CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SECURING RAILS ON THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Lang, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County of
Lancaster, Machinist, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR SECURING RAILS ON THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Lang at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
August 1864.
I, JOSEPH LANG, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS POR SECURING RAILS ON THE PERMANENT WAY OF RALLWAYS," to be
as follows:-
The Invention relates to the chairs employed to secure the rails on the
permanent way of railways, and is applicable either as a single or double
chair.
The improvements consist in the use of two horizontal plates, one sliding
horizontally within the other, from each of which the bearings or rail sup-
porting portions project upwards, one of such projecting supports being
furnished at the joints of the rails with pins or studs, the other being per-
forated with corresponding holes. When the rail is to be secured (having
been previously drilled with holes corresponding to the pins), it is placed
between the two supports, which are then brought in close contact with the
rail, and a "split cotter" is driven into the sliding plates, which renders the rail

page_text: secure, the pins passing through the rail and "fish plates" (if used) and into
the opposite support of the chair, thus bolting all together. If required, pieces
of wood may be inserted in the supports, to soften the concussion. The afore-
mentioned pins or studs are dispensed with in the intermediate chairs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Lang in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
February 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
LANG, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto I, the
said Joseph Lang, Her special license that I, the said Joseph Lang, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Lang, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR SECURING RAILS ON THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Lang, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent. Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
. NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Lang, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
The Invention relates to the chairs employed to secure the rails on the
permanent way of railways, and is applicable either as a single or double
chair.

page_text: The improvements consist in the use of two horizontal plates, one sliding
horizontally within the other, from each of which the bearings or rail sup-
porting portions project upwards, one of such projecting supports being
furnished at the joints of the rails with pins or studs, the other being per-
forated with corresponding holes. When the rail is to be secured (having
been previously cast with holes corresponding to the pins), it is placed between
the two supports, which are then brought in close contact with the rail, and a
"cottar" is driven across the sliding plates, which renders the rail secure, the
pins passing through the rail and "fish plates (if used) and into the
opposite support of the chair, thus cottering all together. If required, pieces
of wood may be inserted in the supports, to soften the concussion. The afore-
mentioned pins or studs are dispensed with in the intermediate or middle
chairs.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings made about the
full size, similar letters of reference being marked upon corresponding parts
in all the Figures.
Fig. 1 represents an end view, and Fig. 2 a. plan view of a single or inter-
mediate chair in which wood plugs or "cushions" may be used if desired
between the rail and the chair; Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal or front
view of the joint chair, one half being removed and shewing the junction
of the rail and the perforations therein through which the loose pins pass,
which also enter the "jaws" or supporting projections of the chair, and
if "fish plates" are used, the pins also pass through them; Figs. 4 and 5
are end views of the internal horizontal piece carrying one head of the
chair, one being shewn with the loose pin therein as for a "joint," the other
being without.
In Fig. 1, a is the rail, which is supported between the head or "jaws "
of the chair b and c, projecting from and cast on to the internal plate b¹
and the external plate c' in the tail pieces d, d, of the cottar plate.
Apertures are formed and a groove is also formed in the back of the
internal sliding plate 6', so that when the wedge-formed cottar f is driven
through these apertures horizontally it forces the internal plate ¹ and
its head 6 inwards so as to firmly grasp the rail between the "jaws," the
cushion or plug of wood g being used if required to soften the vibration and
wear when in use.
In Fig. 3 the rail ends are shewn perforated for the admission of the
loose pins or studs e, e, which pass through the rail rail, and the extremities
thereof are sunk in apertures in the chair heads. The joint chairs are made

page_text: about twice the width of the single chairs, and may be used either with or
without "fish plates" or wood plugs, and either with or without the loose
pins passing through the rail.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with
the method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I claim the arrangement, construction, and combination
of the several parts constituting the improved single or double chain
for securing the rails employed on the permanent way of railways, as
herein-before described, set forth, and fully illustrated in the Drawings
attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Lang, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witnessed by
JOHN L. DAVIES,
Patent Agent,
4, St. Ann's Sq.,
Manchester.
JOSEPH LANG. (L.S.)