IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS FOR TRAMWAYS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Sharp, of Bolton le Moors, in the County of.
Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS FOR TRAMWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Sharp at the Vince
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th May 1880.
HENRY SHARP, of Bolton le Moors, in the County of Lancaster.
IN RAILS FOR TRAMWAYS."
" IMPROVEMENTS
The first part of my Invention consists in an improved rail for tramways, which,
with the groove, corrugations, and base plate, is rolled complete at one operation.
I make the outsides of my improved rail vertical, or nearly vertical, so that it is
held securely in its place by the sets or paving stones, no space being left to be
filled in with loose metal, asphalte, or tar.
The space or cavity inside the rail is slightly taper, the sides of the rail being
rather thicker at the top than at the bottom.
I make the flanges or base plate at right angles, or nearly so, to the sides, and
of any width desired to give stability to the rail.
The second part of my Invention consists in making recesses or shoulders at the
bottom of the inner portion of the sides of tram rails and extending the whole
length of the rails, in which I place a plate of steel to form a continuous base from
one extremity to the other of the flanges.
I prefer to make this plate the same length as the rail, and it may be rolled with
bevel edges, so that when it is laid across the space or cavity inside the rail and
fitted in the recesses the corner (or edge) of the base of the rail that is next it
on either side may be hammered over so as to rivet it securely in its position,
thus making a firm unbroken base. The rails and plates may be made of iron or
other metal if desirable._

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Sharp in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th November
1880.
HENRY SHARP, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County of Lancaster. “IMPROVEMENTS
IN RAILS FOR TRAMWAYS.".
The first part of my Invention consists in an improved rail for tramways, which,
with the groove, corrugations, and base plate, is rolled complete at one operation.
I make the outsides of my improved rail vertical, or nearly vertical, so that it is
held securely in its place by the sets or paving stones, no space being left to be
filled in with loose metal, asphalte, or tar.
The space or cavity inside the rail is sliglitly taper, the sides of the rail being
rather thicker at the top than at the bottom. I make the flanges or base plate at
right angles, or nearly so, to the sides, and of any width desired to give stability to
the rail.
The second part of my Invention consists in making recesses or shoulders at the
bottom of the inner portion of the sides of tram rails and extending the whole
length of the rail, in which I place a plate of steel to form a continuous base from
one extremity to the other of the flanges. I prefer to make this plate the same
length as the rail, and it may be rolled with bevel edges, so that when it is laid
across the space or cavity inside the rail and fitted in the recesses the corner of the
base of the rail that is next it on either side may be hammered over so as to rivet
it securely in its position, thus making a firm unbroken base.
The rails and plates may be made of iron or other metal if desirable.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, reference being had
to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Fig 1 is a cross section, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of part of a rail constructed
according to the first part of my Invention. a is the groove; b, the corrugations;
and c, the base plate. I roll my improved rail complete at one operation in an
ordinary rolling machine provided with suitably shaped rolls.
Fig. 3 is an end view of a rail, to which the second part of my Invention is
applied. d is a plate with bevel edges (extending the length of the rail) laid in
recesses at the base of the rail as shewn, the edges of the recesses being hammered
'or forced over to secure the plate in its position.
Having stated the nature of my Invention, and described the manner of
performing the same, I declare that I claim,-
1. The improved rail constructed so that it may be rolled complete, with the
groove, corrugations, and base plate, at one operation, substantially as shewn and
described in reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
2. The plate marked & fitted in the baso of the rail, as shewn and described in
reference to Fig. 3.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Sharp, have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Second day of November One thousand eight hundred and
HENRY SHARP. (LS.)