Improvements in Railroad Chairs.
Year: 1891

page_text: ate of Application, 7th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 9th May, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railroad Chairs.
BESTED
A communication from GEORGE WALLACE WELLS, Civil Engineer, of
Worcester, Worcester County Massachusetts, United States of America.
I, Alfred JuLIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E., do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of this invention is to produce a practical, cheap and efficient chair
for supporting rails. To this end the invention consists of a chair made in two
interlocking sections, so constructed that when in position they are firmly held
together by interlocking portions and by the spikes and that the use of nuts and
bolts is avoided.
Referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 represents an end clevation of this chair when in use clamping and
supporting a rail.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the same one of the sections of the chair being cut away on
the line - Fig. 1 to show the interlocking mechanism.
Figs. 4 and 5 represent a modification of the interlocking mechanism.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive which represent the preferred form of
construction, A A. represents the two similar parts or sections of which the chair
is constructed.
Each section A has a head C which is adapted to grip the side of the flange of
the rail R and to support the same at its bottom.
Of course it is understood that the shape of the head C may be varied to clamp
and support any form of rail without in the least departing from the scope
of the invention.
The head C is supported from the base D by the Trib B L and the said base
has spike holes E E. Extending from the rib B L is a hook or interlocking
portion F which is adapted and shaped to catch on the rib B of the opposite
section.
This hook F is bevelled or tapered as shown at G. The manner of applying
the chair to the rail is readily seen. The two parts A A are locked together, each
head catching the flange of the rail as shown. The sections are then spiked to the
sleeper and each spike is driven in a slightly oblique direction so as to force the
two sections closer together. This causes the hooks to approach each other and
thus the sections are forced together to take a very firm bite on the rail.
It will be seen that the rail is supported by two T ribs and a very broad
base and thus a very strong and scientific support is provided to resist crushing
strain.
The chair may of course be made of extra width to support the ends of two
meeting rails as is done with the chairs now in use.
The sections are preferably made of cast iron (although any suitable material
may be used) upon which no machine-work is required-the chairs going straight
from the foundry to the road-bed.
No bolts and nuts are used and when once in place the device does not require
to be inspected to see if anything is loose although the chair may be readily
removed to allow the rail to be changed, by simply removing one spike.
A modification is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 in which a tapered dove-tail locking
mechanism is used instead of the hooks F F before described. This locking
mechanism H is applied in a similar manner to and has the advantages of the

page_text: previous device except that two dissimilar castings A' A³ are necessary for each
chair instead of two similar castings.
Modifications may readily be made by a skilled mechanic without departing from
the scope of the invention viz.-a railroad chair composed of two interlocking
sections adapted to clamp and support the rail.
A. practical test has demonstrated the great utility of this device.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A. railroad chair composed of two interlocking sections adapted to clamp and
support the rail substantially as described.
2. A railroad chair composed of two sections each section having an inclined or
oblique interlocking portion adapted to engage the other section located above and
independent of the base of the chair substantially as described.
3. A railroad chair composed of two similar sections adapted to interlock by
a movement parallel to the rail each section having an oblique or inclined
interlocking portion adapted to engage the other section located above and
independent of the base of the chair substantially as described.
4. A railroad chair composed of two sections each section having the base the
head and the intermediate rib and the hook extending from the section at a point
above the base substantially as described.
5. A railroad chair composed of two similar sections each section having the
base the head and the intermediate rib and the hook having the oblique or inclined
face extending from the said rib adapted to engage the rib of the other section
substantially as described.
6. A railroad chair composed of two similar sections each section having the
head and the base and the supporting Trib between the same and the hooks
having the tapered portions extending from the sides of the T ribs substantially
as described.
7. A railroad chair composed of two similar sections each section having the
head and the base and the supporting T rib between the same and the hooks
having the tapered portions extending from the sides of the T ribs substantially
as described.
8. As an article of manufacture the section A having the head C, the
base D and the rib B L between the same and the hook F projecting from
the side of the rib substantially as described.
Dated this Seventh day of April 1891.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.