IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS, AND IN THE ADAPTATION THERETO OF TELEGRAPH WIRES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur William Lovell Reddie, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS, AND IN THE
ADAPTATION THERETO OF TELEGRAPH WIRES." A communication from abroad
La Jules Hunehelle of Paris in the Republic of France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur William Lovell
Reddie at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th April
1881.
. ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF RAILWAYS, AND IN THE ADAPTATION THERETO OF TELEGRAPH WIRES."
[A communication from abroad by Jules Huuebelle, of Paris, in the Republic of
France.]
This Invention relates to a composite rail for use on railways or tramways,
and especially adapted for the reception within it of telegraph wires.
To this end the composite rail consists of two parts, the rail proper and the base
plate or chair, these parts being so constructed as to fit closely the one within the
other.
The rail proper consists of a head and a web or continuous projection, the said
web or projection being of slightly tapering form in cross section, and the base
plate or continuous chair consists substantially of a bed plate from which rise
vertically two supporting cheeks, between which cheeks the web or projection of
the rail proper lies snugly.
This web or projection does not extend to the bottom of the channel formed by
and between the two cheeks above mentioned, and a space will be therefore left
between the edge of the said web and the bottom of the said channel or groove.
This space may be utilized advantageously for the reception of duly insulated
telegraph wires, after the manner of the underground wires in cities, now well
understood.

page_text: The undersides of the bead of the rail proper will rest upon the upper surfaces of
the two supporting cheeks, so that the whole strain on the rail will be transmitted
direct to the said cheeks.
The parts above mentioned are connected together by bolts and nuts, holes of
elliptical or elongated form being made in the web for the passage of the bolts to
allow for expansion and contraction.
The base plates or continuous chairs are also secured to the sleepers in such a
manner as to allow for expansion and contraction, at the same time maintaining
the rail in position. A notch in the edge of the continuous chair, and preferably in
the centre of its length, and a pin driven into an underlying sleeper serve to hold
the said continuous chair .in position. Bent pins or guides overlapping the
edges of the, continuous chair are used to prevent any lateral motion thereof,
while allowing for a slight expansion and contraction of the same.
In case of rupture of the line, the fact will be instantly made known by reason
of the breaking of the telegraphic communication.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arthur William Lovell Reddie in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 27th October 1881.
ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF RAILWAYS, AND IN THE ADAPTATION THERETO OF TELEGRAPH WIRES."
A communication from abroad by Jules Hunebelle, of Paris, in the Republic of
France.
This Invention relates to a novel construction of composite rail for use in
railways and tramways, such rail being especially adapted for the reception within
it of telegraph wires.
To this end the composite rail consists of two parts, the rail proper and the base
plate or chair, these parts being so constructed as to fit closely the one within the
other.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a section of this
new railway mounted in position upon transverse sleepers; Fig. 2 is a cross section
the railway; Figures 3 are detached views of the two parts of which the railway is
made up; and Fig. 4 shews, in perspective a portion of the railway in position
with the space for the reception within it of the telegraphic wires.
In these Figures, A is the continuous chair, consisting essentially of a broad base
plate carrying two vertical cheeks a, a, running parallel to, and one on either side
of the central longitudinal line of the said chair. The space between these
supporting cheek a, a, forms a groove x, preferably of slightly tapering form,
for the reception of the correspondingly shaped web b of the rail B.
When placed in position the underside y, y, of the rail B will rest upon the
upper horizontal surfaces x, x, of the vertical cheeks a, a, of the chair A, and will
sustain the direct weight upon the rail B.
The web b is secured in place by bolts and nuts c; but in order to allow for
the expansion and contraction of the rail B within the chairs A, elliptical or
elongated slots are formed in the web b, as shewn at e, Fig. 1, and through these
slots the bolts c pass. The rail B is thus allowed a certain amount of endway
motion, but is prevented from rising or jumping out of place.
It should be remarked that the continuous chairs A are preferably made of cast
iron and the rail b of steel.
The sections of the continuous chair A are secured to the sleepers in the manner
shewn clearly in Fig. 1, that is to say, they are fixed by nails or bolts at middle
points i, i, and at other points are merely kept from lateral and vertical displace-
ment by bent nails or clips, which allow of the endway movement due to variable
expansion of the metal; clearance spaces being for this purpose left between the
butt ends of the several sections of the continuous chair A.
It will be seen that in this system the web b of the rail B does not extend to the
bottom of the groove or channel x between the supporting cheeks a, a, and that a
clear space S is left throughout the entire length of the composite railway.
Hitherto in composite railways no space has been left between the base of the
web b and the bottom of the channel x, owing to which particles of metal and dust
from the track work in below the web b and prevent the head of the rail B from
resting properly upon the top surfaces of the supporting cheeks of the chair A,
and consequently the entire weight of the train has been supported by the web b.
Moreover, when the web b is displaced however slightly from its proper seating
on the supporting cheeks a, a, the sides of the web b are no longer in intimate
contact with the said cheeks, and hence a lateral movement of the web is possible,
which causes shocks and. speedily deteriorates the rail.

page_text: '
The channel S, formed as above explained, is utilized, as shewn clearly in Fig. 4,.
for the reception of the telegraphic wires, which are thus protected from all
deterioration, and which, moreover, should the way become torn up and the railway
severed, will at once indicate the fact to the signal boxes.
Repairs of the wires may be easily effected by unbolting and removing one or
more lengths of the rail B.
Having now set forth the nature of the said Invention of "Improvements in
the Construction of Railways, and in the Adaptation thereto of Telegraph Wires,"
as communicated to me from abroad by my foreign correspondent, and having.
explained in what manner the same may be carried into effect, I wish it to be
understood that I claim,-
The composite railway, constructed and arranged in the manner and for the
purpose substantially as herein shewn and described, such railway being especially
adapted for the reception within it of telegraphic wires.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur William Lovell Reddie, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty fifth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
ARTHUR W. L. REDDIE. (L.S.)