Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 14th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 15th July, 1887.
1 THOMAS WALROND SMITH of 5 Searth Road Barnes Common in the County
of Surrey Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in the permanent way of railways.
I employ a sleeper formed of sheet steel or cast iron or steel or other metal bent or
formed or cast to à trough like form-it has a deep channel or gutter extending from
end to end of it and on either side of this groove or channel there is a broad wing or
flange nearly horizontal but sufficiently inclined to cause any rain or moisture deposited
upon the sleeper to drain into the longitudinal gutter and be carried off at the end of
the sleeper where a drain may be provided to receive it.
The chairs are formed with flanges beneath them these flanges enter the longitudinal
groove or gutter of the sleeper and the chair is secured by transverse bolts passing
horizontally through the two upright sides of the gutter or channel in the sleeper and
through the flange on the underside of the chair.
To prevent the sleeper moving lengthwise I fix wing plates upon it about midway
of its length between the two rails here I insert a filling into the gutter or channel and
a through bolt serves to fix the wing plates one on either side of the gutter or channel.
Each wing plate is further secured by a boli passed vertically through the wing of the
sleeper near its outer edge. The bolt is preferably of a hook like form and on the
under side of the sleeper it engages with the wing plate. The bolt receives a nut on
the upper surface of the wing of the sleeper.
To lessen vibration I prefer to introduce felt between the chair and the sleeper.
I cover over the top and the open ends of the gutter or channel in the sleeper with
a wooden lath or felt or sacking rolled up or flat or in other suitable manner to prevent
the ballast entering it so that the channel may be kept clear for drainage. To facilitate
the adjustment of the guage I provide chairs in which the bolt holes are in slightly
different positions. The Sleepers I make all exactly similar as respects the position of
the bolt holes except perhaps in the case of special sleepers at or near the rail joints.

page_text: In place of fixing the chairs by means of a flange projecting downwards from them
into the channel or gutter of the sleeper I may secure the chairs by bolts passed
vertically through the wings or flanges of the sleeper I can also employ footed rails
and these may stand direct upon the sleeper without chairs and may be here secured
by bolts passing through the wings or flanges of the sleeper and either with or
without clips.
My improved sleeper may be laid longitudinally of the road with occasional
transverse distance pieces. The rails in this case may be carried in chairs secured
upon the sleepers in either of the ways which I have described or footed rails inay
be employed in which case the rail itself will form a cover for the longitudinal gutter
or channel in the sleeper these rails are secured to the sleeper by bolts passed through
the flanges or wings of the sleeper.
1 may make the sleeper and one or both chairs and the lateral wing plates all in one
casting, or may cast the chairs and wings in situ on the rolled or bent metal of the
sleeper specially prepared to receive them thereby obviating the use of all bolts pins
or other fastenings.
In the case of sleepers cast as just described I may protect the exposed ends against
damage in transitu by a vertical flange at the end of the sleeper and square to it or I
may round off the exposed corners with the same object.
To permit of the more readily fastening or unfastening of the bolts securing the
bottom flange of the chair to the sides of the groove I propose to use a special tool of
the following construction. A tube in section square hexagonal or of other form to
fit the exterior outline of the nut is cast or forged one end being slightly enlarged so
as to clear the nut and any grit adhering to it. Midway between the ends also the
tube is enlarged and made circular in section forming a sort of collar grooves are cut
or holes drilled at short intervals into this collar.
A loose collar is made to fit over the former one and to this a radial bar is attached
with a handle a short distance from the extremity. There is a second handle inside
the first named working on a joint and actuating a draw bar (either passing inside or
outside the radial bar) of which the extremity passing through the loose collar engages
in the grooves or holes of the inner collar and can be inserted in or withdrawn from
them at pleasure.
It is intended to work this tool in something the same way as a ratchet brace with
the difference that it can be worked either way at pleasure instead of only in one
direction.
This tool will be convenient for screwing or unscrewing the bolts in their confined
positions beneath the top flange or wing of the sleeper.
In order to secure the bolts holding the sides of the vertical groove to the bottom
flange of the chair against damage from the downward pressure of the latter either
directly or by forcing them against the thin metal sides I propose to make the holes
in the bottom flange of the chair elongated vertically upwards so that no downward
pressure can come on the shank of the bolt.
In addition to the advantages of steel sleepers in general over those of wood, the
following are claimed additional for the system now submitted.
1. Strength and elasticity. Owing to the girder like form the objectionable
flexibility of ordinary steel sleepers is obviated far less metal affording a greater
amount of relative strength whilst elasticity between the load and the bearing surface
on the ballast is amply provided for.
