Improvements in Railway Sleepers and Trenails, and in Tools to be Employed in connection therewith.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug., 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Sleepers and Trenails, and in Tools to be
Employed in connection therewith.
1, ALBERT COLLET of 2 Rue de Berne, Paris, in the Republic of France, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The substitution in railways of soft wood sleepers for those of oak or beech
requires that the holes in the sleepers to receive the fastenings which secure the
rails and chairs thereto should be provided with trenails which assure the more or
less permanent attachment of the fastenings to the sleepers. The difficulty of
obtaining a sound connection of the trenails with the soft wood sleepers has
heretofore only been partially met by a special preparation of the trenails or by
their forcible insertion into the holes in the sleepers which often causes the splitting
or bursting of the sleepers, by the expansion of the trenails resulting from the
insertion into them of the sciews, cramps or spikes.
The object of my invention is to provide a simple means of producing an
absolutely solid connexion of the pins or trenails with the soft wood sleeper, and
which means consist firstly in forming a screw thread in the holes bored in the
sleeper, secondly in forming a screw thread on the exterior of the trenail, and if
necessary, in ferruling it at the end and thirdly in then screwing the trenails firmly
into the screwed holes in the sleepers. In this manner whatever may be the strain
put upon the parts thus connected together the trenail can never be drawn
out accidentally from its hole in the sleeper, or the screw, cramp, or spike from the
trenail.
It will be understood that my invention can also be applied to new hard wood
sleepers and to sleepers of hard wood the holes in which are required to be enlarged
in order to be pinned or trenailed. In all cases my screwed trenails prolong
considerably the duration of the sleepers. In hard wood sleepers especially if the
trenails wear out they can be replaced by new ones screwed into the same holes.
My invention also includes tools for putting the screwed trenails in place.
At the places where the sleeper is to receive the fastening screws, cramps
or spikes are bored the holes to receive the trenails; these holes are afterwards
screw-threaded right or left handed as may be preferred and to the pitch and
diameters corresponding to those of the trenails that they are intended
receive.
to
The trenail which is of hard wood, preferably hornbeam, may have an external
diameter of about 40 to 45 millimetres; the pitch of the screw thread may be about
15 millimetres with a depth of thread of 4 to 5 millimetres. I prefer to make the
thread of trapezoidal section; I do not however limit myself to the particular
dimensions indicated, as they may be varied according to circumstances, or to the
particular section of thread shown as the same may be triangular or any other
suitable section.
The trenail is perforated through the centre with a smooth or screwed hole
slightly conical at the upper end, and cylindrical for the rest of its depth. The
parts of this central hole should correspond in dimensions to those of the screw,
cramp or spike. The hole in the trenail may be bored before or after it is placed
in position in the sleeper. The total length of the trenail should be greater than
the depth of the sleeper by about two centimetres so that when the trenail is in

page_text: place, and screwed hard down, there remains a part standing about two centimetres
above the sleeper. This excess of length is useful for screwing the trenail into the
sleeper as hereinafter explained. For screwing the trenail into the sleeper I use a
tool which comprises essentially a screwed part the internal diameter of which is a
little less than the external diameter of the head of the trenail. This screwing-in
tool is surmounted with a square head preferably of the same size as the square head
of the fastening screw so that the same key may fit both.
The trenail, previously creosoted or otherwise prepared, is placed in the sleeper
as follows After having entered it into the screw-thread in the sleeper, the
aforesaid screwing-in tool is placed upon it and is turned round with an appropriate
key, to effect, firstly, the screwing of the tool on to the head of the trenail, and
secondly the screwing of this trenail into the sleeper. The tool is then removed
and the head of the trenail cut off so as to level the sleeper on its upper side and in
the seat prepared to receive the rail or chair.
