IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF METAL TRAMWAYS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co, Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF METAL TRAMWAYS"
A com-
munication from abroad by Paul Cucherat, of Brussels, Belgium, Manufacturing
Engineci
Sealed the 24th July 1877, and dated the 30th January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th January 1877
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Fum of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF METAL
TRAMWAYS" A communication from abroad by Paul Cucherat, of Brussels, Belgium,
Manufacturing Engineer
This Invention relates to the construction of tramways, all the parts being of
inetal, and comprises,―
Fust A metal sleeper or rail support, the general form of which is shewn at A, A,
Figure 1, in the accompanying Drawing
Second A metal rail to be fixed on the sleeper, which rail may be of the form
shewn at B, Figure 1, part thereof being U shaped and with a cramp on, or the
said ail may be of the form shewn at B¹, Figure 2, according to the part of the
10ad where it is to be laid
Thud The method of fastening together the two principal parts, that is to say,
the sleeper and the rail This fastening is effected by means of cramp irons C,
Figures 1 and 2, constructed of a rounded form, which, on being acted upon by the
Sciewing-up of the bolts D, firmly attach the 1ail to the sleeper or rail support
This Invention comprises not only the general form suitable to each of the
separate parts but also the combination of these separate parts, so that if either of
the forms above described should be combined with other forms the combination
would be a part of my said Invention
A modification of this Invention is shewn at Figure 3, in which arrangement the
method of pressure on tightening described in the two first-mentioned Figures is

page_text: replaced by a cramp non of the form shown at C"
The said cramp iron has at its
lower end a spur, and it is attached to the sleeper by a bolt, the tightening action
of which is produced owing to the said spur upon the upper part of the cramp
iron, which then presses the rail foot tightly against the metal sleeper or rail
support
As shewn in the Drawing, Figure 3, the base of the nail in the latter case is
modified in form, and the sleeper 01 1ail support may have a shoulder, the objectof
which is to prevent the closing of the rail But this modification relates only to
an extension of the means employed for pressure or tightening shewn in the first
two Figures, which extension may be applied to all rails fixed upon metal sleepers
or rail supports used for tiamways.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on-the-30th
July 1877
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF METAL
.TRAMWAYS" A. communication fiom abroad by Paul Cucherat, of Brussels, Belgium,
Manufacturing Engineer.
This Invention relates to the construction of tramways, all of whose parts are
metal, and comprises,-
First. A metal sleeper or rail support, the general form of which is shown at A, A,
Figure 1, in the accompanying Drawing
Second A metal rail to be fixed on the said sleeper, this rail may have the form
shewn at B, Figure 1, part thereof being U shaped with a flange, or the said rail
may have the form shewn at B', Figure 2, according to the part of the road where
it is to be laid
Thud The method of fastening together the two aforesaid principal parts, that
18 to say, the sleeper and the aıl This fastening is effected by means of clamp
11ons C, constructed with a rounded form, as shewn in the Diawing, and which,
when the bolts D are tightened upon them firmly, secure the rail to the sleeper or
rail support
This Invention comprises not only the general form suitable to each of the
separate parts but also the combination of these separate parts, so that if either of
the parts of the form above descubed should be combined with parts otherwise
formed thus combination would be a part of my said Invention
A modification of this Invention is shewn in Figure 3, in which the method of
tightening,shewn in the two first-named Figures of the Diawing is replaced by a
camp on or plate of the form shewn at C₁ The said cramp iron has at its lower
end a spui, and it is attached to the sleeper by a bolt, the tightening action of which
19 produced by the said spur upon the upper part of the cramp iron, which 18
thereby caused to piess or clamp the rail foot tightly against the metal sleeper or
1ail support.
The base of the rail in this case is modified in form, and the sleeper or rail support
may have a shoulder or flange, the object of which is to prevent the closing of the
rail But this modification is only an extension of the means employed for pressure
or tightening shown in the first two Figures of the Drawing, which extension
may be applied to all rails fixed upon metal sleepers or rail supports used for
tramways
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,--
In the construction of tramways the employment of a metal beam or sleeper, of

page_text: any suitable kind and form, in combination with a metal rail of any suitable pattern
01 section
Also the method of fastening the rail on the sleeper, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
W”. ROB“. LAKE, (L.S)