IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS AND OTHER APPARATUS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR STREET RAILWAY OR TRAMWAY PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Murray, of Purbeck Place, Westminster, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS AND
OTHER APPARATUS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR STREET RAILWAY OR TRAMWAY
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 22nd June 1877, and dated the 24th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Murray at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th April 1877.
EDWARD MURRAY, of Purbeck Place, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS AND OTHER APPARATUS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR STREET
RAILWAY OR TRAMWAY PURPOSES."
My Invention relates first to improvements in the construction of rails for street
railways or tramways, and is designed to provide rails that will not be liable to
cause accidents and injury to the roadway in which they are laid, and will not
require to be so frequently repaired as the tramway rails hitherto used.
My improved rails are preferably made reversible, that is to say, with two similar
heads or bearing surfaces, so that when one surface is worn or injured the rail can
be reversed or turned over, to present its other head or surface to the traffic. The
said rails may be made of cast iron or cast steel. Each rail has a deep longitudinal
groove in each head or bearing surface extending throughout the rail.
On one side
or on both sides of the rail I form teeth or ribs, which project laterally from the
rail, flush or level, or nearly so, with the top of the same.
In laying these rails, the stone, wood, or other material of which the road is
formed is fitted close to the sides of the rails and between these teeth, and the
latter prevent the formation of ruts in the pitching or pavement at the sides of the
rails.
I place in the aforesaid longitudinal groove or channel in the rails a continuous
bar or a longitudinal series of bars of iron or steel which has a width equal to
about half the width of the said groove, and whose upper edge is flush with the
upper surface of the rails. The said bars form part of the bearing surface for the
tram car wheels, whose flanges run in the groove at the side of tho said bar or bars.

page_text: I secure the said bar or bars in the rails by means of pins or cotters passing
through them. The said teeth ensure a good foot-hold for the horses at the sides
of the rails.
Another part of my Invention relates to the employment on a tramway car of a
plough or scraper for cleaning out the said grooves or channels in the rails. The
said plough is arranged at any convenient part of the car, and is under the control
of the driver, who can set it down into or raise it from the grooves in the rails, as
required, or it may be made self-acting; and the said plough is provided with a
turn plate for removing accumulations or obstructions from the rails.
When a tramway car has arrived at the terminus or end of its line, the practice
is to shift or change the shaft or pole from one end to the other end of the car;
and by reason of the weight of the parts thus changed or moved, their adjustment
is attended with considerable inconvenience. I have therefore sought to provide
means for effecting this changing or adjustment more conveniently, and part of my
Invention relates to the application of a wheel or roller, or a pair of wheels or
rollers, on the shaft or pole of the car to bear the weight of the same and facilitate
its adjustment from one end to the other end of the car.
When the adjustment of the shaft or pole has been effected and the same is
secured in its place, the said wheels or rollers are raised from the ground, and there-
fore will not impede the running of the car.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Murray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
October 1877.
EDWARD MURRAY, of Purbeck Place, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS AND OTHER APPARATUS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR STREET
RAILWAY OR TRAMWAY PURPOSES."
My Invention relates chiefly to improvements in the construction of rails for
street railways or tramways, and is designed to provide rails, which, when properly
laid in any roadway, will tend to preserve the same from injury by the traffic, and
will not be a source of danger to the traffic on the said roadway. Moreover, the
said rails will be very strong and durable, and therefore will not require to be so
frequently repaired as the ordinary tramway rails hitherto used.
The said Invention comprises the construction of the rails with lateral projec-
tions, teeth, or ribs. Also, the combination with the said rails of a straight bar
fitted in a groove in the rail heads.
My improved rails may be made with a single head or bearing portion, or they
may be made reversible, that is to say, with two similar heads or bearing surfaces,
so that when one surface is worn or injured the rail can be reversed or turned over
to present its other head or surface to the traffic. The said rails are preferably
made of cast iron or cast steel.
My Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which-
Figure 1 is a plan or top view, shewing my said Invention carried into practise
with single-headed rails; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a
transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of a double-headed rail, constructed according to
the said Invention.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
The rails a have a longitudinal groove b in their heads or bearing surfaces
extending throughout the length of the rail. On one side or on both sides of the
rail I form teeth or ribs c, which project laterally from the rail, and are flush or
level, or nearly so, with the top of the same, as shewn in Figure 2.
In laying these rails, the stone, wood, or other material of which the road is
formed is fitted close to the sides of the rails and between these teeth c, and the

page_text: latter prevent the formation of ruts in the pitching or pavement at the sides of the
rails, and thereby tend greatly to the preservation of the roadway; and, moreover,
the said teeth form a good foot-hold for the horses at the sides of the rails.
I place in the aforesaid longitudinal groove or channel b in the rails a a con-
tinuous bar or a longitudinal series of bars d, of iron or steel. The width of the
said bar or bars d is equal to about half the width of the said groove b, and the
upper edge of the said bar or bars is flush with the upper surface of the rail a.
The said bars form part of the bearing surface for the tram car wheels, whose
flanges run in the space or part of the groove at the side of the said bar or bars d.
I secure the said bar or bars in the rails by means of keys, pins, or cotters e passing
through them. To ensure the proper laying of the series of rails in a line of
tramway I provide them with tongue and groove joints, as shewn at f, that is to
say, there is a small tongue or projection on the end of one rail that fits into a
groove or notch in the adjacent rail end. These tongues and grooves are so
arranged as to ensure the bearing surfaces of the rails being flush or level with each
other throughout the entire line of railway.
I employ on the tramway cars used in my improved tramway a plough or scraper
for cleaning out the said grooves or channels in the rails. The said plough is
arranged at any convenient part of the car, and is under the control of the driver,
who can set it down into or raise it from the grooves in the rails, as required, or it
may be made self-acting. The said plough is provided with a turn plate for removing
accumulations or obstructions from the rails.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing the
I wish it understood that I claim,―
same,
First. A rail grooved or channelled longitudinally in its head or heads, and pro-
vided with the lateral projections, teeth, or ribs on one or both sides, as above set
forth and for the purpose specified.
Second. In the construction of a street railway or tramway of a series of such rails,
connected with each other by tongue and groove joints at their ends, and with a
bar or series of bars extending through and secured in the said grooves or channels,
as above set forth.
Third. Providing a tramway car with an adjustable plough or scraper, which
may be automatic or controllable by the driver, and is provided with means for
removing obstructions from the grooved or channelled rails, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Murray, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
E MURRAY.· (L.B.)