IM- PROVEMENTS IN FIXING RAILS TO THE SLEEPERS OR PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN FIXING RAILS TO THE SLEEPERS OR PERMANENT WAY OF
RAILWAYS." A. communication from abroad by Jules Vautherin, Iron-
master, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 14th April 1867, and dated the 29th December 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th December 1866.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIXING RAILS TO THE SLEEPERS OR PERMANENT WAY
OF RAILWAYS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the means of fixing rails on metallic sleepers and
giving them their proper inclination towards the inside of the line. This
double result is attained by the employment of a sole plate and locking parts
arranged as herein-after described.
The iron sole represented in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is
formed in two parts A, B, the lower face a, b, of which consists of a horizontal
plane, while the upper face c, d, is inclined at an angle of five degrees, and on.
which rests the foot of the rail C. The sole has at one end B³, B', clamps or

page_text: projections of a Z form, while the other end A1, A2, is of a curved or C form,
the lower projecting parts serve to grip the top of the sleeper D, being received
in mortises made therein, while the projections above serve for fixing and
securing the foot of the rail to the said sleeper. A peculiar feature of the
sole consists in its being made in two parts A, B, to facilitate the rolling of
the metal with the projecting ends or cramps, and also to enable the two parts
of the sole to be properly adjusted by means of the keys herein-after described.
As before mentioned the top of the sleeper should be provided with mortises
to admit of the introduction of the parts A¹, B³, of the sole, and these
mortises are made of the forms represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4; they
may either be made of the same width as the sole, as at E, Figures 1, 2,
and 3, or of less width, as at F, Figure 4, or there may be two mortices instead
of one, embracing together the whole width of the sole shown at G, Figure 3.
When adopting the two latter forms of mortises the lower projecting
parts A, B, of the sole should also be mortised to correspond exactly with
the openings in the top of the sleeper, as shown at Figures 5, 6, and 7.
The different forms of keys or cotters employed for fixing the rails are
represented in Figures 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, and 11; Figure 8 shows a front and
side view of a key H, the one side being inclined in order to force up the
cramp on to the foot of the rail as the key is driven into the mortise, and with
projecting lugs h, h, at the top end to facilitate its being drawn at any time;
the lugs i, j, at the lower end also slip laterally under the top of the sleeper D
to prevent the key from rising and getting out of position. The latter lugs
are made of different thicknesses to compensate for the wear of the several
parts, thus the lug i serves for fixing the key when first brought into use,
while the lug j (the key being reversed in position) answers a similar purpose
when the key has become worn by use and has to be driven further in.
Figure 10 shows a front and side view of another form of key I provided at
its lower part with small studs or projections k, k, which on the insertion of
the key enter corresponding grooves 1, 1, Figure 4, in the top of the sleeper,
by moving the key slightly sideways after its insertion the small projecting
studs k, k, are at once released from the grooves 1, 1, so as to prevent its
rising out of position.
Figure 9 represents a front and side view of a key J of horse-shoe form
tapering towards one end; these keys are made of iron rolled out thin at
intervals, and then cut of the desired length and bent in a horse-shoe form,
the two limbs being inserted in the two mortises G, G, Figure 8, made in the
top of the sleeper, as before mentioned, when such arrangement is adopted in
connection with a cramp of the form shown at Figure 6.

page_text: Lastly, Figure 11 shows a side view of another form of key K without any
lugs at the lower end, which is fixed in position by the introduction at the
back part of the mortise of a small gib or wedge L, Figure 1, constituting an
adjustable means of locking.
This improvement may also be applied in combination with the other.keys
before described, as it offers the advantage of affording a more extended
bearing surface for the keys.
Figure 1 of the Drawings shows a vertical section of one of these improved
modes of fixing rails to metallic sleepers, taken on the line 1, 2, Figure 2;
which is a plan of the same. Referring to these two Figures first, the two
lower projecting parts A³, B', of the cramp A, B, are introduced into the
mortises E, or these may be of either of the other forms described; the foot,
of the rail is then placed on the inclined surface c, d, of the sole and fixed in
position by one of the keys H, I, J, or K; this key on its introduction first
drives the part B to the end of the mortise E, bearing against point e, f, and
then brings together the two parts A, B, of the sole, which are thus caused to
grip the rail between the cramps A³, B³.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William Clark, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at, any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter, during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIXING RAILS
TO THE SLEEPERS OR PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," a communication to me
from abroad by Jules Vautherin, Ironmaster, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin,

