CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN TURNTABLES TO BE EMPLOYED. ON OR IN CONNECTION WITH RAILWAYS, PART OR PARTS OF WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF TUBULAR BOILERS
Year: 1847

page_text: ALLAN'S SPECIFT ATION.
.k.
. TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
ALLAN, of Crewe, in the County of Chester, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-seventh day of May, in the tenth year of Her
reign, and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-
seven, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors; give and grant unto me, the
said Alexander Allan, Her especial license; full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Alexander Allan, my executors, administrators, and
'assigns, and such others as I, the said Alexander Allan, 'my executors,
'administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England and
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention. of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN TURNTABLES TO BE EMPLOYED. ON OR IN CONNECTION WITH
RAILWAYS, PART OR PARTS OF WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
THE CONSTRUCTION OF TUBULAR BOILERS;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso, that I, the said Alexander Allan, shall cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in
part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear,

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Alexander Allan, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and
ascertained in and by the Drawings hereto annexed, and the following
explanation thereof (that is to say):-
My improvements in turntables to be employed on or in connection with
railways consist, firstly, in the application of that branch of hydrodynamics
which comprehends the principle of hydrostatics or flotation, to railway turn-
tables in general; secondly, in the method of constructing the main frame of
turntables, by the novel application or use of wrought iron instead of their
being made of cast iron, as hitherto done; thirdly, in having more than one
line of railways running parallel with each other upon the same turntables, or
in placing both rails outside of the central line-of-a-turntable, whether parallel
or otherwise, and placing the turntable between two or more permanent lines
of railway, in order that, with the before-named- peculiar application of several
lines; of rails on one turntable, the same object or purpose may be effected by
the use of one turntable, which can be performed by two of the ordinary con-
struction, and 'situated in the centre of each line of railway, as commonly used;
fourthly, that, part or parts of my improvements which are also applicable
to, the construction of tubular boilers, consists, in a method of securing or
fastening tubes into plates of any description, but particularly applicable to the
fastening of tubes in the "tube plates" of tubular boilers for steam engines,
and is hereafter particularly described.
The objects of my Invention are, first, to reduce to a minimum the amount
of friction with which turntables have hitherto been attended; second, to
reduce the wear and tear, and consequent expenses; and, thirdly, to lessen in
a material degree the liability to accidents. The principal feature of this
Invention is founded upon the established law of hydrostatics, that bodies
immersed in a fluid are pressed upwards with a force equal to the weight of
fluid displaced. I would here remark that I denominate this improved
apparatus the "hydrostatic or floating turntable," from the application to
turntables of the aforesaid known principle of hydrostatics, which application
may be briefly described as follows:-The main frame or platform of the
turntable is to be immersed (in a manner similar to the ordinary gasometer) in
a suitably constructed reservoir filled with water or other fluid, the height of
which fluid is proportioned to the maximum weight intended to be conveyed
across, the table,, and the proper quantity of fluid, when once ascertained, is
rendered constant by an ordinary ball-cock or other contrivance placed in

page_text: connection with a cistern or other sourco by which the said reservoir is
supplied.
Such being the nature and object of my said improvements, I now proceed
to describe more fully the means whereby the several objects sought are to be
accomplished; and it must be understood that I do not confine myself to any
particular mode of construction in the application of the before-mentioned
hydrostatic principle to turntables, as the same is applicable to turntables in
general, or even as an auxiliary to existing arrangements.
In order that my Invention may be clearly understood, I have attached to
these presents a Sheet of Drawings, representing in several views my improve-
ments in turntables, being drawn (by way of illustration) upon a scale of half
an inch to the foot, and have marked the same with figures and letters of"
reference corresponding with the following description thereof :-
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 is a plan or horizontal view of
my improvements in turntables, with a portion of the top removed, in order
to exhibit the lower part of an improved construction of turntable; and
Figure 2 combines a side elevation or vertical section of the same. A, A,
represents a reservoir, containing the water or other fluid used, and likewise
the turntable; B, B, is the foundation or bed of the reservoir. The reservoir
may be constructed of bricks or masonry laid in cement, but it is obvious that
other materials and modes of construction might be substituted, such as' iron
or timber, &c. .C, C, is what is called the "curbing," made for convénience
in segments of cast iron, and placed around the top edge of the reservoir
A, A; the curbing C, C, is provided with recesses or openings for the recep-
tion of the timber pieces D, D. These timber pieces D, D, form an abutment
for and are placed under the ends of the rails E, E, fixed on the turntable.
They are for the purpose of lessening the noise and other effects of concussions
arising from the transit of an engine or carriage across the turntable. F, F,
represents the permanent lines of rails; G, G, exhibits a turntable of an
improved and novel construction, but it will be obvious (as before men-
tioned) that one of the ordinary construction might be made to float on
the fluid in the reservoir A, A. The upper part a, a, of my improved turn-
table is made of plates of wrought iron of requisite strength, laid horizontally,
and rivetted together or otherwise secured by means of the angle irons b, b,
to the wrought-iron plates c, c, placed vertically under them. The vertical
plates c, c, are in like manner secured to each other; and also to the lower
or curved wrought-iron plates e; e, by means of the angle: irons 6, 6. The
vertical plates are placed immediately beneath, and support. the rails E, E,

