Im- PROVEMENTS IN SLEEPERS AND FISH JOINTS FOR PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Innes Spencer, of Clifton, Bristol, in the
County of Gloucester, Oivil Engineer, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN SLEEPERS AND FISH JOINTS FOR PERMANENT WAY OF
RAILWAYS."-A communication from abroad by William Bull, of
the Oudh and Rohilcund Railway, India, Civil Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Innes Spencer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 26th July 1878.
I, OHARLES INNES SPENCER, of Clifton, Bristol, in the County of
Gloucester, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLEEPERS AND FISH JOINTS FOR PERMANENT
WAY OF RAILWAYS,” a communication to me from abroad by William Bull,
of the Oudh and Bohileund Railway, India, Civil Engineer, to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of

page_text: sleepers and fish-plate joints for permanent way of railways, constituting
a new form of combined sleeper and fish-plate joint, the sleeper being
capable of being used independently of the fish-plate joint if required.
The sleeper is to be made of wrought iron, half an inch (more or less)
in thickness, and two feet (more or less) longer than the gauge of the
railway where used, and of a section such as shall form three sides of a
hollow square ten inches (more or less) in width, and three inches
(more or less) in depth, approximating a section of double L iron, the
horizontal part or top to be pressed or sheared out between the rails all
but a length of two feet (more or less) at each end, the rail to be bolted
down by a short bolt to be screwed into the thickness of the sleeper, and
the head to clip the flange of the rail on each side, or the bolt to pass
through the flange of the rail. At the joints of the rails the same
general form of sleeper is to be used, but wider if necessary, with two
square holes or one elongated square hole extending the whole width of
the sleeper on each side of the position taken by the rail on the sleeper,
the holes to be in width sufficient to allow of the lower part of the fish
plate hereafter described, being inserted through them in such manner
-as that when the rail shall be in position there shall be no more lateral
"play" on either side than shall be sufficient to allow of the rails being
placed in position. In the same plane as the web of the rail a cross
piece or tie of sheet, T, or angle iron extending the width and depth of
the hollow interior of the sleeper is to be fixed to prevent any lateral
shifting of the sleeper, and to strengthen it under the joint of the rails.
The fish plate is formed somewhat in a L shape with a toe piece for
insertion in the hole or holes of the sleeper, one fish plate for each side
of the rail, the toe pieces to be continuous for the length of the plate or
to have a space cut out, thus forming two separate toe pieces to suit the
aperture or apertures cut in the sleeper. The fish plate may be the same
length as the width of the sleeper, or it may be longer if required, and
may extend beyond the toe pieces. The plates are to be screwed
together by two or more bolts, thus clamping the web and flange of the
rail, and exercising a leverage on the toe pieces of the fish plate which
then lie horizontally beneath the interior of the sleeper with a powerful
upward pressure or grip.
The advantages of the Invention consist, chiefly, in the form of the
aleener which heing considered as consisting of two parts or ends joined

page_text: together by tie rods or bars formed by a continuation of the vertical sides
of each part (the upper surface of the sleeper being there cut out), allows
of the ballast for packing up and levelling, the rails being supplied at
the open ends of each part without becoming mixed up with the material
between the sleepers, which material may be the same as that composing
the "formation" of the railway, thus dispensing with a very large pro-
portion of the ballast generally used. Also in the form of the fish-plate,
and in the utilization of the wedge shape of the lower flange of the rail
in combination with the tightening up of the bolts, so that a powerful
leverage is exerted to draw the whole of the parts comprising the joint
very firmly together as the bolts are screwed up.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Oharles Innes Spencer in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 22nd January 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
INNES SPENCER, of Clifton, Bristol, in the County of Gloucester, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Oharles Innes Spencer, Her
special licence that I, the said Charles Innes Spencer, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles
Innes Spencer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLEEPERS AND FISH JOINTS FOR PERMANENT WAY OF
RAILWAYS," a communication to me from abroad by William Bull, of
Oadh and Rohilound Railway, India, Civil Engineer, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Charles Innes Spencer, my executors

page_text: or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calender months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Innes Spencer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :---
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
sleepers and fish-plate joints for permanent way of railways, constituting
a new form of combined sleeper and fish-plate joint, the sleeper being
capable of being used independently of the fish-plate joint if required.
The sleeper is to be made of wrought iron, half an inch (more or less)
in thickness, and two feet (more or less) longer than the guage of the
railway where used, and of a section such as shall form three sides of a
hollow square ten inches (more or less) in width and three inches (more
or less) in depth, approximating a section of double L iron, the hori-
zontal part or top to be pressed or sheared out between the rails all but
a length of two feet (more or less) at each end, the rail to be bolted
down by a short bolt to be screwed into the thickness of the sleeper, and
the head to clip the flange of the rail on each side, or the bolt to pass
through the flange of the rail. At the joints of the rails the same
general form of sleeper is to be used, but wider if necessary, with two
square holes or one elongated square hole extending the whole width of
the sleeper, on each side of the position taken by the rail on the sleeper,
the holes to be in width sufficient to allow of the lower part of the fish
plate, hereafter described, being inserted through them in such manner
as that when the rail shall be in position there shall be no more lateral
"play" on either side than shall be sufficient to allow of the rails being
placed in position. In the same plane as the web of the rail a cross
piece or tie of sheet, T, or angle iron, extending the width and depth of
the hollow interior of the sleeper, is to be fixed to prevent any lateral
shifting of the sleeper, and to strengthen it under the joint of the rails.
The fish plate is formed somewhat in a 1 shape, with a toe piece for

