IMPROVEMENTS IN CHAIRS OR FASTENINGS FOR THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tweedy, of Newport, in the County
of Monmouth, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHAIRS OR
FASTENINGS FOR THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 28th April 1871, and dated the 18th February 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Tweedy at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th February 1871.
I, GEORGE TWEEDY, of Newport, in the County of Monmouth, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CHAIRS OR FASTENINGS FOR THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," to be as
follows:-
My Invention has reference to an improved construction of railway
chairs principally designed for securely locking the bolts and nuts of
the fish plates at the joints of the rails, and at the same time to hold
or grip the rails firmly at such points, but which improved chairs may
also be adapted for securing the rails at other points. I construct such
chairs of two main parts, the one part consisting of a bed plate with one

page_text: jaw for holding the rail cast thereon and having also a stop or lug for
holding the second part, which consists of a loose jaw, in constructing
such chairs for gripping the rail and its fish plates at the joints, the
fixed jaw is formed to fit the bottom of the rail and the one fish plate,
and has lateral wings or projections with notches into which fit the t
heads of the bolts to the fish plates whereby these are locked in position,
the loose jaw is also formed to fit the bottom of the rail and the other
fish plate and has lateral projections with notches into which fit the
nuts of the fish bolts so as to lock these in position. Between the foot
of the loose jaw and the before mentioned stop is sufficient space to allow 1
the loose jaw to be dropped on to the bed plate clear of the rail with its
fish plate and bolts and then to be slid up against the latter, in which
position it is firmly secured so as, together with the fixed jaw, to grip
the rail and fish plates by means of a key or wedge driven in between
the foot of the loose jaw and the stop. The bearing surface of the stop 1
is tapered so as to produce the requisito wedging action and both it
and the foot of the jaw are formed with a bevil so as to hold tho
latter down on the chair when the key is driven in. To prevent the
key from shaking loose through vibrations, both it and the stop may
have a notch formed in the meeting surfaces into which is driven a
plug or wedge.
In another modification I employ in place of the ordinary fish bolts
and nuts pins without heads, which are inserted through the holes of
the fish plates and rails, and the jaws of the chair are made to fit against
and to grip the fish plates and rails so as to cover the bolt holes. In:
some cases one or both of the fish plates may be dispensed with and
the wings or projections of one or both of the jaws be made to act
in liou thereof, in which case the fish bolts would pass through holes
in the jaw or jaws instead of fitting into notches thereon as described.
Or in place of using fish bolts in this arrangement the fixed or loose;
jaw of the chair may have studs projecting from the bearing surface,
which studs are made to enter the holes in the rails.
In employing my improved construction of chairs for holding the
rails at points between the joints, the before-mentioned key for securing
the loose jaw may be dispensed with, and the loose jaw be made to
take a bearing directly against the stop, in this case the loose jaw is
slid in sideways, and both it and the stop are formed with tapering
meeting surfaces so that the jaw is driven in with a wedging action,

page_text: and it is prevented from riding loose by means of a pin fitting in notches
formed in the jaw and the stop in a similar manner to that before
described.
In adapting the chair for securing either two rails at crossings and
switches or a guard rail in addition to the ordinary rail, the chair is
formed with a fixed central double jaw and with two stops, one on each
side of the double jaw, and each rail is secured against the one face
of the double jaw by a loose jaw driven in between the one stop and
the respective rail.
My improved chairs may be employed for holding any form of rail,
and they may either be fixed to any kind of sleeper in the ordinary
manner or they may be formed with a bowl shaped base resting directly
on the ballast similarly to ordinary bowl-chairs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Tweedy in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th August 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
TWEEDY, of Newport, in the County of Monmouth, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Tweedy, Her special licence that I,
the said George Tweedy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said George Tweedy, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 "INPROVEMENTS IN CHAIRS OR
FASTENINGS FOR THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said George Tweedy, my executors or ad-
ministrators, 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