page_text: on the turntables. The ring or periphery 9, 9, is also constructed of wrought-
iron plates, and secured in a similar manner to each other and to the upper
and lower and vertical-plates by means of angle pieces. The turntable thus
constructed-is similar in external appearance to an ordinary gasometer, though
of course considerably shorter, whilst the interior comprises a number of cells
combining considerable strength and stability with comparative 'lightness. It
will be seen, on reference to the plan or horizontal view, Figure 1, that I
employ on the upper surface of.. the turntable several lines of: rails,E, E,
running parallel with each other. By this application of several parallel lines
of rails, or in placing both rails outside the central line of a turntable on, the
same turntable, and by placing the said turntable between two. permanent
lines of a railway, I am enabled to shift an engine or vehicle from.. one..line
of rails to another by the aid of a single-turntable, but it. is evident; that the
single lines of rails in cross directions, as at present used. might likewise be
adopted on my improved.construction of turntable.
I now proceed to describe one of the several modifications I.propose for
constructing the centre. part of my "hydrostatic or floating. turntable for
retaining the main wrought-iron table, before described, and to which it is
attached in a central and horizontal position in the reservoir. H, H, is a foun-
dation piece, of cast iron or other suitable material, secured by means of the
bolts h to the foundation B. J, J, is a stationary metal pillar, fastened to tlie
foundation piece H-vertically by the bolts i, i, and laterally by the wedge-
formed pieces j,j, taking into corresponding mortices in the stationary pillar J, J,
and foundation piece H, H. The wedge-formed pieces are more particularly
useful for setting the turntable in a true horizontal position. K, K, is a metal
cap, fitted and secured on to the stationary pillar J, J, .by the bolts-k, k,
which cap has a circular conical surface 1, 7. L, L, is called the centre piece,
rivetted or otherwise secured to the main wrought-iron table G, G, and accu-
rately fitted on to the stationary pillar J, J, round which it turns. At m, m, on
the centre piece L, L, is another circular conical surface, corresponding with the
conical surface l, l; on the cap K, K. Between and round the two circular
conical surfaces and m are situated a set of antifriction rollers M, M, provided
with spindles passing through an inner and outer hoop of metal f,f, which
hoops are for the purpose of keeping the rollers at their proper distances apart.
The rollers M, M, have likewise' flanges to keep them laterally in their places
between the conical surfaces 1,1, and m, m. The antifriction rollers M, M, are
introduced for the purpose of reducing the friction which would otherwise result
from the upward pressure of the displaced fluid in the reservoir. The detached

