Apparatus for Lifting and Lowering Crossings, Rails, and other Parts of Permanent Ways.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Oct., 1890-Accepted, 6th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Lifting and Lowering Crossings, Rails, and other
Parts of Permanent Ways.
We, ENOCH SMITн of 42 Walkden Road, Engineer, and WILLIAM DIGHT of
41 Sandwich Street, Overlooker, both of Walkden near Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for lifting and lowering crossings, rails, and
other parts of permanent ways and is designed to dispense with the old or present
system of performing these operations by means of hand spikes. On a frame we
mount a volute, spiral, or other spring provided with a cap on which operates one end
of a pivoted lever. The latter is mounted on a centre attached to the said frame.
The opposite end of the lever is fitted with a link or links and a screwed spindle, the
latter being held in a stand fitted with a cap, above which is mounted a hand wheel
or its equivalent on the screwed end of the spindle. When it is desired to lift
crossings, rails, and other parts forming permanent ways the volute, spiral, or other
spring is depressed by turning the hand wheel or its equivalent until the top side of
the lever above the spring will pass under the crossing or rail to be lifted. When
the end of the lever is placed in position under a crossing or rail the hand wheel or
its equivalent is turned so as to reduce the pressure on the spring. As the pressure
of the lever from the spring becomes reduced the latter by its own tension lifts the
crossing or rail according to the position of the lever determined by the turning of
the hand wheel or its equivalent, at which point it can be set as long as desired. In
case a train or vehicles pass over the crossings or rails under operation the spring
will yield to the weight of the same and adjust itself immediately the rails or
crossings are released from downward pressure without straining the rails. The
crossings, rails, or other parts are lowered into position by depressing the lever and
spring by means of the hand wheel or its equivalent. This apparatus can be fixed in
the six-foot or other place in close proximity to the permanent way without
interfering with the traffic and ensures oven lifting, thereby minimising the risk
of throwing a train or vehicles off the metals. This invention is simple in con-
struction, portable, inexpensive, and powerful, so much so that it will dispense
with several men to perform the operation of lifting or lowering crossings, rails, and
other parts of permanent ways.
Dated the 22nd January 1890
EDMUND CHADWICK,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Lifting and Lowering Crossings, Rails, and other
Parts of Permanent Ways.
We, ENOCH SMITH of 42 Walkden Road, Engineer, and WILLIAM DIGHT of
41 Sandwich Street, Overlooker, both of Walkden near Manchester in the County
of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention 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 apparatus for lifting and lowering crossings, rails, and
other parts of permanent ways and is designed to dispense with the old or present
system of performing these operations by means of hand spikes. On a frame we
mount a volute, spiral, or other spring provided with a cap on which operates

page_text: one end of a pivoted lever. The latter is mounted on a centre attached to the
said frame. The opposite end of the lever is filled with a link or links and a
screwed spindle, the latter being held in a stand fitted with a cap, above which
is mounted a hand wheel or its equivalent on the screwed end of the spindle. When
it is desired to lift crossings, rails, and other parts formning permanent ways the
volute, spiral, or other spring is depressed by turning the hand wheel or its equivalent
until the top side of the lever above the spring will pass under the crossing or rail to
be lifted. When the end of the lever is placed in position under a crossing or
rail the band wheel or its equivalent is turned so as to reduce the pressure on
the spring.
As the pressure of the lever from the spring becomes reduced the
latter by its own tension lifts the crossing or rail according to the position of the
lever determined by the turning of the hand wheel or its equivalent, at which
point it can be set as long as desired. In case a train or vehicles pass over
the crossings or rails under operation the spring will yield to the weight of the
same and adjust itself immediately the rails or crossings are released from downward
pressure without straining the rails. The crossings, rails, or other parts are lowered
into position by depressing the lever and spring by means of the hand wheel or
its equivalent. This apparatus can be fixed in the six-foot or other place in close
proximity to the permanent way without interfering with the traffic and ensures
even lifting, thereby minimising the risk of throwing a train or vehicles off the
metals. This invention is simple in construction, portable, inexpensive, and powerful,
so much so that it will dispense with several men to perform the operation of lifting
or lowering crossings, rails, and other parts of permanent ways.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of our improved machine for lifting and lowering
crossings, rails, and other parts of permanent ways-Fig. 2 is an outside elevation of
same- -Fig. 3 is a plan-Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the operating mechanism
on front of machine-Fig. 5 is a side elevation of another modification of operating
mechanism Fig. 6 is a front elevation of Fig. 5-Fig. 7 is an outside elevation
of another modification of our improved machine-Fig. 8 is a plan of same, and
Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the operating mechanism.
In all the figures the same letters are employed to indicate corresponding parts.
A is a frame on which the machine is built; B is a spring; C the cap; D the
lever provided with the slotted end E. The lever D) is pivoted to the frame A by the
pin or centre F. The end G of the lever D fits into the slot H of the cap C. On
the front end of the frane A are mounted the standards I carrying the cross bar or
cap J. In the latter is mounted the screwed spindle K provided with the handle L
for operating the machine. The screwed spindle K is provided with the threaded
nut M with the guides N, the latter sliding on the standards I to prevent the nut M
turning round, which is necessary to ensure of the same rising and falling according to
the direction the spindle K is rotated. The slotted end E of the lever D rests or sits
on the upper end or side of the nut M.
If desired the nut M and the lever D can be secured together by the links O
and pins Pas shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
In another modification we place the fulcrum F on the outside as shown in
Figs. 7 and 8, and provide the lever D with the slot R to allow it to adjust itself to
the operation of the screwed spindle K. On the pin F is disposed the hook S
to facilitate the handling or carrying of the machine. In this modification the
screwed spindle K is operated by the spur wheels T and U, shaft V, and handle L,
which are carried or supported in the bearings W on the crossbar or cap J on
the standards I.
This apparatus operates in the following manner :- -When it is desired to lift
crossings, rails, and other parts forming permanent ways the spring B is depressed,
as shown in Fig. 2, by turning the handle L until the top side of the cap C will pass
under one of the rails Z or other convenient part. After the cap C has been placed

page_text: in position the handle is turned the contrary way to reduce the pressure of
the lever D on the spring B. As the pressure of the lever D on the spring B
becomes reduced the latter, by its own tension, lifts the crossing, rail, or other
parts Z forming permanent ways; the amount of lift being determined by the
position of the nut M on the screwed spindle K, at which point it can remain as long
as desired or necessary. In case a train or vehicles pass over the crossings, or rails
under operation the spring B will yield to the weight of the same, and adjust itself
immediately the crossings or rails are released from downward pressure without
straining the rails. The crossings or rails are lowered into position by depressing
the lever D and spring B as previously described, after which the machine can be
removed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. Lifting crossings, rails, and other parts of permanent ways by means of a
spring, substantially as described.
2. For carrying out the before described method of lifting crossings, rails, and
other parts of permanent ways by means of a spring, the use, construction, and
arrangement of apparatus, substantially as described and as shown on the drawings in
Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive.
Dated the 15th day of October 1890.
EDMUND CHADWICK,
Agent.