Improvements in Metallic Sleepers, Chairs, Rail-joints, and Appliances connected therewith.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 25th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 27th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Metallic Sleepers, Chairs, Rail-joints, and
Appliances connected therewith.
I, ROBERT HUNDLEBY, of 304 Barnsley Road, Sheffield, in the County of
York, Steel Works Manager, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC SLEEPERS, CHAIRS, RAIL-JOINTS AND APPLI-
ANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH to be as follows:-
Although my invention is applicable to various kinds of railways and tramways,
it is more particularly applicable to light roads, such as are employed in collieries
and elsewhere, where the roads have to partake of a more or less portable or semi-
portable character, so that a pair of rails with the necessary complement of sleepers
and fastenings may when necessary be put together before laying, and afterwards
taken up and removed without disconnecting the parts except at the longitudinal
joints and the object of my invention is to produce a metallic sleeper and rail chair
or clip or rail-joint chair or clip which will be simple and inexpensive in construc-
tion and effective in action.
I am aware that a great number of patents have been taken out for metallic
sleepers, chairs, clips and fastenings and I lay no claim to the particular form or
section of the metallic sleeper which I employ the essential feature of invention
being rather in the mode of attaching the chair or clip or rail fastening to the
sleeper than in the individual form of the sleeper, chair, clip or fastening.
I attain these objects in the following manner:
my
The metallic sleepers I employ may be either cast, forged, stamped, rolled or
otherwise made of any convenient section and cut to the required lengths. At
or near each end of the said sleeper I form two longitudinal slots, four in all,
uniform in size and parallel to each other, the slots thus formed may be punched at
one, two or more operations in the manner similar to that employed in punching
ordinary rails. A line drawn longitudinally between each pair of slots thus formed
on the sleeper would represent the centre lines of the rails and the distance between
each pair of slots would be the same or approximately the same as the width of the
bottom flange of the rail and the width of each slot would be sufficient to admit of
the metal forming the clip to be passed through on each side of the rail.
The clips may be constructed in a similar manner to that described for the
sleeper but by preference I should roll them of uniform section, which would be the
same as that for the slots, and cut off to the necessary length, when so cut each
piece forming the clip would be first bent stamped or otherwise shaped so as to
have two sides of equal length to a base of a width to correspond on its inner side
to the width of the bottom flange of the rail so that each side of the clip can be
passed, from the underside of the sleeper, through the slot at either side of the
space occupied by the flange of the rail, having been so passed a piece of the rail to
be employed or a mandrel of the same section as the rail is placed in position
between the two vertical sides of the clip and both sides of the clip are then closed
in upon the mandrel or rail so as to assimilate the form of the bottom flange and
web of the rail. This closing operation may be performed either by hand or with
suitable tools under a steam hammer, press or stamp or they may be closed by the
aid of rolls or other suitable mechanical appliance or appliances.
The strips of which the clips are thus formed being first heated so that they
may be more readily pressed into and retain the necessary form. Having been so
pressed and formed the rail or mandrel may be withdrawn and when each sleeper
has thus been fitted with a pair of clips pressed to shape they will be ready for use
with the rails of the section to which they have been adapted:

page_text: When required for use, two lengths of rails may be threaded through the clips
which will always insure the rails being to gange.
The pairs of rails with the sleepers and clips thus fitted may then be laid as
required.
The joints of the rails may be secured by means of similar clips and sleepers
made somewhat wider than those employed for the intermediate bearings.
Dated this 22nd day of April 1891.
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Sleepers, Chairs, Rail-joints, and
Appliances connected therewith.
I, ROBERT HUNDLEBY, of 304 Barnsley Road, Sheffield, in the County of
York, Steel Works Manager, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC SLEEPERS, CHAIRS, RAIL JOINTS AND APPLI-
ANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
"
Although my invention is applicable to various kinds of railways and tramways,
it is more particularly applicable to light roads, such as are employed in collieries
and elsewhere, where the roads have to partake of a more or less portable or semi-
portable character, so that a pair of rails with the necessary complement of sleepers
and fastenings may when necessary be put together before laying, and afterwards
taken up and removed without disconnecting the parts except at the longitudinal
joints and the object of my invention is to produce a metallic sleeper and rail
chair or clip or rail-joint chair or clip which will be simple and inexpensive in
construction and effective in action.
I am aware that a great number of patents have been taken out for metallic
sleepers, chairs, clips and fastenings and I lay no claim to the particular form or
section of the metallic sleeper which I employ, the essential feature of my invention
being rather in the mode of attaching the chair or clip or rail fastening to the
sleeper than in the individual form of the sleeper, chair, clip or fastening.
I attain these objects in the following manner :-
The metallic sleepers I employ may be either cast, forged, stamped, rolled or
otherwise made of any convenient section and cut to the required lengths.
At or near each end of the said sleeper I form two slots, four in all, uniform in
size and parallel to each other, the slots thus formed may be punched at one, two or
more operations in the manner similar to that employed in punching ordinary rails
or metallic sleepers.
A line drawn longitudinally between each pair of slots thus formed on the sleeper
would represent the centre lines of the rails and the distance between each pair of
slots would be the same or approximately the same as the width of the bottom
flange of the rail and the width of each slot, would be sufficient to admit of the
metal forming the clip to be passed through on each side of the rail.
The clips may be constructed in a similar manner to that described for the
sleeper but by preference 1 should roll them of uniform section, which would be the
same as that for the slots, and cut off to the necessary length, when so cut each
piece forming the clip would be first bent, stamped or otherwise shaped so as to
have two sides of equal length to a base of a width to correspond on its inner
side to the width of the bottom flange of the rail so that each side of the clip can be
passed, from the underside of the sleeper, through the slot at either side of the
space occupied by the flange of the rail, having been so passed a piece of the rail to
be employed or a mandrel of the same section as the rail is placed in position
between the two vertical sides of the clip and both sides of the clip are then closed

