IMPROVEMENTS IN SUPPORT- ING RAILS OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Spencer, of 6, Cannon Street West,
Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SUPPORT-
ING RAILS OF RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 16th November 1853, and dated the 14th September 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Spencer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 14th September 1853.
I, GEORGE SPENCER, of 6, Cannon Street West, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare that the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SUPPORTING RAILS OF RAILWAYS" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of applying longitudinal bearers of iron which
are corrugated transversely or across in such manner that the rails,
whether fixed directly to the bearers or indirectly, are supported by the
convex parts of the corrugations, and in some cases I combine there-
with wood or other bearers below the corrugated longitudinal bearers
of iron.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Spencer in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th March 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
GEORGE SPENCER, of 6, Cannon Street West, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteeeth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said George Spencer, Her special
licence that I, the said George Spencer, my executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Spencer, 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 SUPPORTING RAILS OF RAILWAYS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said George Spencer, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, 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
Scal 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 Spencer, 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):
This Invention consists of applying longitudinal bearers of iron
which are corrugated transversely or across in such manner that the
rails, whether fixed directly to the bearers or indirectly, are supported
by the convex parts of the corrugations; and in some cases I combine
therewith wood or other bearers below the corrugated longitudinal
bearers of iron.

page_text: Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed.
to describe the same.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, shew section, plan, and elevation of one modifi-
cation of my Invention. (A) shews the rails resting on a series of,
wrought iron corrugated plates (B) about two feet wide. The corruga-.
tions are about nine inches pitch, and the rail is secured to the corru-
gated plates by a half inch bolt and nut or rivet. At each corrugation
a strip of felt (C), or any such like material, is placed between the rails
and corrugated plates. A corrugated cross plate (D) rivetted or bolted
to the longitudinal plates (B, B,) is placed about every fifteen feet to
preserve the relative distances of the rails, and to assist in strengthen-
ing the rail joints. E, is the ballast of roadway.
Figures 4, 5, and 6, shew section, plan, and elevation of another
modification of my Invention. A, is the rail, resting on a series of.
corrugated plates (B), and bolted or screwed together at each corruga-
tion. A piece of felt (C), being introduced between the plates (B), are
then bolted or screwed to the ordinary longitudinal sleepers D; such,
for example, as those used on the Great Western Railway of England.
d, is a cross timber every twelve or fifteen feet.
Figures 7, 8, and 9, show another modification of my Invention, in
which the rail (A) is bolted or screwed to a longitudinal timber (D),
which rests on and is bolted or screwed to a series of corrugated
plates B, resting on the ballast E.
Figures 10, 11, and 12, shew another modification of my Invention.
in which the corrugated bearing plates are of cast iron. (A, A,) are
the rails; (B, B.) are the cast iron corrugated bearing plates, connected
at every twelve or fifteen feet by a cross plate (b), and bolted to the
plate (B).
Various forms to which the bearing plates may be corrugated are
shewn in Figures 13, 14, 15, and 16, and a method of increasing the
lateral strength by the use of double plates is shewn in Figure 17.
This latter plan can also be modified by placing the corrugations
of the lower plates (N) longitudinally, that is to say, at right angles
with those of the plates (B), but I prefer the method shown in
Figures 1, 2, and 3. Any of these plates can be covered with any

page_text: suitable material to protect them from rust, but I prefer the galvanizing
process, or they may be used without.
Various sections of rails may be used, but I prefer the section known
as the bridge rail; shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3, from its convenient
form for securing to the bearing plates. The pattern of rail (A),
Figure 18, would perhaps do equally well.
In Figure 19, I have shewn another method of fixing the rail (A).
Angle irons (C) are rivetted or bolted to the bearing plates (B); the
rail (A) is then held in position by the bolts and keys (e). Another
method of fixing the rail is shewn in Figures 10, 11, and 12.
The joints in each case require especial attention. In the mode
Figures 1, 2, and 3, a bar of iron (¹), Figure 3, is introduced into the
hollow space of the rail, which is bolted at one end to one of the rails,
as shewn in Figure 3, by the dotted lines, the other rail being left to
rest on it, thus allowing of expansion and contraction, and preventing
the evil of wide joints. Figures 9 and 10, 11 and 12, shew efficient
means of forming a joint; the rail joint and the flange C, joints being
made at different places, as shewn in Figure 12.
First, I claim the constructions herein described of wrought or cast
iron corrugated plates, in lieu of sleepers, for supporting the reils used
in railways.
Second, the construction of corrugated iron plates, to form a con-
tinuous spring, as described with reference to Figures 4, 5, and 6.
Third, the combination of corrugated plates and timber frames to
form a continuous spring or bearing for the rails of railways.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Spencer, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
EDW L. LETREE.
GEORGE SPENCER. (L.S.)