IMPROVEMENTS IN PERMANENT WAY FOR RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Livesey and Augustus John Darling Cameron,
both of 9, Victoria Chambers, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineers,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PERMANENT WAY FOR RAILWAYS
AND TRAMWAYS."
Sealed the 21st May 1880, and dated the 25th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Livesey and Augustus
John Darling Cameron at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
25th November 1879.
JAMES LIVESEY and AUGUSTUS JOHN DARLING CAMERON, both of 9, Victoria
Chambers, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PERMANENT WAY FOR RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
Our Invention relates to an improved form of tramway rail, to be rolled with
two ribs at some distance apart, extending downwards from the under side of the
rail. When passing through the finishing rolls of the rail mill the distance between
these ribs will be increased at the lower ends, forming a dovetail section, or by still
further widening the ribs may be bent up sufficiently to form a horizontal groove.
This rail is supported by a deep angle plate fixed on each side & formed at the top
to fit into the groove or dovetail. When bolted together these plates grip the rail
& hold it firmly in position. They may be either continuous or in short sections,
or the bottom flange may be cut through at intervals to allow the rail & sleeper
plates to bend to the curves of the road; a similar notch cut through the broad
flange of a solid rail or foundation plate would render it flexible for curve adjust-
ment. When a tie bar is used with the angle plates it may take the place of some
of the bolts by passing it through the plates & securing it by means of a cotter or
cotters; or instead of two ribs one rib only may be rolled on the rail in or near the
centre & bent out of its vertical position in passing through the rolls; this rail can
be secured to chairs or standards by a key formed in the shape of a dovetail. Also
for a metal plate to be bent in the form of a deep bridge rail on which a tramway
rail is secured by means of two cotters driven through the sides or centre web of
the rail one of the cotters is slightly raised in the centre or serrated, & bent down
at each end to prevent it working out; the second cotter is straight, or nearly so.

page_text: When this cotter is driven over the raised part of the first cotter it draws the rail
tight against the sleeper, & is also prevented from working loose. The lower
cotter may be formed as a gib to prevent it working out. The bent metal plate
may be made in continuous lengths or in short sections; and for a girder iron with
a rail secured on the top the rail in this instance is rolled in the form of a channel
iron with one of the sides bent inwards, the opposite side is notched & bent in only
at intervals; corresponding notches at intervals are cut out of the top of the girder
iron to allow the rail to drop in, it is then forced a little distance forward, tightly
gripping the girder iron; the rail can be removed by sliding it back again. For
making a rail joint we insert a metal filling piece or fish plate into the channel of
a deep sided rail. Through this filling piece holes are made which correspond with
similar holes made in the sides of the rail; cotters or pins are passed into these
holes & also through the eye of a vertical bolt or bolts which have nuts at their
lower ends. The ends of the cotters or pins rest in the holes on each side of the
rail, forming a fulcrum for the eye bolts, the holes in the fish plate or filling piece
having considerable play allow it to be forced tightly against the rail when the
nuts on the vertical bolts are screwed up. To form a wrought iron or steel chain
out of a flat plate of metal we cut two slots into the plate of sufficient length that
when the divided parts of the plate are turned up they form the jaws of the
chair; the parts not turned up form the base, & may be bolted or otherwise
fastened to a sleeper.
To facilitate the cutting of the plate a shallow groove is rolled into it so as
partially to cut through the plate.
For raising small jaws or clips out of a plate of cold iron we cause the metal to
be raised for some distance beyond the clip which is cut through the metal. This
can be done by a press without distressing the plate.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Livesey and Augustus John Darling Cameron in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 25th May 1880.
