IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF THE PERMANENT BEDS OF RAILROADS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ALSO EMBRACE AN ARTIFICIAL RAILROAD TIE OR SLEEPER OF A SEMI-ELASTIC OR WOODY NATURE, AND WHICH BLOCK CAN BE ADAPTED TO VARIOUS SIMILAR USES." COMP
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Lee Boone and Rudolph Herman, both of the
City and County of San Francisco, State of California, in the United
States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF THE PERMANENT BEDS OF RAILROADS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ALSO
EMBRACE AN ARTIFICIAL RAILROAD TIE OR SLEEPER OF A SEMI-ELASTIC OR
WOODY NATURE, AND WHICH BLOCK CAN BE ADAPTED TO VARIOUS SIMILAR
USES."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Lee Boone and
Rudolph Herman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition and Declaration, on the 24th May 1872,
pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act,
1852

page_text: We first place the asphaltum in a tank and subject it to heat until it
arrives at a liquid state, or if desired a heat sufficient to calcine it can be
employed. The fibre can then be either placed in the asphaltum in the
tank until it is thoroughly saturated, or it can be placed in the moulds
and the asphaltum poured over it so as to permeate every portion of the
mass. Hydraulic or other pressure is then applied so as to press the fibre
into a block when the mould can be removed and the block allowed to
cool.
The asphaltum or other bituminous substance is used for the double
purpose of cementing the fibre together and by saturating it thoroughly
preserve it and prevent decay. It is not therefore necessary to use more
asphaltum than is necessary for the purpose of firmly cementing the
mass together. This block will be found to be of great strength, yet
possessing a large amount of elasticity. It is imperishable except by
fire. Spikes or nails driven into it will be held with great tenacity. The
hardness of the block can be regulated as desired by the addition of the
proper chemicals or ingredients to the boiling asphaltum.
The second part of our Invention consists in the employment of blocks
of the above, say from eighteen to thirty inches in length and of any
desired section, and uniting them together in pairs by an iron rod, so
that the length of the blocks will be parallel with the rail. A, A,
represent two blocks of the desired dimension. These blocks are joined
together by a rod b, which can have its opposite ends cast into the blocks
or a hole can be left in the blocks when being cast, into which the ends
of the rod can be received. These ties are then to be placed upon the
road bed so that the blocks will be parallel with the rails and but a short
distance apart, as shewn at Fig. 2, and thus serve as stringers for the rails
to rest upon.
The rods will tie the opposite blocks firmly together so as
to prevent displacement. By this means we do away with the springing
of the rails between the ties, which is acknowledged to be one of the
worst causes of destruction to the rolling stock and track, and give
instead an elastic yet firm bed strongly tied together at all points.
No more material is required by this construction than if extended the
ties entirely across the track, while we avoid any danger of firing the
asphaltum ties.
Having thus described our Invention, what we claim and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is,-
Ll
An artificial black comand of anim.
1

page_text: cemented together with asphaltum or other bituminous substance, either
simple or combined with other ingredients for the purposes specified.
Secondly. A railroad tie consisting of the blocks A, A, united together
by the rod 6 substantially as and for the purpose above described.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Lee Boone and Rudolph
Herman, have hereunto set our hands and seals, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, A.D.
April the Twenty-sixth.
Vitnesses,
ALMARIN B. PAUL.
C. M. RICHARDSON.
JOHN LEE BOONE.
(L.S.)
RUDOLPH HERMAN.
(L.S.)