2. Extra facilities for drainage. It is impossible for rain water to lodge under the
seating of the sleeper as it is thrown by a slight cant in the flanges into the central
depression instead of trickling over the edge and softening the ballast just where it has
been packed under the sleepers as in other systems. The drainage water is discharged
from the central depression at one or both ends of the sleeper whence it is casily
carried clear of the ballast and into the side drains. One third of the rain water falling
on the road bed is thus discharged without entering the ballast at all, the remaining
two thirds can either be allowed to sink into the ballast between the sleepers so as to

page_text: keep the sleeper seatings slightly moist by capillary attraction or be trained off by
separate exits as may be wished.
3. Use where only bad ballast is obtainable. Owing to the drainage facilities
before described the quality of the ballast is of less importance than in other systems,
as no water can lodge below the bearing the usual churning up is obviated with the
result that the road bed is not only free from mud after rain but also from the resulting
dust in dry weather; at the same time the rails are uniformly supported giving a
smooth and equal road.
4. Facility of packing. The deep vertical flange will give a resisting surface
against which the ballast can be packed to any required degree of solidity. Very
little digging down is necessary to get at the hearing on the ballast compared with
other systems.
5. Prevention of Lateral movement in the Road. Owing to the firm bedding of
the wing plates in the central and most solid part of the ballast lateral movement is
put a stop to, a result unobtainable with other systems which have only the feeble
resistance of the extremities of the sleeper against the ballast where the latter is always
most loose.
6. Unbreakable chairs. The hollow along the middle of the sleeper gives room for
casting the chairs with a deep flange transverse to the rail of any desired strength,
this will enable the chair to be strengthened as much as wished at the part where it is
weakest, viz., under the seating of the rail.
7. Improved fastenings. By passing bolts through the vertical part of the sleeper
and the vertical bottom flange of the chair last described secure fastenings can
be depended upon impossible to be affected by the vertical jarring that sometimes
affects the ordinary fastenings to so large an extent; however loose the bolts might
become they cannot quit their hold altogether.
8. Simplicity. By the plan for casting the chairs and wing plates in rigid con-
nection to the sleeper all fastenings are dispensed with and nothing is necessary in
laying the road beyond fixing the sleepers and keying the rails to them.
9. Economy. It is expected that sleepers can be delivered at very little in excess
of the cost of the best red wood creosoted sleepers and taking into view the saving of
pins and trenails and in maintenance and renewals of road the proposed new system
will be far cheaper in the long run.
The L J
1000
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, THOMAS WALROND SMITH of 5 Searth Road, Barnes Common in the County
of Surrey, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object improvements in the permanent way of railways.
I employ a sleeper formed of sheet steel or cast iron or steel or other metal bent or
formed or cast to a trough like form-it has a deep channel or gutter extending from
end to end of it and on either side of this groove or channel there is a broad wing or
flange nearly horizontal but sufficiently inclined to cause any rain or moisture deposited
upon the sleeper to drain into the longitudinal gutter and be carried off at the end of
the sleeper where a drain may be provided to receive it.
The chairs are formed with flanges beneath them, these flanges enter the longitudinal
groove or gutter of the sleeper and the chair is secured by transverse bolts passing
horizontally through the two upright sides of the gutter or channel in the sleeper and
through the flange on the underside of the chair.
To prevent the sleeper moving lengthwise I fix wing plates upon it about midway
of its length between the two rails here I insert a filling into the gutter or channel
and a through bolt serves to fix the wing plates one on either side of the gutter or
channel. Each wing plate is further secured by a bolt passed vertically through the
wing of the sleeper near its outer edge. The bolt is preferably of a hook like form
and on the under side of the sleeper it engages with the wing plate. The bolt receives
a nut on the upper surface of the wing of the sleeper.
To lessen vibration I prefer to introduce felt between the chair and the sleeper.
I cover over the top and the open ends of the gutter or channel in the sleeper with
a wooden lath or felt or sacking rolled up or flat or in other suitable manner to
prevent the ballast entering it so that the channel may be kept clear for drainage. To
facilitate the adjustment of the guage I provide chairs in which the bolt holes are in
slightly different positions. The sleepers I make all exactly similar as respects the
position of the bolt holes except perhaps in the case of special sleepers at or near
the rail joints.
In place of fixing the chairs by means of a flange projecting downwards from them
into the channel or gutter of the sleeper I may secure the chairs by bolts passed
vertically through the wings or flanges of the sleeper, I can also employ footed rails
and these may stand direct upon the sleeper without chairs and may be here secured
by bolts passing through the wings or flanges of the sleeper and either with or
without clips.
