Improvements in Securing Rails to Metallic Sleepers.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 25th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 27th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Securing Rails to Metallic Sleepers.
I JAMES WHITESTONE of 1 Castalia Villas, Underhill Road East Dulwich,
London, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be ris
follows:-
My invention relates to improved means of fastening and securing rails to iron
or steel sleepers and consists in using for each fastening two brackets, one on each
side of the rail, and resting upon the upper surface of the sleeper, which brackets
in combination with a key will support fasten and secure the rail to the sleeper
without screws or rivets.
In the following description it is to be understood that the words inner and
inwards refer to parts and positions relatively nearer to the centre line of a railway
of two parallel or concentric rails, and that the words outer and outwards refer to
parts and positions relatively further from such centre line.
The two brackets when in their proper positions form virtually a chair, to 'and
within which the rail is secured by means of a key.
The outer bracket has its upper surface formed to support the lower head or
flange of the rail, and extends or projects upwards on the outer side of the rail so
as to form an abutment for and to receive and press against the key when driven in
between it and the rail.
This bracket is provided at its outer end and about the centre of its width with
a hook or lug projecting downwards from its underside, which hook passes through
a hole or slot (by preference rectangular or thereabouts) made in the upper part of
the metallic sleeper and extends outwards thereunder. The inner end of this
bracket extends inwards beyond the rail, and has its upper side formed with a plane
surface inclined upwards and inwards to receive and bear against the underside of
the inner bracket, and a notch or gap is made about the centre of its width to allow
space for the reception of a hook or lug of the inner bracket next described.
The inner bracket rests and bears upon the sleeper at its inner end, and extends
or projects upwards on the inner side of the rail so as to form an abutment for and
to receive and press against the web of the rail, and so as to resist the pressure
caused by the key acting upon the opposite or outer side of the web of the rail.
This inner bracket is provided at its outer end and about the centre of its width
with a hook or lug projecting downwards from its underside, which hook passes
within the notch or gap in the outer bracket and through a hole or slot (bý
preference rectangular or thereabouts) made in the upper part of the metallic
sleeper and extends outwards thereunder, so that when the key is driven in tightly
the said book will press against the underside of the metallic sleeper and thus
resist the tendency of the inner bracket to rise or be tilted inwards by the pressure
of the key.
Part of this inner bracket projects over and bears upon the inclined upper surface
of the outer bracket above described, and has its underside formed with a plane
surface inclined downwards and outwards to fit the same for the purpose hereinafter
described.
That part of the hook or lug of the outer bracket which when the several parts
are in their proper positions is situated between the levels of the upper and lower
surfaces of the metallic sleeper through which it passes is formed at. its outer end
with a shoulder or vertical surface to bear and press against the outer end or
extremity of the hole or slot through which the said hook passes, and similarly, the
hook or lug of the inner bracket is formed at its inner end with a shoulder or vertical

page_text: surface to bear and press against the inner end or extremity of the hole or slot
through which such last mentioned hook passes.
When the several parts (that is to say the sleeper, the two brackets, the rail and
the key) are in their proper positions and when the key is driven in tightly the
pressure of the key will tend to separate and drive apart the two brackets and such
tendency is resisted and counteracted, and the two brackets are prevented from
separating or moving apart first by the contact of the inclined surfaces of the outer
and inner brackets with each other, and secondly by the contact of the shoulders or
vertical surfaces of the brackets with the extremities of the holes or slots in the
sleeper.
I prefer to so arrange the positions of the several surfaces thus brought into
contact that the reaction of the said inclined surfaces shall cause the bottom of the
outer bracket to press firmly upon the top of the sleeper (or upon an intervening
pad, of felt, if such he used) very slightly before the said shoulders come into
contact with the extremities of the slots, that is to say, a very slight clearance
should be allowed in the latter case, which clearance will disappear when the parts
settle to their bearings under the stress of traffic. The wedging action of the
inclined surfaces will then keep the several parts in intimate contact when the key
is tight, even should the slots be elongated by wear and tear.
When fixing rails according to my invention the outer bracket must be laid
down with its hook in the outer slot before the inner bracket is put in position.
The upper surface of the outer bracket is made either flat or curved as required
to suit the lower head or underside of the rail, and both the brackets are so
shaped that the rail when fixed shall have the usual or any required cant or
inclination.
In the above description I have stated that each of the brackets is provided with
one hook or lug, but either or both of the brackets may have two hooks or lugs
passing through corresponding holes or slots in the metallic sleeper.
Dated this Sixth day of September 1894.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Securing Rails to Metallic Sleepers.
JAMES WHITESTONE of 1 Castalia Villas, Underhill Road, East Dulwich,
London Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improved means of fastening and securing rails to
metallic sleepers and consists in using for each fastening two brackets, one on each
side of the rail and resting upon the upper surface of the sleeper, which brackets in
combination with a key or its equivalent will support, fasten and secure the rail to
the sleeper without screws or rivets.
In the following description it is to be understood that the words inner and
inwards refer to parts and positions relatively nearer to the centre line of a railway
of two parallel or concentric rails, and that the words outer and outwards refer to
parts and positions relatively further from such centre line.
The two brackets when in their proper positions form virtually a chair to and
within which the rail is secured by means of a key.
In the drawings annexed hereto like letters of reference indicate similar parts in
the several views.
Fig. 1. is a longitudinal section and Fig. 2 a cross section through the sleeper
shewing the brackets in position,
Fig. 3 is a plan of the two brackets and part of the sleeper, and
Fig. 4 is a plan of the outer bracket alone.

