Improvements in Metallic Railway Ties or Sleepers, and Fastenings for the same.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Railway Ties or Sleepers, and Fastenings
for the same.
We, ROBERT MORRELL, Gentleman, and HERMANN DE VALLIERE, Merchant,
both of Summit, County of Union, State of New Jersey, United States of America,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner it is to be
performed to be particularly described and .ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The said invention relates to metallic cross-tics for railways, and fastenings for
the same, and has for its objects to simplify and cheapen their construction and
render them more effective in use.
With these objects in view our said invention consists in the improved construction,
arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and afterwards
specifically pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, making a part of this Specification,
Figure 1, is a perspective view of a tie constructed in accordance with said
invention.
Figure 2, is a longitudinal vertical section through the same showing the trails
in position, and the fastening device.
Figure 3, is a top plan view thereof.
Figure 4, is a perspective view of one end of the tie showing particularly the
method of securing the rail in the tie.
"
Like letters of reference mark the same parts wherever they occur in the warious
figures of the drawings.
The said improved tie is made of rolled or hammered sheet metal and is essentially
of trough shape, a being the base and b and c being the sides thereof, the sides
standing vertically and at substantially right angles to the base. In the upper
edge of each side'near each end thereof is cut:a notch for the reception of the base
of the rail, such notches being marked d, e, f, g. The central portion of ithe
base a, midway between the rails, is cut out, to form a large opening in the base
and permit a solid junction of the ballast above and below the base and the adjoining
portions h, i, are bent downward at substantially right angles 'to the base 'to project
downward into the earth and thus prevent lateral movement of (the tie, and at the
same time decrease the weight thereof, and facilitate the placing of the ballast in
direct contact with the road bed. Under each rail. k, l, and resting upon the base a
is placed a block of wood, compressed paper, or other pulp, or any other material
suitable to the purpose, marked m.and 'n upon which the rail rests, thus obviating
the objections due to metallic contact. Suitable bolt holes are provided in the
base through which the bolts which secure the rails are passed.
The means we employ to fasten the rails.in the tie consist as follows (describing
one side only):
The notches in the vertical sides of the cross-tie are.made wider than .the width
of the base flange o, of the rail and a shim v.is .placed between 'the outer side of
said base flange o and the sides of the notches fg shown in Figures 2 and 4. The
ends ww of this shim are bent back upon the outer surfaces of the vertical sides
of the cross-tic, to hold the shim in position laterally. The inner base flange of
the rail k butts.against the opposite sides of the notches and g without any shim,
so that there is no opportunity for movement of the rail base in the said notch
cross-wise of the trail. A clip r formed as shown in Figures 2 and 4, bears under
the head of the rail b, on its outer side, at the point x, and it.also rests upon the base
flange it then projects substantially in a horizontal direction a short distance
outwardly. The said clip then turns downwardly. from a point outwardly 'beyond
;

page_text: 2°
the bolt t, at an angle of about 45 degrees more or less, and passes through an
opening in the base a of the cross-tie and takes under it as shown, and a bolt passes
through the horizontal portion of the clip and down through a hole p, in the base
of the cross-tie and takes under it. A nut is screwed on the bolt t above the clip
which when screwed down upon the clip holds it securely. This clip and bolt serves
as a secure fastening to the rail upon the base block m, and also braces it against
outward thrust of the train wheels, especially on curves. This device is of course
upon both outer ends of the tie. The device used to secure the inner flanges of
the rails and is similar to that just described, except that the part of the clip
is usually not employed and the shim v is left out. The device is clearly shown in
the drawings and need not be further described as one skilled in the art will readily
comprehend the whole matter from the drawings.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that our said tie comprises in its
structure the following:
1st. A metallic body of sufficient length to support both rails of the track.
2nd. Suitable means (the notches in which the rails rest, and the fastening
mechanism), to prevent spreading of the rails on and to secure them to the tics.
3rd. Bed blocks upon which the rails rest and by which metallic contact between
the tie and the base of the rail is prevented.
4th. Suitable means (the cutting away of the central portion of the base) whereby
the rail is lightened without detracting from its necessary strength, and proper
placing of the ballast is permitted, and
5th. Suitable means (the downward bent portions of the base at each end of the
opening) whereby the ties and rails when secured together, are held from lateral
displacement due to side thrust, especially on curves.
The cutting away of the base of the tie between the rails, is a very important
provision. As before stated the tie is made lighter thereby, and the ballast above
the base of the tie forms a substantially solid continuation of that below the base.
The opening being sufficiently large for a solid body of ballast, the tendency of the
ballast under the tie to form a fulcrum over which the tie would rock or be strained
or bent is also obviated.
It will be noticed that only a small portion of the base is used in the formation
of the lips and that the formation of such lips is but a secondary purpose of the
cutting of the base, the primary objects being as hereinbefore stated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner it is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is:
1. A metallic railway tie provided with a base a and sides b, c, projecting upward
from the sides thereof substantially at right angles thereto, formed by bending a
plate of rolled or hammered metal, the central portion of the base between the sides
of the tie, midway between the rails, being removed and the adjoining portions of
the base turned downward to form flanges to project into the earth at right angles
to the length of the tie for the purposes set forth.
2. A metallic railway tie provided with a base a and sides b, c, projecting upward
from the sides thereof substantially at right angles thereto formed by bending a
plate of rolled or hammered metal, the central portion of the base between the
sides of the tie, midway between the rails, being removed and the adjoining portions
of the base turned downward to form flanges to project into the earth at right
angles to the length of the tie and notches, d, e, f, g, being provided in the upper
edges of the sides, near their ends to receive the bases of the rails, for the purposes
set forth.
3. A metallic railway tie provided with a base a and sides b, c, projecting upward
from the sides thereof substantially at right angles thereto formed by bending a
plate of rolled or hammered metal, the central portion of the base between the sides
of the tie, midway between the rails, being removed and the adjoining portions of
the base turned downward to form flanges to project into the earth at right angles
to the length of the tie and notches d, e, f, g, being provided in the upper edges

page_text: of the sides, near their ends to receive the bases of the rails, and bed blocks m, n,
of suitable material being provided for the rails to rest upon, for the purpose
set forth.
4. In combination the tie having bolt holes in its base and notches in its sides,
a bed block, a rail resting in the notches and on the bed block, clips resting on the
flanges of the base of the rail and having their outer ends inclined down and
passed through holes in the base of the tic, and bolts for securing the clips, as
set forth.
5. In combination the tie having bolt holes in its base and notches in its sides,
a bed block, a rail resting in the notches and on the bed block, clips resting on the
flanges of the base of the rail and having their outer ends inclined down and passed
through holes in the base of the tic, one of said clips having an upward extension
resting against the web and under the head of the. rail, and bolts for securing the
clips, as set forth.
6. In combination, the notched tie, the bed block, the rail resting in the notches
and upon the bed block, the clips having their ends inclined downward through
holes in the base of the tie and engaging the under side of the base about the bolt
holes, as set forth.
7. The combination in a metallic railway tie, consisting of the tic, provided with
notches as d, e, f, g; the bed block as m, n; the shim as e; the clips as r and
the bolts as 7, all constructed and combined to secure rails as k, l, upon the said
bed blocks and in the said notches substantially in the manner and for the purposes
specified.
Dated this 11th day of August 1891.
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicants.