IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY AND ACCESSORY APPARATUS OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT. to William Lloyd Wise, of 7, Whitehall Place; in the City
of Westminster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT
WAY AND ACCESSORY APPARATUS OF RAILWAYS." A communication from
abroad by M. Auguste de Wieczffinski-Serres, of Paris, in the Republic of
France:
ed the 2nd March 1880, and dated the 12th September 1879
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lloyd Wise at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th September 1879.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY AND ACCESSORY APPARATUS OF RAIL-
WAYS." (A communication from abroad by M. Auguste de Wieczffinski-Serres, of
Paris, in the Republic of France.)
In the Specification of Letters Patent granted the 9th of March 1877, to John
Henry Johnson (No. 949) for " Improvements in Permanent Way," communicated
to him by the said Auguste de Wieczffinski-Serres, is described a new system of
compound rail, and the application of the same to the construction of railways
formed wholly of metal, the said Invention being based essentially on the union by
interlocking of two twin pieces termed the longitudinal flanges or sleeper, and one
or more transverse pieces acting as chairs, the one being passed through or over the
other, and then turned round, after which the whole is completed and secured by
simply placing in position the rail proper provided with a head forming the working
surface.
Now the present Invention has reference to certain special applications, arrange-
ments, and combinations of parts, and modes of joining rails or parts of rails, which
enable the whole of the permanent way with its accessory apparatus to be con-
structed entirely of metal, and in particular this Invention comprises novel modes
or methods of applying compound structures on the aforesaid principle in,-
1. Establishing connections or junctions between different lines of rails.
2. The construction of crossings, whether simple or compound, at right or other
angles.
M

page_text: 4. The formation of framings or structures to serve as foundations for supporting
rails or pieces secured between longitudinals, such as described in the Specification
of the former Patent above referred to.
Among the advantages realized may be mentioned increased stability, durability,
simplicity, and in short the application and extension of all the advantages of the
aforesaid compound structure and railway formed entirely of metal to the accessory
apparatus of the line.
In constructing a set of points, connecting for example two lines, the four rails
constructed according to the prior Invention already referred to are connected together
by transverse tie-bars or prolonged chairs recessed in such manner as to accord with
the predetermined curves or directions of the lines. By this plan all the lines of
rails are connected together without rivets, bolts, or other attachments, simply by
means of the tie-bars or chairs sufficiently prolonged to effect the appropriate con-
nections at suitable predetermined points.
With fixed rails of the compound construction already mentioned may be combined
moveable rails or switches of any suitable section, provided always that their
flattened or planed-off parts allow of their coming flush with the fixed rails.
The moveable rails or switches àlide on the surfaces of the tie-bars or prolonged
chairs, which extend from one fixed rail to another, and some of which are or may
be further prolonged outside the line at one side or the other to carry the operating
lever and its frame.
The distance apart of the tie-bars or prolonged chairs will vary according to
requirement, and between them shorter bars or chairs such as described in the
Specification of the previous Patent may be interposed.
The chairs may form supporting or sliding surfaces for the switches, and inde-
pendent ties be provided in sufficient number for maintaining the rails at the proper
distance apart.
Also, in order to enable switch rails of greater depth to be employed, the switch
rails may be arranged to slide on the highest intermediate ribs of the tie bars or
prolonged chairs, which for this purpose are suitably recessed to afford the necessary
travel to the switches.
The switches are connected with each other in the ordinary manner by tie-rods,
one of which is connected to the rod of the operating lever.
The pivots on which the switches turn may be fixed to the switches themselves,
or to the transverse tie-bars or prolonged chairs.
Guard plates or stops are applied to prevent excessive lateral movement of the
switches, and consequent injury to the pivots. Any known construction of operating
lever apparatus may be employed for moving the switches.
The same method of construction is applicable to double or other multiple
points.
In constructing crossings with the compound rail the fixed point is introduced
between the longitudinals, which are maintained in position by means of the
transverse tie-bars and chairs or pieces. Pins or bolts are inserted in the manner
shown in the Specification of the former Patent already mentioned, so as to guard
against accidental or malevolent removal of the fixed points. It will be evident
that the angle and section of the fixed point, and consequently the form in plan of
the crossing, may be varied to suit requirement, as in the case of crossings con-
structed with ordinary rails.
