Improvements in Securing Rails to Metallic Sleepers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 11th May, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Securing Rails to Metallic Sleepers.
1 JAMES WHITESTONE of 177 Underhill Road, East Dulwich, London, Civil
Engineer 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 invention relates to improved means of attaching and securing rails to metallic
sleepers and consists in using for each attachment two brackets, one on each side
of the rail (together forming virtually a chair) in combination with a metallic
key or its equivalent so that when the rail is in position and keyed up in the usual
way it is supported and securely fastened to the sleeper and so that when required
the parts of any attachment may be removed and replaced without disturbing
other attachments.
In the following description it is to be understood that the words inner and
inwards refer to parts and positions relatively nearer to the centre line of a railway
of two parallel or concentric rails and that the words outer and outwards refer to
parts and positions relatively further from such centre line.
In the drawings annexed hereto like letters of reference indicate similar parts in
the several views.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 2 a cross section through the sleeper
shewing the brackets in position ;
Fig. 3 is a plan of the two brackets and part of the sleeper; and Fig. 4 is a
plan of the outer bracket alone, these four views shewing the arrangement when a
vertical key is used.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 6 a sectional plan through the sleeper
looking upwards, these two views shewing the arrangement when a horizontal key
is used.
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 8 a cross section through the sleeper
shewing the application of a horizontal metallic key to brackets made according to
my former invention described in Specification of Patent dated 6th September 1891
and numbered 16983, and Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section through the sleeper
shewing a variation in which the key is dispensed with and a hooked bolt used.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the outer bracket A has its upper surface
formed to support the lower head or flange of the rail D and extends or projects
upwards on the outer side of the rail so as to form an abutment for and to receive
and press against the key C, when the latter is driven in between it and the rail
as usual in securing rails to chairs.
This bracket is provided at its outer end and about the centre of its width with
a book or lug A 1 projecting downwards from its underside, which hook passes
through a hole or slot (by preference rectangular or thereabouts) made in the
upper part of the metallic sleeper E and extends outwards thereunder and is
formed with a vertical surface to bear against the outer end of the hole or slot.
The inner end of this bracket extends inwards beyond the rail and has its upper
surface at A 4, Fig. 1, inclined downwards and inwards to receive and bear against
the underside of the inner bracket, and a notch or gap A 3, Fig. 4, is made about
the centre of its width to allow space for the reception of the hook or lug B 1
of the inner bracket B next described.

page_text: The inner bracket B extends or projects upwards on the inner side of the rail so
as to form an abutment for and to receive and press against the web of the rail,
and so as to resist the pressure caused by the key C acting upon the opposite or
outer side of the rail.
This inner bracket is provided at its outer end and about the centre of its width
with a hook or lug B 1 projecting downwards from its underside, which hook passes
within the notch or gap in the outer bracket and through a hole or slot (by
preference rectangular or thereabouts) made in the upper part of the metallic
sleeper E and extends outwards thereunder. This book or lug B1 has its inner
end formed with a shoulder or plane surface B3 inclined to fit and bear against the
tapered metallic key L, which key passes through the last mentioned hole or slot
in the sleeper and also through a hole in the bracket B with a space or clearance
at the inner side of the key as shewn by dotted lines on Fig. 1. Part of this inner
bracket projects over and bears upon the inclined upper surface A4 of the outer
bracket above described and has its underside formed with a plane surface, B4
inclined upwards and outwards to fit the same.
When the brackets A and B are in their proper places with their hooks or
Ings in the respective holes or slots in the sleeper and the key L then driven in,
that key acting against the inner end of the inner slot and the surface B 3 causes
the bracket B to be pressed outwards against the outer bracket A which is in turn
pressed outwarás until the vertical part of the hook or lug A 1 comes in contact
with the outer end of the outer slot in the sleeper. The mutual reaction of the
inclined surfaces A 4 and B 4 then cause the inner end of the bracket A to be
pressed downwards (since the projection of the hook B1 beneath the sleeper
prevents the bracket B from rising) and consequently the upper part of the sleeper
is firmly gripped between the hook B 1 and the underside of the bracket A.
The parts are thus brought tightly into contact and firmly fixed in position
forming virtually a chair within which the rail is secured by means of the key C
in the usual way.
