IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS FOR RAILWAYS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles William Spruyt, of New Broad Street, in
the City of London, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN RAILS FOR RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 5th May 1863, and dated the 8th November 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles William Spruyt
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition; on the
8th November 1862.
I, CHARLES WILLIAM SPRUYT, of New Broad Street, in the City of London,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM."
PROVEMENTS IN RAILS FOR RAILWAYS," to be as follows:
My Invention consists in forming rails in two parts, the foot, the web, and
a shoe in one piece, and the top in another piece. The top is shrunk, bolted,
or otherwise attached to the shoe, and when worn' it can be removed and
another top may be fixed on. the same shoe!
My Invention also consists in inserting between the shoe and the top a
layer of lead, hardened rubber, or other material softer than iron.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of November, 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 me, the
said Charles William Spruyt, Her special licence that I, the said Charles
William Spruyt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Charles William Spruyt, 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 RAILS FOR RAILWAYS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Charles William Spruyt, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the samet o 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 Charles William Spruyt, do, hereby
declare 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in forming rails in two parts, the foot, the web. and
a shoe in one piece, and the top in another piece. The top is shrunk, bolted,
or otherwise attached to the shoe, and when worn it can be removed, and
another top may be fixed on the same shoe.
My Invention also consists in inserting between the shoe and the top a
layer of lead, hardened rubber, or other material softer than iron.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings shows in transverse section one
method of forming rails according to this Invention. The rail is formed of two
parts, the foot a, web b, and a shoe c being in one piece, and the top d in
another piece. The top d is placed upon the shoe c, and secured thereto
by pins e, placed at suitable distances apart.
Figure 2 shews a modification of the form of rail represented in Figure 1,
in which the upper part of the shoe c is bulged out or enlarged, so that the
top d, which is of corresponding shape, is held without the aid of pins. The
top d may in this case be drawn longitudinally on to the shoe c, and I prefer
that it should be drawn on hot, so that the shrinking consequent upon the

page_text: cooling may cause it to grasp the shoe more tightly. In the form of rails
shewn at Figures 1 and 2 the top d may be applied cold to the remainder of
the rail, as it comes from the mill, and I prefer the top d to be of steel, which
would be annealed by being brought into contact with the red-hot iron.
In Figure 3 I show a rail in which the foot a, web b,and shoe c are divided
longitudinally, and the top d is formed with a tongue f, which is securely held
between the halves of the shoe c upon the screwing up of bolts g and nuts h;
i is a washer, held between the web b and nut h. If desired, the tongue f
may be carried down between the halves of the web 6 far enough for the bolts g
to pass through it. I insert a layer of lead, india-rubber, or other material
softer than iron between the shoe cand the top d, and if desired, the upper
surfaces of the shoe may be made slightly concave, and a thin strip or sheet
of steel placed thereon, so as to act as a spring, and thereby compensate for
any want of straightness in the rails.
Although I have only described and shown my Invention as applied to
Vignoles' or single-headed rails, it is equally applicable to double-headed rails.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not confine myself
to the methods herein-before described and shewn in the Drawings of
securing the tops to the remainder of the rails, as many other methods may
be employed without departing from my Invention, and I claim,—
First, forming rails for railways in which the top is formed in a separate
piece, and secured to the remainder of the rail in such manner that it can be
removed therefrom when worn, and replaced by another top, substantially as
herein-before described.
Second, inserting a layer of lead, india-rubber, or other material softer than
iron, between the top and the remainder of the rail, as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Charles William Spruyt, have here.
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-three.
C. W. SPRUYT. (L.S.)