IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Shae Perring, of Bury, in the County
of Lancaster, Civil Engincer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Shac Perring
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st August 1858.
I, JOHN SHAB PERRING, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS" to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to an improved form of point or switch, and
consists in so forming the rails which constitute such apparatus that
they can be turned over and used on either side, that is to say, the two
moving or tongue rails are cut or otherwise formed to a pattern which
will admit of their being adapted either side up, so that when the one
surface is worn out the other may be brought upwards for the carriages
to run upon, and in like manner 1 construct the fixed rails which con-
stitute the other portions of switches.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Shae Perring in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 28th January 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME; I,
JOHN SHAE PERRING, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Shae Perring, Her special
license that I, the said John Shae Perring, my executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Shae Perring, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Shac Perring, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said John Shae Perring, 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, reference being had to the Drawing
hercunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say):
My Invention relates to an improved form of that part of the per-
manent way of railways called points or switches, and consists in so
forming the rails which constitute such apparatus that they can be

page_text: turned over and used on either side, (that is to say,) the two moving or
tongue rails are cut or otherwise formed to a pattern which will admit
of their being adapted either side up, so that when the one surface is
worn out the other may be brought upward for the carriages to run
upon, and in like manner I construct the fixed rails which constitute
the other portions of switches.
Having thus set forth the main feature of the Invention as described
in my Provisional Specification, I will proceed to illustrate the same
by aid of the accompanying Drawing. Fig. 1, is a horizontal repre-
sentation of the switches as they are adapted to a railway. This view
does not in itself particularly shew the nature of my Invention, but
will serve to illustrate the same in combination with Fig. 2, which is
an end elevation of one of the switches a, b, explaining the sections
thereof at various points, which sections are colored with various tints
in order to make them more evident. Upon Fig. 1, are marked the
several numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, a section taken at any one of
which points will answer to the shape included between the cor-
responding numbers upon Fig. 2. It will be perceived that these
sections gradually increase in breadth as the wheels of the carriage
lose their bearing upon the fixed rail, that at 7, being of the full
breadth. The upper part A, and the lower part B, are of the same
form, so that when the one is worn out it may be turned up-side down,
and moved to the other side, as from a, to b, which latter being also in
like manner shifted so as to occupy the place of a, two new surfaces
will be obtained as bearings for the train. After the same manner I
form the fixed rails c, of the switch, so that they may be 'reversed
when desired, and present the proper relative shapes to the moveable
parts a, b. I have in the Drawing shewn a particular shape of rail,
but I do not confine myself therete, as my Invention may be adapted
to other forms, and in combination with such sleepers or other bearings
as may be desired. I would also observe, that the improved form of
switch may be manufactured by rolling, hammering, or by other suitable
process.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be [performed, I

page_text: desire it to be understood that I claim, as secured to me under the
above in part recited Letter's Patent, so shaping or constructing the
rails of points or switches that they may be used either side upper-
most.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Shae Perring, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
four
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
J. S. PERRING. (L.S.)