IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PERMANENT WAY OP RAILWAYS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Eckersley and David Martin, both of
Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, for the In-
vention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PERMANENT WAY
OP RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 5th May 1868, and dated the 3rd December 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Eckersley and David
Martin at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 3rd December 1867.
We, JAMES ECKERSLEY and DAVID MARTIN, both of Edinburgh, in the
County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PERMANENT WAY
OF RAILWAYS," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention, which relates to an improved mode for effecting and securing
the joints of rails, has for its object the cheapening the cost of as well as the
doing away with bolts, joint, or fish plates, and other similar details at present
used, and consists as follows:--An iron chair or bracket is used for each joint,
on which there are attached or formed one or more pairs of snugs or pro-
jections for holding the rails. When the rails are put in place, they are firmly
secured by wedges driven between the rail and the opposite snug. Through

page_text: or into the end of each rail one or more holes are formed through which
pins are inserted and pass into corresponding holes in the bracket or chair.
The pins are made larger at the inner end, so that when the wedge for
retaining the rails is driven into its place the pins cannot slip out of their
holes. In place of using loose or separate pins the projection or snug on the
chair or bracket may be formed with projecting studs that pass into corres-
pondingly formed holes in the rails, so that when the wedges are driven the
studs retain the parts firmly in position and render their junction very effective.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Eckersley and David Martin in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th May 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
ECKERSLEY and DAVID MARTIN, both of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid
Lothian, North Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of December in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said James Eckersley and David Martin, Her special licence that we,
the said James Eckersley and David Martin, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said James Eckersley and David
Martin, our 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said James Eckersley and David Martin, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, 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 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Eckersley and David Martin,
do bereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
These improvements have reference to constructing and securing the
joints of rails with the intent and object of cheapening the cost of as well as
doing away with the bolts, joints, or fish plates, and other similar details at
present used, and comprises the following constructions:-An iron chair or
bracket used for each joint on which there are attached or formed one or
more snugs or projections for holding the rails, one or more cushions of wood
being placed at the side and underneath the rails. When the rails are put in
position they are firmly secured by one or more wedges driven between the
rails and the opposite snug. The wedge or wedges being slightly bevilled are
drawn tightly into position by a bolt passing longitudinally through the same
and secured by nuts or other contrivance. Through or into the end of each
rail one or more holes are formed into which pins are inserted that pass into
corresponding holes in the bracket or chair. Instead of using loose or
separate pins the projections or snugs on the chair or bracket may be formed
with projection studs which pass into correspondingly formed holes in the rails,
so that when the wedge or wedges are drawn tightly by the bolt the studs
retain the parts firmly in position and render their junction very effective.
Although we have mentioned iron and wood as materials to be used in the
constructions herein mentioned, yet we do not confine ourselves to those or
any particular materials as any suitable substances may be adapted..
Having thus described the nature and object of our said Invention, and
referred to the manner of carrying the same into pratical effect, we in further
compliance with the aforesaid condition in the said Letters Patent contained
now proceed to describe more in detail in what manner the said Invention is
to be performed or carried into practical effect, by referring to the illustrative
Drawings accompanying these Presents as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Sheet 1, Fig. 1, cross section of rail joint and chair through A, B, Fig. 2;
Fig. 2, a plan of rail joint and chair having two wedges constructed according
to our Invention.
Sheet 2, Fig. 1, a plan of rail joint and chair with single wedge.
C denotes the body of the chair or bracket; C, S, the snugs of the chair:

page_text: the other dotted lines denoting the web or thin part of the rail and the wedges
and cushions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
we claim the Invention the nature whereof is described in this Specification
by the words that precede the words Description of the Drawings, it being
understood that we do not claim the constituent mechanical details per se and
apart from the object and intent of our Invention.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Eckersley and David Martin,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-seventh day of
May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-eight
JAMES ECKERSLEY. (L.S.)
5, Pilrig Cottegs,
Edinburgh.
D. MARTIN. (L.B.)
8, Montgomery Street,
Edinburgh.
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