The trenails may be screwed from above downwards into the sleeper; but they
may be screwed in from below upwards; in this case it is not necessary to cut off
the projecting heads of the trenails because they will sink into the ballast and help
to bed the sleeper. It will be understood that in the latter case the central hole in
the trenail is made with its conical end at the point, and the cylindrical part at the
head of the trenail.
Whatever method be adopted for inserting the trenail into the sleeper the placing
of the rails and the application of the fastenings whether screws, cramps or spikes
are effected in the usual way. These fastenings may all be used in connection with
the screwed trenails or one or more of them may be used with the trenails, and the
others applied in any suitable way.
When the fastenings are used with trenails as above described the connection of
the three parts, sleeper, trenails and fixing screws is as solid as possible and there is
no fear of separation of the trenail from the sleeper, or of the fixing screw from the
trenail; consequently by the application of my screwed trenails to soft or hard-
wood sleepers absolute security is obtained.
The strength of the trenail should be sufficient of itself to resist bursting but it
may be increased by placing a metallic ferrule of any suitable depth and thickness
at the lower end or at any other suitable part thereof.
It will be understood that the screwed trenails above described may be employed
with advantage in the maintenance of existing soft or hard-wood_sleepers, and in
the preparation of new sleepers whether of soft or hard wood. In all cases they
give great security, and cause the sleepers to last longer.
The screw-thread cutting tool or tap consists of a screw the thread of which ends
in cutting edges near to which are formed holes which open into a hollow space in
the tool and serve for the escape of the chips.
At its upper end the screw has a hole bored and tapped axially into it to receive
the screwed end of a stem by which it can be operated.
To increase if required the adhesion of the tool to the head of the trenail
Buitable projections may be formed thereon or applied thereto which take into the
said head.
To enable the head of the trenail to be removed in case it should be broken
during the process of screwing it into the sleeper the screwing-in tool is provided
with holes through which a suitable driver can be introduced.
In order to protect the threads of the screw of the screw thread cutter or tap and
especially the cutting edges thereof a screw thread formed in the said tool and a
corresponding thread on a part of the screwing-in tool in such manner that the
screw thread on the screwing-in tool can be screwed into the screw-thread cutting
tool or tap and the screwing-in tool then covers the threads and cutting edges at
the end of the screw-thread cutting tool and the said threads and cutting edges are
thus protected while the tool is being moved from place to place.
As above stated the trenails are preferably made of hard wood such as horubeam
for example but any suitable kind of wood may be employed, and the trenails may

page_text: even be formed of any suitable composition provided that the fastenings of the rails
or chairs can be screwed or driven into it and be held firmly thereby.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1895.
Per W. H. Beck,
115 Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.
Improvements in Railway Sleepers and Trenails, and in Tools to be
Employed in connection therewith.
I, ALBERT COLLET, of 2 Rue de Berne, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Civil 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 :-
The substitution in railways of soft wood sleepers for those of oak or beech
requires that the holes in the sleepers to receive the fastenings which secure the
rails and chairs thereto should be provided with trenails, which assure the more or
less permanent attachment of the fastenings to the sleepers. The difficulty of
obtaining a sound connection of the trenails with the soft wood sleepers has
heretofore only been partially met by a special preparation of the trenails or by
their forcible insertion into the holes in the sleepers, which often causes the
splitting or bursting of the sleepers by the expansion of the trenails resulting from
the insertion of the screws, cramps or spikes.
The object of my invention is to provide a simple means of producing an
absolutely solid connexion of the pins or treuails with the soft wood sleeper, and
which means consist firstly in forming a screw thread in the holes bored in the
sleeper, secondly in forming a screw thread on the exterior of the trenail, and if
necessary, in ferruling it at the end, and thirdly in then screwing the trenails firmly
into the screwed holes in the sleepers. In this manner whatever may be the strain
put upon the parts thus connected together the trenail can never be drawn out
accidentally from its hole in the sleeper, or the screw, cramp or spike from the
trenail.
