Improvements in Guide Bearings for Railway and similar Connection Rods.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th June, 1893-Accepted, 1st Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Guide Bearings for Railway and similar
Connection Rods.
We, WILLIAM SMITH of 8 Geneva Road Brixton, Engineer, and THE
SIMPLEX RAILWAY PATENTS SYNDICATE LIMITED, The Works Station Road
Clapham London and 17 Great George Street Westminster, London, S. W. do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improvement of the existing forms of guide bearings by certain alterations
modifications and additions. Such improvements relate to the bearings or guides
for tube shaped rods or channel iron rods, or similar forms as well as to the
bearings supported by separate or sectional standards or to the bearings supported
by the frame or standards cast upon one bed or foundation when however these
same are designed to afford their connection rods the support of a travelling or
rolling guide commonly called an antifriction roller or bearing.
The path hitherto designed for these rolling guide bearings or antifriction rollers
has been horizontal either a slot or groove as in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 or a
horizontal ledge or shelf (open at the top). Now our first feature of novelty
consists in modifying the pathway for a travelling bearing or guide so as to aid the
starting motion and also (at the end of its course) to store up a little of the
superfluous final energy available for aiding the start of the return journey.
The pathway or course provided may be more or less circular like that of a
swinging pendulum or an incline or curved path may lead from each end to a
central or middle horizontal portion of the path; for examples see Figures 5, 6
and 8. For instance where an operator on a railway is pulling over a lever
working facing points or a facing point lock 150 yards or more distant from the
lever, he may have to set in motion one half of a ton more or less in weight of
connection rod to work the said points or point lock: Consequently such
mechanism is often rather hard and slow to start; this is where the advantage
comes in with our novel feature of the incline or curve in the travelling guide's
pathway.
Our next feature of novelty consists in giving a more or less inclined or curved
form to the upper face of the foundation, foot or bed of the frame which supports
the travelling guide; this is done so that any obstruction such as gravel or other
ballast entering the apparatus may be the better expelled as may be observed in
connection with Figures 5, 6 and 8. The same arrangement more or less modified
can be applied to other forms.
Another feature consists in so arranging the foot-like foundations of the standard,
in Figure 7 that the centrally vacant course (indicated by an arrow) thereby
provided may serve not only for the clearing of obstructions or dirt but also as a
guide to the workman engaged in screwing or spiking down a number of standards
in true alignment. The feet of the sections in Figure 7 are represented as
(theoretically) keying together; in practice however such keying has to be so
roughly done, that the centrally vacant course affords a useful indication of correct
alignment.
Figures 1 and 3 shew only existing forms of antifriction roller guide bearings
made in sections, each of which provides both right and left a standard to form &
pair with the half of each neighbouring section. In Figures 5 and 6 the standards
supporting the roller are in one casting with the bedplate and thus much firmer
than in Figure 3 where there is no tie-rod or in Figure 1 where there is one tic-rod

page_text: and a distance piece which may also act as an upper guide roller, revolving if
bearing on the tube but not travelling like the upper guide roller of Figure 3.
Our next feature of novelty consists in ranging and securing together sectional
standards (as in Figure 7) with two or more tie-rods; thus all the separate or
sectional standards ranged in a true line will the better support one another and
help to relieve the keyed and (perhaps imperfectly) bolted down foundations of any
single standard against displacement (or original misfitting) of the kinds illustrated
with a little exaggeration in Figures 2 and 4.
When three or four tie-rods are employed to secure sections together, the holes
for two may be near the base and then there will be little or no need for keying or
interlocking the foundation parts which is a source of trouble unless considerable
expense is incurred in finishing and fitting the castings. In Figure 7 and in the
other forms alluded to each tie-rod threads through a distance piece between
standard and standard as in Figure 1. Such distance pieces are preferably more
or less rollers though they may be cast in halves upon the uprights.
