RAI
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Sterling at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th May 1881.
WILLIAM STERLING, of Rusholme, in the County of Lancaster.
IN TRAM RAILS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
In performing my Invention I make the rail in three parts. The head of the rail
is rolled in one piece, and I form the foot and web of the rail of two (similar)
pieces of angle iron, each piece having the upper part of the web formed into a
Hange to fit under and support the head of the rail; the foot or base of the angle
iron is made of any desired width at one side of the web and projects half the
thickness of the shank of the rail head at the other side of the web, so that when
the angle irons are laid in their place the projecting portion at the bottom of the
inner side of the web steadies them and keeps them the same distance apart at the
bottom as at the top; the shank of the rail head is placed between the upper sides
of the two pieces of angle iron, and is held in its place by rivets, bolts, cotters, or
otherwise, the flanges at the upper part of the webs keep the rail from working
loosc.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Sterling in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th November 1881.
WILLIAM STERLING, of Rusholme, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TRAM RAILS."
In performing my Invention I make the rail in three parts. The head of the rail
is rolled in one piece, and I form the foot and web of the rail of two (similar)
pieces of angle iron, each piece having the upper part of the web formed into a
flange or lip to fit under and support the head of the rail; the foot or base of the
angle iron is made of any desired width at one side of the web and may project
half the thickness of the tongue of the rail head at the other side of the web, so
that when the angle irons are laid in their places the projecting portions at the
bottom of the inner sides of the webs steady them and keep them the same distance
apart at the bottom as at the top; the tongue of the rail head is placed between
the upper sides of the two pieces of angle iron, and is held in its place by rivets,
bolts, cotters, or otherwise, the flanges or lips at the upper parts of the webs keep
the rail from working loose.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, reference being
had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
°
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, show sections of tram rails constructed according
to my Invention.
The tongue of the rail head A is held securely in its place by bolts, rivets, or
cotters between the vertical sides of the pieces of angle iron which form the foot
and web, the flanged or lipped portions of which support the rail head and keep it
firm, and effectually prevent it from oscillating or working loose.
Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12, show sections of tram rails in which the small inner
projection at the foot of the web is dispensed with, but in all'of these the rail head is
firmly supported by the upper part of the angle iron which forms the web and foot
of the rail.
.
When the foot of one web does not join the other, the space between the webs
may be filled with concrete or other material.
Tram rails constructed according to my Invention are easily laid, and are lighter
and more convenient to handle than those made in one piece, and they are much
more steady and durable than rails that have the head supported on a single
vertical web.
Having stated the nature of my Invention and described the manner of
performing the same,
I declare that I claim,
The combination of the head of the rail with flanged or lipped angle iron
supports, which may or may not be provided with internal projections or distance
pieces forming the web and the base of the rail, as shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Sterling, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WILL. STERLING. (L.S.)