IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINTING OR CONNECTING RAILS OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes.
& Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINTING OR CONNECTING RAILS OF RAILWAYS."-A
communication from abroad by Pierro Irénée Leys, of Amsterdam,
Holland.
Sealed the 25th October 1860, and dated the 30th April 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th April 1860.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes & Son, Patent Agents,
123, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINTING OR CONNECTING RAILS OF RAILWAYS," a
communication from abroad by Pierre Irénée Leys, of Amsterdam, Holland,
to be as follows:-
The ends of the rails are jointed together without splints or fish joints, by
forming each end with a tenon or wedge, and also with a mortice or groove,.
the projection on one end of the rail fitting into the mortice or groove in tho
next or following rail.
The said improvements will be clearly understood by reference to the accom-
panying outline Drawing, in which Fig. 1 represents an elevation of the ends of
two rails apart from each other, before they are jointed or clamped together,
Fig. 2 a plan of the same, and Fig. 8 a plan of the ends of the rails jointed
together.

page_text: The projection, tenon, or wedge at the end of each rail is shewn at a, and the
mortice or groove at b, both of which are formed within the width of the rail,
so that when the rails are jointed together they form a rail of great firmness,
and without any apparent uneveness at the joints. This improved system of
jointing causes less workmanship, less wear and tear, and also economy in the
expense of maintaining the line and keeping the carriages in good condition.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th October 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special licence that I, the said Edward
Thomas Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Edward Thomas Hughes, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN JOINTING OR CONNECTING RAILS OF RAILWAYS," a communication to me
from abroad by Pierro Irénée Leys, of Amsterdam, Holland, upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the 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 Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say :-
This Invention consists in jointing the ends of the rails together without

page_text: splints or fish joints, by forming each end with a tenon or wedge, and also with
a mortice or groove, the projection on one end of the rail fitting into the
mortice or groove in the next or following rail.
These improvements will be clearly understood by referring to the figures
and letters on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing, in which Fig. 1 represents
a side elevation of the ends of the two rails united and jointed together by
means of tenons and mortices; Fig. 2 a plan of the same, also jointed together;
Fig. 3 a plan of the ends of the two rails separated from each other, but placed
nearly together and ready to be jointed by forcing each tenon into its corre-
sponding mortice; Figs. 4 and 5 represent side elevations of the joint ends,
male and female, of the two rails, but not jointed one into the other; and
Fig. 6 is a plan of the same following the line E, F, G.
The projection, tenon, or wedge, at the end of each rail is shewn at a, and
the mortice at 6, both of which are formed within the depth of the rail, so that
when the ends of the rails are jointed together, they form a rail of great firm-
ness and without any uneveness at the joints. As the rails cannot be disjointed
in a vertical direction, it will be found convenient for repairs to have at
certain distances two rails jointed end to end in the ordinary manner, so that
when they are removed the others may be disjointed longitudinally.
This Invention is not confined to the form of rail shewn in the Drawing, but
may also be applied to other systems. The aforesaid improved system of
jointing the rails of railways causes less workmanship, less wear and tear, and
also economy in the expense of maintaining the line and keeping the carriages
in good condition.
Having thus described the nature and particulars of the said Invention, as
communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details as herein set
forth; but I claim, the improved system of jointing or connecting rails of
railways, as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have hereunto
set my hand, and seal, this Thirtieth day of October, in the year of
EDWARD T. HUGHES. (L.S.)