US Patent: 6,716X
|
Railroad Switch
Opening and shutting switches upon railroads
|
|
Patentee:
|
|
| James Stimpson (exact or similar names) - Baltimore, MD |
| Manufacturer: |
| Not known to have been produced |
|
|
Patent Dates:
|
| Granted: |
Aug. 23, 1831 |
USPTO (New site tip)
Google Patents
Report data errors or omissions to steward
Joel Havens
|
|
Description: |
| Most of the patents prior to 1836 were lost in the Dec. 1836 fire. Only about 2,000 of the almost 10,000 documents were recovered. Little is known about this patent. Only the patent drawing is available. This patent is in the database for reference only.
“For an improved mode of Opening and Shutting Switches on Rail-roads; James Stimpson, city of Baltimore, Maryland, August 23.
Those who know anything of railroads are aware that what are called switches, are pieces of iron employed at turn out places, which pieces, or bars of iron, have to be opened and closed, according to the track upon which the carriage is to travel, and that accidents have frequently occurred in consequence of the switches not being opened or closed as required. The plan proposed in the specification of the above patent, is to arrange certain levers, and other machinery, so that a piece projecting from the carriage shall operate upon the switch and give to it its proper direction, either by day or night, without personal attention on the part of the person having the care of the carriage. The claim is to the application of machinery to open and shut switches, whereby the drivers of carriages, or superintendents of locomotive engines, or others, without stopping, or leaving their seats, carriages, or horses, can open and shut switches, if in order, by night, or by day, without seeing them, by machinery, as set forth in the above specification, or in any other way or manner.
The contrivances proposed, if in order, might answer the purpose, but from their complexity, we apprehend that they would prove to be traps rather than protectors.”
Journal of the Franklin Institute, Vol. 13, Feb. 1832 pg. 124-125
|
|
