IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET TRAMWAYS, AND IN RAILS AND CHAIRS FOR TRAMWAYS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Henry Beloe, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET
TRAMWAYS, AND IN RAILS AND CHAIRS FOR TRAMWAYS."
Sealed the 25th January 1878, and dated the 2nd October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Henry Beloe at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd October 1877.
CHARLES HENRY BELOE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET TRAMWAYS, AND IN RAILS AND CHAIRS
FOR TRAMWAYS."
My Invention relates to a novel system of laying and fixing street tramways, and
to a novel form of rail and chair to be used therefor.
My Invention consists in using a rail of two bars set on edge, and carried by and
secured to cast-iron chairs resting on and fastened to cross sleepers or concrete.
The bars forming the rail are constructed with a longitudinal bevelled groove on
one side running the entire length of the rail. The chairs carrying the rails are
formed with bulb heads of section to correspond with the bevelled grooves in the
bars forming the rails. The heads of the chairs are of such thickness as to separate
the bars forming the rails the distance required for the running groove for the
wheel flange, which may be of central construction. The double bars forming the
rail are held together by bolts formed with a central hexagon or square head, and
having right and left handed screws, the head coming in the groove between the
two bars forming the rail, and the right and left handed screws taking into the bars
and holding them together, and thus securing them by causing them to embrace the
bulb heads of the carrying chairs, which may be set about three feet apart.
The cast-iron chairs are fastened to the cross sleepers by wood screws, trenails,
or spikes, and are of height to correspond with that of the paving setts or the
roadway.
In lieu of the chairs being set on sleepers they may rest on asphalte or concrete,
their base being enlarged to give the requisite amount of bearing surface, and be

page_text: held by guage tie rods. The spaces between the chairs are filled in with concrete,
and the top surface between the rails, to the height of the nuts of the holding bolts,
is filled in with asphalte.
The section of rail, according to my Invention, may be of such form that the rail
may be reversed when the top surface is worn; or the section may be of single-
headed form. In the latter case I cause the rails to bear on the chairs, which are
constructed with a flat web instead of a bulb head, the bars forming the rail resting
on each side of such web, and being fastened thereto by a suitable bolt or rivet.
The same arrangement of chair may be used for carrying reversable bars forming
rails. In this case I place the bars with their grooves on the outside to receive the
head of the bolt and the nut which secures the bars to the chair. The paving setts
are thus enabled to be brought up to and flush with the rail.
I would have it understood that my Invention is capable of various modifications
as to the section of the rail and chair, and to the style of bolt, screw, or rivet
by which the bars forming the rail are secured together. Amongst other the
following advantages result from the use of a tramway constructed according to my
Invention:-
The rail from its depth is of the strongest possible form, and of stability sufficient
to carry the load without continuous sleepers.
The flat bars forming the rail are of the simplest section for rolling.
The bars can be tightened up without removing the paving setts, or by removing
only those setts adjoining the rail.
The sides of the rails present uniform bearing surfaces for the paving setts to abut
against without any projections at the joints, chains, or fastenings.
The joints of the rails can be "suspended" joints, and strengthened by fish
plates.
The form of rail is well adapted to the formation of points and crossings, and is
well fitted for bending round curves limited in radius.
It compares favourably in first cost with the best of existing systems, while in
subsequent maintenance considerable reduction will ensue.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Henry Beloe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
March 1878.
CHARLES HENRY BELOE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Civil
Engineer. " IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET TRAMWAYS, AND IN RAILS AND CHAIRS
FOR TRAMWAYS."
My Invention relates to a novel system of laying and fixing street tramways, and
to a novel form of rail and chair to be used therefor.
My Invention consists in using a rail of two bars set on edge, and carried by and
secured to cast-iron chairs resting on and fastened to cross sleepers or concrete.
The bars forming the rail are constructed with a longitudinal bevel groove on
one side running the entire length of the rail. The chairs carrying the rails are
formed with bulb heads of section to correspond with the bevelled grooves in the
bars forming the rails. The heads of the chairs are of such thickness as to separate
the bars forming the rails the distance required for the running groove for the
wheel flange, which may be of central construction. The double bars forming the
rail are held together by bolts formed with a central hexagon or square head, and
having right and left handed screws, the head coming in the groove between the
two bars forming the rail, and the right and left handed screws taking into the bars
and holding them together, and thus securing them by causing them to embrace the
bulb heads of the carrying chairs, which may be set about three feet apart.
The cast-iron chairs are fastened to the cross sleepers by wood screws, trenails,
or spikes, and are of height to correspond with that of the paving setts or the
roadway.
In lieu of the chairs being set on sleepers they may rest on asphalte or concrete,
their base being enlarged to give the requisite amount of bearing surface, and be
held by guage tie rods. The spaces between the chairs are filled in with concrete,
and the top surface between the rails, to the height of the nuts of the holding bolts,
is filled in with asphalte.
The section of rail, according to my Invention, may be of such form that the rail
may be reversed when the top surface is worn; or the section may be of single-
headed form. In another mode of construction I cause the rails to bear on the
chairs, which are constructed with a flat web instead of a bulb head, the bars
forming the rail resting on each side of such web, and being fastened thereto by a
suitable bolt or rivet. The same arrangement of chair may be used for carrying
reversable bars forming rails. In this case I place the bars with their grooves on
the outside to receive the head of the bolt and the nut which secures the bars to
the chair. The paving setts are thus enabled to be brought up to and flush with
the rail.
I would have it understood that my Invention is capable of various modifications
as to the section of the rail and chair, and to the style of bolt, screw, or rivet
by which the bars forming the rail are secured.
The nature, object, and purposes of this my Invention having been set forth as
above I will now proceed to describe in detail how the same may be practically
carried out, and for that purpose I have hereunto attached three Sheets of Drawings,
which sufficiently illustrate my Invention to enable any person acquainted with the
laying of tramways to carry the same into practical effect. Like letters and figures
marked on the Drawings denote the same or corresponding parts throughout the
various views.
Upon reference to the Drawings it will be seen that,-
Figure 1 is a cross section of a rail and chair of a tramway constructed according
to my Invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal view of Ficure 1 with the rail nartly removed.

