Safety Appliances for Rack-railways.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Safety Appliances for Rack-railways.
I, ROMAN ABT of Lucerne, Switzerland, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In order to insure the permanent gearing or engagement of pinions in the racks
of very steep rack-railways in such a way, that neither outside influence, such as
rack teeth damaged by falling rocks, or clogged by debris, or by ice in high regions,
nor the locking of the pinions by sudden and over-quick application of the brakes,
shall cause the pinions to mount the rack, I arrange in front and in the rear of the
pinion or pinions, or between the pinion rings, downward reaching anchor-like
sliding pieces.
The lower part of these sliding pieces is shaped similar to a shuttle or a cigar,
for a double rack-rail, or like a pair of tongs for a single rack-rail. They are
arranged either rigid and firmly fixed, or elastic and swinging (pendulum like)
between fixed limits, and are made of wrought iron, or of mild or tempered steel
or other suitable material.
At the upper end they are fastened either in the special pinion frames or to the
pinion axles or to any other suitable part of the locomotive, in such a manner that
they either participate in the motion of the carrying springs or are independent of
the same; they are also preferably so arranged as to be capable of being raised
or lowered according to the wear of the wheel tyres or other parts.
The lower part can either be guided by ribs which could be rolled on the rack-
bars or fastened thereon by screws or rivets, or, by preference, they are guided
by lateral grooves rolled into the rack-bars at such a height, that the anchor piece
can clear the rack chairs, and, at switches and crossings, the ordinary or side rails,
passing free over them.
The described arrangement can also be used in a similar manner on carriages
and wagons or other vehicles of such railways to protect the gearing of the brake
pinions.
With such an arrangement the gearing is effectually protected, as it acts in the
centre line and close to the pinions.
Dated this 2nd dox of Man 1906
ABEL & IMRAY.
Agents for the Applicant.
I, ROMAN ABT of Lucerne Switzerland, Engineer, 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 following statement:-
In order to insure the permanent gearing or engagement of pinions in the racks

page_text: of very steep rack-railways in such a way, that neither outside influence, such as
rack teeth damaged by falling rocks, or clogged by debris, or by ice in high regions,
nor the locking of the pinions by sudden and over-quick application of the brakes,
shall cause the pinions to mount the rack, I arrange in front and in the rear of the
pinion or pinions, or between the pinion rings, downward reaching anchor-like
sliding pieces.
The lower part of these sliding pieces is shaped similar to a shuttle or a cigar,
for a double rack-rail, or like a pair of tongs for a single rack-rail. They are
arranged either rigid and firmly fixed, or elastic and swinging (pendulum like)
between fixed limits, and are made of wrought iron, or of mild or tempered steel or
other suitable material.
At the upper end they are fastened either in the special pinion frames or to the
pinion axles or to any other suitable part of the locomotive, in such a manner that
they either participate in the motion of the carrying springs or are independent of
the same; they are also preferably so arranged as to be capable of being raised or
lowered according to the wear of the wheel tyres or other parts.
The lower part can either be guided by ribs which could be rolled on the rack-
bars or fastened thereon by screws or rivets, or, by preference, they are guided by
lateral grooves rolled into the rack-bars at such a height, that the anchor piece
can clear the rack chairs, and, at switches and crossings, the ordinary or side rails,
passing free over them.
The described arrangement can also be used in a similar manner on carriages
and waggons or other vehicles of such railways to protect the gearing of the brake
pinions.
With such an arrangement the gearing is effectually protected as it acts in the
centre line and close to the pinions.
The accompanying drawings shew by way of example some of the various
constructions which may be employed for carrying out my said invention,
Figure 1 shews a cross section of a double rack-rail and an end view of the
safety anchor according to one arrangement;
Figure 2 shews a side view of the safety anchor and Figure 3 a sectional plan
of the same. I
In this construction the two rack-rails a a have each a groove a¹al formed on
their inuer side, into which projects the head 6 of the safety anchor, the stem b¹ of
which is suitably secured to the locomotive or vehicle, as above described.
Figure 4 shews a section of a single rack-rail C, having
a groove ce¹ formed
on each side thereof, into which project the hook shaped ends d d of the forked
safety anchor d an inside view of one of the ends d being shewn at Figure 5.
Figures 6 and 7 shew sections of other forms of the grooved or recessed rack-
rail for double racks, and
Figures 8 and 9 shew sections of other forms for a single rack-rail.
The rack-railway may of course be variously modified in form, the lateral
grooves being made as wide and deep as the special cases may require.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A safety appliance for rack-railways consisting of a safety anchor on the
Jocomotive or vehicle engaging with lateral grooves or recessed parts formed on the
rack-rails, below the teeth substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of February 1897.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.