IMPROVEMENTS IN CHAIRS USED IN FIXING LINES OF RAILWAY
Year: 1885

page_text: I JOHN EDWARD BARRACLOUGH ARMYTAGE, of Victoria Foundry, Stanningley,
in the Township of Pudsey, in the West Riding of the County of York, Engineer
and Iron Founder, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN CHAIRS USED IN FIXING LINES OF RAILWAY to be as follows:-
In the chairs hitherto used there are two upright pieces of iron, called "jaws,"
placed about four and a half inches apart, between which the railway line is placed,
and is fixed by means of wooden wedges.
My improvement consists in the removal of one of the said jaws, and the
substitution of a box-like piece of iron, forming three sides of a rectangle, and
having circular holes in two sides, opposite to each other-such sides being
about two and a half to three inches high. Between the open ends of this
rectangle and the jaw there is a space sufficiently large to admit of the rail or line
dropping through and on to the base of the chair. The line is then fixed (without
the use of any wooden appliances, wedges, or blocks) by means of two small iron
blocks fitting into the rectangular box; one of which also fits the side of the rail.
Each of these blocks has a semi-circular groove, of one inch diameter and half an
inch in depth, corresponding to the two holes in the sides of the box. When these
blocks are placed together in the rectangular box the holes in the sides of the box
are in line with the grooves in the two blocks. An iron circular drift, one inch in
diameter at one end and seven-eighths of an inch in diameter at the other, and
about six inches long, is then driven in through the holes of the rectangular box,
and also between the grooves in the two blocks. This fastens the rail or line to
the chair more firmly than can be done by the system now in use.
•
.
My invention has a great superiority over any other chair in use by reason of
its extreme simplicity, its perfect firmness, and the dispatch and ease with which
it can be fixed and unfixed.
:

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I JOHN EDWARD BARRACLOUGH ARMYTAGE, of Victoria Foundry, Stanningley,
in the Township of Pudsey, in the West Riding of the County of York, Engineer
and Iron-founder do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN CHAIRS USED FOR FIXING LINES OF RAILWAY and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
°
In the chairs hitherto used for the purpose of fixing rails there are two upright
pieces of iron, called "jaws," placed about four and a half inches apart, between
which the rail is placed, and is fixed by means of wooden wedges or blocks.
My improvement consists in the removal of one of such jaws, and the substitu-;
tion therefor of a box-like piece of iron forming three walls of a rectangle, and
having circular holes in two walls of such rectangle. Between the open end of
this rectangle and the jaw there is a space sufficiently large to admit of the rail
dropping through and resting on the base of the chair. The rail is then fixed
(without the use of any wooden appliances, wedges, or blocks) by means of two
small iron blocks fitting into the rectangular box; one of which also fits the side
of the rail. Each of these blocks has a semicircular groove, of one inch diameter
and half an inch in depth (or thereabouts), corresponding in position to those in
the walls of the box. I find it advantageous to provide spiral races or broad rifle
grooves in these semicircular grooves to grip the pin and prevent its accidental
rotation or backward movement. When these blocks are placed together in the
box the holes in the walls of the box are in line with the grooves in the two
blocks. An iron circular drift or pin, about one inch in diameter at one end, and
from seven eighths to fifteen sixteenths of an inch in diameter at the other end, and
about six inches long, is then driven in through the holes in the walls of the box,
and also between the grooves in the two blocks; thereby forcing the inner block
firmly against the rail. A wooden pin may sometimes be used, if preferred.
My invention has therefore great superiority over other forms of chairs in use,
by reason of its extreme simplicity, its perfect firmness and security, and the
dispatch and ease with which it can be fixed and unfixed.
And, in order that my said invention may be more particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved chair, with the two blocks in position, the
rail being shown in section on the line wx of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation
on the line y z of Fig. 1, showing the rail (in section) fixed in the chair. Fig. 3 is
a side view of the two blocks. Fig. 4 is an end view of the chair; Fig. 5 shows
the form of the drift or pin; and Fig. 6 shows the drift or pin as sometimes fitted
at one end with à screw thread and safety nut to prevent it from shifting. a is
the ordinary jaw, against which the rail is forced by the blocks; b is the
rectangular box; c is the inner block; and d is the outer block.
The two semicircular grooves c and d have their internal faces formed with
spiral races, or raised lines of surface, with a very slight twist. These races,

page_text: or raised portions, grip the pin very powerfully, and prevent it from turning round
on its axis, and from moving backwards in the groove.
The block d is provided with a hole at d, into which a rod or pin may be
inserted to lift the same out, when required, for repairs or otherwise.
The rectangular box, and the blocks, are carefully made, and the fit is almost
perfect before the insertion of the drift pin, the insertion of which, with a few
blows from a hammer, renders the fixture of the rail perfectly firm and secure.
The drift pin may be depended upon as a secure appliance without any
additional security to prevent its becoming loose; but in case additional security
should be preferred, I fit the end of such pin with a screw nut, fitting a corre-
sponding thread on the end of the pin. The pin e, with the screw thread and
safety nut, is shown in position at f in Fig. 1, and separately in Figs. 5 and 6.
In Figs. 2, 3, and 3ª the spiral races g g are shown, Fig. 3ª being an internal
view of one of the semicircular grooves, the twist or spiral form of the races being
clearly seen.
"
The form of the blocks c and d will be clearly seen on reference to Fig. 3.
The hole d' (Figs. 2, 3, and 4) is provided for removing the block d by means of
a pin inserted therein for that purpose, thus loosening the rail, and rendering it
easily removable.
On reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the block c grips the rail, not only at
the base of the rail, but also round and on the top of such base, with a very close
fit; and the top of the block c also grips the rail at h; whereby the rail is fixed
and held in position in a manner superior to that of any other system.
0
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what”
I claim is
1. In the construction of railway chairs, the combination of the rectangular
box b, fitted with movable blocks c and d and drift pin e, substantially as and for
the purposes herein before described and shown on the drawings.
2. The use and manufacture of railway chairs made and constructed in the
manner substantially as herein before described and shown on the drawings.
Dated this Eleventh day of June One thousand eight hundred and eighty-five.