Another of our propositions for improving travelling roller guide bearings is to
provide for the better and more central running of the roller between the standards
in its course whether the same be afforded by the axle running on a shelf or in a
slot. This we do by tapering the roller's axle ends to an angle 15° more or less
and bevelling the bearing surface of the or slot to an angle of 15° more or less,
the angle of the former slightly exceeding the latter and at the same time being
slightly rounded off at the extremity to prevent the axle tip scoring its bearing
surface.
The last feature of novelty consists in forming standards not simply perpendicular
to their horizontal beds but at a considerably varied angle to the same, say 60°
more or less, and this is done in order to attain ends similar to those aimed at by
inventors who have from time to time proposed to encompass in one frame a rod
connection with three or more concentric supports whereof however the frame was
cumbrous and did not suit the ranging of a tier of many parallel horizontal rods
2 inches from centre to centre. We set one pair of our inclined standards leaning
to the right and another pair leaning to the left but both pairs so situate that the
rod connection (tube form) lies concentric to the curves of the upper part (or
contact face) of the travelling rollers of each pair (right and left) of standards.
Dated this Thirtieth day of November 1892.
WILLIAM SMITH.
FREDERICK WILLIAM KETLEY,
Secretary to The Simplex Railway Patents Syndicate, Limited.
COMI LEIE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Guide Bearings for Railway and similar
Connection Rods.
WILLIAM SMITH of 8 Geneva Road Brixton Engineer and THE SIMPLEX
RAILWAY PATENTS SYNDICATE LIMITED now of 17B Great George Street
London formerly of 2 Great George Street London 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 :-
Our leading and perhaps the most striking feature of novelty is embodied in the
methods or means whereby we carry out our project for easing the initial movement
of railway and similar rod connections simultaneously storing up some of the
superfluous or waste energy of the final momentum of each movement with the
object of employing such stored up energy to overcome some of the friction of
repose and to accelerate the slow initial motion at the commencement of the next
(or return) movement.

page_text: Since the principle of rolling friction was first applied (see figures on Sheet VIII.)
vith the "travelling" roller or wheel as a bearing support, the details of several
patented forms have been described may be observed in the Specifications of
Letters Patent numbered -
Datented forms have been CCSCIIOCH as may
Letters Patent numbered-
9,325 of A.D. 1886, Saxby, Farmer, & Hodgson, (expired).
10,370 of A.D. 1890, Stevens.
12,677 of A.D. 1890, Dutton.
13,004 of A.D. 1891, Evans.
It is to be remarked however, that in all the apparatus above referred to as well
as in all other prior patented or unpatented apparatus, more or less seeking to
minimise resistance by adopting the principle of "rolling friction," the course of
the guide-roller's travel has been invariably horizontal or parallel to a level base or
ground plan. Now we propose an improved and novel pathway for the travel of
any suitable antifriction roller by providing a slightly curved or otherwise inclined
pathway (sloping from each end towards the middle). This novel project is herein-
after illustrated and explained in two forms one of which may be fitly termed the
"switch-back run " and the other the "pendulum swing."
Another leading feature of novelty (used in conjunction with the above or
independently applied) relates to improving the pedestal, foot, or base of the
standards (or frames) of many forms of guide-bearing supports. Hitherto the
base-parts of unenclosed standards have been more or less mere flat-plate pedestals
but we now construct the same more like feet with high inclined insteps, fashioned
so as to be :-
1. A fence or guard against fortuitous obstructions impeding the roller or similar
antifriction device ;
2. If open at top, a kind of high wall bounding the central archway, thus
providing a useful channel whereby obstructions or dirt (lying as in a pit very
much out of the way) can be the better raked out or expelled crosswise to the lay
of the connection-rods;
3. An increase of strength to the legs or uprights of standards; and
4. A visual and mechanical device whereby true alignment and close contact
can be maintained whilst fixing the standards and observed after fixing the same.
It may as well be here pointed out that hitherto, where standards have been
fashioned with two feet apiece, connected by legs forming a kind of archway, such
construction has not been designed to provide the novel advantages claimed for our
improvements. This will be apparent at a glance by referring to the illustration
Fig. 14 on Sheet XI. where the archway contains a rib or flange and projections
interfering with its possible use for raking or poking out obstructions and by
reason of the design of the union between the foot and leg not furnishing our raised
guard or fence.
