Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Making Embossed-chair Sleepers for Railways.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 3'st Jan., 1891-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Making
Embossed-chair Sleepers for Railways.
1, JAMES RILEY, General Manager to The Steel Company of Scotland, Limited,
of 23, Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say:
:-
My said invention relates to embossed chair railway sleepers and machinery or
apparatus for making the same, of the kinds described in my Patent Specifications,
Nos. 11 of 1885, and 12274 of 1886; and it comprises improvements in the
construction, arrangement, and operation of the machinery or apparatus.
In carrying out my invention I employ three machines in succession in forming
an embossed-chair sleeper, in the first of which machines corrugations are formed
in the plate of steel or wrought iron at the parts at which the chairs are to be
formed. In the second machine the parts to form the chair jaws are partly shaped,
being made to project to a sufficient extent; and in the third machine the shaping
of the chair jaws is completed.
The first machine is made with a massive bed frame above which there is a
massive platen or pressing frame supported and moved up and down by means of
hydraulic cylinders and rams or plungers. Rams fixed to the ends of the platen
work in vertical hydraulic cylinders fixed upon the ends of the bed frame; and
vertical cylinders fixed in the platen near the ends have working in them plungers
or pistons fixed to rods which are fixed to the bed frame. The cylinders on the
bed frame are used for raising the platen and the others for moving it downwards.
The bed frame has formed on it a bearing surface for the plate to be shaped this
plate being, by preference, of a slightly concave form on its upper side, and of a
gradually increasing thickness from its lateral edges to the middle. Under the
chair parts however of the plate changeable blocks for shaping the undersides of
the corrugations are placed in recesses in the bed frame. The upper sides of the
corrugations are, for each chair, shaped by three die blocks moved by rams in small
hydraulic cylinders carried in adjustable or changeable boxes or frames fixed to the
underside of the platen. When a plate has been placed on the bed frame the
platen is brought down and holds it firmly principally at its middle, and then
the upper die blocks are made to gradually shape the corrugations. In forming the
corrugations the metal of the plate is gathered or drawn to them without being
appreciably thinned or strained.
The second machine is constructed like the first with a bed frame and platen, the
latter having adjustably fixed to it die blocks for shaping the upper or outer sides
of the hollow projecting parts to form the chair jaws; and the undersides of th'se
parts are shapel by die blocks moved upwards by rams working in hydraulic
cylinders adjustably fixed in recesses in the bed frame.
In the third or finishing machine the sleeper plate is placed upon a platen which
is moved upwards by rams working in hydraule cylinders fixel in the bed frame ¦
and in a stationery upper frame or entablature fixed to the bed frame by end frames
and tie rods, there is at each end an inclined cylinder for causing a suitably gu ded
die block to give the final form to the outside of each outer jaw of the chairs. Die
blocks which assist in shaping the inner jaws are acted on by toggle links moved
by the ram of a vertical hydraulic cylinler fixed at the middle of the entablature.
The sleeper plate rests on a bed fixed on the platen and this bed is suitably shaped
to act in concert w.th the upper die blocks and other parts yet to be described so
es to give the desired finished forms to the chair jaws; anl also so as to press the
lateral parts of the sleeper plate into the desired sectional form. In the plate bed

page_text: recesses are formed under the outer chair jaws and in these recesses there are placed
steel pieces which extend up into the jaws and prevent any divergence from their
proper form interually. The upper parts of the outer jaws have to be shaped to
overhang inwards to retain the key; and the steel pieces are fitted in their recesses
so as to be capable of rocking sufficiently to allow of the overhanging formation.
Ench inner jaw also has to overbang, and for shaping the space between the jaws
two, and in some modifications three, movable pieces are used. In one modification
one piece is hinged to the block carrying the upper die blocks, and a second is
entered and witlidrawn transversely by means of an hydraulic cylinder. As soon as
the final pressing operation has been effected the transversely movable piece is first.
withdrawn, and then on the platen descending the other piece turns on its hinge so
as to clear the jaw. In a second modification there are two hinged pieces, one of
them being withdrawn upwards before the platen moves downwards; and in a third
modification a wedge-shaped piece entered down between two hinged pieces holds
the latter in position and is first, withdrawn before the platen is lowered.
