IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAYS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Henry Lynde, of Sale, in the County of
Chester, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRAMWAYS."
Sealed the 14th April 1874, and dated the 11th February 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Henry Lynde
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 11th February 1874.
I, JAMES HENRY LYNDE, of Sale, in the County of Chester, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAYS," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to construct a tramway that shall
present the least possible obstruction to the ordinary traffic; that shall
supercede the present objectionable straight joint in the paving of the
street on each side of the rail or tram, which is always the source of ruts;
that shall be absolutely immovable without the use of any fastenings
whatever; and that shall be more durable in its foundation than any

page_text: system at present in use on account of the imperishable nature of
materials used.
My Invention consists in the combination of a metallic grooved rail
with cement, concrete, or asphalte.
This Invention is more suitable for paved streets, but can also be
applied to macadamized roads.
Where streets are already paved I remove those sets or blocks that
interfere with the grooved metallic rail, which is about three inches
broad, leaving a broken or irregular or indented edge to the paving on
cach side of the rail or tram, I then fill in the space to within about two-
and-a-quarter inches of the surface with cement or lime, concrete, or other
similar material or asphalte, and upon this when properly set I support
the metallic rail temporarily and pour in liquid or viscous asphalte, or
fill in with compressed asphalte or cement, or cement or lime concrete,
with either a flat or an indented surface. The rail is provided with a
small projection on each side at its base to form a key or dovetail, and it
is joggled horizontally at the ends to render it still more secure.
I prefer to procure the rails as clean and fresh from the mill as
possible, and at once to coat them with some bituminous material as a
paint in order to preserve them from rust and to ensure that when
asphalte is used it shall adhere firmly to them, but this is not indis-
pensable.
When I apply this Invention to a macadamized or unpaved road I
first excavate and remove the surface of the road to a depth of eight
inches for a width of eight feet or more. I then pave with sets or
blocks in the. ordinary way so much of such excavated space as will
leave two spaces in the lines of the rails or trams, having broken, or
irregular, or indented edges, as before described. I then proceed in the
same manner as if the road had been paved with sets or blocks in the
first instance.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Henry Lynde in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th August 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
HENRY LYNDE, of Sale, in the County of Chester, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Henry Lynde, Her special
licence that I, the said James Henry Lynde, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Henry
Lynde, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAYS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said James Henry Lynde, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Henry Lynde, do hereby.
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement (that is to say) :-
The object of my Invention is to construct a tramway that shall
present the least possible obstruction to the ordinary traffic; that shall
supercede the present objectionable straight joint in the paving of the
street on each side of the rail or tram, which is always the source of ruts;
that shall be absolutely immovable without the use of any fastenings
whatever; and that shall be more durable in its foundation than any

page_text: As usu
"My Invention consists in the combination of a metallic grooved rail
with cements, concretes, and asphaltės.
This Invention is suitable for all descriptions of paved streets and
macadamized roads.
Where streets are already paved with stone, wood, asphalte, or other
material I remove those sets, blocks, or material that interfere with the
grooved metallic rail, which is about three inches broad, leaving a broken
or irregular or indented edge to the paving on each side of the rail or
tram. I then fill in the space, which is from six to twelve inches deep
to within about two-and-a-quarter inches of the surface with cement or
lime concrete or bituminous material or asphalte, and upon this when
properly set I support the metallic rail temporarily and pour in liquid or
viscous asphalte, or fill in with compressed asphalte or cement or
cement or lime concrete, with either a flat or indented surface. The rail
is provided with a small projection at each side to form a key or dovetail,
and it may or may not be joggled horizontally at the ends into the
adjoining rails.
I prefer to procure the rails as clean and fresh from the rolling mill as
possible, and at once to coat them with some bituminous material as a
paint in order to preserve them from rust and to insure that when
asphalte is used it shall adhere firmly to them, but this is not indis-
pensable.
When I apply this Invention to a macadamized or unpaved road I
first excavate and remove the surface of the road to a depth of eight
inches or more for a width of eight feet or more. I then pave with sets
or blocks or other material in the ordinary way so much of the excavated
space as will leave spaces in the lines of the rails or trams having
broken or irregular or indented edges, as before described. I then
proceed in the same manner as if the road had been paved with sets or
blocks or other material in the first instance.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into operation I will proceed to describe the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings.

page_text: Fig. 1 represents a transverse section of the rail or tram a imbedded
in asphalte 6 resting upon concrete c and surrounded by paving stones
or wood blocks d. The small projections at the sides of the rail a are to.
hold it firmly in its place.
Fig. 2 represents a transverse section of the rail or tram a imbedded
in asphalte resting upon concrete c and surrounded. by asphalte
paving d.
Fig. 3 represents a transverse section of another form of rail or tram a
imbedded in asphalto 6 resting upon concrete c and surrounded by
paving stones or wood blocks d.
Fig. 4 represents a transverse section of another form of reversible
rail or tram a imbedded in asphalte & resting upon concrete c and sur-
rounded by paving stones or wood blocks d.
Fig. 5 represents a plan of the rail or tram a imbedded in asphalte
and surrounded by paving stones or wood blocks d.'
Fig. 6 represents a plan of the rail or tram a imbedded in asphalte b
and surrounded by asphalte paving, macadam, or other continuous
paving d.
In the foregoing Figures where the letters b, c, d, are described as
representing asphalte, concrete, and paving respectively, it must be
understood that I may substitute for asphalte 6 liquid asphalte, com-
pressed asphalte, cement, or cement or lime concrete or bituminous
concrete, or a combination of these, and for concrete c, liquid or com-
pressed asphalte, bituminous concrete cement, or cement or lime
6 concrete, or a combination of these, and for paving d, macadam, granite,
or stone blocks, wood paving, asphalte, cement, or other continuous
paving, or a combination of these.
I can also apply this Invention to macadamized or unpaved roads by
removing to a depth of from nine to twelve inches so much of the road
material as interferes with the grooved metallic rail leaving a broken
edge to the surface of the road on each side of the rail or tram. I then
proceed in the same manner as if the spaces were surrounded by sets
or blocks or other paving material.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention and described the
manner of performing the same I wish it to be understood that I do not

page_text: limit myself to the details given, but that I claim the combination of a
grooved metallic rail or tram with asphaltes, cements, concretes, or
other materials, as described.
set
In witness whereof, I, the said James Henry Lynde, have hereto
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of August, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-four.
JAMES HENRY LYNDE. (L.S.)