IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY RAILS OR BARS
Year: 1872

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm
of Harris and Mills, of 35, Southampton Buildings, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY RAILS OR BARS."-A communication
from abroad by Theodore Ruggles Timby, of Tarrytown, in the
County of Westchester, in the State of New York, United States
of America, Engineer.
Sealed the 23rd August 1872, and dated the 23rd February 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph
Barnard Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 23rd February 1872.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and
Mills, of 35, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY RAILS OR BARS," a
communication to me from abroad by Theodore Ruggles Timby, of
65

page_text: Tarrytown, in the County of Westchester, in the State of New York,
United States of America, Engineer, to be as follows: —
This Invention consists in constructing a T rail with apertures,
recesses, or cavities in its web, so that its weight may be much reduced
without serious diminution of strength, or so that the height, strength,
and efficiency of the rail may be increased without adding to its
weight.
The apertures or recesses are preferably made with rounded ends or
approximately elliptical in form, by which means the strength of the
rail is preserved.
It has been discovered by experiment that a great reduction in the
weight of the rail can in this manner be effected without any perceptible
diminution in its strength. It is not essential to the Invention whether
the cavities extend completely through the web or only partially so.
The former manner of carrying out the Invention is in some respects
more economical of metal, but the latter involves less difficulty or
complication in manufacture because no punching is necessary.
The cavities are readily formed in the act of rolling by means of
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 20
filed by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 23rd August 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 35,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, 2
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her.
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc- 8

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a T rail illustrating the
Invention; Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line y, y,
Figure 1; Figure 3 is a horizontal section thereof on the line x, x,
Figures 1 and 2. Figure 4 is a side elevation of a portion of a rail 5
illustrating the same Invention under a modified form. Figure 5 is a
transverse section of the same at y, y, Figure 4. Figure 6 is a horizontal
section at x, x, Figures 4 and 5.
A is the head, and B the base of a Trail. These parts may be of
any usual or suitable form; C is the connecting web, in the central part 1
of which are formed recesses or cavities D, of greatest width at and near
the vertical centre of the web, at which part one-half of the metal may
be removed, while above and below where the web is united to the head
and base respectively the shoulders are left intact.
It has been discovered by actual and careful experiment that a great 1
reduction in the weight of the rail can in this manner be effected
without any perceptible diminution in its strength.
It is not essential to the Invention whether the cavities extend
completely through the web as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, or only
partially so, as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6.
The former manner of carrying out the Invention is in some respects
more economical of metal, but the latter involves less difficulty or
complication in manufacture because no punching is necessary.
The cavities shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6 are readily formed in the act
of rolling by means of suitable projections on the rolls.
As height in a railway rail is a great desideratum in so far as it can be
obtained without any element of weakness and without too great cost,
the value of this Invention will be apparent in view of the fact that a
rail of greater height may thus be produced from a given weight of
metal without impairing the efficiency of the web to resist either the
vertical or the lateral strain to which it is subjected.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the mode
in which the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that
what 1 claim is,-

page_text: First. A railway rail constructed with a recessed or perforated web
substantially as herein described.
Secondly. The T railway rail herein described, having in its web
elliptical or approximately elliptical recesses or perforations with
curved shoulders as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of
August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-two.