IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SECURING OF RAILS FOR PERMANENT WAY
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Reading at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 29th August 1883.
THOMAS READING, Engineer of Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of Lancaster,
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SECURING OF RAILS FOR PERMANENT WAY"
My Invention consists in supporting, and at the same time securing the joints
of, rails by means of suitably shaped metal chairs and their connections (cast or
otherwise) the joint chairs are cast with a jaw on one side corresponding in outline
with the side of the rail, thus forming a groove to receive the bottom head or
projection of the rail, clearance being allowed between the bottom of the rail and the
chair, to prevent wear of, or indentations being formed on, the bottom of the rail,
by its coming in contact with the chair. On the opposite inner side of the said
chair suitably formed grooves are cast for receiving a small metal gib, the sides of
which correspond in form with the said groove on inside of chair and side of the
rail; on one end of this said metal gib a small flange is formed having a hole in it,
for the purpose hereinafter mentioned, the top portion of this said gib being of such
a shape as to form an inclined plane, and to receive a metal cotter of the desired
shape, one end of this cotter has a projection which is screwed for receiving a nut
or lock nut, which said projection passes and works through the hole previously
mentioned formed in the end flange of the gib, the side of the gib, which is in close
contact with the side of rail, and the side of the cotter which works in the recess
formed in the chair for receiving it, are provided with a slight taper to further
secure their safety and prevent their creeping out when in position. When the
cotter is screwed up for securing the rail, which is thoroughly gripped by the aid
of the jaw shaped form of chair on the one side, and by the jib and cotter on the
other, the said appliances act more securely and the rail is gripped more firmly
when the load is on, or passing over the said joint chair. By this arrangement the
use of fish plates, bolts and nuts, and the drilling or punching of holes in the ends
of the rails is dispensed with. My improved chairs for securing the rails between
their joints, are provided with the same jaw like form on one side, as in the case of
the joint chair previously described, and on its other side, a suitable recess or
groove is formed for receiving the one end of a knuckle curved lever, this jaw acts
as a fulcrum for the said lever, which is self adjusting in its action, and on the
outside of the chair opposite the jaw a small lug is cast (or otherwise) formed with
a small slot; (the knuckle lever is formed of cast Malleable iron or other suitable
Price 2d1

page_text: material of the desired form.) The knuckle end of lever is inserted in the recess in
the chair before mentioned, and then brought back and passed over the said lug,
and there secured by a split cotter or otherwise. In bringing the end of lever over
the lug the rail is firmly gripped and held in position, there is no possibility of it
working loose, as the lever which secures the rail is firmly held down by the split
cotter passing through the small lug above mentioned. By the use of this lever
and cotter the use of wood blocks or wedges and their constant attendance
necessitated by their working loose is entirely dispensed with.
By this arrangement the changing and renewing of the rails is greatly
facilitated; the whole being as it were self adjusting. In this case also, as in that
of the joint chair before mentioned, the greater the weight passing over the said
supports the more securely are the rails gripped and held in position. Another
advantage is that fewer intermediate bearings, chairs, and sleepers, than generally
used are required. The said chairs are fastened to the wood sleepers, in the
ordinary way, and their base may partake of the form and outline as those in every
day use. By the rails too, not coming into contact with the bottom of the chairs,
but held suspended as it were, great elasticity is imparted to them, and the noise
greatly reduced when trains are running over them, besides the great advantage
gained of being able to turn them over and use them, as they are not worn or
indented on the underside by resting on the chairs.