IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS "
a communication to me from abroad by
Arnold Nicolaus Dethleff Delffs, of Bedford, Bedford County State of Tennessee,
United States of America, Apiarian, to be as follows-
50
.
:
This invention relates to railroad sleepers constructed of beton, wood and iron
combined as hereinafter set forth.
The sleeper is made of beton concrete formed in the usual manner from gravel
or broken stone, cement and sand and when moulded has one or more iron rods or
wires imbedded in the material, extending through the whole length of the sleeper
to strengthen it.
In each end of the sleeper is a mortise having at the inner end a countersunk
recess to receive a wooden block or sole piece extending above the sleeper to which
the rail is to be secured by spikes. The bottom of the mortise outside the counter-
sunk recess is concaved and the surface of the sole piece or block which is
immediately over this concave part is also concaved. These end blocks or sole
pieces are made of wood to give to the sleeper a measure of elasticity and the
concave surfaces provide for an increase of elasticity, the rail being secured to this
wood piece directly over these curves.
The part of the end block which rests in the countersunk recess, holds the said
pieces in place and prevents the rails from spreading.
In the bottom of the said récess is a hole through the sleeper, to allow any water
that might get in said recess to escape.
I may dispense with the concavity in the end of the sleeper, as sufficient
elasticity may be secured without it, but it will usually be preferable with it.
In this way by combining concrete, iron and wood, I make a sleeper at a
moderate cost and well adapted to the purpose.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"
I, ALEXANDER 'MELVILLE CLARK; of the firm of A. Mand Wm Clark; of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS (a communication to me from abroad by Arnold
Nicolaus Dethleff Delfis of Bedford, Bedford County, State of Tennessee, United
States of America, Apiarian,), 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 railroad sleepers constructed of beton wood' and iron
combined substantially as hereinafter set forth.
..I
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing in which, Figure 1 is a
longitudinal section of a sleeper' constructed according to this invention.
t
Figure 2 is a cross section of figure 1, on the line xx.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the sleeper and Figure 4 is a perspective view
of a wooden cushion piece to be attached, to the sleeper.
]
The sleeper A is made of beton concrete formed in the usual manner from gravel,
or broken stone, cement and sand. In moulding the sleeper one or more iron rods
or wires are embedded in the material extending through the whole length of
the sleeper to strengthen it. In each end of the sleeper is a mortise C (Figure 3);
having at the inner end a recess D to receive a wooden block or cushion. E
(Figure 4) extending above the sleeper to which the rail F is to be secured by
spikes G. The bottom of the mortise outside the recess D has a concave surface L
and the under surface. H. of the piece E which is immediately over this concave
surface is also concave. The end pieces E are made of wood to give to the sleeper:
a measure of elasticity and the concave surfaces G. and H, provide for an increase of
elasticity the rail F being secured to this wood piece directly over these oppositely
concaved parts.
:
The part I of the block or cushion E which rests. in the recess D holds the said
blocks in place and prevents the rails from spreading...
In the bottom of the recess D is a hole K through the sleeper A, to allow any
water that might get in said recess to escape.
.1
I may dispense with the concavity H in the end of the sleeper as sufficient
elasticity may be obtained without it, but it will usually be preferable with it.
In this way by combining concrete,, iron and wood. I make a sleeper at. a moderate
cost and well adapted to the purpose.
In building a new road' the wooden blocks, comprising the parts, E and I may, be
in one piece; while in repairing the piece I, has to be separate and first placed in
the recess D'; the piece E is then put in place and secured tofita
Having now, particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
"
1st The combination of the concrete sleeper A having one or more iron rods or
bars B and the wooden pieces E, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

page_text: 2nd The sleeper A, having the mortises C, in combination with the pieces E
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3rd The sleeper A having the mortises C concave surfaces L, and recesses D, in
combination with the pieces E, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4th As a new article of manufacture a railroad sleeper constructed as set forth
and consisting of a concrete block having metal rods or bars embedded longi-
tudinally therein and adapted to receive and retain wooden blocks for supporting
the rails.
5th The railroad sleeper having the block A, provided with the mortises C
recesses D and concave surfaces L in combination with the pieces E having the
part I, and concave surfaces H, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6th. The sleeper A having the mortises C, recesses D, and holes K in combination
with pieces E, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
7th A concrete rail road sleeper having metal rods or bars imbedded longitudinally
therein, substantially as and for the purpose specified.