IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KEYS FOR SECURING THE RAILS OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan, F.C.S., of
54, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KEYS FOR
SECURING THE RAILS OF RAILWAYS."-A communication from abroad by
Joseph Hemingway and William Rainbow, both of Bombay, in the
East Indies.
Scaled the 18th July 1873, and dated the 25th January 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Primerose
Howard Vaughan at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with his Petition, on the 25th January 1873.
I, EDWARD PRIMEROSE HOWARD VAUGHAN, F.C.S., of 54, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KEYS
FOR SECURING THE RAILS OF RAILWAYS," being a communication to me from
abroad by Joseph Hemingway and William Rainbow, both of Bombay,
in the East Indies, to be as follows:-
-
This Invention consists in the construction of keys, whereby the rails

page_text: of railways are secured in the chairs in a, more effectual manner than
heretofore, and whereby the disadvantages arising from the liability of
the key or wedge to become loose are overcome.
The first part of this Invention consists in the construction of what
may be termed "double keys." The key is formed of two pieces of cast
iron or other suitable material, and each of which two pieces is provided
with a shoulder on its inner face, so that when the two pieces are
brought together for the purpose of being placed between the rail and
the arm or lug of the chair, butt against one another. The piece which
is nearest the rail may, if required, have a cushion of wood or other
suitable substance for giving the key a certain degree of clasticity
inserted in a recess formed therein, and which cushion bears against the
side of the rail. When the two pieces forming the key have been
inserted in their place between the rail and the chair, a wedge of wrought
or malleable iron or other suitable material, and the thin end of which
is perforated with a number of small holes, is driven into a tapered
groove formed longitudinally in the inner faces of the two pieces forming
the key, which are thus expanded or separated until the requisite degree
of tightness is attained, when a split pin or cotter is placed in the holo
nearest the key, thus preventing the wedge from becoming loose. That
part of the key which is nearest the arm or lug of the chair has a
projection formed on its outer face, and which projection when the
wedge is driven in overlaps the side of the arm of the chair, and thereby
further secures the key in position.
The second part of this Invention relates to what may be termed
"single keys." The key is formed of a tapered piece of cast or
malleable iron or other suitable material, and having a bevilled groove
formed on one face thercof. A cushion of wood or other suitable
material may, if desired, be inserted in a recess formed in the other face
of the key. The key is inserted between the rail and the arm or lug of
the chair with the cushion bearing against the former, and the bevilled
groove facing the latter. A wedge, similar to that herein-before
described, is then driven into the bevilled groove, and takes a bearing
against the arm or lug of the chair, thus pressing the key against the
rail as tightly as may be desired; a split pin or cotter being then inserted
into one of the perforations in the wedge, as hercin-before mentioned.

page_text: Instead of forming the wedge with perforations, as hercin-before
described, a hole for the reception of the split pin or cotter may be
drilled therein after the wedge has been sufficiently driven in. Instead
of using a wedge for the purpose of tightening the key, as herein-before
mentioned, the same object may be attained by the use of a tapered bolt
and nut working in the grooves, which would be suitably shaped for
there reception.
It may here be mentioned that keys, constructed in accordance with
this Invention, can be used with any description of chair or "pot"
sleeper, and can be constructed without departing from the principles of
this Invention, so as to be capable of being employed with rails of any
section.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 25th July 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
PRIMEROSE HOWARD VAUGHAN, F.C.S., of 54, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan, Her
special licence that I, the said Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan, my
exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward
Primerose Howard Vaughan, 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 King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KEYS FOR SECURING
THE RAILS OF RAILWAYS," being a communication to me from abroad by
Joseph Hemingway and William Rainbow, both of Bombay, in the East

page_text: Indies, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward
Primerose Howard Vaughan, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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

page_text: projection, when the wedge is driven in overlaps the side of the arm or
lug of the chair, and thereby further secures the key in position.
The second part of this Invention relates to what may be termed
"single keys." The key is formed of a tapered. piece of cast or
malleable iron or other suitable material, and having a bevilled groove
formed on one face thercof. A cushion of wood or other suitablo
material may, if desired, be inserted in a recess formed in the other faco
of the key. The key is inserted between the rail and the arm or lug of
the chair, with the cushion bearing against the former, and the bevilled
groove facing the latter. A wedge, similar to that herein-before
described, is then driven into the bevilled groove, and takes a bearing
against the arm or lug of the chair, thus pressing the key against the
rail as tightly as may be desired, a split pin or cotter being then
inserted into one of the perforations in the wedge, as herein-before
mentioned.
Instead of forming the wedge with perforations, as herein-before
described, a hole for the reception of the split pin or cotter may be
drilled therein after the wedge has been sufficiently driven in. The use
of a wedge for the purpose of tightening the key, as herein-before
mentioned, may be dispensed with, and the same object attained by the
use of a tapered bolt and nut working in the grooves, which should be
suitably shaped for that purpose.
It may here be mentioned that keys, constructed in accordance with
this Invention, can be used with any description of chair or "pot"
sleeper, and without departing from the principles of this Invention can
be so constructed as to be capable of being employed with rails of any
section.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe
in conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as constituting the Invention secured by the said herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent are,-
First. The combination and arrangement of parts in the construction
and use of "double keys," substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described and set forth.

page_text: And Secondly. The combination and arrangement of parts in the
construction and use of "single keys," substantially as and for the
purposes herein-before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan,
have hereunto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-fifth day of
July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-threo.