An Improved Permanent Way for Railways and Tramways.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 1894-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Permanent Way for Railways and Tramways.
WILLIAM DENNIS HODGKINSON Newthorpe, Notts. Miner and Ironmonger do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This improved permanent way relates to the method of securing rails to sleepers
by means of grip chairs, which chairs pass into, or through the sleepers, and are
made in one or more parts.
Apertures are formed in the sleepers, into which these chairs fit, which chairs
are made wedge or spear shape. The whole of the bevel may either be on the
chairs or on the sleepers, or may be divided between such chairs and sleepers.
Grooves are formed on the inner side of chairs next the rails, so that the rails
rest on the lower side of these grooves; the upper part of chairs presses against the
sides of rails, or another groove above the flange groove may be provided to receive
the fish-plate, if used, and a rib or projection is provided on fish-plate, which fits in
the upper groove of chairs, or the upper part of chair will press the sides of rails
without the use of such fish-plates. The middle part of chairs presses wedge
shape into the sleepers, giving the grip on the rails, while the lower, or bottom
part of chairs may pierce the foundation, thus making the way more permanent by
preventing lateral movement. As the weight is brought to bear on the rails they
receive the grip from the chairs, while the chairs are also tightened by being
pressed into the sleepers.
There is a ledge or side projection on the chairs, and as the chairs are forced into
the sleepers, this ledge or side projection is brought below the base of sleepers,
when the chairs or sleepers are driven sideways and a key or wedge is inserted,
thus preventing the sleepers from lowering or the chairs from lifting.
The chairs may also be secured on the under side of sleepers by bolts or screws.
The inner side of chairs may also be made in waves or projections which fit into
and against each other, and thus increase the strength and security by their
union.
Other wedges or keys may be inserted in the ordinary way, and the apertures
in the sleepers may be lined, which also increases the grip and softens the sound
made by the traffic.
Dated this 28th day of February
An Improved Permanent Way for Railways and Tramways.
1, WILLIAM DENNIS HODGKINSON, of Newthorpe in the County of Nottingham,
Miner and Ironmonger, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the permanent ways of railways, tramways, or the like
and it has for its object improvements in the means for connecting the chairs, rails,
and sleepers together.

page_text: It will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a short length of the rails, two chairs,
and a sleeper of a light railway constructed or arranged according to my
invention.
Figure 2 is an end view with the rail and sleeper in section showing a modified
arrangement.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are end views showing modified forms of chairs, the rail and
sleeper being in section.
Figure 6 is a side elevation.
Figure 7 an end elevation, and
Figure 8 a plan of a further modification.
Figure 9 is an elevation, and
Figure 10 a plan of a sleeper.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The chairs A are each formed with jaws B to grip the lower flange of the rail C,
and a taper or wedge shaped part D which fits into a correspondingly shaped
opening in the sleeper E. The chair is formed in two parts or preferably divided
centrally in a vertical plane parallel to the rail C as shown, so that when weight or
pressure is placed upon the rail, the chair is pressed further into the sleeper
and the two jaws B of the chair are caused to close and grip the rail more
firmly.
The two parts of the chair may be connected so as to maintain their relative
positions to each other, by a stud on the inner face of one part engaging with a
recess in the other or other suitable arrangement.
The sleeper E if of wood may be strengthened where the openings are formed
to receive the chairs, by metal plates F, Figure 1, on the upper side, or the plates
may be placed on the underside as shown in Figure 3 if preferred.
In the modified arrangement shown in Figure 2 the chair is formed of two
independent parts A¹ A' shaped as shown, each of which fits into an independent
opening in the sleeper E.
The part E' of the sleeper between the two parts A¹ A' is strengthened and
shaped so as to force the lower ends of the two parts A' A' outward and close their
upper ends B on the flange of the rail C.
In the modified form of chair shown in Figure 3 the chair A instead of being
divided or formed in two parts is partially divided by a recess or saw gate G in
order that the jaws B may be able to close and grip the rail C when it is forced
into the opening in the sleeper.
In this arrangement the wedge-shaped part D of the chair A is held in its
position in the opening in the sleeper by a cotter H passing through it on the
underside of the sleeper as shown.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 4 the two halves of the chair A are hinged
together at I as shown.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 5 a recess J is formed in one side of the
chair so that the chair, when it is inserted in the opening in the sleeper may be
moved laterally and one side of the opening in the sleeper enters and engages with
the recess J and prevents the chair from rising. The chair may be held in this
position by a wedge or cotter K driven in between the chair and the edge of the
opening in the sleeper as shown.
The jaws B of the chair A may be extended as shown in Figure 5 so as to
enclose the fish-plates L, recesses being formed in the jaws to receive the head
and nut of each bolt; in some cases the extended jaws B may be employed instead
of fish-plates.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 a ledge M is formed on the end
of the chair A and extends across both halves as shown; the chair is moved in the
direction of the length of the rail and when in its proper position is secured by a
wedge or cotter K in the same manner as described in reference to Figure 5.
Figures 9 & 10 show a metal sleeper which is strengthened at the parts where

page_text: the openings are formed to receive the chairs, by bending the ends E' on the main
part as shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is;-
1. In a permanent way the employment of a chair with a wholly or partially
divided wedge shaped extension fitting into a recess in the sleeper so that the
pressure on the rail tends to close the chair substantially as described.
2. In a permanent way the employment of a chair formed in two parts such
as A' fitting into openings in a sleeper so that vertical pressure on the rail will tend
to force the lower ends of the two parts of the chair outwards and close their
upper ends on the rails substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
3. In a permanent way the combination with a rail C of a wedge shaped chair
such as A partially divided by a recess or saw gate such as G and a sleeper
provided with an opening to receive the chair substantially as described and
illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a permanent way the combination with a rail C of a wedge-shaped chair
such as A. formed in two parts hinged together and a sleeper provided with a recess
to receive the chair substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 4 of the
accompanying drawings.
5. In a permanent way the combination with a rail C of a wholly or partially
divided wedge-shaped chair such as A provided with a recess J or ledge to engage
with the sleeper substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
6. In a permanent way a metal sleeper strengthened by bending the ends on to
the main part and provided with openings to receive the chairs substantially as
described and illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of November 1894.
WM. D. HODGKINSON,
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.