IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Melvillo Clark at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th August 1876. A communication
from abroad by Conrad Stierlin, of Paris, France.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
This Invention relates to improvements in the permanent way of railways, and
consists,―
1st. In the use of blocks of ferruginous cement, upon which is laid a longitudinal
Tiron plate or sleeper upon which the rail is supported.
2ndly. In the employment of longitudinal sleepers composed of T iron, which
carry the rails, and are bedded directly upon and in the ballast.
3rdly. In the employment of cross ties or transoms, also composed of T iron.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood I have illustrated it
in the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a cross section of a rail
fixed upon an iron plate or sleeper laid upon blocks of ferruginous cement; and
Figure 2 shows in plan part of a railway thus laid; Figure 3 shows a cross section
of a rail fixed upon longitudinal T iron sleepers, which are imbedded directly in
the ballast.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 the same letters of reference indicate the same
parts in the two Figures. The object is to dispense with wood in the permanent
way of railways; a are the blocks composed of ferruginous cement, consisting of
cement with the addition of about 3 per cent. of oxide of iron, whereby the cement
is rendered more tenacious and homogeneous. These blocks of ferruginous cement
are placed longitudinally beneath a longitudinal sleeper b, which is bolted to the
blocks by bolts c passing through as shown, and tightened up against an iron
plate fixed in the block at the time it is cast or moulded; each bolt c is
provided with a clamp e, by which the foot of the rail is secured upon the sleeper b.
At curves of even the smallest radius the sleeper bis always laid in a straight
line, and the holes for the bolts are therefore drilled therein in their proper
positions, according to the radius of the curve; g is a groove in the top surface
of the block to receive the central rib of the sleeper; it is of sufficient width to allow
of the sleeper being shifted according to the radius of the curve; h; cross ties.

page_text: This construction of permanent way ensures a larger superficial bearing upon the
ballast than the ordinary wood sleepers, and the use of the longitudinal sleeper
enables the weight of the rails to be reduced in weight per foot, and of increased
length.
By slightly modifying the form of the sleeper it may be embedded directly in
the ballast, the cement blocks being dispensed with, as shown in Figure 3, in which
i is the longitudinal sleeper of T iron upon which the rail j is fixed by bolts / and
clamps 1. By the employment of this T iron form of sleeper a durable permanent
way is formed, the central web of the longitudinal sleeper being embedded in and
getting a good grip of the ballast, whilst the horizontal flanges liavo a firm bearing 1
upon the ballast to afford the necessary support for the rail. The T iron cut into
proper lengths according to gauge and furnished with a plate at each extremity
may be used as cross tics or transoms.