IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1885

page_text: of America Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement that is to say:-
The object of my invention is to provide suitable appliances for the construction
of Permanent way for Railways, for increasing the durability and preventing the
spreading and creeping of the track, and to dispense with the use of wooden
sleepers.
In the drawings annexed hereto
Fig. 1. is a plan view of a Railway track.
Fig. 2, enlarged view of my triple chair.
Fig. 3, side elevation of same.
Fig. 4, transverse section of triple chair, on line xx
Fig. 5, enlarged plan view of end of triple chair with rail fastener removed.
My invention consists of a metallic sleeper, or triple chair a series of which forms
the bed of the rails, the said chairs being arranged in the track, so that the centre
of each chair will be immediately opposite the space between the ends of the two
adjacent chairs in the opposite track.
A diagonal tie-rod runs from each end of the chair, and each of said rods
connects with the nearest end of the opposite located chairs, in such manner that
each of the chairs will be connected with two adjacent chairs of the opposite rail,
an intermediate tie rod is fixed to the middle of each chair, so as to extend at a
right angle therefrom and is secured to the opposite rail in the space between two
adjacent chairs, by this means the two tracks are connected together by a system
of counter bracing composed of diagonal and direct tie rods as illustrated in
Figure 1.
As shown in the drawing A represents my triple chair which consists of an
oblong metallic box opened at the top and bottom, (or bottom perforated) and
having its sides and ends inclined inwardly and upwardly, so as to produce a large
bearing surface for its base, around the lower edge of said box a projecting
flange "a" is formed and on the lower face of said flange, there are four spurs a
one at each corner of the box for the purpose of obtaining a more secure hold in
the road bed to resist any lateral pressure, that may be brought to bear against the
triple chair, on each side of the upper edge of said box are externally projecting
Fig. 2, enlarged view of my triple chair.
Fig. 3, side elevation of same.
Fig. 4, transverse section of triple chair, on line xx
Fig. 5, enlarged plan view of end of triple chair with rail fastener removed.
My invention consists of a metallic sleeper, or triple chair a series of which forms
the bed of the rails, the said chairs being arranged in the track, so that the centre
of each chair will be immediately opposite the space between the ends of the two
adjacent chairs in the opposite track.
A diagonal tie-rod runs from each end of the chair, and each of said rods
connects with the nearest end of the opposite located chairs, in such manner that
each of the chairs will be connected with two adjacent chairs of the opposite rail,
an intermediate tie rod is fixed to the middle of each chair, so as to extend at a
right angle therefrom and is secured to the opposite rail in the space between two
adjacent chairs, by this means the two tracks are connected together by a system
of counter bracing composed of diagonal and direct tie rods as illustrated in
Figure 1.
As shown in the drawing A represents my triple chair which consists of an
oblong metallic box opened at the top and bottom, (or bottom perforated) and
having its sides and ends inclined inwardly and upwardly, so as to produce a large
bearing surface for its base, around the lower edge of said box a projecting
flange "a" is formed and on the lower face of said flange, there are four spurs a¹
one at each corner of the box for the purpose of obtaining a more secure hold in
the road bed to resist any lateral pressure, that may be brought to bear against the
triple chair, on each side of the upper edge of said box are externally projecting

