IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Barker, of New Wortley, near Leeds, in the
County of York, Tramway Contractor, for the Invention of
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS."
IMPROVEMENTS
Sealed the 23rd May 1876, and dated the 25th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Barker at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th March 1876.
BENJAMIN BARKER, of New Wortley, near Leeds, in the County of York,
Tramway Contractor. " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS."
My Invention consists of a continuous series of cast-iron flanged foundations, with
an upper groove or recesses for the reception of the wrought-iron rail, which is formed
with a tongue or side flanges, and held in its place by means of wedge keys passing
through the cast-iron foundations and the tongue or side flanges of the rail. When
wrought-iron tongued rails are used, I make the under side of the rail to bevel
downwards towards the sides, to prevent the accumulation of water under the rail.
By this means the rail is supported continuously, and the spring of the rail between
chairs as now customary is obviated. The sets adjacent to the rail have a con-
tinuous support upon the flanges of the cast-iron foundations, thereby avoiding ruts
in the pavement alongside the rails. The wood plugs usually employed are also
dispensed with, and no material liable to decay is employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Barker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
September 1876.
BENJAMIN BARKER, of New Wortley, near Leeds, in the County of York,
Tramway Contractor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS."
My Invention consists of a continuous series of cast-iron flanged foundations, with
an upper groove or recesses for the reception of the wrought-iron rail, which is formed
with a tongue or side flanges, and held in its place by means of wedge keys passing
When
through the cast-iron foundations and the tongue or side flanges of the rail.
wrought-iron tongued rails are used I make the under side of the rails to bevel
[Price 6d.]

page_text: downwards towards the sides, to prevent the accumulation of water under the rail.
By this means the rail is supported continuously, and the spring of the rail between
chairs as now customary is obviated. The sets adjacent to the rail have a con-
tinuous support upon the flanges of the cast-iron foundations, thereby avoiding ruts
in the pavement alongside the rails. The wood plugs usually employed are also
dispensed with, and no material liable to decay is employed.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into operation, I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Fig.
represents a transverse section of the wrought-iron or steel rail a,
supported upon a continuous series of cast-iron foundations b; c is the central
tongue of the rail, which fits into an upper groove in the cast-iron foundation b.
d represents a wrought-iron or steel wedge key, which is shaped so as to easily find
its way through the key way formed for its reception; c, c, represent the under side
of the wrought-iron or steel rail bevelled downwards towards the sides, to prevent
the accumulation of water under the rail; this form also has the advantage of
preventing the splitting open of the cast-iron foundation b at the point f, in con-
sequence of the rail being tightly drawn down to a solid bed by means of the
wedge key d; g represents the surface of the ground, which if desiable may be
covered with a bed of concrete of any thickness, before laying the rails and
foundations; h, h, represent the stone sets or other pavement of the street, which
have a continuous support upon the flanges of the foundations, thereby avoiding ruts
in the pavement alongside the rails.
Fig. 2 represents a transverse section of another form of wrought-iron or steel
rail a, with sides flanges b, b, resting upon the saddle-back shaped cast-iron
foundation c, and fastened in its place by means of wedge keys d, d.
Figs. 3 and 4 represent a different form of base for the continuous series of cast-
iron foundations, the flange b¹ extending between the vertical sides of the casting
b, b, instead of spreading outwards as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of the wrought-iron or steel rail a, a, and four
lengths or parts thereof of the continuous series of cast-iron foundations b, b², b³, b
The castings may be of any convenient lengths, but in order to avoid complication
it is desirable that they should be uniform, and of such lengths compared with the
lengths of the wrought-iron or steel rails as will ensure the joint in the rails always
occurring in the centre of one of the castings. Thus if all the castings are three
feet in length, the rails may be nine, twelve, fifteen, eighteen, twenty-one, or twenty-
four feet in length, and in this case a rail joint will always occur in the centre of a
casting. In the Drawing, Fig. 5, I have assumed this to be the case, and on reference
to it it will be seen that the joint in the wrought-iron or steel rail a occurs at i in
the centre of the casting b. In this arrangement two keyways d, d³, are formed
four inches apart, cach two inches from the centre of the casting. Two inches from
cach end of each rail a hole is punched or drilled, and the rails being placed in
position the keys. d, d, are driven through the holes in the castings and rails.
Each casting is provided with two keyways as above described, and in all cases
where the joint in the rail occurs both keyways are required, but in all inter-
mediate castings one keyway only is utilised, thus the rail is secured at intervals of
one yard apart. The wrought-iron or steel rails can be removed and replaced
without disturbing the cast-iron foundation, all that is necessary is to remove the
pavement of the street opposite each keyway and dislodge the wedge keys. The
rail can then be lifted out and replaced by a new one if desirable. Short straight
lengths of cast-iron foundation may be adopted for passing round curves, or the
foundations may be cast to fit the required curves. The cast-iron foundations may
be cast with spaces, holes, or openings in any desirable position, in order to render
them lighter and less costly.
Fig. 6 represents a transverse section of the wrought-iron or steel rail a, and the
upper part of the cast-iron foundation b, shewing the wedge key c.
Figs. 7 and 8 represent side elevations of rails a, a', and foundations b, b, shewing
the arrangement for allowance in the keyways c, c, for expansion and contraction of

page_text: the rails, caused by differences of temperature, the rails sliding longitudinally in
the central groove, or on the saddle-back of the cast-iron foundation.
Having thus stated and described the nature and details of my Invention, and
several convenient modes of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I
do not limit myself to the details given, and that I claim a continuous series of
separate cast-iron foundations, not rigidly fastened together, supporting a wrought-
iron or steel rail, which is fastened down by means of wedge keys passing through
both the rail and cast-iron foundations; I also claim the section of rail, shewn in
Fig. 1, having the central tongue and bevelled sides, also the general arrangement
for providing completely for expansion and contraction of the rail and foundations,
ensuring a rigid continuous bearing to the rail, and allowing of the removal of a
rail with ease and celerity without interfering with the foundation of the rail or the
pavement of the street except to a very limited extent.
In witness whereof, I, the Benjamin Barker, have hereto set my hand and
seal, this Nineteenth day of September One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six.
BENJIMAN BARKER. (L.S.)