An Improved Timber Railway Sleeper.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Timber Railway Sleeper.
I, LUMAN CHURCH INGERSOLL of Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa, U.S.A.,
Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
:-
The sleeper of this invention, except at the two parts where the rails are carried,
is formed with sloping sides so as to give a narrow top and broad base. Where
the rails are carried the two sides of the sleeper are vertical so that between the
sloping and vertical sides there are shoulders which when the sleeper is embedded
in the earth tend to prevent end displacement of the same whilst the broad base is
always retained.
Dated this 29th day of May 1895.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
An Improved Timber Railway Sleeper.
I, LUMAN CHURCH INGERSOLL of Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa, U.S.A.,
Dentist, 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 :-
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 shews the application of the sleeper of this
invention to a railway. Fig. 2 is a top view of the sleeper. Fig. 3 shews the
sleepers inverted.
The invention has especial reference to the formation of the side and top surfaces
of the sleeper A. The side surfaces are formed with portions 6 extending
perpendicularly to the bottom or approximately so and inclined portions spreading
downward as indicated at c.
The portions 6 being arranged at a greater angle to the top or bottom than the
portions c shoulders d'are formed between the said portions. In consequence of
the provision of the above inclined portions the top surface of the sleeper consists
of a central spine e running lengthwise of the sleeper and enlargements or
shoulders projecting on each side of the said spine. The portions 6 of the side
surfaces and consequently the enlarged portions of the top surface are placed at
such a distance apart as will correspond to the width of the line the rails R being
adapted to rest on the said enlarged portions.
In practice the improved sleepers may be made from ordinary timber sleepers by
cutting out their lateral surfaces to form the inclined portions c while the other
surfaces are left intact except as far as the cutting of the lateral surfaces involves
an alteration of the top surface. It will be seen that the enlarged portions f form
ample bases for the support and fastenings of the rails and the said portions extend
the full width of the timber, also the full width of the bottom surface is preserved
so that the load that may rest upon the sleeper is distributed over a comparatively
large surface of the ballast B. Further the shoulder d being in intimate contact
ת
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page_text: with the ballast between the sleepers will effectively prevent endwise movement of
the sleepers, i.e. transverse displacement of the line while by the provision of the
inclined surfaces c and the essentially vertical portions b between them, the sleepers
are enabled to better resist the tendency of the rails to longitudinal movement so
that both longitudinal and transverse displacements of the line are prevented.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A timber railroad sleeper, consisting of a single piece whose top surface is
composed of a longitudinal spine and enlargements projecting on each side thereof
at such a distance as will correspond to the width of the line, while the side
surfaces of the sleeper comprise downwardly spreading inclined portions arranged
both interiorly and exteriorly of the said enlargements of the top surface, whereby
shoulders are formed on the side surfaces of the sleeper, substantially as described
and shewn.
Dated this 27th day of February 1896.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.