Improvements relating to Rails for Railways.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Rails for Railways.
I THOMAS ANDREWS of Wortley Ironworks, near Sheffield, Iron Manufacturer,.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to improvements in rails for railways.
It has been found that rails are liable to fracture when in use at the ends where
the holes are formed for joining the rails by means of fish plates.
According to my said invention I locally thicken the web of the rail. This
I accomplish by ferming depressions in the rolls by which the rail is rolled so as
to produce corresponding swelled parts on the rail itself. After rolling the rails
are cut into lengths through such swelled portions so that the ends of the rails are
thickened.
The swelled parts may be on one or both sides of the rail and in the latter case
may be either opposite to each other or alternating with each other or of such a
length as compared with the thin part of the web as to overlap when seen in
plan.
According to the circumference of the rolls employed the thickened portions
will repeat themselves in the middle part of the rail and the distance apart may in
some cases be so arranged as to correspond to the distance apart of the chairs
in which the rail is held and thus to provide local strengthening where most
needed.
Dated this 20th day of December 1895.
E. T. WHITELOW, A.M. Inst. C.E.,
70 Deansgate, Manchester, Agent for the Applicant.
I THOMAS ANDREWS of Wortley Ironworks, near Sheffield Iron Manufacturer,
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 said invention relates to improvements in rails for railways.
It has been found that rails are liable to fracture when in use particularly at
the ends where holes are formed for joining the rails by means of fish plates.
According to my said invention I locally thicken the web of the rail at the ends
where the fish plates are attached in order to strengthen those parts of the rail
which have to be perforated for the reception of the bolts by which the fish plates
are attached.
Such local thickenings or swellings on the web of the rail may be on one or both
sides and in the latter case they may be opposite to each other or may alternate
with each other in which case the alternate thickenings may overlap.

page_text: Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate my said invention and
which are to be construed as forming part of the present description.-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a rail with the web symmetrically thickened at both
sides.
Figure 1 is a plan.
Fig. 1 is a section through the thin part of the web 2.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the thickened end of the rail.
Figs. 2, 2A, 2B, and 2° are corresponding illustrations of a rail the web of which
is thickened on one side only.
Figs. 3, 34, 3B. 3C and D are corresponding illustrations of a rail the web of
which is thickened on both sides the swellings on one side alternating with those on
the other side. In these figures Fig. 3° is a section through a the thin part of
the web while Fig. 3B is a section through the swelled party. Fig. 3D is an
elevation of the thickened end of the rail.
After rolling the rails are cut into suitable lengths through such swelled
portions.
To produce such rails I may form depressions in the rolls by which the rail is
rolled so as to produce corresponding swelled parts on the rail itself.
The process of rolling the rails may be varied in several ways for instance the
circumference of the rolls may be such that the thickened portions will repeat
themselves throughout the length of the rail and their distance apart may in some
cases he so arranged as to correspond to the distances apart of the chairs in which
the rail is held and thus to provide local strengthening, where most useful.
In producing such rails ordinary rail rolls such as are shown in Fig. 4 may be
used in which case the depressions will be formed in the last or finishing
grooves A B at those parts of the groove which form the web of the rail.
Fig. 1 represents a section through A B of Fig. 4 showing how the
depressions by which the thickenings are produced are arranged for the purpose
of producing rails with symmetrical thickenings on both sides such as shown in
Figures 1 and 1ª.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding section through A B of Fig. 4 showing the
disposition of the depressions when the thickening is to be on one side only as
shown in Figs. 2 and 24.
j
Fig. 3 is a corresponding section through AB of Fig. 4 showing the
disposition of the depressions when swellings on both sides of the rail such as
shown in Figs. 3 and 34 are to be produced.
It will be evident that if in the form of rolls shown in Fig. 1º one of the
depressions in the upper roll and one of those in the lower roll is left away the
swellings on the rail (with the same diameter of rolls) will be twice the distance
apart. A like modification may be brought about in the rails produced by the
rolls illustrated in Fig. 2: by omitting. 'one of: the depressions from the
upper roll.
Where it is desired that the thickenings shall only be formed at the endstof the
rails the intermediate thickenings in the finished rail may be avoided either by
rolling them out after having been produced in the manner last described or by
manipulating the rolls so that the swells are only formed at the ends.
According to the. first method an extra groove without depressions is provided in
the roll. The pressure on this roll is relaxed to allow the swelled portion to pass
which it is desired to retain whereupon. the pressure o on the roll is reapplied so
that the groove may nip the web and roll out the following swellings until
another one is reached which it is desired to retain when the pressure is again
relaxed and so on.
Instead of special grooves in the main rolls for forming the thickenings a
separate pair of rolls may be used and these may be either in line or may be
opposite to the main rolls so that in the latter case the rail may pass directly from
one pair of rolls to the other.
According to the alternative method the web as it leaves the last groove but one

page_text: is rolled rather thicker than it is finally intended to remain. In the final groove
at those places where the web is to remain so thickened the pressure of the rolls
towards each other is momentarily relaxed until a sufficient length has passed.
Thereupon the pressure on the rolls is reapplied when the web is nipped and
consequently is rolled thinner until the point is reached where the next swell is
required when the pressure is again relaxed and so on. In these final passes the
parts of the groove which form the heads or flanges of the rail are turned so as
not to have any rolling effect on the heads or flanges of the rail and thus to
The
prevent their deformation when the pressure is relaxed or re-applied.
intermittent application of the pressure of the rolls may be obtained in various well
known ways as for instance by rotating the screws commonly used in rolling mills,
by the use of wedges operated by levers cams or screws by hydraulic machinery
operated by pumps or accumulators and controlled by suitable valves. The choice
and use of particular mechanism for such purpose will depend on local circum-
stances and the type of rolling mill to be used for the work, as will be well under-
stood by those conversant with rolling mill operations. It is to be understood that
the swelled portions of the rail are of such length that when cut in the middle the
thickened ends of two rails are produced. Owing to the small scale of the
drawings accompanying this description the depressions in the rolls are
The swells will be connected to the
exaggerated in order to show their nature.
other part of the web by gentle inclines or sweeps so as to avoid abrupt variations
of thickness.
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.-
1. A rail the web of which is locally thickened substantially as and for the
purpose set forth and shown.
2. A rail the web of which is thickened at the ends for the purpose of imparting
greater strength to the rail at the places where the fish plates are attached
substantially as set forth and shown.
Dhi 14th day of August 1806
E. T. WHITELOW, A.M. Inst. C.E.,
70 Deansgate, Manchester, Agent for the Applicant.