An Improved Rail-road Sleeper.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 5th May, 1891-Accepted, 6th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Rail-road Sleeper.
I, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place Paddington in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a com-
munication to me from abroad by Orvill Brown, of Hayt's Corners, Seneca County,
New York State, U.S.A., Inventor,) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved railroad sleeper, and it consists of a tube
or case of suitable length, constructed of metal, and having a flat base and rounded
top. One or more wood blocks of approximately square section is inserted in the
metal tube. The lower side of the block, or blocks rests upon the bottom of the
tube, and its upper edges which are preferably slightly chamfered rest against
the curved sides of the tube.
The upper rounded surface of the tube has two portions cut away leaving
apertures through its upper surface, the proper distance apart, and of the same
width as an ordinary rail. These apertures permit of the rails being laid within
them and resting upon the blocks contained within the metal tube. The rails are
kept at the proper distance apart by the apertures in the tube, and may be secured
by spikes having heads which engage with the base of the rail, and which spikes
are driven into the wood block or blocks within the metal tube.
Dated this 5th day of July 1890.
J. P. BAYLY,
Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Rail-road Sleeper.
I, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place, Paddington, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Orvill Brown, of Hayt's Corners, Seneca County,
New York State, U.S.A., Inventor,) 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 improvements in railroad-ties or sleepers and the leading
object of my invention is the provision of a sleeper which will wear for a long
period and which may be produced at such a cost as to enable it to be used in place
of the ordinary sleeper now employed.
A further object of my invention is the provision of a cheap and durable sleeper,
which will provide an elastic bed for the tracks, whereby the trains will travel
smoothly and to the comfort of the passengers.
A further object is the provision of a sleeper which cannot be injured by the
damaging influences of the weather, and thus produce a dry bed for the trains and
effectually prevent collapse of the sleeper and derailment of the trains.--
To attain the desired object the invention consists of a sleeper constructed
substantially as herein illustrated, described, and especially pointed out in the
claims.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown a sleeper constructed in accordance
with and embodying my invention, although I may make slight changes in the form
and proportion of parts thereof without departing from the scope of my invention,
and in said drawings

page_text: Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of my novel and improved railroad-sleeper.
Fig. 2 represents a plan view thereof.
Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section on line x a of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 represents a transverse section on line
yy of Fig. 3.
My railroad-sleeper consists of a box, tube, or case formed of metal suitable for
the purpose having a flat bottom or base A, a semicircular or arc-shaped upper
part A, the corners A² of the case being somewhat rounded, as clearly shown.
In the rounded top of the case I form sockets or seats A³ of such a size as to
allow the feet of the rails to fit snugly therein, and on each side of the seats I
provide openings A to receive fastening-spikes B, the heads of which thus engage
one on each side of the base of a rail and thus secure the rail in place. The
spike-openings, it will be seen, are arranged diagonally with relation to each other,
as I believe that by thus placing the spikes they retain the rail more firmly, and
the weight of the train is more evenly distributed.
I place within the tube or case a bar or bars C, of wood, which are substantially
rectangular, the upper corners C' being rounded to fit snugly against the surface
of the tube or case and the square upper face C of the bar or block forming
a bed for the rails to rest upon.
It will thus be seen that the rail rests on a
bed somewhat flexible or elastic and thereby gives slightly, imparting a com-
fortable and easy riding of the train. It will also be noted that the block or
blocks rest on a metallic surface and cannot collapse, that they are shielded from
the weather, and that spaces are provided between the case and the block which
allow a free circulation of air around the block to keep it dry and prevent rotting.
It is also evident that while the sleeper possesses these features of merit, in addition
thereto it can be manufactured at a low figure and thus be a valuable and practical
article for the intended purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A railroad-sleeper consisting of a tube or case having a flat base and rounded
top, a block or blocks fitting therein having their bottom and upper corners
engaging, respectively, the bottom and top of the tube.
2. A railroad-sleeper consisting of a case or box having an upper rounded
portion with rail seats or sockets, a block or bar fitting in said case and having a
flat surface below the seats in the rounded portion of the case to form a flat bed for
the rails, and fastenings for securing the rails to the case and block.
3. A railroad-sleeper consisting of a substantially round case or box having seats
or sockets therein for the rails, a substantially rectangular block or blocks fitting
in said case or box, and fastenings for securing the rails to the case and block.
4. In a railroad-sleeper the combination of the box or case having seats therein,
the block fitting in said case to provide spaces between it and the case, the_rails
having their base fitting in the seats of the case and resting on the block, and the
spikes passing through the case into the block, having their heads engaging the
base of the rail, and arranged at an angle or diagonally to each other.
Dated this 5th day of May 1891.
J. P. BAYLY,
Applicant.