IMPROVEMENTS IN REVERSIBLE RAILS AND IN CHAIRS FOR THE SAME."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Floyd, of 5, Westminster Chambers, in the City
of Westminster, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REVERSIBLE RAILS AND IN CHAIRS FOR THE SAME."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Floyd at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th November 1878.
THOMAS FLOYD, of 5, Westminster Chambers, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVERSIBLE RAILS AND IN CHAIRS FOR THE
SAME."
The main feature of this Invention consists in forming the "way" of two
reversible rails, one acting as a tread rail, and the other as a guard rail, and of such
a section that when placed in the chairs they become self locking or fastening.
This is effected by making both rails of a kind of channelled section. Opposite the
channel of the tread rail (or it may be the guard rail), that is, on its inner face, it
is formed with a kind of shaped recess, into which a projecting portion of corre-
sponding shape in the guard rail (or tread rail, as the case may be) fits or takes
when the two rails are in position in the chair.
The form of the chair is such that the two rails when
secure against all shifting from the effects of traffic.
between one of the rails and the chair if desired.
inserted become fixed and
A key may be inserted

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Floyd in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th July 1879.
THOMAS FLOYD, of 5, Westminster Chambers, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVERSIBLE RAILS AND IN CHAIRS FOR THE
SAME."
The main feature of this Invention consists in forming the "
way" of two
reversible rails, one acting as a tread rail, and the other as a guard rail, and of such
a section that when placed in the chairs they become self locking or fastening.
This is effected by making both rails of a kind of channelled section. Opposite the
channel of the tread rail (or it may be the guard rail), that is, on its inner face, it
is formed with a kind of shaped recess, into which a projecting portion of corre-
sponding shape in the guard rail (or tread rail, as the case may be) fits or takes
when the two rails are in position in the chair.
The form of the chair is such that the two rails when inserted become fixed and
secure against all shifting from the effects of traffic. A key may be inserted
between one of the rails and the chair if desired.
My Invention will be clearly understood on reference to the accompanying
Drawings, in which similar parts are indicated by similar letters of reference in all
the Figures.
In Figure 1 A is the tread rail, formed on one side with a channel B, and on its
other side (the inner face) with a kind of > shaped recess C, C¹, into which a pro-
jecting portion D on the guard rail E takes, the said projection D being shaped
to fit the recess in the tread rail when the two rails are in position in the chair F.
The projection G on the guard rail side of the chair takes into the channel H
formed in the guard rail, and serves to steady and hold the same secure in its
place, the lower edge of the guard rail taking into a recess I for the same purpose.
On the tread rail side of the chair the latter is formed with a face J at an angle,
this angle being such that the face J of the chair and the lower face C¹ of the
recess in the tread rail are parallel with each other. This feature is of great
importance, as it enables the tread rail to be inserted and withdrawn from the
chair, and at the same time secures the rails against any vertical lift or shifting
from the effects of the traffic. The tread rail is further secured by its lower edge
taking into the recess in the chair formed by the face J and the lump L, while the
upper edge is steadied by the projecting nose M at the top of the chair.
In laying the rails (according to this Figure) the guard rail is first put into its
place, then the tread rail is inserted, when the two rails become locked without the
use of a key (but the latter may be inserted between one of the rails (in this Figure
the tread rail) and the chair at B' if desired).
Both tread and guard rails in Figure 1 are reversible.
In Figure 2 both rails are very similar to those in Figure 1, but the projections G
and L on the chair not being necessarily so long as in Figure 1 are made much
shorter, as shown, a key N also aiding to further secure the rails.
The face K on the chair is parallel with J and C' to enable the rail A to be
inserted or withdrawn from the chair.
In Figure 3 the > shaped recess is formed in the guard rail, and the projection
to correspond is on the tread rail, which, as will be seen, is the reverse to that
shown in Figures 1 and 2; also the projection G takes into the channelled recess
in the tread rail instead of the guard rail, as in Figure 1, and the key N is between
the guard rail and the chair; both rails are reversible, and in other respects similar
to those in Figures 1 and 2.
In Figure 4 the section of the rails is such that they are both reversible, and
either rail is available as a tread or a guard rail.
Figure 5 shows similar rails to those in the previous Figure, with the exception
that the two rails take into each other at the centre by the projecting faces C, C¹,

page_text: being formed parallel to each other, and lapping on each other at the shoulder P.
The faces C, C¹, on the rails, and those J, K, on the chair being all parallel with
each other, enables, after the rail E is in its place, the other to be put in position
or withdrawn, the same as in the previous Figures.
In Figure 6 the tread rail is made with a shaped projection next the guard
rail, which projection fits a < shaped recess in the same, the tread rail having also
a <recess on its side next the chair, into which a projecting < piece G on the
latter takes, so that the tread rail is embraced as it were between the chair and
guard rail. The top and bottom heads of the tread rail stand right and left, as
shown; the lower head being borne upon, and steadied, and partly held by the
shoulder of the guard rail; the latter is put in last and taken up first, the faces C¹,
J, and K being parallel, as in the other Figures, permitting this to be easily done.
This arrangement is self-locking, but the key may be used if desired.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
The improvements in reversible rails and in chairs for the same, as herein before
described, and as shown in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Floyd, have hereunto, set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of July, One thousand eight hundred and seventy
nine.
THOS. FLOYD. (L.S.)