A Method of Attaching Double-headed Rails to Metal Sleepers.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th June, 1890-Accepted, 12th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Method of Attaching Double-headed Rails to Metal Sleepers.
I, FOLLETT HOLT of 3 Devonshire Terrace Portland Place London in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
―1
My invention relates to a new method of attaching double or bull headed rails to
steel or other metal sleepers.
The completed sleeper consists of the following parts, viz. :-one sleeper having
four clips, two facing one another near each end of the sleeper, (these clips are formed
by three sides of a rectangle pressed out of the body of the sleeper, the fourth side
holding it to the sleeper); four loose angle brackets of cast iron, or rolled steel or
other suitable material; and two wedge keys.
To fix the rail to the sleeper, one loose angle bracket is placed on each side of the
rail, and the angle brackets with the rail between them being insorted between a pair.
of the aforesaid clips a taper key is driven in between the edge of the base of one of
the brackets and one of the clips, thus forcing the bracket against the rail which in
turn forces the other bracket against the other clip causing a firm joint to be made
between the angle brackets and the rail, and the angle brackets and the sleeper clips,
and body. The angle brackets are designed so that, when they are keyed up, the
tops of the brackets support the rail under the top head, and the side faces of the
brackets either press against the sides of the bottom head of the rail or are clear of
them, and also whilst the bases of the brackets rest upon the sleeper, one edge of
one base is firmly pressed against one clip and that of the other base is firm against
the wedge which in turn is also firm against the other clip. The heights of the
brackets are arranged so that the face of the bottom head of the rail either is clear
of, or rests on, the sleeper, whichever may be preferable.
The brackets may be made wider than the clips, and the width beyond each side
of the clips may be carried back to the roots of the clips, thus forming a stop
to prevent any tendency there may be for the brackets to shift at right angles to
the sleeper.
The dimensions of the sleeper, keys, and brackets are calculated for the particular
weight and section of the rail used, and for the weight of traffic they are intended.
to carry.
Did th: 19th day of A 1880
· FOLLETT HOLT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Method of Attaching Double-headed Rails to Metal Sleepers.
I FOLLETT HOLT of 3 Devonshire Terrace, Portland Place, London in the County
of Middlesex, but at present of the Ferro-Carril de Buenos Aires y Rosario,
Campana, in the Argentine Republic, South America, Civil Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to bo
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to a method of attaching double or bull headed rails to
steel or other metal sleepers and has for its object to so fix and support double
headed rails that the bottom heads (that is the heads out of use) will not be
damaged by indentations caused by the hammering action set up by heavy rolling
loads between the bottom heads of rails and their chairs or points of contact as

page_text: usually arranged, and thus the rails can be turned when required and will be as
good as when first laid.
I will fully describe my invention in reference to the accompanying drawings in
which
Figure 1 represents a cross section of a double headed rail and its attachment to
one end of a sleeper which is in longitudinal section.
Figure 2 is a cross section of a sleeper with rail and attachment in elevation.
The completed attachment of a pair of rails consists of the following parts-one
metal sleeper having four clips arranged in two pairs-one pair for each rail attach-
ment-facing each other at a suitable distance apart and at the usual distance from
each end of the sleeper. These clips are formed by three sides of a rectangle pressed
out of the solid body of the sleeper, the fourth side holding it to the sleeper; four
loose angle brackets or jaws; these may be of cast iron or other suitable material or
they may be cut off in the required lengths from bars rolled to the proper section ;
and two wedge keys.
In the drawing R is one rail, S the sleeper which may be of any convenient and
suitable form; ss one pair of clips; B B one pair of loose angle brackets, K a wedge
key preferably of steel and tapered.
To fix the rail to the sleeper, one loose angle bracket B is placed on each side of
the rail R and the two angle brackets with the rail between them being inserted
between the pair of the aforesaid clips ss, the taper key K is driven in between the
edge of the base of one of the brackets and one of the clips s, thus forcing the
bracket against the rail which in turn forces the other bracket against the other clip
thus causing a firm joint between the angle brackets and the rail and the angle
brackets and the sleeper clips and body. The angle brackets are designed so that
when they are keyed up the tops of the brackets support the rail under both sides of
its top head as shown, and the side faces of the brackets may either press against
the sides of the bottom head of the rail as illustrated or may be clear of them, and
also whilst the bases of the brackets rest firmly upon the sleeper the outer edge of one
base is firm against one clip and that of the other is firm against the wedge K which
in turn is also firm against the other clip. The heights of the brackets are arranged
so that the face of the bottom head of the rail either is clear of, or rests on, the
sleeper which ever may be preferable.
The bracket B may be made wider than the clips and the extra width beyond
each side of the clips can be carried back to the roots of the clips thus forming a
stop to prevent any tendency there may be for the brackets to shift at right angles
to the sleeper. The brackets may be stiffened by strengthening ribs such as if
necessary.
The dimensions of the sleeper, keys and brackets are calculated for the particular
weight and section of rail used and for the weight of traffic they are intended to
carry.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The hereinbefore described method of attaching double headed rails to metal
sleepers consisting in the use for each attachment of two loose angle brackets such
as B in conjunction with a key K and a pair of clips formed upon a transverse
sleeper, all being arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this Sixth day of June 1890.
June
J. C. CHAPMAN, Fel. Inst. Patent Agents,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.