IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Paterson Smith, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, N.B., Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Paterson Smith at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th October 1877.
JOHN PATERSON SMITH, of the City of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
N.B., Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
My Invention consists in forming railway sleeper chairs of iron or steel plates in
one piece, or of two or more pieces of plate attached so as to form a continuous cross
sleeper, which in conjunction with the fixing bolts will maintain the rails securely
at the proper gauge, and at the same time hold the rail at the proper cant or angle
without the intervention of tie rods or other appliances.
The sleepers are stamped out of the plates to the required form, which in general
is convex on the upper side, with a certain portion of the top flat, or nearly so, the
concave side being next to the ballast. To give the sleepers great transverse
strength to resist the ross strains to which they may be subjected the side flanges
are increased in depth from the rails towards the centre of the sleeper in such a
manner as to resist most effectually the cross strains and prevent the sleeper
bending. I prefer to make the ends of the sleepers on the upper side recessed or
embossed so as to receive the bottom of the rail, which recessing is to be made at
such an angle as to give the rail the proper "cant" when it rests directly upon the
sleeper, so that by securing the rail directly to the sleeper by bolts, or by bolts and
clips, the rail is maintained at the proper "cant" and the guage between the rails
made secure.
337
"

page_text: The heads of the bolts, or the section of the clips or washers if used in con-
junction with the bolts for fixing, are of such a form as to fit into the embossed or
irregular surface of the sleeper plate so as to make a strong and secure fastening
and brevent the bolts turning round.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said John Paterson Smith in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th May 1878.
JOHN PATERSON SMITH, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, N.B., Civil
Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
"
The object of my Invention is to provide for railways of all gauges, for heavy and
light rolling loads alike, permanent way, securing the following amongst other
advantages:
(1.) Great strength.
(2.) Sufficient but not excessive elasticity.
(3.) Small number of parts.
(4.) Reduction in cost.
(5.) Low charges incidental to maintenance.
And, (6.) With fastening bolts and parts freed from shearing strains.
For that purpose 1 so fashion each sleeper chair in a novel manner from one or
more plates (usually from one), of iron or steel as to form a continuous cross
sleeper, and I so combine a series of such sleepers, or use them in conjunction with
the rails and fixing bolts and bed plates, when the latter are used, that the rails are
maintained securely at the proper gauge, and held at the proper cant or angle
without the intervention or employment of transverse tie rods or other like
appliances.
The continuous cross sleepers are in their general aspect convex on their upper
surfaces, a portion of the top of each being flat, or nearly so, and the under sides
concave. Embossations or flutings radiate from the top part towards the outer
edges to give the required rigidity and resilience, and for the purpose of affording
strength to resist cross strains and for preventing bending a portion of the said
sleeper is made narrower on the top part, the sides bent downwards, and the lower
edges curved or bent outwards.
In some instances said continuous cross sleepers may be deeper at the narrowed
portion than elsewhere. On the upper sides of the said sleepers, usually near
the ends thereof, shouldered recesses or depressions are formed to receive the
bottom or lower flange of the rail, or the bed plates and rails, or chairs or
rails, when bed plates or chairs are used; and such recesses or depressions in
the metal are made at such an angle as to give the rails the proper cant when
the rails rest directly upon the sleeper. When bed plates and chairs are used
either may serve to give the required cant.