page_text: Paris, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal 5
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
•
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following 1
statement, reference being had to the nine Sheets of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to improved means of fixing rails to metallic
sleepers.
General Principles.-1st, the mode of fitting the sole plates and parts for 1
securing either single or double rails to iron sleepers, and for giving them the
desired inclination; 2ndly, the mode of locking the parts on one side without
the aid of wood keys by the aid of a cotter fixed vertically; 3rdly, the mode
of connecting the parts by means of cramps or mortises made in the double
sole plates and chair plates for fixing the rails, either under or in the top of
the sleeper which is previously made of the desired form, said sole and chair
plates serving both for inclining and fixing the rails.
Special Principles.-1st, increased bearing surface of the locking key by
the aid of a movable shoulder piece or stop; 2ndly, crossing the sole or
chair plates in such manner as to preserve the same extent of bearing surface
at the bottom of the rail while diminishing the weight of the locking parts;
Brdly, employing an arrangement of key for fixing double-headed rails, the
head of which key serves for fixing the chair plate in position.
I will now proceed to describe several modes of fixing rails to metal sleepers
on the above principles.
1ST PART. VIGNOLE OR SINGLE RAILS.
Sheet 1 of the Drawings shows several arrangements of sole plates for
securing single rails to metallic sleepers; Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
and 9 show front and side views of the sole plates for fixing under the
head of the sleeper, while Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18
show similar views of sole plates provided with mortises for fixing to the

page_text: two parts A, B, rolled of the form shown in Figure 1, the under surface c, d,
being horizontal, while the upper surface a, b, is inclined at an angle of five
degrees for receiving the foot of the rail. At one end of the part B there is
a cramp or projection of a Z form, while the part A is provided at its outer
end with a C-shaped projection. These two lower cramps are intended for
lodgement in mortises made in the head of the sleeper, while the upper ones
serve for fixing the foot of the rail thereto. A peculiar feature of the sole
consists in its being made in two parts A, B, in order to facilitate the rolling
of the metal with its projecting ends, and also to permit of the adjustment of
the two parts at the time of fixing the rails by the aid of a key or cotter.
The lower cramp A¹ is inclined from 1 to 2 so as to facilitate its slipping
under the head of the sleeper, while its strength is doubled by the sleeper
being recessed in the spaces A', A'
2nd Arrangement.-In Figures 4, 5, and 6, the plates A, B, are shown of
unequal lengths, the part B only being inclined on its upper surface a, b, five
degrees, while the upper surface of part A is parallel with c, d. Further, the
cramps A¹, B', instead of being made of the whole width of the mortise are
divided into four parts, as seen in Figures 5 and 6, which permits of the
mortises being reduced one-half of their length.
3rd Arrangement.-In Figures 7, 8, and 9 the part B serves simply to
receive the foot of the rail, its upper surface being inclined for this purpose
from a to 6 equal to the whole width of the rail foot, while the part A serves
as a double cramp, the one part bearing on the rail and the other being
secured in the head of the sleeper. Further, the lower cramps A', B', being
made of less width than the sole, as seen in Figures 8 and 9, are received in
smaller mortises than those of Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Slotted Sole Plates.-According to this arrangement I dispense with the
lower cramps A', B', (the upper cramps A*, B³, bearing on the foot of
the rail, as before) and fix the plates A, B, to the head of the sleeper by.
the aid of mortises of various forms in which the head of the sleeper is
received so as to enable the plates to be slid into position at the time of fixing
the rails.
The first arrangement of the slotted sole plate is represented in Figures 10,
11, and 12; the plates A, B, have the same form as represented in Figures
1, 2, and 3, except that the cramps A¹³, B', are dispensed with and straight
parts E, F, substituted, having lateral mortises 1, 2, 3, 4, as seen in Figures
11 and 12; these mortises have the same depth from 1 to 4, as the thickness
of the head of the sleeper, so that the plates may be slid into position at the
time of fixing. The mortises for the introduction of the parts E, F, are made

