IMPROVE- MENTS IN POINTS AND CROSSINGS FOR TRAMWAYS
Year: 1884

page_text: I CLIFFORD ETCHES WINBY of Rochdale in the County of Lancashire Engineer
and Contractor do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN POINTS AND CROSSINGS FOR TRAMWAYS" and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
"
This Invention relates to improved points for tramway rails and the crossings
at the points where separate " tracks run into or off from one another; the object
being to provide a hinge point piece in the groove of the rail at the point of
junction of two tracks of rails so as that the point piece shall give or sink to let
the wheels of the car run freely off from the one track but that will stand-up and
present a striking point to the flange of the car wheels when the cars are running
in the opposite direction so preventing the possibility of the cars getting on the
wrong track at the points.
In the following more particular description reference will be had to the
accompanying drawings wherein. Fig. 1 shows in top view the switch end of
rail with an open or hollow portion (shown in solid black) through which the
spring piece or point is to spring and work Fig. 1 shows the spring point in
position, Fig. 2 is a transverse section on enlarged scale at line a b; Fig. 3 a like
section at line c. d and Fig. 4 a longitudinal section at line e. f all of Fig. 1; Fig. 5
is a side view of the spring point piece detached showing the application of a
spiral spring; and Fig. 5ª a like view showing the application of a tongue or
flat spring
A, is the casting of the crossing piece, made of the form as shown in Figs. 1 to 4,
with the metal of the groove e f rising at the point x opposite the opening for the
vertically operating spring point piece Fig. 4, so as to give a bearing there to the
flange of the wheel; B is the vertical spring point piece (which forms a set or
dummy point) C, is the hinge bolt on which the piece B turns to rise and fall.
This is shown in Fig. 4, in raised or normal position in solid lines and in depressed
position in broken lines. It will be seen that the bolted end y of the spring point
piece is on a level with the line of the bottom of the groove of the track and that
the nose end z rises to the top of the track in normal position, B' is a flange or
ear on the piece B to prevent its rising above the rail. Dare springs whether
spiral volute or leaf springs to ensure the normal position of the point piece being
reassumed after the passing of a car in direction (on the drawings) from left to
right.

page_text: The point piece B may be made of steel and be a spring in itself in which case
the bolt C will be squared or two bolts will be used.
At E there is an opening formed in the casting of the crossing piece and shown
covered by a plate thus affording access to the springs.
The crossing piece A will be secured in position on the road in substantially
usual manner and the ends of the rails forming the tracks will be secured by fish
plates to the corresponding portions of the crossing piece a tail piece F being
provided at the end for filling the space between the diverging rails and bolting
the rails thereto.
Track 1 will be open to cars coming from left hand because the spring point
piece can be depressed but is closed to traffic from the right. Track 2 is open in
both directions.
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 :-
Firstly. The vertically operating spring point piece B, constructed and operating
as and for the purpose herein set forth and shown by the drawings.
Secondly. For receiving the vertically operating spring point piece B, the
crossing piece A-z, constructed and operating together with the point piece B,
as and for the purpose herein specified in reference to and shown by the drawings.
Dated this 4th day of January 1884.