IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS. AND IN SCREW BOLTS FOR THE SAME LATTER ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHERIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Perceval Moses Parsons, of Blackheath, in the
County of Kent, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS. AND IN SCREW BOLTS FOR THE SAME,
Sealed the 30th July 1867, and dated the 5th February 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Perceval Moses Parson's
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th February 1867.
I, PERCEVAL MOSES PARSONS, of Blackheath, in the County of Kent, Civil
Engineer,do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS, AND IN SCREW BOLTS FOR THE SAME, WHICH
LATTER ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES," to be as follows, viz.:-
My improvements relate to those parts of the permanent way where the rails
cross each other, generally termed crossings, and where the ends of the rails
meet and are connected together by fishing plates or other similar fastenings.
In the construction of crossings I employ for the point and wing rails a
[Price 8d.1

page_text: section of rail having its table or tables on one side flat on the top, and square
on the side, thus producing an angular corner in place of the ordinary rounded
form, the other side being of a section corresponding to the rails used on the
line. The point rail is bent and cut to the proper angle, and the side rail
which diverges from it instead of being notched into the point rail in the
ordinary way has its end fitted to and housed under the table of the point
rail, to which it is secured by bolts, rivets, or other suitable fastenings. The
point and wing rails are firmly connected together by means of what I term
fishing blocks, which are pieces of metal placed between the point and wing
rails, and fitting between the tables of both, and are secured by screw bolts or
other suitable fastenings. This method of constructing and combining the
parts is also applicable to rails of any ordinary section. In this arrangement
the rails of the crossings are intended to be supported by chairs, as ordinarily
practised.
In some cases I construct the crossing without chairs, and make both sides
of the crossing alike, so that when one side is worn out it may be reversed
and the other side used; and I make both tables of the wing rails flat over
their entire surface, or so much thereof as is requisite to provide a sufficient
bearing on the sleepers in conjunction with the other parts of the crossing;
and I make one or both sides square with the tables, or the side adjacent to
the point may be square, and the other side modified to adapt it to the
fastenings used to hold the crossing down to the sleeper; and I make the
point of the crossing of cast steel, or of cast iron chill cast, or of cast iron
mixed with steel or wrought iron, cast to the proper form, the fishing blocks
being either separate, or, by preference, cast in one piece with the point, and
the wing rails are firmly connected thereto by a sufficient number of rivets or
screw bolts. In place of the cast point rails cut and fitted together as herein-
before first described may, if preferred, be substituted in this modification.
When the fishing blocks are separate from the point, and ate secured by screw
bolts, so that in reversing the crossing they can remain in their position, their
under surface is so formed that it may rest on the chair or sleeper, and a
fishing block thus made is also employed at the junction of the wing rails with
the ordinary rails of the line. In order to secure the ends of the rails and
give increased strength and stiffness to the joint I employ fishing plates made
of mild steel or wrought iron sufficientlycarbonized and tempered by immersing
them in oil when at a red heat..
My improvements in screw bolts consist in constructing them with the shank
tubular or of a solid form different in cross section from the screwed part up
to within a short distance of the commencement of the thread of the screw,

page_text: and so that while the shank of the bolt may be of the same diameter or width
across portions of its perimeter as the screw measured to the top of the thread,
the sectional area through the shank may be the same as the area of the
screwed part measured to the bottom of the thread. The bolts when made of
steel I also temper by immersing them in oil when heated to redness. Bolts
constructed in this manner possess the same advantages as those with the
shank made of less diameter than the screwed part in giving out their elasticity
under strain equally along their whole length, which lessens the chance of the
screwed part breaking or taking a set, and the nut becoming loose in con-
sequence, while they provide a sufficient surface to fit tightly into a hole that
the screwed part will pass through. These bolts may be advantageously
employed to secure the fishing plates, the parts of the crossings, and other
parts of the permanent way, and they may also be employed for all purposes
where dynamicstrains and vibrations occur, such, for instance, as securing the
parts of iron bridges and similar railway structures, for machinery, and for
fixing armour plates to vessels or forts, and such like purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Perceval Moses Parsons in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 3rd August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PERCEVAL
MOSES PARSONS, of Blackheath, in the County of Kent, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reigu, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Perceval Moses Parsons, Her special licence that he, the said
Perceval Moses Parsons his executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as he, the said Perceval Moses Parsons, his executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS, AND IN
SCREW BOLTS FOR THE SAME, WHICH LATTER ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR
PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that he, the said Perceval

