IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTS OF RAILWAYS."
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hugh Greaves, of Abingdon Street, Westminster,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTS OF RAILWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hugh Greaves at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th
June 1866.
I, HUGH GREAVES, of Abingdon Street, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTS OF RAILWAYS," to be
as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of parts
of railways, and consists, firstly, in constructing cast-iron sleepers to suit loose
chairs, so that in the event of either the chair part or the sleeper part being
broken the part not broken may still be utilised, and the more effectually to
distribute the weight of the passing loads over the sleepers, making them with
hollows or recesses to fit the chairs, so as to take the strain of the bolts or
other fastenings, and preserve the gauge; and to prevent the piece or picces
[Price 8d.]

page_text: of wood on which the chair rests from spreading or expanding under the loads;
likewise in providing two extra wood bearing surfaces for the rail in addition
to the central one or loose chair, so that when the rail deflects under the
driving wheels of the engine, the rail shall take a bearing on the two outside
pieces of wood or other semi-clastic material, and shall not bear upon them
during the passage of light loads, but only on the passage of heavy loads, and
in connection with chairs and sleepers as described in securing the rail in the
chair by an iron key, or wood and iron combined, the seats on which the rail
rests being elevated or raised above the top of the sleeper, so as to enable the
sleeper to be more effectually covered with ballast.
Secondly, in constructing cast-iron sleepers with one or more half jaws
formed with the sleeper, and binding or jamming the rails up to or against
the same by means of a cotter passing through the tie bar connecting the two
rails, and in the case of intermediate sleepers using a short bar equivalent to
a part of a tie bar for enabling the rail to be similarly secured to or jammed
against the jaw or jaws by means of a cotter, as described. In some cases
I make the cotter used for securing the tie bar answer for this purpose, in
others I use an additional cotter.
Thirdly, in the use of an iron sleeper in connection with one or more short
wood girders to absorb the blow of the wheels, a loose chair resting on such
girder or girders, and one or both of the bolts securing the chair to the sleeper
likewise securing the tie bar. When a flat bottomed or contractor's rail is
employed the rail may rest immediately on the girder or girders; in other
cases I interpose a piece of hard wood or a light chair. These girders place
both parallel to the rail, and at right angles to the same. If the holes in the
chairs are too large for the bolts that I employ I fill the same with hardwood
or metal collars, so as to enable them to fit the bolts tightly.
Fourthly, in the use of an overhanging jib or platform carrying rails corre-
sponding in gauge with that of the lines in connection with which it is to be
used, and arranged so that by means of a transverse line of rails it may be
brought opposite to any one of such lines, and when one or more carriage or
carriages is or are passed on to it, may be placed at an angle, so as to tip the
carriage or carriages, and discharge its or their contents. Traversing plat-
forms overhanging as described may be worked either by steam, manual, or
other power.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Hugh Greaves in the Great Seal Patent Office on tho
6th December 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I. HUGH
GREAVES, of Abingdon Street, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS IIer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors. give and grant unto
me, the said Hugh Greaves. Her special licence that I. the said Hugh
Greaves. my executors, administrators. and assigns. or such others as I.
the said Hugh Greaves, my executors. administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others. from time to time and at all times
thereafter 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTS OF RAILWAYS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that T. the said Iugh Greaves. my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 Hugh Greaves. do hereby declare
the nature of iny said Invention. and in what manner the same is to he
nerformed. to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of parts
of railways, and consists. firstly, in constructing cast-iron sleepers to suit
loose chairs, so that in the event of either the chair part or the sleeper part
being broken the part not broken may still be utilized, and the more effectually
to distribute the weight of the passing loads over the sleepers. making them
with hollows or recesses to fit the chairs, so as to take the strain of the bolts
or other fastenings, and preserve the gauge, and to prevent the piece or pieces
of wood on which the chair rests from spreading or expanding under the loads:
likewise in providing two extra wood bearing surfaces for the rail in addition
to the central one or loose chair, so that when the rail deflects under the

