Improvements in and connected with Level-crossing Gates on Railways, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Level-crossing Gates on
Railways, and the like.
I, THOMAS GEORGE SHARPE, of Rye, in the County of Sussex, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
My invention has reference to improvements in connection with level-crossing
gates on railways, and the like, and has for its object to facilitate the passage of
bicycles across the line, it being unnecessary to either lift them over or wait until
the main gates are opened.
The way in which I carry out my invention is as follows:
Adjacent to the usual wicket-gate I provide in the existing fence or wall (if
there is one), or in a specially erected fence or wall, a narrow passage, just wide
enough for the wheels of the bicycle to pass through and having suitable recesses
or widenings for the passage of the cranks and pedals and the foot-rests, the
handle-bars passing over the top of the fence or wall in which said passage is pro-
vided. Slopes may be arranged at each side leading up to the passage in said
wall or fence.
If desired it may be arranged that the cranks and foot-rests, as well as the handle-
bars, pass over the top of the fence, that is to say, the passage or opening would
only be sufficiently wide throughout to allow the wheels to pass through.
As a modification, in lieu of providing the above mentioned passage in a wall
or fence adjacent to the wicket-gates, such passage or passages may be formed in
the wicket-gates themselves, or in the main gates, and in this case the handle-bars
need not necessarily pass above the top of the gate.
In order that when a train or engine is close to the crossing the movement of
a bicycle through the above described passage may be prevented, a separate lever
may be provided in the signal cabin or locking frame with a wire or rod connec-
tion to a suitable bolt or obstruction, so that the signalman or gate-keeper may
at his discretion operate said bolt or obstruction to bar the passage of the machine,
or a connection may be made with the lever or other means usually provided for
locking the wicket-gates where provided (or ordinary gates where wicket-gates
are not provided) to operate said bolt or obstruction.

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Level-crossing Gates on
Railways, and the like.
I, THOMAS GEORGE SHARPE, of Rye, in the County of Sussex, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to.
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement:-
My invention has reference to improvements in connection with level-crossing
gates on railways, and the like, and has for its object to facilitate the passage of
bicycles across the line, it being unnecessary to either lift them over or wait until
the main gates are opened.
The way in which I carry out my invention is as follows:
Adjacent to the usual wicket-gate I provide in the existing fence or wall (if
there is one), or in a specially erected fence or wall, a narrow passage just wide
enough for the wheels of the bicycle to pass through and having suitable recesses
or widenings for the passage of the cranks and pedals and the foot-rests, the
handle bars passing over the top of the fence or wall in which said passage is pro-
vided. Slopes may be arranged at each side leading up to the passage in said
wall or fence, and a platform for the bicycle to rest on.
In order that my invention may be better understood I will now describe it with
reference to the accompanying drawing in which :-
Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating a portion of the main crossing gates of a
railway, the wicket-gate and showing my invention on the right hand side thereof.
Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1.
In the drawng, a represents part of the main crossing gates, b the wicket-gate
and c the fence or wall comprising my invention, the passage d being only just
wide enough to allow the wheels and framework of a bicycle to pass through.
e are gaps or widenings for the passage of the pedals. f is a slope leading up
to the passage d (a corresponding slope running down on the other side), and g
a platform on which the bicycle may rest (as shown in Figure 1) until the rider
passes through the wicket-gate b and runs it down the slope on the other side of
the fence.
In order that when a train or engine is close to the crossing the movement of
a bicycle through the passage may be prevented, a separate lever may be pro-
vided in the signal cabin, or locking frame, with a wire or rod connection to a
suitable bolt or obstruction such as (Fig. 1) so that the signalman or gate keeper
may at his discretion operate said bolt or obstruction to bar the passage of the
machine, or a connection may be made with the lever or other means usually pro-
vided for locking the wicket-gates 6 where such gates are provided (or the ordinary
gates a where wicket gates are not provided) to operate said bolt or obstruction h.
If desired it may be arranged that the cranks and foot-rests, as well as the handle
bars, pass over the top of the fence, that is to say, the passage or opening would
only be sufficiently wide throughout to allow the wheels to pass through.
As a modification, in lieu of providing the above mentioned passage in a wall
or fence adjacent to the wicket-gate, such passage or passages may be formed in
the wicket-gates themselves, or in the main gates, and in this case the handle bars
need not necessarily pass over the top of the gate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In connection with the level crossing gates of railways and the like a fence

page_text: or wall having a narrow passage d through which a bicycle can be passed, sub-
stantially as herein described with reference to the drawing annexed and for the
purpose specified.
2. In connection with the level crossing gates of railways and the like, a fence or
wall having a narrow passage d through which a bicycle can be passed and slopes f
leading to and from a platform g on the same level as the bottom of said passage,
substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
3. In combination with a passage d (Figure 1) a bolt or obstruction such as h
operated through a rod or wire connection by means of a lever in the signal cabin
or locking frame, or other means, by the signalman or gatekeeper.
4. In railway level crossing gates, a passage such as d (Fig. 1) for a bicycle to
pass through, substantially as herein described.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel. Chart. Inst., P.A.,
Agent for Applicant, 70 & 71, Palace Chambers, Westminster, S.W.