IMPROVEMENTS IN' THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY SWITCHES
Year: 1882

page_text: .
LETTERS PATENT to Edward Newall Molesworth-Hepworth, of Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN' THE
CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY SWITCHES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Newall Molesworth-
Hepworth at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th November
1882.
EDWARD NEWALL MOLESWORTH-HEPWORTH of Manchester in the County of
Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY SWITCHES"
The object of my invention is to dispense with the use of the hinged tongue
rails or facing points now ordinarily employed for "switching" railway engines or
trains from the main line of rails onto a siding or line of rails diverging either to
the right or left from the said main line, or in both directions.
*
The invention is designed principally to be applied to what is known among
engineers as a Y-switch" where the main line is not continued in a straight
direction beyond the point of divergence but diverges both to the right and left
and the train has to be "switched" onto either of the diverging lines, but it is
also applicable to what are known as "three way switches" where the main line is
continued between the two diverging lines, as well as to single switches, where an
engine or train has to be switched from the main line onto a siding either to the
right or left or from one main line of rails onto the other.
In carrying out my invention in constructing a "Y-switch" for example I cut
the main or permanent line of rails off square at the point of divergence, leaving a
gap in the fixed rails of say from two to six feet long or more according to the
angle or curve at which the side line (or lines) will diverge from the main or
straight line, and at the other side of this gap I recommence the permanent or
fixed lines (with square or butt ends) in continuation of the curve or angle
required.
Upon a light girder frame fitted to move transversely to the line of rails in the
gap before mentioned I fix rigidly a double set of switch rails also with butt ends

page_text: one set so placed that it will exactly form a continuation from the end of the
main line onto the right hand diverging line and the other set so placed that it
will form an exact continuation from the end of the main line onto the left hand
diverging line. These two sets of "switch rails" are fixed on the girder frame
about an inch apart at their converging points, so that by moving the girder frame
(for a like distance plus the width of the rail) transversely, so as to bring the butt
ends of either set of "switch rails" exactly in apposition to the butt ends of the
straight part of the permanent way the other ends of the "switch rails" will at
the same time come into exact apposition to the butt ends of either one or the
other of the diverging lines as the case may be and thus the line will become
continuous in either one or the other direction; the space between the converging
ends of the "switch rails" must be such as to leave sufficient space for the
clearance of the flanges of the wheels between the rails, and thus the girder frame
will only be required to move transversely, say, about three inches to switch the
train to either diverging line, for a single siding or a Y-switch," but for a threo-
way switch the girder frame will be required to move twice that distance.
"
The length of the switch rails and consequently the width of the girder frame
-will depend upon the angle of divergence of the side-lines, a "Y-switch" requiring
the shortest length of switch rails, as the lines diverge in both directions at once,
and a three-way switch requiring the longest in consequence of the central line
dividing the two diverging lines; about two to three feet being length enough for
the former in most cases and about five or six feet in the latter so as to allow for
clearance for the flanges of the wheels-between-the-converging-ends-of the-fixed
rails.
The girder frame is carried on fixed sleepers or other suitable foundation or
foundations fitted beneath it, the frame running upon V-slides or upon rollers
wheels or balls running on rails or in grooves fitted to receive them so as to reduce
the friction to a minimum.
The girder frame may be moved transversely as required either by a hand lever
or by a rack and pinion or by hydraulic pressure or other suitable means, and it
must be fitted with stops which will prevent it from being moved too far in either
direction, and with catches or other suitable appliances to hold it in position when
adjusted.
It should also have connected to it the usual switch signal to indicate to the
driver of the approaching engine or train that the switch is in operation and in
which direction it is set.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Newall Molesworth-Hepworth in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd May 1883.
EDWARD NEWALL MOLESWORTH-HEPWORTH of Manchester in the County of
Lancaster IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY SWITCHES
The object of my invention is to dispense with the use of the hinged tongue
rails and facing points now ordinarily employed for "switching" railway engines
or trains from the main line of rails onto a siding or line of rails diverging either
to the right or left from the said main line or in both directions.
The invention is designed principally to be applied to what is known among
engineers as a Y-switch where the main line is not continued in a straight
direction beyond the point of divergence but diverges both to the right and left,
and the train has to be "switched" onto either of the diverging lines, but it is
also applicable to what are known as "three way switches" where the main line is
continued between the two diverging lines, as well as to single switches where an
engine or train has to be switched from the main line onto a siding either to the
right or left or from one main line of rails onto the other.
One advantage of the invention being that trains will not be required to
"back" in order to shunt off the main line, thus avoiding a fruitful source of
accident and loss of time in clearing the main line.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect and in order that the same may be clearly understood
I have annexed hereunto a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof and have
marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in
the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1 being a plan view of a Y-switch constructed according to my invention
and Fig. 2. a side elevation of the same.
In carrying out my invention in constructing a Y-switch for example I cut the
main or permanent line of rails a, a off square at the point of divergence, leaving a
gap in the fixed rails of say, from two to six feet long or more according to the
angle or curve at which the side line (or lines a', a²) will diverge from the main or
straight line, and at the other side of this gap I recommence the permanent or
fixed lines a', a³, (with square or butt ends) in continuation of the curve or angle
required.
Upon a light girder frame c, c fitted to move transversely to the line of rails in
the gap before mentioned I fix rigidly a double set of switch rails d, d and e, c
also with butt ends, one set d, d so placed that it will exactly form a continuation
from the end of the main line a, a onto the left hand diverging line a', a' and the
other set e, e so placed that it will form an exact continuation from the end of the
main line a, a onto the right hand diverging line a², a². These two sets of "switch
rails" d, and are fixed on the girdor frame c, c about an inch or more apart at
their converging points, so that by moving the girder frame c, c (for a like
distance plus the width of the rail) transversely, so as to bring the butt ends of
either set of "switch rails" exactly in apposition to the butt ends of the straight
part a, a, of the permanent way the other ends of the "switch rails" will at the
same time come into exact apposition to the butt ends of either one or other of the
diverging lines a', a³ as the case may be, and thus the line will become continuous
in either one or the other direction; the space between the converging ends of the
"switch rails" must be such as to leave sufficient space for the clearance of the
flanges of the wheels between the rails, and thus the girder frame c, c will only be