JAMES LIVESEY and AUGUSTUS JOHN DARLING CAMERON, both of No. 9, Victoria
Chambers, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS
PERMANENT WAY FOR RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
IN
Our Invention relates to an improved form of tramway rail to be rolled with
two ribs at some distance apart, extending downwards from the underside of the
rail. When passing through the finishing rolls of the rail mill the distance between
these ribs will be increased at the lower ends, forming a dovetail section, or by
still further widening the ribs may be bent up sufficiently to form a horizontal
groove. For the formation of a tramway this rail is supported by a deep angle
plate fixed on each side, and formed at the top to fit into the groove or dovetail.
When bolted together these plates grip the rail and hold it firmly in position..
They may be either continuous or in short sections, or the bottom flange may be
cut through at intervals to allow the rail and sleeper plates to bend to the curves
of the road; a similar notch cut through the broad flange of a solid rail or founda-
tion plate would render it flexible for curve adjustment. When a tie bar is used
with the angle plates it may take the place of some of the bolts by passing it
through the plates and securing it by means of a cotter or cotters. Instead of two
ribs one rib only may be rolled on the rail in or near the centre and bent out of
its vertical position in passing through the roll; this rail can be secured to chairs
or standards by a key formed in the shape of a dovetail. Also for a metal plate to
be bent in the form of a deep bridge rail, on which a tramway rail is secured by
means of two cotters driven through the sides or centre web of the rail. One of
the cotters is slightly raised in the centre or serrated and bent down at each end to
prevent it working out; the second cotter is straight, or nearly so. When this
cotter is driven over the raised part of the first cotter it draws the rail tight against
the sleeper, and is also prevented from working loose. The lower cotter may be
formed as a gib to prevent it working out. The bent metal plate may be made in
continuous lengths or in short sections. And for a girder iron with a rail secured
on the top the rail in this instance is rolled in the form of a channel iron with one
of the sides bent inwards; the opposite side is notched and bent in only at intervals.
Corresponding notches at intervals are cut out of the top of the girder iron to allow
the rail to drop in; it is then forced a little distance forward, tightly gripping the
girder iron. The rail can be removed by sliding it back again. For making a rail
joint we insert a metal filling piece or fish plate into the channel of a deep sided
rail. Through this filling piece holes are made which correspond with similar boles
made in the sides of the rail; cotters or pins are passed into these holes and also
through the eye of a vertical bolt or bolts, which have nuts at their lower ends.
The ends of the cotters or pins rest in the holes on each side of the rail, forming a
fulcrum for the eye bolts. The holes in the fish plate or filling piece having con-
siderable play allow it to be forced tightly against the rail, when the nuts on the
vertical bolts are screwed up. Instead of the pin or cotter being loose and passing
into the eye of the bolt it may be made solid with the bolt itself, and thus form a
T shaped bolt. To form a wrought iron or steel chair out of a flat plate of metal
we cut two slots into the plate of sufficient length that when the divided parts of
the plate are turned up they form the jaws of the chair; the parts not turned up
form the base, and may be bolted or otherwise fastened to a sleeper. To facilitate
the cutting of the plate a shallow groove may be rolled into it so as partially to cut
through the plate.
For raising small jaws or clips out of a plate of cold iron we cause the metal to

page_text: be raised for some distance beyond the clip which is cut through the metal. This
can be done by a press without distressing the plate.
Fig. 1 is a section of a rail with two vertical or pendant webs which are widened
out in the finishing rolls, as shewn in Fig. 2. This Figure is a vertical section
of the rail and sleeper combined. A,.A, are the side plates, rolled or formed at the
top to fit into the dove-tail recess in the rail. These plates grip the rail and are
held together by means of the two bolts, one at the top and the other at the bottom,
the latter passing through a distance piece which keeps the plates at the right
distance apart.
Fig. 3 shews a similar arrangement with the two webs of the rail bent or rolled
into a more horizontal position.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal elevation of continuous girder, the side plates breaking
joint with each other and with the rail; Fig. 5 shews the base or bottom flange
with a V shaped slot cut out to allow the rail and sleeper to bend to curves; Fig. 6
is a similar rail but with side plates in detached lengths; Fig. 7 shews a counter-
sunk bolt head and nut so as to give the least possible projection; Fig. 8 shews the
arrangement for securing the tie bar, which may dispense with one of the bolts;
Fig. 9 is a section of rail with only one web, bent slightly outward at the bottom
part in the finishing rolls; this rail is secured to a chair or sleeper by a triangular
key; Fig. 9a is a modified form of the same.
