IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS.
Year: 1877

page_text: "3
LETTERS PATENT to William Brookes, of 62, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent and Registration Agent, for the Invention of IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS. A communi-
cation from abroad by Emmanuel Edouard de Soiguie, of Brussels, in the
Kingdom of Belgium, Civil Engineer.
Sealed the 19th March 1878, and dated the 25th September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Brookes at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th September 1877.
WILLIAM BROOKES, of 62, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
and Registration Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
AND TRAMWAYS." (A communication from abroad by Emmanuel Edouard de
Soignie, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Civil Engineer.)
This Invention relates to the construction of the permanent way of railways and
tramways, and consists in the improvements herein-after described, the object of
which is to increase the durability of the materials of which the permanent way is
composed, and to prevent the breakage of the rails and parts connected therewith.
The rails for railways consist of a steel bridge rail, from each side of the foot of
which rail projects downwards a longitudinal rib forming a catch. The said bridge
rail rests upon a double flanged girder or bar of double Tor I
very soft iron, the quality of which has been tested.
section made of
The said bridge rail is fixed upon the iron girder or bar by the projecting ribs or
catches under the foot of the rail grasping the flanges of the girder, and also by
suitable bolts, so that the rail or girder form together a compound rail of iron and
steel of great strength, the head being of steel and the foot of very soft iron.
The said compound rails may be affixed to special iron transverse sleepers as
herein-after described, the iron girders being connected together longitudinally by
fish plates, or the said rails may be affixed to wooden sleepers if preferred, and
they may be used for tramways as well as for railways; or the said compound rails
may be laid upon special transverse iron sleepers constructed according to this
Invention, which sleepers I will now proceed to describe.

page_text: The said transverse sleepers are made of rolled iron of a
section, the top
being flat with a flat groove running along its central part, and the sides being
inclined slightly outwards. Upon the top of the said sleeper and in the grooves
aforesaid are rivetted iron hooks or catches to grip the outside of the foot of tho
rail, which may be a compound rail such as herein-before described, or a Vignoles
rail or any suitable foot rail. The said hooks or catches thus keep the rails to
their proper gauge. The inner side of the foot of each rail is affixed to the sleeper
by means of special bolts, the heads of which are passed through rectangular
notches in the sleeper from the top. The heads of the said bolts are rectangular in
transverse section and semicircular or curved in elevation, having the same width
as the shank of the bolt, a part of which shank is square. The bolt head having
been passed through the rectangular notch in the sleeper, is turned through a
quarter of a revolution so as to bring the projecting ends of the head at right
angles to the rectangular notch, which now presents two open holes, one on each
side of the shank of the bolt. Upon the said bolt is passed a small rectangular bar
or plate of iron, in which is a central hole for the passage of the bolt, and from
underneath which project two teeth, which, fitting into the open sides of the
rectangular notch, effectually close them and shut in the bolt head.
The inner side of the foot of the rail is affixed to the sleeper by suitable nuts
and washers upon the said bolt.
In some cases the rails may be affixed to the sleeper by two clamps or hooks
rivetted to the sleeper, one on each side of the rail, or the inner side of the foot of
the rail may be affixed by a rivetted clamp or hook, and the outer side by turning
over the end of the sleeper upon it, or turning up the end of the sleeper and
securing the foot of the rail thereto by a suitable wooden wedge.
The Invention also relates to improved forms of iron rails for tramways, which
rails may be either compound or simple. The compound rails are formed by affixing
upon a double Tor I, shaped girder or bar, such as herein-before described,
a tram rail of ordinary section, but having on each side a rib projecting downwards
so as to embrace the upper flange of the girder; or the rail may be a foot rail, the
head of which in section is nearly rectangular, the corners being rounded; and from
the lower part of the head projects a horizontal rib or shelf, which, with the road-
way, forms the groove or track in which the wheels turn.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Brookes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th March
1878.
WILLIAM BROOKES, of 62, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
and Registration Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
AND TRAMWAYS." A communication from abroad by Emmanuel Edouard de
Soignié, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Civil Engineer.
This Invention relates to the construction of the permanent way of railways
and tramways, and consists in the improvements herein-after described, the object
of which is to increase the durability of the materials of which the permanent
way is composed, and to prevent the breakage of the rails and parts connected
therewith.
The rails for railways consist of a steel bridge rail, from each side of the foot of
which rail projects downwards a longitudinal rib forming a catch. The said bridge
rail rests upon a double flanged girder or bar of double Tor I section made of
very soft iron, the quality of which has been tested.
The said bridge rail is fixed upon the iron girder or bar by the projecting ribs or
catches under the foot of the rail grasping the flanges of the girder, and also by
suitable bolts, so that the rail and girder form together a compound rail of iron
and steel of great strength, the head being of steel and the foot of very soft iron.
