Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1887
_ Complete Left, 9th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 10th Feb., 1888
1 AUGUSTE FRANÇOIS LOETARE BERNARD of Namur in the Kingdom of Belgium
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the construction of a cross-sleeper from several pieces of
timber which are too small to be utilized separately as sleepers but which suitably
united by screw bolts will constitute a double sleeper possessing the advantage of
considerably increased breadth over those hitherto made of only one piece of timber.
In its most simple form the sleeper consists of two or more rough or hewn pieces
of timber which are secured to each other by screw bolts. When composed of three
pieces of wood the middle part may be replaced by two short pieces of timber pro-
jecting an equal distance on both sides of the rail so as to receive the pressure of the
rail just in the middle and leaving moreover a free space in the middle of the sleeper
for the reception of the packing or ballast material. The suitable connection together
of these pieces of timber is here obtained by means of four screw bolts whereas in the
first case only two are required.
As in consequence of its greater breadth the sleeper affords two main bearing
points for the rail the securing of the same is obtained by means of four wood screws
or spikes either directly or after having placed between the sleeper and the rail a
resting or bearing plate of wrought iron or of cast iron having the requisite incli-
nation and possessing two flanges against which bear the heads of the wood screws
or spikes.
Instead of iron bearing plates wooden ones may be used having their fibres running
transversely to the direction of the rails and consisting either of one piece or of two
separate plates.
Rails of any type may be fixed on these sleepers also double T-rails, by using one
or more suitable rail chairs.
On account of the increased basis of the improved cross sleeper it is possible to
impart greater stability to the whole railway, and by reason of the larger support
offered to the rail foot, the rapidity of its wear and its being cut by the railfoot
through the continuous jolts and shocks are diminished.
Dated the 0th Jan Amil 1007.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Cross Sleepers for Railways,
Tramways, and the like.
I AUGUSTE FRANÇOIS LOETARE BERNARD of Namur in the Kingdom of Belgium
Engineer 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 :-
This invention consists in the construction of a cross sleeper from several pieces
of timber which are too small to be utilised separately as sleepers, but which when
suitably united by screw bolts will constitute a durable sleeper possessing the
advantage of a considerably increased breadth over those hitherto made of only one
piece of timber.
Figures 1, 2 and 5 of the accompanying drawings show the improved sleeper in its
most simple form composed of three roughly hewn or sharp squared pieces of
timber A, B, C, secured together by solid screw bolts D.
Figures 3, 4 and 6 show the sleeper having the middle piece B replaced by two
short pieces of timber B¹ so arranged as to receive the pressure of the rail just in the
centre thereof and which project an equal distance on both sides of the rail and leave
moreover a free space in the middle of the sleeper for the reception of the packing or
ballast material.
The suitable connecting together of these pieces of timber is here obtained by
means of four screw bolts D whereas in the first arrangement only two are required.
The increased breadth of the sleeper affords two main bearing points for the rail,
the securing of which latter is effected by means of four wood screws or spikes driven
either directly into the sleeper itself or having placed between the sleeper and the
rail a resting or bearing plate E of wrought iron (see figures 1, 2 and 5) or of cast
iron (figures 3, 4 and 6) having the usual inclination of 26th and formed with two
flanges against which bear the heads of the wood screws or spikes.
Instead of iron bearing plates, wooden ones may be used having their fibres running
transversely to the direction of the rails and consisting either of one piece E
figures 7, 8, and 11 or of two separate pieces E¹ figures 9, 10 and 12.
Rails of any type may be fixed on these sleepers also double Trails by using one
or more suitable rail chairs.
On account of the increased basis of the improved cross sleeper it is possible to
impart greater stability to the whole railway and by reason of the larger support
offered to the rail foot the rapidity of wear and cutting by the rail foot through the
continuous jolts and shocks is greatly diminished.
The increasing of the breadth of the improved cross sleeper should be so regulated
that the packing may be performed without any difficulty which can be easily
accomplished by a breadth of from 40 to 45 centimetres.
Now it would be entirely impossible to obtain a sufficient number of cross sleepers

page_text: composed of one piece only and having a uniform breadth of from 40 to 45 centi-
metres and the few that might be obtained would occasion exorbitant expenses.
According to the present invention cross sleepers of the breadth above mentioned
may be obtained very easily and cheaply, because the pieces of timber utilised in the
construction of the improved sleepers would be considered much too small even for
use as an ordinary sleeper.
The improved sleeper moreover offers the advantage of requiring a less number of
them for supporting the railway as the rails have two fixing points on each sleeper,
the distance between which will be obtained by the spacing of the sleepers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The mode of constructing railway cross sleepers from several roughly or exactly
hewn or squared pieces of timber A, C, or A, B, C, which are firmly connected with
each other by means of two screw bolts situate below the rail as specified.
2. The special construction of a cross sleeper consisting of three pieces of
timber A, B, C, figures 3, 4 and 6 secured by four screw bolts the middle timber of
which may be replaced by two shorter pieces B' projecting an equal distance or length
on both sides of the rail and leaving an opening in the middle of the sleeper for the
ballast material to pass through as specified.
Dated thin 7th day of To 1000