AN IMPROVED COMBINED RAILWAY OR TRAMWAY SLEEPER AND CHAIR
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Smith, of Blaydon on Tyne, in the County of
Durham, Ironfounder, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED COMBINED
RAILWAY OR TRAMWAY SLEEPER AND CHAIR."
Scaled the 20th February 1880, and dated the 22nd August 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd August 1879.
THOMAS SMITH, of Blaydon on Tyne, in the County of Durham, Ironfounder.
"AN IMPROVED COMBINED RAILWAY OR TRAMWAY SLEEPER AND CHAIR."
The object of my Invention is to construct a combined railway or tramway
sleeper and chair more especially adapted for collieries, mines, quarries, and other
similar works, which while being cheap and efficient shall have great resisting
power.
The sleeper is formed of a cast iron or other metal trough of comparatively large
area, and which may with advantage be made rectangular. While the area of this
trough affords a good grip, the weight and consequently the resistance to moving
forces may be much increased by placing rubbish or other material in the trough.
The chair is formed in a piece with the sleeper, and may be of any approved form.
The improved combined sleeper and chair above described can be readily carried,
regulated, and fixed, and while being at least equal in efficiency is more economical
than those made of wrought iron or of wood.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st February
1880.
THOMAS SMITH, of Blaydon on Tyne, in the County of Durham, Ironfounder.
"AN IMPROVED COMBINED RAILWAY OR TRAMWAY SLEEPER AND CHAIR."
The object of my Invention is to construct a combined railway or tramway
sleeper and chair more especially adapted for collieries, mines, quarries, and other
similar works, which while being cheap and efficient shall have great resisting
power.
The sleeper is formed of a cast iron or other metal trough of comparatively large
area which may with advantage be made rectangular or oval. While the area of
this trough affords a good grip the weight and consequently the resistance to
moving forces may be much increased by placing rubbish or other material in the
trough. The chair is formed in a piece with a sleeper, and may be of any approved
form.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2 an elevation
representing a pair of my improved combined railway or tramway sleepers and
chairs. A, A, are the sleepers, which are formed as shewn of a trough (preferably
of cast iron) of comparatively large area and of rectangular form; B, B, are the
chairs, which are made in a piece with the sleepers, and may be either of the form
shewn or of any other approved form; C, C, are the rails, secured in the chairs'
by means of keys D, D. It will readily be understood that the, large area of the
trough sleepers affords a good grip, and that by placing rubbish or other material
in the troughs their weight and consequently their resistance to moving forces will
be much increased, and as has been already herein before stated.
Where necessary tie rods, such for example as that represented at E, either
curved or straight, or bent, or countersunk, may be applied at the joints, or at as
many points as may be found desirable from curves, bad bottom, defective rails,
or other causes, and to allow of these tie rods being readily applied the sleepers
A, A; may be suitably recessed, as shewn, to receive them.
The improved combined sleeper and chair above described can be readily carried,
regulated, and fixed, and while being at least equal in efficiency is more economical
than those made of wrought iron or of wood.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-The improved combined
railway or tramway sleeper and chair constructed substantially as herein before
described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Smith, have hereunto, set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of February, One thousand eight hundred
and eighty.
THOMAS SMITH. (L.S.)