My improved sleeper may be laid longitudinally of the road with occasional
transverse distance pieces. The rails in this case may be carried in chairs secured
upon the sleepers in either of the ways which I have described, or footed rails may be
employed in which case the rail itself will form a cover for the longitudinal gutter or
channel in the sleeper-these rails are secured to the sleeper by bolts passed through
the flanges or wings of the sleeper.

page_text: I may make the sleeper and one or both chairs and the lateral wing plates all in
one casting, or may cast the chairs and wings in situ on the rolled or bent metal of
the sleeper specially prepared to receive them thereby obviating the use of all bolts,
pins or other fastenings.
In the case of sleepers cast as just described I may protect the exposed ends against
damage in transitu by a vertical flange at the end of the sleeper and square to it or I
may round off the exposed corners with the same object.
To permit of the more readily fastening or unfastening of the bolts securing the
bottom flange of the chair to the sides of the groove I propose to use a special tool of
the following construction. A tube in section square-hexagonal or of other form to
fit the exterior outline of the nut is cast or forged one end being slightly enlarged so
as to clear the nut and any grit adhering to it. Midway between the ends also the
tube is enlarged and made circular in section forming a sort of collar, grooves are cut
or holes drilled at short intervals into this collar.
A loose collar is made to fit over the former one and to this a radial bar is attached
with a handle a short distance from the extremity. There is a second handle inside
the first named working on a joint and actuating a draw bar (either passing inside or
outside the radial bar) of which the extremity passing through the loose colfar engages
in the grooves or holes of the inner collar and can be inserted in or withdrawn from
them at pleasure.
It is intended to work this tool in something the same way as a ratchet brace with
the difference that it can be worked either way at pleasure instead of only in one
direction.
This tool will be convenient for screwing or unscrewing the bolts in their confined
positions beneath the top flange or wing of the sleeper.
In order to secure the bolts holding the sides of the vertical groove to the bottom
flange of the chair against damage from the downward pressure of the latter either
directly or by forcing them against the thin metal sides, I propose to make the holes
in the bottom flange of the chair elongated vertically upwards so that no downward
pressure can come on the shank of the bolt.
In addition to the advantages of steel sleepers in general over those of wood, the
following are claimed additional for the system now submitted.
1. Strength and elasticity. Owing to the girder like form the objectionable flexibility
of ordinary steel sleepers is obviated far less inetal affording a greater amount of
relative strength whilst elasticity between the load and the bearing surface on the
ballast is amply provided for.
2. Extra facilities for drainage. It is impossible for rain water to lodge under the
seating of the sleeper as it is thrown by a slight cant in the flanges into the central
depression instead of trickling over the edge and softening the ballast just where it
has been packed under the sleepers as in other systems. The drainage water is
discharged from the central depression at one or both ends of the sleeper whence it is
easily carried clear of the ballast and into the side drains. One third of the rain
water falling on the road bed is thus discharged without entering the ballast at all, the
remaining two thirds can either be allowed to sink into the ballast between the sleepers
so as to keep the sleeper seatings slightly moist by capillary attraction or be trained off
by separate exits as may be wished.
3. Use where only bad ballast is obtainable. Owing to the drainage facilities
before described the quality of the ballast is of less importance than in other systems,
as no water can lodge below the bearing the usual churning up is obviated with the
result that the road bed is not only free from mud after rain but also from the resulting
dust in dry weather; at the same time the rails are uniformly supported giving a
smooth and equal road.
4. Facility of packing. The deep vertical flange will give a resisting surface
against which the ballast can be packed to any required degree of solidity. Very
little digging down is necessary to get at the bearing on the ballast compared with
other systems.

page_text: The general form of the improved sleeper is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, wherein
a is the central gutter or channel with the metal shaped or cast to form its sides either
vertical or slightly inclined. It is for the purpose of receiving water from the top
flanges of the sleeper affording it a free flow and retaining it in the channel until it
is discharged from one or both ends. It affords a section with increased strength to
resist, bending or sagging in parts longitudinally and more capable of retaining its
elasticity and for these reasons is more fitted for use where bad ballast only is
obtainable. It also gives a resisting surface against which the ballast can be packed
more solidly. It is best to make the channel central but it need not be absolutely so.
