IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
GEORGE HEWITT, of Buchanan Street, in the City of Glasgow, North Britain,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Eleventh day of August, in the
twelfth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Samuel George Hewitt, Her especial license,
sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Samuel George Hewitt,
my exors, adiiors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said Samuel
George Hewitt, my exors, adñors, and assigns, should at any time agreo
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of
years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
within the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also
within all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF RAILWAYS;" in which Letters Patent
there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Samuel George Hewitt,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describo
and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her Majesty's

page_text: High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the
same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Samuel George Hewitt, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are
described and ascertained by the Drawings hereunto annexed, and forming
part hereof, and the words following, that is to say :-
The improvements for which I have obtained Her Majesty's Letters Patent
as aforesaid consist,-
Firstly, of certain novel or improved arrangements of mechanism used in
the construction of turntables used on railways, whereby the upper platform
or top frame is supported as to afford easy access to every part of the
machinery for any required purpose, for which said arrangement a foundation
less expensive than that ordinarily required for pillar turntables may be used,
and the turntable is relieved from the injurious effects of shocks arising from
the passage upon it of vehicles.
Secondly, my said Invention has reference to novel and improved modes of
removing vehicles from one line of rails to another, whereby the operation is
much facilitated.
Thirdly, my said Invention has reference to certain improvements in the
switches or moveable rails of railways.
The manner in which the said several improvements are to be carried into
effect is as follows:-In consequence of the mode generally adopted in the
construction of turntables, the building of the foundation requires to be of a
very heavy and expensive description to render them sufficiently firm and
prevent them from vibrating and tilting with the shock and weight of heavy
engine and carriages passing over them; and this building is in many
instances so disposed that the removal of a considerable part is necessary in
the event of any subsiding in the foundation or other accident happening to
the lower parts. They are also apt to deflect considerably on receiving
suddenly the weight of engines, which is highly objectionable and injurious,
for the means generally applied for supporting the platform at the periphery
seldom remain so accurately adjusted as to prevent it, or it requires to be
removed before the platform can be put in motion and replaced after the
operation of reversing, which is apt to be neglected. In other arrangements
it is requisite to raise and lower the tables in reversing by means of hydro-
static or other power, which occupies considerable time and is attended with
other inconveniences inseparable from this method.

page_text: Fig. 1 represents a general longitudinal vertical section of the turntable.
Fig. 2 is a half plan cut at right angles to the line of rails. A, A, is the
revolving table, with the longitudinal beams B, B, fixed parallel by the beams
C, C, and D, forming the main bearing frame. E, E, timber platform.
F, F, line of rails. The centre pillar G passes through the beam D and rests
in the step or collar H. This collar is formed in the centre of the arched
cross of the circular frame I, and the upper part of the pillar is supported by
the vertical triangular frame J, J, which stands and is fixed on to the circular
frame at K, K, and consists of four or more supports with a collar L, through
which the centre pillar G passes. This collar is furnished with four antifric-
tion rollars M, M, M, M, shown by the dotted lines on the plan, made to work
on fixed centres, and bear on the pillar and keep it in a truly vertical position,
the working surfaces being accurately turned and bored; or the collar may be
made without friction rollers if the pillar is turned to fit and work easily in it.
G, G, are wrought-iron rods fixed to the arch I, which they brace, trans-
ferring the weight on it to the triangular framing J, J. The pillar G has a
flanch at the top from which the table is suspended by screw bolts N, N, N, N.
The space between the flanch and the top of the revolving frame is enclosed
by a collar O, O, the upper edge of which enters into a circular recess cast in
the under side of the flanch, and effectually prevents the entrance of dirt to
the upper part of the pillar, and allows the table to be raised or lowered
without the necessity of its removal. P, P, P, P, are projecting arms of the
circular frame I; these rest on the plates Q, Q, Q, Q. Such plates are
larger than the bearing part of the arm P, P, to permit the frame I to be
moved horizontally in any direction, and fixed with keys at R, R, R, R. The
hollow boss S, exactly under the collar L in the centre of the arched cross,
is intended to receive the head of a screw or of a hydrostatic or other
apparatus capable of raising the machine, which this peculiar mode of con-
struction admits of being readily applied, and thereby adjusting and placing
it in a proper position, and securing it by fitting pieces between the arms
P, P, P, P, and the sole plates Q, Q, and keys in the spaces R, R, wherever
required, and the screw bolts T, T, T, in the masonry. V, the rollar frame,
concentric with the frame I, and has rollers W, W; they are adjusted with
cotters and made to bear and roll on the periphery of the frame I. The
vertical and angular supports X, X, X, X, X, X, are secured to the horns or
brackets projecting from the roller frame, and this frame, with the stays X, is
suspended and braced by the wrought-iron rods Z, Z. The rods are fixed at