page_text: driving. wheels, of the engine, the rail shall take a bearing on the two outside
pieces of wood or other 'semi-elastic material, and shall not bear heavily upon
them during the passage of light loads, but only on the passage of heavy
loads, and in connection-witb, chairs and sleepers,. as described, in securing
the rail in the chair by an iron key or wood and iron combined, the seats on
which the rail rests being elevated or raised above the top of the sleeper, so
as to enable the sleeper to be more effectually covered with ballast.
Secondly, in constructing cast-iron sleepers with one or more half jaws
formed with the sleeper, and binding or jamming the rails up to or against
the same by means of a cotter passing through the tie bar connecting the two
rails, and in the case of intermediate sleepers using a short bar equivalent to a
part of a tie bar for enabling the rail to be similarly secured to or jammed
against the jaw or jaws by means of a cotter as described. In some cases
I make the cotter used for securing the tie bar answer for this purpose; in
others I use an additional cotter.
Thirdly, in the use of an iron sleeper in connection with one or more short
wood girders, to absorb the blow of the wheels, a loose chair resting on such
girder or girders, and one or both of the bolts securing the chair to the sleeper
likewise securing the tic bar. When a flat bottomed or contractor's rail is
employed the rail may rest immediately on the girder or girders; in other
cases I interpose a piece of hard wood, or a light chair. These girders
I place both parallel to the rail, and at right angles to the same. If the holes
in the chairs are too large for the bolts that I employ I fill the same with hard
wood or metal collars, so as to enable them to fit the bolts tightly.
Fourthly, in the use of an overhanging jib or platform carrying rails corre-
sponding in gauge with that of the lines in connection with which it is to be
used and arranged, so that by means of a transverse line of rails it may be
brought opposite to any one of such lines, and when one or more carriage or
carriages is or are passed on to it may be placed at an angle, so as to tip the
carriage or carriages, and discharge its or their contents. Traversing plat-
forms overhanging, as described, may be worked either by steam, manual, or
other power.
My several improvements relating respectively to a description of railway
sleeper of cast iron, in the mode of securing the rail in the sleeper, and in the
method of securing the tie bars to the same, are partly improvements on a
Patent granted to me on the Fifteenth day of May, in the year One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-six (No. 1152).
In carrying out the first part of this Invention employ a sleeper which is
cast separate from the chair, the chair being secured as shewn in Figs. I

page_text: and 2. or by any other of the well-known methods. In this instance, 'as ih
all the methods shewn, I place the tie bár's above the sleeper or below "the
same, and not as heretofore through holes in the bowl part of the sleeper, as
it is found greatly to weaken the sleeper casting holes in the same.
A is the sleeper: B. B. are tie bars affixed in two different modes; C are
the ribs carried to the highest part of the sleeper to increase the depth of the
casting and add strength; D are bolts, one a common bolt, and the other a
loop or hook bolt, or they may both be hook or loop bolts: E are lugs or
projections cast on the sleeper. and fitting into recesses, in the tie bar for
securing the gauge: F are bosses cast on the upper side of the sleeper
through which the tie bar passes, the latter being secured in its place by the
gibs and cotters b: G are pieces of wood interposed between, the chair and
the sleeper, and surrounded on three sides by projections cast on the sleeper:
II is a common chair, as now employed: I are wood cushions for saving the
under table of the rail and absorbing concushions. Fig. 3 shews a sleeper in
section through the line A. B. in Fig. 4, with sleeper and jaws cast in one
piece. the tie bar being let into a recess in the top of the sleeper, and being
relained there in three different modes. It will be seen that, the tie bar
passes on through the jaws of the sleeper, and not through the body or bowl
part. and that it is prevented from moving endwise by means of lugs cast in
the recess in the top of the sleeper; A is the sleeper: E. projections cast at
the bottom of the recess. The first mode of securing the tie bar to the
sleeper is by the wedge K, which may be applied to one jaw, as shewn, or to
both jaws. The second method is by driving a wedge L through holes cast in
the jaws at right angles to the tie bar. The third method of securing the tie
bar is by inserting à piece of cast metal M under the wood key N, the said
piece of metal bearing against the tie bar, and keeping the same in its place.
The upper side of this piece of metal is serrated like the jaw of the chair, the
more effectually to retain the wood key in its seat. In this plan the ribs or
strengthening projections are brought well up the sides of the jaws, as' best
shewn in Fig. 4.
Figs. 5 and 6 shew a different mode of securing the tie bar, and a method
of strengthening the combined sleeper and jaws by continuing strengthening
ribs or feathers from the sleeper upward to near the highest part of the jaws,
thus attaining greatly increased strength without proportionate increase of
weight. In these Figures A represents the sleeper; B, the tie bar; C, the
strengthening ribs, extending partly up the jaws C': a removable jaw, 0
esting upon and being secured by a bolt D to an inclined table or bearing
ast or formed on the top of the sleeper, as shewn, thus giving the jaw a