The two top wings or flanges forming the bearing surface on the ballast are
marked band are in one with the metal forming the trough. They have each a slight
fall towards the centre, the outer edges being raised so as to form slopes or curves to
throw any water coming on them into the central channel and prevent its trickling
over the outer edges and softening the ballast just where it has been most tightly
packed. The slope is not sufficient to set up any objectionable wedge like action on
the ballast. The channel a and the inclined flanges 6 together throw off about one
third of the rain water without its entering the road bed at all.
The sleepers may be used transversely or longitudinally and with any kind of rail
and with or without chairs and may be of wrought iron steel or other metal or
material rolled stamped bent or shaped to the desired form or of these metals or
materials cast. When flat footed rails of either the Vignoles or Bridge type are used
they may rest with interposed felt or elastic material on the sleeper which has its top
flange flattened to receive them or may have an intermediate base plate with its under
surface fitting the slope or curve of the flanges of the sleeper. Small openings are
in these cases left for the passage of water into the channel. The fastening of the
rail or base plate of the chair to the sleeper may be of any well known type. Felt or
other equivalent material may be interposed between any of the bearing surfaces to
lessen sound or vibration. Distance pieces are fixed in any usual way to preserve the
gauge when the sleepers are laid longitudinally.

page_text: c represents one or more filling or distance pieces fixed in the channel which in
conjunction with through bolts such as d or rivets or other equivalent fastening keep
the two halves of the sleeper in position and diminish lateral distortion, room for the
water to flow being left beneath.
The wing plates which are made removeable in order to permit of the sleepers
packing with each other more readily are marked e. They may be fastened in various
ways but are here shown with the inner and top edges turned up along the sleeper
channel the whole being secured by a bolt and distance piece like that previously
described but with the bolt a little longer and lower. Each wing plate is secured to
the top flange above it by the hook bolt of which the head and shank engage with
the wing plate and the nut bears against the flange above. The object of these wing
plates, which should be preferably near the centre where the ballast is most solid,
is to prevent any undue movement of the sleeper lengthwise and to diminish lateral
distortion in the form of the sleeper: there may be one or more of them singly or
in sets.
represents one or more pieces of lath covering the channel in the sleeper for
keeping out grit or dirt whilst allowing water to percolate. Pieces of felt, matting
or other fibrous substance or material tarred or not and either rolled up or laid flat are
used as an alternative. The upper portion of the channel at the ends of the sleeper
is sometimes similarly protected.
Figures 4 and 5 show the improvement of the chair for double headed Vignoles or
bridge rails and cross sleepers and also its combination with the improved sleeper.
a represents the projecting flange transverse to the rail of iron, steel, or other metal
cast in one with the base plate b of the chair thus forming a section affording increased
resistance to cross breaking due to keying up of the rail over that of ordinary chairs
which are liable to break at the rail seating. The dotted lines in the upper part of
the figures shew the improved chair as adapted for use with double headed rails. The
chair may be secured to a sleeper in any of the ordinary ways but an improved
fastening where the strain is thrown on the shank instead of on the nuts which are
liable to become loose under vibration is here shown fixed to the improved sleeper by
means of two or more bolts c passing transversely through the flange of the chair
and the two sides of the channel; they are kept far apart in order the more effectively
to prevent, by the increased leverage thus obtained, any tendency in the chair to
tilt. Instead of the bolts shown pins, rivets, keys or other equivalent fastenings may
be used.
d is a spring washer which is sometimes used of steel or other suitable metal with
one side inclined and rounded to fit the inclination and curve of the outer side of the
channel: its elasticity tends to prevent the nut from becoming loose and it may be
employed under the nut or head or under both as shown in Figure 4. Its use however
is not essential and other patterns may be used.
The holes through the flanges are made of an elongated form upwards as shown
at e so as to prevent any injurious bending, cutting or loosening of the bolt due to
downward pressure of the flange on its shank or to its being forced against the thin
metal sides of the channel.
Figure 6 shows the method of providing for adjustments of gauge by varying the
position of the holes in separate chairs whilst the sleeper and the holes in it remain
uniform and constant except at or near points and crossings. The same system is
applicable to the vertical holes in the base plates of other chairs.
When it is desired to simplify the system by getting rid of all minor fastenings the
chairs sleepers and wing plates may be cast of iron steel or other metal in one piece,
other wing plates being also employed with benefit beneath the chairs and in other
positions sometimes extending also across the upper part of the channel. In this
case owing to their increased number they can be made smaller such as of the form
shown in Figure 8 at "a."
I also sometimes cast the chairs and wings in situ on the thin wrought metal of the
sleepers.

