IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY SLEEPERS IN METAL AND IN THE FORMS OF SAID SLEEPERS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Gardner, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and
Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY SLEEPERS
IN METAL AND IN THE FORMS OF SAID SLEEPERS." A communication from
abroad by Messieurs Brunon Frères, residing at Rue des Halles, Paris, France.
Sealed the 18tli. December 1877, and dated the 22nd June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Gardner at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd June 1877.
HENRY GARDNER, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166,
Fleet Street, in, the City of London, Patent Agents. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY SLEEPERS IN METAL AND IN THE FORMS OF SAID
SLEEPERS." A communication from abroad by Messieurs Brunon Frères, residing
at Rue des Halles, Paris, France.
This Invention relates to the construction of permanent way sleepers in plate
iron, compressed into special form by die and matrix in order to produce curved
dished bottoms therein, and also flanged edges and ends with raised parts for
supporting the rails vertically or inclined, as desired, said raised parts having slots
or holes in the shoulders, through or into which curved bolts or like fasteners can'
be placed and used to secure the rails in conjunction with cheek plates.
C.
.
The matrix is formed with inclined sides at the central part, which diminishr
gradually to the ends, where they become lost.
The bottom faces of the matrices have shaped pieces of metal secured to them to
produce the desired curvature to the finished sleeper.
The plate to be operated upon and by pressure to be transformed into a sleeper
bas preferably a couple of holes formed in it by stamping, into which holes
projecting studs in the face of the die are caused to take when the pressure
commences; these hold the plate firmly and prevent it shifting. These studs are
attached to shaping plates fastened to the die, and are adjustable to suit the shape
of hole required for the fastening bolts of the rail.
The plate of iron to form a sleeper is heated and then placed upon, the matrix;
Din 31

page_text: the die is then caused to descend, the studs taking into the holes previously made
in the plate; the pressure causes the plate to follow the contour of the matrix and
die, which is completely effected, as a finished sleeper in one operation. The die is
then raised, and springs in the matrix lift the sleeper up a short distance to facilitate
its easy removal in any convenient manner.
The central part of the sleeper is somewhat flat on the top with depending sides
forming a dish or gutter-shaped opening underneath when it is reversed and ready
to be laid upon the ballast.
The depth of the sides as webs or flanges gradually diminish towards the ends,
where the plate is almost or it may be quite flat on the upper surface, with the
exception of the raised parts on to which the rails have to be placed, these having
a flattish surface with inclined sides, through which the bolts or fasteners of curved
form pass either as bolts or clips-to act upon the flange or surface of the "vignoles
rail or of recessed form for the double-headed rail, or of other shape to suit by the
aid of cheek plates.
"
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by:
the said Henry Gardner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd December
1877.
HENRY GARDNER, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166,
Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY SLEEPERS IN METAL AND IN THE FORMS OF SAID
SLEEPERS." (A communication from abroad by Messieurs Brunon Frères, residing
at Rue des Halles, Paris, France).
The great consumption of wood sleepers, due to the ever-increasing development
of railways and to the rapid deterioration to which they are subjected, has led to
the idea for some years past of replacing them by metallic sleepers.
This Invention therefore relates to the construction of permanent way sleepers in
plate iron compressed into special form by die and matrix in order to produce
curved dished bottoms therein, and also flanged edges and ends with raised parts
for supporting the rails vertically or inclined, as desired, said raised parts having
slots or holes in the shoulders, through or into which curved bolts or like fasteners
can be placed and used to secure the rails in conjunction with cheek plates.
The matrix is formed with inclined sides at the central part, which diminish
gradually to the ends, where they become lost.
The bottom faces of the matrices have shaped pieces of metal secured to them to
produce the desired curvature to the finished sleeper.
The plate to be operated upon and by pressure to be transformed into a sleeper
has preferably a couple of holes formed in it by stamping, into which holes
projecting studs in the face of the die are caused to take when the pressure
commences; these hold the plate firmly and prevent it shifting. These studs are
attached to shaping plates fastened to the die, and are adjustable to suit the shape
of hole required for the fastening bolts of the rail.
The plate of iron to form a sleeper is heated and then placed upon the matrix;
the die is then caused to descend, the studs taking into the holes previously made
in the plate; the pressure causes the plate to follow the contour of the matrix and

