IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAM- WAYS.
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Girdwood Hardie, of Leeds, in the County of
York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAM-
WAYS.
"
Sealed the 7th October 1879, and dated the 12th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Girdwood Hardie at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th April 1879.
THOMAS GIRDWOOD HARDIE, of Leeds, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS."
First. According to my improvements I construct the rails and chairs in one piece
and in long lengths, by preference of wrought iron or steel. By this arrangement
I dispense with the fixing of rails to chairs, and avoid all movement or rolling of
the rail in the chairs usual in other modes of construction, causing an unsteady
motion to the cars, and slackening or undoing of the fastenings or rails.
ordinary mode of using spikes or dog staples as fastenings is most insecure, requiring
constant attention and repairs. My arrangement dispenses entirely with this
inconvenience.
The
Second. My improvements refer to and consist in having the rail separate, at
the same time I still use continuous chairs, securing them together transversely by
horizontal keys.
In each case that part of the chair which forms the base is made sufficiently
wide to resist pressure. By this arrangement they may be laid upon the ground as
it is excavated, requiring no concrete except for packing unless the ground is soft.
The continuous chair is rolled hollow, having two vertical sides for supporting the
rail. Within this hollow part the fish joint is made by means of a plate of suitable
shape, which is secured in its position and a firm joint made by the application of
cotters.
Third. Further, I make the groove in the rail vertical on the outside, and bevelled
on the inside, in order to reduce the friction that usually takes place between the

page_text: flange of the wheel and the rail. The interior of the hollow chair may be filled
with non-sonorous material for reducing the noise of the cars when running.
Fourth. My improvements further refer to and consist in the fixing of the points
and crossings to the rails, whereby they are retained in position more firmly, rendering
them less liable to become displaced.
This is effected by coupling and securing them to the rails by means of fishing
provided on the crossing; in the ordinary way the rails are only made to butt the
points or crossings without being fixed.
Tie rods may be employed for keeping the rails at the proper gauge, and paving
is effected in the ordinary manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Girdwood Hardie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th October 1879.
THOMAS GIRDWOOD HARDIE, of Leeds, in the County of York.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS."
"
'IMPROVEMENTS
First. According to my improvements I construct the rails and chairs in one
piece and in long lengths, by preference of wrought iron or steel. By this arrange-
ment I dispense with the fixing of rails to chairs, and avoid all movement or rolling
of the rail in the chair usual in other modes of construction, causing an unsteady
motion to the cars, and slackening or undoing of the fastenings or rails. The
ordinary mode of using spikes or dog staples as fastenings is most insecure, requiring
constant attention and repairs.
My arrangement dispenses entirely with this inconvenience.
Second. My improvements refer to and consist in having the rail separate, at the
same time I still use continuous chairs, securing them together transversely by
horizontal keys.
In each case that part of the chair which forms the base is made sufficiently wide
to resist pressure.
By this arrangement they may be laid upon the ground as it is excavated,
requiring no concrete, except for packing, unless the ground is soft. The continuous
chair is rolled hollow, having two vertical sides for supporting the rail. Within
this hollow part the fish joint is made by means of a plate of suitable shape,
which is secured in its position and a firm joint made by the application of
cotters.
Third. Further, I make the groove in the rail vertical on the outside and
bevelled on the inside, in order to reduce the friction that usually takes place
between the flanges of the wheel and the rail. The interior of the hollow chair
may be filled with non-sonorous material for reducing the noise of the cars when
running.
Fourth. My improvements further refer to and consist in the fixing of the points
and crossings to the rails, whereby they are retained in position more firmly, rendering
them less liable to become displaced. This is effected by coupling and securing them
to the rails by means of "fishing" provided on the crossing. In the ordinary way
the rails are only made to abut against the points or crossings without being
fixed.
Tie rods may be employed for keeping the rails at the proper gauge, and paving
is effected in the ordinary manner.
And in order that my Invention may be more completely understood, reference is
given to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and marks thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 are cross sections of rails and chairs; Fig. 5 shews improved
arrangement of fixing of points; Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a plan and per-
spective view of rails placed in position; Fig. 8 is a part longitudinal section of my
improved arrangement of fish plate.
In Fig. 1 is represented a rail and chair constructed all in one piece. a represents
the base, which is made sufficiently wide to resist pressure; b, b, are the vertical

page_text: In Fig. 2, a is the base of the chair; b, the vertical sides; and c, the top of a
continuous chair; d is the loose rail, which is secured to the chair by means of pins
or cotters j. The top of the chair c is made of any desired shape to suit the
construction of rail. The groove e is of a similar construction to that described for
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is of a similar construction to Fig. 2, but a slight modification is made in
the angle and construction of the vertical sides b.
The chairs shewn at Figs. 2 and 3, and the combination of chair and rail shewn
at Fig. 1, may be rolled out of steel or wrought iron, but when it is desired to
employ cast metal I make the chairs of the section shown at Fig. 4, but in every
other way the applications and arrangements are identical.
Fig. 5 shews the means of coupling and securing points to the rails. This is
effected by means of a fishing or fish plate k, which is either cast on the points and
slipped into the rails, and secured in the manner of the fish plate h, or, when
preferred, the fish plate h may be used instead.
In Figs. 6 and 7, 1, 1, are the rails; m, the paving; n is the non-sonorous sub-
stance for reducing the noise usually produced by cars when running.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and described by the
aid of Drawings how the same may be carried into practice, I would have it under-
stood that I do not limit myself to the precise details or configuration of the parts
I have described and shewn, as the same may be varied or modified without
departing from the nature of my said Invention, but what I do claim and desire to
be secured to me by Letters Patent is,―-
First. The construction of continuous metal chairs, having either the rail in one
therewith or constructed separate, and having the rail secured thereto by pins or
cotters, substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Second. The arrangement and construction of rail shewn at Figs. 2, 3, and 4,
substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Third. The arrangement, construction, and application of fish plate h, substan-
tially as shown and for purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Girdwood Hardie, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventynine.
T. G. HARDIE.
(LS.)