Year: 1888

page_text: 1, VIVIAN BOLTON DOUGLAS COOPER of 2 Marlborough Mansions, Victoria Street,
Westminster in the county of Middlesex, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved form of metallic key or wedge for securing
the rails of the permanent way of railways and tramways to the chairs or sleepers
thereof.
My improved key is formed out of a plate of iron, steel or other suitable metal
about 6 inches wide, having a series of flutes or corrugations formed on one or both
sides thereof, such flutes or corrugations running longitudinally with the plate, before
it is shaped or bent to form the key.
I roll, stamp, or press the plate out of which the keys are formed with a thickened
edge on one side, which may either take the form of a bead, or the plate may taper
from one edge to the other, for a purpose that will hereinafter be made clear.
To make the keys I take a plate rolled, stamped or pressed as hereinbefore
described, and cut it into pieces about one foot long.
I then take each piece and with the aid of a suitable bending block or die, I turn
about 2 inches of each end of the plate back on itself with an easy bend. I then by
the aid of another suitable bending block or die, bend the plate at the centre of its
length to double the turned over ends on themselves until they touch each other. The
plate is thus bent three times on itself, and the flutes or corrugations then run
transversely round the keys or wedges. The bending blocks or dies are so shaped as
to give to the keys or wedges the particular external form that is required to suit
the chairs or sleepers with which they are to be used. If desired the keys or wedges
may be passed through a die to ensure perfect uniformity of their external shape.
It will be seen that as the plate is tapered from one edge to the other, the keys
or wedges will be taper when finished even if made on square bending blocks, though
if a greater taper than is thereby given is required, the bending blocks, or dies must
be fashioned accordingly.

page_text: The plates are made thicker at one end than another for another purpose beside
that of giving the necessary taper to the key and wedges, and that is to give increased
surface at the driving end of the said keys or wedges.
Dated thin 01st dan of Fab 18000
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
Rails to Chairs or Sleepers.
I, VIVIAN BOLTON DOUGLAS COOPER of 2 Marlborough Mansions, Victoria Street,
Westminster in the county of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to an improved form of metallic key or wedge for securing.
the rails of the permanent way of railways and tramways to the chairs or sleepers
thereof.
My improved key is formed out of a plate of iron, steel or other suitable metal,
having a series of flutes or corrugations formed on one or both sides thereof, such
flutes or corrugations running longitudinally or diagonally with the plate before it
is bent or blocked into shape to form the key.
The plate is formed with a thickened edge on one side, and is preferably made
taper throughout its length.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing are views in transverse section of
suitable plates for forming my improved keys, the former being corrugated on one
side only, and the latter on both sides. These corrugations may either run parallel
with the edge of the plate as illustrated by Figures 5 and 7, or diagonally therewith
as illustrated by Figures 3 and 4, the former running in one direction only and the
latter in opposite directions. I prefer to use that form illustrated by Figures 5 and 7, as
that section of plate can be rolled, while those forms illustrated by Figures 3 and 4
require to be stamped. The plates are made with a thickened edge a at one end and
are preferably tapered from that end to the other end as illustrated in
Figures 1 and 2.

page_text: To make the keys I take a plate rolled stamped or pressed as herein before
described, and cut it into pieces of a convenient length to make the sized key required.
I then take cach piece and with the aid of a suitable bending block or die, I bend it
in the direction of its length twice or three times on itself, as illustrated by Figures 6
and 8 of the accompanying drawing. By bending the plate so that its edges abut
in the direction of its greatest thickness I get the greatest elasticity where it is most
required. Figures 5 and 7 are views in longitudinal elevation and plan respectively
of the key illustrated in transverse elevation by Figure 6. By bending the plate to
form the key in the manner illustrated by Figure so that the turned up ends only
touch each other at the points b, b greater elasticity is obtained than if the edges
abutted against each other as illustrated by Figure 8.
The bending blocks or dies are so shaped as to give to the key the particular
external form that is required to suit the chairs or sleepers with which it is to
be used. If desired the keys or wedges may be passed through a die to ensure
perfect uniformity of their external shape.
It will be seen that as the plate is tapered from one edge to the other, the keys
or wedges will be taper when finished, even if made on square bending blocks, if a
greater taper, than is thereby given, is required, the bending blocks or dies are
shaped and fashioned accordingly.
By making the plates thicker at one end than the other, another purpose is served
beside that of giving the necessary taper to the key or wedges, viz. to give
increased surface at the driving ends of the said keys or wedges.
By corrugating the keys as hereinabove described and shown, they obtain a firm
and sure grip on both the rail and chair, and are not liable to work loose
by vibration.
I am aware that keys or wedges have been made out of metal plates prior to the
date of my invention, and I do not therefore claim such a construction broadly, but
having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. Constructing keys or wedges for fixing the rails of railways, tramways and the
like, specifically as set forth.
2. A key or wedge for fixing rails, formed of a metallic plate bent into the shape
illustrated and having corrugations formed thereon, transverse to its greatest length,
as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a key or wedge for fixing rails of the shape described and shown, giving the
necessary taper to the said key or wedge by making the plate out of which the key
or wedge is formed taper in the direction of its length, as set forth.
4. In a key or wedge for fixing rails, formed out of a metallic plate bent into the
shape as hereinabove described and shown, forming one end of the plate with a
thickened or beaded edge as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a plate for forming the key or wedge for fixing the rails of railways
tramways and the like, the combination of the corrugations on one or both sides of the
said plate, and the thickened or beaded edge, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 21st day of November 1888.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Fig.5.