page_text: their upper ends to the frame of the platform and to the horns Y by the pins
which pass through the lower end of the angular stays X. The frame V is
further supported by tension rods at a, a, and the platform by vertical &
angular stays and horizontal supports b, b, b, extending to and fixed to the
rim c, c, c, c. My improvements also refer to the application of timber in
constructing large turntables in this form, in which the novel arrangements
and combinations of the various parts admits of its being applied effeciently.
The contrivance intended to receive the shock and relieve the turn plate from
the sudden weight of a vehicle is shewn at f. This consists of a roller in
a frame, which may form a part of the curb & placed under the extremity of
each main beam. When the rails are in a proper position all is in a straight
line. A part of the length of tho rails at each end is kneed, as at 9, g, and
fixed by a pin at the joint h, which allows it to move up and down freely;
the other end reaches to and rests on the top of the roller. The part that
touches the roller is bevelled from the middle towards each end; when
properly adjusted the surface F will lie on the same level as the other rails,
and receive the wheels of an engine, and as the lower part rests on the roller
the shock or concussion will be communicated to them, and the weight
gradually received by the table as it advances along the rail. When the
engine has passed on to the table the moveable portions of the rails, free
from the weight, will easily move off the rollers in reversing the turn plate,
and on to them again when the rails are again brought into a proper position.
By allowing the ends of the rails to move freely it insures them a solid bearing
at the lower or opposite end of the joint, which may be made to act and rest
on a fixed surface projecting from the circular curve.
The second part of my Invention, relating to the transfer of carriages, is
designed to reduce the number of turnplates required in transferring vehicles
from one line of rails to another by the methods now in practise. In these plans
the plates are arranged in lines at various angles to the main, or through lines
of rail, placing one plato on each line. My improvements consist in connect-
ing the main lines of rails with the turnplates by novel arrangements of
curved lines with moveable or switch rails and points & with turnplates, in the
manner shown by the diagrams 1, 2, & 3, on Sheet 2. A, A, A, the turnplates.
B, B, B, moveable or switch rails. C, C, C, the fixed point rails. D, D, D,
switch boxes or apparatuses for working the moveable rails. Fig. 1 represents
the application of the system to two lines of rails in connection with one turn-
plate, by which the transfer of a vehicle can be made with almost one turn of
the plate. Fig. shows three main lines arranged and combined with one
turnplate, which will require not more than one turn in removing a vehiclo