page_text: tendency to press against or in the direction of the web of the rail, between
which and a recess formed in the jaw a wood or other non-metallic lining is
interposed. In this as in the arrangement described with reference to Figs.
3 and 4, the tie bar B passes through a groove or recess cast in the upper
part of the sleeper, and is retained there by means of wedges K, K, and logs
or projections E, E.
Figs. 7 and 8 shew respectively a vertical section and a plan of an arrange-
ment of combined sleeper and chair in which the bowl of the sleeper is
reversed. I am aware that bowls have been previously employed in a
similar position, but according to my Invention the combined sleeper and
chair is so formed that the under side or head of the rail is situated above the
top edge or periphery of the bowl of the sleeper, thus dispensing with the
necessity of making notches or passages in such upper edge or periphery, and
avoiding the weakening of the sleeper which arises thereby. A represents the
sleeper (which may if desired be formed with radial or other strengthening
ribs); B, the tie bar; O, a removable jaw resting upon and secured by a
bolt D to an inclined table or bearing cast or formed on the top of the
sleeper, as shewn. thus giving the jaw a tendency to press against or in the
direction of the web of the rail, as described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6,
there being likewise in the present arrangement a similar wood or other non-
metallic lining interposed between the web of the rail and a recess formed in
the jaw; I is a wood or other non-metallic cushion placed between the rail
and sleeper for the purpose of deadening the shocks of trains passing over the
rail, and preserving the face of the latter. In this case the tie bar B passes
through a slot formed in the lower portion of the bolt D, which binds against
the tie bar and presses it upward against the under side of the sleeper.
Lugs E fitting into notches formed in the tie bar preventing any lateral
movement of the sleeper and rail, and accurately preserving the gauge. This
arrangement. of sleeper may be formed with a groove for receiving the tie bar.
as shewn in Fig. 9.
Figs. 9 and 10 are corresponding views of a modification of combined
sleeper and chair adapted to a contractor's rail, and similar in principle to that
shown in and described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8. In this case the
removable jaw or clamp O, as will be seen, differs somewhat in form from that
shewn in the preceding Figures, the non-metallic lining between such jaw
or clamp and the rail being moreover in the present instance dispensed with.
The tie bar B is secured to the sleeper in a similar manner to that described
with reference to Figs. 7 and 8, with the exception that in the present
arrangement it is held in a recess or groove cast in the under side of the

page_text: sleeper A, as shewn. The other parts of this modification will be readily
understood on reference to the respective Figures.
Figs. 11 and 12 represent an arrangement adapted to a contractor's rail, in
which I employ an iron sleeper A in connection with two short wood cross
girders P (resting in recesses cast or formed on the upper portion of the
sleeper), to absorb the blow of the wheels; a loose jaw 0 (the bottom of
which may be slightly grooved to grip or bite the wood girders) and bed
plate Q, which form the chair, resting upon such girders, and being secured
thereto, and to the sleeper by a bolt D, which also secures the tie bar B, lugs
being cast on the periphery of the sleeper, and fitting into corresponding
notches in the tie bar, as shewn, to prevent lateral movement of the sleeper
chair and rail, substantially as described with reference to previous Figures.
Figs. 13 and 14 shew a modification of combined chair, wood girders, and
iron sleeper adapted to an ordinary double-headed rail, the sleeper in this case
being reversed, and formed with recesses for receiving the two longitudinal
wood girders P, upon which the chair rests, and against which it is pressed
and held by bolts D, having loops in their lower ends, through which the tie.
bar B passes, and whereby it is held up against a bed, projection, or surface
cast or formed upon the under side of the sleeper, as shewn. The chair has
two jaws. one of which is formed to receive one side of the rail, the space
between its opposite side and the other jaw being occupied by two wedges R, R,
which are tightened or pressed against the rail and jaw by means of a key S
driven in between the two wedges, as shewn.
Figs. 15 and 16 shew an arrangement wherein the chair rests upon a.
wooden cushion or cushions, recesses being formed in the sleeper as shewn to,
receive the same. As will be seen the chair in this case is similar in principle
to although slightly modified in form from that shewn and described, in and
with reference to the two Figures last herein-before mentioned, the difference,
being readily understood on reference to the Drawings, by which it will be seen.
that instead of one jaw being formed to directly accommodate the rail a metal,
key is interposed between the web of the rail and the inclined jaw of the chair..
on the side opposite to that at which the two adjustable wedges R.. R. with,
their key S are situated. The chair and tie bar are in this case secured to
the sleeper A by a bolt D passing through a tapering or wedge-shaped collar,
or bush, which tightens the chair against a fillet A', cast on the sleeper.
some cases I dispense with the chair shewn, and instead thereof I cast or form,
the jaw C with the sleeper, and at the opposite side I employ a removable
jaw secured to the sleeper by a bolt passing through a tapering or wedge-
shaped collar as described, whereby the loose jaw is forced against the rail,
In

