IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS FOR STREET OR ROAD TRAMWAYS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Page, Civil Engineer, of 42, Josephino Avenue,
Brixton Rise, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS FOR STREET OR ROAD TRAMWAYS."
"
Sealed the 23rd March 1880, and dated the 29th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by tho said William Page at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th September 1879.
WILLIAM PAGE, Civil Engineer, of 42, Josephine Avenue, Brixton Rise, Lambeth,
in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS FOR STREET OR ROAD
TRAMWAYS."
My Invention consists of improvements in the form of rails and the means by
which they are supported and fastened to the sleepers or standards on which they
are laid.
The first part of my Invention relates to the form or section of the rail, of which
the following is a description:-On the under side of the rail a continuous groove
or hollow is made wedge like in form, so as to fit accurately the upper portion of
the sleeper or standard on which it is to be laid or supported. On the upper flange
or top of the rail, and on one or both of its sides, notches or indentations are made
so as to permit of the granite or other paving when laid to have broken and irre-
gular joints. The size of such serrations or notches may be regulated by the desired
mode of laying the granite or basalt setts, wooden blocks, asphalt, or whin, and
their angles or direction made to accommodate any ordinary or particular system of
paving in the horse track or outside the rails. The rail of the form described may
be rolled direct from the furnace to the required section, or that part of the flanges
on which the notches are required the iron or steel which may bo punched or cut
out by suitable machines.
The second part of my Invention consists of an improved wrought or cast iron
longitudinal sleeper or bearer on which the rails are laid. The sleepers may either
be continuous of an upright or inverted 1 shape, or in any desired lengths. In the
first case the sleeper may be rolled or cast and the rail placed on its upper side,
being bolted together in the usual way. In the second case the standards or
bearers are rolled or cast separately, having bottom flanges by which they are
bolted or otherwise secured to a continuous foundation plate of the required width
and thickness. The distance between these standards may be regulated according
to the extent and character of the traffic to be passed over the tramway.
A tramway constructed in accordance with my Invention would secure a solid
road, and reduce the heavy cost now incurred in the maintenance and repairs of the
streets through which it runs.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Page in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th March
1880.
WILLIAM PAGE, of 42, Josephine Avenue, Brixton Rise, Lambeth, in the County
of Surrey, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS FOR STREET OR ROAD
TRAMWAYS,"
My Invention consists of improvements in the form of rails and the means by
which they are supported and fastened to the sleepers or standards on which they
are laid.
The first part of my Invention relates to the form or section of the rail, of which
the following is a description :-On the under side of the rail a continuous groove
or hollow is made wedge like in form, so as to fit accurately the upper portion of
the sleeper or standard on which it is to be laid or supported. On the upper flange
or top of the rail, and on one or both of its sides, notches or indentations are made
so as to permit of the granite or other paving when laid to have broken and irre-
gular joints. The size of such serrations or notches may be regulated by the desired
mode of laying the granite or basalt setts, wooden blocks, asphalte, or whin, and
their angles or direction made to accommodate any ordinary or particular system of
paving in the horse track or outside the rails. The rail of the form described may
be rolled direct from the furnace to the required section, or that part of the flanges
on which the notches are required the iron or steel which may be cut or punched
out by suitable machines.
The second part of my Invention consists of an improved wrought or cast iron
longitudinal sleeper or bearer on which the rails are laid. The sleepers may either
be continuous of an upright or inverted 1 shape, or in any desired lengths. In the
first case the sleeper may be rolled or cast and the rail placed on its upper side, being
bolted together in the usual way. In the second case the standards or bearers are
rolled or cast separately, having bottom flanges by which they are bolted or other-
wise secured to a continuous foundation plate of the required width and thickness.
The distance between these standards may be regulated according to the extent and
character of the traffic to be passed over the tramway.
A tramway constructed in accordance with my Invention would secure a solid
road, and reduce the heavy cost now incurred in the maintenance and repairs of the
streets through which it runs.
My said Invention consists, as above stated, of improvements in the form of rails
and sleepers or bearers for street or road tramways or such like purposes which will
render them less costly to maintain or re-construct than the ordinary or common
tramway.
The first part of my said Invention relates to an improvement in the form or
section of the rail, which is made with a continuous narrow slightly tapering groove
in its under side of such a size and form so as to fit exactly into a corresponding
projection on the head or top of the solid iron or steel sleeper by which the said rail
is to be supported.
Figure 1 in the accompanying Drawing at a, a, shews a section of the first part
of my said Invention. The sides of the rail may either be plain or serrated, as more
particularly described in the Letters Patent granted to me, and dated the Seventeenth
day of September 1879, and Numbered 3730.
The second part of my said Invention consists of an improved wrought or cast
iron longitudinal sleeper or bearer, on which the rails are laid and fitted into the
grooves or channels, as above described. These sleepers are of an inverted 1 shape,
and may be rolled or made of any desired length, or afterwards cut into the most
convenient or suitable lengths, and may be so laid in such a manner as to form either

page_text: continuous and uninterrupted bearings or simply in the shape of intermediate sup-
ports or standards to the rails. In the case of the intermediate system of construc-
tion the standards or supports are bolted or otherwise securely fastened to a baso
or foundation of iron or other substantial material, cither continuous or intermittent,
and at such intervals as may be deemed most advantageous to meet the requirements
of the traffic for which the tramway is intended. The fastenings to secure the rails
and sleepers or their foundations may either be by cotters or bolts, and thus secured
in the usual and well known manner.
The second part of my said Invention is illustrated at b, b, b, in the accompanying
Drawing, in which Figure 1 (in section), Figure 2 (elevation), Figure 3 (plan) shews
the longitudinal sleeper or bearer applied continuously; and Figure 4 (section),
Figure 5 (elevation), and Figure 6 (plan) shews the intermittent application of the
bearers or supports having continuous or other necessary bed or foundation plates.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of its
application, I hereby state my claim to be,-
Firstly. A rail having a continuous narrow groove or channel on its under or
bottom side.
Secondly. A wrought or cast iron inverted 1 bearer, standard, or support, on
which the rail is placed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Page, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
WILLIAM PAGE. (L.S.)