page_text: to present an opening equal to the width 4, 4, of the plates and a narrower
part equal to 8, 8, for sliding them into position.
A second arrangement is represented in Figures 18, 14, and 15, in which
the grooving is shown as applied to the sole plates, Figures 4, 5, and 6.
A third arrangement is also represented in Figures 16, 17, and 18, in
which the plates A, B, have the same form as those of Figures 7, 8, and 9,
already described; this arrangement consists of a mortise G, Figure 18, made
in the lower part F of part B for receiving a tongue of the same width fitted
in the mortise in the head of the sleeper. The six different arrangements of
cramp and slotted sole plates, herein-before described, may also be otherwise
variously combined, as desired.
.
Sheet 2 shows the application of a slotted sole plate to a vignole rail.
Figure 19 is a sectional elevation in line 1, 2, Figure 20, of a rail fixed by
one of the slotted arrangements; Figure 20, a plan of same; Figure 21 is
a plan of the mortising in the head of the sleeper; Figures 22 and 23 show
front views of the slotted plates in the mortises. R, vignole or single rail;
T, metallic sleeper; B, slotted sole plate having a straight part F of the form
represented in Figures 12 to 15, Sheet 1; A, part already described with
reference to Figures 16 and 17, Sheet 1. M, N, mortises made in the head
of sleeper T, in which are received the parts E, F, of plates A, B; O, P,
adjustable gib and cotter. The mortise M, as seen, is made narrower than
the part 4, 4, of the cramp A, Figure 22, so that the latter has to be intro-
duced sideways and in an inclined position in such way that one of the grooves
1, 2, 3, 4, may fit into the top of the sleeper, after which it is turned round
into its proper position in the mortise; hence said cramp cannot possibly get
out of the mortise without being removed by hand.
: Sheet 3 represents another mode of fixing plates for vignole rails. Figure 24
is a transverse section of the metallic sleeper; Figure 25, a transverse
section of the parts combined on line 1, 2, Figure 26, which is a plan of
same; R, vignole rail; T, metallic sleeper; B, sole plate, the upper face
being inclined to 5 degrees, and having at one end an adjustable cramp B',
the other end being forked to receive a fixing cramp H, which fits into a
mortise I made in the top of the sleeper. The locking of the parts is effected
by the aid of a key O, which forces up the sole plate in the direction of the
arrow 1 so as to grip the foot of the rail at the points 3, 4.
Sheet 4 represents a modified arrangement of locking plate, Figure 28
showing a transverse section on line 1, 2, Figure 29, which is a plan of the
same. In this case the sole plate is divided into two parts, as seen in
Figure 29, the one part A being received and fixed in the mortise made in

