IMPROVEMENTS IN REVERSIBLE OR OTHER CROSSINGS OR POINTS FOR RAILWAYS OR TRAMWAYS
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Edward Morris at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th May 1880.
JAMES EDWARD MORRIS, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Draughtsman.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REVERSIBLE OR OTHER CROSSINGS OR POINTS FOR RAILWAYS
OR TRAMWAYS."
My Invention relates to railway crossings, such, for example, as reversible, non-
reversible, composite or built up crossings, V points, and others of a similar
character, either cast or wrought, and has reference to the mode of connecting such
crossings to rails of a double-headed or channelled section. The Invention consists
in the use of a support or bearing for the outer side of one or more of the rail ends
where they adjoin the crossing or point, such support or bearing being solid with
and forming a part of the crossing itself, in contradistinction to such loose or
removable supports as the fish plates generally used for that purpose. These
projecting supports or bearings are in all cases so formed as to bear against both the
upper and lower shoulders and web of the rail on its outer side in any suitable
manner, and thus to make a more even rolling surface by rendering the junction of
the rail and crossing stronger and more rigid (the joint being the weak point in this
type of crossing as usually made), and to lessen the destructive action of an imperfectly
secured or yielding joint both on rolling stock and permanent way. In these
improved crossings each rail is held in its place both vertically and laterally by the
projections alone, bolts being added to increase the security of the joint, and the
fishplates are entirely dispensed with.
In applying my Invention to the crossings made of cast steel, usually known as
Armstrong's Patent, for example, I proceed in the following manner:-It being
understood that the converging ends of the rails are usually secured on their inner
or adjacent sides to a central projection, I extend a side projection from the body of
the crossing at or about its end, and in one piece with the body of the crossing, by
casting, forging, or otherwise forming the parts of this projection, against which the
rail takes its bearing. In the case of a cast crossing, each side projection would be
cast on in the usual manner, the inner face which bears against the outer side of
the rail being made of a suitable shape to fit to the rail, so that in applying this
Invention to an ordinary crossing, there would be in addition to the usual central
projection for supporting the rails on their inner or adjacent sides, a side projection
ID...931

page_text: or lug to support and hold in place on its outer side, in the manner before described,
each rail end which it is desired to connect to the crossing by this method, which
may be further secured by bolts suitably placed.
The solid side projecting pieces are intended to be used in conjunction with the
present central support, but if desirable the central support may be dispensed with,
and the side lugs or projections only may be used.
In the non-reversible crossing I form a channel where suitable down the middle
of the central projection, in such a manner that each rail may be bolted indepen-
dently to the outer and inner projections, against which it bears, and which support
and hold it in its place in the manner before described..
My Invention is adapted to crossings that are cast, forged, or otherwise made of
steel or other material, and is also applicable to the crossings of tramways.