Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted. 21st Dec., 1888
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
་
The progressive development and advancement now being made on the permanent
way of Railways, by enlarging the Section of the Rails, and higher train speeds are
demanded, and as there are existing features generally detrimental which call for some
remedy.
This Invention has for its object a new and improved arrangement, of Steel or other
Metal tongues, applied to fill up the gaps or apertures in Railway crossings that are
found necessary for the flanges of a pair of wheels to pass through, when crossing
over from one pair of Rails to that of the others, or into sidings or at the various lines
of Rails at Junctions.
These tongues take the form of the openings existing between the acute angle of
the crossing and the wing Rail, effectually filling up the aperture and forming a con-
tinuous level and unbroken plane of Rail thus removing all concussions preventing the
wear and early destruction of the Steel angle point formed by the intersection of
the Rails, rendering a guide Rail unnecessary; besides being applicable to level cross-
ings, and crossings at all angles, with the various Sections of Rails in general use.
At Junctions where the direction of trains are changed from the Main Line at high
speeds a group of crossings must be passed over by the wheels-consequently the
tongues that are fitted to fill up the spaces for the passing of the Junction trains are
raised up into position and those of the main line depressed or lowered sufficiently for
the wheel flanges to pass over, and the motion that is communicated for raising and
lowering these tongues, is arranged and governed to be worked in connection with
the points and signals or independently, the tongues are capable of being raised, or
depressed as desired, to make the road a perfect plane, whichever the direction of the
train and on whatever line.
For the purpose of carrying out this invention. A cast iron or Steel Box made
with a raised ridge on top to support the intersecting Rails and parts of crossing, with
the addition of chairs, secured by bolts or trenails, and resting on a cushion formed of
White Metal, inserted on raised part of ridge.

page_text: The Box is of sufficient length-with ends movable for access, to protect the
fittings within from the ballast and strengthened in the part under the Rails for
substantially carrying the passing weight on cach tongue, and has two extended
flanges for resting on two sleepers,-forming a substantial additional support to the
crossing.
The tongues extend some distance down inside of the Box in guides so as to resist
side flexure, the guides rise as high as possible-for further support, and as the
tongues rise up, above the top of Box-through the openings, a clamp at the back of
Rail holds the tongue up to the face of wing Rail.-In cases where two tongues are
fitted in one Box, suitable for both direction at crossing, they rise up and down in
close contact with each other, alternately, one being level with top of rail, and the
other depressed below to a depth sufficient to allow the flanges of the wheels of a train
to pass over in any designed direction.
These tongues are acted upon for the purpose of raising them vertically or lowering
them, and substantially supporting each one, when elevated to proper position, by
two inclined planes-each having at the opposite enda level plane which after
traversing the proper distance horizontally raises up the tongue until the level plane
is reached, and thus sustains the tongue in its elevated position-and as the inclined
planes are joined together in a reversed form-the other tongue rests on the thin end
of inclined plane and in its lowest position. Provision is also made in these inclined
planes to ensure the depression of the tongue being secured, simultaneously to that of
raising the other.
A Rod is fitted to these inclined planes to connect them by levers, either to the
point rods or signals,- or to be moved independently, so that by motion communicated
from any levers to the inclined planes giving a horizontal movement, effects the vertical
raising and lowering of the desired tongues, & ensuring substantial support in their
relative positions.
The raising and lowering of these tongues may be obtained by any other suitable
mechanical contrivances such as cams cranks &c.
In the case of level crossings, where lines are laid at right angles to those of a Main
Line, we encounter several gaps for the wheel flanges to pass through both ways; the
above arrangement of inclined planes is especially applicable for moving groups of
tongues efficiently, in connection with stop signals for either line.
Dated the 23rd day of December 1887

