IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS OR RAILWAYS."
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Lish Urquhart of Edinburgh in the County of
Midlothian North Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS OR RAILWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Lish Urquhart at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th September 1883.
ROBERT LISH URQUHART, of Edinburgh in the County of Midlothian, North
Britain, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS OR RAILWAYS,"
This Invention which relates to Improvements in the construction of tramways
or railways has partly for its object to provide a continuous or level roadway and
one which will not be liable to rutting or grooving on either or both sides of the
lines of tram rail or railway. It has also for its object generally to simplify,
render more efficient and improve the construction of tramways and railways,
forming a perfectly smooth and even tramway, railway or roadway.
For the purpose of providing a roadway of the character hereinbefore described,
blocks, slips or their equivalent made of steel are laid on one or both sides of the
tram rail or any ordinary section of rail. Such blocks may either be attached to
the rail by bolts or keys or they may be held in the requisite position against the
rails by means of the paving setts, concrete, road metal; bitumen or other material
of which the roadway is formed.-For the purpose of providing the groove in the
roadway wherein the flanges of the wheels of the tramway or railway vehicle shall
run the rail is for:ned with a horizontal or inclined rib projecting from it laterally
so that the blocks hereinbefore described or ordinary paving setts when brought
into position against the said rib produce the necessary groove.-Such ribs may be
rolled on one or both sides of the improved rails and four of such ribs may be
rolled on the said rails, namely, on opposite sides of the rail at their upper and
lower parts thus providing for the reversal of the rail four times as it becomes
worn. The wearing surfaces or tables of the rails used under these improvements
may be provided with one or more longitudinal grooves or uneven surfaces.
Under a modification of the improvements herein before described the rail is held
in a chair either loosely or tightened by means of bolts wedges or keys and the

page_text: upper part or parts of the said improved chairs constitute the level portion of the
Street or roadway.-The said improved chairs may be made of steel or of cast
iron whose upper surface is chilled and may be applied to rails of the ordinary and
various other sections.
The improved chairs herein before described may, with advantage for the purpose
of these improvements, be formed or cast in one piece with the transverse sleepers
in steel or iron
Under another arrangement for providing the necessary groove for the flanges of
tramway or railway vehicles in an ordinary roadway, two ordinary single or double
headed or flange rails are laid side by side in my improved chairs or their equivalent
let into the roadway surface and such chairs or their equivalent may be provided
with wearing surfaces level with the roadway or with thin dividing slips.-In
place of using two lines of rails at a short distance apart, the top surfaces of the
rails may be rolled with a deep groove in the centre and this applies equally to
single or double headed rails. Or the rails used in connection with these improve-
ments, whether single headed or double headed rails, may be formed of such a
breadth on the head or heads as to constitute a double tread or bearing surface
with a shallow groove between them.-By this means such rails may be reversed
and an unworn tread or bearing surface be brought into use by reversing the rail
when any one of the bearing surfaces has been worn down.
The points used in connection with my improvements in tramways or railways
consist of fixed gusset pieces at places where the improved blocks or plates herein-
before described cannot be conveniently inserted and these are made of steel
or chilled cast iron.-The moveable crossings may also be made of steel or
chilled iron.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Lish Urquhart in the Patent Office on the 19th March 1884.
ROBERT LISH URQUHART of Edinburgh in the County of Midlothian, North
Britain "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS OR RAILWAYS."
My said Invention which relates to improvements in the construction of tramways
or railways has partly for its object to provide a continuous or level roadway and
one which not be liable to rutting or grooving on either or both sides of the lines
of tram rail or railway.-It has also for its object generally to simplify, render
more efficient and improve the construction of tramways and railways by forming
throughout a smooth and even roadway.
For the purpose of providing à roadway of the character hereinbefore described
blocks, slips or their equivalents, made of steel are laid on one or both sides of the
rails or any ordinary section of rail.-Such blocks or slips may either be attached
to the rail by bolts or keys, or they may be held in the requisite position against
the rails by means of the paving setts, concrete, road metal, bitumen or other
material of which the roadway is formed.--For the purpose of providing the groove
in the roadway wherein the flanges of the wheels of the tramway or railway
vehicle shall run, the rail is formed with a horizontal or inclined rib projecting
from it laterally so that the blocks hereinbefore described or ordinary paving setts
when brought into position against the said rib produce the necessary groove.-
Such ribs may be rolled on one or both sides of the improved rails and four of such
ribs may be rolled on the rails namely, on opposite sides of the rail at their upper
and lower parts thus providing for the reversal of the rail four times as it becomes
worn. The wearing surfaces or tables of the rails used under these improvements
may be provided with one or more longitudinal grooves or uneven surfaces.
