IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING SLEEPERS, CHAIRS, AND SPIKES, AND CONSTRUCTING WHEELS FOR RAILWAYS
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME OR BE
MADE KNOWN, I, JOHN COOPE HADDAN, late of 29, Liverpool Street,
King's Cross, but now of 11, Upper Woburn Place, in the County of Middle-
sex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Fourteenth day of April, in the eighth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Coope Haddan, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said John Coope Haddan, my exors, admors, and assigns,
and such others as I, the said John Coope Haddan, my exors, adññiors, 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, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also within all Her Majesty's Colonies and
Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING SLEEPERS,
CHAIRS, AND SPIKES, AND CONSTRUCTING WHEELS FOR RAILWAYS;" in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said John Coope Haddan,
should cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be enrolled in Her said
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW IE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Coope Haddan, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and in the manner in which the same is to be performed, are (with the aid
and assistance of the four Sheets of Drawings hereunto. annexed) ascertained
and described as follows (that is to say)
NOW KNOW ID, that in compliance with the said proviso, 1, the said
John Coope Haddan, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and in the manner in which the same is to be performed, are (with the aid
and assistance of the four Sheets of Drawings hereunto. annexed) ascertained
and described as follows (that is to say) -
My said Invention consists,-
Firstly, of improved wooden transverse sleepers for railways.
Secondly, of improved chairs for railways.
Thirdly, of improved spikes for railways.
Fourthly, of machinery for preparing the said improved railway sleepers.
Fifthly, of improvements in the construction of wheels for railways.
Sixthly, of a machine for constructing wheels for railways.
And firstly, my improved railway sleepers consist of pieces of wood of the
ordinary description and dimensions used for transverse railway sleepers, but
cut and prepared for the reception of chairs and of rails without chairs in an
improved manner. Figure 1, in the Drawing No. 1, is a side elevation of an
ordinary half round piece of wood, tapering lengthwise, such as is used (in
England) for a railway sleeper; Figure 2 is a plan; Figure 3, a cross section
at a, b; and Figure 3*, a section at c, d, of the same piece of wood; Figure 4
shews a side elevation of my improved railway sleeper, made of a piece of wood;
such as already mentioned; Figure 5 is a plan of the same sleeper; Figure 6
shews a transverse section taken through the dotted line e, f; and Figure 6*
a section through g, h; Figure 7 is a plan of the same sleeper, shewing a
chair g** (with one spike only) in the part cut away at one end, and at the
other end a chair g*, spiked to the sleeper, with a portion of the rail h* placed
in it, and fixed by a wooden key l; and Figure 8 is a longitudinal section
taken through the dotted line in Figure 7. And in these Figures, which are
all drawn one sixth the full size, similar parts are marked with similar letters
for reference. The parts of the Figures 4, 5, 6, and 6x, marked with the
letters a, a, a*, represent two spaces, made by cutting away portions of the
round or convex side of the wood for the reception of two chairs, in such
manner that the seats for the chairs may have shoulders, and may be level and
in the same plane. The spaces so made by cutting away portions of the wood,
as shewn in the Figures 4, 5, 6, and 6*, must be made sufficiently large to
receive the chairs intended to be used, and must be placed at a proper distance
apart, according to the guage of the railway for which the sleeper is intended.
The sleeper having been thus prepared, either by means of my machine here-
after described or otherwise, one of my improved chairs, also herein-after
described, or any other chair which may be preferred, is to be placed in each

page_text: space, so that the outer end of each chair shall butt against the outer shoulder
of the seat, as shewn at f*, Figures 7 and 8, and be thereby prevented from
moving outward by the passing of trains along the rails; after which the
chairs are to be spiked to the sleeper by my improved spikes s, 8, herein-after
described, as shewn in Figures 7 and 8, or fastened to it by any other means
which may be deemed most expedient, care being taken that the spikes are so
driven into the holes that the chairs are not prevented butting against the out-
ward shoulders of the seats. It must be understood that although I have
described this part of my Invention as applied to one of the half round pieces
of larch wood used (in England) for railway sleepers, my improved sleeper may
also be made of a piece of wood of any other suitable description or shape,
provided it be of the requisite length and substance. I also wish to remark,
that although I have described this part of my Invention as applied to one of
the ordinary half round sleepers prepared for the reception of cast-iron chairs,
yet it must be understood that rails, either with or without chairs, may be
fixed or placed on my improved sleeper, as shewn by Figures 8ª and 8b (Sheet
No. 1), which are drawn one twelfth of the full size.