page_text: 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 Tweedy, 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 Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say) :-
My Invention has reference to an improved construction of railway i
chairs principally designed for securely locking the bolts and nuts of
the fish plates at the joints of the rails, and at the same time to hold or
grip the rails firmly at such points, but which improved chairs may also
be adapted for securing the rails at other points. I construct such
chairs of two main parts, the one part consisting of a bed plate with one
jaw for holding the rail cast thereon, and having also a bevilled stop or
lug for holding the second part which consists of a loose jaw. In con-
structing such chairs for gripping the rail and its fish plates at the joints
the fixed jaw is formed to fit the bottom of the rail and the one fish
plate, and has lateral wings or projections with notches into which fit the
heads of the bolts to the fish plates, whereby theso are locked in position;
the loose jaw is also formed to fit the bottom of the rail and the other
fish plate, and has lateral projections with notches into which fit the
nuts of the fish bolts so as to lock these in position. Between the foot
of the loose jaw and the before-mentioned stop is sufficient space to
allow the loose jaw to be dropped on to the bed plate clear of the rail
with its fish plate and bolts, and then to be slid up against the latter, in
which position it is firmly secured so as together with the fixed jaw to
grip the rail and fish plates by means of a key or wedge driven in
between the foot of the loose jaw and the stop. The bearing surface of 3
the stop is tapered so as to produce the requisite wedging action and
both it and the foot of the jaw are formed with a bevil so as to hold the
latter down on the chair by a dovetail action when the key is driven in.
To prevent the key from shaking loose through vibrations both it and
the stop may have a notch formed in the meeting surfaces into which is
driven a pin or plug.
In another modification I employ in place of the ordinary fish bolts
and nuts pins without heads which are inserted through the holes of the

page_text: fish plates and rails, and the jaws of the rail are made to fit against
and to grip the fish plates and rails so as to cover the bolt holes. In
some cases one or both of the fish plates may be dispensed with, and the
wings or projections of one or both of the jaws be made to act in lieu
thereof, in which case the fish bolts would pass through holes in the jaw
or jaws instead of fitting into notches thereon as described. Or in place
of using fish bolts in this arrangement the fixed or loose jaw of the chair
may have studs projecting from the bearing surface, which studs are
made to enter the holes in the rails.
In employing my improved construction of chairs for holding the rails
at points between the joints the before-mentioned key for securing the
loose jaw may be dispensed with and the loose jaw be made to take a
bearing directly against the bevilled stop; in this case the loose jaw is
slid in sideways, and both it and the stop are formed with tapering
meeting surfaces, so that the jaw is driven in with a wedging action, and
it is prevented from riding loose by means of a pin or plug fitting in
notches formed in the jaw and stop in a similar manner to that before
described.
In adapting the chair for securing either two rails at crossings and
switches or a guard rail in addition to the ordinary rail the chair is
formed with a fixed central double jaw and with two bevilled stops, one
on cach side of the double jaw, and each rail is secured against the ono
face of the double jaw by a loose jaw driven in between the one stop and
the respective rail.
My improved chairs may be employed for holding any form of rail,
and they may either be fixed to any kind of sleeper in the ordinar
manner, or they may be formed with a bowl-shaped base resting directly
on the ballast similarly to ordinary bowl chairs.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings are shewn various modifica-
tions of my before-described improved construction of railway chairs.
Figures 1 to 5 shew my improved railway chair as adapted for holding
the rails at the joints, and at the same time effecting the locking of the
bolts of the fish plates. The same letters of reference indicate the
corresponding parts throughout all the Figures.
Figure 1 shews a front elevation of the chair, rail, and fish plates;
Figure 2 shews a plan of the same; Figure 3 shews a side eleva-
tion; Figure 4 shews a front elevation of the chair with rail and

page_text: loose Jaw removed, and Figure b shows an cnd view of the loose Jaw
detached.
The chair consists, firstly, of a bed plate A with one jaw B for holding
the rail, and a lug or stop C for securing the looso jaw; secondly, of the
loose dovetailed jaw D; and, thirdly, of the wedge or key E driven in
between the lug Ċ and loose jaw D. The jaws B and D are formed to
fit against the fish plates F, F, and the bottom of the rail G. They are
provided with wings B¹, D', having notches b, d, into which fit the heads
and nuts of the fish bolts H, whereby these are locked in position. In
fixing the loose jaw D this is first dropped on to the bed A between the
lug C and the rail clear of the projecting heads of the bolts H, and it is
then slid up against the fish plate, after which the key E is driven in
between the foot of the loose jaw and the lug so as to cause the former
to grip the rail firmly between it and the jaw B. The foot of the jaw D
and the inner face of the lug C are formed with a bevil (the bevil of the
lug being greater than that of the jaw as shewn) whereby the key is
prevented from riding out vertically, while at the same time the jaw is
held down both by fitting underneath the rail as shewn and by the key
being thus dovetailed in its seat; the key is also prevented from riding
out laterally by the introduction of a pin or plug I into notches formed
in the meeting surfaces of the key and the lug.
Figures 6 and 7 show respectively a front elevation and a side
clevation of a modified construction of the chair and mode of securing
the rail wherein pins H without heads or nuts are inserted through
the holes in the rails G and fish plates F, and are secured in position
by the fixed jaw B and loose jaw D of the chair which cover the fish
plates and grip them firmly against the rail. The loose jaw D can
in this arrangement be inserted sideways into its place on the chair.
It is therefore made to fit directly against the lug C, the key employed
in the former arrangement being dispensed with and the meeting surfaces
of the jaw and lug are formed so as to produce the requisite wedging
action when the former is driven in. Figure 8 shows an end view of
the loose jaw detached.
Figures 9, 10, and 11 shews respectively a front view, a plan, and a
side view of an arrangement in which the wings B', D', on the fixed
jaw B and loose jaw D are made to serve in place of the fish platos;
they are for this made to fit against the rail as shown and are secured
by the ordinary fish bolts. The loose jaw D is in this caso secured in

