IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS FOR TRAM- VIDEOP THE CARRIAGES INTENDED TO RUN THEREON
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Severn, of Hampstead Road, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS FOR TRAM-
VIDEOP THE CARRIAGES INTENDED TO RUN THEREON
"
Sealed the 25th October 1867, and dated the 30th April 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Severn at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th April 1867.
I, GEORGE SEVERN, of Hampstead Road, in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS
FOR TRAMWAYS AND IN THE AXLES OF THE CARRIAGES INTENDED TO RUN THEREON,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, first, to improvements in the sectional form of the
rails employed in the construction of tramways adapted for tramway carriages
(mounted on suitable wheels and axles, as herein-after described) to run
thereon without offering any obstruction to other vehicles in passing over or
running parallel with such rails.
The sectional form of rail which I prefer to employ, according to my
improvements, is shewn in the accompanying Drawing, the dimensions and
proportions of which may however be somewhat varied without departing
It will be seen on examining
from the true character of my improvements.
the Drawing that the outer edges of the upper surface of the rail a are some-
what higher than the central part, by which the wheels of the vehicles running

page_text: thereon are caused to maintain a central position. A longitudinal groove a
of considerable depth is formed along. the centre for the reception of a central
rim, rib, or flange formed on the wheels of the vehicles intended to run upon
rails of this improved sectional form, the rim or tyre of the wheel corre-
sponding in form with that of the rail. The under side of the rail at a², a²,
is of convex form, resembling a V-shape, to admit of the longitudinal groove a
of the rail being made of considerable depth, whereby great strength and
durability is obtained combined with extreme lightness compared with tram-
rails of the sectional forms hitherto employed. By thus forming the groove a¹
so much deeper than is necessary for receiving the projecting rim of the wheel
the rail will remain serviceable until the greater portion of the upper surface of
the rail above the sleeper is worn away. The depressed or convex portion a
of the under side of the rail is laid in a corresponding longitudinal groove
formed in the upper surface of the sleeper b, as shewn, and I prefer to form a
longitudinal flange or feather., a³, a³, on each side of the rail to give increased
support thereto, the rail being thus made to cover the upper surface of the
sleeper. c, represents one of the screws which secure the rail to the sleeper.
According to another part of my improvements I construct the axles of the
carriages intended to run upon the improved form of tram rails, previously
described, in two parts, each wheel being fixed on a separate axle independent
of the opposite wheel and its axle. For this purpose, in place of the axle of
each pair of wheels being in one picce it is divided in the centre of its length,
the inner ends of each part of the axle being supported in a box or bearings
fixed to the framing on the under side of the carriage so as to be capable of
moving endways a short distance in such box or bearings, but being prevented
from further endway, movement by collars (or other means) fixed on the axles.
The outer ends of the axles are also constructed so as to move to and fro
endways in their bearings. By thus arranging the wheels and their axles they
will readily adapt or accommodate themselves to any inequalities in the gauge
of the tramway, and will enable the carriages mounted thereon to pass over
the curved parts of the tramway with greater ease and facility.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Severn, Her special licence that I, the said George Severn,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
George Severn, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN RAILS FOR TRAMWAYS AND IN THE AXLES OF THE CARRIAGES INTENDED
TJ RUN THEREON," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George.
Severn, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
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 I, the said George Severn, 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:--
This Invention relates, first, to improvements in the sectional form of the
rails employed in the construction of tramways adapted for tramway carriages
(mounted on suitable wheels and axles as hereinafter described), to run
thereon, without offering any obstruction to other vehicles in passing over or
running parallel with such rails.
The sectional form of rail which I prefer to employ, according to my
improvements, is shown at Figure of the accompanying Drawing, the
dimensions and proportions of which may however be somewhat varied,
without departing from the true character of my improvements. It will
be seen on examining the Drawings that the outer edges of the upper
surface of the rail a are somewhat higher than that of the central part, by
which the wheels of the vehicles running thereon are caused to maintain a
central position. A longitudinal groove a¹ of considerable depth is formed
along the centre for the reception of a central rim, rib, or flange formed on the
wheels of the vehicles intended to run upon rails of this improved sectional
orm, the rim or tyre of the wheel corresponding in form with that of the