The improved mode of construction may be employed in constructing double or
triple crossings. The fixed point may be either cast in one piece, or constructed
in parts suitably attached together, the attachment rendering the whole of the
crossing rigid.
The fixed point of the crossing may be made reversible. The check rails are held
in recesses in some of the same transverse tie bars as are employed for fixing the
other rails.
In the application of the aforesaid compound rails the recesses in the transverse
tie bars or chairs may be formed at any suitable angle according to requirement, or

page_text: the sides of the recesses may be curved, or portions thereof may be of different shape
from other portions.
These different forms when employed in the manner described in the prior Patent
Specification, to serve as connecting parts, will enable various simple combinations
or structures answering the various requirements of practical applications to be
produced.
Traversing parts, as described, may be scarf jointed, for which purpose they are
recessed, for example, in the manner indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying
Drawings, thus forming a compound traversing piece or bar, of which an example is
given in Fig. 3, whereby four other parts or longitudinals suitably recessed may be
connected together, the longitudinals being got into position by a partial rotary
movement, as described in the Specification of the former Patent.
As already mentioned the faces b, b¹, of the recesses may be of various forms, as
for example, those indicated in the Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, and it is evident their
centre lines a, a¹, c, c¹, (Fig. 3), may have any relative angle, according to require-
ment.
Figs. 8 and 9 represent a right angled crossing constructed according to this
Invention, Fig. 8 being a plan of the combined traversing parts (le tenon composé),
and Fig. 9 a detail view of the portion A to a larger scale.
This construction may be applied in the directions C, D, C, D', (Fig. 9).
Referring to Fig. 10, which represents in plan the compound connecting piece or
tenon, the faces b, b¹, are cut triangularly at right angles, and the connecting part
is composed of two longitudinals joined end to end (see Fig. 11); and at an angle
formed by the intersection of two inclined planes at 45° to the vertical plane, there
is a recess at m, n, p, q, (see Fig. 12) similar to those described in the previous
Specification, the edge of the longitudinal being raised vertically; the insertion is
effected in such manner that one branch of the connecting piece or tenon penetrates
the recess, and then the longitudinal is moved into its final position.
The same operation is repeated for each of the four branches.
The introduction of the parts forming the rolling or working surface will complete
the compound structure.
This mode of joining may be applied to other arrangements of crossings of various
angles.
Fig. 13 illustrates the application of the compound rail to a metallic ash or engine
pit.
Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate arrangements employed in constructing turntables.
At the points A (Fig. 14) the compound rectangular joint is employed in the
directions c, c', (Fig. 15), and simple rectangular joints in the directions a, a, b, b¹,
of the same Figure. The Invention is applicable also in the construction of traversers
and other analagous parts of railways.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Lloyd Wise in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
March 1880.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY AND ACCESSORY APPARATUS OF RAIL-
WAYS." (A communication from abroad by M. Auguste de Wieczffinski-Serres, of
Paris, in the Republic of France.)
In the Specification of Letters Patent granted the 9th March 1877 to John
Henry Johnson, for, "Improvements in Permanent Way," communicated to him by.
the said Auguste de Wieczffinski-Serres, is described a new system of compound
rail, and the application of the same to the construction of railways formed wholly
of metal, the said Invention being based essentially on the union by interlocking of
two twin pieces termed the longitudinal flanges or sleeper, and one or more trans-
verse pieces acting as chairs, the one being passed through or over the other, and
then turned round, after which the whole is completed and secured by simply
placing in position the rail proper provided with a head forming the working
surface.
Now the present Invention has reference to certain special applications, arrange-
ments, and combinations of parts and modes of joining rails or parts of rails, which
enable the whole of the permanent way with its accessory apparatus to be constructed
entirely of metal, and in particular this Invention comprises novel modes or methods
of applying compound structures on the aforesaid principle in,-
1. Establishing connections or junctions between different lines of rails.
2. The construction of crossings, whether simple or compound, at right or other
angles.
3. The construction of ways over ash or engine pits.
4. The formation of framings or structures to serve as foundations for supporting
rails or pieces secured between longitudinals such as described in the Specification
of the former Patent above referred to.
Among the principal advantages resulting may be mentioned increased stability,
durability, simplicity, and in short the application and extension of all the advan-
tages of the aforesaid compound rail or structure and railway formed entirely of
metal to the accessory apparatus of the line.
