IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAYS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Gowans, of Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS
IN TRAMWAYS."
Sealed the 31st May 1872, and dated the 6th December 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Gowans at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th December 1871.
J'
I, JAMES GOWANS, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian,
North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAYS," to be as follows, that is to say -
"This Invention, which relates to improvements in the construction of
tramways, has for its object to effect economy in the cost of the same, to
produce a firm or steady roadway, and to enable the rails of tramways
when worn out on one side to be reversed or inverted.
1
The Invention is carried into effect by forming the rails with either
side or midfeathers which extend down over the sides of the longitudinal

page_text: sleepers on which they are carried, or enter a groove cut in the upper
face of the sleepers. At the under side of the sleepers plates of iron
are fixed which constitute flanches, these being securely held to the
sleepers by the bolts wherewith the rails are secured thereto, the bolts
passing through both rail and plates. The result of this arrangement is
that the edges or portions of the paving or causeway setts adjacent to
the rails rest upon the flanches, and are thereby prevented from sinking
or becoming loose.
-
When the rail is made reversible, as herein-before referred to, a groove
for the flanches of the vehicles drawn or propelled on the tramways is
rolled on both the upper and under sides, so that when one-side is worn
down it becomes necessary merely. to invert the rail, and if required
render its face level by "packing." placed between the upper edge of
the sleeper and the worn side.
It is to be understood that the sleepers herein-before referred to may
be either of the ordinary longitudinal timber class or hollow inverted
troughs. In the latter case however the flanches instead of being held
thereto by bolts are or may be rolled in one piece with the other parts
of the sleeper.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Gowans in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th June 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
GOWANS, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing-date-the-Sixth day of December, in the year
- of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the 34th
_year_of_Her_reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,-give
-and-grant unto me, the said James Gowans, Her-special-license-that-
I, the said James Gowans, my executors, administrators, and assigns,-
or such others as I, the said James Gowans, my executors, adminis-
trators, or, assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein.

page_text: It is to be understood that the sleepers herein-before referred to may
be either of the ordinary longitudinal timber class or hollow inverted
troughs, in the latter case however the flanches instead of being held
thereto by bolts are or may be rolled in one piece with the other parts
of the sleeper.
4
.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I
now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner
in or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into
effect, that is to say:-
At Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is shewn a l
vertical. section of one modification of my improved. tramway and, at
Figure 2 a plan of the same. The rail A is of the ordinary form, having
side feathers fitting into corresponding grooves cut in the longitudinal
sleeper B, underneath which a continuous iron plate C is carried,
resting on the cross sleeper D, the whole being secured in the usual 1
manner by bolts E. The sleeper D rests on the subsoil, the paving setts,
concrete, or other substance for forming the causeway being placed on its
upper side and on the upper side of the continuous iron plate C, which
latter prevents the sinking thereof under, the pressure brought to bear
upon it from the tread of the horse's feet, as herein-before mentioned.
Auxiliary spikes f may be used for further securing the rail A to the
longitudinal sleeper B, as shewn at Figure 2.
.!
2
Figures 3 and 4 represent a vertical section and plan respectively, of
another part of my Invention, or that in which the rail A is formed with
a groove both on its upper and under side, so that when one side is worn 2
out the rail may be reversed.
In this modification the longitudinal sleeper B on which the rail A
lies is held in shoes F placed at intervals along the track, and the whole
bolted together, as herein-before mentioned in reference to Figures 1
--and-2.
Figure 5.shews a third arrangement_of_tramway in which the rail A
-is-similar to that shewn at Figure-2, and--Figure 5-shews the continuous
-plate-C-supporting the paving-setts H, as in Figure 1. Figure 6 is a
plan of this modification.
3

page_text: continuous inverted iron trough B secured to the cross sleeper D, as
shewn, and Figures 9 and 10 shew the rail A of the ordinary construc-
tion carried in the same manner as herein-before described in reference
to Figures 7 and 8.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be used
or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that
what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
First. The employment of a continuous plate beneath the sleepers of
a tramway for the purpose of supporting the paving setts, which are
situated close to the sleeper, thereby preventing them from sinking
under the tread of the horse's feet, as herein-before described.
Second. The reversible rail herein-before described.
Third. Carrying the rails of tramways upon inverted iron troughs in
lieu of wooden sleepers as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Gowans, have hereunto set
y hand and seal, this Fourth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-two.
my