IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OR FORMATION OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samson Fox, of the Leeds Forge Company, Limited, Leeds,
in the County of York, Engineer and Ironmaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OR FORMATION OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF
RAILWAYS"
Sealed the 8th November 1878, and dated the 30th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samson Fox at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th July 1878.
SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forge Company, Limited, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer and Ironmaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OR FORMATION
OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
My Invention of improvements in the construction or formation of the permanent
way of railways relates to the construction or formation of combined sleepers and
chairs, which I make of suitable metal plates by forming at intervals holes through
the plates, and corrugating such plates in such manner as to form ridges where the
holes occur.
The form of hole may vary to suit the form of rail to be accommodated. For a
double-headed rail the holes formed in the plate may in form resemble the section
of the rail, so that after the corrugating there will be presented for the reception of
the rail an opening which (as seen from the end or cross section of the combined
sleeper and chair) will somewhat resemble the letter T inverted. Those parts of
the metal plate forming the grooves or hollows of the corrugations have their edges
bent more downward than the central portions of the breadth of the plate, thus

page_text: forming hollow under surfaces (as seen in cross section) to give a firmer hold on the
ballast.
When my improved combined sleepers and chairs are intended to take a bearing
on the ground throughout the length of the rail they are to carry they may be
fished or overlapped at the ends, and bolted or otherwise secured together, thus
forming a continuous longitudinal sleeper.
When my combined sleepers and chairs are intended to be placed only at intervals
they are to be made in shorter lengths, having one or more projections or ridges
and a corresponding number of hollow parts. I provide suitable cross ties for main-
taining the proper gauge.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samson Fox in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th January
1879.
SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forge Company, Limited, Leeds, in the County of
York, Engineer and Ironmaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OR
FORMATION OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
My Invention of improvements in the construction or formation of the permanent
way of railways relates to the construction or formation of combined sleepers and
chairs, which I make of suitable metal plates by forming at intervals holes through
the plates, and corrugating said plates in such manner as to form ridges crosswise
where the holes occur.
The form of hole may vary to suit the form of rail to be accommodated. For a
double-headed rail the holes formed in the plate will in form resemble the section
of such rail, and for a flat-bottomed rail the holes will at each end correspond with
the cross section of the lower part of such rail, so that in each case after the cor-
rugating there will be presented for the reception of the rail an opening which (as
seen froin the end or cross section of the combined sleeper and chair) will somewhat
resemble the letter T inverted. Those parts of the metal plate forming the grooves
or hollows of the corrugations have their edges bent more downward than the
central portions of the breadth of the plate, thus forming hollow under surfaces (as
seen in the end view and cross section) to give a firmer hold on the ballast.
When my combined sleepers and chairs are intended to be placed at intervals, or
to be adapted to curved rails, they are made in short lengths having one or more
projections or ridges and a corresponding number of hollow parts.
I provide suitable cross ties for maintaining the proper gauge of the rails; these
cross ties also form fish or joint plates for the combined sleepers and chairs, thus
effecting a continuity of the same.
An advantage in the use of my combined sleepers and chairs is that the supports
being at shorter distances apart than usually obtains a lighter section of rail may
be used, thus reducing the cost as compared with railways having ordinary sleepers
and chairs.
Referring to the accompanying Sheet of explanatory Drawings, Fig. 1 shews in
plan a metal plate formed with openings A of a suitable shape to form when cor-
rugated a combined sleeper and chairs for the reception of a flat bottomed rail, and
the dotted lines at B, B, shew a form of opening suitable for the reception of a rail
of the double-headed type.
Fig. 2 shews in side elevation a combined sleeper and chairs formed by corru-
gating crosswise a plate such as above described with reference to Fig. 1, so as to forin
ridges C, D, and E, and corresponding grooves or hollows G; Fig. 3 shews the same
in plan with a flat-bottoned rail F inserted.
Fig. 4 shews in end view an arrangement of combined sleeper and chairs for and
containing a flat-bottomed rail F, and in which the edges of the combined sleeper
and chairs at the grooves or hollows G of the corrugations are turned down so as
to secure a firmer hold of the ballast.
In order to provide a better support or bearing for the base of the rail than the
thin edges of the metal plate would afford, and also to add strength to the part
which grips the rail, embossings at H are formed around the ends of the receptions
openings A, shewn in longitudinal section at the ridge C, Fig. 2, and in plan,
Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section at I, Fig. 3, shewing form of part of the
embossing, the dotted line I' being the centre of the breadth of the combined sleeper
and chairs.
Fig. 6 shews combined sleepers and chairs made in short lengths, as applied to
curves.

page_text: J, Figs. 3, 4, and 6, are cross ties for preserving the proper gauge of the rails, and
which also form fish plates for joining the ends of the said combined sleepers and
chairs, thus forming a continuity of the same.
These cross ties may also be applied at positions intermediate to those of the ends
of the combined sleepers and chairs if desired.
In manufacturing my combined sleepers and chairs I first produce the metal
plates by rolling in the usual way, and cutting to length; then by an ordinary
punching press having suitable punches and dies I make at intervals the openings
for the reception of the rails, and also the holes for the fish or joint bolts. I next
proceed to form the corrugations by suitably shaped swages or dies; the swage or
die over which the plate is bent to form the ridges has a guide piece (of similar
form to the reception openings for the rails) projecting from its surface, and over
which the metal plate is placed; the swages or dies are also formed for producing
the embossings which form the surface bearings for the rails, and the embossings
around the ends or lips of the reception openings, and also for forming the concave
under surface of the hollow parts of the corrugations.
The swages or dies are mounted in suitable apparatus, and have steam, hydraulic,
or other pressure applied to bring them together, and thus form the combined
sleeper and chairs.
The form of the ends of the cross ties and the holes for the fish or joint bolts are
formed in a similar manner to the combined sleepers and chairs above described.
Having now particularly described my Invention, and explained the manner of
carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that what I
consider to be novel and original and therefore claim under the above in part recited
Letters Patent is, the constructing or forming combined sleepers and chairs, sub-
stantially as herein-before described with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samson Fox, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.