IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAYS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Baines, of Coverdale Terrace, near
Birmingham, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Baines at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th August 1853.
I, WILLIAM BAINES, of Coverdale Terrace, near Birmingham, do
hereby declare that the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS" IN
RAILWAYS" to be as follows:-
..:
This Invention has for its object a better construction of the perma-
nent ways of railways. The rails are made with ribs or projections
on their sides; and at right angles, or nearly so, to the sides to receive
the fish joints, by which the fish joints will offer a better support
at the crossings; the rails which come together at an angle or
form the point are made' similar in form at their under surfaces
to what they are: at. their upper surfaces, so that when worn on
their upper surfaces they may be turned over, and their under surfaces
made the upper ones, by which a considerable saving will result
in making those parts of a railway where there are crossings;
S

page_text: and in order to fix the rails more securely in chairs than heretofore, and
to allow of the rails of a railway to be turned over, and thus to be used
on both sides, cach chair is made with a hollow jaw on one side to
receive a filling piece, which will, when a rail is turned over, adjust for
the deficient part of the rail which is worn away; the other jaw is also
made hollow and inclined to receive a thickness of wool or flexible
material, between which and the rail adjusting metal wedges are used,
which in one form are drawn towards each other, and in the other form
they are made to rotate in face of each other, and the faces being made
with steps and inclines, the more they are moved the more strongly
they are caused to hold, and the chairs are fixed to the sleepers by
clippling block of wood, which together with the chairs are fixed by
treenails which pass into the sleepers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Baines in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 8th February 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM BAINES, of Coverdale Terrace, Hunters Lane, near Bir-
mingham, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said William Baines, Her special
licence that I, the said William Baines, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Baines, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the terni
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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN RAILWAYS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Baines, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,

page_text: should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 I, the said William Baines, 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 following statement thereof (that is to say):
This Invention has for its object a better construction of the pernia-
nent ways of railways. The rails are made with ribs or projections o
their sides, and at right angles, or nearly so, to the sides to receive the
fish joints, by which the fish joints will offer a better support at the
crossings; the rails which come together at an angle or from the point
are made similar in form at their under surfaces to what they are at
their upper surfaces, so that when worn on their upper surfaces they
may be turned over, and their under surfaces male the upper ones, by
which a considerable saving will result in making those parts of a rail-
way where there are crossings; and in order to fix the rails more
securely in chairs than heretofore, and to allow of the rails of a railway
to be turned over, and thus to be used on both sides, each chair is made
with a hollow jaw on one side to receive a filling picce, which will
when a rail is turned over, adjust for the deficient part of the rail which
is worn away; the other jaw is also made hollow and inclined to receive
a thickness of wood or flexible material, between which and the rail
adjusting metal wedges are used, which in one form are drawn towards
each other, and in the other forin they are made to rotate in face of
each other, and the faces being made with steps and incline, the more
they are moved the more strongly they are caused to hold, and the
chairs are fixed to the sleepers by clipping blocks of wood, which
together with the chairs are fixed by treenails which pass into the
sleepers.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to
describe the manner of performing the same.
The first of these improvements consists in the application of ribs or
projections to the sides of the rails standing outwards, and at right angle,

page_text: or nearly so, to such sides, the joint plates being made conformable to
such ribs or projections, whereby a better support is obtained for the fishi
joints. These ribs may be constructed in various ways, as shewn in
the cross sections, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, in the annexed Drawings. The
first three Figures represent rails intended to be used with chairs and
keys in the ordinary way, or with my improved chairs and fastenings.
In both these cases the patentec prefers to apply the ribs on one side
of the rail only, although (if desired) they may be applied to both sides.
This application to both sides is, however, necessary to flat bottomed
rails shown in Figure 4. In the above Figures the letters a, b, c, d,
refer to the fish plates which are made to conform to the ribs or projec-
tions, and the dotted lines indicate that the head of the rail is not
weakened or injured, as would be the case with square sided channels,
which have before been used with a view to obtain a like result.
The second improvement relating to crossings consists in making
the upper and under surfaces of the crossings alike, so that when the
former are worn out the rails forming the crossings may be turned
This mode of
over, and the under surfaces made the upper ones.
crossing may be made either out of solid bars or out of the ordinary
double-headed rails. The above improvement is likewise applicable to
the crossings now in use made with double-headed rails by remodelling
the point on the under surface. Figure 5, is a plan of the crossing
maile with the ordinary double-headed rails. Figure 6, is a cross
section of the same at C, C, shewing an end view of the point, formed
alike both top and bottom. A, is the point; B, B, the wing rails, which
tire securely held by my improved chairs and keys, to be described
afterwards.
The third improvement, which relates to chairs, consists in the
application of adjusting jaws and metal wedges, which have for their
object, first, to fix the rails more securely in the chairs; and, secondly,
to allow of the rails of a railway to be turned over, and that to be used
on both sides. To this end each chair is made with a hollow jaw on
one side to receive a filling piece, which will act as a holding down dog,
and when the rail is turned over adjust for the deficient part which is
worn away. This adjusting is likewise assisted by the metal wedges.

