C and lug B' to
the rod A which is moved outwards from within the telescope joint in the tube A.
and communicates its action to the rod or line connections at a¹, and vice versa, when
the line connection at a pushes inward the rod A' motion is transmitted through the
strap to the pin B2 and its antifriction thimbles which slide downwards in
the vertical guides or slides d. d' of the metallic frame D. D' and the action is thus
transmitted to the angle strap C which draws the tube A inwards to telescope on to
the rod A. The pullies E E keeping the reciprocating motion parallel. An air
escape hole a is made in the tube A to prevent any accumulation of air in it. When
desired corresponding angle straps C. Cand frame D. D' carrying the vertically
moving pin B2 and its antifriction rollers or thimbles 61 could be similarly mounted
above the telescoping tube and rod A. A¹ and act correspondingly or in combination
with the lower arrangement. This latter would give a more mechanical but more
expensive working arrangement.
Referring to the arrangement of my improved compensating apparatus shown in
Figures 3 and 4. in this arrangement instead of the angle straps C¹ shown in
Figures I and 2 I mount two plates F F to slido or move longitudinally and parallaly
along or past each other. These plates F. F' would be mounted to slide freely on
their edges between upper and lower guiding rollers el e. In or through those
plates FFI form or cast angled slots preferably about two inches wide and at an
exact angle of forty five degrees from the horizontal line of the plate and its rod
connections these slots I have marked and the one slot to be right and the other
slot to be left hand when the two plates F. and Fare in a position ready for working.
Through these slots f. and I pass a center pin B3 which moves vertically in them
and actuates both plates F and F to reciprocate horizontally. On the center pin B²
is mounted side by side four antifriction thimbles or rollers b'. Each of the two
center thimbles is moved by the travel of its plate For F1 and the two outer
thimbles work or slide freely up and down in their two side vertical slots or
grooves d. d in the metallic framing D. D', and thus guide vertically the center
pin B2 with its antifriction thimbles which reciprocates the plates F and F¹ by its
movements in their diagonal or angled slots fand f¹.
On each outer end of the Plates F. F¹ I form or cast a short lug F2 and to these
lugs F the rod connections are cottered or otherwise attached, or these rod connections
may be secured to the reciprocating plates F. F' by ordinary radial joints and pins.
Thus when a pull is made by either half of the rod connection it produces a pushing
action on the opposite half by the power being transmitted through the horizontal
reciprocating slotted plates F F¹ and the vertically moving center Pin B³.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention 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 compen-
sating apparatus for Rod Connections operating Switch Points, Locks, Bolts, Signals,
and such like purposes on Railways substantially as and for the advantages herein
described and destinguished in referance to and shown in Figures I. and 2 and 3
and 4 respectively of the accompanying drawings.
Second. In compensating apparatus for Rod Connections the operating of the
switch points, Locks, Bolts, Signals, and such like purposes on Railways by means
of diagonal straps or links or corresponding slots formed in horizontal rociprocating
plates connected by a pin or organ moving vertically in guides, substantially as
and in the manner herein described in reference to and shown in Figures I and 2,
and 3 and 4. respectively of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Third. In compensating apparatus for Rod Connections on Railways, the duplica-
ting of the power transmitting mechanism, consisting of the diagonal straps or
links, and vertically moving pin or organ, by placing same on opposite sides of
the actuating rod connections, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Fourth. In compensating apparatus for Rod Connections on Railways, the opperating
of the connections so that the drawing of the one connecting link or tube, causes the
other to slide telescopically in it, or slide past it, and thus allow such rod connections
to shorten or lengthen automatically substantially as and in the manner and for the
purposes herein described and destinguished in reference to and shown in Figures I
and 2. and 3 and 4. respectively of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In compensating Apparatus for Rod Connections on Railways the arrange-
ment and use of antifriction thimbles or rollers mounted on the vertically
reciprocating center pin B², substantially as and for the advantages herein described
and destinguished in referance to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1888.