Improvements in Mechanism or Appliances for Carrying and Directing with the Minimum of Friction the Operating Switch Point or other Rod Connections on Railways.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 8th June, 1889-Accepted, 13th July. 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism or Appliances for Carrying and
Directing with the Minimum of Friction the Operating Switch
Point or other Rod Connections on Railways.
1 HENRY WILLIAMS of Gowan Brae Crosshill Renfrewshire Engineer 'do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its objects the facilitating of Point or other Rod operating
connections on Railways passing round curves of any degree and thereby obviating
all friction as much as possible in the working of such connections, which of course
means easy working of all Switch Points, Locks, Bolts or other Appliances on
Railways worked by such Rods so carried and directed. Also further where it is
more advantageous to run such operating Rod connections direct or in a series of
straight lengths or parts dispensing with any curving of such Rods, that by the use of
one form of my Improvements in Mechanism for carrying and directing such Rod
connections the Angles or Bent Places forming the meeting place or spot of any two
straight lengths of these connections will be eased of all its friction and carry the
exact travel in such Angle of their general line and thereby dispensing with Half
Cranks or Sliding Bars usually employed in the Angles of such Rod operating
connections and so not only obviate friction but retain full stroke travel and power.
To effect this mechanical operation in any such Angles, according to my invention I
employ at this very bend or angle an Anti friction Pulley, Wheel or Thimble mounted
to turn freely and work horizontally on a vertical centre pivot or stud, which stud
forms part of the vertical clip or grip or equivilant device for securing the exact
position of such angle or bend in the Point or other Rod connections to same.
pulley or Thimble I preferably form rounded or bevelled on its upper and lower edge
of its outside circumference so as to facilitate its rotating or turning action on its own
axis by any bearing that may not be in its exact horizontal or extreme outside circum-
ference bearing line in addition to the direct bearing of its outside circumference.
For the exact and proper horizontal sliding travel or working of this Anti friction
Pulley or Thimble, I arrange for its operations a Cast Iron or other Metal Casing,
the body of which will be of a segmental or curved shape to enable the Anti friction
Pulley or Thimble to scribe or travel a radial motion suitable to the angle formed
by its operating Rod connections, having one so formed groove or slot to fit the
circumference of the Pulley or Thimble in each of its inner Vertical sides.
This
On the upper part of the centre vertical stud I arrange a strap or straps or gland
or its equivilant preferably in two halves for gripping or securing this stud to its
operating Rod connections. These straps or glands I prefer to secure to the square
or upper part of the vertical stud by means of a bolt or its equivilant and at the
crown of this strap or straps or gland I arrange same with a pair of snugs or
flanges so as to grip tightly the operating Rod connections on the flanges being
contracted or bolted together, or by any equivilant device. This complete device or
mechanism I make in Singles when to be used for one Rod or in Duplex or Multiplex
when required for more than one Rod to suit the Angles of these operating Rod
connections running in close proximity with each other.
-
A further Improvement of my invention has for its objects to facilitate ease and
avoid friction in carrying and directing the operating Switch Point or other Rod
connections in working round the curves of Railways when it is preferable to fix such
operating Rod connections to the same or other suitable curves on Railways instead
of in a straight length or lengths and consists in employing two or more anti friction
spherical shaped balls to work or travel in grooves formed for them in the Metallic
Box or Casing by the operating of such Rod connections. This complete device or

page_text: mechanism I make in Singles when to be used for one Rod, or in Duplex or Multiplex
when required for more than one Rod to suite the curves of these operating Rod
connections running in close proximoty with each other.'
Dated this Seventh day of September 1888.
HENRY WILLIAMS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism or Appliances for Carrying and
Directing with the Minimum of Friction the Operating Switch
Point or other Rod Connections on Railways.
I, HENRY WILLIAMS, of Gowan Braé, Crosshill, Glasgow, Renfrewshire, 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:—
My invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction of
the mechanism and fittings of several of the parts connected with the carrying and
directing or travelling and compensating with the minimum of friction the operating
rod connections working switch-points, locks, bolts, or other such appliances on
railways. And in order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention
relates, to understand how it may be carried into effect or practice, I have here-
unto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, in which the same reference letters
are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1, is a general perspective view of one arrangement of my improved
mechanism receiving the operating rod connection in its gripping glind as working
in its metallic race housing or frame at the bend or angle of such rod connection
in which the horizontal roller pulley or thimble turns and travels, and by this
mechanism of glanding the operating rod connection is made secure to its hori-
zontal pulley vertical stud, spindle, or shaft, hence the operation of the rod connections
is relieved of friction by the free turning and travelling of the horizontal roller so
secured to its operating rod.
