IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Edward Dering, of Lockleys, near Welwyn,
in the County of Herts, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS
Sealed the 25th November 1864, and dated the 1st June 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Edward Dering
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st June 1864.
I, GEORGE EDWARD DERING, of Lockleys, near Welwyn, in the County of
Herts, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FASTENINGS FOR THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," to be as follows:-
These improvements have reference to the Invention of spring fastenings
made of steel or case or surface-hardened wrought iron, for which Letters
Patent were granted to me on the 23rd day of November 1860, and numbered
2867, and which are fully described in the Specification of the said Patent.
Firstly, I find it an important improvement, both as regards economy of
manufacture and efficiency in use, instead of tempering the various kinds of
the said fastenings as usual in the making of springs, and recommended in
my former Specification, simply to cool them when at a high temperature by
plunging into water. or other means.
Secondly, in order to obtain greater strength and to economise material,

page_text: I form the various spring fastenings with corrugations or with ribs or pro-
minences, or of unequal thickness, the greatest strength being given at the
parts where it is most needed.
Thirdly, in joining the ends of rails by means of my spring clips, instead of
forming the clips so as to embrace the rails closely, as described in my former
Specification, I find it advantageous to allow a sufficient amount of space on
one side or both for the insertion of a key or fish-plate between the rail and
the inside of the clip. The joint is made tight.by.driving in this key or fish-
plate, which may be made of wrought or cast or malleable cast iron, or of steel
of any suitable description, and may be either of taper or parallel shape.
Fourthly, another of my present improvements consists of a combined spring
clip and chair, the upper part or jaw of which holds the rail ends securely in
position by its elastic force, and the lower part; having an extended base, rests
upon a sleeper and may have holes and be fixed down to the sleeper by means
of my spring trenails or otherwise.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Edward Dering in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th November 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
EDWARD DERING, of Lockleys, near Welwyn, in the County of Herts, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Edward Dering, Her special licence that I, the said
George Edward Dering, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said George Edward Dering, my 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR THE PERMANENT WAY OF
RAILWAYS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George
Edward Dering, my executors or administrators; by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
1

page_text: 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 George Edward. Dering, 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?-
These improvements have reference to: the invention of spring fastenings.
made of steel or case or surface-hardened wrought iron, for which Letters
Patent were granted to me on the 23rd day of November 1860, and which are
fully described in the Specification of the said Patent..
Firstly, I find it an important improvement, both as. regards économy of
manufacture and efficiency in use, instead of tempering the various,kinds of
the said fastenings as usual in the making of springs, and recommended in
my former Specification, simply to cool them when at a high temperature by:
plunging into water or other means. In carrying out this part of my Inven-
tion it is advisable to make the fastenings of the material known in the trade
as "mild" steel; of such a quality 'as will become hard and. elastic, and not
brittle, by 'sudden cooling in water when at a red heat or thereabouts...I find
that by observing a proper relation of temperature to the quality and thickness.
of metal employed for each particular description of fastening, and which is a
matter determined by experiment in the first place and afterwards requiring
the exercise of some degree of judgment and experience on the part of the
workman, which no specific rules can be laid down for, the various kinds of
fastenings described in my former Specification, clips, keys, trenails, etc:; may
be manufactured in large quantities possessing with uniform certainty the
essential virtue of permanent elasticity without brittleness, and this without
recourse being had to any of the tedious and expensive methods. of " letting
the temper after hardening commonly employed in the making of
springs. The same system may also be applied with advantage to the various
descriptions of spring fastenings comprised in my present Specification....
down
Secondly, in order to obtain greater strength and to economize material, I
form the various spring fastenings with corrugations, or with ribs or pro-.
minences, or of unequal thickness, the greatest strength being given at the
parts where it is most needed. This part of my Invention, although applicable.
with advantage to the spring keys and trenails, is adapted specially to the
spring clips for joining the ends of rails, and the mode of carrying it into
practical operation which I prefer consists in forming the clips of gradually-

page_text: diminishing thickness from the central part underneath the rail to the upper
edges; or the clips are formed with about three external ribs or corrugations
running in the direction in which the clip embraces the rail; or the clips
may be made both of graduated thickness and with ribs or corrugations. The
plates are to be rolled as required for making such clips. These improve-
ments may be applied with advantage to the varieties of spring clip hereafter
described in my present Specification.
Thirdly, in joining the ends of rails by means of my spring clips instead of
forming the clips so as to embrace the rails closely, as described in my former
Specification, I find it advantageous to allow a sufficient amount of space on
one side or both for the insertion of a key or fish-plate between the rail and
the inside of the clip. The joint is made tight by driving in this key or fish-
plate, which may be made of wrought or cast or malleable cast iron, or of steel
of any suitable description, and may be either of taper or parallel shape. This
method of forming the joint is applicable with advantage to the double-headed,
bridge, vignole, or other descriptions of rail, and it is specially adapted to the
clip chair next described.
Fourthly, another of my present improvements consists of a combined spring
clip and chair, the upper part or jaw of which holds the rail ends securely in
position by its elastic force, and the lower part, having an extended base, rests
upon a sleeper, and may have holes and be fixed down to the sleeper by
means of my spring trenails or otherwise. The clip chair may be greatly
varied in shape and proportions to suit different sections of rail. Intermediate
chairs may also be advantageously constructed upon like principles, a key or
wedge being employed to tighten the rail within the elastic jaw of the chairs,
as described under the third head of my present Specification.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and what I believe
to be the best manner of carrying out the same, I would have it understood
that I do not in any respect confine myself to the details herein contained, as
the mode of putting the Invention into practice may be greatly varied; but
what I claim is,-
Firstly, the method of manufacturing my various spring fastenings of a
suitable degree of elasticity without materially "letting down" the temper
after hardening as usual in making springs.
Secondly, the manufacture of my spring fastenings, as herein described, of
varying thicknesses of metal.
Thirdly, the use of keys, fish-plates, or wedges, of any suitable shape and
material, in connexion with my spring clips for joining the ends of rails, or
with my spring-clip chairs.

page_text: Fourthly, the manufacture of spring-clip chairs herein described, whether
used for joining the rail ends or as intermediate chairs.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Edward Dering, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
GEORGE E. DERING. (L.s.)