The pit-like channel may be, of course, a depression or gap in the sleeper or bed
on which the standards are fixed, either in addition to or in lieu of the fence
bounded channel.
The kind of standards with which this invention is mainly concerned may be
divided into two classes, viz. :-
(a.) Those whose lines are designed for casting vertically with the base upper-
most (see Sheets V. IX. and XII.); and
(b.) Those whose lines are designed for casting horizontally with the base vertical
(see Sheets VI. X. XI. XIII. XIV. &c.).
The fence and pit-like channel can be adopted by both classes, (a) and (b), with
equal ease and advantage. However our next feature of novelty applies only to
the class (b) which includes most naturally the forms of "separated" standards
designed for being arranged in built-up tiers. This feature moreover relates to the
conformation of the upper parts of such standards. These parts are designed to
have on each face ("universal" type) their two upper boundary or circumferential
edges or rims of (mainly) full thickness and only the internal space thinned down;
thus they appear (Sheet XIV. and XIII.) to have two upper ribs (instead of one

page_text: only as hitherto, see figures on Sheets X. and XI.) springing from the central
ledge or slot upon which the travelling roller's trunnions bear. In their simplest
construction, these twin ribs (see Figure 19. on Sheet XIII.) rising more or less
perpendicularly, then incline and turn inwards, if desired, uniting at the crown.
In the upper part of their course they will join to the boundary or boss of such
openings as may be provided for one or more tie-rods or spindles threaded through
distance pieces or upper rollers. Besides the mere design for strength, these twin-
ribs are designed for a variety of mechanical purposes and effects as for
example :-
(1.) Affording at points as far apart as convenient, a true surface (horizontally
face moulded) against which a top distance piece or pieces (when a roller or
separate piece) may bear and thus ensure at the top that the separate standards are
truly parallel and throughout the same distance apart that their base parts have
secured below;
(2.) A single broad distance piece, Figures 18 and 19 on Sheet XIII. (bearing
against points widely apart on the right and on the left) becomes nearly as effective
as two distance pieces, Figures 21 and 20 on Sheet XIV.
(3.) The upper part (or bridge) of the slot course, may be modified and the slot
(Sheets X. XI. and Fig. 18 Sheet XIII.), changed into more or less of a shelf
(Sheets XIV. XV. &c.); and last, but not least,―
(4.) By suitable gaps, passages, or gates therein provision may be made for
removal and replacing trunnioned rollers without displacing standards as readily
almost as with the forms which resemble Figure 12 on Sheet IX., which alone
have hitherto possessed this good quality in connection with travelling trunnioned
rollers.
.
These twin ribs may very usefully approximate centrally and diverge again as
they approach the top, in lieu of being merely circumferential. In fact any amount
of intermixture and modification can be contrived blending the designs of
Sheets XIV. and XV. &c. with those of Sheets X. XI. and XIII.
Another feature with respect only to separate universal standards, is more or less
an extension of the general idea of the last respecting the perfecting of parallel
adjustment. In this case the design of the standards is reconstructed for building
them up in pairs or tiers with three or even four tie-rods and three or four distance
pieces (or pairs of horns or fixed top covers) per pair, one or two at the summit
and one or two below the middle or near the base, yet just out of reach of (or
stops for) the bottom travelling roller. Thus made the standards exhibit a some-
what triangular or quadrilateral figure from a side view and can afford to dispense
with the assistance of base interfitting.
Much of our reference, thus far, to travelling rollers and their improved standards
may have been supposed to relate to trunnioned rollers. However, travelling
rollers in contact with the rod to be moved at one spot and running not on
trunnions, but upon their peripheries diametrically opposite to the spot where the
rod bears (e.g. Dutton's Patent, 12,677 of A.D. 1890) may have a switchback or
inclined course provided for their run as also may rollers (or rather wheels)
mounted on spindles and travelling with the rod, somewhat after the style of
Stevens' angle guide bearings, Figure 8 on Sheet VII.; only in such latter case
of course the travelling wheel would be vertical and travel with a horizontal axis.
