IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION FORECURINGGES FOR PURPOSES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smith, of Heywood, in the County of
Lancaster, Machine Maker, and John Whittaker, of Middleton,
in the same County, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Smith and
John Whittaker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 17th June 1874.
We, WILLIAM SMITH, of Heywood, in the County of Lancaster,
Machine Maker, and JOHN WHITTAKER, of Middleton, in the same
County, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS, WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR SECURING WEDGES FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be
as follows:-
Our Invention is particularly adapted for securing the wedges by
which railway rails are held in the chairs, but it may be applied for

page_text: securing the wedges used in the connecting rods of steam engines, and
for all purposes where wedges are employed for connecting parts of
machinery together.
Our Invention consists in making a tapered recess in the wedge, the
taper of the recess running in the contrary direction to that of the wedge,
and in the use of a set screw with a lock nut, which set screw fits in the
recess.
When the wedge is driven home the point of the set screw is
tightened against the wedge and prevents it moving. By this means
the accidents arising from wedges working loose are entirely avoided,
and rails can be laid more rapidly than heretofore. By making the
joint chairs wider than usual, and employing two wedges to each, the
fish plates usually employed may be dispensed with and a firmer joint is
obtained.
The upper flanges of the rail are supported partly by the jaw of the
chair and partly by the wedge, thereby suspending the rail and keeping
the bottom free from the chair. By this means the rail when worn.
above can be turned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Smith and John Whittaker in the Great
Scal Patent Office on the 17th December 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, WILLIAM
SMITH, of Heywood, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker, and
JOHN WHITTAKER, of Middleton, in the same County, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said William Smith and John Whittaker,
Her special licence that we, the said William Smith and John
Whittaker, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others

page_text: Figs. 8 and 9 are two views of another wedge suitable for steam
engines or other purposes.
Our improvement in securing wedges may be applied to most purposes
where wedges are employed for connecting parts of machinery.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, and described the
manner of performing the same, we wish to remark that we do limit
ourselves to the details given, and that we claim,-
First. Securing wedges by means of a set screw fitting into a tapered
recess, as shewn and described.
And, Secondly. The improved mode described for suspending railway
rails.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Whittaker, for myself and
on behalf of the said William Smith, have hereto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of December One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-four.
JOHN WHITTAKER. (L.S.)