page_text: t
required to move transversely, say, about three inches or more to switch the train
to either diverging line, for a single siding or a Y-switch see Fig. 1. but for a
three-way switch the girder frame will be required to move twice that distance.
The length of the switch rails d, e and consequently the width of the girder
frame c, c will depend upon the angle of divergence of the side lines, a Y-switch
requiring the shortest length of switch rails as the lines diverge in both directions
at once and a three-way switch requiring the longest in consequence of the central
line dividing the two diverging lines.
The girder frame is carried on a fixed foundation plate f, f, tied at each end to
the permanent rails a, a¹, a², and resting on sleepers g, g or other suitable
foundation or foundations fitted beneath it, the frame running upon V-slides as
shown or upon rollers, wheels or balls running on rails or in grooves fitted to
receive them so as to reduce the friction to a minimum.
The girder frame may be moved transversely as required either by a hand lever
or by a rack and pinion or by hydraulic pressure or other suitable means and
the foundation plate ff must be fitted with stops h, which will prevent it from
being moved too far in either direction, and it may be provided with catches or
other suitable appliances to hold it in position when adjusted.
It should also have connected to it the usual switch signal to indicate to the
driver of the approaching engine or train that the switch is in operation and in
which direction it is set.
:
I also propose to make the facing point where the two inner lines a¹, a³ cross
each other (see Fig. 3.) upon the same principle. The fixed-frog-or point being
dispensed with and the two rails d¹, e¹ will be mounted upon a traversing carriage
similar to the switch rails and moved in the direction required, at the same time
and by the same means as the switch rails. The usual guard rails at this point
may then be dispensed with Or the frog point k, ko may be solid (see Fig. 4.) and be
fixed on a traversing carriage.
Having now described the nature and object of my said invention together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention Making
the rails with butt joints and fixing the switch rails and the frog point each in or
on a separate traversing carriage running on slides, rollers, wheels or balls, and so
that the said carriage can be caused to traverse a sufficient distance to put either
of the diverging lines in exact apposition to the main line substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the drawing annexed.
In witness whereof I the said Edward Newall Molesworth Hepworth have
hereunto set my hand and seal this Eleventh day of May in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty three.