In order that the various applications, according to this Invention of the compound
rail or structure patented as aforesaid may be well understood, I proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying illustrative Drawings, shewing by way
of examples convenient methods of carrying into practice the present Invention.
Fig. 1 (Sheet 1) shews in general plan a set of points complete, connecting two
lines, such as may meet each other at any suitable angle, either after having been
parallel to each other, or laid symmetrically in relation to a common axis or
otherwise.
In each of these cases the crossing angle is variable, as is the radius of the curve
connecting the fixed point of the crossing to the moving points. The four lines of
rail are constituted according to the Specification of the former Patent above referred
to, and consequently present all the arrangements and advantages incidental to that
construction. The rails are connected together by transverse tie bars or prolonged
chairs recessed in such manner as to accord with the predetermined curves or
directions of the lines. By this peculiar plan the lines of rails are connected together
without rivets, bolts, or other attachments, simply by means of the tie bars or
chairs sufficiently prolonged to effect the appropriate connections at suitable pre-
determined points.
Fig. 2 shews in plan a set of points or switches.
Fig. 3 is a section (to a larger scale) in the line A B of Fio 2

page_text: Fig. 5, a transverse section near the end of the switch; and Fig. 6 is the stopping
block e of Fig. 2.
The fixed rails or ways b are of the compound construction already mentioned,
and the moveable rails or switches a may be flat rails with a head for carrying the
traffic. Their form may vary, as is shewn in Figs. 3 and 5, or moveable rails or
switches of other sections may be employed, for example, such as are illustrated in
Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11, provided always that their flattened or planed off parts allow
of their joining the fixed rails. The moveable rails or switches slide on the surfaces
of the tie bars or prolonged chairs d, which extend from one fixed rail to another,.
and some of which are or may be further prolonged outside the line of rail at one
or the other side, or at both sides, and to the number of two or three, according to
requirement, to carry the operating lever and its frame. Such an arrangement is
illustrated by way of example in Figs. 2 and 7, Fig. 7 being a section in the liue
g, h, of Fig. 2.
In carrying out this part of the Invention it will be evident the distance apart
of the tie bars or prolonged chairs may be varied to suit circumstances, and between
them shorter bars or chairs or traversing pieces, such as described in the Specification
of the former Patent above referred to, may in some cases be interposed.
The distance desirable between the tie bars or prolonged chairs will depend upon
the section of the shifting rails or switches, the nature of the way, the ground, and
Bo forth.
The chairs may form the supporting or sliding surface for the switches, and tie
bars be provided only in sufficient number for maintaining the rails at the proper
distance apart.
Also, in order to enable switch rails of greater depth to be employed, the switch
rails may be arranged to slide on the highest intermediate ribs of the tie-bars or
prolonged chairs, which for this purpose are then suitably recessed a sufficient
distance to allow of the necessary play or movement of the switches.
The switches are connected with each other in the ordinary manner by tie rods,
one of which is connected to the rod of the operating lever, and the other placed
between the switch rails (see Fig. 2, Sheet 1.)
Fig. 3 illustrates the pivotting of the end of the switch rail, the pivot being in
this case fixed to the switch rail itself, but it may be fixed to the transverse tie bar.
or prolonged chair.
A guard plate or stop, as shewn in the same Figure, prevents excessive lateral
movement of the end of the switch, and consequent injury to the pivot.
Any known system of operating levers may be employed for working the
switches.
The connection with the lines or ways leading to the middle or fixed point is
clearly shewn in plan in Fig. 2, and in section in Fig. 4.
Thus constituted the switch may be readily made of iron, steel, or other metal,
and is applicable to lines worked by engines of all sizes.
This arrangement affords the advantages of uniformn spacing, increased longitu-
dinal stability, and suppression of all parts of a perishable character, or such as
would be liable to become loose, as for example wood, and bolts and cramps intro-
duced into the wood.
As the scale of the Drawings is variable it may be remarked that the improved
system of switch is applicable to all gauges.
The moveable rails or switches may be made double, triple, or otherwise multiple
by adopting sections such as before mentioned, and repeating in each case as
respects the sliding surface, pivot, and mode of attachment or connection with the
adjacent line the arrangements hereinbefore described as applied to the single
switch.
.
The Figures on Sheet 2 illustrate the mode of arranging à crossing according to
this Invention.
In constructing such a crossing with the compound rail the fixed point is inter-
posed between the longitudinals, which are maintained in place by means of the.

