IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY TIES
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323, High Holborn, London in the county of
Middlesex, England, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY TIES and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The invention relates to an improvement in cross-ties for elevated and surface
railroads the object of the same being to provide means for conveying the water oil
and dirt falling onto the ties, into suitable conduits located alongside of the track.
A further object is to provide yielding ties, whereby the noise occasioned by
passing trains is considerably deadened, and the wear of the rails and car wheels,
considerably lessened and with these ends in view the invention consists in the
parts and combinations of parts as will be more fully described and pointed out in
the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig 1 is a view in perspective of the improved cross-tie and box. Fig 2 is a
longitudinal sectional view of the same and Fig 3 a transverse sectional view.
A represents a rectangular box, open at opposite ends and provided with the
longitudinal groove or gutter a which latter is preferably semi-circular. This box
is made of cast metal and the opposite sides are connected together at their upper
ends by the ribs or braces b. The bottom of the box is provided with the lugs c
which latter are arranged to prevent the lateral displacement of the semi-elliptic
springs B on which the cross-tie C rests. The springs are slightly shorter than
the width of the box to enable them to expand freely and when in position in the
box rest under the rails so as to take the entire weight of the passing train. The
groove or gutter in the bottom of the box is under the springs and hence the latter
do not obstruct the gutter.
The boxes A when employed on surface roads are embedded in the earth, while
on elevated roads they are secured to the girders by means of the laterally.
projecting lugs d cast integral with the boxes.
The cross ties C are also preferably made of cast metal and are hollow and
provided on their upper surfaces with transverse grooves e in which the rails rest,
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page_text: and with the upwardly projecting flanges F which conform to the web of the rails
and serve as fish-plates.
The ties are adapted to rest on the semi-elliptic springs B and move vertically
within the box and the upper surface thereof between the grooves for the rails are
covered so as to direct the water and oil falling thereon, toward the longitudinal
centre of the ties from which it passes through the perforations e¹ in the upper and
lower faces of said ties, into the grooves in the box A. These grooves can incline
slightly toward one side so as to convey the water into a spout or conduit located
alongside of the track.
The ties C are placed in position on the springs (which instead of being semi-
elliptic can be made of any other shape, and instead of being of metal can be made
of rubber), and hence it will be seen that when a train passes over the same, the tie
yields to the weight thereof and consequently the noise produced by a train passing
over a solid unyielding structure is obviated. Again by causing the tie to yield,
the sudden shocks and jars occasioned by a heavy weight passing over a solid
foundation is overcome, and the cars pass over the yielding ties with an easy
motion. If from any cause the springs should break, the ties drop on the luge c
which are cast on the bottom of the box A and are held securely in position. By
simply elevating the tie with a bar or lever the spring can be replaced without
stopping travel, and without removing any of the parts.
.
It is evident that many slight changes and alterations may be made in the
relative construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of
the invention and hence I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
strictly to the parts herein described:
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
1. The combination with a rectangular box and a cross-tie to which the rails are
secured of yielding cushions interposed between the box and tie.
2. The combination with a rectangular box and a cross tie resting in said box,
of semi-elliptic springs interposed between the box and tie.
3. The combination with the box having the lugs o and the springs, the ends of
which rest between the lugs of a cross-tie resting on the springs.
4. A cross tie for railroads having recesses formed therein near opposite ends
and upwardly extending flanges or fish-plates located alongside of said recesses,
substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with a box open at the top and ends, of & tie having vertical
perforations or openings passing through the same.
6. The combination with a box open at the top and ends, of a tie having a
concave or dished upper surface and perforations passing through the tie.
7. The combination with a box open at the top and ends, of a hollow tie having
a dished upper surface and perforations passing through the tie.
.
8. The combination with the box and the tie of the springs interposed between
the tie and box, all of the above parts combined and constructed as described.
Dated this 16th day of June 1885.