Improvements in Chairs for Railway Crossings and Switches.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Chairs for Railway Crossings and Switches.
I CHARLES WILLIAM EARLE MARSH, Civil Engineer of The Isca Foundry Newport
in the County of Monmouth do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce an improved chair and fastening for
railway crossings and switches when uiade of rails of flat bottom or flange sections or
other forms of rails which are fastened by the bottom flange.
In carrying my invention into practice the chair is formed of a suitable wrought
iron or steel base or plate having two jaws or clips half punched pressed or bent
up in the solid from the said base or plate opposite to each other at an angle or incline
to suit the angle or incline of the crossing or switch for which the chair is required
such jaws or clips being bent inwards towards each other to fit the tapered key
commonly used for fastening the foot or flanges of such rails. The rails when
fastened are placed between the said inclined jaws which are formed at the same
angle as the crossing for which they are intended and the usual tapered keys are
driven in between them and the flanges or bases of the rails to be held each key being
formed to bear with its outer side against the inside of the jaw or clip and with its
inner side bearing along the upper edge and against the side of the rail flange or foot
in the usual manner.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1888
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Chairs for Railway Crossings and Switches.
1 CHARLES WILLIAM EARLE MARSH, Civil Engineer of The Isca Foundry Newport
in the County of Monmouth 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 :—
The object of this invention is to produce an improved chair for railway crossings
and switches when made of rails of flat bottom or flange sections or other forms
of rails.
In carrying my invention into practice the chair is formed of a suitable wrought
iron or steel base or plate having two or more jaws or clips half punched pressed
or bent up in the solid from the said base or plate opposite to each other at an angle
or angles other than a right angle to the said base plate-in such a manner to suit
the angle or incline of the rails of the crossing or switch for which the chair is
required such jaws or clips being bent inwards towards each other to fit the tapered
key commonly used for fastening the foot or flanges of such rails or securing such
arrangement of bracket that may be used in conjunction with this invention. The
rails when fastened are placed between the said inclined jaws which are formed at the
same angle as the crossing for which they are intended and the usual tapered keys are
driven in longitudinally between them and the flanges or bases of the rails or the
flange or base of a bracket attached to the rail to be held each key being formed to bear
with its outer side against the inside of the jaw or clip and with its inner side bearing
along the upper edge and against the side of the rail Bange or foot or bracket in
the usual manner.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
And in order that my present invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into practice I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying
drawings which show examples of its application and the manner in which I intend to
carry it out by the Figures marked 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
17 and 18 on the said accompanying 3 sheets of explanatory drawings in each of
which the same letters indicate corresponding parts throughout.
R is the rail to be fastened. C is the jaw clip or lip turned up at an angle to suit the
angle of the crossing or switch. B is the base plate from which the clip C is turned up.
K is the tapered key driven in longitudinally between the clip and the flange foot or
rail bracket to be held. G is the bracket for applying the invention to other forms
of rails fastened at the bottom. D is the distance block for keeping the rails apart.
A is the complete chair fitted in position.
In Figures 1 and 2 on sheet 1 of the drawings there' is shown a switch and crossing
respectively with the chairs marked A A A fixed upon ordinary railway sleepers S.
The chair shown in Figures 3 and 4 in section and plan has the clip pieces C
turned up from the solid base B at an inclination to suit the angle of the crossing
or switch. The two rails R R being bolted together with a distance piece or block D
and are held in position at the required angle by clip C and the usual form of key K
Figures 5 and 6 on sheet 2 show a similar chair with the method of holding the two
rails R R down on the chair or base B without the use of distance block D which in
this instance is substituted by a clip H secured to the chair or base between the two
rails R R.
Any suitable section of wrought iron or steel-may be used for making the chairs on
bases B two forms of which are shown in Figures 7 and 8 on sheet 2.
Figures 9 and 10 show the chair as inteneded for the nose or point of the crossing
with distance pieces D D between the rails R R R and a bolt through them the clips C
being set up at the proper angle on the outer side having the keys K K driven in the
manner hereinbefore described.
When the chairs are to be used for other sections of rail such as double or bull
head sections the rails R R are secured to the chairs B by suitable brackets G
with a flange base to fit the usual key K as shown in Figures 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16.
Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14-show clevations and plans of chairs the rails R R having
brackets G made with flange bases to fit the usual key K. D is the distance piece.
C is the clip with the keys K holding the rails R R at the proper angle as hereinbefore
described.
Figures 15, 16, 17 and 18 on sheet 3 show the manner in which the chairs B are to
be used for the crossings in wide angles where the rails do not come close together.
The clips being bent up at an angle on each side of the rail and dispensing with
the distance pieces D shown in Figures 3, 4, 9 and 10 and already described.
In each case the chairs B are provided with suitable holes for securing the same to
the railway sleepers.
If required any suitable usual form of chair may be used for packing up the
level of the main line or intermediate rails between the switch and the crossing
say such as the well known form of chair shown in Figures 19, 20, 21 and 22 on
sheet 3 or any other known or convenient type which may be found applicable for
such purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim
1. A steel or wrought iron chair for railway crossings and switches having
jaws clips or lips turned up out of the solid base plate of the chair at an angle-
other than a right angle to said base-to suit the angle of the railway crossings

page_text: and switches combined with tapered keys and used conjointly with railway sleepers
substantially as described.
2. The improved arrangement and construction of chairs for railway crossings
and switches substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described
and represented in Figures 1 to 18 inclusive of the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 30th day of September 1889.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Patentee.