IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY CHAIRS AND IN APPARATUS FOR COUPLING THE RAILS AND THE RAILS AND CHAIRS TOGETHER
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Revell of Dukinfield in the County of Chester
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY
CHAIRS AND IN APPARATUS FOR COUPLING THE RAILS AND THE RAILS AND
CHAIRS TOGETHER
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Revell at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th July 1882.
JOSEPH REVELL of Dukinfield in the County of Chester
"E IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY CHAIRS AND IN APPARATUS FOR COUPLING THE
RAILS AND THE RAILS AND CHAIRS TOGETHER."
On that part of the chair which supports the ends of the central or web part of
the rail I cast or fix two metal studs which fit loosely into corresponding holes
cut in each of the rails which meet on the chair.
When the rails are placed in the chair above described they are firmly held in
position by means of a wedging key made either of hard wood or metal, the said
wedging key being provided with a metal locking bar fitted therein.
After the
wedging key is driven into its place between the chair and the rail, the locking bar
is bent back against the side of the chair and thus prevents the wedging key from
slipping out of place.
The above described arrangement of wedging key and locking bar is also
applicable to any rails or chairs which require to be held in position by wedges or
keys.
A modification of the invention consists in placing the ends of the rails in a
chair and coupling them together by means of a coupling plate of metal provided
with two or more bolts or studs which fit loosely through corresponding holes in
the rails and chairs.
When the chairs are without holes these studs are made to clip or fit against
the sides of the chair; the coupling plate, studs and rails are held firmly in position
by means of a wedging key with locking bar as previously described.

page_text: Another modification of the invention consists in placing the ends of the rails in
a chair and coupling them together by means of a coupling plate of metal provided
with two or more bolts or studs which fit loosely through corresponding holes in
the rails and chairs, and when desirable a wrought iron or metal coupling plate is
put on the ends of the studs outside the chair the inner coupling plate and bolts
or studs being held firmly in their position by means of a wedging key with
locking bar as previously described.
Another modification consists in forming the chair supporting the ends of the
rails with holes formed therein to receive the studs which are placed through
corresponding holes in the end of each rail,. and when the studs are placed in their
position in the rails and chairs they are held firmly in that position by means of
a wedging key with locking bar as previously described.
In order to prevent the studs of the coupling plate, or the loose studs used to
connect the rails and chairs together from_becoming displaced in case of accident to
the wedging key, or from other causes, I cut or split the ends of the said studs
which are at the outside of the chair and I open them out by means of a suitable
wedge or wedges, so as to cause them to bind within the holes formed in the chair
such holes being formed taper to assist in the binding action of the studs.
In all cases where desirable I propose at or near the centre of each rail to place
under it a chair with holes cast therein provided with a strong metal stud fitting
into a corresponding hole in the rail, the object of the stud being to prevent the
rail from sliding on the ordinary supporting chairs and to relieve any undue strain
or binding upon the studs at the ends of each rail.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Revell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th January
1883.
JOSEPH REVELL of Dukinfield in the County of Chester
IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY CHAIRS AND IN APPARATUS FOR COUPLING THE
RAILS AND THE RAILS AND CHAIRS TOGETHER
On that part of the chair which supports the ends of the central or web part of
the rail I cast or fix two metal studs which fit loosely into corresponding holes
cut in each of the rails which meet on the chair. When the rails are placed in the
chair above described they are firmly held in position by means of a wedging key
made either of wood or metal, the said wedging key being provided with a metal
locking bar fitted therein. After the wedging key is driven into its place between
the chair and the rail the locking bar is bent back against the side of the chair
and thus prevents the wedging key from slipping out of place. The above described
arrangement of wedging key and locking bar is also applicable to any rails or
chairs which require to be held in position by wedges or keys. Another modification
of the Invention consists in placing the ends of the rails in a chair and coupling
them together by means of a coupling plate of metal provided with two or more
bolts or studs which fit loosely through corresponding holes in the rails and chairs.
