AN IMPROVED RAILWAY SLEEPER FOR PERMANENT WAYS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Gammon, of Warminster Road, Westbury,
in the County of Wilts, Contractors' Agent, for the Invention of
Sealed the 1st November 1870, and dated the 27th May 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Gammon at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 27th May 1870.
I, RICHARD GAMMON, of Warminster Road, Westbury, in the County
of Wilts, Contractors' Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED RAILWAY SLEEPER FOR PERMANENT WAYS," to be
as follows:-
My improvements relate to a T shaped sleeper of wrought iron. Upon
the top of the sleeper at the ends of which I affix a wrought-iron plate
by means of rivets, upon which I affix by rivets (at the requisite distance
apart) wrought-iron saddle pieces to act as a seating to receive the rails.
On each side of the said saddles I affix wrought-iron brackets to keep

page_text: the rails in their seating. The outside brackets are permanently fixed
by rivets through top plate and T shaped sleepers; the inside brackets
are also affixed by bolts through top plate and T shaped sleepers.
whole forming a secure sleeper for permanent ways.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Richard Gammon in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th November 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
GAMMON, of Warminster Road, Westbury, in the County of Wilts,
Contractors' Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Richard Gammon, Her special licence
that I, the said Richard Gammon, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard Gammon, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
RAILWAY SLEEPER FOR PERMANENT WAYS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Richard Gammon, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Gammon, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-

page_text: My Invention relates to an improved railway sleeper for permanent
ways, as shewn by the various Figures on the accompanying Drawing.
Figure (1) shews a section of my sleeper, the various parts being fixed
or attached as shewn by the general Figures (2 and 3). The bearing
portion marked (a) being I shaped and formed of wrought iron of
length suitable to width of gauge used, and extending beyond the
rails on either side. Upon the top and on the ends of the bearer I affix
wrought-iron plates marked (b, b,) by means of rivets i, i, upon which
for double-headed rails, as shewn by Figure (4), I fix by means of
countersunk rivets, or otherwise, wrought-iron saddle pieces transverse
to the bearer, and marked (c, c,) curved so to act as a certain seating for
them, and give the necessary inclination to the rails; abutting on each
side of the saddle pieces I affix wrought-iron brackets or jaws marked
(d, d,) varied in form somewhat to suit the inclination of the double-
headed rails, so to sustain them in their seating and at their proper
inclination. The outer brackets or jaws may be fixed permanently by
means of rivets marked (e, e,) (admitting of the rails being removed and
replaced easily) and the inner brackets or jaws fixed by means of bolts
and nuts, or both may be fixed by means of bolts and nuts marked (ƒƒ;)
passing through top plate and bearer.
In laying the permanent way, and fixing the rails in their seatings, I
have paid particular attention to avoiding the unnecessary loss of time
in sorting by the plate layers, by slightly varying in form the top of the
inner brackets, the outer one finishing square at the top and the inside
one, the top corners, are rounded or canted, so making one from the other
easily distinguishable. The several parts when bolted or riveted
together, with the rails seated, forming one whole and complete system for
permanent ways.
My sleeper may be applied equally to those rails where the necessary
inclination is given in the formation of the top of the rails, either as
regards the flat-bottomed rail, as indicated on plan by Figure (5), or the
bridge rail, as indicated by Figure (6), which may be fixed to their
seating on my sleeper by using my brackets or jaws marked (g, g,) and
(h, h,) of the forms shewn, and by means of rivets or bolts and nuts, as
before mentioned.
Figures (7 and 8) give an idea of the forms of brackets used
by me for the double-headed rails; Figure (9) also gives the form of

page_text: brackets used by me for the flat-bottomed rail; and Figure (10) gives
the form of brackets used by me for the bridge rail.
I do not confine myself to the exact form of brackets or jaws, but I
herein, in combination with my Drawing, intend to convey a general
idea of my principle, although the contour of the brackets and the 5
various thicknesses or widths of the several parts of the said brackets or
jaws I may hereafter vary or modify, together with the various thick-
nesses, widths, or depths of metal generally employed in my sleeper or
parts thereof. As also I may find that it will be advantageous to myself
and for practical and general purposes that one or more of the several 1
parts shall be of cast instead of wrought iron, or perhaps other material
in metal. The whole may be painted or galvanized.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I claim as follows: -
First. Novelty in structure and formation and general characteristics
of my sleeper (as regards others now in use), but answering the same
purpose with considerable advantages.
1
Second. Durability as regards my Invention over wood sleepers, as
my sleeper I calculate will last three times as long as sleepers now in 2
use in this country, and ten times as long as the wood sleepers as used
in Eastern climates) where the insects and weather combined act upon
the wood sleepers.
Third. Impossibility of getting out of gauge.
Fourth. Less expense generally in laying down and maintenance of 2
the permanent way.
Fifth. The property of my sleeper giving a greater bearing than any
other now in present use.
Sixth. Great difference in expense as regards freight, measurement,
and haulage for foreign and home works.
3

page_text: Invention both for the seating of the sleeper and prevention of lateral
thrust.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Gammon, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
RICHARD GAMMON. (L.S.)
Witness,
JNO. W. OUTTRIM.