page_text: The various forms of plates before described as applied for fixing single or
vignole rails will also serve for securing double rails, provided the upper
cramped ends of said connections be extended in the desired forms.
Sheet 5 shows a mode of effecting this object with adjustable sole plates,
Figure 80 being a sectional elevation of the parts on the line 1, 2, Figure 31,
which is a plan of the sleeper with mortise; Figure 30 bis is a front view of
the locking plate B; Figure 31 bis a similar view of plate A. In this
arrangement the chair is formed of two plates A, B, rolled of the form shown in
Figure 30. The plate A has a flat part c, d, resting on the top of the sleeper,
and an inclined surface a, b, on which to place the rail and give it the
requisite slant towards the inside of the line. The plate B is fitted on the
inside of the rail, being driven up to position by the cotter C, so as to grip
the rail on the inclined surface a, b, at points 13, 14, 15, and 16. The
plates A, B, terminate at their lower parts with tongue pieces A', B', fitting in
the mortise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in the top of the sleeper;
these parts A', B', have each a mortise o, o, for receiving the projecting part
1, 10, 11, 12, of the top of the sleeper on which the part A¹ slides, or grooves
may be made laterally in the parts A, B, and the mortising in the top of the
sleeper be adapted thereto for the purpose of sliding the parts one on the
other, as seen in Figure 30. I make use of a bent-headed key C for fixing
the double rails, the head C¹ offering a support as well as fixing the chair
plate by bearing on its inclined surface, while at same time the stem of said
key acts on the straight part of B. An adjustable stop E of bent form fitting
into the part 8, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, of the mortise serves as a shoulder or abutting
surface for the key C, the stop may, however, be of other form than that
represented. In this arrangement the chair A alone supports the rail, while
the parts for fixing are all inserted in the one mortise in the sleeper.
Second and Third Arrangements.-Sheet 6 shows two arrangements of chair
plates in which the rail rests on both plates instead of on one only as above.
Figure 32 shows transverse sections, and Figures 88 and 84 side views of the
chair plates; Figures 85, 86, and 87, also showing sections and side views of
the same of modified form; Figure 38 shows in plan the mode of mortising

page_text: the top of the sleeper suited to both kinds of plates; the plates A, B, are
formed with two parts a, b, serving to support the rail and give it the desired
inclination; these plates are provided, as before, with projections A', B¹,
entering mortises E, F, in the top of the sleeper; Figures 34 and 35 show these
hooked projections with an inclined surface 1, 2, to facilitate their adjustment
to the top of the sleeper, and this improvement may be applied to any of the
forms of plates herein described; Figures 35, 36, and 37, show a modified
arrangement of Figures 32, 33, and 84, in which the main portion of the
chair plate is made wider than the cramps or claws A', B'. It is well
understood that these parts may either be provided with slots or have straight
ends with slots.
Fourth Arrangement.-Sheet 7 shows another form of chair plate in which
the hooked projecting slotted part is dispensed with, it being fixed to the
top of the sleeper by the one part of the chair support which is entered
through mortises made in the sole plate and in the top of the sleeper.
Figure 39 shows a vertical elevation of this arrangement on the line 1, 2,
Figure 40, which is a plan of the sleeper and mortice in the top of the same;
Figure 41 is a side view of the chair plate, and Figure 42 a similar view of
the opposite side showing the cramp for fixing the rail; Figure 43 is a front
view of a bent-headed key already described. A chair plate rolled of the form
represented in section at Figure 39 also serving as a support for the rail, the
under flat part c, d, rests on the top of the sleeper, while its upper surface
a, b, is inclined to receive the rail mortises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Figure 40,
are made in the chair plate and top of the sleeper, through which is inserted
the plate B, Figures 39 and 42, serving to hold the rail in position, as also
the key C, Figures 39 and 43; the bottom part of the plate B has lateral
spaces 9, 10, 11, 12, made therein so as to embrace at once both the sole
plate A and the head of the sleeper and fix the whole together.
Fifth Arrangement.-Chair plates for fixing double rails may also be made
in two parts, as before described with reference to the single rails, and
Sheet 8 of the Drawings shows one of such arrangement of chair plate formed
in two parts, Figure 44 being a sectional elevation of same on line 1, 2, of
plan Figure 45. As will be seen by a simple inspection of the Figures the
chair is formed in two parts or jaws D, E, placed on opposite sides of the rai!
in close contiguity so as to overlap each other, both being fitted into the top s
of the sleeper so as to be readily removable at any time; the one part D
abuts against the mortise and is so fixed, the other E is slid up in contact
with the rail, where it is firmly fixed by the key or cotter G; a small gib H
is also shown for fixing the cotter. By this arrangement as much strength is