Figure 2, is a general side view of the above figure 1, the dotted straight lines
indicating the groove of the race for the travelling of the pulley A, which is indicated.
in dotted lines in this figure.
Figure 3, is an end view of figure 2.
Figure 4, is a side view of another form of glanding in one piece this mechanism
to the operating rod connections.
Figure 5, is an end view of figure 4.
Figure 6, is a side view of the glanding device shown in figures 1, 2, 3, with a
horizontal swivelling bolster or bar into which is formed or attached two fixed studs
each for receiving a horizontal pulley or thimble.
Figure 7, is an end view in section of figure 6.
Figure 8, is a plan view of the horizontal swivelling bolster or bar C¹ referred
to in figure 6.
Figure 9, shows a plan and elevation respectively of an ordinary operating rod
double joint arranged according to my improvements with the horizontal pulley or
thimble to turn on its centre or fulcrum pin and to travel in the metallic race or
casing shown in figures 1 and 2.
Figure 10, shows similar views of another modification of the same mechanism as
shown in figure 9.
Figure 11, shows end views of two different modifications of forms of rollers,
pulleys, or thimbles, and a suitable race or casing for the working or travelling of
such pulleys therein.
Figure 12, is a general side view of my improved mechanism for the carrying and
directing of the operating switch-point or other rod connections, when arranged
to pass round any curves or in series of straight lengths on railways, wherein L
employ one, two, or 'more of spherical balls or marbles which may be made of glass,

page_text: metal, stoneware, or other suitable material and which will travel by the motion
or operation of such rod or rols in the specially designed casing, box, or framing,
to receive such spherical ball or balls, so as to give a ball bearing travel or carriage,
for the easy or antifriction motion of these rod connections.
Figure 13, is a sectional end view of figure 12, as would be applied in the case
of a single rod working with three spherical balls.
Figure 14, shows in section the same general side view and end views as shown
in figures 12 and 13, of a single rod arrangement working with four spherical balls.
Figure I, is an end view in section and a side view as applicable for a duplex
or multiplex arrangement of framing or casing for carrying any required number
of such operating rod connections, three being shown in these views with the
implementing of spherical balls all being cased in from the action of snow, dirt,
or weather.
. Figure 16 is a general plan view corresponding to figure 15.
Figure 17 is an end sectional elevation and a side view respectively of another
modification similar to that described and shown in reference to figures 12 to 16,
but in this figure I employ a top roller or pulley to turn on a pin in place of a
spherical ball, to travel or roll in a top cap or cover over the rod connections.
Figure 18, is a general plan view corresponding to figure 17. And figure 17 A,
is a transverse section showing a single such spherical ball A¹, and a single such
roller B as employed for each rod connection E when channel or iron section rods
are used instead of round or tubular rod connections as shown in all the prece ling
figures.
Figures 19 and 20 show a side elevation and a plan view respectively of some of
the main parts shown in figures 1 to 11, and 12, to 18 respectively comprising the
pulley or thimble device or devices fixed or glanded to the operating switch-point rod
connections shown in figures 1 to 11, and the antifriction spherical balls arrange-
ments of devices, or mechanism shown in figures 12 to 18, as applicable for the
purpose of compensating the atmospheric influence on such operating rod connections,
and thus bring about the very much easier, more positive, direct compensating
action, with, the minimum of friction or in other words will automatically take up or
give out the operating rod whenever it is expanding or contracting by the varying
atmospheric action, so as at all times and influences to compensate the working length
of such rod as to give absolute exactness of operation of the switch-points, locks, or
bolts, with that one main view or application of the principle of my invention, "the
minimum of friction."
Referring to these drawings, A, is the horizontal pulley or thimble shown in
figures 1 to 11 and 19. A' is the spherical ball or balls shown in figures 12 to 19.
