IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Carl Glaser, of 92, Lindenstrasse, Berlin in the
Kingdom of Prussia and Empire of Germany, Engineer and Patent Agent,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS."
A communication from the Actien-Gesellschaft Eisen & Stahlwerk, of
Osnabruck Prussia. Germany.
Sealed the 15th June 1880, and dated the 29th December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Friedrich Carl Glaser at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th December 1879.
FRIEDRICH CARL GLASER, of 92, Lindenstrasse, Berlin, in the Kingdom of
Prussia and Empire of Germany, Engineer and Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS." A communication from the Actien-Gesellschaft
Eisen & Stahlwerk, of Osnabrück, Prussia, Germany.
The requisite conditions of horse and locomotive tramways or street-railways are
such as demand, not only a carrying rail for the wheels of the carriages, but also a
sufficiently wide road upon which other traffic may circulate, and over which it may
pass crosswise without injury to the road or to the vehicles. Further, these roads
should be as simple, strong, and durable as possible.
These requirements are satisfactorily obtained by means of the constructions
represented in Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawing.
Figs. 1 to 5 shew an iron permanent way for horse or locomotive tramways
formed of two high rails, connected together and fished by cast or wrought iron
intermediate pieces and bolts and nuts.
The intermediate pieces, which are placed at suitable distances apart, transmit
the weight or pressure which may come on to one of the rails also on to the foot of
the counter-rail, and thus when a vehicle passes over the road the base of both
rails is utilized.
The height of the rails is such that the paving stones adjacent to the rails rest
with a light bedding of sand or ballast on the feet of the rails.
By this means the sinking in of the paving stones is prevented, and an unalterable
line of rails obtained.
This permanent way may be made in all the forms arising out of combinations
of the constructions shewn in Figs. 1 to 5.

page_text: In Fig. 6 the rail and counter-rail are made in one piece of symmetrical (or
non-symmetrical form) resting on two cast or wrought iron bearers or supports.
For the purpose of giving strength the rail is rolled with a rib on its 'underside,
which rib is also used for making a firm connection between rail and bearer, as
illustrated in Fig. 6.
The horizontal cross bolts effect the lateral tightening up of the bearers against
the rail, whilst the vertical clamp-bolts, which alternate with the cross bolts, effect
the attachment of the rail on to the bearers in a vertical direction.
In order that by the tightening up of the cross bolts the bearers may not be
drawn towards each other, cast iron cross pieces of the same length are suspended
from the bolts, and keep the bearers at the proper distance apart.
Cast iron plates placed under the bearers serve as points of resistance to the nuts
of the clamp-bolts, at the same time locking between the said bearers, and thus
fixing their distance apart. There is no danger of the bearers working apart from
each other, as the rails and bolts, together with the filling in or ballast and paving,
keep these bearers or supports in their proper position.
In all the arrangements illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 the joints are placed alternating,
and at every connecting joint a broader fish or intermediate piece is introduced,
which allows of the employment of two bolts, one at each end of the parts to be
connected.
The cross-ties are formed of flat or round tension rods which are tightened up at
each end by two nuts. These tie-rods may also be drawn through the fish plates,
and by this arrangement the use of transverse connecting bolts becomes superfluous.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Friedrich Carl Glaser in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
June 1880.
FRIEDRICH CARL GLASER, of 92, Lindenstrasse, Berlin, in the Kingdom of
Prussia and Empire of Germany, Engineer and Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS." A communication from the Action-Gesellschaft
Eisen & Stahl werk, of Osnabrück, Prussia, Germany.
The requisite conditions of horse and locomotive street tramways or street-
railways are such as demand, not only a carrying rail for the wheels of the
carriages, but also a sufficiently wide 1oad upon which other traffic may circulate,
and over which it may pass crosswise without injury to the road or to the vehicles.
Further, these roads should be as simple, strong, and durable as possible.
These requirements are satisfactorily obtained by means of the constructions
represented in Figs. 1 to 6 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawing.
Figs. 1 to 5 shew an iron permanent way for horse or locomotive tramways
formed of two high rails connected together and fished by cast or wrought iron
intermediate pieces and bolts and nuts.
The intermediate pieces, which are placed at suitable distances apart, transmit the
weight or pressure which may come on to one of the rails also on to the foot of
the opposite or counter-rail, and thus when a vehicle passes over the road the base
of both rails is utilized.
The height of the rails is such that the paving stones adjacent to the rails rest
with a light bedding of sand or ballast on the feet of the rails.
By this means the sinking in of the paving stones is prevented, and an
unalterable or invariable line of rails obtained.
This permanent way may be made in all the forms arising out of combinations of
the constructions shown in Figs. 1 to 5.
In Fig. 6 the rail and counter rail are made in one piece of symmetrical or non
symmetrical form resting on two cast or wrought iron bearers or supports. For
the purpose of giving strength the rail is rolled with a rib on its underside, which
rib is also used for making a firm connection betweon rail and bearer, as illustrated
in Fig. 6.
The horizontal crossbolts effect the lateral tightening up of the bearers against
the rail, whilst the vortical clamp bolts, which alternate with the cross-bolts, effect
the attachment of the rail on to the bearers in a vertical direction.
In order that by the tightening up of the crossbolts the bearers may not bo
drawn towards each other, cast iron cross-pieces of the same length are suspended
from the bolts, and keep the bearors at the proper distance apart.
Cast iron plates placed under the bearers serve as points of resistance to the nuts
of the clamp bolts, at the same time locking between the said bearers, and thus
fixing their distance apart There is no danger of the bearers working apart from
each other, as the rails and bolts, together with the filling in of ballast or paving,
keep these bearers or supports in their proper position.
In all the arrangements illustrated in Figa 1 to 6 the joints are placed
alternating, and at every connecting joint a broader fish or intermediate piece is
introduced which allows of the employment of two bolta, one at each end of the
parts to be connected.
The cross ties are formed of fint or round tension rods which are tightened up
at each end by two nuts. These tie-rods may also be drawn through the fish
plates, and by this arrangement the use of transverse connecting bolts becomes
superfluous.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the Invention communicated
to me as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is or may be performed, what
I claim as secured to me by the herein before in part recited Lotters Patent is,-
Firstly. The construction of horse or locomotive tramways or street railways of

page_text: two symmetrical or unsymmetrical head rails (of the same section) of suitable
height, which are so connected together by means of screw bolts and fish plates or
intermediate pieces, that the load put on the one rail is carried over on to the
feet of both rails, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in Figs. 1 to 5
of the annexed Sheet of Drawing, or by combinations of the same one with the 5
other.
Secondly. The construction of horse or of locomotive tramways or street-railways
of a symmetrical or unsymmetrical (double headed) carrying rail which bears with
its heads rolled concavely, or the underside upon two similar cast iron supports or
bearers, and is connected to the same, substantially in the manner herein before 1
described and illustrated, Fig. 6 of the annexed Sheet of Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, tho said Friedrich Carl Glaser, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.