IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Girdwood Hardie, of Leeds, and Thomas Kendall,
of Shipley, near Leeds, both in the County of York, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Girdwood Hardie
and Thomas Kendall at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
20th January 1881.
THOMAS GIRDWOOD HARDIE, of Leeds, and THOMAS KENDALL, of Shipley, near
Leeds, both in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
Firstly. Our improvements consist in applying steel or iron insertions (of any
suitable description and hardness) in both point and crossing plates, so as to be
easily removed when worn out without disturbing the foundations.
These steel or iron insertions may be of different forms and lengths to suit
different points or crossings plates as to angle or direction, and also have varied
forms of grooves so as to suit different angles of "turnouts," or through crossings
from one line to another; and also so made as to form either open or shut points to
allow the engines, cars, or other vehicles to go on a straight line or to be diverted
as required.
Secondly. Our improvements further consists in fixing the steel rail of the form
described in the Specification of the Letters Patent granted unto Thomas Girdwood
Hardie, the 12th day of April 1879, No. 1455, to timber sleepers, fixing such
sleeper and timber onto a metal chair of suitable form and length, also jointing and
fixing them on this chair. The particular part to which these improvements refer
are, the mode of fixing the rail to the timber, and the timber and rail to the joint
chair, so as better to secure the whole together than hitherto, at the same time to
allow for the expansion or contraction of the timber and rail.
In our mode of fixing the paving or "sets" may be laid in close contact with the
rails, this being one of the most essential parts in the construction of street
tramways, which cannot be done when the ordinary dogs are employed. The
chair is made to suit the depth of paving stones tapering in its vertical height, so

page_text: .
that the rail which is of less taper in the flanges may clip the chair when drawn
down onto it by keys, cotters, or coulters. The chair is made hollow, being cored
through from end to end, but has a solid wide base at the bottom. The vertical
sides of the chair differ in thickness, that under the tread of the engine or car
wheels being thicker than the other side, it having more weight to bear. The
bottom flanges being also stronger and wider under the tread, the chair being
hollow, may be filled with non-sonorous material to deaden the sound. Each of
these joint chairs may when preferred be kept to guage by a horizontal flat tie bar
placed under and embracing the outer flange of each chair. We also provide when
required plates which may be screwed or bolted at suitable distances apart having
strips cast thereon to strengthen and keep the foot of the timber sleepers in their
place. These sole plates may be unequally lobed and made, stronger on one side
than the other, and may be placed nearer or further apart, or continuous, should the
ground or subsoil be soft and yielding.
Thirdly. Our improvements further consist in applying self acting spring points
of steel or iron attached to the point plate of passing places or "turnouts" on single
railways or tramways.
The springs may be of different form, length, size, or strength, either in one or
more flat plates, or spiral, or helical form, and may work either direct onto the
switch, latch, or tongue, or lever or levers may be connected therewith, or by a
weight and lever fixed in a box by the side of the rail.
Fourthly. Our improvements.have reference to the rail and sleeper. The top
portion of the rail is of ordinary construction, but that part which beds on the
sleeper we make of an angular form, so that pressure coming upon it tightens it
upon the sleeper and prevents its removal out of position, requiring thereby less
keying or otherwise fastening down than rails generally used. In our arrangement
the rail is readily removed without disturbing the sleeper. The sleeper is grooved
on its upper surface in an angular form to receive the rail, and may also be hollow
throughout its length having also a solid base.
"
Fifthly. In order to prevent grooving or wearing away of that part of the road
next to the rails, we provide what we call "groove preventers;" these are plates of
cast, wrought iron, or steel, and are dovetailed into the flanges on each side of the
sleepers, and these "groove preventers are inserted between the joints of the
paving stones. By being dovetailed as hereinbefore mentioned into the flanges of
the sleeper, traffic may pass over without disturbing them. The dovetailed part is
so arranged that it may be released without disturbing the sleeper. These plates
or groove preventers may be arranged in a diagonal or other convenient
direction, and of any required length.
"