And I hereby declare, that this part of my said Invention consists in pre-
paring sleepers with seats for the reception of chairs, or of rails without chairs,
in the manner herein-before described, so that the permanent way of a railway
may be more easily made and maintained than heretofore.
Secondly, my improvement in the construction of railway chairs consists in
making one end of such chairs perpendicular to the base, and of larger dimen-
sions than heretofore (as shewn by Figures 10 and 12, Sheet No. 1), for the
purpose of their being more firmly held in their proper positions by the outer
shoulders of the seats of my improved railway sleepers, and in making such
chairs with holes for spikes or other fastenings of the form or shape herein-
after described. Figure 9 (Sheet No. 1) is a side elevation, and Figure 10,
an end view of my improved chair, shewing that one end is made square and
of larger dimensions, for the purpose of the chair being thus more firmly held
in its position by the outside shoulder of the seat, against which such end of
the chairs butts, and the other end of the ordinary shape, or of any other
shape which may be desired. Figure 11 is a plan, and Figure 12 is a longi-
tudinal section (through the dotted lines in Figures 10 and 11) of my said
iniproved chair, shewing the holes y, y, for the spikes, which holes are to be
made oblong, as shewn in the Figure, so that the spikes or other fastenings
may be freed from all the lateral pressure outwards, which the passing of the
railway carriages has a tendency to produce, the chair being maintained in its
proper position by the outer shoulder of the seat or space in which it is placed;

page_text: but if the chair is intended to be fastened with my improved spikes, the holes
must, in addition to being made oblong, as before described, also be made
countersunk, as shewn in Figures 11 and 12. It must be understood, how-
ever, that my improved chair may be used with spikes, with heads of the
ordinary shape, one of which, m, is shewn at one end of Figure 8; and in that
case the holes must be made oblong as before mentioned, and as shewn at n,
but need not be made countersunk. In these Figures, which are drawn one
third of the full size), similar letters of reference dénote corresponding parts.
: And I hereby declare, that I do not claim as of my Invention the form or
construction of any part of the chair herein-before described, except the
enlarged end and the oblong holes herein-before described.
Thirdly, my improvements in spikes consist, firstly, of an improved method
of preparing wrought-iron spikes; and, secondly, of an improved wooden
spike.
And, firstly, as to the improved method of preparing wrought-iron spikes,
my improvement consists in rolling bars of wrought iron into a form suitable
for making spikes with countersunk heads and enlarged points or ends, as
herein-after described. Figure 13 (Sheet No. 1) represents a round bar of
wrought iron (drawn one half the full size), rolled with swells or enlargements
p, p, which should be one inch and a quarter diameter at the largest part, and
reduced on either side to three fourths of an inch diameter, at a distance of
one inch from each dotted line (p, p), and enlarged to seven eighths of an inch
diameter equidistant between each swell, as shewn in the Figure, and which is
to be made into spikes by cutting the bar through (by any of the known
'means) at the middle of each swell p, p, at the dotted lines, and also equidis-
tant between each swell at the places indicated by the dotted lines q, q, after
which the sharp edges produced by the cuttings must be removed by a file or
any other convenient means. Figure 14 shews a spike (drawn one half the
full size) made in the manner herein-before described, and having a counter-
sunk head, and also being about one eighth larger in diameter at the point or
end than at the neck or small part of the countersunk head; and two of such
spikes s, s, are shewn at one end of Figure 8, as driven through the oblong
holes of the improved chair into holes (of rather less diameter) bored for that
purpose in the sleeper.
