IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS, WHICH IMPROVE- MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY WHEELS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Whitley and John Watson Burton, both of
Leeds, in the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS, WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY WHEELS."
Sealed the 12th June 1868, and dated the 23rd December 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Whitley and John
Watson Burton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
"Petition, on the 23rd December 1862.
We, JOSEPH WHITLEY, and JOHN WATSON BURTON, both of Leeds, in the
County of York, do hereby. declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS,
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY WHEELS," to be
follows:-
The improvements in the construction of the permanent way of railways
consist in the application of a packing of wood, paper, or felt, between the con-
necting plates or fishes, for connecting the rails together and the rails. These
matters used as packing may be compressed and chemically prepared, as is
well understood, to aid in their preservation from the action of damp.
The improvements are also applicable to railway wheels constructed of
metallic disc sides, the packing being in this case applied between the metallic
discs and the parts to which they are connected with the rims and with the
bosses.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Whitley and John Watson Burton in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 23rd June 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOSEPH
WHITLEY and JOHN WATSON BURTON, both of Leeds, in the County of York,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Joseph Whitley and John Watson Burton, Her special licence
that we, the said Joseph Whitley and John Watson Burton, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Joseph Whitley
and John Watson Burton, our executors, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE. ALSO APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY. WHEELS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Joseph Whitley and John Watson Burton,
our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or
their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, should
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 we, the said Joseph Whitley and John Watson
Burton, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof; that is to say :-
The improvements in the construction of the permanent way of railways
consist in the application of a packing or cushion of wood, paper, or felt,
between the connecting plates or fishes for connecting the rails together and
the rails. These cushions may be compressed and chemically prepared, as is
well understood, to aid in their preservation from the action of damp.
In the sectional Drawing attached, a, a, indicate two opposite connecting
plates or fishes for connecting rails together when drawn towards each other

page_text: by screws b, or by other suitable means; c, c, the packing or cushion of wood
or other material, according to our improvements.
The improvements are also applicable to railway wheels constructed of
metallic disc sides, the cushion being in this case applied between. the
metallic discs and the parts to which they are connected with the rims and
with the bosses.
The wood or other material introduced as referred to, to serve as a packing
or cushion between the parts, we saturate with oil, tallow, creosote, or other
preservative matter, and we subject it to compression, to avoid shrinking. By
the expansive force of the cushion acting upon the bolt, the same is kept tight,
and the friction of the two iron surfaces (as now constructed) being removed
the joint will remain perfect, preserving the rail ends from the destruction
they are now subjected to, by the irregularity of their deflection, when the
trains are passing over, securing comfort to the traveller and durability to the
rolling stock.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joseph Whitley and John Watson
Burton, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twentieth day
of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-three.
JOSEPH WHITLEY.
(L.S.)
JOHN WATSON BURTON. (L.S.)
JOSEPH WHITLEY.
(L.S.)
JOHN WATSON BURTON. (L.S.)