IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY RAILS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Price Williams, of 9, Great George Street, in the
City of Westminster, and George Wilson, of the Cyclops Steel Works, Sheffield,
in the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY
RAILS."
Scaled the 28th July 1876, and dated the 16th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Prico Williams and
George Wilson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th May
1876.
RICHARD PRICE WILLIAMS, of 9, Great George Street, in the City of Westminster,
and GEORGE WILSON, of the Cyclops Steel Works, Sheffield, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY RAILS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in railway rails.
In the manufacture of railway rails in order to obtain toughness and great dura-
bility we employ a metal containing sonic, but only a small percentage, of carbon,
say about or less than one-third per cent, and which contains but littlo silicon,
phosphorus, or sulphur. Having rolled the rails from such metal and sawn them to
length, whilst they are still at a red heat we cause them to be plunged into a tank
of water or other liquid and thus suddenly cooled.
It might have been expected that rails thus treated would be brittle, but on the
contrary they are tougher, more durable, and will stand punching much better than
rails of the same material allowed to cool in the ordinary way.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Price Williams and George Wilson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th November 1876.
RICHARD PRICE WILLIAMS, of 9, Great George Street, in the City of Westminster,
and GEORGE WILSON, of the Cyclops Steel Works, Sheffield, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY RAILS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in railway rails.
In the manufacture of railway rails in order to obtain toughness and great dura-
bility we employ a metal containing some, but only a small percentage, of carbon,
[Price 4d.]

page_text: say about or less than one-third per cent., and which contains but little silicon,
phosphorus, or sulphur. Having rolled the mils from such metal and sawn them
to length, whilst they are still at a red heat we cause them to be plunged into a
tank of water or other liquid and thus suddenly cooled.
It might have been expected that rails thus treated would be brittle, but on the
contrary they are tougher, more durable, and will stand punching much better than
rails of the same material allowed to cool in the ordinary way.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention we will proceed to describe
more fully the manner of performing the same.
The Drawing annexed shows a diagram view of the arrangements we employ for
carrying out our Invention.
The metal from which the rails are to be rolled we obtain by preference by the
Bessemer process now in common use, the metal, which is a mild steel, is cast into
ingots and is rolled out into rails in the ordinary manner.
The rail mill for rolling the rails is shown at A, the rails as they are rolled are
taken to the saws, shown at B, and are by them cut to the required length as is
usual and are laid on a bed or grid C of parallel bars. The rails are by the work-
man moved along this grid, and whilst still at a red heat are plunged into a wator
tank D, through which a continuous stream of water is kept running. When tho
rails have been cooled they are lifted out of the tank and laid on to a grid E, from
which they are subsequently removed to have the requisite bolt holes punched
through them.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, we would have it understood that we claim, the manufacture of railway
rails from metal of the nature herein set forth rolled to form and toughened sub-
stantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Price Williams, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.