IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1885

page_text: I FRANCIS SERVICE of Ebbw Vale in the County of Monmouth, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the permanent way of railways, and
consists in improvements in the sleepers and in the means for joining the rails.
The first part of my invention consists in an iron or steel sleeper of the form of
a double angle, the said sleeper having on one edge an upward flange, which
secures and grips the rail and on its other edge a downward flange which is
embedded in the ballast. Each of my improved sleepers is a combination of one
long and two short sleepers, all of the above described form, in cross section. The
upper flange of the long sleeper is punched or formed with two recesses for
receiving the rails at the desired gauge, the outerside of each of the said recesses
gripping the outerside of the flange and web of each rail. The upper flanges of the
two short portions of the sleeper are punched or formed with recesses in a similar
manner, the inner sides of the recesses in the said short portions of the sleeper
gripping the inner side of the flange and web of each rail. Four slots are formed
in the upper flange of each long sleeper and two slots in the upper flange of each
short sleeper to admit gibs and slit cotters by which the three portions of the
sleeper are secured together with their upper flanges butting against each other,
the two short portions being secured at the ends of the long sleeper under the
bearing of the rails. The underside of each of the three portions of the sleeper
has a longitudinal thickened portion or rib and from this portion is punched or
pressed a solid clip raised above the upper surface of the sleeper, one of the said
clips being formed on each end of the long sleeper so as to clip the outer side of
each rail, and one on each short sleeper to clip the inner side of each rail thus
giving four solid clips to each sleeper. When the short sleepers are cottered up
tightly to the long sleeper the rail is clipped by the said clips and also firmly
gripped by the sides of the recesses formed in the flanges of the sleeper as
hereinbefore explained.
The second part of my invention relates to the method of forming the joints of
the rails. The ends of the rails to be joined are brought together, allowing the
usual space for expansion. The ends of both rails to be joined are secured by one
long and two short sleepers keyed or cottered up as previously described, the said
TD 071

page_text: sleepers being so arranged that the short sleeper of one rail meets the short sleeper
of the rail with which the joint is to be effected immediately under the centre of
the joint, the lower flange of one short Sleeper being in contact with the lower
flange of the short sleeper of the opposite rail. I form the joint by means of a tie sole
piece of U form with a horizontal flange from each of its upper ends. The bottom
flanges of the two short sleepers in contact with each other are grasped by the U
of the sole-piece. An oval hole is formed in each of the flanges of the said sole-
piece to admit two bolts which pass upward through holes in the sleepers and
through two oval holes formed one in each of the rails to be joined on the outer
sides of the flanges of the said rails. A bevelled two-hole washer is then put on
the bolts covering the rail flange at the joint and forming an even bearing for the
locking nuts when screwed down. These two bolts at each joint on the outer
flange of the rail with the two solid raised clips on the inner side of the rail flange
form a complete joint without fish plates and bolts and nuts thereto for the web,
and at the joints a sleeper bearing is afforded of about twenty seven inches more
or less as required for heavier or lighter section rails.
The sleepers for double-head and bull-head rails would be made of a heavier
section, with top flanges deeper and thicker to support the web of those rails of
deep section therefore giving a greater proportion of stability as required. The
intermediate sleeper would be finished as previously described for T head rails but
at the joints of double and bull-head rails I use two short angle or bracket fish-
plates secured with two bolts through web and two bolts securing the bracket
flange to the sleeper and tie sole-piece as previously described for the T head rails;
thus reducing the weight of fish-plates and bolts and nuts to half that generally
required for joints with wood sleepers, with a sleeper bearing of about twenty
seven inches, more or less underneath rail joint.
T. W. PALMER & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the rermanent-way of кaшways.
I, FRANCIS SERVICE of Ebbw Valve in the County of Monmouth, Engineer-
do bereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PERMANENT-WAY OF RAILWAYS," and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of
this specification :-
My invention relates to improvements in the permanent-way of railways, and
consists in improvements in the sleepers and in the means for joining the rails.
The first part of my invention consists in an iron or steel sleeper of the form of
a double angle the said sleeper having on one edge an upward flange, which secures
and grips the rail, and on its other edge a downward flange which is embedded in
the ballast. Each of my improved sleepers is a combination of one long and two
short sleepers, all of the above described form in cross section. The upper flange of
the long sleeper is punched or formed with two slots for receiving the rails at the
desired gauge, the outerside of each of the said slots gripping the outerside of the
flange and web of each rail. The upper flanges of the two short portions of
the sleeper are punched or formed with slots in a similar manner, the inner sides.
of the slots in the said short portions of the sleeper gripping the inner side of the
flange and web of each rail. Four slots are formed in the upper flange of each
long sleeper and two slots in the upper flange of each short sleeper, to admit gibs
and slit cotters by which the three portions of the sleeper are secured together
with their upper flanges butting against each other, the two short portions being.
secured at the ends of the long sleeper under the bearing of the rails. The under-
side of each of the three portions of the sleeper has a longitudinal thickened portion
or rib and from this portion is punched or pressed a solid clip raised above the
upper surface of the sleeper, one of the said clips being formed on each end of the
long sleeper so as to clip the outer side of each rail, and one on each short sleeper.
to clip the inner side of the rail, thus giving four solid clips to each sleeper. When
the short sleepers are cottered up tightly to the long sleeper the rail is clipped by
the said clips and also firmly embraced or gripped by the sides of the slots formed
in the flanges of the sleeper as hereinbefore explained.
The second part of my invention relates to the method of forming the joints of
the rails. The ends of the rails to be joined are brought together allowing the
usual space for expansion. The ends of both rails to be joined are secured by one
long and two short sleepers keyed or cottered up as previously described, the said
sleepers being so arranged that the short sleeper of one rail meets the short sleeper
of the rail with which the joint is to be effected immediately under the centre of
the joint, the lower flange of one short sleeper being in contact with the lower
flange of the short sleeper of the opposite rail. I form the joint by means of a tie
sole-piece of U form with a horizontal flange from each of its upper ends. The.
bottom flanges of the two short sleepers in contact with each other are grasped by
the U of the sole-piece. An oval hole is formed in each of the flanges of the said
sole-piece to admit two bolts which pass upward through holes in the sleepers and
through two oval holes formed one in each of the rails to be joined, on the outer