page_text: I, JAMES STABLER of 13 Effra Road, Brixton, in the County of Surrey, Engineer,
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 has for its object improvements in railway crossings.
In railway crossings there are necessarily gaps or intervals for the passage of the
flanges of the wheels. When running over these places the tread of the wheel is
unsupported by the rail or is supported only by narrow surfaces at the apices of the
crossing. This produces unsteadiness in running at high speeds and increases the
wear and tear of the road and rolling stock. To obviate this I provide moveable
blocks to rise up and fill the gaps when they are not required and to descend out of
the way when the gaps are required for the passage of the wheel flanges. The way in
which I accomplish this is indicated by the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan of a crossing arranged according to my invention.
Figure 2 is an elevation.
Figure 3 is a section on the line A B, in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section.
Figure 5 is a plan of a right angles crossing.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the same.
Figure 7 is a plan of an obtuse angled crossing.
Figure 8 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 9 is an end elevation partly in section.
Figure 10 is a horizontal section.
In Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, A A are the railway rails; they are held in chairs forming
part of the casting B or the chairs may be separate from the casting and bedded
upon it. The casting B projects downwards between the sleepers on which it is
supported for the purpose of guiding the two steel blocks C C. The blocks C C can
rise up through holes in the bottom of the casting for the purpose of filling up the
gaps left between the rails for the wheel flanges. The blocks Care bolted as shown
to other blocks or carriers C¹. B₁ is a bottom plate secured by bolts to the casting B ;
upon it the double wedge D is able to slide. The blocks C¹Crest upon the wedge D
and they are moved up and down by it. The movement of the wedge in either direc-
tion raises one of the blocks into position to make good the gap over which the tread
of the wheel will pass, and it draws down the other block to make room for the
passage of the wheel flange. To insure that the block shall be thus drawn down by
the movement of the wedge each block is provided with a T piece C, on its underside,
which enters a cavity in the top of the wedge, so that, as before stated, the wedge
operates to draw down the blocks as well as to elevate them. The wedge D is coupled
with the gear which works the switches and signals, and moves in unison with them.

page_text: By having the blocks C and C¹ separate and secured together by bolts the means is
provided for adjusting for wear; filling pieces being introduced between the blocks C
and C to raise the surface of the block when it wears. In order more effectually to
guide the blocks C¹ I form them with tongues C³ which project through guiding holes
in the floor of the casting B. Thus the rail as will be seen is held between the
part of the block C and its guiding tongue C³ so that the block cannot get out of
placc.
The bolts supporting the bottom plate B1 afford the means of adjusting its position
so that the blocks C may be lifted accurately to the level of the rails.
Where separate chairs are employed bedded on the casting B I correct the irre-
gularities of the surfaces by running in white metal between the face of the casting
and the base of the chair and I caulk it to form a substantial and true bedding.
In Figures 5 and 6 the arrangement is similar, the form of the parts only being
varied.
In Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10, the blocks C¹¹are connected by means of radial
arms EE with a bearing F which is firmly secured to the rails, as the drawing
indicates; so the blocks are securely held and controlled in their movement.
In place of supporting the blocks upon a wedge D sliding to and fro they are in
this case supported upon cam pieces on an axis which turns in bearings in the lower
plato bolted to the casting B. G G are the cam pieces and H the axis upon which
they are fixed. I is a rod jointed to an arm upon the axis H and turning it to
and fro through an arc of 90 degrees or thereabouts. By means of the rod I the axis
is coupled with the points and signals and moved in unison with them. At each
movement of the axis it raises one of the blocks by means of the corresponding
cam G and an auxiliary link K, and, when the block is raised, the cam sustains it in
that position. The block C is drawn down by the movement of the axis, the cam
piece G passing from under it and the link K which connects the block with a lug
upon the axis then drawing it down.
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 :-
1. In railway crossings blocks raised and lowered by means of wedge pieces or
equivalent parts beneath them and serving to make good the line for the tread of tho
wheel to pass over whilst leaving a free passage for the flange of the wheel as herein
described.
2. Railway crossings substantially as described and represented by the annexed
drawings.