page_text: The outer bracket A has its upper surface formed to support the lower head or
flange of the rail and extends or projects upwards on the outer side of the rail so
as to form an abutment for and to receive and press against the key C when the
latter is driven in between it and the rail.
This bracket is provided at its outer end and about the centre of its width with
a hook or lug A¹ projecting downwards from its underside, which hook passes
through a hole or slot (by preference rectangular or thereabouts) made in the
upper part of the metallic sleeper E and extends outwards thereunder. The inner
end of this bracket extends inwards beyond the rail and has its upper surface
formed with a plane surface A inclined upwards and inwards to receive and bear
against the underside of the inner bracket and a notch or gap A³ Fig. 4 is made
about the centre of its width to allow space for the reception of the hook or lug B¹
of the inner bracket B next described.
The inner bracket B rests and bears upon the sleeper at its inner end and
extends or projects upwards on the inner side of the rail so as to form an abutment
for and to receive and press against the web of the rail D, and so as to resist
the pressure caused by the key C acting upon the opposite or outer side of the
web of the rail.
This inner bracket is provided at its outer end and about the centre of its
width with a hook or lug B¹ projecting downwards from its underside, which hook
passes within the notch or gap in the outer bracket and through a hole or slot (by
preference rectangular or thereabouts) made in the upper part of the metallic
sleeper E and extends outwards thereunder, so that when the key C is driven in
tightly, the said hook B¹ will press against the underside of the metallic sleeper
and thus resist the tendency of the inuer bracket to rise or be tilted inwards by the
pressure of the key.
Part of this inner bracket projects over and bears upon the inclined upper
surface of the outer bracket above described and has its underside formed with a
plane surface B2 inclined downwards and outwards to fit the same for the purpose
hereinafter described.
That part of the hook or lug of the outer bracket which when the several parts
are in their proper positions is situated between the levels of the upper and lower
surfaces of the thickness of the metallic sleeper through which it passes is formed
at its outer end with a shoulder or vertical surface to bear and press against
the outer end or extremity of such hole or slot, and similarly the hook or lug
of the inner bracket is formed at its inner end with a shoulder or vertical surface
to bear and press against the inner end or extremity of the. hole or slot through
which the last mentioned hook passes.
When the several parts (that is to say the sleeper E, the two brackets A
and B, the rail D, and the key C) are in their proper positions and when the
key is driven in tightly, the pressure of the key will tend to separate and drive
apart the two brackets and such tendency is resisted and counteracted, and the
two brackets are prevented from separating or moving apart first by the contact
of the inclined surfaces A and B of the outer and inner brackets with each
other, and secondly by the contact of the shoulders or vertical surfaces of the
brackets with the extremities of the holes or slots in the sleeper.
I prefer to so arrange the positions of the several surfaces thus brought into
contact that the reaction of the inclined surfaces A and B shall cause the
bottom of the outer bracket A to press firmly upon the top of the sleeper (or upon
an intervening pad of felt if such be used) slightly before the said shoulders come
into contact with the extremities of the holes or slots, that is to say a small
clearance should be allowed in the latter case as shewn at F Fig. 1, which clearance
will disappear when the parts settle to their bearings under the stress of traffic:
The wedging action of the inclined surfaces A and B will then keep the several
parts in intimate contact when the key is tight, even should the slots be elongated
by wear and tear.
If it be required that the key should be used on the inner side of the rail, the

page_text: two brackets are to be modified and shaped as to the upper part of bracket A so as
to receive the rail and of bracket B so as to receive the key.
When fixing rails according to my invention the outer bracket must be laid
down with its hook in the outer slot before the inner bracket is put in position.
The upper surface of the outer bracket is made either Hat or curved as required
to suit the lower head or underside of the rail, and both the brackets are so
shaped that the rail when fixed shall have the usual or any required cant or
'inclination.
I have stated that each of the brackets is provided with one hook or lug but
either or both of the brackets may have two hooks or lugs passing through
corresponding holes or slots in the metallic sleeper.
In the above description and the drawings herewith the application of my
invention to a rolled transverse sleeper has been particularly set forth, but my
invention is also applicable to pot and other cast sleepers in which cases I prefer
to:make the outer bracket in one casting with the body of the sleeper.
My invention is also applicable to timber sleepers as follows. The two brackets
are made as above set forth, but in lieu of the metallic sleeper I use for each pair
of brackets a flat plate having holes or slots to receive their hooks or lugs and
also perforated with two or more holes through which bolts spikes or trenails are
passed as usual in fastening chairs to timber sleepers. In this case the wood is
recessed or sunk to allow the hooks to pass under the flat plate after the latter
has been secured to the timber sleeper.
If it be required that the two brackets or parts forming together virtually a
chair shall be rigidly fixed in position and locked without the pressure of the
key C or its equivalent I use a tapered key sliding in a suitable tapered key-way
formed in the innermost projecting parts of the outer bracket and passing through
a suitable slot or hole in the middle or hooked part of the inner bracket so that by
driving in such key the two brackets may be pressed in opposite directions and
the inclined surfaces A2 and B' forced tightly together thus causing the sleeper
to be firmly gripped between the underside of the outer bracket and the hook of
the inner bracket. One end of such a key is shewn at K Fig. 1 by dotted lines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In the fastening of a rail to a metallic sleeper two brackets having meeting
surfaces in a plane inclined to the plane of the sleeper top as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
2. The combination of the two brackets A and B with the key C or its
equivalent the rail D and the sleeper E substantially as herein set forth.
3. The combination of the bracket B with a sleeper of any suitable form
having the outer bracket A cast in one piece with it and having a hole or slot to
receive the hook or lug of the inner bracket B as herein set forth.
4. The combination of the two brackets A and B with a flat perforated plate
as and for the purpose herein set forth.
5. The combination of the two brackets A and B with a metallic sleeper or flat
plate and the tapered key K as herein set forth.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of September 1894.
JAMES WHITESTONE.