When the chairs are without holes these studs are made to clip or fit.against the
sides of the chair, the coupling plate, studs and rails are held firmly in position
by means of a wedging key with locking bar as previously described. Another
modification of the Invention consists in forming the chair supporting the ends of
the rails with holes formed therein to receive the studs which are placed through
corresponding holes in the end of each rail and when the studs are placed in their
position in the rails and chairs they are held firmly in that position by means of
a wedging key with locking bar as previously described. In order to prevent the
studs of the coupling plate or the loose studs used to connect the rails and chair
together from becoming displaced in case of accident to the wedging key or from
other causes I cut or split the ends of the said studs which are at the outside of
the chair and I open them out by means of a suitable wedge or suitable wedges
so as to cause them to bind within the holes formed in the chair such holes being
formed taper to assist in the binding action of the studs. In all cases where
desirable I propose at or near the centre of each rail to place under it a chair with
holes cast therein provided with a strong metal stud fitting into a corresponding
hole in the rail the object of the stud being to prevent the rail from sliding on the
ordinary supporting chairs and to relieve any undue strain or binding upon the
studs at the ends of each rail
In order that the Invention may be more fully understood I have caused to be
appended hereunto two sheets of Drawings marked with letters of reference to
which reference will now be made Fig 1 represents an end view of my improved
chair and coupling Fig 2 represents a plan thereof:-Fig 3 represents the
coupling plate Figs 4. 5. 6 and 7. represent a modification; Figs 8, 9 and 10
represent the coupling plates :-The ends of the rails a. b. are carried by the chair c
having diagonal holes d cast therein to receive the holding down or fastening
spikes which are firmly driven home into the sleepers f. The ends of the
rails a. b. are coupled together and on and to the chair c by means of a motal
coupling plate g. which acts to clip the lower part of the chair.
The said coupling
plate g made from steel, wrought, or cast iron, or a combination thereof may be
provided with only one stud passing between the ends of the rails and into a
groove in the chair, or the said coupling plate may be provided with two or

page_text: more studs which pass into corresponding holes & m in the rails.
The studs may
be either split or solid or made to receive a cottar. When the herein before
mentioned rails and coupling are placed in the chair they are securely held in
position by means of a wedging key n of wood or metal or both combined and
which is provided with an iron locking bar o fitted thereto (seen in Fig 1) When
the wedging key n is driven home, that is to say between the chair c and the
coupling plate g, the end of the locking bar o is bent over against the side of the
chair in order to keep the wedging key firmly in its place. A second form of
wedging key q (Figs 4 and 6) is made of metal provided with a wood packing
and is made to clip the jaw of the chair c and is driven diagonally between the
coupling plate g and chair c. By these means I am enabled to improve the
construction of such appliances and to dispense with the fish plates and bolts,
ordinarily employed also to form a more reliable connection of the holding down
spikes with the sleeper.
Having now described and indicated the nature of my Invention and means
for carrying the same into effest I would have it to be understood that I claim :-
First The combinations and arrangements of parts forming the chair and coupling
substantially as and for the purposes set forth and indicated in the accompanying
Drawings
Secondly The formation of diagonal spike holes in the chair through which the
spikes are driven in a diagonal direction into the sleeper whereby there is less
liability of the spikes to work loose as is now the case with vertical spikes:
Thirdly. The use and adaptation of the wedge shaped coupling plate with lugs
to clip the lower part of the chair and provided with one or more studs for the
purpose herein before mentioned :—
Fourthly. The use of a wedging key of wood or metal or both combined and
provided with an iron locking bar :-
Fifthly. The use of a metal wedging key provided with a wood packing and
driven diagonally between the coupling plate and chair:-
Sixthly. The forming of a groove in the inner face of the jaw of the chair
to receive the dividing stud or plate of metal and to prevent any lateral motion
of the rails-
In Witness Whereof I the said Joseph Revell bave hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty third day of January in the year of our Lord One
thousand Eight hundred and eighty three
Witness
H. G GRANT
Manchester
JOSEPH REVELL (L.S.)