IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO RAILROADS
Year: 1837

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PIERRE
BARTHELEMY GUINIBERT DE BAC, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His late most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Thirteenth day of May, in the seventh year of His reign,
did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Pierre Barthelemy Guinibert De Bac, His especial license, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said Pierre Barthelemy Guinibert De Bac,
my exors, adñors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Pierre Barthelemy
Guinibert De Bac, my exors, adññors, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England and Wales and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO RAILROADS ;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said Pierre Barthelemy Guinibert De
Bac, shall cause a particular description of the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His said
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and im-
mediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by
the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear..
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Pierre Barthelemy Guinibert De Bac, do hereby declare the nature of my said

page_text: marked thereon, that is to say:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
and
Figure 1 represents a plan of part of a railway constructed according to my
Invention; Figures 2 and 3 show transverse sections of the road or way;
Figure 4 is a longitudinal view. In each of these Figures the same letters
indicate similar parts; a, a, being a series of stone blocks, which come together
at their angles, and thus form a continuous bearing lengthwise of the railroad;
b, b, are a further series of stone blocks between the two rows of blocks a, a;
but the blocks b, b, are only placed at intervals, where transverse cast-iron ties
are laid across to keep the continuous cast-iron bearers of the rails, and con-
sequently the rails, in parelled lines, as will be hereafter described. It will be
seen by the Drawing that, according to the mode of laying the blocks a and b,
there will be a series of spaces left between them of the form of a cross, thus
as is shown at Figure 4; and I recommend, when the ground is soft
and doubtful, that in order to prevent the blocks a, b, being forced into
the earth by the pressure of the loads passing over the rails, that such spaces
should be filled in with woodwork c, c, by which a more extended surface of
bearing will be obtained, and form in fact a complete bearing surface, by which
the blocks a and b will be assisted in bearing the loads carried over them, and
they will consequently be less liable to be deranged. The blocks a and b are
connected together at their angles by means of what I call vertical ties, of
which I form of cast iron, and they are so formed that the stones rest on and
are supported by the ties, and the upper surface of the stone comes under a
portion of the vertical ties; hence each tie may be said to form a key to the
angles of two stone blocks; and when further combined by means of trans-
verse ties of iron, as here-after described, the whole length of railroad will be
supported by a continuous frame, the parts of which mutually assist each other;
and any pressure or shock to one part is communicated to the surrounding
parts, and borne mutually by them. d; d, are the vertical ties, which are made
of cast iron, and in order to obtain lightness they are cast hollow; the nature
of these vertical ties being shown in various views in the Drawing, will readily
be understood, the parts being named by writing on the Drawing. e, e, are
transverse ties, to keep the rails and their bearings parallel to each other; these
ties have descending projections or fixed pins f, which enter into holes formed
in the blocks a, a; and I prefer that the holes in such blocks should be so

page_text: large as easily to receive the projections when covered with felt. On the
transverse ties e, e, are also formed further projections g, g, which are dovetaileḍ
projections, excepting that the edges thereof are more rounded than what are
usually termed dovetailed joints; the Drawing, however, clearly shows the pro-
jections 9, 9, and their figure. The projections g, g, enter the openings formed at
the upper part of the vertical ties, hence the ties e, e, and the vertical ties are
combined and mutually act on each other; and further, the ties e, e, at their
ends are cut dovetail, and enter dovetail openings formed in the continuously
bearings of the rail; by this means the transverse ties e, e, receive the pressure
from the rails, and transmit it through the combined and intimately united parts
of the structure, as will readily be seen by examining the Drawings. The con-
tinuous bearings of the rails are further tied in parallel lines by the ties h, h,
which are so formed as to rest on the two blocks a, a, at the points i, i, as is
clearly shown; j,j, are what I call the continuous bearers, they are of cast iron,
and have suitable dovetail or such like surfaces, formed to receive the ends to
the ties e, e, and h, h, as is shown in the Drawing. The bearers j, j, have a con-
tinuous groove k, k, formed in the way of the length, in order to receive the
under part of the rail, as is clearly shown in the Drawing; and there are to be
at intervals holes through the sides of the bearers, as at.k, for keys to be driven
through, in order to retain the rail in in the groove; and I prefer that the groove
k should be such that the rails may be tightly held therein, the lower part of
the rail being covered with felt. I would, however, remark, that although I prefer
having the sides of the groove k parallel from end to end, in order to give con-
tinuous support in all directions to the rail, yet in place thereof the continuous
bearers may have the grooves only at intervals where the rail is to be fastened
with keys and be substantial a series of chairs formed on one length of iron.
The rail is the figure which I prefer to use when the continuous bearers, such
as above described, are used, though a more plain rail may be employed, for in
place of having the under surface of the rail a curve, and the top of the sides,
the curved rail may be plain below, and the upper part of the groove k be plain
to receive it. The continuous bearers ; are connected with the blocks a, a,
by a series of vertical ties similar to those which combine the block a and b,
there being suitable dovetail or such like projections formed in the continuous
bearings j, which enter into the dovetail openings or sockets formed in the
upper part of the vertical ties, hence the blocks a and continuous bearers j
are tied together in like manner to the ties e, e, with the transverse block b,
and with the blocks a, a. From the foregoing description it will be seen that
one important object of my Invention is to obtain an intimately combined
structure, one part aiding and being aided by other parts. And I would
l