It will be understood that my invention can also be applied to new hard wood
sleepers, and to the maintenance of any kind of wooden sleepers the holes in which
are required to be enlarged in order to be pinned or trenailed.
In all cases my
screwed trenails prolong considerably the duration of the sleepers. In hard wood
sleepers especially, if the trenails wear out they can be replaced by new ones
screwed into the same holes.
My invention also includes new or improved tools for putting the screwed
trenails in place, and for preparing the sleepers to receive the trenails.
And in order that the invention may be fully understood I will now proceed to
describe the same with the aid of the accompanying two sheets of drawings in
which-
Figures 1 and 2 show, in elevation and plan respectively, one end of a sleeper
trenailed for a Vignol rail.
Figures 3 and 4 show, in elevation and plan respectively, one end of a sleeper
trenailed for a rail chair.
Figures 5 to 9 inclusive are cross sections taken on the line 1-2 of Figure 2 of
the sleeper for a Vignol rail, showing, respectively, the sleeper bored, screwed,
furnished with a screwed trenail, and with the rail fixed in place by its fastening
screw screwed into the trenail.
Figure 10 is cross section of a sleeper showing a modification in the application
of the trenail.

page_text: Figure 11 shows an elevation and a longitudinal section of a screwed trenail
having a screw-thread of trapezoidal section.
Figure 12 shows an elevation and a longitudinal section of a screwed trenail
having a screw thread of trapezoidal section, and furnished with a ferrule at its
lower end.
Figure 13 shows an elevation and a longitudinal section of a screwed trenail
having a screw thread of triangular section, likewise furnished with a ferrule at its
lower end.
Figure 14 is a vertical section of a tool for cutting the threads in the holes in the
sleepers intended to receive the screwed trenails.
Figure 15 is a vertical section of a modification of the tool shown in Figure 14.
Figure 16 is an elevation of the tool for cutting the threads in the holes in the
sleepers with the stem attached to it by which it can be rotated by the intervention
of an actuating lever.
Figure 17 is an elevation and Figure 17 an underside view of another
modification of the tool shown in Figure 14.
Figure 18 shows the tool as in Figure 16, but with the end covered with the tool
shown in Figure 19 used for screwing the trenails into the sleepers.
Figure 19 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 19* an underside view of a tool for
screwing the trenails into the sleepers.
Figure 20 is an elevation, and Figure 20 a horizontal section, taken on the
line 3-4 of Figure 20, of a modification of the tool for screwing in the trenails.
At the places where the sleeper A is to receive the fastening screws, clamps or
spikes are bored the holes B (Fig. 5) to receive the trenails; these holes are
afterwards screw-threaded as shown in (Fig. 6), right or left handed as may be
preferred, and to the pitch and diameters corresponding to those of the trenails T
that they are intended to receive.
The trenail, which is of hard wood, preferably hornbeam, may have an external
diameter of about 40 to 45 millimetres; the pitch of the screw thread may be
about 15 millimetres, with a depth of thread of 4 to 5 millimetres. I prefer to
make the thread of trapezoidal section as shown in Figures 11 and 12. I do not
however limit myself to the particular dimensions indicated, as they may be varied
according to circumstances, or to the particular section of thread shown as the same
may be of triangular section as shown in Figure 13, or of any other suitable
section.
The trenail is perforated through its centre with a smooth or screwed hole
slightly conical at the upper end, and cylindrical for the rest of its depth. The
parts of this central hole should correspond in dimensions to those of the screw,
cramp or spike as shown clearly in Figure 9. The hole in the trenail may be
bored before or after it is placed in position in the sleeper. The total length of
the trenail should be greater than the depth of the sleeper by about two centi-
metres, so that when the trenail is in place, as in Figure 7 and screwed hard down,
there remains a part T¹ standing about one or two centimetres, above the sleeper.
This excess of length is useful for screwing the trenail into the sleeper as herein-
after explained. For screwing the trenail into the sleeper I use a tool hereinafter
described. After the trenail is screwed in, its head T is cut off with any suitable
tool so as to make the sleeper level both on its upper surface and in the recessed
part (see Figures 1, 2 and 8).
