Year: 1885

page_text: We JOHN WALKER of Cape Town Cape of Good Hope Agent and TOM DREW
BEAR of N° 225 Upper Thaines Street London Contractor do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to improved means of fastening or securing railway
railways to iron or steel sleepers.
When flat bottomed or flanged rails are used the rail is made to rest upon the
top of the sleeper: On one side of the rail the edge of the flange is made to pass
under and abut against a clip plate rivetted or otherwise firmly attached to the
sleeper or against a hook forined projection made on the upper surface thereof. On
the opposite side is a loose jaw having one or more fangs or hooks projecting
downwards from its underside and passing through slots made through the upper
surface of the sleeper. When the jaw is in place the end of the hook projects
beyond the end of the slot which is towards the rail and bears against the under-
side of the sleeper whilst a projection from the outer side of the jaw projects
beyond the opposite end of the slot and bears against the top surface of the
sleeper.
Between the jaw and the rail a suitable key or wedge is driven so as to press the
rail against the clip plate on its opposite side and so fasten the rail firmly in
position.
Instead of using clip plates fixed or formed on the sleeper at one side of the rail,
as herein before described, a loose jaw with fangs or hooks projecting downwards
from its undersido to pass through slots in the sleeper might be used as on the
opposite side of the rail-and when double headed rails are used such jaws may be
80 shaped as to form seatings or chairs for the underside of the rail to rest on.
1005

page_text: The way in which we do this is illustrated by the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a flat footed rail mounted on a trough sleeper, and
secured to the same in accordance with our invention; the sleeper in this figure is
seen in section.
Figure 2 shews the same parts, the rail in this figure being seen in transverse
section and a portion of the sleeper in longitudinal section.
Figure 3 shows in plan a part of the sleeper and also the foot of the rail resting
upon it; the head of the rail is removed.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are similar views illustrating the application of our invention
to secure a double headed rail to its sleeper.
Figure 7 is an under side view and
Figure 8 an end elevation of one of the parts.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3 A is the rail and B is the sleeper. C is a clip plate against
which the foot of the rail is held on one side. D is a loose jaw on the opposite side
and E is a wooden key which is driven in between the jaw D and the side of the
rail. The loose jaw D is provided preferably with two fangs or hooks on its under
side (but the number may be varied) and there are corresponding slots or openings
in the top of the sleeper through which these fangs or hooks can pass freely.
When the jaw is in place the fangs or hooks project beneath the foot of the rail,
and the portion of the sleeper on which the foot rests. The other or outer side of
the jaw projects beyond the fangs or hooks and rests upon the top of the sleeper
beyond the extremities of the openings into which the fangs or hooks are received.
When the key E is driven in the jaw becomes firmly held to the sleeper, the fangs
or hooks being driven to the outer extremities of the holes through which they
pass and their ends brought to bear firmly upon the sleeper beneath the foot of the
rail. At the same time the foot of the rail is firmly locked down on to the sleeper
and under the clip plate on the opposite side. This clip plate may be rivetted to
the sleeper or it may be formed of a piece with it, but preferably (as the drawing
represents) it also is provided with two fangs or hooks passing through corre
sponding holes in the top of the sleeper and operating to lock the clip plate fast
upon the sleeper in the manner already described in respect to the moveable jaw.
In Figures 4, 5 and 6 F is a double headed rail and G a trough sleeper upon
which it is secured. H is a loose jaw similar to the jaw D represented in the
preceding figures but differing somewhat in form. I is another moveable jaw on

page_text: the opposite side corresponding to the clip plate C of the preceding figures, but in
this case it is extended up the side of the rail so as to afford it lateral support, and
also it extends beneath the lower head of the rail which is in part supported upon
this jaw and not directly upon the surface of the sleeper. K is a cushion piece
which completes the seating for the rail, it has lugs K₁ on its under side, and these
as seen in Figure 4, drop into the inner ends of the holes in the sleeper through
which the fangs or books of the loose jaws pass. The piece K serves not only to
support the rail but also to keep the jaws in place without the aid of the key, L is
the key which when driven in locks all the parts fast together.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The combination of a flat footed rail A, metal sleeper B, loose jaw D with
its fangs or hooks and with clip plate C and key E substantially as described.
2. The combination of a double headed rail F sleeper G loose jaws H and I
with their fangs or hooks, and key L substantially as described.
3. The improved means substantially as described for fastening or securing
railway rails to iron or steel sleepers.
Dated this 1ot dow of Canbomba 1000