CERTAIN IM- ⚫PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Wrigley; of; Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IM-
⚫PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Wrigley at the
Office of the, Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th August 1859.
I, FRANCIS WRIGLEY, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Consulting
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said. Invention for:" CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE:PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," to
be as follows::
The Invention consists, first, in forming or constructing "chairs" with a.
boss, projection, or foot, at the bottom, which is designed to fit into or occupy.a.
corresponding recess or hole which is formed or sunk in each end of the
sleeper" with great-precision by means of suitable machinery in which the.
sleeper. may be turned upon the centre of its length, and thus each end is;
brought beneath cutting or boring tools, and the recesses are formed equi-
distant from such centre, and thereby 'an; undeviating" "gauge" is secured..
Secondly, the Invention consists in a novel method of retaining or securing the
rail within the "chair ".which is accomplished principally by means of an inner
support or carrier which is separate from the "chair," and bears or suspends
the rail at the shoulder beneath the top flanch, and also presses upon the lower

page_text: flanch of the rail, which is in the chair, the said loose support or carrier being
tightened against the rail by means of a circular or other shaped taper wedge,
and then the rail is firmly secured, but suspended or held from contact from
the bottom or interior of the "chair," so that the rail may be turned and will
have sustained no injury from contact with the chair. This description of 5
chair is equally applicable to and well adapted to securing the junction of
rails, superseding the "fished joints" at present employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Francis Wrigley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th February 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
WRIGLEY, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord.
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Francis Wrigley, Her special license that I, the said Francis Wrigley,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,.the said Francis
Wrigley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time. agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS.
IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," upon the condition, amongst others,..
that I, the said Francis Wrigley, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said:
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause:
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six "calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Francis Wrigley, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is. to be..
performed; to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
The Invention consists, first, in forming or constructing railway, "chairs"
with circular boss.projections from the bottoms of the chairs, which are designed:

page_text: to fit into or occupy corresponding recesses or holes in the sleepers which are
first prepaid with great precision by means of suitable machinery. Secondly,
the Invention consists in a novel method of holding up and securing the
"rail within the chair by means of two supports or carriers, (one being
moveable) which fits into and bears up or supports the rail from the under side
of the top flanch or rib. The lower flanch or rib of the rail being kept free
from contract with the internal base of the chair is thus perfectly preserved
from injury, and when required to be reversed will be found for further service
equal to a new rail. The internal part of the chair on one side is formed to
fit the edge of the lower flanch or rib of the rail against which it is firmly held
by the moveable key peice being forced against the opposite edge of the rail by
the treenail or sett screws thereby firmly holding and preventing the possibility
of any upward or lateral action of the rail. This description of chair is equally
applicable to and well adapted for securing the junction of rails as a "joint
chair," superseding the necessity for "fished joints" as at present employed.
In order that my Invention may be more clearly understood and explained
in detail, I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings in illustration of the
same, and made about half the real size, and having similar letters of reference
marked upon corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 is a side view of the improved chair, shewing the rail in section..
Figure 2 is a transverse section through the "chair" and "rail," shewing
clearly the (circular) boss at the bottom of the chair, which fits into a suitable
recess in the "sleeper," with. the bolt passing through the same to secure it
thereto. This Figure also plainly shews the position and use of the two
internal supports or carriers (which in this instance are shewn as cast with
the chair, and without the interposition of hard wood or other cushions, and
the treenail for tightening the key piece against the rail.
Figure 3 is a side view of a chair, wherein circular hard wood or other
cushions are used at the point of contact with the rail, for the purpose of
giving elasticity to the road, and thereby diminishing the "wear and tear"
both of the permanent way and rolling stock, as well as for ease and comfort
to travellers.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the same.
Figures 5 and 6 are. respectively plan views of 1 and 3, shewing also the
hexagonal formed recess in the base of the "chair," for the bolt and nut b,
which secures the chair to the sleeper b', is a loose block of wood dropped in
against one of the flat sides of the hexagonal recess and the nut, to prevent the
latter from unscrewing and getting loose.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a double or joint chair, in which the

page_text: .
carrier or moveable key. piece is shewn as being, tightened or held up to the
rail by means of sett screws, with lock nuts, or as in Figure 8, by means of
the treenail, wherein the round or hard wood cushions are shewn, as employed;
The nuts for the sett screws, Figure 7, have, suitable square recesses cast in
the chair to receive them.
Fig. 9 illustrates a method of using solid. hard wood cushions of a
rectangular form instead of round ones, as shewn in Figs. 3, 4, 6, and 8.
In Fig. 2, a, a, is the "chair," to which is, cast the "circular, boss" a¹ at
the bottom of the chair,. which fits into the recess in the "sleeper." previously
formed therein by any suitable machinery; thereby securing a, truly mechani-
cally formed accurate and permanent guage of road, which, cannot change so
long as the sleeper ".holds good, rendering unnecessary, the, employment.of
skilled labour,.upon which dependence has, now. to be placed, for, laying down
the road to a correct "guage," as well as dispensing with the insecurity of
spikes, treenails, or other. such fastenings (on which the security of gauge now
depends;) saving their cost, and, as a natural consequence,, rendering the
"sleepers" more durable. The entire base of the "chair" resting on the
sleeper with the. boss a' in the recess formed in the "sleepers," is, thus: securely
held in its position on the "sleeper" by; the bolt b, and thus secures a
permanent and unerring "guage." The inner support or key piece c forming
part of the chair. is a separate casting, and when in position, as shewn, the
rail d. is held. firmly: up to its mark, and free from contact with the internal
base. of the "chair" by means of the treenail e. In Figs. 3 and 4, f, f, are
the hard wood..or other cushions used at, the point of support or contact
with the "rail," and in Fig. 9, 9, 9, are the rectangular blocks or cushions
employed.at the same place. and. for the same purpose, instead, of the round
ones. Suitable recesses are cast.in the chairs and key pieces to receive either
the round. or rectangular. hard wood cushions, which, when cut to length and
driven, down into their. places, cannot escape therefrom,
"Having, now.. described..tlie, nature of the said Invention of improvements
in railway... chairs, together with the manner of carrying, the same, into
practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I claim,
First, the correct mechanically formed permanent and undeviating "guage
of road for railways.". by, recessing, each end of every "sleeper" at equal
distances from the..centre to.. receive the projecting "basses" formed at the
bottom of the chairs,. by suitable. and. ordinary machinery for that purpose,
whereby a considerable economy both in time and labour now expended in the
laying down and repairing the permanent way of railways, will be. the

page_text: Secondly, I claim the novel method of securing the rail within the "chair"
by the interposition of the peculiarly formed carriers or supports, whether
composed of iron alone, or of iron combined with wood or other slightly elastic
material, whereby the lower rib or flanch of the rail within the chair is held
free from contact with the internal base of the "chair," whilst at the same
time the rail is firmly and securely held in its position in every direction.
And, lastly, I claim the peculiar combination of the "chair," "rail," and
"sleeper," thereby securing with mechanical precision an unerring and per-
manent "guage" of road, together with the general arrangement and
> construction of the whole, as herein-before described and set forth, and fully
illustrated in the Drawings annexed.
In witness. whereof, I, the said Francis Wrigley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
FRANCIS WRIGLEY. (L.S.)