In Figures 1 to 9 the trenails are shown screwed from above downwards into
the sleeper; but as shown in Figure 10 they may be screwed in from below
upwards; in this case it is not necessary to cut off the projecting heads T¹ of the
trenails because they will sink into the ballast and help to bed the sleeper. It
will be understood that in the latter case the central hole in the trenail is made
with its conical end at the point, and the cylindrical part at the head of the
trenail.
Whatever method be adopted for inserting the trenail into the sleeper, the
placing of the rails and the application of the fastenings, whether screws, cramps

page_text: or spikes are effected in the usual way. These fastenings may all be used in
connection with the screwed trenails, or one or more of them may be used with
the trenails, and the others applied in any suitable way.
When the fastenings are used with trenails as above described the connection
of the three parts, sleeper, trenails and fixing screws as solid as possible and there
is no fear of separation of the trenail from the sleeper, or of the fixing screw from
the trenail; consequently by the application of my screwed trenails to soft or
hard-wood sleepers absolute security is obtained.
The trenail should be sufficiently strong of itself to resist bursting: but it may
be strengthened, if necessary, by placing a metallic ferrule y of any suitable depth
and thickness at the lower end (see Figures 12 and 13) or at any other suitable
part thereof.
It will be understood that the screwed trenails above described may be
employed with advantage in the maintenance of existing soft or hard-wood
sleepers, and in the preparation of new sleepers whether of soft or hard wood.
In all cases they give great security, and cause the sleepers to last longer than
when ordinary trenails are employed.
The various tools I employ for placing the trenails in position and for preparing
the sleepers are as follows:-
The tool for forming the screw-threads in the holes in the sleepers is shown
in Figures 14 to 17* and consists of a screw tap d the thread of which is provided
with one or more cutting edges d' d 2 opposite to which are holes that open into
an internal hollow space e in the tap and serve for the escape of the chips. At
its upper end the tap d has a hole bored and tapped axially into it to receive the
screwed end of a stem g by which it can be operated. The stem is secured to
the tap d by means of a pin passing through the strewed part of both. The
stem 9 has a square head g¹ on which fits a suitable lever or key (not shown in the
drawings) by means of which the tap can be turned round. Instead of this
arrangement the tap itself may be provided with a square head as shown in
Figure 17 adapted to receive the said operating key. The thread shown in this
figure is however made in two parts, the cutting part m being made of tool steel
and dovetailed into the body of the tap.
The tool c for screwing the trenails into the sleepers is shown in Figures 19
and 19ª. It consists essentially of an internally screwed part c, the internal diameter
of which is a little less than the external diameter of the head T' of the trenail.
The part of the tool is surmounted with a square c¹ on which the operating lever
or key fits. When the screwed trenail has been entered into the screwed hole in
the sleeper then those in the tool is placed on its head, and is turned round by the
lever or key, whereby, first, the part c of the tool is screwed on to the head T¹ of
the trenail, and then the trenail is screwed into the sleeper into the position shown
in Figure 7. It then only remains to remove the screwing-in tool and to cut off
the head of the trenail flush with the sleeper as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 8 by
means of any suitable tool. To enable the head of the trenail to be removed in
case it should be broken during the process of screwing it into the sleeper, the
part 2 of the screwing-in tool may be provided with holes h, through which
a suitable drift may be inserted the driving the broken parts out of the part c of
the tool.
To increase, if required, the adhesion of the screwing-in tool to the head T¹ of
the trenail, suitable projections such as those shown at c3 for example may
be formed on, or applied to the underside of the part c2. These projections
dig into the head T₁ of the trenail and help to turn the latter along with the
tool.
