IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CHAIRS, FASTENINGS, AND SLEEPERS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Richardson, of Great George Street, West-
minster, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CHAIRS, FASTENINGS, AND SLEEPERS."
Sealed the 4th July 1865, and dated the 4th February 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Richardson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th
February 1865.
I, ROBERT RICHARDSON, of Great George Street, Westminster, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CHAIRS, FASTENINGS, AND
SLEEPERS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to permanent way, and in the first place refers to a
new kind of railway chair in which the jaws are cast obliquely with the base
of the chair, whereby a larger amount of bearing surface for the rail is
obtained, while the weight of the chair may be considerably diminished, and a
corresponding economy effected; the rail may be attached to the chair by a
wedge in the ordinary way.
:
My Invention likewise refers to an improved system of fastening chairs to
sleepers, which consists in driving the outside spike or treṇail obliquely in a
[Price 8d.]

page_text: direction away from the outside of the rail, while the opposite one may be
driven either at a corresponding or approximately corresponding angle, or as
formerly, whereby the lateral blow of the flanges of the wheels of the loco-
motive engine and carriages is more effectually resisted. The holes in the
before-mentioned chairs should be cast so as to permit of the spikes or trenails
being so driven.
Another portion of my Invention refers to a new kind of sleeper specially
applicable for longitudinal bearings, but which may be applied for transverse
bearings.
My improved sleeper I construct of cast. iron formed with an open cellular
or honeycombed structure. The cells I fill with a composition which I prefer
to make of lime, sand, and tar forming a compact and elastic concrete. The
cells may be made of any convenient shape, but the form I prefer is an
hexagonal one. The chairs may be either cast on to the said sleepers, or
may be bolted to them, or the rails may be secured by keys in the usual way
between lips cast on and forming part of the said sleeper.
:f
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Richardson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st August 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
RICHARDSON, of Great George Street, Westminster, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year.
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Robert Richardson, Her special licence that I, the said Robert
Richardson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Robert Richardson, 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 RAILWAY CHAIRS, FASTENINGS, AND SLEEPERS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Richardson, my executors.

page_text: 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 Robert Richardson, 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 fol
lowing statement :-
My. Invention relates to permanent way, and in the first place refers to a new
kind of railway chair, in which the jaws are cast obliquely with the base of the
chair, as shewn in Figures No. 2 and 4, whereby a larger amount of bearing
surface for the rail is obtained, while the weight of the chair may be con-
siderably diminished, and a corresponding economy effected... These chairs
can be. cast in any of the ordinary methods practised by, founders. for casting
chairs. The rail may be attached to the chair by a wedge; in the ordinary
Laure
way..
Figure No. 1 shews my improvements in, railway fastenings for fastening
chairs to sleepers by driving the outside spike or trenail obliquely in a
direction away from the outside. edge of the rail, as shewn at letter A, while
the opposite spike. or trenail marked B may be driven as, formerly....The holes
in the before-mentioned: chair, Figures No., 1 and 2, are cast so as to permit
of the spikes or trenails being driven as described; these spikes or trenails are
manufactured in the ordinary way.
Figure No. 5. shews a modification of the above-mentioned arrangement
with both the spikes C and D driven, obliquely, such, spikes being gradually
enlarged in size, from under the head, to. near the point, forming an effectual
holdfast when the. keys. E and F are driven down, thereby more effectually
securing the chair to the sleeper. This arrangement is further shewn in
--
Figures No. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, as applied to flat-based rails on longitudinal and
transverse. timbers. These spikes. and keys are forged, swaged, or rolled, of
iron or steel in the ordinary manner, or they may be made of cast iron, and
afterwards plugged; a modification is shewn in Fig. 5.
The next part of my Invention, is shewn, by Figures No. 11, 12, 13, 14,
15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and, 31.
Figure 15 shews a cast-iron transverse cellular sleeper, to which the rails are
attached by means of keys and tilt wedges; this arrangement is further

page_text: shewn in Figures 16 and 19. The tilt wedges I make of wood, wrought or
cast iron, or other suitable material, formed with an inclined surface so as to
give the required tilt to the rail; these tilt wedges are driven in between the
rail and the sleeper until the keys firmly hold the rail.
Another arrangement of the cellular sleeper having a plate cast on the top
of the cells, and with jaws cast on the plate to receive the rails and keys is
shewn in Figures 11, 12, and 17.
Another arrangement of the cellular sleeper having the plate cast on the
under side of the cells and jaws for the rails and keys in one casting similar to
the last is shewn by Figures. 13, 14, and 18.
Another arrangement for a longitudinal sleeper and chair in one casting is
shewn by Figures 20, 21, and 23, and an arrangement for 2 chairs on one.
sleeper is shewn by Figures 22 and 24.
Another arrangement similar to that in Figs. 22 and 24 is shewn by
Figures 26, 27, and 28 the difference being that the plate is cast on the under
side of the cells, and a longitudinal slip of wood or other elastic material is
placed between the rail and the longitudinal sleeper.
Another arrangement of longitudinal cast-iron sleeper is shewn by Figs.
29, 30, and 31, the mode of fastening the rails in these cases being similar
to those shewn in Figs. 15, 16, and 19, facilities for this object being
offered by the open cells; these cellular sleepers are cast in the ordinary
manner, and gradually cooled to toughen the etal, as is well understood by
founders; while hot they may be dipped in tar or oil. The mode of fasten-
ing the rails by tilt wedges is shewn by Figs. 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, and 37,
as applicable to rolled iron or steel sleepers.
Generally speaking, the cells in the cast-iron sleepers may be open or
closed on the top or bottom surfaces, or they may be filled with a composition
to increase the dead weight. The cells fill with a composition which
I prefer to make of lime, sand, and tar, forming a compact and elastic
concrete.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention for improvements in railway chairs, fastenings, and sleepers, and
in what manner the same is to be performed or carried into effect, I may here
remark, that I do not confine myself to the precise disposition or shape of the
sleepers, jaws, keys, chairs, spikes, trenails, bolts, or other parts herein
described or illustrated by the Drawings hereto annexed; but I do claim,-
First, chairs in which the jaws are cast obliquely with the base of the
chair.

page_text: Secondly, cast or wrought-iron steel or wood spikes, as herein-before
described.
Thirdly, I claim the improvements in fastenings effected by driving these
spikes for holding rails and chairs for railways, as herein-before described.
Fourthly, cast-iron railway sleepers, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Richardson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
ROBT. RICHARDSON. (L.s.)