IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SLEEPERS OR CROSS TIES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SLEEPERS OR CROSS
TIES." A communication from abroad by Archibald B. Tripler, of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Sealed the 16th August 1872 and dated the 30th May 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 30th May 1872.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SLEEPERS OR
CROSS TIES," a communication, to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to railway sleepers or cross ties, and consists in
constructing the same of a series of wooden slabs or timbers in such
manner that each end of the tie shall be of the required thickness while
a space is left in the central portion of the tie, both above and beneath
the central slab connecting the ends on which the rails are laid.

page_text: From this description it will be observed that the ends of the sleeper
or tie are of the required thickness to receive the rails, while its inter-
mediate portion, that is to say, the portion between the rails, is of such
a construction that, while it is as firm horizontally as a solid tie, it
admits of such a disposition of ballast as will remedy the many serious
objections which may be urged against a solid tie.
It is a fact well known to engineers and other railway employés that
the "rolling" of the carriages is occasioned in a great measure by the
uneven settling of the tics on the road bed. The pressure is exerted on
the ends of the ties carrying them down into the bed, while their centre
retains its position as laid, because of the resistance of the road bed.
Hence the frequent necessity for levelling, taking away from the middle
and placing under the ends, an operation which requires much time
and labor.
Moreover when a solid tie as usually laid becomes rotten or is cut by
the rail, the whole of it has to be removed and a new one substituted.
The construction of this improved sleeper or tie obviates these
difficulties besides possessing advantages which are of much importance
to railway interests. The said tie possesses great elasticity, thereby
lessening the ordinary wear and tear of the rolling stock of a railway.
It is easily and quickly repaired. Should it be cut or become rotten,
one workman can do in a short time all that is required to repair it by
removing the faulty section and inserting a new one in its stead. The
central part beneath the connecting slab does not come in contact with
the road bed until the ends have been depressed by the passing trains,
and the whole of the tie settles without straining, whereby it assumes a
horizontal and firm position. The space above the said connecting slab
also allows the tie to have a greater amount of ballast than a solid tie,
giving it increased solidity and steadiness in its centre while its ends
are elastic by reason of its sectional construction. The slabs composing
this improved tie may be submitted to a bath of antiseptic materials to
preserve them.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th November 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
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
RAILWAY SLEEPERS OR CROSS TIES," a communication to me from abroad
by Archibald B. Tripler, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of
America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, 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 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 William Robert Lake, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification.
My Invention relates to railway sleepers or cross ties, and consists in
constructing the same of a series of wooden slabs or timbers in such
manner that each end of the tie shall be of the required thickness, while
a space is left in the central position of the tic, both above and beneath
the central slab connecting the ends on which the rails are laid.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of a railway tie
embracing my improvements on the road bed, the upper central space
being filled with ballast, and the under space partially filled with the
soil of the road bed, as will be herein-after explained. Figure 2 is a per-
spective view of said tie showing more fully its construction.
A represents the central slab of the tie, and B the slabs forming in
connection with the said central portion the ends on which the rails
are laid.
It will be seen that each slab B extends about one-third of
the length of the tie, leaving in the central portion thereof a space C, C³,
also about one-third of its length, both above and below the connecting
timber A. From this description it will be observed that the ends of
the sleeper or tie are of the required thickness to receive the rail, while
its intermediate portion, that is to say, the portion between the rails, is
of such a construction that while it is as firm horizontally as a solid tie
it admits of such a disposition of ballast as will remedy the many
serious objections which may be urged against a solid tie.
It is a fact well known to engineers and other railway employés that
the "rolling" of the carriages is occasioned in a great measure by the
uneven settling of the ties on the road bed. The pressure is exerted on
the ends of the ties, carrying them down into the bed, while their centre
retains its position as laid, because of the resistance of the road bed.
Hence the frequent necessity for levelling, taking away from the
middle and placing under the ends, an operation which requires much
time and labor.
Moreover when a solid tie as usually laid becomes rotten or is cut
by the rail, the whole of it has to be removed and a new one sub-
stituted.
The construction of this improved tie obviates these difficulties
besides possessing advantages which are of much importance to railway
interests; the said tie possesses great elasticity, thereby diminishing
the ordinary wear and tear of the rolling stock of a railway. It is easily
and quickly repaired; should it be cut or become rotten one workman
can do in a short time all that is required to repair it by removing the
faulty section and inserting a new one in its stead. The space C¹ left
in the centre beneath the connecting slab does not come in contact with
the road bed until the ends have been depressed by the passing trains,

page_text: and the whole of the tie settles without straining, whereby it assumes a
horizontal and firm position. The space C above the said connecting
slab also allows the tie to have a greater amount of ballast than a
solid tie, giving it increased solidity and steadiness in its centre, while
its ends are elastic by reason of its sectional construction. Besides the
advantages above enumerated, there is the saving of timber in the
construction of the ties. The slabs composing this improved tie may
be submitted to a bath of antiseptic materials to preserve them. In
some cases I may modify the construction of the said tie by making it
of three or more pieces dovetailed together and having the same length,
breadth, and thickness throughout their extent.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same,
I wish it understood that I claim, the sectional railway sleeper or tie
herein described and shewn, consisting of slabs so united horizontally
by treenailing or otherwise, that spaces may be left between the ends
receiving the nails both above and below the connecting section or
sections for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
Witness,
W. J. Lowe.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)