Improvements in Combined Sleepers and Chairs for Railways.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1890-Accepted, 20th Sept., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Combined Sleepers and Chairs for Railways.
I, ROBERT HUDSON, of Gildersome, in the County of York, Engineer and Iron-
founder, 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 reference to improvements in the construction of combined
sleepers and chairs for railways, the object of which is to produce railways in a rapidly
constructed, substantial and cheap manner, and consists in casting upon each end of a
transverse bar of any suitable cross section a sleeper which shall form not only a part
to bear upon the ground or ballast but also a support and gripping jaw of a chair for
one side of the rail.
Upon such transverse bars gripping jaws bearing alternately on the outsides or
insides of the rails, thus determining the distance apart, (that is the rail gauge).
The transverse bars are placed at such distances apart that when in position the rails
are pressed outwards and inwards against the jaws of the adjoining chairs.
These combined sleepers and chairs are equally applicable to any section of rails and
are placed in alternate positions on a line of railway forming a complete framework, no
other fastening being needed for joining together the rails, sleepers and chairs. It
will be obvious that such a railway can be easily taken apart and refixed when required.
In the annexed drawings are examples of railways constructed according to my
invention, similar letters heing used to denote like parts in all the figures.
Fig. 1. is a transverse sectional elevation of a railway with flat bottomed or contractors
rails, a, is the transverse bar, b, b, the combined sleepers and chairs, the latter forming
the outside gripping jaws c, c, for the rails d, d, the said jaws being in one with b, b.
Fig. 2. is a similar view having the sleepers b, b, combined with the inside portion of
the chairs forming the gripping jaws c', c. Fig. 3. is a plan showing the two kinds
of chairs and sleepers in position. Figs. 4, 5, and 6. are similar views to Figs. 1, 2,
and 3, but with the jaws c, and c', adapted to grip double headed rails. The sleepers b, in
this case shewing a larger surface for bearing on the ballast than shown in Figs. 1, 2,
and 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
Combined sleepers and chairs for railways of the two kinds hereinabove referred to
made of cast metal in conjunction with and cast upon transverse bars which determine
the gange or distance apart of the rails, the gripping jaws c, c, of one form of chairs
for bearing against the outsides of the rails and the gripping jaws c', c', of the other
form of chairs for bearing against the insides of the said rails, substantially as
hereinabove described and shewn in the annexed drawings for the purpose specified.
Dated this 18th day of July 1890.
ROBERT HUDSON.