The said compound rails may be affixed to special iron transverse sleepers as
herein-after described, the iron girders being connected together longitudinally by
fish plates or the said rails may be affixed to wooden sleepers if preferred, and
they may be used for tramways as well as railways; or the said compound rails
may be laid upon special transverse iron sleepers constructed according to this
Invention, which sleepers I will now proceed to describe.
section the top
The said transverse sleepers are made of rolled iron of a
being flat with a flat groove running along its central part, and the sides being
inclined slightly outwards. Tpon the top of the said sleeper, and in the grooves
aforesaid, are rivetted iron hooks or catches to grip the outside of the foot of the
rail, which may be a compound rail such as herein-before described, or a Vignole's
rail or any suitable foot rail. The said hooks or catches thus keep the rails to their
proper gauge. The inner side of the foot of each rail is affixed to the sleeper by
means of special bolts, the heads of which are passed through rectangular notches
in the sleeper from the top. The heads of the said bolts are rectangular in trans-
verse section, and semicircular or curved in elevation, having the same width as
the shank of the bolts. a part of which shank is square. The bolt head having
been passed through the rectangular notch in the sleeper, is turned through a
quarter of a revolution, so as to bring the projecting ends of the head at right
angles to the rectangular notch, which now presents two open holes, one on eacli
side of the shank of the bolt. Upon the said bolt is passed a small rectangular
bar or plate of iron, in which is a central hole for the passage of the bolt, and from
underneath which project two teeth, which, fitting into the open sides of tre rect-
angular notch, effectually close them and shut in the bolt head.
The inner side of the foot of the rail is affixed to the sleeper by suitable nuts
and washers upon the said bolt.
In some cases the rails may be affixed to the sleeper by two clamps or hooks
rivetted to the sleeper. one on each side of the rail, or the inner side of the foot of
the rail may be affixed by a rivetted clamp or hook, and the outer side by turning
over the end of the sleeper upon it: or turning up the end of the sleeper and
securing the foot of the rail thereto by a suitable wooden wedge.
The Invention relates further to improved forms of iron rails for tramways,
which rails may be either compound or simple. The compound rails are formed by
affixing upon a double T or I girder or bar, such as herein-before described, a
tram rail of ordinary section, but having on each side a ribprojectingdownwards, so as

page_text: to embrace the upper flange of the girder; or the rail may be a foot rail, the head
of which in section is nearly rectangular, the corners being rounded, and from the
lower part of the head projects a horizontal rib or shelf, which, with the roadway,
forms the groove or track in which the wheels turn.
Having explained the nature of the Invention, I will proceed to describe with
reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in which the same is to be
performed.
Figure 1 represents a transverse section of a compound rail of iron and steel,
constructed according to this Invention. a is a steel bridge rail, from each side of
the foot of which rail projects downwards a longitudinal rib a³, a', forming a catch
to keep the rail in position upon the girder b. The said rail rests upon a double
flanged girder 6 of very soft iron, the quality of which has been tested; c, c, are
screw bolts securing the rail a to the upper flange of the girder b. The heads of
the said screw bolts c, c, are countersunk in the foot of the rail a, and the said
screw bolts are secured in position by washers c¹, c', and nuts, . The said rail a
and girder 6 thus form together a compound rail of steel and iron of great strength.
The said iron girders are connected together longitudinally by fish plates.
said fish plates, which are not shown in Figure 1, and are herein-after more
particularly described with reference to Figures 11 and 12, are formed with a
longitudinal rib or shoulder, or other projection upon them, against which shoulder
abuts one side of a square or polygonal washer placed upon the bolts, which secure
the said fish plates to the rails, thus preventing the said washers from turning
round. When the nuts have been screwed down upon the bolts and upon the said
washers, one or more of the free sides of the said washers are turned up against the
side or sides of the nut, and thus effectually prevent the nut from unscrewing and
loosening the bolt.
The
The said compound rails a, b, Figure 1, which may be used for tramways as well
as railways, may be affixed to wooden or iron sleepers.
In the Drawing the said compound rail is shown affixed upon special transverse
iron sleepers d constructed according to this Invention, which sleepers and the
means of fastening the rails to them I will now, proceed to describe.
The said sleepers and fastenings are represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7
of the accompanying Drawing.
Figure 2 represents in transverse section a Vignoles rail affixed to a part of a
transverse iron sleeper constructed according to this Invention, the said sleeper
being in side elevation.
Figure 3 represents the said rail in elevation, and the iron sleeper in transverse
section.
Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 2.
Figure 5 represents in elevation, drawn to a reduced scale, one of the improved
iron sleepers showing the whole length of the sleeper, and the mode of fastening
the Vignoles rails thereto, the said rails being represented in transverse section.
