IMPROVEMENTS IN PERMANENT WAY FOR RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS
Year: 1879

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Seaton, of Agar Street, Strand, in the City of
Westminster, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
PERMANENT WAY FOR RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS.”
Sealed the 1st July 1879, and dated the 7th January 1879.
Sealed the 1st July 1879, and dated the 7th January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Seaton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th January 1879.
WILLIAM SEATON, of Agar Street, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PERMANENT WAY FOR RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
The improvements consist in the combination of a metal cross sleeper, T shaped
in cross section, with a bridge, Seaton, or other flat bottomed rail, with or without
the use of intermediary timber or other packing or longitudinal sleepers. The
cross sleepers are placed on and in the ballast with the web or foot of the T down-
wards, and bolts and nuts and clips or other convenient fasteners are used to secure
the rail packing or longitudinal sleepers and improved cross sleepers together.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Seaton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th July
1879.
WILLIAM SEATON, of Agar Street, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PERMANENT WAY FOR RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
The improvements consist in the combination of a metal cross sleeper, T shaped
in cross section, with a bridge, Seaton, or other flat bottomed rail, with or without
the use of intermediary timber, cork, or other packing or longitudinal sleepers
the cross sleepers being placed on and in the ballast with the web or foot of the
T downwards, bolts and nuts, spikes, clips, or other convenient fasteners being
used to secure the rail, packing, or longitudiual sleepers and improved cross sleeper
together. Also in the combination with a Scaton or flat bottomed rail and longitu-
dinal and cross sleepers, or longitudinal or cross sleepers only, of a novel mode of
spiking and mode of forming the spike holes in such rails. The accompanying
Drawing will servo to illustrate a practical and convenient mode of performing my
improvements, but I do not confine myself to the exact shapes or dimensions shown,
as they, as well as the details or fastenings,. may be varied without departing from
the nature of my Invention. In the Drawings, like letters indicato corresponding
parts. Fig. 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2, plan. Figs. 3, 4, 8, and 9, cross sections
of way. Figs. 5, 6, and 7, section of details. a are the metal T sleepers shown in
section, Fig. 6. b, rails. c, timber or metal triangular filling pieces, which may be
continued the whole length of the rail, or be used at joints or at cross sleepers
only; when of metal, and intended to be used at joints, I prefer to make it of the
section shown in Fig. 5, with projections to form also a base and joint plate through
which bolts or fasteners are passed. d is a packing of cork shown in Fig. 7, which
may run the whole length of the rail when a longitudinal bearer as e is used, or bo
placed only on the cross sleepers when they are used alone. In Figs. 1, 2, 8, and 9
is shown the combination of a Seaton rail with longitudinal and cross sleepers, and
the novel mode of spiking, for which purpose I prefer to make the holes in the rail
on the slant, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 7, so that they may serve as directing
guides for the spikes, and where joints occur, I prefer to use a metal filling piece, ns
Fig. 5, with holes also on the slant to correspond with the rail holes, and by such
means secure a strong, cheap, and simple fastening, dispensing with chairs and the
many pieces at present in use. Sometimes I uso upper fish plates, as at f, Figs. 4
and 9. ax represents wooden cross sleepers.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Seaton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of July, A.D). 1879.
WILLIAM SEATON. (LS.)