page_text: sides of the flanges of the said rails. A bevelled two-hole washer is then put on
the bolts covering the rail flange at the joint and forming an even bearing for the
locking nuts when screwed down. These two bolts at each joint on the outer
flange of the rail with the two solid raised clips on the inner side of the rail flange
form a complete joint without fish-plates and bolts and nuts thereto for the web,
and at the joints a sleeper bearing is afforded of about twenty seven inches more
or less as required for heavier or lighter section rails.
The sleepers for double-head and bull-head rails would be made of a heavier
section with top flanges deeper and thicker to support the web of those rails of
deep section therefore giving a greater proportion of stability as required. The
intermediate sleeper would be finished as previously described for T-head rails but
at the joints of double and bull-head rails I use two short angle or bracket fish-
plates secured with two bolts through web, and two bolts securing the bracket
flange to the sleeper and tie sole-piece as previously described for the T-head rails;
thus reducing the weight of fish-plates and bolts and nuts to half that generally
required for joints with wood sleepers, with a sleeper bearing of about twenty
seven inches, more or less, underneath rail joint.
Figures I and IA are plans showing my improved sleepers and joint.
Figure 2 is an elevation of a portion of one of my improved sleepers supporting
a T-head rail.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of one of the parts of my improved sleepers.
Figures 4 and 4A show the recesses in the flanges of the sleepers, for securing
the rails.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the joint for T-head rails.
Figure 6 is an end elevation of the same.
Figura 7 is an elevation showing the application of my improved sleepers to a
bull-head rail.
Figures 8 and 9 are an end elevation and side elevation of my improved joint
for bull-head rails.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawing.
My improved iron or steel sleeper consists of three parts; namely, a long
sleeper A extending the necessary width of the track and two short sleepers B, B
secured to the long sleeper A near its ends, parallel therewith, and under the
bearing of the rails as shown in figure 1. Each of the said portions A and B is of
the form of a double angle, in cross section, as shown in figure 3, the plate a which
forms the bearing of the rail having on one edge an upward flange a¹ which holds
the rail, and the other edge of the sleeper having a downward flange a² which is
embedded in the ballast. After being rolled the said sleepers are sweeped under
presses to give the required cant for the rails. The upward flange a¹ on each long
sleeper A is punched or formed with two slots C, figure 4, (each forming half
section of lower part of rail) at the required distance apart according to the gauge.
These slots C receive the rails D the outer edge C₁ of each of the said slots being
so formed as to fit against the outerside of the web and grip the flange of the
rail D as shown in figure 2. The upward flanges a¹ of the short sleepers B are
each punched or formed with a slot C³ (figure 4) the inner edge C³ of the said slot
being shaped to fit against and grip the inner side of the web and flange of the
rail.
The said slots C, C extend from the upper edge of the flanges a¹ to the level
of the plates a so that when the rail is embraced in the said slots it has its bearing
on the plates a. Four slots E are formed in the upper flange a¹ of each long
sleeper A and two corresponding slots in the upper flange of each short sleeper.
In the said slots E are inserted gibs F and split cotters G by which the three
portions of the sleeper are secured together, thus forming a compound sleeper,
their upper flanges a butting against each other as shown in figures 1 and 1A.
The underside of each of the three portions A, B B, of the sleeper has a longitudinal