Figure 6 represents in elevation part of one of the improved iron sleepers, upon
which is mounted a foot rail of special section herein-after described. Figure 8 is a
side elevation of Figure 6, and Figure 7 is a transverse section of a line of railway
drawn to a reduced scale, showing one of the improved sleepers and two of the
rails, represented in Figures 6 and 8.
In each of the said Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, a represents the rail, and
d, the transverse iron sleeper. As seen in Figure 3, the said transverse iron
s'eepers are made of rolled iron of ☐ section, the top being flat with a flat longi-
.tudinal groove running along its central part, and the sides being inclined slightly
outwards, and terminating by a small projecting rib e. The ends of the said
sleepers d may be closed in, so as to prevent the ballast from escaping, by a
metal cap
d, Figures 2, 4, and 5, rivetted to the sleeper as shown; or the
escape of the ballast may be prevented by bending down slightly the ends of the
sleepers.
The manner of attaching the rails a to the said sleepers d is as follows;—Upon

page_text: the top of the said sleepers and in the grooves aforesaid are rivetted iron hooks or
catches f, each of the said hooks or catches being affixed to the sleeper by a single
thick rivet f', held in position by a projection f upon its shank, taking into a slot
in the hook or catch (as seen in Figures 2 and 4). The said hooks or catches f
grip the outside of the foot of the rail a (or b of the compound rail, Figure 1), and
in the case of the rail, represented in Figures 6, 7, and S, where the catch or hook f
is next the inner side of the rail, keep the rails to their proper gauge. The inner
side of the foot of each rail is affixed to the sleeper by means of bolts g, one of
which is represented in side and front elevations at Figure 9, the heads of the said
bolts which are formed, as shown in the Drawings, having been passed through a
rectangular notch made in the sleeper, parallel to the line of rail, is turned through
a quarter of a revolution, so as to bring the projecting ends of the head at right
angles to the notch which now presents two epen holes, one on each side of the
shank of the bolts. Upon the said bolts is now passed a special small rectangular
bar or plate h, represented in plan, and in side elevation in Figure 10. The said
bar or plate his formed with a slot or aperture ¹ in it for the passage of the bolt g,
and has projecting from its lower surface two teeth 2, and from its upper surface a
rib or shoulder h³. The said plate or bar is placed upon the bolt g, so that its
teeth h³ take into the holes on each side of the said bolt and close them; upon the
said bar or plate h is now placed a square or rectangular washer i, one end of which
abuts against the rib or shoulder 3 of the plate h. A nut gl is then screwed upon
the bolt g, and the ends of the washer are turned up against the sides of the nut.
By this means the said nut and washer are prevented from becoming unscrewed or
loosened.
Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the application of this mode of locking the
washers and nuts on bolts to the screw bolts and nuts and washers of fish
plates.
Figure 11 represents in transverse section a Vignoles rail, the fish plates and
fastening of which are constructed according to this part of the Invention ;
Figure 12 is a side elevation of Figure 11; a is the rail, and j. ¹, are the fish
plates. Upon the fish plate j, j is formed a shoulder or ridge, against which rests
one side of the rectangular washer upon the fastening bolt kl. After the nut /
has been screwed upon the bolt and washer k, one or more of the free ends k³ of
the washer is or are turned up against the side or sides of the nut 7, and with
the shoulder effectually prevent either the washer k or nut from turning or
becoming loose.
In Figures 6, 7, and 8, the sleeper d, which is placed horizontally, is turned up
at its outer end at 3, and against this outer turned up end of the sleeper rests the
outer foot of the rail a, leaving however a small space for the extension of the
rail foot in either direction. It will be seen that the foot rail a, Figures 6, 7, and 8
which is made entirely of steel, is hollow. The branches or legs, which form the
lower part of the rail, being nearly at an angle of 45 degrees to the sleeper d,
and each terminated at bottom by a foot which rests upon the sleeper d, as herein-
before described.
The head of the said rail a is inclined, being rolled so as when mounted on its
horizontal sleepers, to have the required inclination for the wheels passing over it.
The said rails are fished together by means of the angular fish plates s, which are
rivetted to one rail end at t, t, and bolted to the next rail end, the bolts being
inserted in elongated holes r, r, in the rail end to allow for the expansion of the
rails, as seen at Figure 8.
Figure 13 represents a transverse section of a special form of transverse iron
sleeper constructed according to this Invention, and applicable to tramways for
mines and other places, it will be seen that the said sleeper is nearly similar
in form to the railway sleeper represented in section in Figure 3.
Figures 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22, illustrate the application of the
sleeper represented in Figure 13 to divers sections of tramway rails and means of
fastening the said rails thereto.