The first drawing on Sheet I. represents a mere crutch support and is purely
historical; none of our claimed features of novelty appear to be applicable to that
primitive form of guide-bearing, which, however, is still in vogue, where nothing
better is specified to be provided by a contractor. A primitive crutch form occurs
also with a bed plate in lieu of a spiked end see Fig. 1A on Sheet I.; thus modified
and under the necessity of accommodating several parallel rods, several forms of
multiple rod guide bearing supports came into use with bottom rotary rollers, of
which the drawing on Sheet 11. shews a form in use, A.D. 1870 or thereabouts,
wherein the chief features were the confinement of each rod and the separation of
each roller.

page_text: Figure 2 on Sheet I., shews an early adaptation of the bottom rotary roller for a
single rod guide support. Here the standards form a hood (of wrought iron) and
with this really excellent form, which still deservedly survives, the adaptation of
our improvements to existing forms, may be said to commence. Whereas in the
form of Figure 2, on Sheet I. the iron hood-like frame is fixed to the timber base,
we should fix a similar iron hood on to a cast iron base piece, which latter would be
fixed by coach screws on to the timber, the said base piece providing underneath
the said hood a <<
"
switch-back run for a trunnioned roller, very much the same
(internally) as in the complete but uncovered form shewn on Sheet XII.
On Sheets III. IV. V. VI. and VII., there are illustrated in historic succession,
and exemplified the chief types of improvements and changes in the patterns of
guide bearing supports, which have led up to the travelling roller systems, shewn
on Sheets VIII. IX. X. and XI., to which our claimed features of novelty are
mainly applicable. By process of comparison, the points of originality of our
various improvements will be discerned whilst some details of the older forms will
bear useful witness of the desirability of some of our provisions in the way of for
instance :-
(a.) The perfecting of sectional adjustment, which is more essential for a
travelling, than for a merely rotating roller.
(b.) The guarding of the bottom roller, from obstructions, which is a more
critical point with the travelling roller than with the rotating roller.
In Sheet IV., the design may be considered a conversion into sectional form of
the earlier entire, and enclosed apparatus of Sheet III., the trunnioned roller of the
latter being necessarily replaced by the spindle-mounted roller of the sectional
boxed-in form. Both of such forms may be employed to encompass our switch-
back run system by those who may prefer such protection to that of the newer
pedestal arrangements.
In the apparatus illustrated on Sheet VI. considered in the light of a conversion
into sectional form of the prior multiple guide-rod frame of Sheet V., it is to be
observed that the separated standards or sectional form of Figure 7. possessed with
great advantage two tie-rods. It may be further observed that our disposition of
two tic-rods (as seen in Figure 20 on Sheet XIV.) is different and better suited to
the more urgent requirements of the latter case.
Again the separate standards of Sheet VI. have a top distance piece somewhat
hood-like, and this feature may be more or less at option added to all our forms, in
some cases relieving the upper roller of all distance piece functions, and converting
it into a real antifriction roller-guide. Such hood might be either removable or a
fixture on the standards.
There is yet another form, still in use, very similar to Figure 6. on Sheet V.,
but with a bottom trunnioned roller and hence somewhat after the type of Figure 12
on Sheet 1X. excepting that the roller's trunnions are confined and allow of no
travel; Fig. 124, Sheet IX., illustrates such an example.
The drawing on Sheet VII. represents Stevens' angle guide-bearing, which
comprised (literally) the first travelling roller or wheel, but it will be seen at a
glance that we have here no anticipation of the inventions shewn on the following
sheets.
The apparatus illustrated on Sheet VIII. represents an unpatented invention of
historic interest as the "foundation" of the travelling roller system. It is said to
have been used on the Glasgow and South-Western Railway of Scotland as early
as A.D. 1882. Our only features of novelty, applicable thereto, besides the
switch-back run, are the pedestal fence and the clearance channel, as was the case
with the earlier hooded guide-bearing of Figure 2, Sheet I.
