IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George James Cross, of New Cross, in the
County of Kent, Engineer and Founder, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 22nd September 1871, and dated the 24th March 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George James Cross
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 24th March 1871.
I, GEORGE JAMES CROSS, of New Cross, in the County of Kent,
Engineer and Founder, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," to be as
follows:-
The improvements according to this Invention consist in the con-
struction and arrangement of longitudinal continuous cast-iron sleepers,
as hereafter described. The sleeper is made in the form of an inverted
hollow trough, which is further stiffened and strengthened by the
application of longitudinal and transverse or diagonal ribs to the under
side. The top of the sleeper is provided with "joggles " or ribs,
continuous or otherwise, between which the base of the rail is confined

page_text: and the whole, viz. the sleeper, ribs, and “joggles," are cast in onc
piece. The "joggles" prevent all side strain on the bolts which fasten
the rails. The rail rests by preference not directly on the sleeper but
on a bed of wood, felt, or other clastic or yielding material laid between
the joggles for deadening the blow or concussion between rail and
sleeper. The clamps which hold the rail are steadied in their places by
lugs on the sleeper. Holes of a keyhole or T shape are provided in the
top of the sleeper, which is here somewhat thickened. The heads of
the bolts, which serve to fasten the rail to the sleeper by means of
the clamps can thus be passed down through the large part of the
hole, and the bolt then shifted to the small part and fastened. For
curves this chair is better adapted than chairs made of wrought iron,
and in relaying the ballast the chair is untouched. No wood keys
are required for warm countries, where they are liable to be burned out,
and in comparison with "turtle" chairs of wrought iron a great saving
in weight, and consequently of freight, are effected.
Continuous sleepers have been used for permanent way, and I would
particularly refer to a continuous sleeper of hollow trough-like form, but
made of rolled iron, described in the Specification of a Patent granted
to W. R. Lake, bearing date the 13th July 1868, No. 2210. It is,
however, to be understood that my Invention does not consist in the
employment of continuous sleepers alone, but that it essentially consists'
in the construction and employment of continuous longitudinal sleepers
of an inverted hollow trough-like form with "joggles" or ribs on the
surface, all cast in one and the same piece of metal, whereby the side
strain from the bolts which fasten the rails is removed and means are
afforded for deadening the concussion by the introduction between the
"joggles or ribs, and on which the rails rest, of some clastic material,
and at the same time a comparatively cheap but substantial permanent
way is produced, substantially as herein-before described.
رو
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George James Cross in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd September 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
JAMES CROSS, of New Cross, in the County of Kent, Engineer and a
Founder, send greeting.

page_text: pro-
The sleeper A is made in the form of an inverted hollow trough, as
shewn on Fig. 4, and is further stiffened and strengthened by the
application of longitudinal and transverse or diagonal ribs a to the
under side, as shown on Figs. 2 and 3. The top of the sleeper is
vided with "joggles" or ribs b, which may be continuous as shown here,
or at certain places only where required. The base of the rail B is
confined between these joggles. Ribs and joggles are cast in one with
the sleeper. The joggles prevent all side strain on the bolts which
fasten or hold down the rail, and the bolts are consequently not so liable
to shake loose. The rail rests by preference not directly on the sleeper,
but as here shown on Fig. 4, on a bed c between the joggles 6 and
consisting of wood, felt, or other elastic or yielding material, or hard
material, such as steel, of such a shape as to form a springy bed. By
this means the blow or concussion between rail and sleeper is deadened
or diminished. The clamps C, which hold the rails by means of the
bolts d, are steadied or kept in their places by lugs e cast on the
sleeper. The sleeper is somewhat thickened where the clamps and bolts
are situated, and the holes for the latter are of a keyhole shape, as
shewn, or a T shape. The heads of the bolts are round in this case,
and the bolts square necked. The bolts can thus be passed down from
above through the large part of the hole, which is big enough for the
head to pass through, and then be shifted to the small part and fastened,
and that without any necessity for getting at the under side of the
sleeper. The rails are tied and kept the proper distance apart by means
of tie rods f, as shewn. For curves this chair sleeper is better than
chair sleepers made of wrought iron, as it can be cast suitable for any
desired curve, and in relaying the ballast the chair is untouched.
Neither are wood keys required, which, especially for warm countrics,
where they are liable to be destroyed by insects or burnt or dried
up, is a point of importance. As compared with "turtle" chairs of
wrought iron a great saving in weight, and consequently in freight, is
effected.
I am well aware that continuous sleepers have been used for per-
manent way, and I would here particularly refer to a continuous sleeper
of hollow trough-like form, but made of rolled iron, described in a
Specification of a Patent granted to W. R. Lake, bearing date the
13th July 1868, No. 2210. It is, however, to be understood that my
Invention does not consist in the employment of continuous sleepers
generally, but that it essentially consists in the construction and employ-

page_text: ment of continuous longitudinal sleepers of an inverted hollow trough-
like form with joggles or ribs on the surface, all cast in one and the
same piece of metal, whereby the side strain from the bolts which fasten
the rails is removed and means are afforded for deadening the concussion
by the introduction between the joggles or ribs, on which the rails rest,
of some elastic material, or of some hard material like steel, of such a
form as to render equivalent service, all substantially as herein-before
set forth, whereby a comparatively cheap, but substantial, permanent
way is produced.
I claim as of my Invention for "
Way of Railways,―
Improvements in the Permanent
Firstly. The employment of a continuous cast-iron chair sleeper of
the form described and with the joggles for taking off the side strain on
the bolts, substantially as set forth.
Secondly. The employment of a continuous cast-iron chair sleeper of
the form described in combination with the use of elastic material or
other equivalent, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
And thirdly. The general combination of a continuous cast-iron chair
sleeper of the form and construction set forth with the means described
and shewn for fastening the rail and for bedding the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said George James Cross, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Twenty-first day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
onc.