IMPROVEMENTS IN POINTS POR RAILWAYS, AND CHAIRS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1859

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Kyle at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd June
1859.
I, JOHN KYLE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Pointsman, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
POINTS POR RAILWAYS, AND CHAIRS FOR THE SAME," to be as follows (that is
to say):-
This Invention has for its object certain improvements in the arrangement and
form of the various parts of railway points and the chairs to be used therewith,
and consist in forming the switch rails of double-faced I rails, but in place of
rounding off the inner sides of rail heads as now practised, it is prefered to
form them at an angle to the vertical sides of the rail, for the purpose of
obtaining additional strength and economy in the manufacture thereof. And
it is proposed to construct these switch rails of a greater length than those now
in common use. The switch rails are fitted into heel chairs of a suitable form,
and are secured therein by a vertical pin or rod which passes up through a
hole in the rail, and upon which the rail works for a short distance in a
lateral direction.
The chairs of the road rails which are within the range of the switch rails
are formed on their inner sides with a long broad flat base forming a bed on
the top of the sleepers for the switch rails to work upon, and the inner side of
a portion of the chairs of the road rail are cast with a projection on the side
thereof, which takes into the hollow side of the switch rail, and portions of the

page_text: switch rails are recessed to admit portions of the chairs near their outer ends
taking thereinto.
Over the first sleepers in advance of the heel chairs each switch rails is
provided with a shoe or bracket chair or support having a broad base, and
which is secured to and moves with the switch rails, which, with a transverse
rod connecting the outer ends of the switch rails, keep them securely in their
proper position.
These improved switches are acted upon as follows:-A short rod is attached
to one side of one of the switch rails, and extends through a hole formed
through the side of the road rail. To this rod a weight is attached by a chain
or strap, or other mechanical equivalent, which works over a pulley mounted
within a well or chamber formed in the ground so as to admit of the weight
rising and falling therein. The opposite switch rail is also provided with a
short horizontal lateral arm, which extends through an opening in the road
rail, and is connected to the outer end of an horizontal lever of the first order,
which works parallel to the surface of the earth. A chain or chains and rods.
(or other mechanical equivalent) are attached to the long arm of this lever,
and are carried over pullies to a suitable standard or lever situated in any
convenient position to enable the apparatus to be worked by the pointsman.
In conclusion it may be remarked that it is prefered to adjust the switch
rails so that the points will open about four inches, and that the heels of
switch rails fifteen feet long being set about three and a half inches, and those
of eighteen feet long about four inches from the road rails. By this arrange-
ment the engine wheels are not likely to strike against the inside of the rail
when passing through the points, which is frequently the case now, thereby
either pressing in the road rail or snapping the heel chair.