We now come to the important and well-known patented form of Messrs. Saxby,
Farmer and Hodgson. Figure 12 on Sheet IX. represents a multiple-rod guide
support, embracing the salient feature of such systein to which type of apparatus
three of our features of novelty are applicable, as may be seen in our improved
form (Figure 16, Sheet XII.) where the switch-back" run has been provided for

page_text: the trunnioned roller, whilst the pedestal fence and clearance channel usefully
combine to obviate the only possible objection, which can be raised against the
principle of the travelling roller, namely, that it is more exposed to obstruction
than the merely rotating roller. We further usefully propose with this type of
machine to make, as shewn, the single pair of standards (Figures 16 and 17)
"double faced or of the "universal" type so that, when placed adjacent to each
other, they will supply guide-bearings for 3 or 5 or any odd number of parallel
rods. The addition of a single standard end-section will of course, if desired, make
the number of guide bearings even.
وو
It has been mainly Messrs. Saxby, Farmer, and Hodgson's invention which has
brought the travelling roller system into favour, both for channel (inverted trough)
iron and for tube (pipe) rod-connections. The apparatus is extensively used with
a top (spindle-mounted) antifriction roller and proportioned on a scale rather
different to that of the drawing on Sheet XII., the diameter of the bottom roller
being about 5 inches and its length of travel being only one inch. To more
adequately secure the advantages of our switch-back run, it seems advisable to us
to more or less halve the former measurement and about double the latter.
"
We next come to Stevens' Patent of 1890, illustrated on Sheet X., which
appears to be plainly the "master" or "foundation" invention respecting the
adoption and combination of two designs in connection with the system of travelling
rollers, namely (A) the protected, bridged over, or through slot course for the
roller's trunnions and (B) the horizontally moulded and universal type of separated
standards. Here most of our features of novelty appear to come in and can be
studied more or less throughout, as if arising from the critical examination of the
same, its peculiar advantages and disadvantages, although in origin it was rather
the contemplation of the pendulum swing, which led up to the suggestion of the
switch-back run.
Figure 18 on Sheet XIII. represents an improvement upon the standard of
Figure 13 on Sheet X.; the switch-back "through slot" replaces the "through
slot" horizontal course whilst our design of foot fence and clearance channel is
substituted for the former flat pedestal. There is not here provided any of our
novel gaps, or passages for facilitating the removal and replacement of the
trunnioned roller. Figure 19, however, on the same sheet shews further improve-
ments in the way of utilising the upper circumferential rib; here the "through
slot is transformed, becoming a shelf, whilst the gap in the crown provides for
the easy removal and replacement of the trunnioned roller when the tie-rod is
withdrawn.
Sheet XIV. represents a similar form of our improved standard with the through-
slot converted into a simple shelf or ledge, and at the same time a side passage or
gate provided in the circumferential rib for facilitating the removal and replacement
of rollers without disturbing fixed standards. Here there are two upper tie-rods
and distance pieces, whilst (if desired) an extra upper idle and trunnioned roller of
small size may lie between the crown of the standards and the supported connection
rod. Such small upper additional roller will be very loosely held, but not practically
here travelling because too closely bounded by the distance pieces around the twin
tie-rods.
In adding our switch-back run to the form of Evans' Patent on Sheet XI., there
appears no prospect of advantage in curving the slot-course of the upper travelling
roller. We should prefer to add at least one tie-rod and distance piece, situate out
of reach of the travelling rollers, preferably at the top, but even possibly near the
base. There appears more prospect of advantage with a more radical change of
general pattern and the entire abolition of the top slot-course. Our circumferential
(or twin) rib design, will now again as before, become useful in modifying the
rather unnecessary slot-course, which has hitherto made the removal and replace-
ment of roller almost impracticable. Fig. 22 Sheet XV. represents a standard
fashioned after these suggestions. Fig. 23 represents a side view of a pair of
standards with rollers and rod. The twin ribs about the middle can of course be

page_text: carried so far inwards as to closely approximate the design common to both Sheet X.
and Sheet XI., and more or less of the internal connecting web or skin removed so
as to make the rollers' trunnion course more or less of a slot. There appears to us
insufficient advantage for doing so to any great extent, unless it be considered an
advantage to try and circumvent our claimed features of novelty.
