IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAYS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Sutcliffe Gabriel, of Grellier's and Canterbury
Wharves, Belvedere Road, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAYS.”
Sealed the 12th March 1880, and dated the 26th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Sutcliffe Gabriel
at the Office of the Cominissioners of Patents on the 26th November 1879.
JOSEPH SUTCLIFFE GABRIEL, of Grellier's and Canterbury Wharves, Belvedere
Road, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAYS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in tramways.
For the construction of tramways I prepare hollow cast iron blocks of dimensions
corresponding to those of the stone blocks which are to be employed as heretofore
for paving at the sides of and between the lines of the tramway. The iron blocks
are formed with grooves adapted to receive the flanges of the tram wheels. The
blocks have each two grooves, one on the upper and the other on the under face,
one of the objects for which is that the blocks may be turned over when they
become worn. The blocks are made of two sizes in order that they may break
joint with each other and with the stone paving blocks to be laid on either side
of them.
In preparing the road for the tramway the surface is concreted, and continuous
Tirons are set in the concrete in inverted positions and so that the central stem
projects a short distance above the concrete. The tramway blocks and the stone
paving blocks are laid over the concrete on a thin bed of sand, and the projecting
parts of the Tirons enter the grooves in the under sides of the tramway blocks and
keep them accurately in their position with the grooves in continuous line.
These tramway blocks will be found very durable for they can be turned when
one part has become worn. The blocks may be turned first end for end and then
bottom for top, and they are useable in four different positions.
I cast the blocks with holes one at each end, which facilitates handling and
raising them.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Sutcliffe Gabriel in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th May 1880.
JOSEPH SUTCLIFFE GABRIEL, of Grellier's and Canterbury Wharves, Belvedere
Road, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAYS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in tramways.
For the construction of tramways I prepare hollow cast iron, steel, or other
metal blocks of dimensions corresponding to those of the stone blocks which are to
be employed as heretofore for paving at the sides of and between the lines of the
tramway. The iron or metal blocks are formed with grooves adapted to receive
the flanges of the tram wheels. The blocks have each two grooves, one on the
upper and the other on the under face, one of the objects for which is that the
blocks may be turned over when they become worn. The blocks are made of two
sizes in order that they may break joint with each other and with the stone paving
blocks to be laid on either side of them.
-
In preparing the road for the tramway the surface is concreted, and continuous
Tirons are set in the concrete in inverted positions and so that the central stem
projects a short distance above the concrete. The tramway blocks and the stone
paving blocks are laid over the concrete on a thin bed of sand, and the projecting
parts of the Tirons enter the grooves in the under sides of the tramway blocks
and keep them accurately in their positions with the grooves in continuous line.
These tramway blocks will be found very durable for they can be turned when
one part has become worn. The blocks may be turned first end for end and then
bottom for top, and they are useable in four different positions.
I cast the blocks with holes one at each end, which facilitates handling and
raising them.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a perspective and sectional view of a portion of a tramway con-
structed in accordance with my Invention.
a, a, is a bed of concrete; in this bed the T irons b, b, are laid, and these T irons
are fished together at their ends; c, c, is a thin layer of sand laid over the concrete,
and upon this bed the stone paving blocks d, d, are set; e, e, are my cast iron, steel,
or other metal tramway paving blocks, they are cast in two sizes to work in with
the stone blocks in the manner represented in Figure 1.
Figures 2, 3, and 4 represent respectively a side view, end view, and a plan of
the larger block, and Figures 5, 6, and 7 are similar views of the smaller block; the
width of these blocks is somewhat greater than that of the stone blocks & as they
are set close together, whereas, as is usual, in paving the joints between the stone
blocks are left slightly open for grouting. As the Drawings represent the grooves
in the blocks to receive the wheel flanges are deepened in the centre for a width
equal to the thickness of the web of the T iron, and the web fits into this part of
the groove, but the T irons may, as an alternative, be rolled with a bulb of the full
width of the wheel groove, and this deepening in the centre is unnecessary.
Or according to another modification the groove may be made wider than is
necessary to receive the wheel flanges, and it may be made to receive a grooved
steel rail within it affording a continuous running surface for the wheels in the
manner represented at Figure 8. The steel rail may be fixed in its place by means
of tap screws.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. The construction of tramways, substantially as described and illustrated
by Figure 1 of the Drawings annexed.
Second. The blocks for the construction of tramways, substantially as described
and illustrated by Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Drawings annexed.
Third. The combination with a tramway constructed according to my Invention,
as described and illustrated by Figure 1 of a rail so applied as to give a continuous
running surface, as described and illustrated by Figure 8 of the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Sutcliffe Gabriel, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty fifth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
JOSEPH SITOLLEET CARRIEL
JOSEPH SUTCLIFFE CARRIET (2.8.)