Improvements in Glass Sleepers.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 4th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 10th Feb., 1888
Improvements in Glass Sleepers.
I DAN RYLANDS, of Hope Glass Works, Stairfoot, near Barnsley, in the County of
York, Glass Bottle Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
-
According to my present invention I form a glass casting intended to act as a
railway sleeper, having a recess or gap in its top side and a projection on its under
side below the said gap. By this means the thickness of the glass throughout the
sleeper will be about the same.
In order that the principle of my invention may be clearly understood I annex
drawings to the provisional specification.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of one form of my improved sleeper, and Fig. 2 is a side
view of the same.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are end views of modified forms of my improved sleepers.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the sleeper S has a dovetailed recess or gap g and a
projection P. The gap g receives the rail R which is secured therein by the wood or
other wedge w
The projection p. has a recess or hole for the reception of the
tic-bar t. This tie-bar t connects opposite sleepers S on the permanent way.
In Figs. 3 and 4 the gap g is made as shown, and receives the rail R together with
a suitable cast iron or other packing 1. The wedge secures both the rail R and
packing in the gap g.
Referring to Fig. 5 the sleepers S are secured together or connected by means of
the tie-bars t t which have hooked ends a a & threaded ends e e, one threaded end a
right hand thread and the other a left hand thread. The ends e are drawn together
or pressed apart by means of a long nut N which is threaded to suit the ends e e.

page_text: The several forms of sleepers shown in the drawings hereunto attached may be
modified so as to receive any section or form of rail, or they may be arranged to
receive ordinary chairs though they are specially arranged to do without chairs.
The shape of the tie-bars and the manner in which they secure the sleepers may be
also varied Suitable packing may be put between the rail and glass sleeper.
In order to form my improved glass casting or sleeper of the proper shape I use
moulds made of iron or other suitable material. These moulds are so formed that the
parts forming the gap g can be withdrawn longitudinally from the glass casting: or
where preferred the sleepers may be cast in suitable sand moulds.

page_text: view of the same.
Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are end views of modified forms of my improved sleepers.
Fig. 7 is a cross section of permanent way showing improved means of securing
sleepers in place.
Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of improved mould wherein the sleepers are cast, and
Fig. 9 is a cross section on line z z of Fig. 8. The same letters designate similar
parts throughout the several views.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the sleeper S is formed with a dovetailed recess or
gap g and a projection p. The gap g receives the rail R, which is secured therein by
means of a wood or other wedge w.
The portion p which projects below the face of sleeper has a hole or recess which
is formed for the reception of the end of the tie-bar t. The said tie-bar t connects
opposite sleepers S which are laid in position on the permanent way. The nut N can
be loosened or screwed up according to the gauge required.
The sleepers shown at Figs. 3 and 4 are made with gaps g which receive the rail R
together with a suitable cast iron or other packing and the wedge w which secures
both the packing and rail R in the said gap g.
Referring to Fig. 5, the projection p is formed on the upper part of sleeper S and
has the gap y formed in it. The rail R is secured within said gap g by means of a
small bolt and nut as will be well understood by referring to Fig. 5.
Referring to Fig. 6, the gap g is made sufficiently large to receive a cast-iron or
other chair C, and the rail R is secured within this chairs in the ordinary
manner.
Referring to Fig. 7, the sleepers S are secured together to form a permanent way
by means of tie-bars tt which are made with hooked ends a α which fix over the
outside edge of each sleeper S. The said tie-bars t t have also threaded ends e, e; one
threaded end of one bar is a right hand thread, and the threaded end of the opposite

page_text: bar is a left-hand thread. The ends e e are drawn together or pressed apart by means
of a long nut N which is threaded to suit the ends e e.
The several forms of sleepers shown in the drawings hereunto attached may be
modified with respect to the form of their gaps g, so that they may receive any section
or form of rail; or the gaps y may be arranged to receive ordinary chairs where so
preferred, and also where preferred suitable packing may be placed between the rails R
and sleepers S.
In order to form these improved glass castings or sleepers of the necessary shape
and size I employ moulds preferably constructed in the manner shown at Figs. 8
and 9 referring to which the mould M is made of cast iron, but may be made of any
other suitable material. It is made of an equal thickness throughout so that the heat
is equally conducted from all parts of the sleeper simultaneously. The interior of
mould is formed to suit the shape of the exterior of the sleeper S.
In order to form the gap g l'employ a hollow core ; which is preferably composed
of sand, but may be made of any other collapsible refractory material. The outside of
said core jis made in form of the required shape of the gap g and each end thereof
lodges on the sides of the mould as shown at Fig. 9. The mould M may where
preferred have a cover placed over it. In casting the sleeper S the molten glass is
poured into the mould in any suitable way. After the required quantity has been
placed therein it is either annealed or left to cool in any suitable way. During the
cooling of the cast glass article or sleeper it contracts and the hollow core j collapses.
By this means a satisfactory gap is formed and the sleeper ready for use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is-
1. The use of the tie-bars & for the connection of opposite sleepers S in the manner
described and shown at Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings.
2. In the manufacture of glass sleepers the use of moulds M having hollow
collapsible cores j resting on the interior sides of said moulds substantially as described
and for the purpose specified and illustrated at Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings
attached.
T
1000