IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS FOR TRAMWAYS
Year: 1883

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS FOR TRAMWAYS Communicated to him from
abroad by Thomas Bladen of Merville House, Darlinghurst Road, Sydney, in
the Colony of New South Wales, Iron Manufacturer.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd May 1883.
"
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS FOR TRAMWAYS
Communicated to me from abroad by Thomas Bladen of Merville House, Darling-
hurst Road, Sydney, in the Colony of New South Wales, Iron Manufacturer,
This invention relates to improvements in rails and guard-rails for tramways.
The object of the said invention is to obtain greater strength with less weight,
greater simplicity at less cost, and greater facility for keeping the groove open and
clean, than can be obtained with tram-rails as heretofore constructed. To effect
this, in manufacturing the ordinary T-rails, I form small projections thereon, on
which projections a rectangular web or arm formed on the guard-rail will rest
and constitute, when the rail and guard-rail are bolted together, a rigid girder
resisting direct or diagonal shocks from wheels, and indentation or bulging of the
guard-rail, and forming a convenient groove for the flange of the wheel. These
two features and their combination are comprised in the said improvements; the
projections below the head of the rail and the web or arm springing from the
guard-rail and resting upon the projections when bolted together give great strength
and consistency to the whole structure.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing part of a rail and guard-rail made according
to the said invention

page_text: The ordinary T-rail A B. is rolled or formed with the small projections C. C,
either at intervals or continuous, and situated just below the head or shoulder D
of the rail A B. The guard-rail E F is rolled or formed with a rectangular web or
arm G which, when the rail A. B. and the guard-rail E F are bolted together by the
bolt H, will rest on the projection or projections C and be firmly fixed between the
same and the shoulder D, and thus form a rigid girder and convenient groove for
the flange of the wheel of the vehicle. The rail and guard-rail may be of either
steel or iron
The advantages of the improved rail and guard-rail are as follow, viz:-
First, maximum of strength with minimum of weight. Secondly, cheapness
from the absence of heavy blocks of iron ordinarily used for adjusting the gauge
between the rail and the guard-rail. Thirdly great simplicity in the construction
of the line. Fourthly, the facilities for keeping the groove open and clean at a
small cost.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim :-
First, A rail formed with projections substantially as, and for the purpose, set
forth
Second, The guard-rail having the web or arm, substantially as, and for
the purpose, set forth.
Third, The combination of the rails and guard-rails in the manner, and for the
purposes, set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Third day of May in the year of Our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
HANDV TT TA 175 G01