And, secondly, as to wooden spikes, my improvement consists in making
such spikes of the shape already described, and as shewn in Figure 14, and
also in compressing such spikes from a taper into a cylindrical form from the
neck to the point. Figure 15 is a wooden spike made of the shape shewn by
the dotted lines, and afterwards compressed into the form shewn, the com-

page_text: pression being greatest at the point or end, and gradually ceasing at the neck
or small part of the countersunk head. It is to be understood that the whole
of the spike may be compressed, if necessary, so that the spike before being
compressed at all is larger at the end or point than at the neck or small
part of the countersunk head.
And I hereby declare, that this part of my Invention consists in the pre-
paration of iron railway spikes or fastenings, with countersunk heads and
enlarged points or ends in the manner hereiu-before described, and in the
preparation of wooden spikes with the ends or points larger than the part
next the head, as herein-before described, and in compressing such wooden
spikes as herein.before described.
Fourthly, the machinery for preparing my improved railway sleepers is a
machine by which the sleepers herein-before described are prepared for the
reception of chairs, or of rails without chairs intended to be placed upon
them.
Figure 1 in the Drawing. No. 2 is a front elevation of the machine;
Figure 2, a plan; Figure 3, a side elevation; and Figure 4, a transverse
section through Figure 1. A, A, A, is the framing of the machine, which is
bolted to the wood framing B, B. C, C, is a transverse frame of cast iron,
firmly bolted to the standards D, D, which standards may either be bolted
to a flange or projection a*, a*, (which is cast to the upper edge of the frame
side A), or the same may be cast in one piece with the frame A, A, A. *, *,
are brackets which support the plummer blocks c, c, which carry the main or
driving shaft of the machine d. Upon one end of this shaft are fixed the
driving pullies e, e, which consist of a loose and fast pulley. On the opposite
end of this shaft is firmly keyed a pulley f, which drives, by means of a belt
or strap g, a pulley h, keyed upon the end of the circular saw shaft i. This
shaft, which is carried by plummer blocks k, k, bolted to the flange or pro-
jection a*, is provided with four (or more) circular saws 1, 1, 1, 1, so arranged
upon the shaft as to cut the sleepers at the extremities of those parts intended
for the reception of the chairs. The mode of arranging or fixing the saws
upon the shaft is as follows:-m, m, are two collars forming a portion of the
shaft; n, n, n, n, are washers; and o, o, two ferrules sliding losely upon that
part of the shaft shewn in dotted lines. The whole are then firmly held
together by the nuts p, p, which fit upon parts of the shaft screwed to receive
them. The distance of each pair of saws apart may be regulated by having
the ferrules of different lengths. To the transverse frame C, C, are fixed
four plummer blocks E, E, E, E, which carry two vertical cutter shafts F, F,
at the lower end of each of which is a rotary cutter (a side end view and plan

page_text: of which are shewn separately in Figures 6, 7, and 8), consisting of two
cutting tools G, G, placed in opposite directions, and firmly fixed by means of
set screws to a boss H, fixed upon the lower end of each of the shafts. Each
of these shafts (which I prefer to run at about seven hundred revolutions per
minute) is driven by means of an endless gut or band I, I, passing round a
pulley J, fixed on the main or driving shaft d. From this pulley the endless
band passes over guide pullies K, K, and round a pulley L, fixed on the
upper end of the cutter shaft. The guide pullies K are supported by a
a frame bolted to the standards, as shewn in Figure 3. M, M, are brackets
cast to the framing for supporting two slides N, N, which are attached to the
aforesaid brackets by means of bolts O, O. P is a cast-iron table, supported
by the slides N, N, upon. which it moves freely. Q (Figures 3 and 4) is the
sleeper (part only being shewn in Figure 1), placed upon the table P, in order
to be cut for the reception of the chairs. The sleepers when placed upon
the table are held by an arrangement of levers as shewn at Figure 4, the
following being a description of the same:-r, r, are two levers, which are
supported by and move upon an axis or pin s, which axis or pin passes
through the upper part of two ears or projections t, cast to the under side of
the table. The lower ends of the levers r, r, are connected. by means of pin
joints with the upper ends of two short levers u, u, and the opposite or lower
ends of these levers are in like manner connected together by a pin joint,
working in oblong holes in the lever v, as shewn in Figure 3, and in the long
slit or hole in the hanging projection t. A portion of the lever vis made
double (as shewn at Figure 5, and by dotted lines at Figure 2), so as to
permit the short levers to work within. The arm w is bolted or otherwise
fixed to the under side of the table, and the lever v is attached to the lower
end of this arm by means of a pin joint or axis upon which the lever v moves.
