Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 21st Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 21st Dec., 1888
I, CÉNEMON PAUL ESPINASSE, of Montauban, (Tarn and Garonne) France, Con-
tractor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in metallic sleepers whereby the objections
common to this class of sleeper are avoided and all the advantages appertaining to
wood sleepers are obtained. My improved sleeper possesses the required strength
and durability and the rails can be readily fixed thereto without the use of bolts,
spikes, etc.
•
Reference is to be had to, the accompanying drawings forming part of this specifica-
tion, which represent an example of the improved sleeper of my invention; it being
understood that the details of construction may be varied according to the circum-
stances of each application. Figure 1 is a side elevation, figure 2 a plan, and figure 3
a longitudinal section, of one end of the sleeper, with the rail held in its chair.
Figure 4 is a cross-section of the sleeper. Figure 5 shews a plan, on a reduced
scale, of my improved sleeper. Figure 6 is a cross-section on line 1-2 figure 5.
The same letters of reference serve for like parts in all the figures.
a is the metallic sleeper. It is rolled, cast, or otherwise produced, and has side
flanges, as shewn in figure 4, and the corners turned downwards so as to form feet or
claws b. The sleeper is formed with a central longitudinal web d notched or recessed
to receive the chair e and rail c. This recess corresponds at one side to the form of
the chair and at the other to the form of the rail.
and
The chair, rail, and method of fixing may, however, be of any known kind;
although I have shewn the improvement in connection with a double-headed rail, it
is equally applicable for a single-headed, foot, or other rail.
The sleeper a also has two parallel ribs extending its entire length between
which, at the part where the chair is applied, is placed a packing piece g, preferably
of lead, which in order to avoid crushing, is enclosed between two transverse ribs h,
the sole piece being thus confined on all sides. The under surface of the chair which
rests on, and covers, the lead packing piece is ribbed so as to embed itself in the

page_text: packing piece and prevent the chair slipping under the hammering action of the
wheels. The middle part of the sleeper is contracted in width, as shewn in figure 5,
and strengthened in the vertical direction by turning down the sides, as shewn
in figure 6. It may be made of this form either at the middle or ends or throughout
its length. are cross-strengthening pieces which may be formed on the underside
of the sleeper.
The base and jaw of the chair e and the packing piece are notched or grooved to
embrace the central web d, as shewn, whereby the chair is securely retained in
position without other fastening when the rail c and key k are introduced, by the
interlocking of the chair with the web d.
Dated this 27th day of Santamban 1000
C. P. ESPINASSE.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: I, CÉNEMON PAUL ESPINASSE, of Montauban (Tarn and Garonne) France, Con-
tractor, 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:―
My Invention relates to improvements in metallic sleepers, whereby the objections
common to this class of sleeper are avoided and all the advantages appertaining to wood
sleepers are obtained. My improved sleeper possesses the required strength and
durability and the rails can be readily fixed thereto without the use of bolts,
spikes, etc.
Reference is to be had to, the drawings left with my provisional specification which
represent an example of the improved sleeper of my invention; it being understood
that the details of construction may be varied according to the circumstances of each
application. Figure 1 is a side elevation, figure 2 a plan, and figure 3 a longi-
tudinal section, of one end of the sleeper, with the rail held in its chair. Figure 4
is a cross-section of the sleeper. Figure 5 shews a plan, on a reduced scale, of my
improved sleeper. Figure 6 is a cross-section on line 1-2 figure 5. The same
letters of reference serve for like parts in all the figures.
a is the metallic sleeper. It is rolled, cast, or otherwise produced, and has side
flanges, as shewn in figure 4, and the corners turned downwards so as to form feet or
claws . The sleeper is formed with a central longitudinal web d notched or recessed
to receive the chair e and rail c. This recess corresponds at one side to the form of
the chair and at the other to the form of the rail.
The chair, rail, and method of fixing may, however, be of any known kind; and
although I have shewn the improvement in connection with a double-headed rail, it is
equally applicable for a single-headed foot, or other rail.
The sleeper a also has two parallel ribs fextending its entire length between
which, at the part where the chair is applied, is placed a packing piece g, preferably
of lead, which in order to avoid crushing, is enclosed between two transverse ribs h,
the sole piece being thus confined on all sides. The under surface of the chair which
rests on, and covers, the lead packing piece is ribbed so as to embed itself in the
packing piece and prevent the chair slipping under the hammering action of the
the wheels. The middle part of the sleeper is contracted in width, as shewn in
figure 5, and strengthened in the vertical direction by turning down the sides,
as shewn in figure 6. It may be made of this form either at the middle or ends
or throughout its length. ii are cross-strengthening pieces which may be formed on
the underside of the sleeper.
The base and jaw of the chair e and the packing piece g are notched or grooved to
embrace the central web d, as shewn, whereby the chair is securely retained in postion
without other fastening when the rail c and key k are introduced, by the interlocking
of the chair with the web d.
.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;
1st. A metallic railway sleeper having a central longitudinal upwardly projecting
web d recessed to receive and hold the chair and rail, as hereinbefore described:
⋅
2nd. The combination of a metallic sleeper having a central web recessed at
its extremities to receive and hold the chair and rail, with a chair adapted to fit in
such and interlock with such central web and having a serrated base resting upon a
lead packing piece enclosed on all sides to prevent crushing, substantially as herein-
before described and represented in the drawings.
Dated this 21st day of November 1888:
C. P. ESPINASSE.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.