Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 1st Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 1st Feb., 1887.
"
I, ARTHUR HILL ROWAN, of 6 Westminster Chambers, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Under
Light railways and tramways adapted for agricultural purposes, and generally for
use in districts where the requirements are of a similar nature, have frequently to be
laid on soft ground and without ballast or other preparation of the track.
such circumstances and with soft ground, it is desirable that the permanent way
should present a large bearing surface; whilst economy in cost and the exigencies of
transport require that the utmost lightness consistent with sufficient strength should
be attained. Hence the rail should be supported either continuously or at very
frequent intervals: It is also desirable that the sleepers and tie-bars should permit of
being made up into compact bundles suitable for transport; that there should, if
possible, be no loose fastenings; and that the process of laying should be simple and
adapted for being carried out with unskilled labour.
In permanent way for either portable or light railways constructed according to my
invention, a flanged rail is laid on either :-
I. Continuous or spaced longitudinal bearers in conjunction with cross-ties.
II. Frequent transverse bearers.
III. Transverse bearers combined with longitudinal bearers.
IV. Diagonal bearers with or without cross-ties.
V. Plates at intervals in conjunction with cross-ties.
Whichever of these systems be employed, I form the bearers by preference of thin
metal plate, the same being flat, corrugated or dished. I furnish the parts to which I
intend to fasten the rail with a plate which is mounted upon one or more of the bearers
in such a manner that it can be rotated horizontally. This plate, which I will call a
gripping-plate," has considerable spread, and is formed or provided with raised and
laterally projecting lips; the latter having a certain amount of vertical elasticity.
The centre of the gripping-plate is beneath the rail, and the lips are so disposed that
when the plate is pressed against the rail and rotated horizontally, the lips engage
with the flanges of the rail.
After the gripping-plate has been rotated and engaged with the rail, a pin or stud
is applied to the plate and against the side of the rail opposite each of the projecting

page_text: lips; the said pin or stud operating to hold the plate in its position relatively to the
rail. Or I attach a bar to the plate, and, rotating both bar and plate, hold the grips
in position by means of a key or projection or spring-clip at the end of the bar.
This key, projection or clip, may be made to engage with either of the rails or with
any cross-tie or bearer, or may simply be buried in the soil.
In some instances, particularly at rail-joints, I furnish the gripping-plate with
additional grips which can be rotated on the plate, so as to engage the rail flanges;
such grips being retained in position by friction, or by fastening the same to the plate
or to the rail.
When the permanent way is of the kind hereinbefore referred to as Class I, I fasten
one end of each cross-tie to every alternate gripping-plate. As the plate is mounted
on the longitudinal and is free to rotate, the cross-ties may lie close to and parallel
with the longitudinals when packed for transport or until required for use. I also
furnish the longitudinal bearers with small sliding straps which encircle or grip the
bearers. These act as chairs to support the rail, at the same time stiffening the
bearers transversely. These straps, being arranged to slide, may be utilised to connect
the adjacent ends of two bearers. The cross-ties are adjusted relatively to the grips
on the gripping-plates, so that when the cross-tie is at a fixed angle with the longi-
tudinal bearer and the free end is fastened to the opposite rail or bearer, the gripping-
plate having been rotated is held fast in its position gripping the rail. Or I fasten a
part of each cross-tie to every gripping-plate, and, having as before rotated the
plates, I connect the ends of the cross-ties.
In class II, I mount the gripping-plates on the transverse bearers. By rotating
the plate as before, using a special lever, I grip the rail and then lock the plate in
position by one of the methods above mentioned.
In Class III, I fasten the gripping-plate to short longitudinal bearers and mount
both on the transverse bearer; care being taken that the gripping-plates are so
adjusted relatively to the longitudinals that when the latter are rotated to a position
parallel with the rail, the grips engage the rail flanges. The straps hereinbefore.
referred to and which are either sliding or fixed may act both as chairs to support the
rails from the extremities of the bearers, and also as locking-studs. I use the
elasticity of the bearer to pass the straps or studs under the rail. Should the bearer
not be sufficiently elastic, I split it or attach the locking-stud to a special spring
connected with the bearer.
In class IV, I mount the gripping-plates on two bearers which I construct of such
lengths and lay in such a manner that is, at such angles relatively to each other-
that the ends of the bearers overlap and mutually support each other on one or both
sides of the rail, fastening the gripping-plates as before mentioned.
In class V, when the bearers are arranged in pairs, similarly to "pot-sleepers,"
a gripping-plate of the kind previously referred to may be mounted on such a bearer;
or a similar plate may be formed on or secured to the bearer and the whole rotated
for the purpose of engaging the upward and laterally projecting lips with the flanges
of the rail. As before, chairs and studs are applied near the edges of the bearer,
which has sufficient elasticity to allow the studs to pass under the rail when the grip-
furnished bearer is rotated. By means of the cuts or projections or depressions in
the bearer, the cross-tie or transverse bearer connecting the pair may be utilized as a
locking bar for preventing the sleepers having any rotary motion in the direction
reverse to that which engages the grips with the rail flanges. Or the edges of the
bearers may approach or overlap each other between the rails and be keyed or other-
wise fastened together with the same object.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, ARTHUR HILL ROWAN, of 6, Westminster Chambers, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
Light railways and tramways adapted for agricultural purposes and generally for
use in districts where the requirements are of a similar nature have frequently to be
laid on soft ground and without ballast or other preparation of the track. Under such
circumstances and with soft ground, it is desirable that the permanent way should
present a large bearing surface; whilst economy in cost and the exigencies of
transport require that the utmost lightness consistent with sufficient strength should
be attained. Hence the rail should be supported either continuously or at very
frequent intervals. It is also desirable that the sleepers and tie-bars should permit of
being made up into compact bundles suitable for transport; that there should, if
possible, be no loose fastenings; and that the process of laying should be simple and
adapted for being carried out with unskilled labour.
