Improvements in and relating to Sleepers for the Permanent Way of Railways.
Year: 1889

page_text: i ate of Applicat on, 25th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 31st Mar., 1890-Accepted, 3rd May, 1840
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Sleepers for the Permanent Way
of Railways.
I, THOMAS KER, of Abu Road, Rajpootana India M. Inst. C.E., do hereby declare
the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to improvements in the permanent way of railways,
and comprises a new or improved construction of sleeper suitable either for securing
the rails direct or the chairs of the rails thereto, and which can be made of plate
steel, malleable-iron, or other metal or alloy, and which will give an elastic or yielding
action, and avoid the wearing away which the ordinary "pot" or "trough" metal
sleepers have on the rails, and thus prolong the life of both rails and rolling
stock, while being more simple and efficient than railway sleepers as heretofore
constructed.
.
According to one arrangement of my new or improved construction of sleeper, I
form the whole sleeper preferably of sheet or plate steel right across the two rails,
and I make the end part under and for some distance on each side of each rail with
a hollow space between the part under the rail and the part bearing on the ballast,
say about an inch deep, these metal parts being of a flat shape and bent down at the
two ends to form resting feet or flanges, say about four or five inches deep, sunk
into the ballast on each side of each rail, making this rail bearing hollow part of a
saddle shape. The transverse part between these hollow parts carrying the rails of
each line of permanent way, is made in the form of a web either flat or preferably
curved down at the edges to an inverted U shape in the transverse section of the
plate, to give greater strength; and the ends of the sheets or plates are bent and
riveted on the inner and under side of the hollow space carrying the rails. The
sleeper can be either rolled or stamped by machinery into the approximate form of
this new or improved construction; and the outer ends or feet can either be made
close or open to answer for the kind of ballast used; while the inner ends can be
either formed with feet as described, or made flat and flush with the part resting
on the ballast.
Under another arrangement of my new or improved sleeper, it would be made of this
saddle shape the whole length between the two rails, out of a plate double the width
of the sleeper, and bent up of a U shape to form the deep foot along the one side
of the whole length of the sleeper, the free edges at the other side being buckled
into each other for the foot of a U shape the whole length of this side enclosing the
ballast between these feet right across the line of rails below the under web of the
sleeper leaving the upper open part between the two webs to give the clastic action.
In this construction the ends of the upper bearing part of the plate might be either
left open or bent down on to the edge bent parts or feet enclosing the ballast. The
rails would preferably be secured between angled lugs on each side of them punched
up out of the plate on which the flanges of the rails rest and to which they would
be secured by metal or other jointing keys between the lower sole flange of the rail
and one of the lugs. The upper central part of the sleeper plate, where the sole
flange of the rail rests on, would preferably be made thicker than the outer edge
parts and ordinary cast-iron chairs might be bolted to this part to carry double
headed rails, when that was preferred to fixing the solo part direct to the sleeper
without chairs as hereinbefore described.
T
1000

page_text: CODE DI SI ITIVATION.
Improvements in and relating to Sleepers for the Permanent Way
of Railways.
I, THOMAS KER of. Abu Road, Rajpootana, India, M. Inst. C.E. do hereby declare
the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing,
reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings and to the letters and
figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention has reference to improvements in the permanent way of railways,
_and_comprises a new or improved construction of sleeper, and combination of same
with chairs. The sleeper suitable for either securing the rails direct, or the chairs
of the rails thereto; it can be made of plate steel, malicable-iron, or other metal or
alloy will give an elastic or yielding action, so avoiding the shock and excessive
wear which rails sustain on ordinary pot or trough metal sleepers, and thus prolong
the life of both rails and rolling stock, while being of simple make and more efficient
than railway sleepers as heretofore constructed.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
three explanatory Sheets of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate the same or like paris in all the figures where shown.
Figure on Sheet 1 is an elevation showing a transverse half of one construction
or arrangement of my new or improved elastic railway sleeper A or A, A', in which
two doubled up flanges or feet A2, A3, are used under the hollow elastic end parts B,
at each rail R, which is shown as secured by its lower flange R¹ to the sleeper A, A',
direct. Figure 2 is a cross section as taken on the lines 1-1 of Figure 1. Figure 8
is a corresponding elevation to Figure 1 of a slightly different or modified construction
or arrangement of my new or improved elastic railway sleeper A or A, A, in which
only one doubled-up end flange A is used under the hollow clastic end part Bat
each rail R. Figure 4, is a cross section as taken on the lines 2-2 of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a plan view to a smaller scale, corresponding to Figures 1 to 4, showing
the complete new or improved sleeper A, A', with the two rails R R, secured by
their lower flanges R'.