page_text: only further remark, in respect to this part of the Invention, that in order to
obtain the fullest object in applying my Invention, that care should be
'observed in casting the vertical ties, the horizontal ties e, e, h, h, and the con-
tinuous bearers j, j, in order that the dovetail or such like connections should
go well together, as it will be evident on this much will depend, both in the
laying of the railroad in the first instance and in the parts long. continuing
to perform their offices one with the other. It will be evident from the
description that variations may be made in the shaping of the various parts,
and yet be only similar in every respect as to principle of combination; I do
not, therefore, confine myself to the mere shapes of the parts, provided the
properties of my mode of combining the same. be retained, the first part of
my Invention more particularly relating to the mode of applying the vertical
ties, in order to combine the continuous bearers of the rails with a series of
blocks a, a; and further, the application of the vertical ties d, for combining
the blocks a with. the blocks b, and with the transverse ties e, e, and by the
transverse ties e, e, further tying the lines of blocks a and a, and the continuous
bearers of the rails, as well as with the blocks b, as above described.
3.
And I do further claim in respect to the first part of my Invention the
application of.a continuous iron bearer when grooved as described at Figure 5,
whether the same be used in place of the ordinary chairs now employed, or
forming part of my combined system.
'
Note. It should be observed, that although I have spoken of cast and
wrought iron and wood as the materials used for the different parts, at the
same time I would remark that the materials may be varied, and without
departing from this part of my Invention, as the same does not relate to the
materials used, but the mode of combining and applying the parts.
Figure 7 shows another arrangement for applying a continuous bearing
for the rails, and consists of a series of blocks of stones A, supported by
further blocks of stone B, and these blocks are combined to each other by the
straps C, C, with pins or bolts, as is clearly shewn; and these straps also
combine the series of cast framings D to the blocks A, B; and the upper parts
of the frames D are grooved, in order to receive the rail, and to have it keyed
thereto, in a similar manner to what has been before described. The con-
tinuous bearers or frames D are tied together and retained parallel by means
of the transverse bars E, there being suitable holding down pins or bolts.for
the purpose of retaining the transverse ties and the bearing D to the stone
blocks. And in order to prevent the injurious effects of jars, I recommend
that those surfaces of the cast-iron bearers D which are affixed to the stone
blocks should have wood or felt, or both, as is shown in the Drawing.
3

page_text: What I claim as the second part of my Invention is the mode of appling
and combining the stone blocks A and B together with a series of cast-iron
framings D, and in such manner that the stones A form the abutments to the
continuous bearings or framings D, as above described.
.
The third part of my Invention relates to an improved construction of
wheels, which consists of an axletree, on which is fixed. a ring (outwardly
polygonal); it receives a centre part of the boss or cylinder, shaped as may
be seen by the Drawings, and lined with wood. The spokes, alternately of
different shape, and formed of wrought iron over wood, are placed into the
different openings left to receive them on the surface of the cylinder, on each
side of which are placed two cheeks, kept tightly in that position by bolts,
fastenings, &c., also springs, as may be seen. The second extremities of the
spokes are kept in their position by two outward rings or felloes fastened.
tightly together by bolts. They also seize hold of another intermediate ring;
which is to receive the felloe of the wheel. Felt is placed to separate the side
rings from the intermediate ring, and felt is also applied to all the.extremities
of the spokes. To retain the wheel on the rails, a wrought-iron ring is placed
and fixed, as shewn by the Drawings, so as to have each extremity, of its spokes
to rest on the different springs before mentioned, the crease thus formed
acquiring a desired degree of elasticity. Lastly, the felloe of the propelling
wheels in locomotive carriages may be made rough to encrease the friction.
What I claim is, as above described, the mode of constructing the boss, spokes,
felloes, and elastic crease.
I will now proceed to describe the fourth part of my Invention. The con-
tinuous chair for the rail at its lower part is formed of two different pieces,
as may be seen by Figure 11, so as to offer a hollow part, in which a semi-
fluid enveloped in felt is placed, the effect of which being to damp the shocks
or vibrations which at present quickly disarranges the railroads or ways caused
by the wheels constructed according to the old plans, the intensity increasing
with the velocity; the upper part of this kind of box being fastened with the
vertical tie, as above described. Fourth, I claim the mode above described
for damping the shocks or vibrations produced by railway carriages.
The fifth part of my Invention relates to the construction of reflectors to the
lamps of railroads. Figure 12 shows a plan, and Figure 13 a view in elevation
of a lamp with my improved reflectors. a is the lamp, and b and c are the
two reflectors, which are parabolic curves, made with suitable polished surfaces
to reflect the light on the two lines of rails, but in such manner that the con-
ductors or engineers shall not be troubled by having a light in their face; for
it will be seen that the reflector & throws light forward for the carriages coming

page_text: in the direction of the arrow, and the reflector c throws light in the direction
of trains of carriages coming in an opposite direction, the reflectors being
placed at a suitable height that the trains of carriages may pass under them.
What I claim is the mode of applying the reflectors b and c..
In witness whereof, I, the said Pierre Barthelemy Guinibert De Bac,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this. Twelfth day of October;
in the year of our Lord One. thousand eight hundred and thirty-