page_text: The wing plate at the end of a cast sleeper is shown at a in Figures 7, 8 and 9. It
connects and strengthens the two sides of the channel and supports the top flanges
whilst leaving an opening for the free discharge of water from the channel. The
sleepers will thus be less liable to lateral distortion or to damage from rough handling
with which object also the corners are rounded off as at b in Figure 9.
The more readily to carry off into the side or other drains the water thrown off at
the ends of the sleeper a drain pipe e may be laid either parallel to the sleeper or as
at d at right angles to it.
Figures 10, 11 and 12 show the tool for facilitating the turning of the bolt nuts or
heads in their confined position beneath the top flange of the sleeper.
:
a is a tube cast
or forged and of round square hexagonal or other form with one end made to fit the
outside of the nut. The opposite end of the tube is made rather larger for use when
grit or rust adheres to the nut. In the middle at it is enlarged and made
cylindrical slots are cut or holes drilled near together round the circumference as
shown at c.
The cylindrical part is terminated at one end by a shoulder d whilst the
other has holes for a pin or pins such as e, to hold in place the moveable collar f
Any equivalent arrangement may be adopted such as a loose collar screwed on a thread
cut at the end of b. is the loose collar working easily over the cylindrical portion
of the tube. It is fixed to or forms part of the end of the bar g of which the other
extremity has a handle h. The collar has also a slot or hole i fronting the slots or
holes in the cylinder b. A stud forms the end of a rod passing through the slot or
hole in the collar and engaging with the slots or holes in the cylinder from which it
can be withdrawn or inserted at will.
The upper end of the rod is pivoted at m to the extremity of a short lever a
forming a continuation of a second handle g working on a pivot o attached to the
bar 9.
When the tool is held by the upper handle with the lower one pressed down by
gravity or otherwise the bar revolves without turning the tube a but when the lower
handle is pressed up the stud at the end of enters one of the holes or slots in the
collar and the tube a revolves with g. The handle is made comparatively heavy.
An equivalent arrangement is shown in Figure 12 where the continuation of the
lever n forms a section only of the handle and being of slight weight is held downwards
by a spring as shown.
An alternative method of construction is to place the rod in the interior of the
bar
g which is then made hollow.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. Forming a sleeper with one longitudinal channel substantially as and for the
purposes described with reference to the letter a in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
2. A sleeper having a channel near the centre with two flanges bearing on the
ballast, one on each side, and canted slightly inwards. substantially as and for the
purposes described with reference to the letter in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
3. A sleeper having a channel with a distance piece and a through fastening sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described with reference to c in Figures 1 and 3
and d in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
4. The combination with a metal sleeper of one or more detachable wing plates
fixed to it substantially for the purposes described.
5. The combination with a channelled sleeper and with the wing plates described
of the distance piece and through fastening referred to in claim 3.
6. The combination with a Hanged sleeper and wing plate of the hook bolt sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described with reference to the letter in Figures 1, 2
and 3.
7. The combination with a channelled sleeper of the channel covering substantially
as and for the purposes described with reference to the letter in Figures 1 and 3.
8. A rail seating of a cast chair for cross sleepers having a rib or flange cast

page_text: in one with it and projecting downwards from the base plate transversely to the rail
substantially as and for the purpose described with reference to the letter a in
Figures 4 and 5.
9. The combination with a channelled sleeper of a chair having a projecting rib
or flange fitting into the groove substantially as and for the purposes described with
reference to the letter a in Figures 4 and 5.
10. Securing the ribbed chair referred to in claim 9 to a channelled sleeper sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described with reference to the letters a, b and c in
Figures 4 and 5.
11. Forming the holes through the flanges of the chairs of an elongated form
upwards substantially as and for the purpose described with reference to the letter e
in Figures 4 and 5.
12. Making chairs with holes for the fastenings in varying positions to allow of
gauge adjustments substantially as and for the purpose described with reference to
Figure 6.
13. Making the chairs referred to under claim 9 with holes for the fastenings in
varying positions to allow of gauge adjustments substantially as and for the purpose
described.
14. Casting a channelled sleeper in one with chairs substantially as described.
15. The forming on the ends of a cast sleeper transverse flanges substantially as
and for the purposes described with reference to Figures 7, 8 and 9.
16. The combination of a channelled sleeper with drain pipes at one or both ends
to carry off water as and for the purposes explained.
17. Casting a chair in situ on a sleeper of wrought metal substantially as described.
18. The tool for actuating the nuts or heads of bolts substantially as and for the
purposes described.
Dated this with dow of War 1887
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.