page_text: obtained as if the parts were made of the full width of the head of the
sleeper, at same time economizing one-half of the material in the vertical part
of the plate bearing against the middle of the rail.
Sixth Arrangement.-The fixing of double-headed rails may also be effected
by the aid of an adjustable chair plate for attachment to the top of the sleeper
such as represented in Sheet 9 of the Drawings. Figure 46 shows a sec-
tional elevation of this arrangement on the line 1, 2, of plan, Figure 47 ;
Figures 48 and 49 show face views of two plates suitable for application in
this mode of fixing the rails; Figure 50 shows a side and front view of a key
for fixing the parts together; Figure 51, similar views of an adjustable gib or
stop piece to be used in combination with the key above mentioned;
Figure 52 shows a partial plan of the top of the sleeper with mortise;
Figure 58 shows a modified form of mortise in the top of the sleeper for
receiving the chair plate Figure 49. The principle of this mode of attach-
ment in every case consists in the employment of two chair plates, the one A
placed on the outside of the rail is lodged under the top of the sleeper by the
aid of a tooth or projection a received in a mortise therein, while the other B
is adjusted in position on the sleeper by the aid of a gib and cotter. The pro-
jection a is made the full width of the chair plate A, and has two lateral
spaces 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, the part 4, 4, of said projection being made
narrower than the part 5, 12, of the mortise 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
Figure 52, and must consequently be introduced sideways therein and then
turned round and slid up to position; in this manner it can only be removed
by hand. Instead of the projection a the chair plate A may terminate in a
straight part b shown in Figure 49 and in red lines in Figure 46, which may
be introduced in its proper position into the mortise M, Figure 58, having the
same dimensions as said part b. The plate B is simply provided with a foot
piece B' which is adjusted in position on the top of the sleeper, it contains a
mortise o for receiving a stop p, Figure 51, which is also mortised, and is
inserted through the top of the sleeper for the purpose of fixing the plate B
thereto. The cotter R bears on the one hand against the inclined parts o, o¹,
of the gib, the other part bears against the parts c, c³, of the plate B, obtaining
in this manner a perfect fixture of the rail; the gib P is introduced into the
mortise 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, in the same manner as the projection a;
when the plate A terminates in a part a, said part together with the key and
cotter are all inserted in the same mortise 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Figure 52;
on the contrary, if the plate A be provided with the projection 6, the latter is
inserted in a mortise M, while the key and cotter are received in a separate
mortise N, as represented in Figure 58; the key and cotter may also be

page_text: bevilled off at the lower end so as to present less resistance in driving them
into position in the ballast.
It will be readily understood that the various arrangements of rail and
chair plates herein described may be combined in any other ways, if desired,
for effecting similar objects.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of perform-
ing the same, I declare that what I claim as the improvements in the means of
fixing rails to metallic sleepers to be protected by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the various modes of fixing the sole or chair plates and parts for
securing double or single rails to the metal sleepers, and also to give them
the desired inclination, all as herein described and represented in the Drawings
hereunto annexed.
Secondly, I claim the mode of fixing rails on one side only without wood
wedges, by the aid of a vertical key.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of fixing sole or chair plates formed in two parts
by means of cramps or grooves to the top of the sleeper, so as to give at once
the desired inclination to the rail and fix it in position.
Fourthly, I claim obtaining increased bearing surface for the key or cotter
by the application of an adjustable stop piece as described.
Fifthly, I claim placing the sole or chair plates so as to lap each other,
which gives the same amount of bearing surface to the rail while reducing the
weight of the parts.
Sixthly, I claim the form of key for fixing double rails, the head
of which serves to secure the chair plate in position, all as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
A. M. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)