IMPROVEMENTS IN SLEEPERS AND CHAIRS FOR TRAMWAYQ
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Charles Shaw, of Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLEEPERS AND CHAIRS FOR
TRAMWAYQ”
Sealed the 12th July 1878, and dated the 17th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Charles Shaw at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th January 1878.
JOHN CHARLES SHAW, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SLEEPERS AND CHAIRS FOR TRAMWAYS."
My Invention relates to the tram rails and supports principally employed in the
construction of street railways, and consists in supporting each rail upon pedestals or
chairs which are mounted or formed upon or fixed to bases or plates which are
adapted to sustain the stones sets or portions of the pavement immediately adjacent
to the rail, or to prevent or check the settlement of such stones, sets, or portions of
the pavement below the level of the rail.
According to one arrangement, the sleeper consists of two rails or bars of cast
metal connected together at two or more points by pillars or pedestals, which are
cast in one piece with the said rails or bars. The under surfaces of the said rails or
bars constitute the bottom of the sleeper, and when in use rest upon the gravel,
concrete, or surface prepared to receive the sleeper. The said pillars or pedestals
sustain the tram rail, and are suitably formed and prepared to receive the rail, and
to be secured thereto. The height of the pedestals above the base formed by the
aforesaid rails or bars is such as that when the rail is secured to the pedestals there
will be sufficient depth to receive the sets or blocks of the pavement above the said
rails or bars, with the interposition of a suitable amount of gravel, sand, concrete, or
packing material, if the employment of such packing should be considered to be
necessary or advisable.
Each of the rails or bars forming the base of the sleeper may be strengthened by
means of a rib or flange; or a single bar or plate having an unbroken bearing sur-

page_text: face, or lightened by means of cores, slots, or openings, may constitute the base of
the sleeper.
In another arrangement the chairs or pedestals are bolted or secured to a founda-
tion plate of cast metal, or of boiler plate or rolled metal, or to two bars of rolled
metal.
. SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Charles Shaw in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
July 1878.
JOHN CHARLES SHAW, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SLEEPERS AND CHAIRS FOR TRAMWAYS."
My Invention relates to the sleepers and supports for rails principally employed
in the construction of street railways, and consists in supporting each rail upon
pedestals or chairs which are cast or formed upon bases or plates which are adapted
to sustain the continuous lines of stone sets or portions of the pavement imme-
diately adjacent to the rail in order to maintain the same and the rails at an uniform
level.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood I have appended bere-
unto a Sheet of Drawings made about one-fourth of the full size, and marked with
letters of reference.
Referring in this place to the said Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a side elevation,
and Fig. 2 a plan of a sleeper constructed in accordance with my Invention.
Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line A representing also a rail and adjoining stone
sets in position.
Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line B, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the
line C.
In the example, D, D, are two chairs or pedestals, which are cast in one piece with
two bars, bases, or plates e, e, which constitute the base or foundation of the two
chairs. The two bars are connected and attached together by the said two chairs,
and also by webs f, f. Each bar is formed with ribs g, which extend from one chair
to another, and from each chair to the end of the sleeper, or thereabouts. The outer
vertical or nearly vertical faces of these ribs are in line with the sides of the chairs.
The said ribs serve to stiffen the sleeper and assist to keep in position the sets
immediately adjacent to the tram rail, and to prevent any packing which may be
placed below such sets, and any bitumen or other material used in laying the pave-
ment, from escaping into the space below the rail. In the example bolt holes h, h,
are cored in the upper parts of the chairs.
The rail is or may be attached to the sleeper by means of bolts passing through
the flanches of the rail and through the bolt holes in the pedestals.
One of the chairs in the example has a larger bearing surface than the other, and
is provided with two bolt holes, the intention being that this chair shall support the
ends of two meeting, rails, thus acting as a joint chair."

page_text: As the form of rail and the method of attachment of the rails to the sleepers form
no part of my Invention, they may be varied, such form or section of rail and
method of attachment being employed as may be considered to be the most
suitable, the chairs or pedestals being made suitable to the form or section of rail
employed.
The sleepers are laid end to end along the line of the projected track, and the
rails are secured to the chairs or pedestals, as indicated by the dotted lines in
Fig. 1.
It is intended that the end of one sleeper shall be closely adjacent to the next
contiguous sleeper, as, for example, I should in practice leave a space of about one
inch between the ends of the sleepers, but this space may be more or less than
one inch.
As the sleeper has a large bearing surface, it may be laid upon the substratum of
the roadway; but if preferred or considered to be advisable, a foundation of con-
crete or other suitable material may be prepared to receive the sleepers.
I do not confine myself to the number of pedestals or chairs cast or formed upon
each sleeper, as the number may be less or more than two.
Figs. 6 and 7 represent sleepers formed in each case with only one pedestal or chair,
the said sleepers being represented as arranged in line at about the distance apart
which I consider to be suitable.
When the sleepers are arranged at a short distance apart, as indicated, the bases
or plates e, e, form a sufficiently continuous bed, upon which the sets immediately
adjacent to the tram rail may be laid, the sets resting upon the said bases or plates,
that is to say, upon the sleepers, or upon an interposed packing of sand or other
suitable material, as may be considered or found to be most suitable.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which I purpose to carry the same into practical effect, I would have
it to be understood in conclusion that I do not confine myself to the precise forms
or sections of the examples illustrated in the Drawings, but that I claim,-
First. The sleeper for sustaining tramway rails, formed substantially as and for
the purposes set forth and indicated herein-before, and in and by the accompanying
Drawings.
Secondly. The sleeper cast or formed with a wide base for supporting continuous
lines of adjacent pavement, and with a chair or with chairs for sustaining the tram
rails, substantially as set forth and indicated.
And, lastly. The metal sleepers cast or formed with long and wide bases, and
with chairs or pedestals, and with longitudinal ribs g, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Charles Shaw, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Signed and sealed by the said
John Charles Shaw in the
presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentee,
St. Ann's Churchyard,
JOHN CHARLES SHAW. (L.S.)
Manchester.