page_text: may be longer if required, and
insertion in the hole or holes of the sleeper, one fish plate for each side
of the rail, the toe pieces to be continuous for the length of the plate or
to have a space cut out, thus forming two separate toe pieces to suit the
aperture or apertures out in the sleeper. The fish plate may be the same
length as the width of the sleeper, or it
may extend beyond the toe pieces. The plates are to be screwed
together by two or more bolts, thus clamping the web and flange of the
rail, and exercising a leverage on the toe pieces of the fish plate which
then lie horizontally beneath the interior of the sleeper with a powerful
upward pressure or grip.

page_text: The advantages of the Invention consist chiefly in the form of the
sleeper, which being considered as consisting of two parts or ends joined
together by tie rods or bars formed by a continuation of the vertical sides
of each part (the upper surface of the sleeper being there cut out),
allows of the ballast for packing up and levelling, the rails being
supplied at the open ends of each part, without becoming mixed up with
the material between the sleepers, which material may be the same as
that composing the "formation" of the railway, thus dispensing with a
very large proportion of the ballast generally used. Also in the form of
the fish plate and in the utilization of the wedge shape of the lower
flange of the rail in combination with the tightening up of the bolts, so
that a powerful leverage is exerted to draw the whole of the parts com-
prising the joint very firmly together as the bolts are screwed up.
It would only be necessary to use the ballast immediately under the
bearing portion of the sleepers, the ballast being packed in only from
the ends and from the opening in the middle. Independently of the
great saving of ballast thus effected, there is a further economy in the
maintenance of the embankment itself due to the absence of loose
material spread over the surface, which constantly causes the water to
collect and the earthwork to settle, and thereby promote an irregular
and excessive settlement. Any bank from which permanent way has
been removed after some years will be found of a most irregular surface,
the outside which has had no weight to carry will be the highest, owing
to the great settlement that always occurs under the ballast. By the
plan proposed the rain water which now finds its way to the depressed
parts of the bank, and injuriously affects the level of the rails would be
almost entirely thrown off. After "linking in" on the formation, the
rails should be lifted and levelled by packing at the ends and openings
in the sleepers. Between the sleepers the same material should be used
as that composing the bank. It should be carefully filled in and formed
to the section shewn in the plan. After a line has become thoroughly
consolidated, the rails should be banked up with the same material,
having an outlet for the surface water between every sleeper. From the
manner of packing all injurious contact of the ballast with the earth of
which the bank is composed will be prevented, and for keeping the way
up a very small quantity only would be required. The ease with which
such a style of permanent way would be maintained, and the economy

page_text: consequent thereon are so apparant as to need no further remark. The
extra width of bank hitherto necessary to keep the ballast from
spreading on the slopes would not be required. In the fish plate
care has been taken to increase the strength of the joint; not only is the
bearing power of a sleeper at the joint utilized, but also the transverse
strength, the object in view being if possible to prevent the blow or
shock which is felt by. travelling over every joint, requiring greater
power of locomotive and a more frequent lifting of the way, besides
unnecessary wear and tear. In "linking in "the clips on the lower part
of the fish plates should first be dropped into the square holes in the
joint sleepers, and the whole slipped on the rail last laid, the next rail
should be then pushed in, giving due allowance for expansion.
It is obvious that the screwing up of the fish plate bolts in com-
bination with the wedge shape of the flange of the rail will cause a
powerful leverage to be exerted towards drawing the parts composing
the joint very firmly together, the action being that of a triple fish plate
on both sides and on bed. A further and most manifest advantage from
the use of this system of permanent way is the decrease of height from
surface of ballast to top of rail, thus giving great increase of stability to
the road.
In the ordinary cross sleeper road a train runs upon an irregular
structure composed of sleeper chair and rail from 10 to 12 inches above
the level of the ballast, but in the plan now detailed the distance
between the rim of the wheel and the surface of the ballast will be
reduced to 4 or 5 inches.
In adapting this Invention to existing railways, the joint sleepers and
fish plates can be used in combination with the existing intermediate
wooden sleepers, and the latter may be gradually replaced when worn
out by those above explained.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I would
remark that I do not limit or restrict myself to the precise or exact
details or configuration of parts expressed and shewn, as the same may
be obviously modified or slightly varied without in any degree departing
from the main principles and objects of the Invention, but what I claim
and desire to be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters

page_text: Patent, are the general improvements in the construction of sleepers and
fish joints for the permanent way of railways, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth and herein specified and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Innes Spencer, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.