Improvements in the Construction of Railway Sleepers from Concrete.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Sept., 1892-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Railway Sleepers from
Concrete.
I JOHN EDWARD LEE of 28 Lombard Street, Deansgate, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
concrete.
My said invention relates to an improved construction of railway sleepers from
In carrying my invention into effect I make use of a material consisting
of the best concrete mixed with proportions of finely broken bricks or granite and
the like, and from this material I mould and cast a solid slab of about the propor-
tions of an ordinary wooden sleeper. To strengthen the concrete sleeper I introduce
metallic bars or rods at or near the four corners extending the full length of the
sleeper. I also provide means for securing the chairs to the sleepers, the said
means consisting of chocks of wood placed in the mould so as to have their centres
exactly opposite to the centres of the spikes and screws used to fix the chairs to the
sleepers. These wooden chocks are or may be bored before or after being placed
in the mould and are preferably soaked in creosote or other preservative. I check
or recess the wooden chocks so that when the concrete is run round them it will take
a hold on the chocks and prevent their displacement. To strengthen the sleepers
at the points where the chocks are situated I introduce struts or ties of metal to
bind the sleeper more firmly together at these points so as to guard against any
disruptive effects from the driving in of the spikes. Instead of the aforesaid
wooden chocks as means to secure the chairs I might core holes in the sleepers.
To prevent or hinder chipping of the concrete sleepers I preferably chamfer or
round off all corners so as to present no angles. The arrangement of the
strengthening bars or rods in the body of the concrete sleeper might be varied.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1891.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Railway Sleepers from
Concrete.
I JOHN EDWARD LEE of 28 Lombard Street, Deansgate, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, 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 and accompanying drawings:
concrete.
My said invention relates to an improved construction of railway sleepers from
In carrying my invention into effect I make use of a material consisting
of the best concrete mixed with proportions of finely broken bricks, coke, or granite
and the like, and from this material I mould and cast a solid slab of about the
proportions of an ordinary wooden sleeper. To strengthen the concrete sleeper I
introduce metallic bars or rods at or near the four corners extending the full length
of the sleeper. I also provide means for securing the chairs to the sleepers, the
said means consisting of chocks of wood placed in the mould so as to have their
centres exactly opposite to the centres of the spikes and screws used to fix the
chairs to the sleepers.
These wooden chocks are or may be bored before or after being placed in the
mould and are preferably soaked in creosote or other preservative. I check or
recess the wooden chocks so that when the concrete is run round them it will take
a hold on the chocks and prevent their displacement. To strengthen the sleepers
SPi 21

page_text: disruptive effects from the driving in of the spikes. Instead of the aforesaid wooden
chocks as means to secure the chairs I might core holes in the sleepers.
To prevent or hinder chipping of the concrete sleepers I preferably chamfer or
round off all corners so as to present no sharp angles. The arrangement of the
strengthening bars or rods in the body of the concrete sleeper might be varied.
The accompanying sheet of drawings illustrates my improved sleeper
Fig. 1 is an edge view.
Fig. 2 a cross section at A. B.
Fig. 3 an end view.
Fig. 4 a. plan.
The sleeper is marked a. The strengthening bars or rods which are incorporated
with the concrete are marked b. One such bar is placed near each corner of the
sleeper, the bar extending from end to end as plainly shown by the dotted lines in
Figs. and 4. At the points X where the chairs are secured to the sleeper and
which in the example are slightly sunk I place chocks c. of wood, the said chocks
being placed in the mould and surrounded by the concrete so as to be embedded
therein. The chocks c are recessed or checked as shown the top and bottom being
slightly larger than the intervening part so that the chock cannot drop or be driven
out. The chocks are or may be bored before or after being placed in the mould
and should by preference be soaked in a suitable preservative.
The chocks c are situated at the points where the spikes or screws which secure
the chairs are driven into the sleeper. To strengthen the sleeper at the points
where the chocks are situated I introduce cross ties or struts d which clench on the
longitudinal bars b and assist to hold the sleeper more firmly together at these
points and so protect it against possible breakage when driving in the spikes.
I do not however bind myself to the use of such chocks as I might core or form
holes in the sleeper to receive bolts passing through the chairs.
To further strengthen the improved sleeper I might introduce one, two, or more
sheets or strips of wire netting running the length of the sleeper and of the same
or of a suitable breadth..
It is advisable to round off the corners and edges of the sleeper as indicated in
the drawings to prevent chipping or crumbling.
The concrete or cement from which the sleepers are moulded
may have a
proportion of colour mixed with it so that the sleepers can be made of any desired
colour or shade.
When the fluid or semi-fluid concrete or cement has been poured into the mould
it is preferable to subject the mould to pressure while drying thereby expressing
moisture and consolidating the sleeper.
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
elaim is :-
1. The improved sleeper consisting of a solid block of concrete or cement
moulded to the required shape and containing metallic bars and ties for the purpose
of strengthening the sleeper substantially as described and shown.
2. The improved sleeper made of concrete and strengthened by means of metallic
rods, or other metallic adjuncts such as wire netting embedded in the concrete, and
also having wooden chocks to receive the spikes or screws used to fasten the chairs
to the sleeper, the said chocks being embedded in the concrete and so formed as not
to drop or be driven out, substantially as described and shown.
. Dated this. 1st day of September 1892:
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5, John Dalton Street, Manchester, Agents.