Improvements in Railway Sleepers and Chairs.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Sleepers and Chairs.
I, AUGUST HAARMANN, of 7, Hamburgerstrasse, Osnabrück, in the German
Empire, General Director, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in permanent ways.
The forms of iron cross sleepers heretofore used no longer, as has been known
for some considerable time, suffice for the largely increased amount of traffic.
The disadvantages of the best known constructions of iron cross sleepers consist
in the fact that the distance of the upper surface of the rails from the bearing
surface of the sleepers is too small, that the shape of the sleeper which is hollowed
out downwards and sharp angled prejudices the bottom packing and the rigid
support in the bed and that by boring the sleepers for the purpose of receiving
the means for securing the rails in position the fibres of the upper half, which are
in strongest tension, become injured.
These three disadvantages are obviated by the permanent way with iron cross
sleepers constructed according to this invention.
In carrying out the invention the hollow shape of the cross sleeper is so
designed that a broad bearing surface is obtained which extends to the edges of
the base of the sleeper in the direction of action of the tamping or packing pick.
The shape in cross section is furthermore such that the central portion which
chiefly transmits the pressure to the bed only projects above the base to the
extent necessary for providing the required resistance of the sleepers against
bending. At the same time the uppermost fibres of the sleepers which are
subject to the greatest tension are protected from the prejudicial results of boring
by strengthening the centre of the sleeper with two upwardly directed ribs
arranged longitudinally of the sleeper.
Between the two ribs and at the bearing area of each rail, there is placed a
plate or chair, the said plate being held rigid in the direction of travel, and also
at right angles to this direction by means of bolts or the like securing the said
plate and the upper part of the sleeper together. By this means slip between
the parts, and the wear which would result therefrom are avoided.
The plate or chair is made with an inclined or horizontal upper face and is
of such a thickness that the upper face of the rails is at a sufficient distance from
the bearing surface of the sleepers, that is to say, such that the said bearing
Eurface is at a sufficient depth in the bed.
Dated the 6th day of September 1899.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Railway Sleepers and Chairs.
1, AUGUST HAARMANN, of 7, Hamburgerstrasse, Osnabrück, in the German
Empire, General Director, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in permanent ways.
The forms of iron cross sleepers heretofore used no longer, as has been known
for some considerable time, suffice for the largely increased amount of traffic.
The disadvantages of the best known constructions of iron cross sleepers consist
in the fact that the distance of the upper surface of the rails from the bearing
surface of the sleepers is too small, that the shape of the sleeper which is hollowed
out downwards and is sharp angled prejudices the bottom packing and the rigid
support in the bed and that by boring the sleepers for the purpose of receiving
the means for securing the rails in position the fibres of the upper half, which are
in strongest tension, become injured.
Now, these three disadvantages are obviated by the permanent way with iron
cross sleepers forming the subject of this invention.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a portion of a cross sleeper and rail
constructed according to the invention:
Figure 2 is a cross section of the sleeper; and
Figure 3 is a plan of a portion of the cross sleeper with the bearing plate or
chair.
The hollow shape of the cross sleeper A is so designed that a broad bearing
surface is obtained which extends to the edges of the base of the sleeper in the
direction of action of the tamping or packing pick.
The shape in cross section is furthermore such that the central portion which
chiefly transmits the pressure to the bed only projects above the base to the
extent necessary for providing the required resistance of the sleepers against
bending. At the same time the uppermost fibres of the sleepers which are
subject to the greatest tension are protected from the prejudicial results of boring
by strengthening the centre of the sleeper with two upwardly directed ribs a
arranged longitudinally of the sleeper.
Between the two ribs, and at the bearing area of each rail, there is placed
a plate or chair 6, the said plate being held rigid in the direction of travel and
also at right angles to this direction by means of bolts or the like securing the
said plate and the upper part of the sleeper together. By this means slip
between the parts and the wear which would result therefrom are avoided.
The plate or chair b is made with an inclined or horizontal upper face and is
of a depth such that the upper face thereof is at as great a height as possible
above the bearing surface of the sleepers, whereby also a thick or deep bed is
obtained in which the sleepers are embedded.
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
A permanent way with hollow iron cross sleepers and wherein the central

page_text: horizontal portion of each sleeper is limited by two parallel upper continuous
ribs a between which a plate or chair b receives a rigid bearing in every direction, .
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated the 18th day of May 1900.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.