IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE RAILWAYS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, Fel Inst P.A of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the county of Lancaster, and
323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex Civil Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE RAILWAYS
(a communication from abroad by August Haarmann, of Osnabrück, in the
Kingdom of Prussia and Empire of Germany Engineer) 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 improvements in the construction of portable railways.
A good permanent way should not have little loose iron fittings, and should be
so constructed that a sure connecting of the several sections of the permanent way
will be obtained.
The hereinafter described construction shewn in the figures 1 to 10 of the
annexed drawing, will give full satisfaction in this regard.
Figure 1 represents a vertical section on line L. M of the fig 2.
Figs 2 and 3 are side views of the ends of two sections of the permanent way.
Fig 4 shews a vertical section on line at O of the figure 3.
Figures 5 and 6 are top views of the ends of two sections.
Figs 7 and 9 are vertical sections on the lines P. Q and R. S of fig 8.
Figs 8 and 10 represent side and top views of the connected ends of the
sections.
The rails to be employed are unsymmetrically shaped, and the inclination is
obtained by a sloping rolling of the base of the rail.
•
In order to connect the different sections of the permanent way, the fish plates
are screwed or rivetted with one end to one of the extremities of the section
whilst the other ends of the fish plates are bent outside at e as shewn in Figs 5 and
10, so that the extremities of the following section may be introduced without any
difficulty.
In the outside bent part of the exterior fish plate x is a hole round on the
outside and oval and enlarged on the inside of the fish plate, as shewn in the Figs 1,
2, 5, 7, 8 and 10.
Before mounting the exterior fish plate the key g is passed through this hole so
that when the fish plate is mounted, it will be impossible to remove the kev without

page_text: dismounting the fish plate The key-bit f is lodged in the above mentioned
enlargement of the hole of the inside of the fish plate in such a way that the
introduction of the section of the permanent way to be connected will not be
hindered, as shewn in the Figs 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 10.
The inner fish-plate y shewn in the Figs 1, 5, 7, and 10 has a correspondingly
shaped hole allowing of the bit of the key g to be lodged in such a way that the
closing of the connection will thereby be effected.
The rail itself has a hole the shape of which is adapted to the position of the
key-bit before the closing of the connection and offers only the space necessary to
the passage of the key-bit, taking also into consideration the effect of the dilatation
and contraction by varying temperatures.
When the ovally shaped bit f of the key g is lodged into the recess on the inside
of the exterior fish plate as represented in the Figs 1, 2 and 5, the oval part of the
key is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. If the rail of the section of the
permanent way to be connected with is introduced into the space between the
above mentioned fish, plates, a slight blow upon the key in the direction of its axis
will be sufficient to drive the key bit into the hole of the inner fish plate, where
the key in consequence of the special form given to its handle g and of the weight
of the key makes a rotation of 90 degrees, thus effecting a sure closing of the
connection.
In this closed position (Figs 7, 8 and 10) the back of the key is symmetrically
placed with reference to the surfaces of the holes in the fish plates, and the rail
lying in the same plane, when the extremities of the rails touch each other without
the necessary space for the dilatation, but if there is the necessary play for the
dilatation, the back of the key touches only the surface of the above mentioned holes
of the fish plates, whilst the fore-side of the shaft of the key is leaning against
the fore surface of the hole in the rails.
The separation of the different sections of the permanent way can only be
effected after having brought back the key to its first position, as shown in the
Figs 1, 2, and 5.
The fish plates may be applied indifferently as inner or outer plates. The bit of
the key and the holes in the fish plates and rails may also be of a
round, oval, or angular shape.
more or less
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is
1. The unsymmetrical rail a, the inclination of which is obtained by a sloping
rolling of the base of the rail.
2. In combination with straight or inclined symmetrical or unsymmetrical rails
and sleepers, the connecting of the sections of portable railways by means of the
outside bent or enlarged fish plates x and y and the key g claimed under number 3,
substantially as described and shewn in the annexed drawings.
3. The connecting of the different sections of portable railways by means of a
key g passed into the space between the projecting ends of the fish plates of one
section and there fixed before introducing the extremity of the adjacent section to
be connected with it, substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of November 1884.