Figure 6 on Sheet 2 is an elevation of half the length of another construction or
arrangement of my new or improved clastic metal sleeper A or A A!, suitable for use
as a longitudinal sleeper instead of being placed transversely under the rails R, R, as
shown, in which case the longitudinal sleepers would be tied together by ordinary
screw or cotter tie bars to the proper gauge. Figure 7 is a cross section as taken on
the line 3 of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a complete plan view of the sleeper A, A',
shown in Figures 6 and 7 as set transversely under the rails R R.
Figure 9 on Sheet 3 is a sectional elevation of one rail end part of a sleeper A,
with two end flanges A2, A3, analogous to that shown in Figure 1, but formed of
one uniform thickness of plate, and as fitted with an improved chair formed in two
parts C, C as suitable for a double headed rail R, with one part of the chair C¹ passing
under the rail, all as secured by one gib and cotter, Figure 10 is a cross
section as taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 9. Figure 11 is a sectional elevation of
one rail end part of a sleeper A, with one end flange A analogous to that shown
in Figure 3 with one uniform thickness of plate as fitted with the improved chair
formed in two parts 0, C, each secured by a gib and a cotter c, c', both passing
through their lower flanges el, having the rail R secured between them.
Figure 12
is a cross section as taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 11. Figures 13 and 14 are
analogous sections to Figures 11 and 12, but showing a different arrangement for
securing the two parts CC, of the chair, by passing their cotters e c¹ through the
gibs ce over the flanges ee of these.
Referring to these Drawings. According to the arrangements of my new or
improved construction of sleepers shown on Sheet 1, I form the whole sleeper

page_text: preferably of a single rolled sheet or plate of steel A or A, A', or it might be out of two
or more plates, right across under the two rails R, and I make the end part under and
for some distance on each side of each rail R in two thicknesses forming a hollow
space at B, say about an inch deep, between the part at A under the rail R and the
part at A which bears on the ballast. These parts at A" All are bent down and
up at the ends A to form a double webbed flange or foot, say about four or five inches
deep sunk into the ballast at each end of the sleeper and outside the rail R, making
this rail bearing hollow part B of a saddle shape. The inner ends of the lower web Ali
resting on the ballast may be bent down and up to form a doubled-up flange or foot
at A³, as shown in Figure 1, or they may be made flat and flush with the part A
resting on the ballast, as shown in Figure 3, and have the extremities preferably
riveted at a to the under side of the table part A", carrying the rails R, or be left
free. The upper part or table A" carrying the rails R R is made either flat as dotted
in at a in Figure 2, or preferably (as shown in sharp lines at all) curved down at
the sides to an inverted U-shape, in this transverse section of the plate to afford
greater strength, and by the degree of curvature given regulate the elasticity to the
required extent, according to the live load to be borne.
The sleeper A or A A', can be either rolled or stamped by the machinery or other
wise, into the approximate form of this new or improved construction. The sides
can either be made close or open as indicated at all a, closed sides auswering best
for small ballast.
Under the arrangement of my new or improved sleeper shown on sheet 2, it is-
made of a saddle shape the whole length between and across the two rails R, out of a
plate the length and over twice the width of the sleeper, and folled double and bent
down to form the flange or foot A, along the one side, while the free edges at the
other side are buckled into each other and also bent downwards to form the opposite.
