Improvements in the Permanent Way of Street Railways.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Permanent Way of Street Railways.
1, PETER BARGION, of Oakland, County of Alameda, State of California,.
United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 improved chair plate or brace is adapted to be used more especially in.
connection with compound street railway rails and to pass beneath the base rails at the
point of union in order to provide a firm brace or foundation for the rail joint for
the purpose of providing against jolting or sagging of the rails at their ends due to
motion of the cars, loose or uneven road beds, thereby giving a smooth and even
bed for the top rail and overcoming undue wear thereof which results from an
uneven or loose base rail. The plate or brace is constructed with upturned or
flanged ends, which when the brace is in place, extend upward on each side of
the rail so as to provide side pockets into which the ends of bolts uniting the
upper and lower rails extend. Inasmuch as the pavement is built around flanged
portion of the brace plates easy access may be had to the bolt-nut without
disturbing the surrounding pavement.
Referring to the drawings forming a part of this application wherein similar.
letters of reference denote corresponding parts:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing chair brace or plate secured in position.
Fig. 2 is a cross section through the chair brace and rail and
Fig. 3 detail view of the chair brace or plate.
The letter A indicates the sub or base rail provided with a broad base and
vertical flanges aa which extend upward a short distance one on each side of the
central line, thus forming a longitudinal recess or opening within which the
depending rib of tread rail B is adapted to fit and be secured therein by means
of bolts B' extending through the vertical flanges and depending rib. The chair
brace or plate is represented by the letter and said brace fits beneath the sub or
base rail so as to receive the end of each such rail, thus forming a solid and even
foundation at each joint of the track, thereby preventing sagging of the rails at
their weakest points consequently providing an even surface to the tread rail. The
sub or base rail is united to the chair brace or plate by means of bolts c and by
means of ribs or projections the same is prevented from lateral movement.
consequently holding the rail in true line whether secured thereto or not. The
brace plate is provided with flanged ends C which extend upward one on each side
of the rail to the height of the tread rail. The base and tread rails are of the
same width so that the paving blocks will abut against both. The pavement
adjoining the track being laid or built around the flanged ends it is obvious
that side pockets d are formed thereby and inasmuch as said brace plates are placed
beneath the point of securing the rails it will be noticed that ends of bolts B¹
project therein. These side pockets are filled with loose blocks or removable
sections of the pavement so that in case it becomes necessary to repair the rails,
the upper or tread rail may be easily removed without disturbing or destroying the
adjoining pavement. It will be thus observed that my improved chair brace or
plate not only serves to provide a level and solid foundation for the rails at their
weakest point, but also tends to keep the adjoining pavement in proper condition
during repairs of the road. By removing the loose blocks or filling from the
pockets easy access may be had to the securing bolts for the rails in order to
remove the tread-rail or make repairs. Between the chair plates the pavement fits
closely against the rails and thus tends to give strength and solidity to the same
and inasmuch as the upper rail is provided with the street tread head, in place of

page_text: the T-shaped rail head it is obvious that undue wear resulting from traffic there-
over is prevented. Heretofore the upper rail or section of compound rails have
always been provided with the ordinary railway or T-shaped head which rails
when used in connection with street railways, quickly wear out, due to traffic
thereover besides projecting above the level of the pavement.
By providing a compound rail having the head of the upper rail in the form of
the usual tread or street rail head l'overcome this defect and at the same time
bring the same when laid flush with the street pavement and inasmuch as the
pavement abuts closely against the rail securely supports or strengthens the rail
and gives solidity thereto. When used in connection with cable roads the brace
plates are secured directly to the yokes thereof but ordinarily the brace plates are
secured to the cross ties or sleepers as shown in Figure 1.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination with a compound railway rail of a chair plate upon which
the lower rail bears said plate extending upward on each side of the rail so as to
provide side pockets into which the securing bolts of the rails extend as and for the
purpose.set forth.
2. The combination.with a compound railway rail of a chair plate passing under.
and secured to the sub-rail said plate provided with flanged ends extending upward
on each side of the rail so as to form pockets into which the securing bolts of the
rails, extend as and for the purpose set forth.
3. As a new article a chair plate for compound railway rails provided with inner
projecting shoulders or ribs between which the sub-rail fits and having flanged ends
adapted when said plate is in position to form side pockets as and for the purpose
set forth.
4. A compound railway rail consisting of a base portion having two vertical
flanges and a bearing or wearing rail or portion having a rib or flange adapted to
interlock with the flanges of the base rail the width of the flange of the base rail
and of the head of the upper or bearing rail coinciding so that the pavement will
abut against both substantially as described.
5. A street railway rail composed of a permanent sub or base rail and a removable
head or bearing rail adapted to be seated upon and secured to the sub or base rail
so as to allow of the pavement abutting against and supporting the head of the rail
on both sides substantially as described.
6. In a street railway having a compound or two part rail adapted to be fastened
together with bolts or keys the pavement having pockets or spaces opposite the
bolt holes formed by the chair plates said space or pockets being closed or filled
with readily removable blocks substantially as described.
€ Dated this: 12th day of August 1891
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.