IMPROVEMENTS IN CAST-IRON RAILWAY. SLEEPERS.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Henry Denham, of Howrah, in the Province of
Bengal, in the Indian Empire, but at present of No. 21, Carlton Road, Maida
Vale, in. the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of, "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CAST-IRON RAILWAY. SLEEPERS.”.
Sealed the 7th December 1877, and dated the 28th June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Henry Denham at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th June 1877.
CHARLES HENRY DENHAM, of Howrah, in the Province of Bengal, in the Indian.
Empire, but at present of No. 21, Carlton Road, Maida Vale, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CAST-IRON RAILWAY SLEEPERS."
•
My Invention relates to a construction of cast-iron sleepers for railways.
A single sleeper according to my Invention consists of an oblong plate having
two ribs projecting from its upper surface and extending lengthwise of the plate,.
and also two ribs extending crosswise, a rectangular space being left between those
ribs to receive a block of wood, which serves as a cushion on which to rest the
rails.
The transverse ribs may meet the longitudinal ribs, and the latter may be
supported by additional buttress ribs.outside of them; also a transverse strengthening
rib may be formed on the under side of the plate. At one end of the plate is
formed a socket to receive a tie bar, but it is preferred to form such a socket at
each end, so that if one of them should be broken the other may be used by turning
the plate end for end. The plate is bedded on the ballast with its length transverse
to the line of rail, and a pair of the plates being laid down facing each other, they
are connected by a tie bar which is inserted into the sockets of the two plates, and
These slots
secured therein by gibs and cotters passed through slots in the bar.
and their gibs and cotters are made of such relative sizes that for straight rails the
two gibs are, towards each other, and the two cotters are from each other, but where
1

page_text: a curve demands a slight alteration of gauge the places of the gibs and cotters are
interchanged.
The rails may be held either in chairs or by clips secured to the sleepers by bolts
and nuts, the bolts for that purpose being passed through both the wooden cushion
and the sleeper plate.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Henry Denliam in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
December 1877.
CHARLES HENRY DENHAM, of Howrah, in the Province of Bengal, in the Indian
Empire, but at present of No. 21, Carlton Road, Maida Vale, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CAST-IRON RAILWAY SLEEPERS."
My Invention relates to a construction of cast-iron sleepers for railways.
A single sleeper according to my Invention consists of an oblong plate having
two ribs projecting from its upper surface and extending lengthwise of the plate,
and also two ribs extending crosswise, a rectangular space being left between
those ribs to receive a block of wood, which serves as a cushion on which to rest the
rails.
The transverse ribs may meet the longitudinal ribs, and the latter may be
supported by additional buttress ribs outside of them; also a transverse strengthening
rib inay be formed on the under side of the plate. At one end of the plate is formed
a socket to receive a tie bar, but it is preferred to form such a socket at each end,
so that if one of them should be broken the other may be used by turning the plate
end for end. The plate is bedded on the ballast with its length transverse to the
line of rail, and a pair of the plates being laid down facing each other, they are
connected by a tie bar which is inserted into the sockets of the two plates, and
secured therein by gibs and cotters passed through slots in the bar. These slots and
their gibs and cotters are made of such relative sizes that for straight rails the two
gibs are towards each other, and the two cotters are from each other, but where a
curve demands a slight alteration of gauge the places of the gibs and cotters are
interchanged.
The rails may be held either in chairs or by clips, secured to the sleepers by bolts
and nuts, the bolts for that purpose being passed through both the wooden cushion

page_text: A socket E is provided at one end of the plate to receive the tie bar F, and it is
convenient to have a similar socket at the other end, as indicated at E¹, so that
if either socket should be broken the other may be used on turning the sleeper
round.
For securing the tie bar F the cotter fand gib g are applied as shewn, but the
one being made a little wider than the other, their positions may be inverted where
it is necessary to make a slight variation in the gauge. The chair or clip bolts H
are passed through both the plate and the wooden cushion.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim, the use of a cast-iron railway sleeper, consisting of an
oblong plate having ribs on its upper surface, between which is placed a wood block to
form a cushion for the rail, the said plate having also a socket at the end for a tie
bar, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Henry Denham, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
CHAS . H. DENHAM. (L.S.)