Under a modification of the improvements herein before described the rail is held
in a chair either loosely or tightened by means of bolts, wedges or keys and the
upper part or parts of the said improved chairs constitute the level portion of the
street or roadway.-The said improved chairs may be made of steel or of cast iron
whose upper surface is chilled and may be applied to rails of the ordinary and
various other sections.
The improved chairs hereinbefore described may with advantage for the purpose
of these improvements be formed or cast in one piece with the transverse sleepers
in steel or iron.
Under another arrangement for providing the necessary groove for the flanges of
tramway or railway vehicles in an ordinary roadway, two ordinary single or double
headed or flange rails are laid side by side in my improved chairs or their equivalent
let into the roadway surface and such chairs or their equivalent may be provided
with wearing surfaces level with the roadway or with thin dividing slips. In place
of using two lines of rails at a short distance apart, the top surfaces of the rails
may be rolled with a deep groove in the centre and this applies equally to single
or double headed rails.-Or the rails used in connection with these improvements,
whether either single headed or double headed rails, may be formed of such a
breadth on the head or heads as to constitute a double tread or bearing surface with
a shallow groove between them.-By this means such rails may be reversed and
an unworn tread or bearing surface be brought into use by reversing the rail when
any one of the bearing surfaces has been worn down.
The points used in connection with my improvements in tramways or railways
consist of fixed gusset pieces at places where the improved blocks or plates herein-
before described cannot be conveniently inserted and these are made of steel or
chilled cast iron. The moveable crossings may also be made of steel or chilled iron.

page_text: And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings and to the letters and Figures marked thereon, that is
to say :-
Figures 1, and 2, are respectively a plan and a transverse section of one
construction of tramway arranged according to my present Invention.
Figure 3, is a view of the same shewn partly in front elevation and partly in
longitudinal section.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, are similar views of a modification of tramway
hereinafter more particularly described and of which Figure 8, is a transverse
section on the line A, B, Figure 7.
Figures 10, to 23, (inclusive) are transverse sections of rails that may be used
in carrying out my present Improvements.
Figures 24, and 25, are respectively a plan and a transverse section of one form
of railway constructed according to my present Invention.
Figure 26, is a view of the same shewn partly in front elevation and partly in
longitudinal section.
Figures 27, 28, and 29, are views corresponding with Figures 24, 25, and 26, of
another form of railway constructed according to my present Invention.
The remaining Figures are hereinafter more particularly referred to in the body
of this said Specification.
In the application of my present improvements of tramways as represented at
Figures 1, 2, and 3, I provide the slips a, or their equivalent made of steel and lay
the same on one or as shewn on the accompanying drawings on both sides of the
rails b. These slips are provided at their upper parts with the horizontal flanges c,
whose upper surfaces are formed with the grooves d, or are roughened, so as to
prevent horses' feet slipping thereon, in any other suitable manner.-The lower
edges of the slips a, rest upon the flanges e, of the tram-rail b, and they are or may
be held in position against the sides of the rails by means of the paving setts, or
they may be so secured by means of concrete, road metal, bitumen, or other
material of which the roadway is formed or they may be bolted through and to
the said rails. The holes i, are formed in the slips a, to admit of the passage
therethrough of bitumen, concrete or other cementing material (when in the
construction of the roadway such materials are used),-the said materials entering
the said holes i, and filling in the spaces around the tram-rails b, combining when
cool, or set, the whole of the separate parts into one solid mass.-For the purpose
of providing the groove j, in the roadway wherein the flanges of the wheels of the
tramway shall run, I form, by rolling upon the side of the rail b, the rib k, which
may be horizontal as shewn or inclined, and projecting from the side of the said
rail b, so that the slips a, when brought into position against the said ribs k,
produce the necessary groove j, or the ordinary paving setts may be placed against
the projecting rib k, and by these means produce the necessary groove j-At the
outer sides of the slips a, there are provided the transverse dividing slips 7, between
which the paving setts h, are placed as shown more particularly at Figure 27.
