Improvements in or connected with Sleepers and Rail Fastenings.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1891-Accepted. 19th Dec., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Sleepers and Rail Fastenings.
1, CHARLES PHIN HAMMOND of Atlanta in the County of Fulton and State
f Georgia, United States of America, Railroad Superintendent, do hereby
eclare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
erformed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
tatement:
My invention, relates, to an improvement in metal ties or sleepers for railways
nd it consists in the parts as will be, more fully described and pointed out in
Improvements in or connected with Sleepers and Rail Fastenings.
1, CHARLES PHIN HAMMOND of Atlanta in the County of Fulton and State
of Georgia, United States of America, Railroad Superintendent, 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:-
My invention, relates to an improvement in metal ties or sleepers for railways
and it consists in the parts as will be, more fully described and pointed out in
the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a part of a sleeper showing rail section thereon.
Fig. 2 is a view.in transverse section on the line of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sleeper showing the openings for the clips
and wedges.
Fig. 4 is a view, on the line y-y of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 shows the clip in side and end elevation.
Fig. 6 shows the wedge in plan and end. elevation.
Fig. 7 is a modification and
Figs. 8 and 9 are views in perspective of the clamping block and wedge employed
with this form of sleeper.
A represents a sleeper preferably made of sheet metal and provided at its sides
with depending flanges a, and preferably with an open center as shown at B
Figures 1 and 3. When the upper surface of the sleeper is continuous or closed,
there is a tendency when the road bed is loosened or washed from under the ends
of the sleepers, of the sleepers to rock lengthwise on their centers, and consequently
throws considerable strain on the centers which cause them to bulge up. By leaving
the centers open this tendency to rock and bulge at the centers is entirely
overcome.
slots c
The sleepers are, each provided at points near, their opposite ends, with transverse
slots c.which latter start from one or both side edges of the sleepers and extend the
required distance, and the other slots e' communicate with the transverse
and extend in the direction of the length of the sleepers. The slots c and cl, have
parallel sides and consequently the wedges and clips which are secured therein are
free to be moved the full length of the slots.
The series of slots cand c at each end of the sleeper are separated sufficiently
for the introduction between them of rails of any width. After the sleepers have
been set and the rails placed thereon the clips D are placed in position within the
slots c. Each of these. clips,D is provided with an overhanging lip d adapted to
overlap a flange or base of the rail, and is also provided on its opposite sides with
grooves d' of a width slightly greater than the thickness of the metal from which
the sleeper is made. The slots c' are enlarged at their outer ends as shown at c
sufficiently to permit the clips to be passed through them until the grooves d¹ in
said clips are in line with the top surface or body of the sleeper; the clips are then
moved towards the. rail until stopped by contact therewith and when thus placed
the, lips d overhang the flanges or base of the rail. These clips firmly and, securely
hold the rail in position and to prevent the clips from backing away from the rail
the wedges E are employed. These, wedges are preferably made of steel and are
provided on their, opposite side edges with parallel grooves. These wedges are
introduced from the sides of the tie at right angles to the clips, the inclined side or
face thereof engaging the outer ends of the clip above and below the body of the
sleeper. As the wedges are driven in, the inclined surfaces thereof engaging the
with this form or sleeper.
.
A represents a sleeper preferably made of sheet metal and provided at its sides
with depending flanges a, and preferably with an open center as shown at B
Figures 1 and 3. When the upper surface of the sleeper is continuous or closed,
there is a tendency when the road bed is loosened or washed from under the ends
of the sleepers, of the sleepers to rock lengthwise on their centers, and consequently
throws considerable strain on the centers which cause them to bulge up. By leaving
the centers open this tendency to rock and bulge at the centers is entirely
overcome.
The sleepers are, each provided.at points near, their opposite ends, with transverse
slots c.which latter.start from one or both side edges of the sleepers and extend the
required distance, and the other slots c' communicate with the transverse slots c
and extend in the direction of the length of the sleepers. The slots c and c, have
parallel sides and consequently the wedges and clips which are secured therein are
free to be moved the full length of the slots.
The series of slots cand c¹ at each end of the sleeper are separated sufficiently
for the introduction between them of rails of any width. After the sleepers have
been set and, the rails placed thereon the clips D.are placed in position within the
slots c'. Each of these. clips,D is provided with an overhanging lip d adapted to
overlap a flange or base of the rail, and is also provided on its opposite sides with
grooves d' of a width slightly greater than the thickness of the metal from which
the sleeper is made. The slots c¹' are enlarged at their outer ends as shown at c²
sufficiently to permit the clips to be passed through them until the grooves d¹ in
said clips are in line with, the top surface or body of the sleeper; the clips are then
moved towards the. rail until stopped by contact therewith and when thus placed
the lips d overhang the flanges or base of the rail. These clips firmly and, securely
hold the rail in position and to prevent the clips from backing away from the rail
the wedges E are employed. These, wedges are preferably made of steel and are
provided on their opposite side edges with parallel grooves. These wedges are
introduced, from the sides of the tie at right angles to the clips, the inclined side or
face thereof engaging the outer ends of the clip above and below the body of the
sleeper. As the wedges are driven in, the inclined surfaces thereof engaging the

page_text: clips, force the latter solidly into contact with the flanges of the rails and prevent
any movement of the latter. To prevent the wedges from working loose, the latter
are twisted slightly in the direction of their length, which throws the grooves in
the sides thereof out of line and consequently causes the wedges when the latter
are driven into place to bind on the side walls of the slots c and prevent their
accidental displacement.
