Improvements in and relating to Railway and Tramway Rails and to Supports or Chairs therefor.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Railway and Tramway Rails and
to Supports or Chairs therefor.
We, THOMAS HENRY GIBBON and CATHERINE LOUISA GIBBON, late of the City
and County of Albany, and now both of 1650 Madison Avenue, New York, United
States of America, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of railways and
tramways and its objects are:-
First. To render such structure more durable, by substituting metal for wood in
all the parts commonly constructed of the latter material.
Second. To provide means for constructing metallic railway tracks in a simple,
accurate, and substantial manner, and also to give a strong support to the pavement.
Third. To dispense with the use of fish-plates and to afford facilities for the
expansion and contraction of the rails.
Fourth. To connect the rails, by a series of under and overlapping joints thus
giving uniform strength and elasticity and a continuity throughout the entire
length of the line, and
Fifth. To provide means for duplicating the primary and secondary rail, when worn
out, without the discardment of the other if still serviceable.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan of a railway track constructed according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of a shoe or bearing and a rail as sustained
therein.
Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section on the linea a Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of an intermediate bearing or shoe and rail borne
by it.
Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section on line y, y, Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a shoe, carrying a grooved rail.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of shoe carrying a centre
bearing rail, and
Figure 8 is a horizontal cross section of rail and shoe on the line of Figure 3,
showing a preferred form of wedge key.
A indicates the rails; B a primary shoe, bearing or chair; Ca secondary shoe
or intermediate bearing or chair; D a tie rod for connecting the two lines of rails
together; E a transverse fastening plate or wedge key; and F a sleeper upon which
the rails may rest.
The rail A is composed of two parts as shown in the drawings, the primary part a
forming the head, and the secondary part a¹ forming the base or flange of the rail.
The primary portion a of said rail A is provided with a head a² having on its
lower face a horizontal pendant flange a³ and a longitudinal groove a running the
whole length of said rail, the said pendant flange having mortices a at intervals for
the purpose hereinafter set forth.
The secondary portion a¹ of said rail A, is provided with a horizontal flange a,
having on its lower face a longitudinal pendant flange a', provided with mortices a
corresponding to the mortices a³ in the pendant flange a³ of the portion a¹ of said
rail. On the upper face of the horizontal flange a is formed a slight flange or
projection a extending the entire length of the portion a¹ and adapted to fit into the
groove a of the primary portion a of the rail A. When so placed together, these two
portions a, a constitute a single rail A, and the mortices a³ and a will be located
opposite each other so as to receive the key plate E.
The primary shoe B, is designed to retain the rail in true position, where the rails
abut together. It is of such width and length as to constitute a proper support for
Pine 71

page_text: the rails, and is of a form approximately corresponding to that shown in the drawing.
The shoe is provided with a base b and upright members and 62; the members b¹
besides forming the sides of the shoe form together with the upright members 62 the
groove through which pass the pendant flanges a³ and a of the rail A. These
grooves are of a depth sufficient to allow the rail A to rest firmly on the upper
faces of upright members 1 and 2 as shown. The upright members are provided
with mortices 65 corresponding in position with and oppositely located to the
mortices a³ and as of the rails, so as to allow the key plate E to completely pass
through said shoe, and rail flanges, and firmly securing the same together. The shoe
may also be provided with a lug having a central slot to receive the tie-rods D as
shown in the drawing.
The intermediate shoe C, is of a form similar to the primary shoe B but of less
dimensions.
The tie-rod D is formed preferably of a flat bar of metal, having, near each end,
holes B or notches, to engage with the longitudinal pendant flanges of rails a and a¹,
and the upright members 6 and 62 of shoes B and C whereby each end of said tie-rod
after passing through mortices 66 and the corresponding ones of the flanges a and a¹ is
firmly secured by means of keys which are driven through the mortices in the shoes
and rails thus locking all the parts together.
The transverse wedge key E may be either round triangular, or wedge shape, so as
to properly enter the mortices and secure the rail to the shoe. In Figure 8 is shown
a form of wedge key which is provided with a heade while the end opposite to this
head has a triangular opening c¹ which forms a bifurcation at the point; each member
of the bifurcation is provided with a shoulder 2 so that when the key is drawn
through the mortices, the two parts will be closed together while entering but after
passing through the shoes, will open and engage their shoulders against the sides of
the shoes.
In Figure 7 is shown a modified form of shoe specially designed for cases, where
it is found necessary to use a cross tie F for a bed for the rail. In this form the
base 6 is much larger than as above and has pendant sides 6' provided with lateral
longitudinal flanges 68 formed on their lower edges which are designed to form seats
for the cross tie F which pass under the base of the shoes, thus locking the cross
tie and shoe together.
The rails a and a' are laid so that the first named overlapping the other, the ends
of rail a breaking joint with the ends of rail a', as shown in Figure 6.
The manner of laying our improved track is as follows:--Suitable trenches are
dug, and the shoes B after being connected together by the tie-rods D are set in the
trenches at the required distance apart. The longitudinal pendant flange of rail a¹ is
then placed in position in the grooves of shoes B and C, then partly fill with sand or
cement, after which the longitudinal pendant flange of rail a is placed in the other
grooves of shoes B and C and this order of laying said track rails is continued until
the line is completed, the wedge keys being driven in their places as the work
progresses to secure the rails a a¹ to said shoes into which the tie-rods D have already
been placed. The track is then lined and properly tamped.
It will be readily seen that while adding materially to the strength of the track by
this system of under and overlapping of rails, the pendant flanges a³ and a³ form the
sides of a longitudinal stringer thus affording a sufficient wall to support the paving
of the roadway adjacent to the track.
In the drawings our track is shown as constructed in a direct line but it is equally
applicable to curves by simply bending the track rails to the required curvature and
forming mortices and openings for the tie-rods in such manner that said tie-rods can
be arranged radially to the curvature of the track.
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
First. The combination of two railway or tramway track rails a primary and a

page_text: secondary, one overlapping the other, and provided with horizontal and longitudinal
pendant flanges having openings and mortices in them as and for the purpose
above specified.
Second. A metallic shoe or seat at the ends, provided with grooves and mortices, as
and for the purpose above specified.
Third. The combination with a primary and secondary railway or tramway rail as
herein described, of a rail seat provided with grooves for receiving the pendant flanges
of the primary rail and vertical web of the secondary rail, and a tie-rod which passes
through the rail seat, pendant flange and vertical web, as and for the purpose
specified.
Fourth. The combination with a primary and secondary rail constructed and
arranged in relation to each other as hereinabove described, of a chair, provided with
grooves for receiving the pendant flanges of the said primary rail and the vertical
web of the secondary rail, and a tie-rod which passes through the said rail seat,
pendant flanges and vertical web as hereinabove specified.
Fifth. The combination of a rail seat, having a box like form, and provided with
oppositely situated mortices for receiving the tie-rod, and a tie-rod provided with
holes or notches which engage with opposite sides of the said rail seat, as and for
the purpose specified.
Sixth. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as above described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings for the purposes above specified.
Dated this 19th day of Auơnst 1890
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.