page_text: which are applied betwixt the rail and the other jaw, which is also.
made hollow and inclined to receive a thickness of wood or other flexible.
material. These chairs are made to clip the guage blocks, from which
the following advantages result:-First, a permanent immoveable guage
is obtained. Second, the sleeper being buried deeper in the ballast is.
not so liable to the injurious effects of changes of the atmosphere,
which ordinarily induce such rapid decay as to make the sleeper become
too weak and tender to withstand the severe action from the iron chair
whilst heavy weights are passing over. Third, a wooden base is thereby.
presented to the chair, thus offering an easier bearing surface to the
sleeper.
The improvements above described are likewise applicable to castings
with two or more chairs formed on them either in one piece or in two
halves, and fastened together by means of bolts.
Figure 7, represents my adjustable chairs applied to the joints.
Figure 8, is a cross section of the same through a chair a, . H, is
the hollow jaw;
the filling piece, which is adjusted by means of the
nut N, at the bottom. W, W, are the wedges, which are acted upon
by the bolt K, which tightens the rail R.
L, is a thickness of flexible
Figure 9, represents an inter-
Figure 10, shews a side and end;
material fixed in the hollow of the jaw M.
mediate chair according to my plan.
view of the same. A, A, are the chairs; B, is the adjustable jaw; C,
shows the sanic detached. This can also he made to extend through;
the gauge blocks, as indicated by the dotted lines. Figure 11, shows
the best method of applying the filling piece S, to chairs used with
switches. Figures 7, 8, 10, 11, shew the various methods how the
gauge blocks may be unclipped by the chair, whether all around or
partially so.
•
The fourth improvement has reference to the adjustible metal
wedges above mentioned. These, wedges are constructed to rotate in
face of each other, and as these faces are made with steps and inclines
the more they are moved the more strongly are they caused to hold the
rail. These wedges may be made either with one continued incline,
as shown in the annexed Figure (Figure 12), or divided into several
inclines. Figure 12, is a plan showing the face of one of the wedges.

page_text: It is surrounded by a raised rim R, to receive the other wedge, which
works within it in the direction of the arrow. Figure 18, represents a
side clevation of the same, with the rim removed to show the mode in
which it works. B, is the boss which fills the channel of the rail.
C, is the adjustible or pressure part, which has a socket to receive a
piece of wood or other flexible material D, which fits in it, and is
applied endway of the grain to prevent shrinkage, the other end being
housed into the jaw of the chair, and when locked by means of a
pin E, permanently retains its pressure. This wedge P', is fixed in a
diagonal position, as shown in Figure 6, and together with the adjustible
jaw above described gives two actions to the chair, whereby it is
tightened both laterally and vertically.
Having described the nature of my improvements, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not con-
fine myself to the precise detail given, so long as the peculiar character
of any of my improvements be retained. But what I claim is,-
First, the application of ribs or projections to the sides of the rails.
Secondly, I claim the improvements in those parts of the permanent
way of a railway which are termed crossings, as described.
Thirdly, I claim the improvements in chairs, and the construction and
application of parts in connection with such chairs, as described.
Fourthly, I claim the application of adjustible metal. wedges for
securing the rails in chairs intended to be used on railways, as described.
In witness whercof, I, the said William Baines, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
WILLIAM BAINES. (L.s.)