Bis the frame or casing for directing the motion or travelling of the pulley or
pulleys A, or spherical ball or balls A' and which is bolted or screwed to a frame such
as Z figure 1, or. other suitable foundation. B is the cap with suitable groove,
grooves, or channels, formed or cast therein for receiving and allowing of the proper
working or travelling of the top spherical ball or balls when these are used, as shown
in figures 12 to 16. B2 is an ordinary top roller or top turning or revolving part
to keep the rod in its proper place and bearing on the spherical ball or balls below
as shown in figures 17 and 18, and which roller B2 is employed instead of or as
an equivalent for the top spherical ball A' shown in figures 12 to 16.
B³ is an
ordinary bolt or bolts for securing the cap or cover to its frame or casing as shown
in figures 12 to 16, or for receiving the top roller or rollers as shown in figures 17
and 18 respectively. Referring to figures 1 to 11 and 19, is the vertical stud
or shaft on which the pulley A freely turns. D and is the gland piece or pieces
to rigidly grip the rod E and bolted or otherwise firmly secured to the head part
of the vertical stud or shaft C, D are the bolts or equivalent means of fixing of
the gland D, D₁, to the crosshead of C. E is the operating rod connection. In
figure 19, it will be seen that I forge the vertical studs C to the rods E, and thus
form one body or part of body of each rod E so as to enable the roller or thimble A
to turn freely, on such, stud and by the operation of the rod E either by the influence

page_text: of the atmosphere or by the signal-man operating his switch points, bolts, locks, or
other rod connections, the pulley will work in its suitably formed groove or channel
formed in its casing B, and so push or cause the free rolling, turning, or travelling
action of the spherical balls A', in the groove or channel and also in the casing B
above and below the upper and lower rods E respectively, and thus produce on the
opposite rod connection by means of its roller or thimble A, an opposite action, that
is to say a pull on either one part of the rod E transmitted through this arrange-
ment of travelling rollers and balls in their channel will produce a push on the
other part of the rod and so effect the frictionless compensation of such rod connections,
as it will also be seen in figures 1 and 2, with their details figures 3 to 11, that the
rod connections when running to an angle or bend will be relieved of friction at such
part or parts of its course, and also it will be seen that the same rod connections in
their general or throughout course from the signal man to the object to be operated
will be relieved of the friction heretofore so serious to the proper working of such
rod connections by the means of the travelling or rolling action of the spherical balls
in their casings or framings carrying and directing such connections.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
First, the construction or general arrangement and combination of parts of
mechanism for carrying and directing or travelling and compensating with the
minimum of friction, the operating switch-point or other rod connections on railways
all substantially as herein described and distinguished in reference to and shown in
the accompanying drawings.
Second, in mechanism for the carrying and directing with the minimum of friction
the operating switch-point or other rod connections on railways, the construction and
use of a pulley or pulleys, thimbles or their equivalent working or travelling in
combination with a framing, housing or race as respectively shown in figures 1
to 11. and 19, of the accompanying drawings substantially as and for the purposes
described.
Third, in mechanism for the carrying and directing with the minimum of friction
the operating switch-point or other rod connections on railways, the construction
and use of a gland formed in one or more parts to grip and connect the operating
rod, working or travelling in a suitable framing housing or race either separately or
in combination with a horizontal pulley or pulleys and stud or studs as shown in
figures 1 to 11, of the accompanying drawings, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth and described.
Fourth, in mechanism for carrying and directing with the minimum of friction the
operating switch-point or other rod connections on railways, the employment or use of
spherical balls within a housing, casing or race as shown in figures 12 to 19 of the
accompanying drawings substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fifth, in mechanism for carrying and directing with the minimum of friction the
operating switch-point or other rod connection on railways, a suitable metallic
framing in single, duplex, or multiplex for carrying and allowing of the proper and
free travelling of the spherical balls substantially as described in figures 12 to 19 of
the accompanying drawings as and for the purposes set forth.
Sixth, in mechanism for carrying and directing or travelling and compensating with
the minimum of friction the operating switch-point or other rod connection on
railways, the employment or use of a working pulley or pulleys, thimbles or equivalent
attached or connected to the rod connections in combination with spherical balls,
substantially as and operated in the manner herein described, and shown in reference
to figure 19, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 7th day of June 1889