page_text: The heads of the fastening bolts usually employed, or the section of the clips or
washers, if the latter are used with ordinary bolts or nuts, are of such form as to fit
into or against the enclosed or irregular surfaces of the sleepers at and about the
recesses or depressions, so as thereby to make a strong and secure fastening and
prevent the bolts from turning round."
That the several features of novelty of my Invention and suitable details for
carrying the same into practice may be readily seen and understood, I have hereto
appended two Sheets of illustrative Drawings.
Fig. 1 is a plan of eight continuous cross sleepers laid so as to embrace a 24 feet
length of rail of a single line of metre gauge.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section at the line x, x.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section at the centre of the sleeper.
In these views like letters and figures have been made upon the same parts.
The continuous cross sleeper A. has the dished configuration with top flat part 1,
embossations 2, flanged sides 3, and recurved edges 4.
The narrowing of the top part, as will be obvious, may be dispensed with, but
where keen resistance to bending is required, such narrowing is preferred.
The recesses or depressions at 5 in the modifications now being referred to have
their bearing surfaces left at such an angle that the rails B when placed in position
directly thereon assume the necessary cant or angle, and the edges receive the thrust
of the rails, so receiving the lateral thrust is important, 6 bolts and 7 nuts. The
heads of the bolts here shown are so shaped as to closely fit the under side of the
metal at the depressions and to be locked in position when the nuts are screwed
home. These bolts are not subjected to cross shearing strains, as is the case in all
other arrangements of permanent way with metal sleepers.
The parts combined, as last above described, are suitable for what are known as
light railways, but the proportions may be varied to suit heavier loads and wider
gauges, and the details of parts may be varied.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section of a portion of sleeper, rail, and fastenings similar to
Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, but drawn to a larger scale and with the addition of a clip 8.
Here clip 8 is used under the nut so as to overlay the bottom flange of the rail and
hold said rail B in position at the desired cant or angle.
Fig. 5 shows a transverse section of part of a sleeper with rail and fastenings, the
rail being caused to rest on a bed plate 9, said bed plate being introduced as for
widening the gauge at curves. The same parts shown in this Figure are marked
with the same letters and figures as in Figs. 1 to 4.
Fig. G is a section showing the recess or depression 5 sufficiently broad to receive
a bed plate 9 with shouldered recess at 10. The edges of the bed plate butt against
the shoulders of the recess in the sleeper; the bottom flange of the rail against the
shouldered recess in the bed plate, and the fastening bolts and nuts pass through the
sleeper and bed plate and hold the clips S over the rail.
Fig. 7 shows the parts illustrated in Fig. 6 with the bed plate reversed, so as to
widen the gauge for curves and the like.
Fig. 8 shows a recess or depression narrower than the bottom flange of the rail;
the under side of the bed plate is rolled to fit said recess.
Fig. 9 has the bed plate of Fig. 8 reversed for widening at curves, and the like.
Fig. 10 represents a section of double-grooved recess or depression and bed plate
to fit same; the shoulders on the latter are adapted for the bottom flange of the
rail. By reversing the bed plate the gauge can be widened.
It will be evident as regards the several modifications above referred to, where
bed plates are used, that by having these of different thicknesses the gauge can be
adjusted for any curve. The said feature ensures one of the best advantages under
my Invention.

page_text: Fig. 11 shows in section modification of a continuous cross sleeper carrying a
chair in a shouldered recess or depression, the chair being suitable for a double-
headed rail. A, sleeper; B, rail; C, chair; 5, bolts; and 6, nuts.
In the manufacture of continuous cross-sleeper chairs in quantity, under my
improvements, I proceed in manner following, and by such procedure ensure rapidity
of production, and exactness of outline, and fitness for the purposes described :-
Having obtained plates of the necessary size I first heat them in a suitable furnace,
and whilst hot, I, at one operation and in the same machine, give the outline with
embossations, recesses, or depressions and flanges (where the latter are used), and
punch out the pieces and form holes for the fastening bolts. Thereafter when
cooled to the proper temperature said cross sleepers are immersed in a coating
mixture to prevent corrosion. A proper heat for such sleepers is ensured when
immediately after removal from the bath the coating mixture dries hard.
"
It is an important feature of my permanent way that the continuous cross
sleepers are fashioned and finished ready for use with the curving, the embossations,
the recesses or depressions, and the exact bolt holes at one operation.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and particularized the
'same so that others will be enabled to carry my improvements into practice, I
claim, permanent way with the novel constructions and combinations, substantially
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Paterson Smith, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
J. P. SMITH. (L.S.)