flange or foot at A', as shown particularly in the transverse section Figure 7, but
the two free edges of the plate A might be rivetted or otherwise secured at A'. The
sleeper A or A A', underneath is thus of an inverted U-shape throughout its whole
length, enclosing the ballast between these flanges or feet A', A³, right across the line
of rails R, R, the hollow space B between the under web A of the sleeper and the
upper part or table A", which gives the necessary elastic action, in this case extends
the whole length of the sleeper. In this construction the ends of the upper bearing
part of the plate might be either left open, or closed by being bent down to meet the
base, as shown respectively in dotted and sharp lines at a in Figure 6. Single-
headed flat footed rails R R, when these are used, are secured over. their lower
flange between angled lugs 1, 2, on each side of them, punched up out of the
plate A or A A, on which the flanges R of the rails R, R, rest, by metal keys, as
indicated at The sleepers A or A, A, are inclined 1 in 20 from about their
middle outwards, to provide the necessary cant for the rails R, R, and are adaptable
to any gauge and any class of rail. The upper central part of the sleeper plate A, on
which the sole flange R of the rail R rests, is preferably made thicker at A' than
the outer portions A of the plate as affording additional stiffness, and as indicated in
Figures 1 to 8, but they may be formed of one uniform thickness, as shown in
Figures 9 to 14.
Instead of constructing my new or improved sleeper of one plate only, as described
and shown in reference to all the Figures, for forming the upper table part A, A',
and lower part A, which rests on the ballast by buckling or bending them round at
the deep end flanges, A² or side flanges A, in Figures 1 and 3 and Figure 7
respectively, and rivetting them at a, I may when preferred make this lower part Ai
of the sleeper of a separate plate at each end, from the upper plate A or A, A', by
kneeing and rivetting them together at the ends or sides, as shown at a³ in Figure 1 A
and at a a in Figure 7 A.
Ordinary cast-iron chairs might be bolted, or keyed between lugs, as bb', to the
table part A of the sleeper A or A, A¹, to carry double-headed rails R, R, but I
preferably use the construction of cast or malleable iron chairs, shown as formed in
two parts C, C, in the Figures on Sheet 3; and for securing the rails R by chairs to

page_text: these sleepers, it is preferred to make the sleeper all of one thickness of plate A, as
shown in these Figures on Sheet 3. These cast or wrought metal chairs C, C¹, of
new or improved form and method of fastening to the sleeper A, are firmly secured
to the top of the sleeper by the same gibs and cotters c, c', which secure the
chairs C, C, to the rails R, R, gripping them under their top head R. Figures 9
and 10 show the two pieces C, C, of the chair secured with the rail R to the
sleeper A by only one gib and cotter c, c¹, the rail R passing over the lower flange of
the part of the chair. Figures 11 and 12 show each of the two parts CC¹, of
the chair with the rail R secured by a separate gib and coiter c, c, one on
either side of the rail R, with the rail secured close down or nearly close down to the
upper table of the sleeper A A', between the parts CC of the chair, the cotters c
passing through-the sole flanges of the chair parts. Figures 13 and 14 show these
cotters cover the top of these flanges c". The gibs care cut with a differential
offset, greater on one edge than the other, at the point where they fit into the corre-
sponding slots in the top All of the sleeper A, so that, by reversing the gibs c, the
chairs C, C, with their rails R, are moved outwards, to give the necessary slacker
gauge for curves. The chairs C, C³, can be made so as to support the lower head of the
rail R clear of the top A" of the sleepers A or rail seat C of chair, as shown in
Figures 9, 10, 13, and 14; this, however, is not necessary, and the rails R, can bo
bedded close down in the chairs or on the sleepers A as shown in Figures 11 and 12,
for these sleepers A, by their own elasticity, will prevent the lower heads of the
rails R resting upon them, either in chairs or direct, from being nicked, chafed, or
spoiled, as results from the use of ordinary chairs on ordinary sleepers of either
wood or metal. By the above novel adaptation of gib and cotter c, e, all bolts or
spikes are done away with, and thus a considerable saving in maintenance is effected.
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.
First. The construction, or arrangement and combination of sleepers and their
fittings for the permanent way of railways, substantially as and for the purposes and
advantages herein described in reference to, and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The constructing of sleepers for the permanent way of railways, of steel
or other metal or alloy, with a hollow space intermediate between the upper table
part under the rails and the under web part bearing on the ballast, and with an end
or side flange or flanges, so as to give an elastic or yielding action, substantially as
and for the purposes and advantages herein described in reference to and shown in
the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The constructing of the permanent way of railways with a sleeper having
a hollow space between the rail and ballast in combination with the chairs and
fastenings for securing the double-headed rails thereto, substantially as herein
described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Dated the 20th March 1890
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.