page_text: rail. The under side of the rail at a, a, is formed as shown, resembling a
V shape, but broader at bottom to admit of the longitudinal groove a¹ of the
rail being made of considerable depth, whereby great strength and durability
is obtained, combined with extreme lightness compared with tram rails of the
sectional forms hitherto employed. I prefer that the width of the groove a¹
at the top should not exceed of an inch, tapering to of an inch at the
bottom, whereby the smallest carriage wheel travelling over the road where
such rails are laid will be prevented from getting into the groove, which
by reason of its form may be readily cleared out from stones, dirt, or other
obstacles by means of a scraper attached to the carriage or otherwise. By
thus forming the groove a¹ so much deeper than is necessary for. receiving
the projecting rim of the wheel, the rail will remain serviceable until the
greater portion of the upper surface of the rail above the sleeper is worn away.
The depressed portion of the under side of the rail is laid in a corre-
sponding longitudinal groove (which may be creosoted if desired) formed in
the upper surface of the sleeper b as shown, and I prefer to form a longi-
tudinal flange or feather a³, a³, on each side of the rail to give increased
support thereto, the rail being thus made to cover the upper surface of the
sleeper c represents one of the screws which secure the rail to the sleeper,
by preference placed about one foot six inches to
placed near each end, and a plate of iron of a
into the wooden sleeper under the rails, where the two ends meet so as to
afford them a solid bearing. This improved form of tram rail presents a
comparatively small surface to the feet of horses treading thereon, thus
rendering them less liable to slip. The space on each side between the rail
and paving is filled in with gravel or cement.
two feet apart two being
suitable form may be let
According to another part of my improvements I construct the axles of
the carriages intended to run upon the improved form of tram rails, previously
described, in two parts, each wheel being fixed on a separate axle independent
of the opposite wheel and its axle. For this purpose in place of the axle of
each pair of wheels being in one piece, it is divided in the centre of its length.
the inner ends of each part of the axle being supported in a box or bearings
fixed to the framing on the under side of the carriage, so as to be capable of
moving endways a short distance in such box or bearings, but being
prevented from further endway movement by collars (or other means) fixed
on the axles. The outer ends of the axles are also constructed so as to move
to-and-fro endways in their bearings. Figure 2 of the Drawing hereunto
annexed shows a pair of wheels mounted upon axles arranged in accordance
with this part of my Invention, the rails and bearers being marked with

page_text: similar letters of reference to those in Figure 1; d. d, are the wheels, and
c, c', the axles divided as shown in the centre, and surrounded by a bearing
or hollow axis e, this bearing or axis e is provided with collars at e¹; is
a bearing or loose collar within which the bearing e revolves, and this
collar is prevented from moving sideways by means of guides attached to
the carriage; h. h, are the bearings for the outer ends of the axles d, d¹, and
it will be seen that the axles d. d', can move a sufficient distance within the
bearings h, h, and the hollow bearing e to accommodate the wheels to any
slight variation in the gauge of the rails, the amount of lateral movement of
the wheels and axles being regulated in one direction by the bosses of the
wheels and the ends of the bearing e, and in the other direction by the
outer bearings h, h¹. By thus arranging the wheels and their axles they
will readily adapt or accommodate themselves to any inequalities in the
gauge of the tramway, and will enable the carriages mounted thereon to pass
over the curved parts of the tramway with greater case and facility.
I would here remark that the arrangement of the axles above described may
be greatly varied without departing from the nature of this part of my
Invention, which consists in so mounting the wheels of carriages, which run
upon the rail described in the first part of this Invention, that they will work
independently of one another, and accommodate themselves to variations in
the gauge of the rails:
In witness whereof, I, the said George Severn, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, W.C.
GEORGE SEVERN. (L.S.)