Sleepers and the Ends of Rails to each other.
Year: 1885

page_text: Sleepers and the Ends of Rails to each other.
I JAMES DUFFIELD Ashfield Workington in the County of Cumberland Steel
Works Manager do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE METHODS OF SECURING RAILS AND CHAIRS TO SLEEPERS, AND THE
ENDS OF RAILS TO EACH OTHER to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to make a strong and safe fastening for securing
Rails and Chairs to Railway and Tramway Sleepers, which are usually made of
iron or steel; and to connect the ends of rails when laid in line without the use
of fish plates, and I accomplish this by means of suitably shaped rails, keys and
chairs.
In carrying out my invention in securing rails to sleepers without the use of
chairs, I use a rail provided with a longitudinal rib or projection on each side of
the web preferably in a position below the centre and extending the whole length
of the rail. The rib or projection may vary in shape, but by preference it is made
of a triangular cross-section, and its use is to form an abutment or seating for the
keys which connect the rails to the sleepers.
The sleepers can be of the ordinary type or sections which are now rolled or
pressed in dies, but lugs of a suitable shape are formed upon them, or are attached
to them, at proper distances apart to suit the section of rail employed, and to the
gauge at which it is intended to lay them.
When the rail is placed upon the sleepers and between the lugs before mentioned,
keys are driven in between the lugs and the rail; these keys are of such a cross
section that they bear simultaneously against the under face of the rib or projection
on the rail, on the bottom member or flange of the rail, and on the lugs of the
sleepers, thus securely connecting the rail to the sleepers.
When it is desirable to secure chairs to such rolled or pressed sleepers, the lugs
upon the sleepers are made further apart and suitable recesses must be formed in
each end of the base of the chair, to provide a proper bearing for the keys which
must bear against the chair and the lugs in a manner similar to that already
D
077

page_text: described in attaching rails to sleepers. To prevent the chairs from creeping
sideways across the sleepers, I provide side lugs pressed out of, or attached to the
sleeper, and so as to come in contact with the base of the chair.
If desirable the chair may be secured by the use of one wedge only-the opposite
end of the chair bearing direct against the lug on the sleeper.
When it is intended to dispense with the use of fish plates, a sleeper is placed
under the ends of contiguous rails, commonly called a joint, and a pair of keys are
used that will bear on a portion of both rails and the lugs of the sleepers, it being
understood that the rails used have the ribs or projections as before described.
La 10or

page_text: THE METHOⱭS OF During an ԺԱ CHATT D
Sleepers and the Ends of Rails to each other..
LO
I JAMES DUFFIELD Ashfield, Workington, in the County of Cumberland Steel
Works Manager do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE METHODS OF SECURING RAILS AND CHAIRS TO SLEEPERS, AND THE ENDS
OF RAILS TO EACH OTHER and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that
is to say:
The object of this invention is to make a strong and safe fastening for securing
Rails and Chairs to Railway and Tramway Sleepers, which are usually made of
iron or of steel; and to connect the ends of rails when laid in the "line" without
the use of fish plates and I accomplish this by means of suitably shaped rails, keys,
and chairs, hereafter more particularly described.
And in order that my invention may be clearly understood I have, annexed a
sheet of drawings illustrating same; in which the same letters of reference indicate
the same or similar parts in any of the figures in which they occur.
Fig. 1, represents a cross section and side elevation of a double-head rail secured
to a sleeper according to my improved system.
Fig. 2, similar views of the system applied to flanged rails, and to the joints
of same.
Fig. 3, cross section and plan of rail secured by one key only, the rib being
formed at the root of the web.
Fig. 4, the same rail secured by two keys.
Fig. 5, shows the method applied to securing chairs to metallic sleepers, using
two keys..
Fig. 6, the same, one key only being used.
In carrying out my invention as shown in Fige 1 & 2, in securing rails to
sleepers without the use of chairs, the sleepers C may be of the ordinary type or
sections such as are now made either by rolling or pressing, but they are provided
with lugs D, D, of suitable shape, those shown being pressed out of the upper
table of the sleeper, but they may be secured thereto by any suitable means.
The rail A is provided with a longitudinal projection or rib B, on each side of
the web, preferably near its vertical centre, but it may be formed in any other
suitable position.
The rails may be of any desired section, and the rib B, may vary in form,
although by preference I make it of a triangular section the use of the rib being
to form an abutment or seating for the keys E, to bear against, with which the
rail is secured to the sleeper, or for the lugs when keys are not used.
When the rail is placed on any number of these metallic sleepers between the
lugs D, a key E, is driven between the lug and the rail, one on each side. The
keys which are preferably metallic are of a configuration that enables them to bear
simultaneously on the underside of the rib B, also on the bottom member or flange
of the rail, and against and under the lugs D, thus forming a strong connection of
the rail to the sleeper. To prevent the key from becoming loose through any

page_text: cause, a slit or sawgate F, may be made in the tapered end of the key (see
Fig 3 & 4) so that the end of the key may be expanded by the use of a chisel
or wedge.
Fig 3 & 4 represent a modification in the position of the rib, which is formed at
the root of the web instead of near the centre as in Figs 1 & 2.
Ι
In securing chairs to metallic sleepers such as are shown in Fig 5 & 6, instead
of using bolts or rivets, I secure them in a similar manner to that already described
for securing rails to sleepers, but in this case a recess G, is made at each end of the
base of the chair, to form a proper bearing for the keys E, or for the Jug as shown
in Fig. 6, when only one key is used.
When the keys are driven into position, they must. bear simultaneously in the
recesses G, and upon the edge and underside of the lugs D. And as a further
means for preventing the chairs from creeping sideways across the sleepers, I form
either by pressing out of the sleeper or otherwise, two smaller lugs H, on opposite
sides of the seating of each chair, at such a distance apart as will allow of the chair
being placed between them.
In Fig. 6, the chair is shown.secured by one only of the special keys, the recess
on the opposite side of the chair being formed to fit upon and under the lug D.
The rails may be secured in the chairs by wood keys in the usual manner.
In securing the ends of contiguous rails commonly called the joint, an example
of which is shown in Fig. 2, I prefer to use a somewhat broader sleeper, the lugs D,
being also broader in proportion, so as to afford a longer bearing for the keys E,
which are also made longer as shown, but this is not essential.
By my system it will be seen that the use of fish plates may be dispensed with.
Having now fully and particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
said invention, and the manner in which it is to be performed and carried into
practice, I declare that what I claim is:-
1st The Improved system of securing Railway rails and chairs to metallic
sleepers substantially as herein before described, and as illustrated.
2nd In securing rails to metallic sleepers, forming the rail with a continuous rib
or longitudinal projection, on both sides of the web of the rail, for the purpose
specified and substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
3rd The method of securing the ends of rails to each other when in line, (com-
monly called the joint), substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
4th In securing rails to sleepers, the particular arrangement and combination of
the parts B, E, and D, as shown in Fig 1, 2, 3, 4.
'
5th In securing chairs to sleepers, the particular arrangement and combination
of the parts G, E, D, and H, substantially as described and illustrated in
Fige 5 & 6.