IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Livesey, of No. 9, Victoria Chambers, Westminster,
in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Livesey at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th November 1881.
.
JAMES LIVESEY, of No. 9, Victoria Chambers, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS AND
TRAMWAYS."
One of my present improvements consists in the formation of a metal chair to be
secured to an iron sleeper, only one bolt being required for fastening both the rail
and chair to the sleeper, and the slacking of this bolt permitting the rail to be
taken out or placed in position. The chair has on one side of it a projecting hook
lip which entering a hole in the sleeper, and projecting on the underside of the
sleeper-plate holds that side of the chair in position. On the other side of the
chair there is a slot to receive the bolt, which has a hook head that is passed
through a hole in the sleeper.
The nut of the bolt when screwed down engages
both the flange of the rail and the chair, securing both firmly to the sleeper. Un
the bottom of the chair there is a rib which resting on the top of the sleeper keeps
the slotted side of the chair a little above the sleeper. When this is pressed down
by the nut the chair is strained over its under rib as a fulcrum, and its hooked lip
is forced tightly against the plate. To remove the rail or put it in position it is
only necessary to slack the nut a little. The slot in the chair then allows the bolt
to be turned back as on a hinge sufficiently far for its nut to be clear of the rail
flange.
Another of my improvements relates to the construction of a support for a
tramway rail, which at the same time acts as a sleeper to carry the rail, and also
as a rest or support for the pavement along the rail-side both vertically and
laterally. The rail is rolled with a deep rib or keel on its underside. On each
side of this keel I bolt or otherwise secure an angle-plate which forms the sleeper.

page_text: The upper parts of the two plates with the rib of the rail between them do not
occupy the whole width of the rail, but allow on each side sufficient depth to
admit the bolt head on the one side and the nut on the other. Below the bolt
the plates widen out to about the same width as the rail head, and after descending
vertically they are bent outwards at right angles at the bottom so as to present
flanges on which the pavement rests. The plates on each side break joint with
each other and act as fish plates for the rail. Instead of making the rail a
separate piece the plates may be made in the form described, one of them with a
piece rolled on the top to form the rail head, and the other with a piece to form
the check-rail. I also form a chair for a tramway rail by placing the main rail
and guard or check-rail together in one chair between its jaws. Between the two
rails are placed distance pieces, between which wedges are driven forcing the two
rails firmly in position in the chair. By thus securing the rails there is no necessity
to punch them nor to use bolts for fixing them.
For the purpose of securing a tramway rail of channel section firmly to a sleeper
by a fastening which shall not interfere with the pavement, I form a sleeper
preferably of cast iron, the top of which is shaped to receive a channel section of
tramway rail. Into the side flanges of the rail are punched holes which receive
hook bolts. Each bolt is hooked to and hangs from the inside of the rail flange
within a recess in the iron sleeper. This recess is made with a projecting ledge
against which the nut is screwed, tightening and pulling down the rail securely on
to the head of the sleeper. I also form a sleeper with a rib rolled upon it, part of
which rib I cut out of it to receive the rail which rests on the body of the sleeper.
On one side of the rail the rib forms an abutment, and on the other side it presents
an inclined jaw, between which and the rail is driven an iron key to secure the
rail firmly in the recess of the rib.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Livesey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th May
1882.
"
JAMES LIVESEY, of No. 9, Victoria Chambers, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS AND
TRAMWAYS."
One of my present improvements consists in the formation of a metal chair to be
secured to an iron sleeper, only one bolt being required for fastening both the rail
and chair to the sleeper, and the slacking of this bolt permitting the rail to be
taken out or placed position. Fig. 1 is a section and Fig. 2 a plan of the
construction which I adopt for this purpose in securing a flanged rail R on the
sleeper S. The chair C has on one side of it a projecting hook lip C¹, which
entering a hole in the sleeper S and projecting on the underside of the sleeper
plate holds that side of the chair in position. On the other side of the chair there
is a slot C to receive the bolt B which has a hook head that is passed through a
hole in the sleeper. The nut of the bolt B when screwed down engages both the
flange of the rail R and the chair C, securing both firmly to the sleeper S.
