IMPROVEMENTS IN KEYS OR WEDGES FOR RAILWAY CHAIRS
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 188
Complete Left, 30th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 6th July, 1888
I, THOMAS HODDER HEARD of Ranmoor, Sheffield in the County of York, Iron
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
KEYS OR WEDGES FOR RAILWAY CHAIRS," to be as follows:-
In the formation and manufacture of my invention I take an ordinary piece of flat
steel, iron, or other suitable material of a required length, breadth, and thickness and
bend or turn it into shape resembling the outline of the wooden wedge now in use,
being hollow inside, and made in size to fit the chair as required.
::
Upon one side of the said hollow wedge (and by preference that side which lies
next the inner side of the "Jaw" of the chair) I cut or form out of the solid, one or
more lips" of required lengths, widths and shapes, and bend them forward and
away from the wedge, so as to form a plate spring or springs which when the said
wedge is forced into the chair the said plate springs compress and bind firmly upon
the inner side of the aforesaid chair "Jaw," and thus prevent the wedge from coming
out or becoming loose. The aforesaid hollow wedge may be rolled or formed by any
suitable means, and the side and back, or sides and back, may be of equal or unequal
sizes, shapes and thicknesses.
1
1
1001
GARLICK & MCGOWAN.
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I THOMAS HODDER HEARD of Ranmoor Sheffield in the County of York Iron
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
KEYS OR WEDGES FOR RAILWAY CHAIRS" and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
In carrying this invention into effect, take a sheet of rolled, or forged, steel or
Iron or other suitable material of a required size and thickness and fly or cut out
therefrom at equal distances from the sides two narrow strips of the metal so as to
form a lip which is bent outwardly to act as a spring.
The metal plate is bent inwardly at each side of the lip to the shape of an ordinary
wooden wedge, the said lip being at the narrow end thereof.
When it is desired to fasten the rail in the chair, the aforesaid wedge is forced, lip
end first, between the jaw of the chair and the rail causing the said lip to compress
and bind firmly upon the edge and inner side of the jaw of the chair when driven
home thus preventing it becoming loose or working out.
Or the wedge may be made as above described, but straight in outline and with a
lip at both ends.
The metal may be hardened and tempered and coated with any desired solution to
prevent rust.
The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention, the same letters of reference
apply to the different parts throughout the several views.
Fig. 1, is a section in elevation shewing the chair A and the rail B held firmly
in position by the wedge C also the spring lip dotted D together with the bolt
holes E E.
Fig. 2, is a plan showing the wedge C in position.
Fig. 3, is a plan of the wedge only.
Fig. 4, is a side view in elevation shewing the spring lip D.
Fig. 5, is a front elevation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
An improved Key Wedge for securing rails in railway chairs made of steel or other
suitable material in the sheet, hardened and tempered and having a spring lip to bind
and hold the rail securely in the chair and as hereinbefore specified and described,
and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of May 1888.