A NOVEL COMBINATION OF RAIL AND WHEEL FOR USE ON RAILWAYS AND ON COMMON ROADS ALTERNATELY
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hermann Wedekind, of 158, Fenchurch Street, in the
City of London, Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "A NOVEL COMBINATION
OF RAIL AND WHEEL FOR USE ON RAILWAYS AND ON COMMON ROADS
ALTERNATELY." A communication from abroad by Friedrich Hoffmann, of
the City of Berlin, in the German Empire, Engineer and Architect.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hermann Wedekind at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th March 1880.
HERMANN WEDEKIND, of 158, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London, Civil
Engineer. "A NOVEL COMBINATION OF RAIL AND WHEEL FOR USE ON RAILWAYS
AND ON COMMON ROADS ALTERNATELY." A communication from abroad by Friedrich
Hoffmann, of the City of Berlin, in the German Empire, Engineer and Architect.
These improvements relate to a new system or combination of rails for the
permanent way and the wheels of the rolling stock of railways. These improve-
ments while suitable for railroads also allow the carriages to be run on common
roads. The rail is rolled in the form of angle iron, approximately shaped to an
equilateral triangle the bottom side or base of which is left away. The rounded
off apex constitutes the head of the rail, while the two sides of the angle iron are so
shaped as to form clamps resting on transverse or longitudinal sleepers, or on
concrete or directly on the ballast, or, in the case of covered over buildings, directly
on the floorings.
The wheel to be used in combination with this form of rail is made with a
groove having a flange on either side, each wheel being thus independent of the
other, as regards provision against running off the line of rails, is left loose on the
axle, as is the case with the wheels of vehicles for use on common roads. The
flanges are further made sufficiently wide as to permit the carriages to be run on
roads not provided with rails. The usual points and crossings of-an-ordinary line of
rails can also be thereby replaced by plates.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Hermann Wedekind in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
September 1880.
HERMANN WEDEKIND, of 158, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London, Civil
Engineer. "A NOVEL COMBINATION OF RAIL AND WHEEL FOR USE ON RAILWAYS
AND ON COMMON ROADS ALTERNATELY." A communication from Friedrich
Hoffmann, of the City of Berlin, in the German Empire, Engineer and Architect.
These improvements relate to a new system or combination of rails for the
permanent way and the wheels of the rolling stock of railways. These improve-
ments while suitable for rail-roads also allow the carriages to be run on common
roads.
The rail is rolled in the form of angle iron, approximately shaped to an
equilateral triangle, the bottom side or base of which is left away.
The rounded-
off apex constitutes the head of the rail, while the two sides of the angle iron are
so shaped as to form clamps resting on transverse or longitudinal sleepers, or on
concrete or directly on the ballast, or, in the case of covered over buildings, directly
on the flooring.
The wheel to be used in combination with this form of rail is made with a
groove, having a flange on either side, each wheel being thus independent of the
other, as regards provision against running off the line of rails, is left loose on the
axle, as is the case with wheels of vehicles for use on common roads. The flanges
are further made sufficiently wide as to permit the carriages to be run on roads not
provided with rails. The usual points and crossings of an ordinary line of rails
can also be thereby replaced by plates.
This combination of rail and wheel is intended for use more especially for local
lines, and for short lines laid down for serving iron-works, brick-works, large
factories, and similar establishments and purposes.
On the Sheet of Drawings, Fig. 1, Fig. 2, and Fig. 3 shew different modifications
of my rail and wheel, in which A indicates a cross-section of the triangular rail.
The feet Z, Z, are made longer or shorter, or are inclined outwards more or less
according to the nature of the ground or foundation or the kind of sleepers on
which the rails are laid. The clamps or hooks x, x, hold the rail firmly, and the
parallelism of the two rails is maintained by means of tie rods or bars, or by the
transverse sleepers, where such are used. Fig. 1 shews a rail laid in concrete;
Fig. 2, on a transverse sleeper of wood, and Fig. 3, on a longitudinal sleeper. The
foot is further held down by either screws or spikes, as shewn.
Figs. 1, 2, and 3 also shew cross-sections of my wheel-tyre in different modi-
cations. It is made with a flange y on each side of the groove on which the wheel
runs, and the two flanges are made sufficiently wide as to enable the trucks to be
run on common paved or macadamised roads. These wheels are further, by
preference, adjusted to turn on their axles.
Points and crossings are not required for this system of railway, and are replaced
by plates on which the trucks can be turned with ease.
Having now set forth the nature and mode of carrying out my Invention, I
declare that I claim,—
1. The railway wheel, as described, fitted with a tyre formed with a groove and
a wide flange on either side.
2. The rail, as described, of angle iron, the two feet of which are provided with
cramps.

page_text: 3. The combination, as a railway, of carriages set on wheels as described, with
a permanent way fitted with rails as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hermann Wedekind, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
HERMANN WEDEKIND. (L.S.)