IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Fletcher Harvey and John Pearce Roc, both of
Dowlais, in the County of Glamorgan, Engineers, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 1st December 1876, and dated the 6th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Fletcher Harvey
and John Pearce Roe at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
6th June 1876.
THOMAS FLETCHER HARVEY and JOHN PEARCE ROE, both of Dowlais, in the
County of Glamorgan, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF
RAILWAYS."
Our Invention has reference to the construction of railway chairs adapted for
supporting or suspending and securing the rails in such a manner as to become self-
tightening when in use, and to dispense with the ordinary keys and wedges, and to
produce a stronger joint than the ordinary fished joint.
The chair may be made either in wrought or cast iron or other suitable metal, and
it consists of two or three parts, that is to say, a sole plate and one or two side
supports or struts.
The sole plate is made with lugs or ribs projecting upwards to receive the thrust
of the struts, and canting thrust of the rail, and with holes for bolting down to the
sleepers.
The top surfaces of the supports or struts are made so as to fit against the under
surfaces of the head of the rail, thereby suspending tho rail; the struts are also made
to pinch the web of the rail immediately below the head thereof, and may touch
against the lower head, and they have holes formed in them corresponding with
those in the sole plate.
With a rail suspended by means of a chair constituted in the manner stated, the
action or effect of a train weight will be to close the struts more tightly against the
rail, the slightly curved or otherwise suitably formed bearing surfaces of the struts
which rest on the sole plate being farther apart than the bearing surfaces under the
head of the rail,
71

page_text: The chair constructed as above stated will serve also as a joint chair, and dispense
with the necessity for the ordinary fish plates. The chair when used for this
purpose may be made longer than the ordinary chairs, and one or two holes may
be made through the supports or struts corresponding with either semicircular
notches formed in the ends of the rails or a hole in the end of each rail, through
which one or two bolts would be passed in order to secure the supports to the rails
at the joint.
By this means the sliding of the rail will be prevented and the punching and
drilling of the rails reduced to a minimum.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Fletcher Harvey and John Pearce Roe in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 5th December 1876.
THOMAS FLETCHER HARVEY and JOHN PEARCE ROE, both of Dowlais, in the
County of Glamorgan, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF
RAILWAYS."
Our Invention has reference to the construction of railway chairs adapted for
supporting or suspending and securing the rails in such a manner as to become
self-tightening when in use, and to dispense with the ordinary keys and wedges,
and to produce a stronger joint than the ordinary fished joint. The chair may be
made either in wrought or cast iron or other suitable metal, and it consists of two
or more parts, that is to say, a sole plate or plates, and one or two side supports
or struts. The sole plate is made with lugs or ribs projecting upwards to receive
the thrust of the struts and cauting thrust of the rail, and with holes for bolting
down to the sleepers. The top surfaces of the supports or struts are made so as to
fit against the under surfaces of the head of the rail, thereby suspending the rail,
and the struts may touch against the lower head of the rail, and they have holes
formed in them corresponding with those in the sole plate or plates. With a rail
suspended by means of a chair constituted in the manner stated, the action or
effect of a train weight will be close the struts more tightly against the rail,
the slightly curved or otherwise suitably formed bearing surfaces of the struts
which rest on the sole plate being farther apart than the bearing surfaces under
the head of the rail. The chair constructed as above stated will serve also as
a joint chair and dispense with the necessity for the ordinary fish plates. The
chair when used for this purpose may be made longer than the ordinary chairs,
and one or two holes may be made through the supports or struts corresponding
with either semi-circular notches formed in the ends of the rails or a hole in the
end of each rail, through which one or two bolts would be passed in order to secure
the supports to the rails at the joint. By this means the sliding of the rail will
be prevented, and the punching and drilling of the rails reduced to a minimum. In
some cases the side supports or struts may be made to have a flat bearing on the
sole plate or sole plate and sleeper, and be held down thereon by spikes or bolts
in the ordinary manner.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, we will proceed to describe
it more particularly by the aid of the accompanying Drawings, in which are
represented several forms of chairs adapted for carrying our Invention into effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation, and Fig. 1a is a side elevation of a form of the Inven-
tion designed for use at the joints instead of the ordinary fish plates and chairs,
and in this form may be rolled or otherwise wrought in malleable metal. b, b', and
c, c¹, are the parts forming the fish girders which may be rolled to the forms b and c

