Improvements in the Manufacture of Railway Sleepers and Chairs and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Railway Sleepers and Chairs
and in Apparatus therefor.
We, JAMES HOWARD and EDWARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD, both of Bedford, in the
county of Bedford, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention chiefly relates to the manufacture of railway sleepers and chairs of
the class described in the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to us and
dated March 19th A.D. 1885, No. 3528.
In manufacturing what are known as "pot sleepers," which are ordinarily made of
cast-iron, we prepare a sbeot of metal, preferably steel, of the required size, and make
the necessary perforations for a cross-tio bar. The plate is subsequently dished. and
corrugated to the proper form.
The dish is so formed that the surface at the top takes the required angle for the
inclination of the rail.
Two rail receptacles or chairs are formed on the top surface of the sleeper, in a
similar manner to that described in the Specification before referred to and illustrated.
in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings thereof. The rail receptacles may, however, be
formed in any other suitable manner, for instance, by pressing up lips or flaps from
the plate.
Between the two rail receptacles a recess is formed on the top of the sleeper to
receive the key which fastens the cross tie bar.
The press, by means of which we shape the sleeper, has its dies so arranged
that the rail receptacles, the recess for the key of the cross tie bar, and the sides
of the sleeper are formed at one operation, thereby finishing the sleeper from the
plate prepared as described. The same form of pot sleeper may be produced by
imaking it in two halves which can be united by the tie bar or by any other suitable
ineans.
In manufacturing transverse sleepers of the kind shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the
drawings and described in the aforesaid Specification, No. 3528, March 19, 1885, we

page_text: obviate the formation of perforations or holes in the metal, which result from the
construction described; and we maintain the full strength of the sleepers at the parts
where the rail receptacles are formed, the plates for the sleeper being rolled in such a
manner that the portions of the corrugation or crown at the parts where the said
receptacles are to be formed, are left thicker, the trough formed on the underside by
the corrugation being filled up or partially so. The raised or corrugated portion of
the plate is in some cases left solid throughout the length of the sleeper.
The rail receptacles are partially formed by the rolls which produce the sleeper
plates. In order to effect this formation, at proper intervals, upon the periphery of
one roll, we make depressions, and upon the periphery of the other roll, projections,
the result being that indentations are produced in the upper surface of the sleeper
plates at the parts where the rail receptacles are to be formed.
The receptacles are subsequently finished to the proper shape for receiving the rails
by suitable cutting appliances. For this finishing we sometimes employ an endless or
revolving table upon which the sleeper plates aro secured in position. As the table
moves forward the sleeper plates pass under a number of saws or cutters arranged one
before the other. By the action of these saws or cutters, the surplus metal is removed.
It will be understood that several sleepers may be operated upon at the same time on
one table. The sleepers after passing under the cutters are delivered from the table
with the rail receptacles in a finished state.
The formation or partial formation of sleepers as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of
the drawing and described in the aforesaid Specification No. 3528, March 19, 1885 is
effected in a somewhat similar manner to that last described. In this case the steel
plato is passed between a pair of suitable rolls by which, in the main, it is caused to
assume its finished form. In the periphery of one of the pair of rolls are formed
indentations which correspond to the form of the rail receptacles as well as to the
gauge of the line for which the sleepers are intended. Upon the periphery of
the other roll are fitted two small rollers or cogs which correspond with and work
into the indentations in the first mentioned roll. The strip or sheet of steel as it
leaves the plate rolls, and whilst still in a heated state, is passed through the afore-
said special shaping rolls. The sleepers are subsequently completely shaped by
suitable presses.
Dated the 30th day of April 1888
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Railway Sleepers and Chairs
and in Apparatus therefor.
We, JAMES HOWARD and EDWARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD, both of Bedford, in the
county of Bedford, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
Our invention chiefly relates to the manufacture of railway sleepers and chairs of
the class described in the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to us and
dated March 19th, A.D. 1885, No. 3528, and to the manufacture of what are known
as pot-sleepers, and it comprises the improvements hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings;
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the manufacture of sleepers of the kind shown
in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawing of the Specification above referred to; and,
Figure 7 is a side elevation of apparatus for use in manufacturing such sleepers.
Figures 8 and 9 are edge and side elevations, respectively, of rollers for use in
shaping sleepers of the kind shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing of the above
mentioned Specification.
Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 illustrate the manufacture of pot-sleepers.
In manufacturing transverse sleepers of the kind shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the
drawings of, and described in, the aforesaid Specification, No. 3528, March 19, 1885,
we obviate the formation of perforations or holes in the metal, which result from the
construction described; and we maintain the full strength of the sleepers at the parts
where tho rail receptacles are formed.
To accomplish this the plate a for each sleeper is rolled as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3
and 4, so that the portions of the corrugation or crown b, at the parts where the rail
receptacles care to be formed, are left thicker, as shown at d, the trough e formed on
the underside by the corrugation being filled up or partially so. The raised or
corrugated portion of the plate is, in some cases, left solid throughout the length of
the sleeper, that is to say, the trough e is not formed.
The rail receptacles c are partially formed by the rolls which produce the sleeper
plates, and for this purpose we make depressions at proper intervals upon the periphery
of one roll, and upon the periphery of the other roll we form projections, the result
being that indentations are produced in the upper surface of the sleeper plates at the
parts. where the rail receptacles are to be formed, as shown at c¹ Figures and 6.
The receptacles are subsequently finished to the proper shape for receiving the rails
by suitable cutting appliances. In Figure 7 we show an endless or revolving table,
composed of a number of links or small platforms carried upon wheels g, g, and
supported between the said wheels on the rails h.
The sleeper plates in which the rail receptacles are to be formed are placed upon the
small platforms, and as the table moves forward they are caused to pass under a
number of saws i, i¹ and cutters j, j arranged one before the other, by the action of
which saws and cutters the surplus metal is removed. It will be understood that
several sleepers may be operated upon at the same time on one table. The sleepers
after passing under the cutters are delivered from the table with the rail receptacles
in a finished state.

page_text: The formation or partial formation of sleepers as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of
the drawing of, and described in, the aforesaid Specification No. 3528, March 19,
1885, is effected in a somewhat similar manner to that last described. In this caso
the steel plate is passed between a pair of rolls k, E, Figures 8 and 9, by which, in
the main, it is caused to assume its finished form. In the periphery of one of the
pair of rolls are formed indentations 1, which correspond approximately to the form
of the rail receptacles as well as to the gauge of the line for which the sleepers
are intended, and upon the periphery of the other roll are fitted two rollers or
cogs m, m which correspond with and work into the indentations in the first
mentioned roll. The strip or sheet of steel is passed between the rolls k, kas it
leaves the plate-rolls, and whilst still in a heated state, and is subsequently com-
pletely shaped by suitable presses.
In manufacturing what are known as "pot-sleepers" which are ordinarily made of
cast iron, we prepare a sheet of metal, preferably steel, of the required size, and
make the necessary perforations o, o, o for a cross tie bar, as shown in Figure 13.
The plate is subsequently dished as shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12 and corrugated
as at p to take up the surplus metal.
The dish can be so formed that the surface of the top of the sleeper is at the
required angle for the inclination of the rail, if such inclination is desirable.
Two rail receptacles or chairs c, c are formed on the top surface of the sleeper in a
similar manner to that described in the Specification before referred to and illus-
trated in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings thereof. The rail receptacles may,
however, be formed in any other suitable manner, for instance, by pressing up lips
or flaps from the plate.
Between the two rail receptacles a recess q is formed on the top of the sleepor
to receive the key which fastens the cross tie bar s.
The press, by means of which we shapo the sleeper, has its dies preferably so
arranged that the rail receptacles, the recess for the key of the cross tie bar, and
the sides of the sleeper are formed at one operation, thereby finishing the sleeper
from the plate prepared as described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
=
(1) In the manufacture of railway sleepers of the kind illustrated in Figures 1
to 6 of the accompanying drawings, the thickening of the plate or sheet at the
parts in which the rail receptacles are to be formed, substantially as, and for the
purpose, described.
(2) The employment of apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figure 7 of the drawings, for forming the rail receptacles in sleepers
of the kind referred to in the preceding claiming clause.
(3) The partial formation of railway sleepers of the kind illustrated in Figures 1, 2
and 3 of the drawing of the aforesaid Specification, substantially in the manner
hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying
drawings.
(4) The manufacture of pot-sleepers substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 10, to 13 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 30th day of January 1880.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicants.