IMPROVEMENTS IN CHAIRS AND FISH PLATES FOR RAILWAYS, TRAMWAYS, AND OTHER SIMILAR RAILS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Earnshaw Howell, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, Steel Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHAIRS
AND FISH PLATES FOR RAILWAYS, TRAMWAYS, AND OTHER SIMILAR RAILS."
. Scaled the 16th May 1879, and dated the 19th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Earnshaw Howell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th November 1878.
SAMUEL EARNSHAW HOWELL, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Steel Manu-
facturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHAIRS AND FISH PLATES FOR RAILWAYS, TRAM-
WAYS, AND OTHER SIMILAR RAILS."
This Invention relates more particularly to a novel construction of the chairs and
fish plates of railways and other similar rails, and its object is to enable the rails to
be securely gripped and held without the use of bolts and nuts or grooves and
wedges, and also to increase the facility of laying down and changing the rails.
In carrying out my Invention I provide a chair having two upright supports
which may be bracketed or strengthened in the usual manner, the situation of the
rail being between the supports. On each of the inner faces of these supports a
horizontal groove (or grooves) is formed, the shape or section being by preference
a part of a circle.
The two fish plates have a cross section curved somewhat like the letter C, and
have their backs rounded to correspond and fit into the before mentioned grooves,
and a shoulder on each plate prevents the rails leaning on either side or twisting.
When the rail is in position the lower head is in the hollow between the plates, and
rests on the bottom curves of each plate with a tendency to force them apart; the
round backs of the plates working in the hollow grooves in the supports act as
joints or fulcrums, and the result is that the edges of the top curves press against
and securely grip the web of the rail. It is obvious that the weight of any train
or rolling stock passing over the rails causes them to be gripped with increased
force.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Samuel Earnshaw Howell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th May 1879.
SAMUEL EARNSHAW HOWELL, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Steel Manu-
facturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHAIRS AND FISH PLATES FOR RAILWAYS, TRAM-
WAYS, AND OTHER SIMILAR RAILS."
My said Invention relates to a novel construction of the chairs and fishplates of
ordinary railways, tramways, and other similar railways, and has for its object
enabling the rails to be securely gripped and held without the use of bolts and
nuts or ordinary keys or wedges, and also increasing the facility of laying down
and changing the rails.
In carrying out my said Invention, as applied, for example, to ordinary railways,
the chair is formed with two upright supports which may be bracketed or
strengthened in the usual manner, the situation of the rail being between the
supports. The inner face of each of these supports is formed of a curved shape, the
contour being by preference an arc of a circle. Two fishplates or blocks are
employed of a form in cross section somewhat similar to the letter C, and having
their backs rounded to correspond with and fit the curved surface of the supports;
they are further provided with a vertical curved projection or projections engaging
in corresponding grooves in the supports, and a shoulder on each block prevents the
rails from leaning on either side or twisting.
When the rail is in position the lower head is in the hollow between the block
and rests on the bottom portion of each block with a tendency to force the blocks
apart, the round backs of the blocks working against the curved surface of the
supports, and their projections working in the grooves in the supports; the backs
of the block thus act as joints or fulcra, whereby the edges of the top portion of the
blocks are caused to press against and securely grip the web of the rail.
It is obvious that the weight of any train or rolling stock passing over the rails
causes them to be gripped with increased force.
In applying the Invention to tramways the chairs and fishblocks are constructed
in a similar manner, their shape being modified to adapt them to the peculiar
section of the rail to which they are to be applied.
And in order that my said Invention inay be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a side sectional elevation of a
chair and fish plates or blocks constructed according to my said Invention, and
shewn applied to the ordinary double headed rail of railways; Figure 2 is a plan
and Figure 3 an end elevation of the chair and fish plates or blocks, the rail being
assumed to have been removed; Figure 4 represents a transverse vertical section of
a chair and fish plates or blocks constructed according to my said Invention for
rails of tramways, and shewn applied thereto; Figure 5 is a side clevation of the
chair and fish plates or blocks, the rail being assumed to have been removed;
Figures 6, 7, and 8 are respectively a transverse section, side elevation, and plan
illustrating the application of the Invention to the junction of the ends of rails of
tramways.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, the chair consists of a base A and two upright
supports B, B, bracketed and strengthened in the usual manner, the situation of
the rail C being between the two supports. The inner face a of these supports is
formed of a curved shape, by preference an arc of a circle, as shewn. D are the
fish blocks, which are of a section somewhat similar to the letter C, and are formed
on the back b of a rounded shape to correspond with and fit the before mentioned
curved surface a of the supports B, and provided with shoulders c bearing on the

page_text: top of the supports, the latter arrangement having the effect of preventing the rail
from twisting or leaning sideways. The fishblocks are further formed with vertical
curved projections d, fitting into corresponding grooves in the supports for a like
purpose.
When the rail is in position the bottom head is in the hollow between the fish
blocks, and the side of the said head rests on their lower arms e, e, and the round
backs b of the fish blocks work against the curved surface a of the supports and
form fulcra. By means of this arrangement the web of the rail is securely gripped
by the upper arms f, f, of the fish blocks directly the weight of the rail bears on
the lower arms. It is obvious that the weight of any rolling stock passing over the
rails will cause the fish blocks to grip the rail with increased force.
In order to prevent any liability of the fish blocks sliding or working out end-
ways a web g is cast across cach end of the chair whilst the shape and extent of
the curved surfaces a of the supports A, and b of the blocks, obviates any tendency
to force out the latter from between the supports.
On lifting the rail the blocks are simultaneously lifted from the chair and the
rails may be placed in position with almost equal facility.
By means of my said Invention the rails are more securely held in position than
by the use of the ordinary wooden wedges, which become loose by shrinkage under
atmospheric changes, whilst the jar or vibration which passengers experience when
travelling over ordinary railways is obviated, as according to my Invention the
lower end of the rail does not bear upon the chair but only sideways on the lower
arms of the blocks, the upper arms of which securely grip and hold the rail in
position.
In applying my said Invention to tramways the chairs and fish blecks are
modified in shape, in the manner shewn in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, Figures 4 and 5
illustrating the application of the Invention to inter-mediate supports, and Figures
6, 7, and 8 its application to chairs and fish blocks for supporting and connecting
the abutting ends of the rails at the joints.
Referring to Figures 4 and 5 the supports B, B, of the chair are formed with a
groove at each side for the reception of the fish blocks D, which are made of the
form of rollers of the shape in section of three fourths of a circle, the remaining
fourth part being omitted. The rail C rests upon the portions e of the rollers in the
space left by the omission of the said part, and the round backs of the rollers work
in the grooves at a of the uprights B and form fulcra, the weight of rolling stock
passing over the rail having the effect of causing the upper portions f of the rollers
to firmly grip the sides of the rails.
In the case of the joints of the rails (Figures 6, 7, and 8) two sets of rollers D
are employed (fitted in suitable grooves), one set to each rail, and the rollers D are
provided with circular projections which engage in corresponding recesses at i in
the rails C and thus further secure the same. Stop pieces are also provided at
the centre of each support for the purpose of preventing the end displacement of
the rail.
It may be observed that the rail cannot be lifted by evil disposed persons, the
projections on the rollers acting as a preventitive. For the purpose of with-
drawing the rail grooves are made in the sides of the chain at 7 for the facility of
obtaining access to the rollers in order to turn the same back as the rail is being
lifted, and thus withdraw the projections from the recesses in the rails.
In the case of joint chairs for ordinary railways with the view of obtaining greater
security bolts may be used, passing through the two uprights, the fish blocks, and
the web of the rail, the said bolts being tight in the uprights and loose in the fish
blocks and rail, and for the same reason bolts may, if found desirable, be used in
tramway chairs.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what 1 consider to be novel and original

page_text: and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination with a rail having a web uniting the upper or acting
portion and the bottom or base of loose blocks arranged at each side of the rail and
adapted to the bottom or base of the rail and to curved surfaces formed in chairs
or supports in such a manner that the pressure produced by the passage of the
rolling stock over the rail is transferred by the sides of the bottom or base of the
rail to the blocks, whereby such blocks are caused to securely grip the web of the
rail, all substantially as herein before described.
Second. The combination with a tramway rail of loose blocks, arranged at each
side of the rail, and adapted to curved surfaces formed in the chairs or supports in
such a manner that the pressure produced by the passage of the rolling stock over
the rail is transferred to the blocks, whereby such blocks are caused to securely
grip the side of the rail, substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Earnshaw Howell, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
SAMUEL EARNSHAW HOWELL. (L.S.)