The rails b, may be formed with one or two ribs k, either on one or both sides, that
is to say, four such ribs k, (as represented at Figure 17,) may be formed, thus
providing for the reversal of the rail four times as it becomes worn, or under my
present improvements upon tramways there may be used any of the rails shewn in
section at Figures 10 to 20, (inclusive) and the rail shewn in section at Figure 23,
in all cases the contour of the inner sides of the slips being made to correspond so as
to fit steadily against the corresponding contour of the rails.-The rails represented
in section at Figures 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 20 are those which can be reversed
when one side becomes worn.-Figures 13, 14, 15 and 20, presenting further
wearing surfaces for railways and the rail shewn in section at Figure 16, presenting
one wearing surface only for tramway and the further surfaces for railway work.
Figures 18, 19 and 23. represent the sections of rails which can be used or
"

page_text: turned four times as each side becomes worn, Figure 18, further presenting wearing
surfaces for railway work.-Figure 20, represents in section a rail which may be
used in constructing either tramways or railways according to my present invention
Figures 21, and 22, represent sections of railway rails which may be turned three
and four times, that is to say, they present respectively three and four different
wearing surfaces.-The tram-rail represented at Figures 4. 5 and 6, is of the section
commonly known as Vignole's rail, that is to say, it has not the projecting
rib k.-The groove j, for the flange of the tramway wheel is formed in this example
of my present improvements by means of the distance pieces m, cast upon the inner
side of the slip n, whose flange c, is preferably formed in this case upon the inner
side of the said slip n.-One of these slips n, as in the hereinbefore described form
of tram-rail rests upon the flange e, of the rail and the other or opposite one has its
distance pieces m, resting thereon.
0,
The tramway represented at Figures 7, 8, and 9, is one constructed more
particularly for dock purposes and consists of the flanged or Vignole's rail which
is held in position between the two slips p, and q, by means of the distance pieces m,
cast upon the inner sides of the said slips.-The distance pieces m, of both the
slips p, and q, rest upon the flange e, of the rail o, the slip q, being further supported
by the flange r, formed on its lower side, part of which has a bearing upon the
flange e, as shewn more particularly at Figure 8.-In this construction of railway
there is provided the chair 8, in which are arranged the distance pieces m, and
which is further formed with the wearing surface t, and base plate u, the latter of
which at this part gives a bearing to the rail and upon which there rests the ends
of the flange r, of the slip q. With the chair 8, the said flange r, and its vertical
slip g, and upper flange c, are jointed as represented at v.
The rails represented on Sheet 3, of the accompanying Drawings are provided
with continuous chairs and with reference to Figures 24, 25 and 26, which repre-
sent another modification of tramway constructed according to my improvements.-
The chair is shewn as applied to a single headed or flanged or Vignole's rail o.-
The chair w, has the vertical transverse dividing slips 1, formed on its outer sides
and for decreasing the weight of the said chair the holes a, are formed through the
base plate thereof.-The rails o, are secured in position by means of the pins y, and
cotters z, of which several are used but only one of which is shewn on the drawings,
the former of which is passed through the side of the chair w, and caused to bear
at its end against the rail o, by the cotter z, passing through a slot formed in the
said pin y, and wedging between the end of such slot and the inner face of the side
of the chair. The rail represented at Figures 27, 28 and 29, is an ordinary double
headed rail and is secured within the continuous chair a¹, by means of the pin f,
and cotter g, the former of which is passed through a hole cast in one of the
which
transverse dividing slips 1, and is retained therein by means of the cotter g,
is wedged between one end of the slot formed in the pin fand the opposite side or
end of the slot formed for its reception in the dividing slip l, of the chair a'.-The
groove d', Figures 27, and 28, for the flanges of the wheels of the vehicles which
travel thereon is formed by the chair casting.-It will be seen with reference to
Figure 27, that the dividing slips l, form the divisions of the paving setts h, and
which divisions are at their other parts, that is to say, beyond or outside the end
of the said slips l, filled in with cement or its equivalent as represented at e', or the
said slips l, may be made sufficiently long to fill up the whole length of the space
formed by one row of paving setts h.
The improved chairs herein before described may with advantage for the purpose
of these improvements be formed or cast in steel or iron in one piece with the
transverse sleepers as represented at Figures 30 where the chairs are formed on the
plan represented at Figures 24, 25 and 26, and cast together with the section
piece d, between them.