page_text: in upon the mandrel or rail so as to assimilate the form of the bottom flange and
web of the rail.. This closing operation may be performed either by hand or with
suitable tools under a steam hammer, press or stamp or they may be closed by the
aid of rolls or other suitable mechanical appliance or appliances.
The strips of which the clips are thus formed being first heated so that they may
be more readily pressed into and retain the necessary form. Having been so
pressed and forined the rail or mandrel may be withdrawn and when each sleeper
has thus been fitted with a pair of clips pressed to shape they will be ready for use
with the rails of the section to which they have been adapted.
When required for use, two lengths of rails may be threaded through the clips
which will always insure the rails being to gauge.
The pairs of rails with the sleepers and clips thus fitted may then be laid as
required.
The joints of the rails may be secured by means of similar clips and sleepers
made somewhat wider than those employed for the intermediate bearings.
As a modification of the foregoing arrangement in cases where it may be
necessary or convenient to place a rail at once into its place on the sleeper without
having to thread it through the clips, I construct each clip in two separate parts,
the first part being made of similar section and being passed into position on the
sleeper in the same manner as herein previously described only that this part of the
clip has one side only long, the other side being left short. The long side being
exactly same as the other clip herein previously described and the short side being
made only just long enough to come through the slot in the sleeper and project
about the thickness of the bottom flange of the rail above it, by having one side of
the clip short the rail can be placed into position with one side against the long part
of the clip and the flange on the opposite side just inside the short projecting side
of the clip. The second part of the clip which has been previously bent or other-
wise made into the required shape to fit the side of the rail and also clip the
projecting short end of the first part of the clip previously described, is secured to
the first part by a bolt or bolts passing through the web of the rail. In some cases
the first part of this modified form of clip may be additionally secured to the sleeper
by means of a rivet, bolt or other equivalent fastening.
The nature of my invention will be better understood on reference to the
accompanying drawings in which Sheet 1. illustrates my invention as first described
and Sheet 2. the modified form thereof.
Fig. 1. Sheet 1. is a plan looking on the top of the sleeper.
Fig. 2. being a cross section of the same.
Fig. 3. is a longitudinal section shewing one clip as entered from the under side
of the sleeper ready for bending or closing on the mandrel or rail and the other clip
as it appears after having been so bent and closed.
Fig. 4. is a side elevation of a sleeper shewing both clips in position ready to
receive the rails.
Fig. 5. is a perspective view shewing two sleepers with the clips and rails in
position.
Fig. 6. Sheet 2. is a plan looking on the top of a sleeper punched for the
modified form of clips.
Fig. 7. being a cross section of the same.
Fig. 8. is a longitudinal section shewing the first part of my modified form of clip
as entered from the under side of the sleeper ready for bending or closing on the
mandrel or rail and the first part of the other clip as it appears in position after
having been so bent, closed and secured.
Fig. 9. is also a longitudinal section of a sleeper shewing both the first and second
parts of my modified form of clips as they appear with the rails secured in position.
Fig. 10. is a side elevation of the second part of my modified clip.
Fig. 11. being an end view of the same.
Fig. 12. is a perspective view shewing two sleepers with the modified form of
clips and rails.

page_text: The same letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
a. is the metallic sleeper.
b. b. are the slots in the same.
c. is the rail clip or chair herein first described.
d. is the first part of the modified form of clip.
e. being the second part of the same.
f. is the fastening by which the clips are in some cases further secured to the
sleepers.
9. g. are the rails.
h. is the fastening by which the modified form of clips are secured to the rails.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is,
1. In railways and tramways applicable to light roads attaching the chair, clip
or rail fastening to the metallic sleeper in the manner and for the purposes
substantially as herein described and illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5. on the accom-
panying first sheet of drawings.
2. In railways and tramways applicable to light roads securing the rails to the
sleepers by means of the chairs or clips previously attached to the metallic sleepers
in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein described and illustrated
in Figs. 1 to 5. on the accompanying first sheet of drawings.
3. In railways and tramways applicable to light roads attaching the first part of
my modified form of chair, clip or rail fastening to the metallic sleeper and of
securing the rails to the same by means of the second part of my modified form
of chair, clip or rail fastening in conjunction with bolts, rivets or other equivalents
in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein described and illustrated
in Figs. 6 to 12. on the accompanying second sheet of drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1892.
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.