Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1887
Complete Left, 16th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 20th Apr., 1888
I WILLIAM NEWBY COLAM of 6 & 8 High Street Highgate, in the County of
Middlesex, Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of the permanent
way of Cable tramways, and it has for its objects, increased rigidity, decreased cost of
construction, and increased safety and efficiency in the working of the line.
My invention consists;-First of an improved section of slot rail and method of
fixing and supporting the same, and Secondly of an improved fish plate therefor.
The slot rail is made of a Z section with a double bend in its vertical web. The top
part forms the road surface and one side edge of the slot for the passage of the gripper,
the slot being formed by a pair of slot rails laid parallel with each other with a given
space between them. From the head of the slot rail the web runs vertically down-
wards having a continuous longitudinal projection formed on its outer side,-i.e. the
opposite side to that forming one side of the slot-to stiffen it laterally and to give it
a vertical support on the frame to which it is bolted side on. Continuing in a down-
ward direction the web curves outwards and again downwards to give increased head
room in the cable way, and to form a rolling surface for a lateral thrust on the gripper.
The rail then curves outwards to form a horizontal flange by which it is bolted
vertically to the supporting frame, and forms a cover for the Cable way.
The improved fish plate is somewhat of a L section to coincide with the outside
shape of the slot rail. The bearing face of the fish plate that comes in contact with
the slot rail, follows the outline thereof with the exception that the horizontal flange
does not fit closely down on the horizontal flange of the slot rail, for a purpose that
will presently be apparent. The fish plate is bolted to the slot rail by two rows of
bolts, the one row passing horizontally through the thickened part of the vertical web
of the slot rail, and the other passing vertically through the horizontal flange thereof.
The effect of this arrangement is that each row of bolts automatically locks the other,

page_text: owing to the lines of tension being at right angles to one another, the spring of the
horizontal flange of the fish plate-which is not in contact with the horizontal flange
of the slot rail-as it is drawn up by the bolts, most effectively preventing their
working loose.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Cable Tramways.
I, WILLIAM NEWBY COLAM, of 6 and 8, High Street, Highgate, in the County of
Middlesex, Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers 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 certain improvements in the construction of the permanent
way of Cable tramways, and it has for its objects, increased rigidity, decreased cost of
construction, and increased safety and efficiency in the working of the line.
My invention consists, First of an improved section of slot rail and method of fixing
and supporting the same, and Secondly of an improved fish plate therefor.
The slot rail is made of a Z. section with a double bend in its vertical web. The
top part forms the road surface and one side edge of the slot for the passage of the
gripper, the slot being formed by a pair of slot rails laid parallel with each other with
a given space between them. From the head of the slot rail the web runs vertically
downwards having a continuous longitudinal projection formed on its outer side-i.e.,
the opposite side to that forming one side of the slot-to stiffen it laterally and to give
it a vertical support on the frame to which it is bolted side on. Continuing in a
downward direction the web curves outwards and again downwards to give increase:
head room in the cable-way and to form a rolling surface for lateral thrust rollers
on the gripper. The rail then curves outwards to form a horizontal flange by
which it bolted vertically to the supporting frame and forms a cover for the
cable-way.
The improved fish plate is somewhat of a L. section to coincide with the outside

page_text: shape of the slot rail. The bearing face of the fish plate that comes in contact with
the slot rail follows the outline thereof, with the exception that the horizontal flange
does not fit closely down on the horizontal flange of the slot rail for a purpose that
will presently be apparent. The fish plate is bolted to the slot rail by two rows of
bolts, the one row passing horizontally through the thickened part of the vertical web
of the slot rail, and the other passing vertically through the horizontal flange thereof.
The effect of this arrangement is that each row of bolts automatically locks the other,
owing to the lines of tension being at right angles to one another, the spring of the
horizontal flange of the fish plate-which is not in contact with the horizontal flange
of the slot rail-as it is drawn up by the bolts, most effectively preventing their
working loose.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will more particularly describe
it making reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1. is a view in
broken cross-section of my improved slot rail and fish plate, showing the slot rail fixed
to the framework of the cable way, and fish plate, respectively, and Figure 2. is a
broken view in side elevation of the fish plate.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The slot rail A. is made of a Z. section with a double bend in its vertical face so
that it is practically of a double Z. section. The top part forms the surface edge and
one edge of the slot for the passage of the gripper shank. From the top or head the
slot rail extends vertically downwards, for a convenient distance when it curves out-
wards and again downwards to increase the width of the slot, and thus give increased
head room in the cable-way, and also to form a bearing surface for thrust rollers
mounted on the gripper shank. The rail then curves outwards to form a horizontal
flange by which it is bolted by vertical bolts x. to the frame X. of the cable way. On
the outer side of the slot rail-i.e., the opposite side to that forming the slot-is a
longitudinal projection a. which serves to stiffen the rail laterally, and by engaging in
recesses in the frames X. of the cable-way, support it vertically and relieve the fixing
bolts of the sheering strain they would otherwise be subject to. It will be seen
that a pair of these slot rails are used to form the slot, being fixed to the framework of
the cable-way parallel and opposite to each other, forming the slot for the gripper
shank by and between them.
The fish plate B. is made of a double L. section to coincide with the outside face of
the slot rail A. The bearing face of the fish plate that comes in contact with the
slot rail follows the outline thereof as far as the outward bend, where it slightly
leaves the rail and curves outwards to form the horizontal flange sooner than the
rail, so that its horizontal flange does not rest on the horizontal flange of the slot
rail. In the inner face of the fish plate is formed a longitudinal recess b. to receive
the longitudinal projection a. of the slot rail, and it is also preferably recessed lower
down as shown, so as not to present too large a bearing surface to the slot rail.
Suitable holes are formed in the fish plate to receive the fish bolts y. and y¹, the
former fixing the fish plate to the vertical web of the slot rail through its longitudinal
projection a, and the latter to the horizontal flange.
By fixing the fish plate to the slot rails in this manner each row of bolts auto-
matically locks the other owing to the lines of tension being at right angles to one
another, the spring of the horizontal flauge of the fish plate-which is not in contact
with the horizontal flange of the slot rail as hereinfore described as it is drawn up
by the bolts y, most effectively preventing their working loose.
I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction
hereinbefore described and shown, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes
and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. In a cable tramway a slot rail of a section as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and shown.

page_text: 2nd. In a cable tramway, the combination with the slot rail hereinbefore described
and shown of the fish plate adapted to be fixed to the slot rail by two rows of bolts
whose lines of tension are at right angles to one another, as and for the purpose
set forth.
3rd. In a slot rail for a cable tramway, the combination of the outward bend of the
vertical web to give increased width to the slot, increased head room in the cable way,
and to provide a bearing surface for thrust rollers mounted on the gripper shank, the
lower horizontal flange for fixing the slot rail and the longitudinal projection for
supporting the same, as set forth.
n1"
1