On the bottom of the chair there is a rib C³, which resting on the top of the
sleeper keeps the slotted side of the chair a little above the sleeper. When the
chair is pressed down by screwing down the nut of B, it is strained over the rib C
as a fulcrum and its hooked lip C is forced tightly against the sleeper plate.
To remove the rail or put it in position it is only necessary to slack the nut of B
n little. The slot C then allows the bolt B to be turned back as on a hinge
sufficiently far for its nut to be clear of the rail flange.
Another of my improvements relates to the construction of a support for
a tramway rail which at the same time acts as a sleeper to carry the rail and also
as a rest or support for the pavement along the rail side, both vertically and
laterally. Fig. 3 is a section and Fig. 4 a side view shewing this construction.
The rail R is rolled with a deep rib or keel K on its underside. On each side of this
keel I bolt or otherwise secure an angle plate A which together forms the sleeper.
The upper parts of the plates A with the keel K between them are bent inwards
so as not to occupy the whole width of the rail but to allow on each side sufficient
depth of recess for the heads and nuts of the bolts B. Below the bolts the plates A
widen out to the same width as the rail head so as to form a lateral support for
the pavement P, and at the bottom they are bent outwards at right angles so as
to present flanges A¹ on which the pavement rests. The plates A on each side of
the rail break joint with each other and act as fish plates for joining together the
successive lengths of rails. Instead of making the rail as a piece separate from
the plates A, one of them, as shewn in the section Fig. 5, may have the rail head H
rolled in one with it and the other have the check rail F. I also form the support
and fixing for a tramway rail as shewn in the section Fig. 6 and plan Fig. 7 by.
placing the main rail H and the guard or check rail F together in one chair C
between its jaws. Between the two rails H and F are placed distance pieces D
between which are driven keys or wedges W, forcing the rails firmly in position
in the chair. By thus securing the rails there is no necessity to punch them nor
to use bolts for fixing them.
For the purpose of securing a trainway rail of channel section firmly to a sleeper
by a fastening which does not interfere with the paving I employ the arrangement
shewn in section at Fig. 8 and in part side view at Fig. 9. The sleeper S
preferably of cast iron is shaped at the top to receive the channel rail, in the side
flanges of which there are holes to receive hook bolts B. Each of these bolts hangs

page_text: from the flange within a recess provided in the side of the sleeper and passes
through a ledge Lunder which the nut is screwed, pulling down and tightening
the rail securely on the head of the sleeper. I also form a sleeper S as shewn in
side view at Fig. 10 and in plan at Fig. 11, with a rib S1, S2, rolled upon it, part
of which rib I cut out to receive the rail R which rests on the body of the sleeper.
On the one side the rib S¹ forms an abutment for the rail flange, and on the
other side S it presents an inclined jaw between which and the rail is driven a
key W to secure the rail firmly in the recess of the rib.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim in respect of the permanent way of railways and
tramways,-
First. The construction and arrangement of hooked and slotted chair and hook
bolt in combination with a metal sleeper, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
Second. The construction and arrangement of sleeper plates in combination
with a tramway rail having a keel, substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 3 and 4.
Third. The modified construction wherein the rail heads form parts of the sleeper
plates, substantially as described with reference to Fig. 5.
Fourth. The construction and arrangement of chair with separate tram rails
secured by distance pieces and wedges, substantially as described with reference
to Figs. 6 and 7.
Fifth. The construction and arrangement of sleepers, with recesses to receive
hook bolts for fixing tram rails of channel section, substantially as described with
reference to Figs. 8 and 9.
Sixth. The construction of sleeper with raised rib cut out to receive the rail
flange and key, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 10 and 11.
In witness whereof, I, the_said James Livesey, have hereunto_set_my_hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
JAMES LIVESEY. (L.S.)