Improvements in the Moveable Points of Crossings.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in the Moveable Points of Crossings.
I ALFRED DICKINSON of Tramway Depot Darlaston in the County of Stafford
Tramway Manager do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in the moveable points of crossings
whether automatic or worked by hand by which much greater strength and stability
is obtained and the liability of bending breaking or other damage is greatly reduced.
The moveable tongues of crossings are usually made of considerable length because
they must be very narrow at the point and length is therefore required to obtain
sufficient substance for the point &c. Now I make my tongues shorter the thicker
portion forming a part of the crossing itself. The moving point is cast or otherwise
made in one piece with an enlarged base or flange having at the thick end a natural
pivot piece one with the point and the underside of the crossing is cored or formed
hollow to allow its entrance from the underside when the flange of the tongue rest
against a corresponding flange of the crossing. A base block is then put in also from
the under side having a hole to receive the natural projecting pivot of the tongue
which is free to move sufficiently in either direction to accomplish the purpose
required. This base block has outer flanges to secure to the flanges of the crossing.
When these points are automatic a projection may be made on the underside to carry
a spiral or other spring brought into either tension or compression by means of a
corresponding projection on the inner side of the crossing.
Dated this 28th day of January 1887
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: I ALFRED DICKINSON of Tramway Depôt Darlaston in the County of Stafford
Tramway Manager do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object improvements in moveable points of crossings
whether automatic or worked by hand by which much greater strength, and stability
is obtained and the liability of bending breaking or other damage is greatly reduced.
The moveable tongues of crossings are usually made of considerable length because
they must be very narrow at the point and length is therefore required to obtain
sufficient substance for the pivot &c. Now I make my tongues shorter the thicker
portion forming a part of the crossing itself. The moving point is cast or otherwise
made in one piece with an enlarged base or flange having at the thick end a natural
pivot piece one with the point and the underside of the crossing is cored or formed
hollow to allow its entrance from the under-side when the flange of the tongue rests
againsts a corresponding flange of the crossing. A base block is then put in also
from the underside having a hole to receive the natural projecting pivot of the tongue
which is free to move sufficiently in either direction to accomplish the purpose required.
This base block has outer flanges to secure to the flanges of the crossing. When
these points are automatic a projection may be made on the underside to carry a
spiral or other spring brought into either tension or compression by means of a
corresponding projection on the inner side of the crossing.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and carried into practical
effect without difficulty I have appended hereunto one large sheet of drawings and
one small sheet upon which eight figures of various parts of a crossing with the
moveable point are given.
Figure 1. is a plan of the crossing K showing the point or tongue E in its normal
position.
Figure 2. is a longitudinal horizontal sectional plan of the crossing K and a plan of
the point E in its normal position therein.
Figure 3. is a longitudinal vertical part section and part elevation of the crossing K
and pivot E.
Figure 4. is an enlarged longitudinal vertical part section and part elevation of the
point E in the base block M.
Figure 5. is a cross sectional elevation on line A. B of the enlarged part of
crossing 2, 3 looking to the left hand.
Figure 6. is a part cross sectional and part elevation on line C. D looking to the
right hand.
Sheet 2 of the drawings:
:-
Figure 7. is a similar cross section to Figure. 5 and. Figure 6 but showing an
alternative arrangement for the spring tongue.
Figure 8. is an inverted view of Figure 7.

page_text: The crossing K is composed in its main part of the flange k' for the base having a
double web k and which widens out at 2 and 3 and then closes in at 6 to a single
web with the top or wearing part appearing like an ordinary crossing. The
enlargement at ³, is for the purpose of allowing the point E to be made very
substantial in its character and to be put in from the underside of the crossing when
the flange e², e³, e and e* of the point bears against the under part of the crossing K
and seals it against anything entering from the top. The large solid substantial
pivot el will be noted as a part in one casting or forging of the point E. The point E
is pivoted into the base block M at m' and the block is provided also with a flange m²
and this base block is secured in its position with bolts or pins n or other suitable
means in such a manner that K and M are as substantially one as possible as they
form the crossing while E is the point and M is only made separate for the purpose
of admitting the point E. The spring S is coiled around m' with one end s¹ bearing
against the crossing and the other end 2 bearing against the point E which establishes
a constant tendency on the part of the point to remain in its normal position as
shown. The coiled spring may be placed as shown by Figure 7 and Figure 8 and
indeed in a great variety of ways as will be readily understood by practical men
without departing from the principal of the invention and generally speaking con-
siderable differences may be made in the shape of other parts while still retaining
the main feature of a thoroughly substantial and short point with large bearing
and wearing surfaces but besides this my invention prevents the necessity of any
cavities at the top through which grit might fall and the grooves of the point
are practically level throughout so that a rail cleaner will work without difficulty.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
The improvements in moveable points of crossings consisting of the parts E, K
and M by which the under flange e², e³, e and e" are obtained for the point to
seal it with the substantial pivot arrangement substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1887.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Agent for Applicant.