page_text: adapted to form supports or struts between the sole plates and upper shoulder of rails,
and afterwards pressed to the form b¹ and c¹, so as to fit between the two shoulders
of rails for a short distance along their centres, and allow of two fish bolts being
used for the prevention of creep and lift at the joints, and allowing for expansion
and contraction in the usual way. The fish girder c, c¹, is held down to the two sole
plates and sleepers by the ordinary fang bolt or spike passing through it and the
sole plate into the sleeper. The fish girder b, b¹, is independent of the fastenings
of the sole plates to the sleepers for the greater facility of laying and changing
ruils. The fish girders b, b', and c, c', may be formed to fit between both shoulders
of the rails for their whole length.
Figures 2 and 2 represent a modification of Figures 1 and 1a suitable for the
use of cast iron or other cast metal in the fish girders. Intermediate chairs may
also be made in this form without fish bolts, the bolt e preventing lift.
Figures 3 and 3ª are elevations, and Fig. 3b is a part sectional plan of a form
of the Invention adapted for intermediate chairs; b and c are cast metal struts or
supports with wide bases resting directly on the sleeper, and formed to bear first at
the ends farthest from rail, except where recessed for the sole plate d, at which
part they would bear and abut against the sole plate at their ends. The strut or
support bis fastened to the sole plate by the bolt e which prevents rise in the rail,
but for facilitating the laying and changing of rails it is kept free from the bolt
holding the sole plate or tie to the sleeper by having a hole in its base large enough
for the head of the bolt or spike to pass through. The strut or side c is held down
by a bolt or spike passing through it and the sole plate into the sleeper. The sole
plate or tie is made with turned up ends to recoivo the thrust and prevent the
spreading of the struts b and c. A recess in the sole plate receives either the nut
of the bolt e, as shewn, or the head of the bolt e may be slid into the recess by
having a notch cut out of the side, thus enabling the nut to be used on the top.
The tightening of the bolt e, would tend to camber the sole plate or tie, so that in
effect it would form a spring tending to keep the sides firmly against the rail,
independently of the tightening action of a passing train. Instead of the bolt e
other equivalent means may be used for effecting this purpose.
A modification of this form adapted for fish girders may be made by extending
the sides or struts b and c from sleeper to sleeper and deepening them at their centres.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of a forin of chair that may be made of malleable metal,
rolled or otherwise wrought, and sawn or otherwise cut off to the desired widths.
The sides or struts and cact in the same manner as previously described in
reference to the other forms. The sole plate & has on it a rib or projection 6 for the
prevention of cant in the rail. It also has a recess for the reception of a T head
bolt f the head of which would be passed through an oblong hole, and then turned
at right angles.
Figures 5 and 5ª are an elevation and sectional plan of a form suitable for cast
metal, the parts being lettered similarly to those before referred to. In this form
the rise of the rail is prevented by the bolt or bar finserted between the ribs on
the strut b, and the projection rising from the sole plate d, the distances between
these parts lessening in a downward direction.
Figures 6 and Ga are elevations of a form of chair suitable for cast metal and having
one of the supports or sides made in one with the sole plate c, the strut b only being
free to adjust itself. The bottom surface of this strut is shewn with a slight bevil
corresponding with the inclined bearing made to receive it in the sole plate c. By
tightening the nut d so as to slide the strut b up the inclined surface of the sole
plate c it is made to fit closely to the rail. This purpose may be effected by other
means than the bolt and nut shown.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we would remark that we do not claim as of our Invention
any of the parts herein-before referred to otherwise than as herein-after stated;
but we hereby declare that what we claim as of our Invention is, the construction

page_text: of railway chairs as joint chairs or girder joint chairs and intermediate chairs,
either in wrought or cast metal, and composed of a sole plate or plates, and one or
two side supports or struts, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Fletcher Harvey and John Pearce
Roc, have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Second day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
JOIN CHARLES MACKAY,
Rogurt House,
Swansea,
Civil Engineer
THOMAS FLETCHER HARVEY. (1.S.)
JOHN PEARCE ROE.
(L.S.)