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Girdwood. Hardie and Thomas Kendall in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 20th July 1881.
THOMAS GIRDWOOD HARDIE, of Leeds, and THOMAS KENDALL, of Shipley, near
Leeds, both in the County of York.. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
Firstly. Our improvements consist in applying steel or iron insertions a, shewn
at Figs. 1, 2, and 3, which represent plans looking at the top of points and crossing
plates (of any suitable description and hardness) in both point and crossing plates b
so as to be easily removed when worn out without disturbing the foundations and
crossing plates b. These steel or iron insertions a may be of different forms and
lengths to suit different points or crossing plates as to angle or direction, and also
have varied forms or grooves c to suit different angles or "turnouts," or through
crossings from one line to another; they are also made to form either open or shut
points to allow the engines, cars, or other vehicles to go on straight line or be
diverted as required.
Secondly. Our improvements further consist in fixing the rail of the form
described in the Specification of the Letters Patent granted unto Thomas Girdwood
Hardie, the 12th day of April 1879, No. 1455, to timber sleepers, fixing such
timber and sleeper onto a metal chair of suitable form and length, also jointing and
fixing them on this chair. The particular part to which these improvements refer
are the mode of fixing the rail to the timber, and the timber and rail to the joint
chair so as to better secure the whole together than hitherto, at the same time to
allow for the contraction and expansion of the rail.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section, Fig. 5 is longitudinal elevation, and Fig. 6, a
longitudinal elevation at a reduced scale showing these improvements.
"sets
"
In these improvements d is the rail referred to in the above mentioned Patent;
e is the timber sleeper; f, the joint chair; and g, the sole plates. The rails d are
keyed to the joint chairs f, as shewn at h, Fig. 4, and the joint chairs f have
bearings i at each end for the timber to rest on, and to be fixed thereto, at the
same time allowing for expansion and contraction. The joint chairs f are kept to
guage by tie bars j, Fig. 12, placed under and fixed to them. The timber sleeper
and rail are secured together through the medium of the metal piece k and screw
or bolt 1, and stiffening or sole plate g. The metal piece k is let into the sleeper,
as shewn, and the rail secured thereto by the key h.
In our mode of fixing the paving or
may be laid in close contact with
the rails, this being one of the most essential parts in the construction of street
tramways, which cannot be done when the ordinary dogs are employed. The
joint chair f is made to suit the depth of paving stones, tapering in its vertical
height so that the rail may be drawn tight onto it by the keys, cotters, or coulters.
The joint chair f is made hollow, as shewn at Fig. 9, being cored through from end
to end, but has a solid wide base m. The vertical sides n and o differ in thickness,
that part n under the tread being thicker than the other side o, it having more
weight to bear. The flanges of the base n are made stronger and wider under the
tread, the chair being hollow may be filled with nonsonorous material to deaden
the sound. The sole plate g may be unequally lobed, and made stronger on one
side than the other, and may be placed nearer or further apart or continuous, should
the ground or subsoil be soft and yielding.
"
Thirdly. Our improvements further consist in applying self acting spring points
of steel or iron attached to the point plate or passing places or " turnouts on
single railways or tramways, and is shewn at Fig. 7, which is a plan. One

page_text: arrangement of this is shewn at Fig. 7, in which p is a spiral spring enclosed in
the box q, which is let into the ground. The spring is coupled to the moveable
point plate by means of the rod 8. By this arrangement the spring presses upon
the point plate in one direction closing the groove, as shewn at t; this is opened
automatically by the flange of the carriage wheel passing in the direction shown
by arrow.
The springs p may be of different form, length, size, or strength, either in one
or more flat plates, or spiral, or helical form, and may work either direct onto the
switch, latch, or tongue, or lever or levers may be connected therewith, or by a
weight and lever fixed in a box by the side of the rail.
Fourthly. Our improvements have reference to the rail and sleeper, a transverse
section and plan of which are shewn at Figs. 10 and 11, and that part of the rail
which beds on the sleeper is of an angular form, as shewn at 1, Figure 10. The
mode of fixing the same together as that described in the second part of our
Invention with respect to joint, sleeper, and rail, and on pressure coming upon the
rail it is tightened upon the sleeper. The sleeper is hollow as shewn.
Fifthly. In order to prevent grooving or wearing away of that part of the road
next to the rail, we provide the groove preventers" u, these being plates of cast
or wrought iron or steel, and are dovetailed into the flanges von each side of the
sleepers w, as shewn at Figs. 10 and 11, which are respectively a transverse section
and plan of the same. These "
groove preventers" u are inserted between the
joints of the paving stones, in position shewn at Fig. 11. By being dovetailed.
as herein before mentioned, into the flanges of the sleeper, traffic may pass over
without disturbing them. The dovetailed part is so arranged that it may be
drawn into the open space x, and so admit of the plate being withdrawn without
interfering with the position of sleeper. These plates or groove preventers" u
may be arranged in a diagonal or other convenient direction, and of any required
length.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and particularized the
same by details which answer well in practice, we would have it understood that
we do not confine ourselves to the exact details set forth; what we do claim
is,―
First. The application of steel or iron insertions, shewn at Figs. 1 and 2, sub-
stantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Second. The arrangement and combination of the various parts forming the
means or apparatus employed for fixing the rail to the timber sleeper and the
timber sleeper and rail to the joint chair, shewn at Figs. 4, 5, and 6, substantially
as herein set forth.
Third. The application of self acting points, shewn at Fig. 7, and mere modifi-
cations of the same, substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Fourth. The construction of rail and sleeper, shewn at Figs. 8 and 9, substantially
as herein set forth.
Fifth. The arrangement and application of "groove preventers" shewn at Figs.
10 and 11, substantially. as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Girdwood Hardie and Thomas
Kendall, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Sixth day of May,
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
(L.S.)
T. G. HARDIE.
THOMAS KENDALL. (L.S.)