x is a vibrating lever attached at its upper end by means of a pin joint to
the arm w, and is provided with a number of notches or teeth, and passes
between the double portion of the lever v, and is actuated by a spring y,
which forces it against the end of the opening of the double lever v. is a
counterbalance weight, for raising the opposite end of the lever v, for the
purpose of opening the jaws or upper ends of the levers r, r. It will be
seen that by raising or lowering the handle of each lever v the jaws or pincers
will be opened or closed, and when closed will embrace the sleeper at each
end, and, thus hold it firmly upon the table, as shewn in Figures 3 and 4.
It will be observed that in consequence of each of the levers r, r, having an
equal amount of action, the sleepers (which are taper, and vary in thickness),
will always be adjusted, and held at right angles to the saws. T is a handle

page_text: for moving the table backwards and forwards upon the slides. The action of
the machine is as follows:-Supposing the man who is in attendance or working
the machine. to have placed a sleeper upon the table as shewn at Figures 3
and 4, the first operation is to press down the ends of the levers v, v, into
the position shewn in Figures 1, 3, and 4, which will have the effect of
bringing nearer together the upper ends of the levers 7, r, so as to embrace
the sleeper at each end, and hold it in the proper position upon the table;
the levers v. v, will be retained in this position by the vibrating toothed
levers x, x, which will be forced by the springs y, y, against the ends of the
levers v, v, as before described; the sleeper having been thus fixed, the
workman must take hold of the handle T, and gradually. move it forwards,
so that the wooden sleeper may be operated upon by the circular saws and
also by the revolving cutters. The table is to be carefully moved forwards
by the workman to the back of the machine, but so as not to bring the
sleeper too rapidly or violently against either the circular saws or the re-
volving cutters, which latter may be protected if necessary by a circular
guard xx (beyond which the cutting tools project slightly,) as shewn. by the
section and plan, Figures 9, and 10. A portion of the wood will be thus
cut out of each end of the sleeper by the action of the saws and cutters, and
a sleeper (such as has already been described) will thus be prepared, having
spaces or seats with shoulders for the reception of the chairs, as herein-before
mentioned. After the sleeper has passed beneath the saws and cutters, and
when the table has arrived at the opposite side of the machine, the lower
end of each vibrating lever x will come in contact with the shaft d, which
will force back the vibrating lever, and release the lever v, which lever being
then acted upon by the counterbalance weight 2, the lever clips r, r, will
be opened and drawn down, and the sleeper released, after which it may be
removed from the table by another attendant at the back part of the machine.
The sleeper thus prepared not being of a uniform substance, but larger at
one end than the other, the space or seat for the chair will be deeper and
longer at one end than at the other. The position of the circular saws, and
the size and position of the revolving cutters, must be regulated according to
the width or guage of the railway for which the sleepers to be prepared are
intended, and the dimensions of the chairs which are intended to be used.
And if it is desired to have the seats for the chairs made so as to incline the
chairs or the rails, that object may be attained by varying the position of the
vertical or cutter shafts F, F, by placing them as much out of the perpen-
dicular position as may be required for effecting that object.
And. in these

page_text: Figures, which are drawn one twelfth the full size, similar parts are marked
with similar letters for reference.
And I hereby declare that I do not claim as of my Invention any of the
parts of the machine separately from the machine itself, but only the making
or construction of the machine as a whole, in the manner herein-before
described.
