IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS AND SLEEPERS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Browne, of the Firm of Browne and Company,
of 5, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex (Patent Agents), for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS AND SLEEPERS." A communi-
cation from abroad by Hermann Rimbach, of Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany, Railway Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Browne at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd June 1881.
ALEXANDER BROWNE, of the Firm of Browne and Company, of 5, Southampton
Buildings, in the County of Middlesex (Patent Agents). "IMPROVEMENTS IN
RAILS AND SLEEPERS." A communication from abroad by Hermann Rimbach,
of Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, Railway Engineer.
"
This Invention relates to improvements in metal rails and sleepers for
tramways or railways, but the said improvements are more suitable for tramways.
The rail, which is either of wrought or cast iron, is provided with a central groove
of any convenient angle for the reception of the flange of the wheel. The sleeper,
which is also constructed either of wrought or cast iron, is made so that its upper
portion (which is of any convenient shape) will fit inside the rail, and thus form a
seating for same; or the said sleepers are provided with suitable projections or side
brackets for supporting the flanges of the rail, or it may carry the flanges of the
rail only without touching the under side of the groove. According to this last
named arrangement the side of the sleepers will form a continuation of those of the
rails, both being of the same angle, the sides may be straight down or terminate
with feet. The sleepers may be formed either open at both ends and at bottom,
or partially so, or they may be entirely closed. If the sleepers are made the same
length as the rail it will be found advisable not to join both at same place, but to
fit same so that the rail overlaps the joint of the sleepers. The rails are secured to
the sleepers by means of bolts and nuts or other suitable fastenings. The two lines
of rails are connected together by means of flat bars of iron secured at each end.
The spaces between, and also the inside of the hollow sleepers, are to be filled in
with gavel or other suitable material, or with stones specially formed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Browne in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd December 1881.
ALEXANDER BROWNE, of the Firm of Browne and Company, of 5, Southampton
Buildings, in the County of Middlesex (Patent Agents). "IMPROVEMENTS IN
RAILS AND SLEEPERS." (A communication from abroad by Hermann Rimbach,
of Berlin, in the Empire of Germany (Railway Engineer).
This Invention relates to improved metal rails and longitudinal sleepers combined,
to bo used either for railway or tramway purposes, but will be found more suitable
for the latter.
And in order to explain this Invention more fully I will now proceed to describe
the same with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
The rail a, which may be made either of wrought or cast iron, is provided with
a central groove of any convenient angle for the reception of the flange of the
-wheel of tramcar or other conveyance, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5. The sleeper b,
which is also made either of wrought or cast iron, fits with its upper portion (which
'may be of any convenient shape) inside the rail, thus forming a seating for same,
as shewn in Figs. 1 to 5; but it might also be provided with suitable projections
or side brackets for supporting the flanges of the rail a, as shewn in Figs. 2 to 5,
or as shewn in Fig. 4 in dotted lines, it might carry the flanges of the rail a only
without touching the under side of the groove; according to the last arrangements
it will be seen that the sides of the sleepers will form a continuation of those of the
rails, both being of the same angle. The sides may either be straight or terminate
'infect, as shewn in Figs. 1 to 4, and in dotted lines in Fig. 5.
The sleepers b may be open, either back, front, and bottom, or partly so, see
Fig. 5; they may be made of any convenient length so to suit the requirements.
If the sleepers are of the same length as the rail, it will be found advantageous not
to let them both break joint at one point, but to fix the same in such manner that
they interlace each other, and the same is to be done if several sleepers are used
for the support of one length of rail, as shewn in Fig. 6.
The rails are to be secured to the sleepers by means of bolts and nuts, setscrews,
cotters c, or any other kind of fastening, as shewn in Figures 1, 3, and 5, and in
dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 4.
The transverse connections of the two lines of rails to be made by means of a
flat bar of iron d screwed on both ends, which are to be connected in a similar
manner to that of the rails to the sleepers, as shewn in Fig. 1 to 5. If the con-
necting rod is only to pass through the sleeper it will require an intermediate piece
or ferrule f, as shewn in Fig. 1; or if cast iron, they may have nuts on either side
of the sleeper (which may be partly let into the casting); they may also be
fastened, as shewn in Figs. 2 and 4. The transverse connecting rod is regulated
by means of nuts; where there is no boss provided for the nut to screw against, it
is proposed to use the washer e, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, may be of any
suitable thickness, and bevel the opening fitting over the round part of the con-
nection. The connection between the sleepers may also be effected as shewn in
Fig. 3, d being a flat piece of iron clipping each sleeper at opposite ends. The
number and length of connecting rods and bolts will depend on the construction
of the railway and for what purpose it is required. The intermediate space left
between the sleepers is to be filled in with either gravel or specially formed stones,
or any other suitable material, as shewn in Fig. 5; the same is to be performed
with the hollow sleepers, which will have to be filled either with gravel, sand, or
concrete. The foundation will consist chiefly of gravel or concrete, or of a mixture
of mortar and stone or asphalte.
"

page_text: Having thus described the nature and object of my said Invention, and the
manner of carrying the same into practical effect, what I claim as the Invention it
is desired to secure by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. A rail consisting of two parts, the upper portion clipping the sides of the
lower one, and also resting with its under side on the top of same, substantially as
described and shewn in Fig. 1 of the Drawing.
Secondly. A rail consisting of two parts, the bottom portion having suitable
side brackets for the support of the side, also supporting the groove of the upper
rail with the top of bottom rail, substantially as described and shewn in Figs. 2, 3,
4, and 5.
Thirdly. The combination of rails and sleepers, substantially as described and
shewn in Fig. 5 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Browne, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty second day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.