Improvements in the Permanent Way of Railroads.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 20th Sept., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Permanent Way of Railroads.
Communicated by FRIEDRICH SCHUNK, of Halberstadt, in Germany, Permanent Way
Inspector.
I, CHRISTEN REES BONNÉ, of 41 Eastcheap in the City of London Registered
Patent Agent 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide means whereby the laying of the track is
simplified, considerable increase of strength as well as lightness of construction is
attained and longitudinal or transverse movement of the rails known as "creeping'
or "wandering "is prevented.
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In carrying the invention into practical effect, substantially the following arrange-
ments are adopted :-
The sleeper upon which the rails are to be laid is composed of iron or similar metal
and is preferably of the form I in cross section. To secure increased firmness of
foundation, the lower horizontal portion of the sleeper is extended in longth, and
slightly turned up at each extremity, so that a better hold is obtained; the space
intervening between the upper and lower parts or plates of the sleeper, on each side
of the vertical or central support, being filled in with earth or masonry. The upper
surface of the top plate of the sleeper is made with two recesses or openings for the
reception of the rails, which are secured in any suitable way thereto. But, if preferred
the said upper surface may be made without such openings, and the rails supported or
held in place therein by other devices or means usually employed for that purpose.
The particular sectional form of the sleeper bereinbefore described may also be varied
to meet special requirements, and it may be in the form of a box of rectangular or
other shape, or in the form of a bridge having vertical supports at each extremity in
substitution for the central support above mentioned. In either case, the spaco
comprised between or within the vertical portions of the sleeper, and underneath
the upper horizontal plate upon which the rails are laid, should be filled with earth
or stones, so that a perfectly firm foundation is obtained. These iron or metal
sleepers, being firmly embedded in the track or in the substance of a structure
superincumbent thercou, give a very solid and secure support for the rails. The
sleepers constructed in the manner herein described possess the greatest rigidity
obtainable, and are lighter than the metal sleepers hitherto generally adopted on railroads.
In order to prevent the longitudinal or transverse movement of the rails when in
place, employ a wrought iron bar or rod, bolted or connected in other way, to
each rail, between which it lies above the sleepers in a diagonal direction to the
line of the road.
To enable the character and details of the invention to be quite clearly understood,
I have annexed to this Specification a sheet of drawings, in which Figs. 1 to 4
illustrate the several parts of the invention.
Fig. 1. is transverse sectional view of sleeper constructed according to my invention,
the extremities of the lower plate or part thereof being turned up slightly to give a
better hold for the earth or stonework in which it is embedded. The ends of the
lower plate may however be straight, as shown by the dotted lines.
Figs. 2 and 3 represent alternative sections of metal sleepers, the section Fig. 2 being
in a reversed position.
1
و,
"3
Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the method of preventing "creeping or "wandering'
of the rails. The diagonal bars between the rails are secured to the latter at convenient
intervals, and terminate at their other ends, in the centre of the track, in a screw-
thread, so that the tension may be increased or.diminished as occasion demands. The

page_text: lines drawn across the rails at a. a. indicate the respective positions occupied by the
sleepers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The construction of metal sleepers of sectional form as shown by Figs. 1, 2,
and 3 of the accompanying drawings, substantially as herein before described.
2. The employment of the diagonal or cross bars or rods between the rails, as shown
in Fig. 4 of the said drawings.
Dated the 30th day of July 1890.
C. R. BONNÉ & Co.,
Authorized Patent Agents, 41, Eastcheap, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.