Fifthly, my improvements in the construction of wheels for railways consist
firstly, of improvements in wheels for railways; and secondly, of an improved
machine for constructing wheels for railways. And the improvements in
wheels for railways relate, firstly, to such wheels as are composed of cast-iron
frames or bodies with wrought-iron tyres or hoops around them; and secondly,
to wheels for railways having the peripheries of the frames or bodies formed
of segments of a circle, with spaces or openings between such segments.
And firstly, as to wheels for railways composed of cast-iron frames or bodies
with wrought-iron tyres or hoops around them, my improvements consist in
casting such frames or bodies with divisions or openings through the peri-
pheries, and extending through the frames or bodies towards the naves, such
openings being in certain cases afterwards partly or wholly filled with iron,
wood, or other suitable material. And the manner in which I carry these
improvements into effect is described as follows (that is to say):-Figure 1
(Sheet No. 3) shews a face view of a frame or body for a three-feet railway
wheel cast in one piece; Figure 2 is an edge view of the same frame;
Figure 3 shews a section taken through the dotted line at a*, 6*, Figure 1;
Figure 4 shews a face view of the same frame or body, with a portion of the
tyre partly around the periphery; and Figure 5 shews a section of Figure 4
taken through the dotted line c*, d*. a is the boss or nave of the wheel,
and b, b, b, the spokes, with spaces or openings e, e, between each pair, and
c, c, are feathers or projecting ribs to give strength. d, d, are seven ribbed
segments, which are connected at their extremities to the outer ends of the
spokes, and form a divided rim or periphery, having spaces or openings, which
are made of a dovetailed form, as shewn at f, f, and slightly tapering from the
front to the back of the frame, for the reception of pieces of iron, hereafter
described. The frame or body having been cast as described, the dovetailed
spaces or openings are to be fitted with iron keys or wedges g, g, of suitable
form and shape, which are to be driven in from the face of the frame or body,
so that they may be held in by the rib on the front of the inside of the tyre,
after which the frame is to be put into the lathe, bored, and turned up true
to receive the tyre, which is bored out, put on, secured by rivets, and finished

page_text: in the ordinary way. Care must be taken to place all the keys in the
openings, and drive them up simultaneously so as to prevent any strain upon
the spokes. Instead of these pieces of iron being fitted in, cast iron may be
run in, in the manner hereafter described. Figure 6 shews a face view, and
Figure 7 a section of another wheel, similar in principle to that last described,
but with this difference, that the openings between the spokes are made of a
different form, to receive two round pieces of wood xxx (instead of each
of the pieces of iron already described), which are to be driven into the
openings, with the grain of the wood at right angles to the plane of the wheel;
as shewn. The frame or body is to be, bored out and turned to receive the
tyre, either before or after the pieces of wood are fixed. The wooden wedges
are to be made of dry, hard, well-seasoned wood, either compressed or in
the natural state, and are to be fitted in and driven up tightly by any
convenient method, either before or after the tyre has been put on, as may be
found most convenient. Care must be taken to drive the wedges simultane-
ously, so as to avoid any unequal strain, and this is best accomplished by
means of the machine hereafter described. Instead of two round wedges of
wood being inserted, as described, three or more may be used, and the
form may be varied, if required. Figure 8 shews a face view, Figure 9, a
section through e, f, and Figure 10, a section through g, h, of another wheel,
also similar in principle to that first described, but with this difference, that
the openings between the spokes are much wider, and taper from the periphery
towards the nave; and in place of the iron keys, already described, I use
wooden wedges for this wheel, which are to be driven into the openings
between the spokes, as shewn, which will have the effect of diminishing or
deadening the vibration of the wheel. In constructing these wheels it is
necessary that the frame or body should be bored' out and turned before the
wooden wedges are put in. The wooden wedges are to be made of dry, hard,
well-seasoned wood, either compressed or in the natural state, and are to
be fitted in and driven up tightly by any convenient method, observing that
the points of the wedges must not come in contact with the feathers or ribs
c, c. so as to bear on the edge of the rib. Care must be taken to drive the
wedges simultaneously so as to avoid any unequal strain, and this is also best
accomplished by means of the machine hereafter described. After the wedges
have been fitted in and driven tight (as shewn at it, Figure 8), the heads are
to be cut off by any convenient means, so as to form a circle with the
periphery of the frame. The heads of the wedges being all cut off, a thin
piece of wrought iron k is to be fixed upon the head of each wedge by two
spikes to protect, the wood from being burnt. When the tyre contracts on

