IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR RAILWAY RAILS APPLICABLE WHOLLY OR IN PART TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1864

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Augusius Soul
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th August 1864.
I. MATTHEW AUGUSTUS SOUL. of No. 3. Leadenhall Street, in the City of
London. Patent. Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR RAILWAY RAILS APPLICABLE WHOLLY OR IN
PART TO OTHER PURPOSES," a communication to me from abroad by John
Gregory, of Lisbon, in the Kingdom of Portugal. Civil Engineer, to be as
follows:
My improvements relate, firstly. to the improved construction of the dogs.
spikes, bolts, and nails, commonly employed for bolting or fastening the
various parts of a structure together in such a form and manner as more
efficiently to counteract the liability to become slackened, so as thereby to
insure in a much higher degree the stability of the structure in the con-
struction of which they are employed. In order to effect this the said dogs.
spikes, bolts, and nails, are made in two halves, as shown in the Drawings
Price Sd 1

page_text: accompanying this Provisional Specification: that half A. which is next the
rail. is reduced in length. and upon the front part of the same is made a
projection of an angular or otherwise suitable shape. forming with the head a
gib. The other half B of dog, spike, bolt, or nail is made straight, and of
about the usual length, and slightly tapered at the point: this being driven
into the sleeper al the back of the half of dog, spike, boli, or nail forming the
gib. acts as a cotter, and forces the projection horizontally into the sleeper, by
which the backing of cotter is prevented, and the rail remains secure. To
insure this effect a very small projection is formed at the back of gib in a
line with the front projection at the face of same. I do not confine myself to
the exact form of gib and cotter halves of dogs, spikes, bolts. or nails, as
shown in the Drawing, but make them either round. square. angular. or of
any other shape or form convenient for the purpose for which they are
intended. The form of projection, and its exact position on front of first half
of dog, spike, bolt. or nail, may be varied according to its special application.
Figures 1. 2. 3. 4. in the Drawings illustrate my improved gib and cotter
fastenings as applied to railway rails.
purpose of
Although my Invention is more particularly designed for the
more effectually securing rails and chairs to the sleepers. yet it is applicable
and I propose to apply it for the purposes of securing together iron to timber
or timber and timber together. more particularly in naval construction, and
Figure in the Drawings shows my Invention so applied.
My Invention relates. secondly, to the improved construction of wooden
keys as used for securing rails in the chairs. Upon the side or sides of these
keys a recess is formed. into which recess gutta percha or other elastic
material liable to be partially dissolved by heat is inserted in such a manner
as slightly to project from the side or sides of key. Upon being driven into
the chair this elastic material becomes compressed. thus firmly securing the
key in chair. Should the heat from the rails partly dissolve this material, it
will form a glutinous substance. thus having a greater tendency to secure the
key in chair. This material can either be put into the key in a solid state
while cold. previous in the insertion of the key in the chair. or it can be
dissolved and run into the recess of the key after the key is driven into its
position in the chair. This part of my Invention is illustrated by Figures 6
and in the Drawings accompanying this Provisional Specification. C. C. C.
denoting the guita percha.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Matthew Augustus Soul in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 4th February 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1. MATTHEW
AUGUSTUS SOUL. of No. 3. Leadenhall Street. in the City of London. Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Vicioria. by Her Letters
Paient, bearing date the Fourth day of Angusi, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four. in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign. did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors. give and grant unto me, the
said Matthew Augustus Soul. Her special licence that I, the said Matthew
Augustus Soul, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as T.
the said Matthew Augustus Soul. my executors, administrators. and assigns.
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend. within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland. the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man. an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR RAILWAY RAILS APPLICABLE WHOLLY OR IN PART
TO OTHER PURPOSES," a communication to me from abroad by John Gregory, of
Lisbon, in the Kingdom of Portugal. Civil Engineer, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I. the said Matthew Augustus Soul, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my. or their. or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1. the said Matthew Augustus Soul, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement:-
The said improvements relate. firstly, to the construction of the dogs.
spikes, bolts, and nails, commonly employed for the bolting or fastening the
various parts of a structure together, in such a form and manner as more
efficiently to counteract the liability to become slackened, so as thereby to
insure in a much higher degree the stability of the structure in the con-
struction of which they are employed.

