IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SECURING AND SUP- PORTING THE JOINTS AND OTHER PORTIONS OF RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY RAILS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Wilby, of Sheffield, in the County of York, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SECURING AND SUP-
PORTING THE JOINTS AND OTHER PORTIONS OF RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY
RAILS."
Sealed the 7th October 1879, and dated the 18th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Wilby at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th July 1879.
GEORGE WILBY, of Sheffield, in the County of York. " IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA-
RATUS FOR SECURING, AND SUPPORTING THE JOINTS AND OTHER PORTIONS OF
RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY RAILS."
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus or chairs for securing and
supporting the rails of railways and tramways.
This Invention consists in the construction of a chair in two principal parts, the
parts being so constructed, fitted, and arranged as to make a self-adjusting chair,
that is to say, a chair the jaws of which will clip and firmly hold the rail when
vehicles are passing over the rail, the rail being free to move longitudinally in the
said chair when not subjected to pressure, and when expanding or contracting
under the influence of variations of temperature.
In carrying this Invention into effect the chair can be so made as that the jaws
will fit the web and base of the rail, and the two parts of the chair can be secured
to the sleeper in the ordinary manner by spikes or screws, the spike-holes in the
bases of the chair being elongated, so that the bases of the chair can move out-
wards from the rail when the the centre of the chair is subjected to pressure. The
chair is so made, fitted, and secured as that the outer ends only of the bases thereof
rest on the sleeper, thus leaving a space under the centre of the chair for the inner
ends of the bases of the chair to descend when under pressure.

page_text: The two parts of the chair can be secured together in any convenient manner.
For instance, the connection-can-be-like-that-of-the-two-sides-of-the-hinge-of-a-
door, the joint being under the centre of the rail; or the two parts of the chair can
-be-fitted into a base plate, which-will-hold the two sides of the chair in position,
=but allow them to close on to and grip the rail when the rail is subjected to down-
-ward-pressure.
The jaws of the chair can act directly on the rail, or may act through a spring or
springs placed between them.
As a further modification the base and one jaw of the chair can be in one piece,
and the other jaw can be hinged to the base and act on the rail to secure it from
movement when the said rail is under downward pressure.

page_text: -
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Wilby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
January 1880.
GEORGE WILBY, of Sheffield, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA-
RATUS FOR SECURING AND SUPPORTING THE JOINTS AND OTHER PORTIONS OF
RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY RAILS."
This Invention consists in the construction of a chair in two principal parts, the
said parts being so constructed, fitted, and arranged as to make an adjustable and
self fastening chair, by the use of which bolts for securing the rails to one another,
and the ordinary wood wedges are dispensed with.
The jaws of the chair clip and firmly hold the rail (or the ends of two rails)
when vehicles are on the said rail (or rails), the rail (or rails) being free to move
longitudinally in the chair when not subjected to pressure, and when expanding or
contracting under the influence of variations of temperature.
In carrying into effect my Invention the two principal parts of the chair are
hinged together directly or indirectly through a common base plate, so that when
a downward pressure is applied to the rail in the chair the two principal parts (or
jaws) of the said chair firmly grip the rail and hold it securely in position.
In the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings three methods of carrying into
effect my Invention are shown. Figs. 1 to 9 illustrate joint chairs, and Figs. 10
to 18 intermediate chairs.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, and 12 show the hinge connection between the two jaws of
the chair, the centre of the connecting pin or bolt being under the centre of the
rail; Figs. 1 and 10 are cross sectional views in elevation; Figs. 2 and 11 are side
views in elevation; and Figs. 3 and 12 are plans of my improved chair. A and B
are the two jaws of the chair, the parts immediately under the rail C being formed
like an ordinary door hinge, the two jaws A and B being connected by the pin D ;
H is an ordinary base plate, and G an ordinary transverse sleeper.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 13, 14, and 15 show a chair in which the connecting pin D is
dispensed with; Figs. 4 and 13 are cross sectional views in elevation; Figs. 5
and 14 are side views in elevation; Figs. 6 and 15 are plans. The joint is in the
form of a double hook or claw, one half of the hook joint being formed with the
jaw A¹, and the other half of the hook joint being formed with the jaw B. This
chair is similar in its action to that above described.
Figures 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, and 18 show a chair, the base and one jaw of which are
formed in one piece, and having one moving jaw hinged to the base of the chair;
Figs. 7 and 16 are cross sectional views in elevation; Figs. 8 and 17 are side views
in elevation; Figs 9 and 18 are plans. A" is the jaw, which is formed in one
piece with the base of the chair, the said base of the chair on the side opposite to
the said jaw A being formed like the one half part of an ordinary hinge; B¹¹ is
the loose jaw, the lower part of which forms the one half part of an ordinary hinge;
D is the pin or bolt.
As a modification of the above lastly described form of chair the base of the
chair can be separate from the two jaws, and the said jaws and base be connected
together by hinged joints.
Having now clearly described and ascertained the nature and object of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be performed and carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent is,―
"Improvements in apparatus for securing and supporting the joints and other
portions of railway and tramway rails, wherein the two equal or unequal parts

page_text: of the apparatus or chair are hinged together directly, or one or both jaws of the
said-chair_are hinged to a common base for the purpose of gripping the rail or
rails when downward pressure is exerted-thereon;-as-hereinbefore specified and
_described, and substantially as illustrated in the accompanying two Sheets of
Drawing.
"In-witness whereof, I, the-said. George Wilby, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred-and-seventy-nine.
WIT