IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Rowan, of No. 46, Queen Anne's Gate,
Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
Sealed the 31st January 1879, and dated the 22nd November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Rowan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd November 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT ROWAN, of No. 46, Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
AND TRAMWAYS."
My Invention relates to a construction of rail and metal sleeper for forming the
permanent way of railways or tramways, the object being to obtain great strength
and firmness consistently with lightness of the metal used. I will describe the
construction which I employ, referring to the accompanying Drawings and to the
figures and letters marked thereon shewing a sleeper and a portion of a rail
according to my Invention, it being understood that the proportions and dimensions
shewn in the said Figures are only given as illustrative of the construction, these
proportions and dimensions being susceptible of variation to suit various circum-
stances. Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of portions of two adjoining rails and
the sleepers for the same; Fig. 2 is a plan of one sleeper; and Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are
transverse sections on the lines X, X, Y, Y, and Z, Z, respectively. The sleeper
consists of a metal plate which is bent or corrugated so as to present portions A of
its surface above the other portions B. The elevated portions are longitudinally
slotted so as to admit of the introduction of a web or rib C projecting down from
the rail head D sufficiently far to rest on the lower portions of the sleeper, while the
sides of the rail head rest on the elevated portions of the sleeper. In order that
the web or rib of the rail may be tightly gripped in the slot of the sleeper I bend
upwards the edges of that slot, and in order that the sides of the slot may be
I Doing Car

page_text: prevented from spreading apart I undercut the sides of the rail head, as shown at
Fig. 4, so that when pressure comes on the rail head the tendency of the slot edges
is to close tightly against the head of the rail. It is of advantage to bend down-
wards one or both ends of the sleeper as shewn at E so as to obtain an anchorage in
the ballast. To prevent the rail from rising or moving lengthwise relatively to the
sleeper I insert pins F through holes in the rail web close to angles of the corruga-
tions of the sleeper. Adjoining rails may be fish-jointed by a plate bent to U shape,
as shewn at G, and the two rails of the line may be tied to gauge by transverse tie
bolts H passed through holes in the web of the rail. For the bolts of the fishes as
well as for the cross tie bolts I prefer to use cotters instead of nuts.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Rowan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th May 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT ROWAN, of No. 46, Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, in the
County of Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
AND TRAMWAYS."
"
My Invention relates to a construction and combination of rail and metal sleeper
for forming the permanent way of railways or tramways, the object being to obtain
great strength and firmness consistently with lightness of the metal used. I will
describe the construction which I employ, referring to the accompanying Drawings
and to the figures and letters marked thereon, showing a sleeper and a portion of a
rail according to my Invention, it being understood that the proportions and
dimensions shewn in the said Figures are only given as illustrative of the construction,
these proportions and dimensions being susceptible of variation to suit various
circumstances. Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of portions of two adjoining rails,
and the sleepers for the same; Fig. 2 is a plan of one sleeper; and Figs. 3, 4, and 5
are transverse sections on the lines X, X, Y, Y, and Z, Z, respectively. The sleeper
consists of a metal plate which is bent or corrugated so as to present portions A of
its surface above the other portions B. The elevated portions are longitudinally
slotted so as to admit of the introduction of a web or rib C projecting down from
the rail head D sufficiently far to rest on the lower portions of the sleeper while the
sides of the rail head rest on the elevated portions of the sleeper. In order that
the web or rib of the rail may be tightly gripped in the slot of the sleeper I bend
upwards the edges of that slot, and in order that the sides of the slot may be
prevented froin spreading apart I under cut the sides of the rail head, as shewn at
Fig. 4, so that when pressure comes on the rail head the tendency of the slot edges
is to close tightly against the web of the rail. It is of advantage to bend down-
wards one or both ends of the sleeper, as shewn at E, so as to obtain an anchorage
in the ballast. To prevent the rail from rising or moving lengthwise relatively to
the sleeper I insert pins F through holes in the rail web close to angles of the
corrugations of the sleeper. Adjoining rails may be fish jointed by a plate bent to
U shape, as shewn at G, and the two rails of the line may be tied to gauge by
transverse tie bolts H passed through holes in the web of the rail.
The rails may
be secured to the sleepers in the manner shewn by the transverse section Fig. 6, and
part side view Fig. 7. AT headed piece L is passed up through a slot in tho
sleeper B at the side of the web of the rail, and the tie bolt H is passed through
holes in the web and T piece. For the bolts of the fishes as well as the cross tie
bolts I prefer to use cotters instead of nuts, as there is less risk of their becoming
loose.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the best method I know
of carrying it into practical operation, I would have it understood that I do not
limit myself to the particular form, proportions, or dimensions of the parts, as they
may be varied to suit different conditions of traffic, and made of greater or less
strength and stiffness, according to the loads to which the rails and sleepers are
subjected, and to the nature of the ground on which they are laid; but
claim as
my Invention,
First. In a combined rail and sleeper the use of a sleeper constructed of metal
plates bent so as to present portions of its surface at a higher level than other
portions, the elevated portions being slotted to admit the web of the rail which rests
on the lower part of the sleeper while the head rests upon the elevated part sub-
stantially as herein described.
Second. In a sleeper constructed as set forth in the preceding claim, forming the
slots of the sleeper with turned up lips so as to cause the rail web to be tightly
gripped when the rail is loaded, substantially as herein described.

page_text: Third. In a combined rail and sleeper constructed as set forth in the preceding
claims, the use of a rail having a head with undercut hollows on its underside for
preventing the lips of the sleeper slot from separating, and a web passing down
through the said slot, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Rowan, have hereunto set 5
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
WILL. R. ROWAN. (L.S.)