IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Gowans, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian,
North Britain, Contractor, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Gowans at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd July 1878.
JAMES GOWANS, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain,
Contractor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS."
This Invention which relates to improvements in tramways has reference to that
class of tramways, in which the rails are not secured to timber supports or analogous
fastenings.
The object of the present improvements is to produce a continous line of metallic
tramway, and to give a steadier vertical support to the rail immediately under
that part of the table or surface of the rail on which the wheels of tramway cars
tread, and in general to produce a lighter and therefore cheaper continuous rail than
hitherto.
The improved tram rails consist of a vertical web with a continuous flat foot
projecting as a flanch on either side. The vertical web is situated immediately
under the top table or flat wearing surface of the rails, and the flanch of the foot
nearest to the table or wearing surface of the rails is broader than the flanch at the
opposite side in order that a larger area may be disposed at that side of the foot
where the load principally presses. The flanch in both cases is inade broad enough
to constitute a foundation for the concrete or paving setts on either side of the
rail.

page_text: The web of the rail is formed with openings preferably equidistant, so as to
diminish the amount of metal therein and therefore lighten it, and these openings,
in the case of a tramway laid in cement or concrete, enable the cement or concrete
to be filled thereinto, thereby binding the whole together and keeping the rails both
in line and level.
The rails are jointed together either by plates under or above the feet with
bolts passing there through and through the joint plates; or a portion of the body
of the rail can be cut away, and the flanch foot of one rail or a portion thereof
made to overlap the flanch foot of the next rail or a portion thereof, with bolts
passing through the overlapping portions.
The rails may also be jointed by overlapping a portion of their webs, bolts being
passed through the overlapped portions, and having pieces of the ends of the upper
surface of the rail and the foot correspondingly cut away.
The rails may also be jointed together by a clasp of cast iron or other material, a
portion of the rails at the joints being checked out to receive the clasps.
The rails may also be jointed together by fish plates, but the foregoing arrangements
are preferred as being less costly.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Gowans in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st January
1879.
JAMES GOWANS, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain,
Contractor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS."
"
My said Invention relates to improvements in tramways and tramway rails, and
has reference to that class of tramways in which the rails are complete in
themselves, that is to say, not secured to timber supports or analogous fastenings.
The object of my said Invention is to produce a continuous line of metallic
tramway without tie rods, and to give a steadier vertical support to the rail
immediately under that part of the table or surface of the rail on which the wheels
of tramway cars tread (and in general to produce a lighter and more durable
tramway than hitherto).
Figure 1 represents a transverse section, and Figure 2 in side elevation a tram
rail formed according to my Invention, the said Figures also shewing a fastening
for the joints, to be herein-after described.
The improved tram rails consist of a vertical web A connecting the head B of
the rail with a continuous flat foot C, C¹, projecting as a flanch on either side. The
vertical web A is situated immediately under the top table or flat wearing surface a
of the rail head B, and the flanch of the foot C' nearest to the table or wearing
surface of the rails (that is, the flanch which is towards the outside of the line) is
broader than the flanch at the opposite side, in order that a larger area may be
disposed at that side of the foot where the load principally presses. The flanch in
both cases is made broad enough to constitute a large bearing surface to the rail,
and also afford a foundation for the concrete or paving setts on either side of the
rail.
The web of the rail is formed with openings preferably equidistant, so as to
diminish the amount of metal therein, and therefore lightening the rail, and these
openings, in the case of a tramway laid in cement or concrete, allow the cement or
concrete or other grouting to fill into said openings and thus unite the causeway or
other road material on either side, this in all cases binding the road and rails
together and keeping the rails both in line and level without the use of tie rods.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of a rail so formed, the openings therein
being marked D. The said openings may be circular, elliptical, or of other form,
for instance, of the form illustrated in Figures 5 and 6; and they may be formed
in any convenient manner, for instance, in the rolling process, by rolling the rails
between rolls having thereon projections which will form the said openings by
pressing out the metal of the rail at points determined by the distance apart of the
said projections.
Double-webbed rails, such as those illustrated in Figure 4, may also be provided
with similar openings on either one or both of their webs. This part of my
Invention is applicable generally to all kinds of tramway rails having webs whether
they be simple or compound in structure.
The rails are jointed together either by plates under or above the feet, with bolts
passing there through and through the joint plates, or a portion of the body of the
rail can be cut away, and the flanch foot of one rail or a portion thereof made to
overlap the flanch foot of the next rail or a portion thereof, with bolts passing
through the overlapping portions.
The rails may also be jointed by overlapping a portion of their webs, bolts being
passed through the overlapped portions, and having pieces of the ends of the upper
surface of the rail and the foot correspondingly cut away.
The rails may also be jointed together by a clasp of cast iron or other material,
a portion of the rails at the joints being checked out to receive the clasps. Such

page_text: a clasp is represented in Figures 1 and 2. The said clasp consists of two side
pieces E, E, joined by a middle piece c. In the two abutting rail ends are formed
recesses or cut away parts a, a, the recess a on one of the rail ends being of a
depth sufficient to allow of the clasp being slidden upon the said rail flush with
the end, the other recess a¹ being of a depth equal to about one-half the width of
the clasp. In laying the rails the clasp is slidden upon the rail end which has the
deep recess a', so that the said clasp is flush with the end of the rail, and when
the rails are placed in position abutting against a rail end which has a shallow
recess a¹, when the clasp is slidden partly from the one rail end and partly over the
abutting rail end, so that the said clasp takes over both ends. The concrete or
cement may be run through the portion of the recess a thus left clear, or a key or
wedge may be driven therein, and thus the rails are firmly connected together.
The rails may however be jointed together by fish plates or sole plates, therefore
I do not limit myself to the use of the particular forins of fastening herein-before
described as it is obvious that ny improved rail may be used with other equivalent
mode of fastening the ends together.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original and thereforo_claim as the Invention secured to
mo by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The rail for tramways illustrated in cross section in Figure 1, consisting of
a head connected by a vertical web situated immediately under the table or top
wearing surface of the rails, with a foot projecting as flanches on either side the
vertical web, the flanch nearest to the table or wearing surface of the rail being
broader than that on the other side, for the purposes herein set forth.
Second. Rails for tramways made as herein-before described with reference to
Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, that is to say, rails in the web or webs of which openings arc
formed, for the purposes herein set forth.
Third. The connection or fastening for joining together the ends of the rails of 3
tramways illustrated in and described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Gowans, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
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