In removing the parts without disturbing adjacent attachmerts the key Lis
withdrawn and the bracket B can then be pushed inwards until the hook B1 is
clear of the underside of the sleeper, when this bracket can be lifted out. By
slightly raising the rail by means of the ordinary plate-layer's handspike and
pushing inwards the outer bracket A until its hook A 1 is clear of the underside of
the sleeper this bracket can be lifted and withdrawn. The several parts may be
replaced in the inverse order of their removal.
In Figs. 5 and 6 a modification is shewn in which the hook or lug B5 of the
inner bracket has its inner end formed with a vertical surface to fit and bear
against the tapered key M, which key passes horizontally through holes in the
sides of the sleeper, and when driven in acts against the inner ends of these holes
and against the inner end of the lug B5 causing the inner bracket to be pressed
outwards and thus bringing tightly into contact and firmly fixing the several parts
so as to form virtually a chair as before described.
Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, in this modification the outer bracket has the upper
part of its inner end formed with a surface A 2 inclined upwards and inwards to
receive and bear against the underside of the inner bracket which is inclined
downwards and outwards at B 2 to fit it, and the hook or lug B 6 of this inner
bracket is formed so that when in its proper position there is a space between it
and the underside of the sleeper to admit the metallic key N, which passes through
holes in the sides of the sleeper. Otherwise, excepting that the key L and the
hole therefor are omitted, the parts are generally as above described with reference
to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and as more particularly set forth in Specification of Patent
dated 6th September 1894 and numbered 16983.
When the several parts (that is to say the sleeper, the two brackets, the metallic
key N, the rail D and the key C) are in their proper positions, and when the
key is driven in tightly, its pressure tends to separate and drive apart the two
brackets, and the mutual reaction of the inclined surfaces A 2 and B2 then causes

page_text: the inuer end of the outer bracket to be forced downwards (since the projection of
the hook B 6 beneath the sleeper and the intervening key N prevent the inner
bracket from rising) and consequently the upper part of the sleeper is firmly
gripped between the key N and the underside of the outer bracket.
In removing the parts without disturbing adjacent attachments the key N is
withdrawn and the inner bracket can then be removed. By slightly raising the
rail and pushing inwards the outer bracket until its hook is clear of the underside
of the sleeper this bracket can be lifted and withdrawn.
For additional security the end of the key N may be bent or clenched as shewn
in Fig. 8 and in this case it must be straightened or cut before the parts can be
removed.
In Fig. 9 is shewn a variation in which the greater part of the hooked
lug B 6, Fig. 7 is omitted, only the parts B7 and B8, Fig. 9, remaining, and a
hooked bolt P is used to prevent the inner bracket from rising. The lower part
of the shank of this bolt is square and fits loosely in a square hole in the inner
bracket.
When the several parts are in their proper positions and the key C is driven in
tightly the upper part of the sleeper is firmly gripped between the book of the
bolt P and the underside of the outer bracket.
In removing the parts without disturbing adjacent attachments the nut P 1 is.
loosened and turned until the hook of the bolt P is lowered into the position shewn
by dotted lines, when it, together with the inner bracket can be lifted out, and
then the outer bracket can be removed as before described.
In all cases the several parts may be replaced in the inverse order of their
removal.
Instead of one hook or lug either or both of the brackets may have two hooks
or lugs passing through corresponding holes or slots in the metallic sleeper.
By preference a pad of felt is interposed between the sleeper and the brackets.
In the above description and the drawings herewith the application of my
invention to a rolled transverse sleeper has been particularly set forth, but sleepers.
of any other suitable form and material may be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
Firstly. Two brackets with inclined meeting surfaces and a metallic key or its
equivalent together forming a chair and fastenings for fixing the same to a
metallic sleeper which chair and fastenings may be removed and replaced when
the rail is in position without disturbing adjacent attachments substantially as
herein set forth.
Secondly. The combination of the two brackets, the vertical tapered key L, and
the sleeper as shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and herein set forth.
Thirdly. The combination of the two brackets, the horizontal tapered key M,
and the sleeper as shewn in Figs. 5 and 6 and herein set forth.
Fourthly. The combination of the two brackets, the horizontal parallel key N,
the sleeper, the rail D and the key C as shewn in Figs. 7 and 8 and herein set
forth.
Fifthly. The combination of the two brackets, the hooked bolt P, the sleeper,
the rail and the key C as shewn in Fig. 9 and herein set forth.
Dated this Fifth day of April 1895.
JAMES WHITESTONE.