The end of the clip D which is in contact with the wedge may be straight or
bevelled off towards one edge to assist the wedging action.
The slots and wedges and cleats are designed to permit the use of various sized
rails and yet preserve a true gauge of track.
At the ends of the cut away central sections depending flanges are formed to
prevent endwise displacement of the sleepers.
In the modified construction illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, while the principle
is precisely the same, slight differences exist. Elongated slots c and d are formed
in the sleeper at points where the opposite edges of the rails pass. These slots
are enlarged at c and clamping blocks C are inserted in these slots at the widened
point. The general shape of these clamping blocks is T-shaped as shown in
Figure 8 and the lower ends of the blocks are provided with grooves fon
opposite vertical faces, said grooves being adapted to receive the parallel edges of
the slots c and d. The blocks are also provided at their upper ends with outwardly
projecting flanges g, g' the former of which are adapted to extend over the rail
flange and the latter to extend over the wedge D.
C
Diagonal clips e, e¹ are forced up from the metal sleeper and the wedges are
forced under these clips and flanges whereby to force the clamping blocks
securely against the rail flanges and to hold them solidly in this position. The
wedges are preferably warped or bent somewhat as shown in Fig. 8, so when they
are driven to their seats, the spring in the metal will hold them permanently in
place. One edge of each wedge is also usually made at right angles to its end
while the other is inclined. In this manner the wedge is made to lie parallel
with the outer edge of the block while the inclined edge lies parallel with the
clip under which the wedge is forced, thereby rendering it capable of use
either right or left handed and at the same time makes it square and symmetrical
at both ends.
By means of these sleepers slotted as described and the clips and wedges, I am
enabled to quickly set or remove rails, and when the rails are secured in place
they are positively held against spreading or turning over. Again it permits of
the employment of any size rails which is a great advantage in view of the tendency
to enlarge the size of the rails as traffic increases.
•
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 :
1st. As a new article of manufacture, a metal tie or sleeper, made of a con-
tinuous piece and provided with an open center, substantially as set forth.
2nd. The combination with a metal tie or sleeper, having communicating
slots located at right angles to each other, of a clip in one slot having a lip for engaging
the rail flange, and a wedge in the other slot for engaging the outer end of the clip,
substantially as set forth.
3rd. The combination with a metal tie or sleeper having communicating slots,
of a clip located in one slot and beveled at one end and having an overhanging lip
at its other end, and a wedge located within the other slot and engaging the beveled
end of the clip, substantially as set forth.
4th. The combination with a metal plate having a transverse slot and a longi-
tudinal slot, the latter opening into the transverse slot, of a clip having grooved
sides, and a wedge having grooved sides, the said clip and wedges being secured
within said slots, substantially as set forth.
5th. The combination with a metal plate having a slot therein and a clip secured

page_text: thereto against vertical displacement, of a wedge having grooved sides and twisted
so as to prevent a warped surface on top, the said twisted wedge being driven into
the slot behind the clip for preventing the latter from moving laterally, sub-
stantially as set forth.
6th. The combination with a tie or sleeper and integral clip formed on the
upper surface thereof, said tie having slots therein, of clamping block having
grooves in its opposite edges to receive the parallel edges of the slot, and a key for
insertion between the outer flange of the block and the clip and seated on the tie,
substantially as set forth.
7th. The combination with a tie or sleeper and integral clip formed on the upper
surface thereof, said tie having elongated slots formed therein, these slots having
enlargements, of clamping blocks adapted to enter at the enlarged points of the
elongated slots and provided in their edges with grooves to receive the parallel
edges of the slots, and a key for insertion between the outer flange of the block and
the clip and seated on the tie, substantially as set forth.
.
8th. The combination with a metallic railroad tie or sleeper, of a diagonally
disposed clip projecting therefrom, a block having oppositely projecting flanges,
and a wedge, key or plate having one edge adapted to lie parallel with said
clamping block and the other wall adapted to lie parallel with the clip, said plate
being slightly warped or bent, substantially as set forth.
9th. The combination with a metallic railroad tie or sleeper having a slot
therein, of a clamping block having grooves to receive the walls of said slot and
oppositely projecting flanges, a clip on said tie or sleeper, and a wedge or key
inserted between the block and clip and adapted to rest under one flange of the
block and under the clip, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of November 1891.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.