Improvements in or connected with Railway Switches.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Railway Switches.
I, JOSEPH RIDDICK Signal Fitter 171 Pollokshaws Road Glasgow do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A reversible tumbler for shifting the movable points of railways from said
tumbler which is fixed in a parallel position (outside of rails) with the points.
The switch points being movable as usual, are to be attached to a pull rod; joining
on to one end of a movable right-angle crank, which is centered on a pivot. The
other end of crank to work in a slot hole which is in bottom of rack, the said rack
having teeth on top side, which has connection with a teeth and pinion wheel,
which is fixed on an axle which is set in bushes of a suitable shape, and is wrought
by a lever, with sufficient weight on it, to close points to either side.
Dated this 17th day of March 1892.
JOSEPH RIDDICK.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Railway Switches.
I, JOSEPH RIDDICK, of 171 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, Signal Fitter, 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:-
The object of this invention is to provide a means whereby the points or switches
of railway and tramway permanent way may be easily moved and when either open
or closed will be held in that position by the said apparatus.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood I will explain the same
with reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings in which
Figures 1 and 2 Sheet 1 shew respectively elevation and plan of an apparatus for
moving railway and tramway points or switches which is constructed according to
this invention.
Figure 3 Sheet 2 is a cross section of same.
Figure 4, Sheet 2 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 5, Sheet 2 is a section plan
of same.
The same letters denote the same parts in all the figures.
b
a is a casing of cast iron or other suitable material to protect the working parts
from the weather, is a bell crank working on a pin c carried by brackets de
forming part of the casing a the shorter arm 6 of the crank 6 engages with a slot f
in the toothed rack g the other arm of the crank is connected to the switch by
means of suitable connecting rods.
The rack 9 rests on friction rollers hi and is prevented from rising by the
guides kk. Gearing with the rack g is a pinion which is rotated by the handle m.
The spindle n is square in section where it passes through the pinion and the
handle m and is circular at the journals which rotate in bearings formed in the
case a.
I form a suitable slot in the case to allow of the vibration of the crank arm 6¹
within it. o is a weight to hold the switch firmly in either position. The case is
preferably fixed parallel to the track, suitable bolt holes p. p p p being formed in
the feet 9. g. 9. 9. for this purpose,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is:-
1st. In an apparatus for moving and holding railway switches or points the
combination of a bell crank lever with a rack and pinion operated by a weighted
lever substantially as described and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
2nd. The improvements in railway switches substantially as described and shewn
by the accompanying drawings and operated in the manner specified.
Dated this 10th day of December 1892.
FREDK. WALKER,
11, Furnival Street, Holborn, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.