page_text: flanges a and at each end of it internally projecting flanges a³ are found, on one
side of the upper face of said box a hook like or inturned longitudinal flange B is
formed along the entire length of the casting, said flange is adapted to overlap one
side of the bottom flange of the rail E and affords a most thorough and continuous
support to the rail at the outerside of the track, at the opposite side of the opening
in the top of the box.
The flanges B and B are each provided with three mortices "b" one near each
end and one at the middle of each flange, and the mortices in each flange range
directly opposite those in the other flange. In the upper face of the horizontal
flange a² which lie at the side of the vertical flange B¹ and directly in line with
the center line of each mortice "b," recesses are formed to receive the eye "d" on
the edge of each tie rod D, and said recesses have holes for receiving the fastening
pins the opposite flange a² is in like manner, provided with holes for receiving
the fastening pins C³.
The half chair or rail fastener C is provided with a tongue c which is fitted to
slide through the mortice b, and to form a seat upon which the bottom of the rail
rests and thereby three bearing points for the rail are formed on each of the triple
chairs A, said rail fastener is also provided with a bearing piece C¹ which extends
over the upper edge of the vertical flange B¹, so as to overlap and bear upon one of
the bottom flanges of the rail E, and also to abut against the web of the rail as
shown in Figure 4. said rail fastener when fixed in the mortices 6 come over the
eye "d" of the tie rods as they lie in the recesses of the flange a³, and thereby the ends
of the tie rods are locked in said recesses and are prevented from rising, said rail
fastener's are secured at one end by means of a pin C (which are passed through
the eyes d of the tie rods) and at their opposite ends by pins C³ which pass through
holes in the flange a² on the outer side of the triple chair.
The diagonal tie rods D are provided at both ends with eyes "d" which fit into
recesses in the triple chair A in the manner herein before described, and said
diagonal tie rods are arranged as shown in Figure 1. that is to say so that the
tie rods running from one end of the triple chair will reach to the end recesses of
the nearest triple chair under the opposite rail, and this arrangement of the diagonal
tie rods is maintained throughout the entire track.
The opposite transverse tie rod D¹ is provided at one end with an eye "d." which
fits into the recess in the middle of the triple chair A, and its opposite is provided
with a hook "d" which engages over the bottom flange of the rail which forms the
opposite side of the track.
The triple chairs A should be arranged in the track in such manner, that the
distance between the end mortice b in two adjacent chairs on the same rail will be
spaced at the same distance apart that the successive mortices in the chair castings
are, and under the opposite rails of the track, the chairs for one rail will be
arranged so that the middle of each chair will lie exactly opposite the space
between the ends of two adjacent chairs of the opposite track as shown in
Figure 1.
By constructing Railway tracks as herein described, I am enabled to dispense
with a large portion of spikes, chairs &c, also a large portion of the gravel
commonly required for ballasting, the only gravel required for my track is a bank
of about a foot against each side of the triple chairs, that is to say, The triple chair
is filled with, and embedded in a bank of gravel about two feet wide longitudinally
with the rails, the space between the banks of gravel or center of track can be
filled will other material, and by so doing a perfect drainage and a great saving in
the cost of construction can be effected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and the manner in which the same may be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1-The triple chair A herein described consisting of an oblong metallic box open

page_text: flange B adapted to overlap one edge of the bottom flange of the rail, and a vertical
longitudinal flange B¹ parallel to the flange B' both of said flanges having three
mortices b spaced equi-distantly therein, the said metallic box being also provided with
on one of its horizontal flanges with recesses for receiving the eye of the tie rods D
in front of the mortice b, in combination with the rail fastener C provided with a
tongue c, adapted to slide in the mortice b, (to form a support for the rail E as
herein described, and with a bearing piece c which abuts against the web of the
rail, said rail fastener being also arranged so as to secure the ends of the tie rods D
to the triple chair A. as herein specified.
2-In a railway track, the combination with a series of triple chairs A, provided
with three rail fasteners C spaced equi-distantly therein, the said chairs being so
arranged that the distances between the rail fasteners in the ends of any two
successive chairs shall be the same as that at which the rail fasteners in the chairs
are spaced, and the said triple chairs being also arranged so that the chairs under
one rail shall be fixed opposite a space between the ends of two successive chairs
under the other rail as herein described of the diagonal tie rods D secured near
the ends of each chair A, and connected with the nearest ends of the chairs under
the opposite rail and a transverse tie rod D secured at the middle of each triple
chair and connected to the opposite rail substantially as specified.
Dated the 13th day of May 1885.
ROBT F. DRURY,
Agent for the Applicant.