page_text: Moses Parsons, his executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under his, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain, the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
samé was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Perceval Moses Parsons, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
My improvements relate to those parts of the permanent way where the
rails cross each other, generally termed crossings, and where the ends of the
rails meet and are connected together by fishing plates or other similar
fastenings.
In the construction of crossings I employ for the point and wing rails
a section of rail having its table or tables on one side flat on the top and
square on the side, thus producing au angular corner in place of the ordinary
rounded form, the other side being of a section corresponding to the rails used
on the line, or sufficiently near to form a junction with them. The point rail
is bent and cut to the proper angle, and the side rail which diverges from it
instead of being notched into the point rail in the ordinary way has its end
fitted to and housed under the table of the point rail, to which it is secured by
bolts, rivets, or other suitable fastenings. The point and wing rails are
firmly held in position by means of what I term fishing blocks, which are
pieces of metal placed between the point and wing rails, and fitting between
the tables of both, and the whole are held together by screw bolts or other
suitable fastenings.
In the Drawing hereunto aunexed Fig. 1 is a plan; Fig. 2, a cross section
at A, A; Fig. 3, a cross section at B, B; and Fig. 4, a cross section at C, C,
all on
Fig. 1, of a crossing made according to my Invention.
a is the point rail; b, the side rail; c, c, the wing rails which are placed
with their angular sides adjacent to the point rail; d, d, the fishing blocks;
and e, f, g, h, the chairs which support the rails of the crossing; i, i, i, i, are
the bolts or rivets which hold together the wing rails, the fishing blocks, and
the point rail; aud k, k, k, rivets or bolts which secure the side rail to the
point rail. Fig. 5 shews the form of the rail in cross section with its augular
corners t, t, from which the point, side, and wing rails are formed, indicated
by the external line, together with a front view of the point, the form of which
is described by the contour sections taken at equal distances from the full

page_text: section to the extreme point. Fig. 6 is a cross section of the point rail
with a front view of the side rail, shewing how it is fitted to and housed under
the table of the point rail; a is the point rail; b is a front view of the side
rail, its form being described by the contour sections taken at equal distances
from the full section to its extreme point. The sides of both the point and
side rails having the angular corners are placed together, and are planed
or cut to the required angle of the crossing, with inclined or sloping sides,
thus producing a pyramidal form in cross section; that part of the table of
the point rail a against which the side rail 6 is placed is also slightly bevelled
off
on its under side, as shown at s, s, so that the inclined side of the side rail
may fit properly against it and be housed under its table, but it will be seen
that this bevelling does not extend to the upper part of the table of the point
rail, so that no notch is made in it, at the same time both the inside and out-
side of the side rail being inclined it is of ample strength to support its share
of the passing weight. In some cases the side rail may be housed under the
point rail without bevelling its under side, and they may either or both be
made from rails of any ordinary section, and used in combination with wing
rails of the section herein-before described. In some cases I construct the
crossing without chairs, and make both sides of the crossing alike,so that when
one side is worn out it may be reversed and the other side used, and I make
both tables of the wing rails flat over their entire surface, or so much thereof
as is requisite to provide a sufficient bearing on the sleepers in conjunction
with the other parts of the crossing; and I make both sides of the heads of
the rails square with the tables, or the side adjacent to the point may
be square and the other side modified to adapt it to the fastenings used to
hold the crossing down to the sleeper, and I make the point of cast steel,
or cast iron chill cast, or of cast iron mixed with steel or wrought iron, cast to
the proper form, the fishing blocks being either separate, or by preference,
cast in one piece with the point, and I connect the wing rails thereto by a
sufficient number of screw bolts or rivets. Fig. 7 is a plan; Fig. 8, a longi-
tudinal section; and Fig. 9, a cross section at A, A; Fig. 10, a cross section
at B, B; and, Fig. 11, a cross section at C, C, all on Fig. 7, of a crossing
made on this plan. a is the point rail of steel or iron, cast to the form shewn,
in one piece with the fishing blocks b, b; c, c, are the wing rails which are
firmly connected to the point rail by the rivets or screw bolts r, r, r, r, the
whole resting on the sleepers 8, 8, 8, s. The wing rails are connected to the
rails of the permanent way by fishing plates or fishing blocks d, d, constructed
as shewn, so that their under surface may rest on the sleeper, and in con-
junction with the rails of the crossing provide the requisite bearing on the

