IMPROVED MEANS OF SECURING RAILS TO METAL SLEEPERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Gardner, of No. 9, Victoria Chambers, Westminster,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS OF
SECURING RAILS TO METAL SLEEPERS."
Sealed the 25th July 1879, and dated the 14th May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Gardner at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th May 1879.
JOHN GARDNER, of No. 9, Victoria Chambers, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex. IMPROVED MEANS OF SECURING RAILS TO METAL SLEEPERS."
"
My Invention relates to means of securing rails to metal sleepers, which may be
of cast or wrought iron, or steel, presenting on their upper face a thickness of plate
to which my improved means of fixing are applied. I roll in convenient lengths
wrought iron or steel bars of a section such that when the bars are cut into short
lengths, each length forms a clip of the following description:-It has an upright
limb to bear against the side of the rail, and this limb is recessed at its lower part
to receive the flange of a flanged rail, or the lower head in case of a double headed
rail. The clip has also a horizontal limb which lies on the face of the sleeper
projecting outwards from the rail, and it has a limb of L shape which passes through
a slotted hole in the top plate of the sleeper to hook under the outer edge of the
hole. Two of these clips are employed for securing the rail, the one clip lying close
against the rail on its one side, and the other clip on the other side of the rail being
at a suitable distance therefrom to permit a key or wedge to be driven between it
and the rail. The driving of this wedge or key, while it secures the rail between
the clips, also forces them back from the rail each way, so that the hooked parts of
their shaped lower limbs are firmly engaged under the edges of the slotted holes
in the sleeper. The horizontal limbs of the clips may have bolts passed through
them and the sleeper for farther security, also they may have under them soft
bedding, such as felt, to diminish vibration.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a transverse section of a flanged rail secured on a metal sleeper by clip-
chairs according to my Invention; Fig. 2 is a plan, and Fig. 3, a side elevation of
the same.
The rail A is secured on the sleeper B by the clips C and D, and the
wooden key F. The clips C and D are made with L shaped limbs, which are
passed through slotted holes E in the plate of the sleeper, so that when forced back
by the driving of the key F their lips hold under the outer edges of the holes as
shewn. It is of advantage to make the slotted hole for the clip D a little oblique
so that the clip may take an inclination corresponding with the slope of the key F.
Felt or other somewhat yielding material may be placed at G under the flange of
the clips to lessen vibration; Fig. 4 shews a modified form of the clip C, which in
this case has its lower flange made to pass under the rail, one hole E receiving
the shaped limbs of both clips; Fig. 5 is a section, and Fig. 6, a plan shewing a
similar construction, the lower flange of the clip C being a little sloped to suit the
tilt of the rail; Fig. 7 shews a similar construction applied to securing a double
headed rail.
Fig. 8 shews how the clips may be farther secured to the sleeper by bolts and
nuts when desired; Fig. 9 represents to a smaller scale a transverse section through
both rails, shewing them secured to one transverse sleeper.
The clips C and D) may be cast in iron or steel, or as above described, they
may be short lengths cut from wrought iron or steel bars rolled to the required
section.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim,-
Securing a rail to a metal sleeper by clamping it by a wedge key between two

page_text: clips having flanges bearing on the sleeper, and ☐ shaped limbs passed through
slotted holes in the sleeper plate, so that their lips catch and hold under the edges
of the holes, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Gardner, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
JOHN GARDNER. (L.S.)