Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Smith, of Sedgley, in the County of
Stafford, Coal and Iron Ore Master, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
Sealed the 22nd July 1873, and dated the 24th March 1873.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said David Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration,
on the 24th March 1873, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
SMITH, of Sedgley, in the County of Stafford, Coal and Iron Ore Master,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the
day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said David Smith, Her special licence that I, the said

page_text: David Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said David Smith, my exécutors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY
PERMANENT WAY," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
David Smith, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should 1
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Smith, do hereby declare 1
the nature of my said 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 constructing a rail in two parts, either both
of iron or of steel and iron, interlocking and breaking joints with each 2
other and bolted together, as shewn by Figure No. 1, Sheets A and B of
Drawings accompanying this Specification.
Also in constructing a rail in two parts, either both of iron or of iron
and steel, interlocking and breaking joints and bolted together, as shewn
on Drawings, Figure No. 2, Sheets A and B.
These rails (Figures Nos.. 1 and 2, Sheets A and B of Drawings) are
intended to be used in chairs with either wood or iron keys or wedges,
such keys or wedges being retained in the chair by means of a pin of
either wood or iron fitting into recesses formed partly in the key and
partly in the chair, as shewn in Figures Nos. 3 and 4, Sheet B of 3
Drawings.
Also in constructing a rail, commonly known as a foot rail, in two
parts, either both of iron or of steel and iron, interlocking and breaking
joints and bolted together, as shewn by Figure No. 3, Sheet A of
Drawings.
Also in constructing the part of the rail below the dotted horizontal
line shewn on Figure No. 4. thereby adapting it to transverse or longi-
2
3

page_text: iron sides by means of the recesses A, A, on head and projections B, B,
on sides has already been patented by Mr. T. A. Rochussen, No. 2432,
September 21st, 1866.
Also in constructing a rail in two parts, either both of iron or steel
and iron, breaking joints with each other and bolted, as shown by
Figure No. 5.
Also constructing the part below the horizontal dotted line, shewn on
Figure No. 6 both by the firm lines and the dotted lines, the parts above
the horizontal dotted line having been patented by Mr. G. F. L. Meakin,
No. 2767, October 26th, 1866.
Also in constructing a railway of longitudinal wood rails capped with
iron or steel, such capping being held in position by wood screws or
screw bolts and nuts or spikes, the rails resting on transverse wood
sleepers, and kept in gauge by means of wood stretchers and iron rod
bolts, as shewn by Figures Nos. 7 and 8.
Also constructing the wood sleepers by means of a combination of
transverse and longitudinal sleepers placed on the same level, both
framed, as shewn by Figures 9 and 10.
In order to increase the superficial under bearing of both transverse
and longitudinal sleepers I saw them so that the lower surface or that
resting on the ballast shall contain the greater superficial area, as
example, the width of bottom twelve inches, and the width of top eight
inches.
Any of these rails shewn to be fastened by screw bolts may be
also fastened, if preferred, by means of bolts and cotters or rivets, or
a combination of either.
By the adoption of these compound rails a smoother and safer per-
manent way is insured, the hammering out of the ends of the rails and
the breaking down of the top surface of the rail is prevented, and the
troublesome and inefficient fish plates are entirely dispensed with. Less
destruction to engines and rolling stock, greater ease and comfort to
travellers, and considerably less than one half the renewals will be
necessary on all railways using this compound system. By its adoption
steel for the wearing surface of rails can be used in proportions of steel
to iron of from onc-fitfl to one-half, thus reducing the first cost of these