page_text: Figure 14 represents in elevation, and Figure 15 in plan, a double-headed rail a
affixed to the sleeper d on one side, by means of a rivetted catch or hook f, and on
the other side by the end of the sleeper & being turned up at m, and wooden wedge
n being inserted between the turned up end of the sleeper and the web of the
rail. The central longitudinal groove in the upper surface of the said sleeper d
enabling the wooden wedge to swell therein and become firmly attached, as seen in
Figure 15.
Figure 16 represents in elevation, and Figure 17 in plan, a similar arrangement
to that represented in Figures 14 and 15. In this case the wooden wedge n is dis-
pensed with and the end m of the sleeper is turned over directly on to the web of
the rail a.
Figure 18 represents in elevation, and Figure 19 in plan, a bridge rail a attached
to the sleeper by means of two rivetted catches or hooks f, f, one on each side of
the foot of the said rail.
Figure 20 represents in elevation a Vignoles rail a attached to the sleeper d by
means of a hook or catch f on one side of the foot of the rail, and on the other side
by the end of the sleeper d being turned up, as shown at m, or as shown in dotted
lines at m¹. In the first arrangement the rail a would have to be passed longitu-
dinally between the catch or hook f and the 'turned up sleeper end m. In the
second arrangement the rail a may be placed in position from above. In some
cases a wooden wedge n, shown in dotted lines, may be driven in between the
rail and the sleeper end m.
Figure 21 represents in elevation, and Figure 22 in plan, a Vignoles rail a
attached to the sleeper d on one side by the rivetted catch or hook f, and on the
other side by means of a double hook 2, which is let into a slot in the sleeper, and
is pressed against the foot of the rail by a wooden wedge n.
Figure 23 represents in transverse section a compound iron rail for tramways
constructed according to this Invention. The said compound rail consists of a
tramrail of ordinary section a, affixed upon a double-flanged girder b, and provided
on each side with a rib a', projecting downwards, so as to embrace the upper flange
of the girder b.
Figure 24 represents a transverse section of a foot rail for tramways, constructed
according to this Invention. The head a of the said rail is of nearly rectangular
section, the corners being rounded, and from the head a projects a horizontal
rib or shelf a', which, with the roadway, forms the groove or track for the
wheels.
Having now described the nature of this Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed. I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the
precise details herein-before described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings
as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of the said Invention,
but I claim as the Invention,―
Firstly. The improvements in the permanent way of railways and tramways,
herein-before described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, that is to
say, a permanent way, all the parts of which are formed completely of metal, and
composed of special rails, transverse sleepers, and fastenings, essentially as herein-
before described and illustrated.
Secondly. The improvements in compound rails of iron and steel, herein-before
described, and illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings, that is to
say, the combination of a steel bridge rail with a double-flanged girder made of
very soft iron, the foot of the said steel bridge rail being formed on each side
with a longitudinal rib, projecting downwards, so as to keep the said rail in
position upon the said girder, substantially as described and illustrated.
Thirdly. The improvements in metal transverse sleepers for railways and tram-
ways, herein-before described, and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and
13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22; that is to say, metal transverse sleepers
of the sectional form, represented in transverse section in Figure 3, for railways,
and of the sectional form, represented in Figure 13, for tramways, essentially as

page_text: described and illustrated. Also closing the ends of the said railway sleepers or
bending them downwards, essentially as and for the purposes described.
Fourthly. The improvements in fastenings for securing the rails of railways to
the said metal transverse sleepers, represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, of the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say, fastening one side of the foot of the rail to
the said sleepers by means of a hook or catch rivetted thereto by a special rivet
formed as described, and the other side of the foot of the rail by means of a bolt,
such as is represented in Figure 9, traversing the said sleeper, and is secured to the
foot of the rail by a suitable nut, such nut being prevented from unscrewing and
becoming loose by means of a plate, represented in Figure 10, having upon it a
shoulder, against which abuts one side of a rectangular washer, the free ends of
which washer are turned up against the sides of the said nut and lock the nut,
essentially described and illustrated.
Fifthly. The application of the devices, herein-before described, for preventing
the nuts and washers on bolts from unscrewing and becoming loose, to the bolts or
fastenings of fish plates, essentially as herein-before described, and illustrated in
Figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixthly. The improvements in fastenings for securing the rails of tramways for
mines and other places to the said metal transverse sleepers, essentially as herein-
before described, and illustrated in Figures 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Seventhly. The improved transverse metal sleeper with the steel foot rail
herein-before described, and represented in Figures 6, 7, and 8 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Eighthly. The improvements in compound tramway rails, herein-before described
and illustrated in Figure 23 of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, the
combination of a tramway rail of ordinary section, formed on each side with
a rib projecting downwards, with a double-flanged girder, essentially as described
and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Brookes, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES,
37, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane,
London.
WILLIAM BROOKES. (L.S.)