page_text: thus pressing the latter against the fixed jaw and holding it firmly between
the two and dispensing with further keys or fastenings.
Fig. 17, represents a method which I in some cases employ instead of those
already described for attaching the chairs H to the iron sleepers A. According
to this method I employ a metal bush or hollow spike T, formed in two halves
lengthwise, as previously patented by me, and interpose a wooden bush or
collar between it and the sleeper, the attachment being completed by ex-
panding the bush T by driving in a short metal plug V and wooden trenail
Was shewn, instead of using the trenail W only without the plug V. This
arrangement may likewise be employed in attaching common chairs to wood
sleepers, in which case I dispense with the bush U.
Fig 18 (Sheet 2,) is a sleeper somewhat similar to that shewn in Figs. 7
and 8, but formed with two short jaws with a recess between them for
receiving a contractor's or flat bottomed rail, as shewn, the rail being wedged
in by metal keys X, The tie bar is held in holes or passages Y cast or formed
in the upper part of the sleeper, and likewise passes through or between lugs
or horns, Z, castor, formed above the periphery of the bowl of the sleeper, as
shewn endwise movement of the bar being prevented by gibs and cotters
, as in Figs. 1 and 2. In some cases instead of the lugs or horns as shewn,
I cast or form with the upper part of the periphery of the sleeper bowl, lugs
such as shewn at Ein Fig. 7, and employ a wedge or wedges above the bar at
Y, as shewn at K in Fig. 3.
Fig. 19 is a side elevation, and Fig. 20 a plan of the overhanging jib or
platform constituting the fourth part of my said Invention. a is a framing
carried by wheels b, travelling on the transverse rail c, and held in its vertical
position by bars or rods d, having wheels or pullies e bearing against horizontal
girder rails secured by sockets or plates g to the vertical columns h, which
are supported or held in position by struts or rods i, as shewn. The frame a
carries, an overhanging platform, having rails corresponding in gauge with
that of the lings in connection with which it is to be used, and the whole is
so, arranged, that it may be brought opposite to any one of such lines, and the
platform is pupported in bearings at m in such manner as that when a carriage
or truck is passed on to it, and has reached the extreme end thereof, the
platform will tilt pr be placed at an angle as shewn in dotted lines, so as
tip the carriage pr. truck and discharge its contents into and along a spout or
shoot . attached to the framing q and rails of the platform into the barges p,
Or, otherwise, as may be requisite. Or the platform may be provided with
axes, running at right angles to the direction of those shewn in the Drawing,
and, supported, in bearings within a suitable framing surrounding the platform,
,1}.

page_text: such framing being supported by the framing a, in a manner similar to that
in which the platform itself is supported in the arrangement, shewn in Figs. 19
and 20, and in such manner as that when a carriage or truck n is passed on
to it and has reached the extreme end thereof the platform will tilt or be
placed at an angle, either as already described and shewn in dotted lines, so
as to tip the carriage or truck and discharge its contents along a spout or shoot
o into barges p. or otherwise stops or bolts may be employed to prevent the
tilting of the platform in the direction indicated by the dotted lines, and other
stops or bolts withdrawn for enabling the platform and truck or carriage to tilt
sideways on its axes within the framing, thus discharging the load either into
barges or elsewhere as may be requisite. Or the overhanging platform may
be provided with openings, so that the doors at the bottoms of the trucks or
carriages, as at present constructed, may be opened downwards, thus discharging
the load down through the platform without tilting the latter. The tilting of
the platform is limited as may be requisite by suitable stops provided for the
purpose, and it may morcover be so arranged as by its own weight or other-
wise to resume its original or horizontal position after the contents of the truck
or carriage have been discharged, whereupon the platform and framing with
the truck or carriage may be moved along the transverse line of rails, till the
rails are opposite to the next line of rails, when the empty truck or carriage
may be moved off the platform and deposited on to such line of rails, and the
platform again returned to the adjoining line to receive another loaded truck
and to tilt, empty and convey, and deposit it on the next line of rails as already
mentioned, thus repeating the operation already described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hugh Greaves, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord
H. GREAVES. (L.S.)