IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE PERMANENT WAY OF TRAMWAYS, A PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robinson Souttar, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE PERMANENT WAY
OF TRAMWAYS, A PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Scaled the 16th September 1876, and dated the 24th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robinson Souttar at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th March 1876.
ROBINSON SOUTTAR, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR RELATING TO THE PERMANENT WAY OF TRAMWAYS, A PART OF WHICH IS
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
In tramways as ordinarily constructed the fasteners which fasten the rail to the
sleeper project out on one side, the chairs or brackets do the same, consequently
the stones cannot be placed right up against the rail without a large amount of
cutting. The result usually is that a wide crevice or series of holes exists between
the tram rail and the stones. The shaking of the rail and other causes keep this rut
clear of gravel to the great annoyance of the public generally, and even to the
tramway owners themselves.
Now my Invention is designed to obviate this evil.
I make the lower vertical flanges of the tram rail the breadth of the fastener from
the vertical line bounding the outside of the rail. The Lawson's patent or other
fasteners can then be driven through the hole in the flange and into the wooden
sleeper, and yet be perfectly flush with the side of the rail.
Instead of constructing chairs of the usual cast-iron type I make them of angle
iron, sawn off in lengths, or if plate iron bent into an L shape, the vertical flange
then being about the thickness of the fastener is also flush with the outside of the
rail, and there being no transverse web the stones can be put immediately over the
chair and against the rail. The spikes or screws of course are countersunk into
the chair, so their heads do not protrude.
If it be required to bolt the brackets together through the sleeper I sometimes
use a conical countersunk nut in a conical hole and make two recesses in its outer
face to drive it on like a bed screw. This nut is applicable in other structures
where countersinking would be useful.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robinson Souttar in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd September
1876.
ROBINSON SOUTTAR, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR RELATING TO THE PERMANENT WAY OF TRAMWAYS, A PART OF WHICH IS
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
1st. In tramways as ordinarily constructed the fasteners which fasten the rail
to the sleeper project out on one side, the chairs or brackets do the same, conse-
quently the stones cannot be placed right up against the rail without a large amount
of cutting. The result usually is that a wide crevice or rut exists between the
tramrail and the stones to the great annoyance of the public generally and even to
the tramway owners themselves, the rail works loose being unsupported by the
stones, and the stones sink owing to water getting down between them and the rail
and thus disturbing their bedding. It is thus impossible to keep the stones and
the rail at a uniform level.
Now my Invention is designed to obviate this evil, it is best described by the aid
of the accompanying Drawings.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 are vertical sections, and Fig. 4 an elevation of tramway in
accordance with iny Invention.
I make the lower flanges A the breadth of the fastener B from the vertical line
bounding the outside of the rail. The side or other fasteners can then be driven
through the hole in the flange and into the wooden sleeper, and yet be perfectly
flush with the side of the rail.
2nd. Instead of constructing chairs or brackets of the usual cast-iron type I make
them of angle iron, sawn off in lengths, or if plate iron bent into an L shape, the
vertical flange then being about the thickness of the fastener is also flush with the
outside of the rail, and there being no tranverse web the stones can be put imme-
diately over the chair and against the rail. The spikes or screws of course may be,
if desirable, countersunk into the chair so that their heads do not protrude. These
chairs are shown at C, Figs. 2, 3, and 4.
3rd. If it be required to bolt the brackets together through the sleeper I some-
times use a conical countersunk nut in a conical hole, and make two recesses in its
outer face to drive it on like a bed screw, this nut is useful for other kindred
purposes where it is very essential to have all flush, such for instance as in
armour plates.
Having now described my Invention, and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I beleive to be new and claim
under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is-
1st. Arranging a tramway rail with its lower flange or flanges not flush with the
edge, but with sufficient room to allow of fasteners being driven so that they may
be flush with the edge of the rail, or nearly so.
2nd. The tramway L chairs, substantially as described in part 2, and for the
purposes described.
3rd. The conical countersunk nut, substantially as and for the purposes described
in part 3.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robinson Souttar, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord
Witness,
WN. P. THOMPSON,
British and Foreign Patent Agent,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool
ROBINSON SOUTTAR. (L.S.)