page_text: thickened portion or rib H and from this thickened portion or rib is punched or
pressed a solid clip I raised above the upper surface of the sleeper as clearly
shown in figures 2 and 6. One of the said clips is formed on each end of the long
sleeper A so as to clip the flange on the outerside of each rail, and one of the said
clips is formed on each short sleeper to clip the flange on the inner side of each
rail, there being thus four solid clips I to each sleeper. When the portious A, BB,
of the sleeper are cottered up tightly together the rail is clipped by the clips I and
also firmly gripped or embraced in the slots C C the said slots holding the rail as
in a chair without the aid of wood or metal keys.
The joint for T-head rails is formed as shown in Figures 1A, 5 and 6. The rails
to be joined are secured at their ends to a sleeper consisting of one long sleeper A
and two short sleepers B, B, keyed or cottered up as herein before described, the
short sleepers B B being arranged at the ends of the rails so that when the ends of
the rails are brought together (allowing space for expansion) the short sleepers BB,
of one pair of rails meet the short sleepers B B of the rails with which the joint is
to be effected, immediately under the centre of the joint (as in figure 1A) the lower
flanges a' of the short sleepers BB being in contact as shown in Figure 5. These
flanges a fit into and are embraced by a U-shaped sole-piece J the said sole-piece
having horizontal flanges J¹ projecting outwardly from each of its upper ends as
shown, and fitting against the underside of the short sleepers B B. An oval hole
is formed in each of the said flanges J¹ and through the said holes are passed two
bolts K which pass through holes in the sleepers B B and through two oval holes
formed one in each of the rails D D to be joined, in the outer sides of the flanges
of the said rails; the flanges on the inner sides of the said rails being held by the
clips I. A two-hole washer L is then put on the bolts K covering the flange of
the rail at the joint. The said washer is bevelled on its underside so that when
lying on the flange of the rail the upper surface of the said washer forms an even
bearing for the lock nuts M when screwed down. The two bolts K at each joint
on the outer flange of the rail with the two raised clips I on the inner side form a
complete joint without fish-plates and bolts and nuts for the web of the rail.
The clips I on my improved sleepers may be dispensed with. In forming the
joint the inner flanges of the rails are then secured by bolts K in the same manner
as the outer flanges of the said rails there being thus four bolts K at each joint.
For double-head or bull-head rails I make the sleepers heavier and the top
flanges a¹ thereof deeper and thicker (as shown in figures 7, 8 and 9) to support
the web of those rails of deep section. The intermediate sleeper for these rails is
finished as for T-head rails, the slots C C being punched to section of bull or
double-head rails. In forming the joints for double-head or bull-head rails, the
sleepers are arranged as in the joints of T-head rails but the clips I at the joint are
dispensed with and I use two, short, angle or bracket fish-plates N secured by a
bolt O and nut O¹ to the end of each rail, through its web, each of the said fish-
plates being secured to the sleepers B B and flanges J1 of the sole-piece J by bolts
and nuts K M as in the T-head joint. It will thus be seen that by the use of my
combined sleeper at the joints, the fish-plates are required to be only half the usual
length, with one bolt only through the web of each rail at each end, thus saving
half the punching or drilling in the web of the rail and reducing the risk of
fracture.
The form of my improved sleeper gives simplicity of section for rolling; the
lower flange being embedded in the ballast prevents "creeping" and the rolled
material can be utilized to the fullest extent, as pieces too short to form a long
sleeper A can be cut into one or more short sleepers B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
First. A metal sleeper, composed of a long sleeper A with flanges a¹ a³ and
slots C, in combination with two short sleepers B B each having flanges a¹ aª and

page_text: a slot C, the said sleepers A and B B being secured together and the rails
supported in the slots C C³ substantially as herein set forth.
Second. A joint for T-head rails composed of two of my compound sleepers
arranged as herein described and united by sole-piece J, the said sole-piece and
short sleepers B B being bolted to the flanges of the rails, substantially as herein
set forth and illustrated in figures 1A, 5 and 6.
Third. A joint for bull-head or double-head rails composed of two of my
compound sleepers arranged as herein described and united by sole-piece J in
combination with the bracket fish-plates N N bolted to the short sleepers B B and
sole-piece J and to the webs of the rails, substantially as set forth and illustrated
in figures 8 and 9.