The adhesion of the tool to the head of the trenail may also be increased by
means of a kind of brake strap, as shown in Figures 20 and 20%. The strap n has
horizontal openings or slots into which take the ends or arms of a lever p having a
square p adapted to receive an operating lever or key (not shown in the
drawings). By turning the lever p the teeth q on the inner convolution of the

page_text: strap n bite into the head T' of the trenail and the latter is drawn round by
the rotatory movement of the tool and the screwing in of the trenail is thereby
assured.
In order to protect the thread of the screw tap d, and especially the cutting
parts dd2 thereof, a screw thread f' is formed in the said tap as shown in
Figures 14 and 18, and a corresponding thread ¹ on the part of the screwing-in
tool can be screwed into the said thread f¹ so that the screwing-in tool then
covers the thread and cutting edges of the tap d and the said thread and cutting
edges are thus protected while the tool is being moved from place to place.
When the modified tool shown in Figure 15 is used the part of the screwing-in
tool is made much shorter, and is not screw-threaded. It then serves simply to
centre the tool on the head T¹ of the trenail by taking into the central hole
thereof, in the same manner at the parts k k¹ Figure 19 do when the tool there
shown is being used for screwing in a trenail.
As above stated the trenails are preferably made of hard wood such as horn-
beam for example but any suitable kind of wood may be employed; and the
trenails may even be formed of any suitable composition, provided that the
fastenings of the rails or chairs can be screwed or driven into it and be held firmly
thereby.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
First. A trenail made of hard wood or other suitable material having a screw
thread formed thercon adapted to take into a corresponding screw thread formed
in the hole in the sleeper, the said trenail having also a hole through its axis
adapted to receive the fastening screw, cramp, or spike, substantially as
described.
Second. A trenail made of hard wood or other suitable material having a screw
thread formed thereon adapted to take into a corresponding screw-thread formed
in the hole in the sleeper, the said trenail having also one or more strengthening
ferrules applied thereto, substantially as described.
Third. As a new article of manufacture a wooden sleeper having trenails
screwed thereinto substantially as described.
Fourth. As a new article of manufacture a wooden sleeper having trenails
screwed thereinto, said trenails having strengthening ferrules applied thereto,
substantially as described.
Fifth. The tool for forming the screw-threads in the holes of the sleepers
which consists of a screw tap d having a triangular, trapezoidal or other screw-
thread the lower end of which is provided with cutting edges d' d 2 opposite to
which are formed holes which open into an internal hollow space e in the tap, and
serve for the escape of the chips, the said tap being also provided at its upper end
with a hole bored and tapped axially to receive the screwed end of an operating
stem or handle g, substantially as described with reference to Figures 14, 15,
and 16 of the drawings.
Sixth. The modification of the screw tap for forming the screw-threads in the
holes of the sleepers in which the actuating head or square is made in one with
the body of the tap, and the cutting part of the tap is dovetailed into the body
thereof, substantially as described with reference to Figures 17 and 17A of the
drawings.
Seventh. The tool for screwing the trenails into the sleepers, which consists of
an internally screwed socket c adapted to screw on to the head of the trenail and
having a head c¹ adapted to receive a lever or key by which the tool and the
trenail can be rotated, substantially as described, with reference to Figures 19
and 19 of the drawings.
Eighth. In a tool for screwing the trenails into the sleepers the use of a metallic
strap wound on itself and furnished with teeth on its internal face, adapted to bite

page_text: into or grasp firmly the head of the trenail when an actuating lever is turned the
arms of which take into horizontal opening or slots in the said strap, substantially
as described with reference to Figures 20 and 20 of the drawings.
Ninth. Constructing the tool for forming or tapping the screw threads in the holes
in the sleepers with an internal screw thread', and the tool for screwing the trenails
into the sleepers with a screwed stem k adapted to screw into the screw thread f¹
of the tapping tool so as to combine the two tools together, in order to protect the
lower end of the tapping tool, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 14, 18, 19 and 19 of the drawings.
Dated this 21st day of August 1896.