page_text: It may be more convenient to arrange the male matrix B¹ at bottom. In this
case also the sheet iron is pierced with four holes c¹, c', in which the corresponding
gudgeons c, c, engage, serving simply as guides. The plate thus rests upon the
lower male matrix, and it is the upper female matrix which in descending finishes
the stamping of the sleeper which is extracted from one or the other matrix, and
which is displaced by means of pincers or lifting tongs, the ends of which are
inserted in the hollows or slots C, D, formed at the extremities of each matrix. The
sockets c¹¹, c, need not cross the matrix, as indicated in the Figure.
Another method of lifting out the stamped sleeper is herein-after mentioned.
It is easily understood that in a sleeper, which may be considered as a solid.
supported in its centre and charged at its extremities, that which suffers the most
is, 1st, the point of support, then the point of attachment of the rail which directly
supports the weight, and which is found to be weakened by the necessary perforation
at the point of attachment. Therefore at the beating out or straightening of the
webs a greater height is given in the middle in order that the moment of inertia
may be superior there to that of the end area, and that the sleeper may offer two
parts equally symmetrical and of equal sensible resistance at each point. At the
same time a certain splay is given to these webs so as to enlarge the lower part of
Or the
the sleeper and to provide it with the greatest embedding surface possible.
webs of the sleeper towards the centre may be of unequal height in order to increase
the solidity of the seat of the sleeper by causing the longest of these webs to
penetrate into the ballast. Figure 4, Sheet 1, shows a section of such a sleeper:
Sheet 1, Figures 1 and 2, show clearly the final form of the sleeper, and how the
rail is supported and held upon a saddle d situated in a projecting position with
reference to the upper plan of the said sleeper. In these Figures the rail is supposed
to be flat-bottomed, of the "Vignole" type in general use, but it may take the form
of a double-headed rail, as seen in Figure 2bis, Sheet 1. This saddle is stamped out,
and in order to obtain it exactly straight and true, as well as the two plans with
rounded angles, following which it is united to the sleeper, there is arranged at the
place corresponding to the matrices corresponding pieces of steel or other hard metal
easy to replace. This same saddle, besides the advantage of offering to the bottom
of the rail a large seat perfectly straight and true, of very slight elasticity, and
capable also of having at the stamping any desired inclination upon the "way," has
also the advantage of permitting a much deeper embedding of the sleeper, which,
being further inserted in the ground, is much more stable and more sheltered in case
of a train running off the rails. Another advantage of this seating is to permit
the simple method of attaching the rail to the sleeper already described.
The saddle hitherto described has referred to a "Vignole" rail; it may, however, be
made of any desired form according to the shape of the rail. Thus in the case of a
double-headed rail the saddle may take the curved and concave form shown in
Figure 2bis, Sheet 1.
Of course the above methods of attaching suit either form of rail.
It is seen that the foot or the lower head of the rail e is held between two caps
or blocks f bound and fastened by a bolt g with curved ends, or the bolt may be
entirely of curved shape, as shown in Figures 2a and 2b. Under the nut of this
bolt is arranged a washer with a part of its edge raised or flanged, and forming a
key or clasp for the nut. The opposite edge of the washer is beaten out or flattened
upon the side of the block f, Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, and, not being able to turn,
the nut can no longer become unscrewed by the oscillation due to the rolling stock.
The saddle is in addition completely sheltered from the effects of temperature, and
is thus in the best condition for inspection, for support, for conservation, and for
resistance.
The bolt may be keyed instead of having a nut. It may even be replaced by
a rivet of the same form.
The whole of the improvements herein-before described are therefore characterized
by the following features, which are claimed as novel,-
1. The application of striated rollers to prepared sheet iron in the manner

page_text: described for the obtaining of metallic sleepers, which allows the said sheet iron to
receive and the better to retain a thicker bed of tar or other coating preservative
from rust, reserving the right to apply the said coating to the said sleepers hot or
cold, as desired.
2. The form of splayed web of the said sleeper and the raised saddle, either
horizontal or inclined, upon the "way," the said saddle permitting a deeper
embedding of the sleeper and facilitating the attachment of the rail, as set forth.
3. The arrangements described and shown in the Drawings for fastening the rail
to the sleeper.
Lastly. The tools represented by the matrices, herein-before described, with their
accessories and parts referring to the places of the saddles in order to obtain
these correctly, equally or unequally, raised, horizontal, or inclined towards the
permanent way.
We may remark that the male matrix carries at each of its ends an iron plate A,
which, in sliding upon the ends of the female matrix, guides these two matrices
with reference to each other in such manner as to avoid all reciprocal displacement
in a longitudinal direction.
And with reference to the tools the arrangement of lifting by springs, shown in
Figures 7, 8, and 9. This consists in utilizing for the lifting or removal compressed
springs R of any shape or arrangement, and which expand as soon as the male
matrix is raised, whence an automatic lifting, results which may be applied to all
pieces of stamped sheet iron, whatever their form or size.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Gardner, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-first day of December, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-seven.
HENRY GARDNER. (L.S.)