IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS AND METHOD OF LAYING
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Aldred, of Maryon Road, Charlton, in the County
of Kent, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS AND
METHOD OF LAYING."
Sealed the 5th April 1878, and dated the 31st December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Aldred at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st December 1877.
SAMUEL ALDRED, of Maryon Road, Charlton, in the County of Kent, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS AND METHOD OF LAYING."
My Invention has for its object an improved form of double rail, and an improved
method of breaking joint in such rails, and of fixing the same in chairs, whereby the
rail may be used twice by the reversing of the rail, which cannot be injured by the
traffic on its under face from the peculiarity of its construction. The method of
fixing in chairs also does away with the use of fish plates and bolts, and therefore
the rails require no puuching.
My improved rail is formed of two similar sections with a broad head at one edge,
and a narrow head at the other, and united by a web with one side, considerably
inclined from the perpendicular axis of the half rail. The broad head of the one
half rail is used for the tread. The other half of the rail is reversed with the
narrow head uppermost, which thus acts as a guard for the tread of the former half.
The two inclined faces of the rails come together, metal to metal, and when the
pressure of the traffic is brought upon the tread of the one half rail, the pressure
is communicated through the inclined faces to the other half rails, which thus aids
in supporting the rolling load.
From the peculiar action of the two inclined faces upon one another, the pressure
of the traffic resolves into horizontal strains, thrusting the two half rails apart.
This horizontal pressure is resisted by the cast-iron chairs and keys used with them,
and its effect is thus to jam the two half rails more securely into the chairs. The
effect of the two half rails being thus jammed in the chairs is that there can be no
possibility of jar or rattle, and the pressure is taken off the downward face on the
side faces, and thus the wear of the reversed half rail is saved from taking effect
on the tread of that rail.

page_text: The joints of the half rails should never occur at the same place, but always in
one of the chairs, and only for one half in one place. The rail is thus equally strong
throughout, and there is no springing at the joints. The rails are fixed into the
chairs by side wedges to be first dropped into the chairs, and the whole rail and
wedges are secured by another horizontal wedge of wood or iron, fitting into the
hollow chest of the rail on one side, and a hollow gap in the cast-iron chair on the
other. An iron key would be preferable where a joint in the rail to be made.
These chairs may rest upon longitudinal or cross sleepers, secured thereto by the
ordinary spikes, or they may be cast as part of light cast-steel plate sleepers, or be
fitted to concrete blocks or sleepers of any description.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Aldred in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th June
1878.
SAMUEL ALDRED, of Maryon Road, Charlton, in the County of Kent, Engineer.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS AND METHOD OF LAYING."
My Invention has for its object an improved form of double rail, and an improved
method of breaking joint in such rails, and of fixing the same in chairs, whereby the
rail may be used twice by the reversing of the rail, which cannot be injured by the
traffic on its under face from the peculiarity of its construction. The method of
fixing in chairs also does away with the use of fish plates and bolts, and therefore
the rails require no punching.
My improved rail is formed of two similar sections with a broad head at one
edge, and a narrow head at the other, and united by a web with one side con-
siderably inclined from the perpendicular axis of the half rail. The broad head
of the one half rail is used for the trend. The other half of the rail is reversed
with the narrow head uppermost, which thus acts as a guard for the trend of the
former half.
The two inclined faces of the rails come together, metal to metal, and when the
pressure of the traffic is brought upon the tread of the one half rail, the pressure is
communicated through the inclined faces to the other half rail, which thus aids in
supporting the rolling load.
From the peculiar action of the two inclined faces upon one another, the pressure
of the traffic resolves into horizontal strains, thrusting the two half rails apart.
This horizontal pressure is resisted by the cast-iron chairs and the wood or metal
keys used with them, and its effect is thus to jam the two half rails more securely
into the chairs. The effect of the two half rails being thus jammed in the chairs
is that there can by no possibility be jar or rattle, and the pressure is taken off the
downward face on to the side faces, and thus the wear of the reversed half rail is
saved from taking effect on the tread of that rail.
The joints of the half rails should never occur at the same place, but always in
one of the chairs, and only for one half in one place. The rail is thus equally strong
throughout, and there is no springing at the joints. The rails may be fixed into the
chairs by a horizontal wedge of wood or metal fitting into the hollow chest of the
rail on one side, and a hollow gap in the cast-iron chair on the other, or by a set

page_text: screw as herein-after described. These chairs may rest upon longitudinal or cross
sleepers, secured thereto by the ordinary spikes, or they may be cast as part of light
cast-steel plate sleepers, or be fitted to concrete blocks or sleepers of any description.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now
proceed more particularly to set forth the system and mode in which the same may
be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the annexed Drawing,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
Figure 1 shows a transverse sectional view of the double rail A, A, which is in
two duplicate parts, but reversed one to the other, the broad crown or head of the
one being uppermost, whilst the uppermost face of the other half is of thin section
serving as a flange guard to the other rail. These two duplicate parts meet together
on a face B inclined from the perpendicular axis. The two halves thus support each
other, and offer the same strength of resistance as that of a solid rail. Owing to
these faces being inclined from the perpendicular direction of the traffic pressure
upon the rail, there will be a horizontal thrust outward between the two duplicate
parts of the rail, which will serve to drive them home in the chairs C and E, and
keep them from rattling.
Figure 2 is a plan of the rail A, A, showing a joint made in the chair, and further
secured by means of a wooden or metal key D.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the rails A, A, the chair C, and the key D, D.
The chair may be of cast iron or steel or of any other suitable material, and is
made in such shape in the jaws that the rails can be easily dropped into their places
and withdrawn when desired after the key D has been withdrawn by the removal
of two stone blocks only at each chair. This chair is made low to suit a macadamized,
asphalte, or wood paved roadway.
Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of a high pedestal chair E suited for a deep
paved roadway. The same rails A, A, are used as in the other Figures, but the joint
is shown secured in place by a set screw F and nut, which is alternative in arrange-
ment to that of the key in Figures 1, 2, and 3, no removal of the roadway being required
if this set screw be used. The end of the set screw has a round head upon it, which
bears upon a loose plate lying upon the chest of the rail where the joint occurs, and
which is thus amply sufficient to secure the same and keep it from rattling.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner in which the same may be
practically carried out into effect, I wish it to be known that I claim,―
First. The use of a compound rail for tram or other roads split into two duplicate
parts, of which the bearing faces that come together are inclined at an angle with
the perpendicular axis of the traffic pressure on the rail.
Second. The making of the joint of this compound rail always in a chair, and
only for one half of the rail in any one chair. The joint to be secured without
bolts through the webbing, but by either a horizontal key or set screw, as described,
Third. The form of both the low and high pedestal chairs, as shown and described
herewith, and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Aldred, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord Ono
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
S. P. WILDING,
Secretary,
City Patent Office,
23, Rood Lane,
London, E.C.
SAMUEL ALDRED. (L.S.)