page_text: The said improvements consist in making the dogs, spikes, bolts, or nails as
hitherto employed for the fastening of permanent way. to sleepers. and for
other purposes. of two pieces instead of one, the one made of iron acting as a
gib, which has to sustain the strain otherwise imposed on the straight spike
or dog, and the other being a drift or cotter for the purpose of firmly fixing
the former in its place, and forcing an angular projection of the gib into the
heart of the sleeper. The drift or cotter can be made either of hard wood or
of iron, the former material being adaptable for fastenings on straight lines,
whilst the latter can be employed in the case of sharp curves. and where a
greater lateral pressure has to be sustained. Upon taking into consideration
the manner and direction in which this strain on such fastenings is acting it
will easily be perceived that little or no strain can come on the drift or cotter,
but that any pull on the fastening must be entirely resisted by the gib, which,
however. by virtue of its lower projecting head is firmly embedded in the
material in which it is driven, which musi therefore be completely split open
before the gib can become in any way displaced.
The advantages offered by the adoption of the said improved fastenings
as compared with the old fastenings are. 1. a greater efficiency and holding
power than offered by the common spikes and dogs. bolts and nails:
2. greater safety to the passages of trains round sharp curves. and less
danger therefore of getting off the rails in consequence of icaring up the
metals: 3. a greater reduction in the expenditure for maintenance. on
account of the improved fastenings not being liable to become loosened if once
properly fixed and. 4. a greater saving in the original cost as compared
with the old form of fastenings.
In order that the nature of the said Invention, and the means by which the
same is effected may be fully and clearly described and ascertained, to this
Specification is appended a Sheet of Drawings, having figures and letters of
reference marked thereupon, which are referred to in the following de-
scription: The said dogs, spikes, bolts, and nails are made as herein-before
stated, in two parts. portions, or halves: that half portion or part. A which is
next the rail is reduced in length, and upon the front part of the same is
made a projection of an angular or otherwise suitable shape forming with
the head a gib. The other part, portion, or half B of dog. spike. bolt, or
nail is made straight, and of about the usual length. and slightly tapered at
the point. This being driven into the sleeper at the back of the half of dog.
spike, bolt, or nail forming the gib, acts as a cotter. and forces the projection a
horizontally into the sleeper, by which the backing of cotier is prevented and

page_text: the rail remains secure. To insure this effect a very small projection may be
formed at the back of gib in a line with the front projection at the face of
same.
I do not confine myself to the exact form of gib and cotter halves of dogs,
spikes, bolts, or nails, as shown in the Drawings, but make them either
round, square, angular, or of any other shape or form convenient for the
purpose for which they are intended. The form of projection and its exact
position in front of first half of dog, spike, bolt, or nail. may be varied accord-
ing to its special application. Sometimes by preference | make the cotter
part or half of dogs, spikes, bolts, or nails of hard wood, by which the quantity
of iron required in these fastenings is reduced to about one-half. The wooden
cotier is shown at b in Figure 4.
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, in the Drawings illustrate the improved gib and
cotter fastenings as applied to railway rails. Figures and 2 are drawn full
size, and Figures 3 and 4 are drawn to a scale of one-quarter full size. In
some cases as. for example, for sharp curves, it is preferred to use two gibs of
iron with either an iron or wood cotter driven between them, as shown in
Figure. The gibs are also sometimes made with double heads. Although
this part of the Invention is more particularly designed for the purpose of
more effectually securing rails and chairs to the sleepers, yet it is applicable
and I propose to apply it for the purpose of securing together iron and timber,
or timber and timber together, more particularly in naval construction; and
Figure 6 in the Drawings shows this invention so applied; A being the gib,
and B the cotter piece or bolt.
The said improvements relate, secondly, to the construction of wooden keys
as used for securing rails in the chairs, and consist in forming within the side
or sides of these keys a recess, into which recess gutta percha or other elastic
material liable to be partially dissolved by heat is inserted in such a manner
as slightly to project from side or sides of key. Upon being driven into the
chair this elastic material becomes compressed, thus firmly securing the key
in chair. Should the heat from the rails partially dissolve this material it
will form a glutinous substance, thus having a greater tendency to secure the
key in chair; this material can either be put into the key in a solid state
while cold, previous to the insertion of the key in the chair, or it can be dissolved
and run into the recess of the key after the key is driven into its position in
the chair. This part of the said Invention is illustrated by Figures 7, 8, 9,
10, in the Drawings accompanying this Specification, the gutta percha or
other elastic material being denoted by the letters c, c, c.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I claim,-
Firstly, the construction of dogs, spikes, bolts, nails, or fastenings in the
manner in this Specification and Drawings described and shown.
And. secondly, I claim the construction of wood keys, as also described and
shown in this Specification and accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Augustus Sout, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
MATTHEW AUGUSTUS SOUL. (L.S.)