page_text: the chair by a key E driven in between it and the lug as in the first
arrangement as the loose jaw requires sufficient space on the bed
plate A to be dropped in and then slid up against the rail. Figures
12 and 13 shew respectively an elevation and plan of a modification of
the chair for holding the rail between the joints as an ordinary chair.
In this case also the loose jaw D fits directly against the lug C, being
driven in with a wedging action so as to grip the rail, and it is
prevented from riding loose by a pin or plug I, as before described.
Figures 14 and 15 shew respectively an elevation and plan of the same
arrangement applied to a flanged rail G.
Figures 16 and 17 show an elevation and plan of an arrangement in
which studs K are formed on the fixed jaw B of the chair, which enter
corresponding holes in the rails G; so as to hold this more securely the
loose jaw D (shewn detached at Figure 18) is constructed in the same
manner as at Figures 12 and 13. The arrangement may be employed
either at the joint of the rails or at intermediate points.
Figure 19 shews an elevation of a double chair for holding two rails
G, G. The chair is for this purpose provided with a central double fixed
jaw B and two loose jaws D, D, fitting with a wedging action against the
two lugs C, C.
By the use of my before described improved chair the following
advantages are attained :—
First. Wood keys are not required as in the common chairs.
Second. When the loose jaw is in place the rail will be firmly held
to gauge and will remain true for an unlimited time; with the
common chairs the wood keys decay and allow the rails to spread out of
gauge.
Third. Curved roads will be easily made and repaired, as by removing
the loose jaw the rails can be quickly laid or replaced in a shorter
time and with a smaller staff of men, as the rails will not require to be
canted.
Fourth. In casting new chairs the loose jaws will always be available
as they are interchangeable with all the chairs.
Fifth. The weight of this chair is about the same as the common
chair.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I

page_text: am aware that railway chairs have already been constructed with one
fixed jaw and one loose jaw, and I therefore do not claim this generally;
but what I claim is,―
First. Constructing railway chairs with a loose dovetailed jaw secured
by means of a lateral wedging action against a fixed bevilled lug or stop 6
on the chair, such wedging action being effected either by the jaw itself
or by the intervention of a key or wedge driven in laterally between the
loose jaw and the lug, substantially as herein-before described.
Second. Constructing railway chairs having a loose jaw arranged as
described in the first claim with wings or lateral projections on the jaws 1
for holding the rails at the joints and locking the nuts of the fish bolts,
substantially as herein-before described with reference to Figures 1 to 5
of the Drawings.
Third. Securing the joints of the rails by means of pins without heads
or nuts passing through the rail and fish plates and held in position by 1
the fixed and looso jaws of the chairs, substantially as herein-before
described with reference to Figures 6 to 8 of the Drawings.
Fourth. Constructing the chair with loose jaw as described in the
first claim with wings or projections acting in lieu of fish plates for
securing the rails at the joints, substantially as herein-before described 2
with reference to Figures 9 to 11 of the Drawings.
Fifth. Providing the fixed jaw of railway chairs constructed as
described in the first claim with studs entering holes in the rails,
substantially as herein-before described with reference to Figures
16 to 18 of the Drawings.
Sixth. Adapting railway chairs constructed as described in the first
claim to hold two rails, substantially as herein-before described with
reference to Figure 19 of the Drawing.
2
In witness whereof, I, the said George Tweedy, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of August, in the year of our 3
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.