page_text: the frame, it has the effect of driving the wood wedges still further in. The
wedges are all to be cut at the small ends or points, so as to make the
openings uniform in length around the nave. The wedges may be driven in
after the tyre has been put on and rivetted, and the grain of the wood should
then be at right angles to the plane of the wheel, instead of being towards the
nave, as shewn. Figure 11 shews a front or face view, and Figure 12, a
section through the dotted line l, m, and Figure 13, a section through the
dotted line o, p, of the framé or body of another wheel, also similar in prin-
ciple to that first described, but with this difference, that the spokes have
feathers or ribs on each side, and that no wedges or keys are employed, while
the openings or spaces between the ends of the segments are made as nearly
as possible of such a size when first cast that the ends of the segments may
be in contact when the frame or body is cold. Figure 14 is a face view, and
Figure 15 is a section through the dotted line r, s, of the frame of another
wheel, resembling that thirdly herein-before described, but having the sides of
the openings slightly curved instead of being straight. And in these Figures,
which are all drawn one eighth the full size, similar parts are marked with
similar letters for reference. The wheels which have been described may be
cast with divided flanges, and with wrought-iron bands without flanges, applied
instead of wrought-iron hoops with flanges, as herein-before described, care
being taken that the flange is made so deep as to project sufficiently after the
wrought-iron hoop has been put upon the wheel. In this case also the
flanges may be chilled. The wheels herein-before described are intended to
be of three feet diameter, but if made larger the number of the spokes and the
proportions of the different parts must be increased according to the size of
the wheel.
And I hereby declare that I do not claim as of my invention the
construction of wheels with cast-iron frames or bdies generally, nor wheels
made with frames of cast iron and wood combined generally, nor wheels
made of such frames and with wrought-iron tyres generally; but that I
claim the construction of wheels for railways which are composed of cast-
iron frames or bodies with divisions or openings through the peripheries
with or without such openings being wholly or partly filled with pieces of
wood, iron, or other suitable material, as herein-before described.
And, secondly, as to wheels for railways having the peripheries of the frames
or bodies formed of segments of a circle, with spaces or openings between them,
my improvements consist in running cast iron or other suitable metal in a
fluid state into such spaces or openings; and the manner in which I carry the
same into effect is described as follows (that is to say):

page_text: g
Figure 1 (Sheet No. 4) is part of the frame or body of a wheel, such as
described in Figure 1 (Sheet No. 3), laid on the lower part of a mould
preparatory to running cast iron into the outer dovetailed end of the space or
opening between the spokes. Figure 2 is the same part of a wheel and
mould, with the upper part of the mould added. Figure 3 is a section
through a, b, and Figure 4 is a section through c, d, Figure 2. e, e, is the
bottom plate of the mould on which the frame or body of the wheel rests,
having an upright back or side f* which is curved on the inside to the same
sweep as the outside of the periphery of the frame or body. To this plate is
firmly bolted an upright piece of wrought iron g of the same thickness as the
opening between the spokes, and of the same height as the width of the
spokes, and having a bolt projecting from the top. i, i, is the top plate
(also made of cast iron) which is curved so as to fit the inside of the back or
side fx, and held fast by the nut on the bolt h. k is the hole for pouring in
the metal, one half being formed in the plate i, and the other half in the back
or side f* of the bottom plate. The method of fixing these moulds is as
follows: The frame or body of the wheel having been first turned, or not, as
may be preferred, a bottoni plate, with the upright 9 attached, is to be 1
placed
beneath each opening, with the upright between the spokes, as shewn in
Figure 1, and a top plate is then to be placed over each opening, and
fastened down by the nut, care being taken that the curved edge of the top
plate is in contact with the inside of the back f*, and that the two halves of
the hole karo opposite each other. The mould having been fixed as described,
the metal is to be poured into the holes until the spaces or openings between
the spokes and the parts of each mould are filled. To get rid of the moulds
it is only necessary to take off the nuts and raise the frame or body clear of
the lower plates and the bolts, and then remove the upper plates. The edge
of the piece g, which forms the inside part of the mould, must be slightly
inclined to facilitate the lifting of the frame or body. More or less of the
openings between the spokes may be filled up by shifting the position of the
upright part of the mould which fits between the spokes. Figure 5
and Figure 6 shew part of the frame or body of another description of
wheel with openings of a different shape, and mould to suit the same.
