IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EXISTING. IRON RAILS OF RAILWAYS AND OF TRAMWAYS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILS FOR FUTURE LINES OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Nelson Hutchinson, of Wellesbourne,
.
Bideford, in the County of Devon, Lieutenant-General in Her
· Majesty's Army, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EXISTING.
IRON RAILS OF RAILWAYS AND OF TRAMWAYS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
RAILS FOR FUTURE LINES OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
Sealed the 1st July 1870, and dated the 4th May 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Nelson
Hutchinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 4th May 1870.
I, WILLIAM NELSON HUTCHINSON, of Wellesbourne, Bideford, in the
County of Devon, Lieutenant-General in Her Majesty's Army, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
EXISTING IRON RAILS OF RAILWAYS AND OF TRAMWAYS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF RAILS FOR FUTURE LINES OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS," to be as follows:-
I propose, without necessarily removing the rails on existing lines, to
attach flat or rounded steel plates or bars, say, about half an inch thick,

page_text: and of the width and length of the rails to their uppermost surface by
large rectangular-headed (or other shaped) metal bolts, having two
sloping sides passing through correspondingly shaped countersunk slots
cut in the plates. The heads of the bolts and the slots in the plates are
so fitted one to another that the plates have no lateral or vertical play,
but are allowed a little play in the direction of their length, owing to the
slots being made somewhat longer than the heads of their respective
bolts. Thus the plates are free to adjust themselves to the varying
contraction and expansion of the two metals (the steel and iron) con-
sequent on changes of temperature, without injuriously affecting the
required close connection between the plates and the rails. The ends of
the bolts, after passing through much of the body of the rails, are
rivetted into countersinks, or are otherwise firmly fastened. The heads
of the bolts may be of steel, the rest of iron. The necessary portion of
the iron rail being removed for their insertion, clips in pairs on the steel
plate through which clips, and the rail, a rectangular (or other shaped)
bolt passes, are another means of fastening the plate to the rail.
The centre of each plate lies over the extremities of two adjacent
rails, and much similar, but larger and deeper clips than those just
described, retain the extremities of these rails in position. Such a clip
sunk to the level of the surface of the rail retains the adjacent
extremities of two rails in position when there is no steel plate. The
adjacent extremities of tramway rails can be thus held firmly in position.
The several slots through which the different bolts pass are made longer
(in the direction of the rail) than the respective bolts would otherwise
require, in order that no resistance shall be offered to the varying
contraction and expansion of the two metals.
For the future it may be found judicious to cast the iron rail (or bed)
for the steel plate or bar (whatever its shape, whether flat, oval,
circulár, or semicircular) with a groove along its centre in the direction
of its length, to receive a corresponding projection proceeding from the
bottom of the plate, which is further secured in position by bolts passing
transversely through the rail and projection. This groove and projection
be in one continued length or be broken into parts.
may