AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING AND FIXING THE HEADS OF TRAMWAY AND RAILWAY RAILS
Year: 1884

page_text: I GEORGE FREDERICK LEE MEAKIN of Gloucester House, Kingston-on-Thames
in the County of Surrey do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING AND FIXING THE HEADS OF TRAMWAY
AND RAILWAY RAILS to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the peculiar method of constructing and fixing
the heads of rails in such manner that they can be readily renewed by simply
removing a key or wedge which keeps them in position-without in any way
disturbing the under structure or base which forms the greater portion of the rail-
thereby saving not only this part of the rail from renewal but the labor consequent
upon taking up the whole of the rail when the head is worn out-especially for
tramways where the paving and roadway have to be taken up the old rails
removed the new rails laid to proper gauge and the paving and roadway again
made good all of which adds so materially to the cost of "maintenance" and
inconvenience to the public.
It consists of convenient lengths of either rolled or cast metal bars in one or
more pieces-the upper part or parts of which form a jaw to hold the head having
projections or recesses on the inner surface-the lower part of the head being made
to fit such projections or recesses and when the key or wedge is inserted-the parts
are forced into position and become so fixed or locked in the jaw that the whole
forms virtually-a solid rail

page_text: I GEORGE FREDERICK LEE MEAKIN of Gloucester House Kingston-on-Thames
in the County of Surrey do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING AND FIXING THE HEADS OF TRAMWAY
AND RAILWAY RAILS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention has for its object the peculiar method of constructing and fixing
the heads of rails in such manner that they can be readily renewed by simply
removing a key or wedge which keeps them in position without in any way
disturbing the understructure or base which forms the greater portion of the rail
thereby saving not only this part of the rail from renewal but the labor con-
sequent upon taking up the whole of the rail when the head is worn out, especially
for tramways where the paving and roadway have to be taken up, the old rails
removed, the new rails laid to proper gauge and the paving and roadway again
made good, all of which adds so materially to the cost of "maintenance" and to
the inconvenience of the public.
It consists of convenient lengths of either rolled or cast metal bars in one or
more pieces, the upper part or parts of which form a jaw to hold the head or
wearing surface having projections or recesses formed on, in, or by the inner face
or faces of such jaw, the lower part or parts of the head or wearing surface being
made to fit such projections or recesses and when the key or wedge is inserted the
part or parts forming the head or wearing surface is or are forced into position
and become so fixed or locked in the jaw that the whole forms virtually a solid
rail.
My Invention (the details of which can be varied) may perhaps be better
understood by reference to the accompanying Drawing where A A is the jaw
forined of two uniform sections of rolled metal bars in suitable lengths riveted or
bolted together or in one section only in single suitable lengths when rivets or
bolts of course would be unuecessary but the base or understructure of the rail
may be of any other more convenient section or sections. B. B is the head or
wearing surface and C the key or wedge.
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 Constructing the upper part or parts of metal bars for use on tramways
and other ways so as to form a jaw having projections or recesses formed on, in, or
by the inner.face or faces of such jaw for the reception and support of a head or
wearing surface, the lower part or parts of such head or wearing surface being
made to fit such projections or recesses and fixed or locked in the jaw by means
of the insertion of a key or wedge substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 25th day of August 1884.