Our next illustration on Sheet XVI. is the switch-back run adapted for spindle
mounted rollers or wheels. The general idea may be managed many ways, but
our drawing represents a sectional standard with an upper. and a lower shelf
against one or other of which the flanking wheels carried along with the rod
will bear. The tie-rods may form stops, and upper distance pieces of sections
may form a hood.
course
We next come to the switch-back course adapted for free untrunnioned rollers,
Sheet XVII. Here a radical change has been contrived in the division of
standards, each section is two half standards or pillars with connections spanning
an interval, whilst the bottom travelling roller's own guided "switch-back
may be a bent rod or tube fixed (by tie-rods) to the half standards; a straight
rod or tube may be similarly held for the upper roller's guided course.
illustrate this mainly to exhibit the very wide applicability of our improvements
and observe that it bears a certain resemblance to Dutton's system, above
mentioned; however, it will appear quite feasible to use the free rollers shewn
at Fig. 25 of Sheet XVII. with the standards of Fig. 24 of Sheet XVI.
We
As illustrated in Fig. 25 an eight inch course (inconveniently long) would be
required to accommodate the lower travelling roller where the connection-rod itself
had an eight inch travel. Hence to make a design after this style more practical,
the lower roller, at least, should be modified (see Fig. 25, roller or wheel in front
elevation with rod and lower guide in section) so as to run on a narrower and
shorter bed.
"
Our illustrations (Figures 26 and 27 on Sheet XVIII) represent our "pendulum
swing course of travel for the antifriction roller. Herein is scope for introducing
minor details of construction ad libitum. The roller is a kind of pulley and this
pulley is the bob of the pendulum, which naturally hangs from the tie-rod. Such
mechanical construction may be considered to resemble the "half-crank" rod
support (well known to railway men for leading round slight curves) changed from
the horizontal to the vertical plane. This consideration, by the way, leads to
another project (Sheet XIX.), namely, to retain a certain style of crank mounting
and let a semi-pendulum or half-crank arm swing at an angle of 60°, more or less
to the horizontal, since here again we may still have the benefit of an inclined
plane course, whilst accommodating a small change in direction of motion. To
return to our figures on Sheet XVIII. the pendulum consists of two suspended
links with cheeks at the bottom receiving the trunnions or axle of their roller, and
with upper cylindrical cross-arms through which the standards' tie-rod passes.
The cylindrical tops of these links, if not in one piece, key together where they
meet. The rod, if pipe-shaped, will run loosely between an upper and a lower
roller, preferably trunnioned.
"
The figures on Sheet XIX. require little explanation; here the " pendulum
of the figures on the preceding sheet is supposed to be mounted at an angle to the
horizon, and if desired, somewhat more crank-like. The antifriction rollers may,
if at all, incline more or less, but the connection of the design with our improve-
ments lies in the fact that it accommodates the connection-rod, which it upholds,
with our novel swing-like travel and its inherent advantages, whilst it allows
simultaneously a small change in the direction of the lay or run of the said rod.
On consideration, we abandon the intention of constructing forms of standards
more after the style of Figures 15, 16, 17 and 18 inclined to the horizontal plane
for the sake of accommodating small angular changes of motion and remain content
with the mere publication of the general idea.