page_text: sleeper; the thick end of the point rail is made to fit between the tables of
the rails of the permanent way, and is hollowed to receive fishing plates which
cover the joint on the outside, the whole being secured by screw bolts, as
shewn. The crossing thus constructed may be held down to the sleepers
by dog spikes, as shewn, by fang bolts and clips or any kind of suitable
fastening.
In place of the cast point rails cut and fitted together, as herein-before first
described, may be substituted in this modification. Fig. 12 is a plan; Fig. 13,
a longitudinal section at D, D; Fig. 14, a cross section at A, A; Fig. 15, a
cross section at B, B; and Fig. 16, a cross section at C, C, (all on Fig. 12)
of a crossing thus constructed. a is the point rail; 6, the side rail, fitted
together in the manner herein-before first described; c, c, are the wing rails
and d, d, d, d, the fishing blocks interposed between the point and side rails
and the wing rails, the whole being held together by the screw bolts e, e, e, e
e, e, e, e, and resting on the sleepers s, s. The wing rails near their junction
with the rails of the permanent way, and the point and side rails at their
outer ends may be supported in chairs and g, as shewn, or fishing blocks, as
shewn at d, d, (Figs. 7, 8, and 9), or by plates or any other suitable means
may be employed to provide the requisite bearing surface upon and hold the
rails down to the sleepers. In some cases, more particularly where a rail
known as the vignoles flat bottomed or contractor's rail is used for the perma-
nent way, this kind of rail may be used for the wing rails, and the reversible
point constructed on either of the plans herein-before described combined with
and attached to them by means of the fishing blocks and bolts or rivets, the
whole resting on the sleepers.
I claim under this part of my Invention,-
First, the methods described and shown of fitting the side rail to and
housing it under the table of the point rail.
Secondly, the employinent of rails of the section herein-before described for
the point, side, and wing rails, or for the wing rails alone when the point and
side rails are of any ordinary section.
Thirdly, the general combination of wing rails of the section described, the
housing the point of the side rail under the table of the point rail, whether
the point rail is bevelled or not, and uniting the whole together by fishing
blocks and bolts or rivets.
Fourthly, the employment of the reversible cast point or the point made
from rails in the manner described in combination with wing rails resting
directly on the sleepers, as herein-before described.
In order to secure the ends of the rails of the permanent way where they

page_text: meet together, and give increased strength and stiffness to the joint, I employ
fishing plates made of mild steel or wrought iron sufficiently carbonized and
tempered by immersing them in oil when at a red heat. In order to carry
this part of my Invention into effect bars of steel may first be rolled to the
desired section to fit the rails to which they are to be applied, then cut off in
lengths and holes punched or drilled through them, as ordinarily practised
with iron fishing plates; they are then to be heated to a bright red in an air
or other suitable furnace, and while in this state plunged into a tank of oil;
this process nearly doubles the strength and elasticity of the steel up to the
elastic limit, and fishing plates thus made will therefore possess much
greater strength than iron plates of the same size, so that by this means
without increasing the weight of the plates the strength of the joints may be
very considerably increased. The oil to be used for this purpose may be of a
coarse common quality, either animal or vegetable, but of the two I prefer
animal oil, the common kinds of whale oil are suitable, but linseed and other
vegetable oils answer the purpose. The steel of which the fishing plates are
made should be of a mild quality; I mean by this a steel that has such a
moderate amount of carbon in its composition that the process of tempering,
herein-before described, will increase its strength and elasticity without
rendering it brittle, and these qualities may be ensured notwithstanding
variations to a certain extent in the quality of the steel in this respect by
adapting the heat at which it is quenched to its quality, that is to say, the
higher qualities of steel should generally be quenched at a lower heat than
the lower qualities, with a medium quality of steel, such as is now made by
the Bessemer and other processes for rails, shafting, and other purposes; a
bright clear red will be found a good heat at which to plunge the fishing
plates into the oil. When wrought iron can be obtained sufficiently car-
bonized to have its strength improved by the above process it may also be
employed. When large quantities of the e tisbing plates are being tempered
it will be desirable to adopt some means to prevent the oil becoming too
much heated; this may be accomplished by surrounding the oil tank with or
causing a stream of cold water to flow around it, or by causing a constant
stream of oil to flow into and out of the tank and through a refrigerator.
I claim under this head of my Invention the method herein-before
described of constructing fishing plates of steel or sufficiently carbonized iron
tempered by immersion in oil when at a suitable heat.
My improvements in screw bolts consist in constructing them with the
shank tubular, or of a solid form, different in cross section from the screwed
part up to within a short distance of the commencement of the thread of the