Dated this Thial day of Nov 1900
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Making
Embossed-ohair Sleepers for Railways.
I, JAMES RILEY, General Manager to The Steel Company of Scotland, Limited,
of 23, Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
do hereby declare the nature of this 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 :-
My said invention relates to embossed-chair railway sleepers and machinery or
apparatus for making the same, of the kinds described in my Patent Specifications
Nos. 11, of 1885, and 12274, of 1886 and it comprises improvements in the
construction, arrangement, and operation of the machinery or apparatus.
In carrying out my invention employ three machines, in succession in forming
an embossed-chair sleeper, in the first of which machines corrugations are formed
in the plate of steel or wrought iron, at the parts at which the chairs are to be
formed. In the second machine the parts to form the chair jaws are partly shaped,
being made to project to a sufficient extent, and in the third machine the shaping
of the chair jaws is completed.
My improved machinery or apparatus is shown upon six accompanying sheets
of explanatory drawings, the first machine being shown in Figures, 1, 2, 3, on
Sheets and 2, these figures being respectively a sectional plan, a sectional side
elevation, and a transverse vertical section.
The second machine is shown in transverse vertical section and in sectional side
elevation, in Figures, 4, and 5 on Sheets, 2, and 3.
The third machine is shown on Sheets 4 and 5, Figure, 6, being a half plan,
Figure, 7, a sectional side elevation, and Figure, 8, a transverse vertical section.
The remaining Figures, 9 to 16, on Sheets, 5, and 6, are enlarged views of details
and are hereinafter particularly referred to.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The first machine, Figures, 1, 2, 3, is made with a massive bed frame, A, above
which there is a massive platen or pressing frame, B, supported and moved up and
down by means of hydraulic cylinders, C, D, and rams or plungers E, F. Rams, E,
fixed to the ends of the platen, B, work in vertical hydraulic cylinders, C, fixed on
the ends of the bed frame, A.; and vertical cylimlors, D, fixed in the platen, B,
near the ends have working in them plunger sor pistons, F, fixed to rods, 20,
which are fixed to the bed frame, A. The cylinders, C, on the bed frame, A, arc

page_text: used for raising the platen, B, and the others, D, for moving it downwards. The
bed frame, A, has formed on it a bearing surface, 21, for the plate, G, to be shaped,
this plate being of a slightly concave form on its upper side, as shown in Figure, 3,
and of a gradually increasing thickness from its lateral edges to the middle.
Under the chair parts however of the plate changeable blocks, H1, H2, H3, for
shaping the undersides of the corrugations, are placed in recesses in the bed frame, A.
The upper sides of the corrugations are for each chair, shaped by three die
blocks, 1, 2, J3, moved by rams, K, in small hydraulic cylinders, K 1, carried
in adjustable or changeable boxes or frames, K 2. fixed to the underside of the
platen, B. The boxes or frames, K 2, are made with bottom flanges, K3, which
when a plate, G, has been placed on the bed frame, A, and the platen, B is brought
down, hold the plate firmly. The upper die blocks, 1, 12, 13, are next moved
gradually down to gradually shape the corrugations. In forming the corrugations
the metal is gathered or drawn to them without being appreciably thinned or
strained.
The second machine, Figures, 4, and 5, is, like the first, constructed with a bed
frame, A, and platen, B, B1, the latter having adjustably fixed to it die blocks, L,
for shaping the upper or outer sides of the hollow projecting parts to form the
chair jaws; and the undersides of these parts are shaped by die blocks, M, moved
upwards by rams, M 1, working in hydraulic cylinders, № 2, adjustably fixed in
recesses in the bed frame, A.