In permanent way for either portable or light railways constructed according to
my invention, the rail is laid on bearers formed of flat, corrugated or dished, metal
plates, and is held in place thereon by means of lips attached to or forming part of
the said bearers, in which position the bearers are locked. The operation of fastening
the rail to the bearers is effected by rotating the latter against the rail with the result
that the pair of lips appertaining to each bearer engage with the opposite flanges of
the rail.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe the
same with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereof Figure 1 represents in
plan a length of permanent way; one of the bearers being shewn in working position
relatively to the rail and to an enlarged scale in the plan view Figure 2, side elevation
Figure 3 and transverse section Figure 4.
The bearer consists of a metal plate a having the securing lips a¹ cut on three sides
from the body of the plate and raised sufficiently above the surface thereof to engage
with the flanges b¹ of the rail 6 when the plate a is rotated. The position of the plate
before rotation and attachment is indicated by the dotted lines (Figure 1). Portions
of the ends of the plate are turned up to form stops a' which also act as stiffening
ribs on either side of the rail, the bearer being thereby locked in position and
prevented from rotating backwards whilst in use.
In Figure 5 the bearers are formed from plates which are stamped or pressed into
the peculiar shape represented in Figures 6, 7 and 8 ; the extremities being slightly
raised, except as regards a central channel running in a longitudinal direction and
intended for the reception of the base of the rail. The lips a¹ are formed by separate
strips of metal, projecting through the plate towards the rail and bent over the plate
at the edge of the bearer. The raised portions of the bearer form stops a³, which
serve to retain the rail in its proper working position.
In Figure 9, Z-shaped metal strips are employed, the same being interlaced
with the body of the bearer and presenting at proper points lips for engaging with

page_text: the rail-flanges. The strips before referred to may, under these circumstances, be
formed from thicker plates. The general form and character of these strips will be
understood on reference to the enlarged plan view Figure 10; side elevation Figure 11
and transverse section Figure 12. a¹a are the engaging lips, the ends of the strips
beneath the bearers being secured by means of screw-bolts a', the heads of which also
serve as stops or locking studs to retain the bearer in its proper position relatively to
the rail. a is a screw-bolt by means of which one end of a tie-bar or distance-piece
may be secured. The tie-bars, although required in construction, possess no particular
feature of novelty and have been omitted from the drawings.
According to the modification represented in Figure 13, the engaging lips are
attached to a thin bar of suitable shape and dimensions, to each end of which is
fastened a small pot-sleeper. On reference to the enlarged views Figures 14, 15
and 16, the arrangement of the parts will be readily understood. The lips a¹ are
rivetted to the bar c. At each end of the bar is attached a pot-sleeper a, the upper
side whereof is formed with a depression for the reception of the rail. The vertical
side walls, or the relatively raised portions a' bordering each depression, form stops
for the purpose before alluded to.
In each of the variations herein before described, the bearers a or the strips a¹, or
both, or the bar c, should have sufficient elasticity to permit of the stops or locking
studs (or the raised portions of the bearers which perform similar functions) being
passed beneath the rail. If it be found desirable to employ bearers too stiff to bend
downwards, any tendency of the latter to rotate backwards may be provided against
by means of separate pins, springs, keys or other devices, engaging with the rail or
any other part of the permanent way. In some instances, the friction with the soil
may suffice for performing the function of locking.
Bearers such as hereinbefore described may be employed in conjunction with
longitudinal, transverse or other sleepers. In such cases, they may be reduced in
size and being mounted to rotate upon the sleepers become mere gripping-plates for
securing the rails thereto; adequate bearing surface being afforded by the sleepers.
Such a construction and one in which transverse sleepers are employed, is represented
in plan in Figure 17 and in transverse section to an enlarged scale in Figure 18.
a is a gripping plate pivotted centrally to the transverse sleeper d; portions of the
said gripping plate are turned over to form lips a¹ for engaging with the flanges 6' of
the rail, and suitable stops, such as a², are provided and mounted in such a manner
as to lock the gripping plate in position after the same has been rotated upon the
sleeper and its lips a' engaged with the rail-flanges.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I am aware that, in attaching chairs to
sleepers, means have been proposed which necessitate the chair being bodily rotated ;
but what I claim is :-
First The improved method of and means for securing rails to their bearers, sub-
stantially as herein described; the process of attachment being effected by a rotative
movement of the bearer, thereby engaging its lips with the opposite flanges of
the rail.
Secondly: The improved method of and means for securing rails to longitudinal,
transverse or other sleepers, substantially as herein described; such means including
a gripping plate pivotted upon the sleeper and so arranged that upon being rotated its
lips engage with the opposite flanges of the rail.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.