page_text: screw, and so that while the shank of the bolt may be of the same diameter
or width across portions of the perimeter, as the screw measured to the top of
the thread, the sectional area through the shank may be the same as the area
of the screwed part measured to the bottom of the thread.
Fig. 17 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 18 a cross section, through the
shank of a bolt made according to my Invention, having the shank tubular.
The external diameter of the shank is the same as the screwed part measured
to the top of the thread, but the metal taken out of its centre reduces its
sectional area to that of the screwed part measured to the bottom of the
thread. Figs. 19, 21, 23, 25, and 27 are side views, and Figs. 20, 22, 24,
26, and 28 respectively cross sections through the shanks of various forms
of bolts made according to my Invention, in which the shank is solid, but
of a different form in cross section from the screwed part; these have all
portions of their perimeters of the same diameter as the screwed part
measured to the top of the thread, whilst the forms in cross section are such
as to make the area through the shank equal to the area through the
screwed part measured to the bottom of the thread. Bolts constructed in this
manner possess the same advantages as those with the shank made of less
diameter than the screwed part in giving out their elasticity under strain
equally along their whole length, which lessens the chance of the screwed
part breaking or taking a set, and the nut becoming loose in consequence,
while they provide a sufficient surface to fit tightly into a hole that the screwed
part will pass through.
Any of the forms shewn may be used at pleasure
according to the particular purpose for which it is intended and the amount
of surface required. The forms shown have been given as being most likely
to suit general wants, but it can easily be understood that a great many more
varieties may easily be devised if required, and I therefore do not limit myself
to any particular form; neither do I confine myself to making the area of the
shank exactly equal to the area of the screwed part measured to the bottom of
the thread, although I should recommend them to be as nearly the same as
possible, but in all cases it must be less than the area of the screwed part
measured to the top of the thread; nor do I confine myself to making the
diameter of the shank at the largest part exactly the same diameter as the
screwed part measured to the top of the thread, as it may be made either more
or less, and still have its cross sectional area equal to or nearly equal to the
screwed part measured to the bottom of the thread, neither do I limit myself
to making the shank throughout its whole length in the manner herein-before
described, as it may be desirable in some cases to make a portion of it the
full or a greater area than the screwed part measured to the top of the thread

page_text: for instance, this may be necessary when it is desired to make it of a particular
form close to the head to prevent the bolt turning when the nut is being
screwed on, and for other reasons that may occur and which it is impossible
to enumerate. In some cases I make these bolts of steel or carbonized iron,
and temper them by immersion in oil when at a red heat in the manner
described for fishing plates. Bolts thus constructed may be advantageously
employed to secure the fishing plates, the parts of the crossings, and other
parts of the permanent way, and they may also be employed for all purposes
where dynamic strains and vibrations occur, such, for instance, as securing the
parts of iron bridges and other similar structures, for machinery, for fixing
armour plates to vessels and forts, and such like purposes.
I claim under this head of my Invention constructing screw bolts in the
manner herein-before described and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said Perceval Moses Parsons, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
T. W. J. HANDFORD.
P. M. PARSONS. (L.S.)