page_text: from one line to another. Fig. 3, Sheet 3, exhibits the combination of four
lines on this system, with one turnplate; this mode enable one turn of the
plate to be sufficient in transferring a vehicle from one line to another.
Fig. 4, Sheet 2, exhibits the combination of five main lines combined
with two turnplates, according to this system. The several modes and
combinations herein described and shown by the diagrams may be extended
to any number of lines of rails, admits of large, turnplates, and avoids the
necessity of placing them on the main traffic lines. The lines of rails on
the turnplates A, A, A, are arranged so as to be always in a proper
position with the various, lines combined with them, and ready to receive
another vehicle from any of the other lines after each operation of turning;
but I do not limit the application of the system to reversing apparatuses, or
turnplates so adapted, for it is evident that reversing apparatuses or turn-
plates with one or two lines of rails may also be used in connection with com-
binations of curved lines on this system, but not with the same advantage as
the others. In the several modes herein described, the connection of the
curved lines with the main line is shown as made with moveable rails or
switches, but I do not confine myself to the use of these at this point, except
when the main line is made to pass the point of junction with the curve,
but continue the main line of rail in a curve to the turntable, which, in. some
situations may be preferable; neither do I limit myself to the particular
curves here shown by the diagrams in carrying out my Invention.
The third part of my Invention relates to the moveable or switch rails of
railways, whereby I place the switch rails in a proper position for an engine
to pass from one line of rails to another at crossings, instead of employing a
person to perform this operation when an engine goes off the main line on to
the turn-off rails or crossings, and also to obviate the objectionable mode of
effecting this by the wheels of an, engine forcing the switch rails into the
required position by bearing on them and on the guard rail in its progress along
the switch to the main line of rails, Fig. 1, Sheet 3, represents a plan of a
set of moveable or switch rails. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the rail. Fig. 3
is a transverse section of the arrangement. A, A, is the main line of rails.
B, B, the switch rails. D, D, two bars with an eye at one end and fixed on
pins or studs E, E, bolted to the main rail. At the other end the bars are
supported by and are connected to the levers F, F, fixed on a spindle or
shaft G. This shaft is made to work in bearings H, H; these are bolted to
the sleepers K, K. I, I, are two counterweights for the bars D, D. J is a
lever fixed on the shaft and to the rod L, and this rod is connected to the
switch rails by the lever M and screw nuts at N, N. The bars D, D, are

page_text: placed at an angle with the plane of the upper surface of the rails; this
allows the wheel of an engine, shewn by dotted lines at P, P, in its progress
along the crossing rail to depress them gradually, and by means of the con-
nections described move the switch rails, and place them in a proper position
for passing over them on to the main line or rails. When it has passed the
counterweights bring the switch rails again to their former position. To
effect the same movement of the bar D, when an engine advances from R to P,
I fix a sliding bar with a roller, shewn by dotted lines at R, in a proper
position on the fore part of the engine, and connect it with a lever placed so
that the sliding bar with its roller can be readily raised or depressed by a
person in charge of the engine. When it moves along the main line towards
the crossing T, the sliding bar, with its roller, is depressed so as to act on the
bar D, and place the switch rails in the position required to enable the engine
to pass on to the crossing line. Thus, this portion of the road is formed and
made complete before the engine arrives at it, and over which it will pass in
the same manner as on any other part of the line. But I do not limit myself
to this particular combination, only as similar mechanical arrangements may
be devised for the purpose.
Having now described and fully ascertained the various particulars of my
Invention, and the modes in which the same is to be carried into effect, I do
not wish to be understood as claiming the mere individual details of my
specified Invention, but what I do claim is,-
First, the mode of constructing turntables with vertical trussed framing,
combined so as to admit of the easy application of power to raise it in tho
manner and for the purpose described. Also, the mode of relieving turu-
tables from tho shock of vehicles, in the manner described.
Secondly, the mode of arranging or combining curved lines of rails with
main through lines and turntables, or reversing apparatus, for the purpose
specified.
Thirdly, I claim the application of mechanical arrangements to the move-
able or switch rails, which an engine in its progress along the rails can act upon,
so as to place the switch rails in a proper position for being passed over before
it arrives at the switch or moveable rail.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel George Hewitt, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.
SAMUEL GEORGE HEWITT (L.S.)

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Ninth day of February, in the
year of our Lord 1849, the aforesaid Samuel George Hewitt came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written.
Enrolled the Twelfth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
Enrolled the Twelfth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
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