IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILROAD CROSS-TIES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILROAD CROSS-TIES." A communication
from abroad by Daniel Shumway Whittenhall, of Chicago, County of Cook,
Stato of Illinois, in the United States of America.
Scaled the 19th January 1877, and dated the 23rd November 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd November 1876.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAIL-
ROAD CROSS-TIES." A communication from abroad by Daniel Shumway Whit-
tenhall, of Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois, in the United States of
America.
The object of this Invention is to provide, as a substitute for the cross-ties of
wood and other material now in use upon railroads, a metal cross-tie and chair for
securing the rails in place upon the road bed.
This Invention consists in a cross-tie made of a single piece of metal corrugated
in the process of manufacture, and provided with a series of fitting transverse
apertures near its opposite ends for receiving and seating the track rails.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 represents a view in perspective, and Figures 2 and 3 sectional detailed
views of the improved cross-tie.
A indicates a metal cross-tic ribbed or corrugated longitudinally from end to end;
a, a, indicate the rail scats or chairs, which consist of suitably shaped transverse
slots or openings in and through the ribs of the tie; those illustrated are adapted to
receive the bases of common Trails, but other forms of rail seats may be used
adapted to other forms of rails. b, b, indicate flanges on the opposite sides of the
tie, which serve to widen its base and increase its stability, but these may in some
cases be dispensed with. C, C, indicate adjustable clamps or stays that may be
employed when desirable to prevent spreading of the base of the tie; when these

page_text: stays are used less metal may be employed for the ties. D, D, indicate the ordinary T
rails, and d an ordinary fish plate at the junction of two rails.
It is preferred to form the ties of wrought sheet iron, by heating and punching
or cutting the chair seats and then rolling or crimping the plates into the ribbed or
corrugated form illustrated, but the chair slots may be formed after the crimping or
rolling has been accomplished. However, the Invention is not dependent upon any
particular method of manufacture.
The utility of the Invention rests in its economy, durability, efficiency, and the
special attributes it possesses owing to the form and material combined in its
production. By the use of these ties in the work of laying track no gauging is
necessary, because each tie is to be slipped upon the bases of the rails, and thus
becomes itself a true gauge for the track. Their use also dispenses with chairs
(although chairs might be employed) and spikes, because, in lieu of the latter, a blow
upon the tips, marked x, x, in the Drawings, will drive them down in contact with
the rails and firmly hold the rails in place. They also serve as an effective drain
for the surface of the road bed, as water will be conducted off at each end of every
tie through the troughs formed between the ribs or corrugations.
Furthermore, they are not destructible by fire or liable to be floated out of place
by water, and therefore save much labor and expense in keeping the track in
order. They can be galvanized to protect them from rust, but if disabled from that
cause they can be re-rolled, and the cost of metal for new ties thus saved. Finally,
they effect a great saving of life and property by preventing those frequent
accidents which result from the spreading of the tracks.
When these ties are used
the tracks cannot spread.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention is,-
First. A longitudinally ribbed or corrugated sheet metal cross-tic provided with
slots or rail seats.
Second. A longitudinally ribbed or corrugated sheet metal cross-tie provided with
slots or rail seats and with lateral flanges at its base.
Third. The combination of a longitudinally ribbed or corrugated sheet metal
cross-tie with base stays or clamps.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sydney Pitt, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
SYDNEY PITT. (L.S.)