AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MOVING RAILWAY VEHICLES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Conradi, of 8, Lower James Street, Golden Square,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR MOVING RAILWAY VEHICLES." A communication from abroad by Herrman
Borgsmüller, Engineer, at Hofstede, near Bochum, and Gottlieb Ludwig
Bruckmann, Merchant, at Dortmund, Germany.
Sealed the 28th May 1878, and dated the 3rd December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION loft by the said Henry Conradi at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd December 1877.
HENRY CONRADI, of 8, Lower James Street, Golden Square, in the County of
Middlesex. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MOVING RAILWAY VEHICLES." [A
communication from abroad by Herrman Borgsmüller, Engineer, at Hofstede, near
Bochum, and Gottlieb Ludwig Brickmann, Merchant, at Dortmund, Germany ]
The necessity of moving railway vehicles by hand by ranging or siding the same
at the stations or other suitable places, either to compose the trains or for other
purposes, has already produced severul designs for appliances or tools to assist in
this manual labour.
The apparatus as represented in the adjoining Drawing seems to distinguish
itself by its practicability and simplicity, as only one man is required to work the
apparatus and to remove it from the vehicle, according to requirements and circum-
stances. The apparatus in performing the different manoeuvres can be worked
easily, as it can also be removed almost instantaneously.
In other apparatus two men are required to work it, and its removal becomes
difficult and often dangerous.
The shoe d, as shown in the Drawing, fits the rails by overlapping the same on
both sides, but leaving some clearance in order to slide easily, and forming a double
lever h. As soon as the longer arm of the lever is pressed downwards, as shown by
the dotted lines, the wheel becomes shifted forward by the shorter arm of the lever,
which is shaped accordingly. The advanced position of the wheel is shown by the

page_text: corresponding dotted lines. The projecting piece n overlaping the wheel flange
serves as guide piece during the operation. The lever being somewhat bent out
sideways can therefore be applied to wheels provided with breaks.
The improvements upon which the claims are based consist,-
1. In the designing of the apparatus, as before described, capable of being worked
by only one man, to be removeable from the vehicle almost instantaneously, and
being also applicable to wheels provided with breaks.
2. In the disposition of the shoe sliding on rails by forming the fulcrum of a
hand lever.
3. In the disposition and application of the guide piece.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Conradi in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th May
1878.
HENRY CONRADI, of 8, Lower James Street, Golden Square, in the County
of Middlesex. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MOVING RAILWAY VEHICLES." À
communication from abroad by Herrmann Borgsmüller, Engineer, at Hofstede, near
Bochum, and Gottlieb Ludwig Brückmann, Merchant, at Dortmund, Germany.
The necessity of moving railway vehicles by hand by ranging or siding the same
at the stations or other suitable places, either to compose the trains or for other
purposes, has already produced several designs for appliances or tools to assist in this
manual labour.
The apparatus, as represented in the adjoined Drawing, seems to distinguish
itself by its practicability and simplicity, as only one man is required to work the
apparatus, to remove it from the vehicle, or to displace it, according to requirements
and circumstances. The apparatus in performing, the different operations can be
worked easily, as it can be removed or displaced almost instantaneously.
In other apparatus two men are required to work it, and its removal from the
vehicle, or its displacement becomes difficult and often dangerous.
The shoe d, as shown in the Drawing, fits the rail by overlaping the same on
both sides, but leaving some clearance in order to slide easily, and forming the
fulcrum or hypomochlion of a lever of the first kind h. As soon as the longer arm
of the lever is pressed downwards, in the position shown by the dotted lines, the
wheel becomes shifted forward in the position shown by its corresponding dotted
lines, by the shorter arm of the lever, which is bent or shaped accordingly.
The
projecting piece or tester n of the apparatus inserted between the rail and the
wheel flange overlaping the latter serves as guide piece during the operation. The
lever being bent out sideways the apparatus can also be applied to wheels provided
with breaks.
The improvements upon which the claims are principally based consist,
1. In the designing of the annaratus ne above described canable of being worked

page_text: by only one man; capable of being removed, placed on, or withdrawn from
the vehicle, or to be displaced almost instantaneously, and being also applicable to
wheels provided with breaks.
2. In the disposition to place the fulcrum of the hand lever in a shoe sliding on
the rails.
3. In the disposition and application of the guide piece or tester worked on the
wheel flange.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Conradi, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
H CONRADI (LA)
H CONRADI (1.8)