Figs. 10 and 11 shew vertical sections of a rail and a deep shaped sleeper which
may be rolled or bent out of steel or iron plates. The rail is secured to the sleeper
by means of a gib and cotter. To prevent the cotter from working loose it is made
with serrations in the centre with corresponding serrations in the gib, and is slightly
arched in the centre to give a degree of elasticity so as to allow the serrations to
pass each other.
Fig. 12 is a vertical section of a girder iron with a channel section of rail secured
to it. On one side the rail the web is bent under to grip the top of the girder;
the other web is not turned under the whole of its length but only at intervals of
about three feet apart, as shewn at Fig. 13, which is an elevation, and Fig. 14, which
is a plan of the rail inverted. Fig. 15 shews the top plan of the girder, which has
notches cut out of the top to correspond with the turned over part of the rail. The
rail is easily dropped into position, and is then forced a few inches along the top of
the girder, where it is securely held.
Figs. 16, 17, 18, and 19 shew elevations and sections of a suspended rail joint.
Into the channel of the rail is inserted a fish plate of channel or other section,
which is firmly bolted to the rail by means of the eye bolt and cotter, as shewn at
Figs. 21 and 22. Figs. 18, 19, and 20 shew a modified arrangement where a T bolt
is employed instead of the eye bolt and cotter shewn at Figs. 23 and 24.
Figs. 25, 26, 27, and 28 shew a novel form of wrought iron chair made out of a
flat plate, bent to the required form to fit the required section of rail. Fig. 25 is a
flat plate which may have grooves rolled into the metal so that it may be more
easily cut through at those parts that have to be turned up, as shewn by the dotted
lines. When the plate is cut through the piece at A is bent up and forms the key
jaw; the part B is also bent up, forming the rail jaw on the opposite side. A wood
key may be used for keeping the rail in position, or a corrugated iron key, having
corresponding corrugations in the key jaw.
Figs. 29 and 30 shew a plan and section of a wrought iron plate with a small
jaw or clip which may be raised out of a cold plate of metal. To avoid distressing
the metal it is gradually raised up in an arched form, the metal at the same time
being cut through to form the clip.
Having thus described the nature and object of our said Invention, and the
manner of carrying the same into effect, we would observe in conclusion that what
we claim and wish to be secured to us is,―
First. For a tramway rail rolled at the under side to a dovetail section in com-
bination with two angle plates, either rolled or bent at the top to fit into the rail,

page_text: secured by countersunk bolts, and nuts, and distance pieces, substantially as shewn
and described with reference to Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Secondly. For a tramway rail having a centre web rolled out of the vertical
line, or bent in at the bottom, in combination with a triangular key, as shewn and
described with reference to Figs. 9 and 9*.
Thirdly. For a channel section of tramway rail in combination with gibs and
cotters for securing it to chairs or sleepers, substantially as shewn and described
with reference to Figs. 10 and 11.
Fourthly. For a tramway rail in combination with a girder iron, as shewn and
described with reference to Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15.
Fifthly. For a suspended tramway rail joint, as shewn and described with
reference to Figs. 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20.
Sixthly. For constructing a railway chair out of a plate of iron or steel, having
parts of the plate bent up to fit the rail and key, as shewn and described with
reference to Figs. 25, 26, 27, and 28.
Seventhly. For stamping or pressing a clip out of an iron or steel plate, as shewn
and described with reference to Figs. 29 and 30.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Livesey and Augustus John Darling
Cameron, have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Twenty fourth day
of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
AUGUSTUS JOHN DARLING CAMERON. (L.S.)