Under another arrangement for providing the necessary groove for the flanges of
the wheels of tramway or railway vehicles in an ordinary roadway and as repre-
sented at Figures 31, and 32, two rails f', are laid side by side in the chairs g¹, or

page_text: their equivalent let into the roadway surface and such chairs g³, or their equivalent
may be provided with wearing surfaces t, level with the roadway or with the
transverse dividing slips l, herein before referred to, or the said chairs g¹, may be
provided with both the wearing surfaces t, and dividing slips -With reference to
Figures 31, and 32, it is seen that the two rails f, which are respectively of
Vignoles and the ordinary double headed form of rail are secured together by the
bolts h¹, and nuts 2, the distance between them being regulated by the length of
the collar pieces or tubes j³, placed between the said rails f, and through which
the bolts h, pass. In place of using two lines of rails at a short distance apart
as represented in the last described Figures, they may be used close to each other
with a groove formed in the top surfaces of the rails at their centre and this
applies equally to single and double headed rails, or the rails used in connection
with these improvements whether single or double headed rails may be formed of
such a breadth on the head or heads as to constitute a double tread or bearing
surface with a shallow groove between them.-By this means such rails may be
reversed and an unworn tread or bearing surface be brought into use by reversing
the rail when any one of the bearing surfaces has been worn down.
With reference to Figures 33, 34, 35, and 36. the forms of rails there shewn are
those referred to more particularly under the first part of this Specification and on
which rails the ribs k, are formed and in each of the sections represented at these
Figures the said rib k, is supported upon the continuous chair m¹, and secured in
the necessary position by means of the wedges o¹, or by their equivalents.-The
rail represented at Figure 36, may be further bedded at its lower surface (as
represented in this Figure) upon the slip of wood 1, for the purpose of deadening
the noise of street traffic upon these rails.-The hollow spaces n¹, are formed
through the continuous chairs m¹, for the purpose of making the said chair castings
lighter.
The points used in connection with my present improvements as shewn at
Figures 37, 38, 39, and 40 respectively in plan front elevation, transverse section,
and end elevation consist of fixed gusset pieces at places where the improved
slips a, n, p, and q, hereinbefore described cannot be conveniently inserted and
these are made of steel or chilled cast iron-The moveable crossings used in
connection with these improvements may be also made of steel or chilled cast iron.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the system, mode or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
First. In the construction of tramways or railways the blocks or slips a,
Figures 1, 2, and 3. in combination with the rail of the section there shewn or
with rails of the several sections shewn at Figures 11, to 23, (inclusive) as
hereinbefore described in relation thereto.
Second. In the construction of tramways the slips n, having attached thereto the
distance pieces m, corresponding to the contour of the rail in combination with the
rail of the section as shewn at Figures 4, 5, and 6, of the annexed drawings or 4
with a rail of analogous section as herein before described in relation thereto.
Third. In the construction of tramways the slips p, and q, in combination with
the chair 8, as shewn at Figures 7, 8 and 9, and section of rail shewn at the said
Figures or in combination with a rail of analogous section substantially as
hereinbefore described in relation thereto.
Fourth. The horizontal or inclined rib or ribs k, formned on the side or sides of
the tramway rail substantially as and for the purposes herein before described with
reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The continuous chairs w, a¹, g¹, and m¹, for holding the rails and which
continuous chairs have their upper surfaces constituting part of the level portions 6
of the street or roadway substantially as herein before described with reference to
Figures 24, to 29 and 31 to 36 (inclusive) of the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Sixth. The means for securing the rails within the chairs consisting of the pins f,
and y, and cotters g, and z, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to Figures 24 to 29, (inclusive) of the accompanying Drawings or their mechanical
equivalents.
Seventh. The chairs w, a', g¹, and m¹, claimed in the third claiming clause
formed or cast in steel or iron in one piece with the transverse sleepers d³,
substantially as herein before described with with reference to the accompanying
drawings
Eighth. Providing the necessary groove for the flanges of the wheels of tramway
or railway vehicles in an ordinary roadway by two rails laid side by side
substantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 31, and 32, of the
accompanying Drawings.
Ninth Rails formed of sufficient width or breadth on the head or heads as to
constitute double treads or bearing surfaces substantially as herein before described
with reference to Figures 21, 22, 23 and 33, of the accompanying Drawings.
In Witness Whereof I, the said Robert Lish Urquhart have hereunto set my
hand and seal this seventeenth day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
ROBERT LISH URQUHART (L.S.)