In the third or finishing machine, Figures, 6, 7, 8, the sleeper plate, G, is placed upon
a platen, P, which is moved upwards by rams, P1, working in hydraulic cylinders, P2,
fixed in the bed frame, A.; and in a stationary upper frame or entablature, Q, fixed
to the bed frame, A, by end frames, Q1, and tie rods, Q2, there is at each end an
inclined hydraulic cylinder, R, for causing a suitably guided die block, R 1, to
give the final form to the outer side of each outer jaw of the chairs. Die blocks, R 2,
which assist in shaping the inner jaws, are acted on by toggle links, R 3, moved by
the ram, R4, of a vertical hydraulic cylinder, R5, fixed at the middle of the
entablature, Q. The sleeper plate, G, rests on a bed, S, fixed on the platen, P,
and this bed is suitably shaped to act in concert with the upper die blocks, R 1, R 2,
and other parts yet to be described so as to give the desired finished forms to the
chair jaws; and also so as to press the lateral parts of the sleeper plate, G, into
the desired sectional form. In the plate bed, S, recesses are formed under the outer
chair jaws, and in these recesses there are placed steel pieces, S 1, which extend up
into the jaws and prevent any divergence from their proper form internally. The
upper parts of the outer jaws have to be shaped to overhang inwards to retain the
rail-fixing key; and the steel pieces, S1, are fitted in their recesses so as to be
capable of rocking sufficiently to allow of the overhanging formation. Each inner
jaw also, has to overhang, and for shaping the space between the jaws, two, and in
some modifications three movable pieces, T 1, T2, T3, are used. In one modifica-
tion, shown in Figures, 7, and 8. and enlarged in Figures, to 12, one piece T 1, is
hinged to the block, T, carrying the upper die blocks, and a second, T 2, is entered
and withdrawn transversely by means of an hydraulic cylinder, U, at one side of
the machine.
Figure, 9, is a plan, Figures, 10 and 12, vertical sections as at right angles
to each other, and Figure, 11, a plan of the movable piece, T 2, by itself. As soon
as the final pressing operation has been effected the transversely movable piece, T 2,
is first withdrawn, and then, on the platen, P, descending, the other piece, T 1, turns
on its hinge so as to clear the inner jaw. The hydraulic cylinder, U. for moving
the piece, T2, and which is fixed to a bracket, C1, bolted to the entablature, Q,
has working through its outer end a ram, U 2, for withdrawing the picce, T 2, to
which it is connected by cross bars and side rods, U3; and in order to economise
space and since the inserting of the piece, T 2, requires less force than the with-
drawing of it, the ram, U 2, is made hollow and works over a small cylinder, U 4,
fixed at the inner end of the larger cylinder, U, whilst a ram, U 5, working in the
small cylinder, U 4, is connected to the piece, T 2.

page_text: In a second modification of the jaws haping parts shown in Figure, 13, hoth the
pieces T1, T2, are hinged, and one T2, is drawn upwards before the platen moves
downwards after a pressing operation. In a third modification shown in Figure, 14,
a wedge-shaped piece, T3, entered down between two hinged pieces, T1, T2,
holds the latter in position and is first withdrawn before the platen is lowered. OĔ
the two hinged pieces, one, T 1, descends a short distance, the ends of its hinge pin
being in vertical slots indiented by dotted lines, and the other, T 2, consequently gets
clear before the one T 1, which has consequently more room to get clear in its turn.
In Figures, 13 and 14, the parts are shown as adapted for I rails and in Figures, 15,
and 16, similar parts are shown as adapted for flat-bottomed rails.
Flaving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
clain is:-
1. The combination of machinery or apparatus for making embossed-chair railway
sleepers and comprising the three machines operating in the improved manner
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The improved combination of parts constituting the first machine as herein-
before described and as shown in Figures, 1, 2, and 3. of the accompanying drawings.
3. The improved combination of parts constituting the second machine as herein-
hefore described and as shown in Figures, 4, and 5, of the accompanying drawings.
4. The improved combination of parts constituting the third machine as herein-
before described and as shown in Figures, 6, to 12, of the accompanying drawings.
5. The improved arrangements of devices for shaping the insides of the chair.
jaws hereinbefore deserihel and shown in Figures, 9, to 16, of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this Thirtieth day of January 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.