IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1857

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Ralph Errington Ridley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
May 1857.
I, RALPH ERRINGTON RIDLEY, of Hexham, in the County of Northumberland,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of certain methods of constructing and combining the
sleepers, chairs, and rails of railways, by means of which elastic materials may
be more easily and efficiently combined therewith than heretofore.
According to one modification of my Invention, I form a longitudinal
metallic sleeper, having upon its upper side vertical ribs, which include a
space or chamber of any desirable depth; and in combination with this
sleeper I use a rail, having formed upon its lower side vertical ribs, which,
when the rail is in place, clasp the ribs of the sleeper. In the space or
chamber between the ribs is placed a block of vulcanized india-rubber,.
upon the upper surface of which the rail rests, and which will yield slightly
to the downward pressure of an engine or carriage running upon the rail,
the ribs or sides of the chamber at the same time prevent the india-rubber
yielding too much laterally. This modification is illustrated by Figures 1,
2, and 3 of the Drawings hereunto annexed, Figure 1 being a cross section
of the sleeper; Figure 2, a plan view thereof; and Figure 3, a cross section
of the rail. A is the sleeper; B, the rail; and C, the vulcanized india-
rubber. The depth of the chamber, and consequently of the india-rubber,

page_text: may be reduced by the introduction of a metallic bridge-piece D between the
vertical ribs of the sleeper, as shewn in Figure 4, which is a cross section.
Another modification is shewn in Figures 5 and 6, Figure 5 being a cross
section of the sleeper, and Figure 6 a plan view thereof. In this case the
vertical ribs A¹, A¹, of the sleeper support an upper plate B', upon which
a block C¹ of india-rubber rests. The rail represented in Figure 3 is used in
combination with this form of sleeper also, and in the same manner. The
india-rubber may either be continuous under the whole length of the rail, or it
may be placed at intervals between suitable cross ribs D¹, D¹, as shown in
plan view at Figure 7.
According to another modification of my. Invention, I employ a block
or sleeper similar to that shown in plan view at Figure 8, the upper part E of
which is of india-rubber; and in combination with this I use à chair similar
to that shewn in cross section at Figure 9, and in plan view of under side at
Figure 10. In all these arrangements the india-rubber is protected from the
direct action of the weather upon it.
Another modification consists in forming in the face of one of the cheecks
of any suitable description of chair a recess, into which is placed a block of
vulcanized india-rubber, and upon this is fitted a plate of iron that presses
against the rail. On the other side of the rail is the ordinary wooden key.
The object of this arrangement is to prevent the key from shaking out, and to
lessen the wear and tear from oscillation.
Instead of vulcanized india-rubber, metallic springs or any other suitable
elastic material may be used for the purposes of my Invention.