page_text: Figure 8 is a side view of Figure 7 with rail partly removed.
Figure 9 is a section through C, D, Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a modification of Figure 7.
Figure 11 illustrates the rail fastening, as shown at Figure 9, and applied to
Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a section of a tramroad showing my Invention as laid.
Figure 13 is a plan of Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a section through E, F, G, Figure 13.
Figures 15, 16, 17, and 18 illustrate my Invention as applied in concrete with
guage tie rods.
My Invention consists in using a rail of two bars A, A¹, set on edge, and carried
by and secured to cast-iron chairs B, which rest on and are secured to cross timber
sleepers C by the bolts or spikes D (or which rest on and are embedded in concrete,
as shown in Figure 18).
Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, and 9, it will be seen that the
bars A, A, forming the rail are constructed with a longitudinal bevel groove a on
one side running the entire length of the rail. The chairs B are formed with bulb
heads b of section to correspond with the bevel grooves a in the bars A, A. The
heads of the chairs B are of such thickness as to separate the bars A, A¹, the
distance required for the running groove E, which may be of central construction,
as shown at Figures 1 to 9 inclusive, or of side tread construction, as shown at
Figures 10 and 11. The bars A, A³, forming the rail are held together by bolts F
formed with a central, hexagon, or square head H. The bolts F may be arranged
and constructed with right and left hand screws taking into the bars A, A¹, and
thus securing them by causing them to embrace the bulb head b of the carrying
chairs B, as shown at Figures 1, 2, and 3.
In Figures 7, 8, and 9 the bolt F, according to my Invention, is arranged with a
tapered head d, the bolt being square at e to receive the loose nut H, and screwed
at f to take into the nut J, which is provided with a key, as shown at Figures 9
and 9ª.
The carrying chairs B may be set about three feet apart, and are arranged in
height to allow for the paving setts of the roadway.
In lieu of the chairs B being set on wooden sleepers they may rest on or be
embedded in asphalte or concrete, their base being enlarged to give the requisite
amount of bearing surface, and be held by guage tie rods L, as shown at Figures 15
to 18 inclusive.
The section of rail A, A¹, according to my Invention, may be of such form that
the rail may be reversed when the top surface is worn, as shown at Figures 1, 2,
and 3; or the rail may be of single-headed form, as shown at Figures 6 and 7. In
the former case the chair B is modified and constructed with a flat web instead of a
bulb head, the bars A, A', forming the rail resting on each side of the chair, and
being fastened thereto by a suitable bolt or rivet, as shown at Figure 6. The:
same arrangement of chair may be used for carrying reversable bars, as shown at
Figure 4.
Figure 5 illustrates an alternate screw bolt attachment.
In the modification shown at Figures 10 and 11 the bar A is formed narrow, and
the bar A' wide. This arrangement is for a side tread. The chair B, as shown in
the Drawings, is made to correspond with the bars A, A'; the fastening bolt F is
made of similar construction to that described at Figure 9 with the exception of a
square but J being used.
Amongst other the following advantages result from the use of a tramway
constructed according to my Invention:-
The rail from its depth is of the strongest possible form, and of stability sufficient
to carry the load without continuous sleepers.
The flat bars forming the rail are of the simplest section for rolling.

page_text: The bars can be tightened up without removing the paving setts, or by removing
only those setts adjoining the rail opposite the screw bolts.
The sides of the rails present uniform bearing surfaces for the paving setts to
abut against without any projections at the joints, chairs, or fastenings.
The joints of the rails can be "suspended" joints, and strengthened by fish
plates.
The form of rail is well adapted to the formation of points and crossings, and is
well fitted for bending round curves limited in radius.
It compares favourably in first cost with the best of existing systems, while in
subsequent maintenance considerable reduction will ensue.
Having now described and ascertained the nature and construction of my Inven-
tion, and shown how the same may be carried out into practical effect, I would
have it understood that I do not confine myself to dimensions or to the precise
arrangements and details shown in the Drawings, as the same are capable of various
modifications, but what clain as my Invention and secured to me by Letters
Patent as aforesaid is, the construction and arrangement of a tramway, the rails of
which consist of two vertical bars, such as A, A', set on edge, and carried by and
secured to chairs, such as B, by bolts, such as F, and resting on cross sleepers, such
as C, or concrete, as herein-before described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings, or any modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Henry Beloe, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TAZDY
CHA
HARLES ENVI (L.S.) BELOE.