IMPROVED RAILWAY CROSSINGS, AS ADAPTED TO THE PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATIONTED TO THE DOUBLE-HEADED RAIL AND THE ORDINARY RAIL AND CHAIB
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Burleigh, of the Great Northern
Railway, King's Cross, in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of "IMPROVED RAILWAY CROSSINGS, AS ADAPTED TO THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Burleigh
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
on the 22nd November 1858.
I, BENJAMIN BURLEIGH, of the Great Northern Railway, King's
Cross, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVED RAILWAY CROSSINGS, AS ADAPTED TO THE
DOUBLE-HEADED RAIL AND THE ORDINARY RAIL AND CHAIB,"
follows, viz.
The distinguishing feature in the construction of these crossings con-
sists of certain pieces of solid metal called flange bearers being inserted

page_text: and bolted between the wing rails, and between the wing and point
rails, for giving support to the flanges of the wheels while passing over
them, and thereby greatly increasing the strength and durability of the
crossings.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Benjamin Burleigh in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 22nd May 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
BENJAMIN BURLEIGH, of the Great Northern Railway, King's Cross,
in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in
the seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Burleigh, Her
special licence that I, the said Benjamin Burleigh, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Benjamin
Burleigh, 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
"IMPROVED RAILWAY CROSSINGS, AS ADAPTED TO THE DOUBLE-HEADED RAIL
AND THE ORDINARY RAIL AND CHAIR," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Benjamin Burleigh, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Benjamin Burleigh, 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 thereof (that is to say):-
The distinguishing feature in the construction of railway crossings
made according to my Invention consists of certain pieces of solid metal
called flange bearers being inserted and bolted between the wing rails,
and between the wing and point rails, for giving support to the flanges
of the wheels while passing over them, and thereby greatly increasing
the strength and durability of the crossings.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed
to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The Drawing shows a plan of a crossing one fourth of the real size,
constructed according to my Invention. And it also shows two cross
sections full size, by which the construction and combination of parts
will readily be traced and understood. And I may state that the forms
of the rails and chairs are such as have heretofore been used. The
chairs are respectively marked A, B, C, and D, and the two cross
sections, shewn on a full size scale, are respectively taken on the
two dotted lines E, F, and G, H, on the plan. Between the wing rails
and between the point and wing rails the bearers (which are to receive
and support the flanches of the wheels at the same time that the peri-
pheries of the wheels are supported by the rails) are fixed, as shewn in
the several figures, and I prefer that these flange bearers should be
made in three parts and of the form shewn. I prefer also that they
should be fixed to and between the rails by screw bolts and nuts, as
shewn. And I also prefer that the flange bearers should be made
of wrought iron faced with steel, but the form, the fixing, and the
material of the flange bearers may be varied without departing from my
Invention. The ends of the flange bearers are depressed or hollowed
out, so that the flange may not receive a shock, but come on them by
degrees.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, what I claim is, the combination of
parts, herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Burleigh, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of May, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
four.
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
BENJN BURLEIGH. (L.S.)