IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Collett Homersham, of Roderick Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil and Mechanical Engineer, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Collett Homersham
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st February 1880.
WILLIAM COLLETT HOMERSHAM, of Roderick Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil and Mechanical Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF
RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS.'
"
"
My Invention consists in the first place in an improved mode or method of
laying and securing flange rails, such as those known as Vignolo" rails, to their
timber sleepers in such a manner that the rails can be securely fastened to thein at
the necessary inward inclination or "cant" without the aid of holes or notches in
the flange of the rails, or the necessity for cutting sleepers (having a flat upper
surface) to receive the sole plates.
For this purpose I construct a sole plate of wrought iron or steel, or other metal,
having its underside flat, but that part of the upper side which forms the seat for
the rail is made to slope inward in order to give the rail the necessary inclination
or "cant."
The lower flange of the rail when seated on the sole plate is in some forms
thereof secured from any lateral movement by a shoulder or shoulders of metal at
one or both sides of the inclined plane, and in other forms thereof a web is formed
on one side of the inclined plane similar in shape to that of a T iron, and which
web is in the course of manufacture turned down, and thereby formed into a solid
fixed clip of the whole length of the sole plate for one side of the rail to abut
against, and by which it is held firmly down.
These sole plates are made of sufficient width to permit clips, fang bolts, spikes,
or other fastenings ordinarily used for fixing the rails to the sleepers, being used
without interfering with any portion of the seat of the rail. And my Invention
consists in the second place in preventing the movement of the top ends of the
bolts and spikes used to secure the rails and their sole plates or their chairs to the
sleepers.
་

page_text: For this purpose I sink a washer of considerable practical thickness into the
timber in the exact position assigned to the bolt or spike. The washer is by
preference round or square, but may be of any other convenient shape and of thin
metal, but having in the case of circular washers a ring of about the same thickness
of metal round the periphery to act against the timbers when subjected to a lateral
strain. When the form of the washer is square or polygonal the sides are turned
down with the same object.
When the rails are seated directly on to the sleepers without the intervention of
sole plates the surface of the sleeper is cut to a corresponding incline in the
direction in which the incline or "cant" is required, one flange of the rail being
thus to some extent below the surface of the sleeper.
This renders two different forms of the lip of the clip necessary.
My improved clip plate has the two necessary forms thereon, and may be used
for securing either the inner or the outer flange of the rail according to whichever
side is placed uppermost.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Collett Homersham in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 19th August 1880.
WILLIAM COLLETT HOMERSHAM, of Roderick Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil and Mechanical Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF
RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
This Invention consists in the first place in an improved mode or method of
laying and securing flange rails, such as those known as "Vignole's" rails, to their
timber sleepers in such a manner that the rails can be securely fastened to them at
the necessary inward inclination or "cant" without the aid of holes or notches in
the flange of the rails or the necessity for cutting the sleepers (having a flat upper
surface) to receive the sole plates.
For this purpose I construct a sole plate as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4,
of wrought iron, steel, or other metal, having its underside flat, and that portion
of the upper surface forming the seat for the rail sloping inward to such a degree as
to give the rail the desired amount of inclination or "cant." The lower flange of
the rail when seated on the inclined plane of the sole plate is in some forms thereof
secured from any lateral movement by a shoulder or shoulders of metal at one or
both sides of the inclined plane, as illustrated at A, in Figures 3 and 4, and in other
forms thereof a web is formed on one or both sides of the inclined plane similar in
shape to that of a Tiron: The web is, in course of manufacture, turned down and
formed into a solid fixed clip of the whole length of the sole plate, as illustrated
at B, in Figures 3 and 4. The solid fixed clip may be formed on either or both
sides of the inclined plane. With those forms of sole plate on which there are no
solid fixed clips the flanges of the rails may be secured by the aid of moveable clips,
and bolts, and nuts, as illustrated at C, in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, or by dog spikes
similar to those illustrated at D, in Figure 5. The sole plates are made of sufficient
width to permit clips, fang bolts, spikes, and other fastenings ordinarily used for
fixing the rails to the sleepers, being used without interfering with any portion of
the seat of the rail.
This Invention consists in the second place in an improved mode or method of
preventing the movement of the top ends of the bolts and spikes used to secure the
rails and their solo plates to the sleepers.
For this purpose I form washers of considerable practical thickness out of thin
metal by turning down the periphery or the edges thereof. These washers are by
preference made square (sco H, Figures 5 and 6) or round (see F, Figures 5 and 6),
but may be of any other convenient shape. When the form is square or polygonal
one or more of the sides may be turned down with the object of procuring a larger
surface to act against the timber when the bolts or spikes which they are employed
in steadying are subjected to a lateral strain. Theso washers are sunk into the
timber in the exact position required to admit of the bolts or spikes taking their
assigned positions.
When the rails are seated directly on to the sleepers without the intervention of
sole plates the surface of the sleeper is cut to a corresponding incline in the direction
in which the incline or "cant" is required, one flange of the rail being thus, to
some extent, below the surface of the sleeper. This renders two different forms of
the lip of the clips necessary; and my Invention consists in making clip plates that
have the two forms of lip thereon necessary to enable them to be used for securing
either the inner or the outer flange of the rail according to whichever side is placed
uppermost, as illustrated at K, K, in Figures 7 and 8.
Having described the nature of my said Invention, and explained in what manner
the same may be carried out, I hereby declare that I do not confine myself to the
precise forms of sole plate represented and described, but what I claim, under the

page_text: first head of my Invention is, the use of sole plates of the forms represented and
described, or of other suitable forms adapted to secure the rail to a sleeper (with a
level surface) at the proper
"cant
"without the use of holes or notches in the
flanges of the rails.
Secondly. I claim the application of light thin washers having in effect considerable
thickness by means of a surface which is caused to act laterally, when in situ,
against the fibre of the timber of the sleeper upon being subjected to a lateral
strain.
And, Thirdly. I claim the forming of a clip with the two forms of lip thereon
necessary for securing either the inner or the outer flange when the rail is bedded
direct on to the sleeper at the necessary “cant.”
In witness whereof, I, the said William Collett Homersham, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
WILLIAM SPENCE,
8, Quality Court,
Chancery Lane.
W. COLLETT HOMERSHAM. (L.S.)