Figure 7 is a section through e*, f*, and Figure 8 is a section through g, h,
Figure 6. Instead of the upright piece g two bolts ni, m, are used for
holding the top and bottom plates together. n, n, are pieces of stout wire
(which are driven tight into boles drilled between the spokes for the purpose
of holding the cast iron in the openings until the tyre is put on. In Figures
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, which are drawn one fourth the full size, the same

page_text: letters indicate the same parts. And I hereby declare, that I do not claim
the filling up of spaces or openings in the peripheries of the frames or bodies
of wheels with iron or wood generally, but that I claim the filling up such
openings or spaces in the manner herein-before described.
Sixthly, my improved machine for constructing wheels for railways is an
apparatus whereby the form of the frames or bodies of wheels having divided
peripheries is pereserved during the forcible insertion of wedges or pieces of
wood or other suitable material. Figure 9 is a plan of the machine, and
Figure 10 is a section through Figure 9., The apparatus consists of a circular
plate of cast iron A, having a hole in the centre to admit the nave. This
plate is cast with seven projections B, having at the outer edge raised ribs or
flanges B inclined on the inside. The surface of the plate, and also the
surfaces of the projections and the insides of the ribs, are accurately turned,
the surface of the projections being made a little lower than the surface of the
plate itself. To each of the projections B is fitted a cast-iron block C, the
form of which will be clearly seen on referring to the section Figure 10.
Each of these blocks is accurately prepared so that the outer convex edge fits
the inclined edge of each raised rib B', and the concave edge fits the shoulder
or edge formed by the face of the plate standing above the surface of the
projections. The concave faces or edges of the blocks C are of the same
radius as the outer circumference of the frame or body of the wheel, and of
the same depth as the frame or body is wide.. The bolts y are made with a
collar, so that they may be fixed to the projections B by means of the
nuts ff. The blocks C are firmly fixed on to the projections B of the plate A
by the nut g. z, z, are pins which pass through the blocks E and the bolts
y, y, and serve to keep the segments in their true position while the wedges
are being driven. The operation of driving the wedges is as follows:-
Figure 11 is a plan view of the apparatus, with the frame of a wheel fixed
ready to receive the wood wedges, and Figure 12 is a tranverse section taken
through Figure 11, the frame of the wheel having been placed within the
apparatus before described in such manner that the rivet holes in the frame or
body correspond with those in the blocks. The pins z, z, are then inserted, after
which the wedges are to be driven tight by hydraulic presses or screws, or by
any other convenient means, care being taken to drive the blocks as nearly as
possible equally tight alike, and also to have the wedges of such a length that
their small ends do not come in contact with the feathers or ribs. After the
wedges have been driven tight, the frame will be quite tightly fixed in the
apparatus, in consequence of the pressure of the segments against the blocks,
and to remove the fame it will be necessary to take out the pins and unscrew

page_text: the nuts so as to loosen the blocks. After the frames have been removed, the
ends of the wedges are to be cut off, as before directed. In Figures 9, 10, 11,
and 12, which are drawn one eighth of the full size, the same letters indicate
the same parts. This machine is equally serviceable for holding the frames of
wheels in which wedges of wood or other suitable material are inserted at
right angles to the plane of the frame or body. And I hereby declare that I
claim as my Invention the machine by meaus of which the frames or bodies of
wheels having divided peripheries are held and preserved in their proper form
during the insertion of wedges of wood or other suitable material, as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Coope Haddan, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-five.