page_text: Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6: represent other arrangements of the centre part round
which the turntable revolves: Figure 8 is a vertical section taken through the
centre of the turntable; and Figure 4-is a horizontal section taken through
the line, in Figure 35 This modification differs from the one "just"
described in its being provided with a means of removing any play occasioned
by the wear of the centre piece L, L, on the, stationary pillar J,J. H, H; is!
the foundation piece, on. which the stationary pillar JJ;-is secured by the bolts.
i;i, and wedge pieces.j, j The stationary pillar J, J, is adjustable in a manner.
similar to that before described. N, N; is fa.conical ring of brass or other suit-
able-material,. fitted loosely on to the pillar J; J40; 0; is a piece with arms
passing through slots in the lower end of the pillar J, J; and taking into
recesses n, n; in the conical ring N, N. The upper part of the centre 'piece.
L. L, is fitted to the stationary pillar J, J, and the lower part of the 'centre'
piece is made to suit the conical ring N,N, on which it turns. PP is a
strong bolt, passing upwards through the arm piece 0, 0, and metal-cap K, K,
having a screwed-nut at its upper extremity, by which the conical ring is
rendered adjustable vertically, for the purpose before mentioned. Figures 5
and 6 exhibit: horizontal and vertical sections of a third modification of the
centre part of my improved: turntable; it differs from the last described-in
having an upper as well as a lower adjustable conical ring. The formation
piece is: the same as before described. The stationary pillar JJ is provided.
with upper and lower slots, through which pass the arm pieces Q, Q, and 0,0,
taking into recesses cast' in the upper and lower conical rings N, N, and R; R;:
the upper arm piece. Qallows the bolt P connected with the lower arm piecé
O to pass freely through it; the screwed bolts o, o, connect the upper arm piece
Q, carrying the upper conical ring R to the metal cap K, and the two-conical.
rings N. and R. thus:admit of vertical adjustment independently of one another:
The centre piece L, as it is called, has corresponding conical surfaces-to-suit
the upper and lower. conical rings Nand-R..
•
123
The application of the antifriction rollers M in this modification is the-same
as previously described. The catches for locking the table in any required
position: are of the ordinary.construction, and may be seen, by reference to
Figures 1 and 7. p, p, is: a lever fitting on to the catch q, having a fulcrum r
fastened to the turntable. A part of the catch 9, projecting downwards, takes
into recesses formed in suitable places on the curbing C. The catch q. by
being pressed on the curbing C when about to enter a recess, acts
as a' break,
and prevents that shock which a turntable receives when the catches are
dropped suddenly into the recesses, in order to stop it. S, S; shew's a' ball-cock,

page_text: for regulating the supply of fluid to the reservoir A, A; as before explained.
It may be placed in any convenient situation in communication with a cistern
or other, source, by which the reservoir A, A, is supplied with the fluid; one
ball-cock and cistern only might.be made to supply a number of."hydrostatic
turntables," if situated near to each other. T, T, are tubes, fixed in a novel
manner; hereafter, described, to the top and bottom plates of my improved
turntable; the use of which is, that by forming a barrel or cylinder for the
application of a portable hand pump, the reservoir A, A, may be emptied or
cleansed, and the water or other fluid used may be pumped into a cistern to be
again made serviceable. U is a man-hole, which renders the reservoir accessible
for the purpose of cleansing. When the fluid used is easily obtained, the
reservoir might be emptied by means of a common plug placed' at the bottom
of-the,reservoir A, A. :
I now proceed to explain my improved method of fastening the tubes T, T;
to the top and bottom. plates of. my improved turntable, and which method
will be seen to be applicable in most cases. where tnbes are used, such as in
the tubular boilers of locomotive or other steam engines. Figures 8 and 9 are
detached views, drawn on a:larger scale, in which T is the tube required to be
secured to the plate a, a. For this purpose I employ a bush W, cut into three
or more segments, and having collars formed at 8, s. These segments when
placed close together are made to allow the collars s, s, formed on the bush to
pass into the tube T. When the bush W is inserted to the proper distance
up the tube, I force, the conical drift X through the bush W, which causes
it to expand diametrically, and by means of the collars s, s, to rivet or swell
the tube into countersunk recesses previously formed in the plate in which the
tube is to be fastened. The conical drift X is then withdrawn, so as to allow
the segments of the bush to collapse and to be slightly turned in the tube, in
order to expand the parts t, t, left by the openings in the segments.
Having now particularly described the nature and object of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it
to be understood that I claim particularly,―
Firstly, the application of the hydrostatic or floating principle to railway
turntables; either of my improved construction or of the ordinary or any other
kind, so that the entire moving platform shall be supported by a fluid upon
which it may be turned or moved in a reservoir.
Secondly, in the application and use of wrought iron in the construction of
turntables, as above particularly.described.
Thirdly, in the application and use of more than one line of rails running

page_text: parallel with each other upon the same revolving platform or table, or in
placing both rails outside the central line of a turntable, whether parallel or
otherwise, and placing or planting the turntable between two or more lines of
permanent rails or ways.
And, lastly, in the peculiar mode above described of fixing or securing tubes
in plates of any description, but more particularly in the tube plates of tubular
boilers for locomotive or other steam engines.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Allan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and forty-seven.
ALEXANDER (L.s.) ALLAN.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Twenty-fifth day of
November, in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Alexander Allan
came before our Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the Twenty-seventh day of November, in the year above written.