page_text: transverse tie bars and chairs or "tenons." Ordinary bolts or pins are inserted in
the manner shewn in the Specification of the prior Patent already mentioned, so as
to guard against accidental or malevolent removal of the fixed point.
Fig. 24 (Sheet 2) is a plan, and Fig. 25 a longitudinal section of the fixed
noint
Figure.
It will be evident the angle of the fixed point and consequently the form of the
crossing may be varied to suit requirement as in the case of crossings constructed
with ordinary rails.
-
The improved mode of construction may be employed in the formation of double
or triple crossings and in constructing crossings; according to this Invention the
fixed point may be either a single piece or casting as in the example given in the
Drawings, or may be constructed in parts suitably forged or formed and attached
together, the fastening rendering the whole of the crossing rigid (see Fig. 12,
Sheet 1).
The fixed point of the crossing may be made symmetrical relative to the axis
a, b, as shewn in Fig. 13 (Sheet 1), this modification being practicable as only the
central parts f. f¹, of the crossing are subjected to wear, and the parts c, c, d, d¹,
which bear on the "tenons," and tie bars or penetrating pieces remain intact, and
thus a flat supporting surface is always ensured.
The other arrangements in detail of the crossing are indicated in the general
plan, Fig. 1 (Sheet 1). One, two, or three of the chairs, according to requirement,
is or are prolonged as far as the outer rails, and the inventor places, in the manner
indicated, for his method of laying the combinations of parts constituting the rail,
the different parts of the said rail with a check rail such as is shewn at Fig. 4
(Sheet 1).
It will be evident the plan of fixing in recesses in one and the same tie bar or
prolonged chair a rail and a check rail presents a considerable advantage.
I have indicated in Fig. 24 (Sheet 2) the method of forming the junction of the
fixed point with the rails abutting thereon; this Fig. and Fig. 26 will enable the
plan illustrated to be clearly understood without further explanation.
It will be seen this arrangement presents the same advantages as results from the
application of this Invention to switches.
In the employment of the aforesaid compound rails or structures the recesses
in the transverse tie bars or chairs (or as my foreign correspondent calls them,
"tenons,") may be formed with any suitable angle, according to requirement, or the
sides of the recesses (may be curved, or portions thereof may be of different shape
from other portions. I will denominate as "simple straight joint" (assemblage
droit simple) the construction described in the Specification, No. 949, of 1877, that
is to say, in which the penetrating part is at right angles to the rotating parts.
The arrangement may be made oblique by forming the faces of the recess b, b¹;
at any angle with the longitudinal axis of the tie-bar, chair, or "tenon" (see
Fig. 14, Sheet 1, which is a plan view of the chair or "tenon."
Also the faces b, b¹, of the recess may have the form of a triangle, or of a curve
of any order or degree, or the form of a broken or varying line or mixed line com-
posed of parts of straight and curved lines.
Figs. 15, 16, and 17 illustrate various forms that may be used. They represent
the chair or "tenon" in plan.
Such various forms of chair, "tenon," or penetrating part employed in the
manner described in the Specification of the prior Patent previously mentioned, and
to serve as connecting parts of any form will enable various simple combinations or
compound structures to be produced, such as will answer the various requirements

page_text: of practical applications. By the means described joints or connections on the.
principle referred to in the Specification, No. 949, of 1877, may be made not only
in continuous compound structures, but also parts branching off even at right angles
to the main line or structure, and made with butt joints, may be connected as is
indicated in plan in Fig. 18, Sheet 1, and such connections may be varied by using
the several forms of recess indicated in Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17, Sheet 1.
A compound joint may be formed with "two chairs," or penetrating parts scarf
jointed, and which for this purpose are recessed for example, as indicated in Figs.
19 and 20 (Sheet 1).
In this way is formed a compound chair, of which an example is given in Fig. 21;
if now there be inserted four parts or longitudinals to be joined, and which are
similarly recessed midway through so that they slide the one in the other, the parts
of the compound chair or "tenon" penetrating into their recesses; on these longi-
tudinals being then subjected to a rotary movement they will take their proper
respective positions and constitute a compound joint or connecting structure. This
will be hereinafter explained more in detail by reference to an example illustrating
this part of the Invention.