It may be fairly surmised and, it is thought, confirmed by observation, that
Messrs. Saxby's and Messrs. Stevens' forms of travelling-roller guide-bearings

page_text: mainly triumph over the best non-travelling forms in the somewhat (slightly)
greater ease with which the initial lever motion can be effected by the operator as
the result of their use, since, when everything is going well, the merely rotating
roller answers well enough and is the less liable to encounter obstructions, as we
have before remarked. It is, however, just this little but very practical point of
superiority, which is carried an enormous step further by our first feature of
novelty whether in the "switch-back" run, or the "pendulum swing" or similar
inclined plane action. Suppose now, for a popular explanation and practical
representation, that a nine foot cabin-frame lever working 175 yards of point-rod
connections in the old style, weighing half a ton, a little more or less, is being
worked; here the operator pulls the lever's handle a three foot stroke in a period
of one second of time; and suppose that we approximately analyse the operator's
exercise of force, showing the necessary energy expended to be:—
the foot pounds might amount to even two or three times the above total, whilst
the period might with a different style of pull be prolonged to two or more
seconds.
Now suppose that our switch-back run or its alternative principle be adopted,
and the operator's former vigour of pull be moderated so as to effect the same
motion in the same period of time. Then the result will be a saving of energy
and a better regulated travel as below:-
Energy.
26 foot-pounds
Period of Time.
1st quarter second
Pull-over of Lever Handle.
3 inches travel.
12
2nd
9
"
"
"
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"
""
.
15
3rd
18
"7
"
"
"
"
"
15
4th
6
"
"
"
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"
"
-
68 foot-pounds;
one second ;
36 inches travel.
Or supposing, in the two cases, that the movement be effected by the same
amount of energy, then there will be a saving in the latter case of time and also
again a better regulated travel. With a pendulum swing, or a steeper incline to
our switch-back run, we can easily conceive in some cases how the rod and lever
might even start automatically on the operator lifting the catch-handle; then the
operator would apply his energy in an increasing ratio to the middle and latter
parts of the lever's full stroke. Anyhow and under all cases, more or less of the
advantages occur as represented whilst not only does an easier, because more even,
task fall to the lot of the operator, but less strain, wear, and tear is inflicted upon
the lever and the whole apparatus from end to end.
There is another important fact, the consideration of which promises to add
much to the credit of the present invention, for it concerns the very critical
question as to the weight, size, and shape best suited for railway rod-connections.
We need not here enter into the rival merits of pipe or tube, versus channel or
(inverted) trough iron, except to say that the very many technical and practical
good points of the latter have been counterbalanced in the opinion of many railway
engineers, by its necessarily greater weight per foot run. Such a remarkable
effect as that above represented in remedying the excessive former friction of

page_text: repose and exceeding slowness in overcoming the inertia of the mass to be set in
motion, may therefore be expected to contribute to the ultimate victory of channel
iron over iron pipe for rod-connections, inasmuch as by use of our improved
bearings it will matter but little to the lever operator, whether his task be to put
in motion one half of a ton of tube-rod connections (a maximum estimate) or
three quarters of a ton of channel-iron rod connections (maximum estimated weight
for sake of contrast). For three-position rods, a central resting spot and a
double "switch back course may be provided. It is conceivable that the switch-
back run may be added to the hanging link of the pendulum swing guide bearing
support.
Our references to prior designs and apparatus patented and unpatented will suffice
to show all that we disclaim.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
Firstly. An inclined plane course or "switch-back" run for the trunnions of the
travelling rollers of guide-bearing supports.
"
Secondly. An inclined plane course or "switch-back run for untrunnioned
rollers.
Thirdly. The pendulum-swing roller guide-bearing supports as described.
Fourthly. The inclined link (or half-crank), or semi-pendulum swing guide-
bearing support and standards designed to accommodate a small angular change in
direction of motion as described.
Fifthly. The fence or guard, as described, on the foot or pedestal of roller guide-
bearing standards.
Sixthly. The pit or channel, as described, across the base of roller guide-
bearing standards or in a sleeper or bed-plate just below the antifriction roller.
Seventhly. The combination of the above fence or guard with the above pit or
channel, as described.
Eighthly. The general arrangement comprising the two (or twin) upper and
somewhat circumferential ribs of the horizontally moulded separate standards for
the indicated mechanical purposes as described.
Dated this 7th day of April 1893.