The faces b, b', of the recesses may be of the forms indicated in Figs. 14, 15, 16,
or 17, and it will be evident there may be made between them at the axes a, a¹,
c, c², (Fig. 21), any angle so as to have compound chairs or penetrating parts,
straight or bevelled. The sets of points hereinabove described affords an example
of a crossing at an acute angle, constructed with the aid of simple methods of
joint construction; Fig. 31 (Sheet 3) is a general plan of a right angled
crossing; Fig. 32, a plan of detail A of Fig. 31; Fig. 33, a section in the line
-A, B, of Fig. 32; Fig. 34, a section in the line E, F, of Fig. 32; Fig. 35, a section
in the line G, H, of Fig. 32; Fig. 36 is a section in the line I, K, of Fig. 32.
These Figures represent in all its details a right angled crossing constructed
entirely in accordance with the improved system.
The compound joint, as hereafter described, may be applied in the directions C, D,
C¹, D¹, Fig. 32 (Sheet 3).
"
Referring now to Fig. 22 (Sheet 1) which represents in plan the compound
connecting piece or tenon," the faces b, 61, are cut therein triangularly at right
angles, and the connecting part or piece is composed of two longitudinals joined
end to end, see Fig. 18, Sheet 1, and at a dihedral angle formed by the inter-
section of two inclined planes at 45° to the vertical plane. There is a last recess
at m, n, p, q, Fig. 23 (Sheet 1), quite similar to those described in the Specifica-
tion, No. 949, of 1877, the edge of the longitudinal being raised vertically, the
insertion is effected in such manner that one branch of the connecting piece or
tenon enters the recess, and then the longitudinal is moved from the 45° angle to
its definitive position.
The same operation is repeated for each of the four branches.
The introduction of the parts forming the rolling or working surface, as indi-
cated in the Drawing, will complete the compound joint or connecting structure.
It will be evident this construction may be applied to crossings generally, and
that in carrying it out in practice it may be applied to crossings at various angles.
Figs. 37 and 38 of Sheet 4 illustrate the application of the system to a railway
over a metallic ash or engine pit, Fig. 37 being a cross section, and Fig. 38 a half
longitudinal section.
Figs. 39 to 43, inclusive (Sheet 4) illustrate the application of the Invention in
constructing turntables, Fig. 39 being a general plan, Fig. 40 a section in the linc
b, b, of the Fig. 39, and Figs. 41, 42, 43, respectively the details b, b, a, d, of Fig.
39; all these Figures represent the arrangenients to be applied to the frame or
foundation of the said turntable.
At the point A (Fig. 39) is employed the system of compound rectangular joint
already described in the directions c, c¹², Fig. 42, whilst the simple rectangular
construction of joint is used in the directions a, a, b, b', of the same Figure.
It will be evident this Invention may be applied in the construction of traverses

page_text: and other analagous railway apparatus. The Drawings by which the foregoing
description is illustrated are to various scales, and are to be considered as applicable
to various gauges and constructions.
It is to be remarked that any of the forms of rail mentioned in the Specification
of the Patent, No. 949, of 1877, may be used in carrying out the present Invention,
and that the details may be otherwise varied to suit circumstances without
departure from its characteristic features, as herein before set forth and comprised
in the claiming clauses hereinafter contained.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and explained in what
manner the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, as
communicated to me as aforesaid, I hereby declare that what I claim as novel and
original, and secured to me under the Letters Patent herein before in first part
recited is,-
1. The method, substantially as described, of applying the system of compound
rail construction hereinabove referred to in establishing or forming connections or
junctions (single or multiple) between different lines of rails.
2. The method, substantially as described, of applying the system of compound
rail construction hereinabove referred to in constructing various kinds of crossings
whether simple or compound, rectangular or oblique.
3. The application of the said system of compound rail construction to ash or
engine pits, substantially as described and shewn.
4. The method, substantially as described, of applying the said system of com-
pound rail construction in constructing framing for foundations, or for the support
of fixed parts secured between the longitudinals.
5. The several novel combinations and arrangements of parts forming portions of
- railways and accessory apparatus constructed as hereinabove respectively described
and shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, Sheet 1, in Figs. 24, 25, 26, 27,
28, 29, 30, Sheet 2; in Figs. 12, 13, Sheet 1; in Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, Sheet 1; in Figs. 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, Sheet 3; and 22, 23, Sheet 1; in
Figs. 37 and 38; and in Figs. 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lloyd Wise, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
מזTT AN
TON
W. LLOYD WISE,
(L.S.)