IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF SECURING THE RAILS ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Saxby, Engineer, of Brighton, Sussex, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF SECURING THE RAILS ON
RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 4th November 1859, and dated the 12th May 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Saxby at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
May 1859.
I, JOHN SAXBY, Engineer, of Brighton, Sussex, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF SECURING
THE RAILS ON RAILWAYS," to be as follows:-
My improvements consist, first, in a new mode of securing the keys of
railway chairs, so as to prevent them from falling out or getting loose. To
effect this, I cast a hole horizontally through one of the jaws of the chair,
through which I pass a bolt having a screw and nut at one end, the other end
being bent at right angles, forming what is called an L bolt; or a head may
be formed on it. This head bears against the larger end of the wooden key;
and the nut being screwed up tight, holds the key in its place. Or, instead of
an L bolt head, an additional nut and screw may be used at the head provided
with a plate bearing against the end of key.
The same object may be gained by casting a groove in the inside of the
jaw of the chair, or by forming a groove in the wooden key, or partly in both,

page_text: and then placing an bolt in the groove, with the head bearing against the
outer side of chair, and the other end provided with a screw and nut, and a
plate or washer bearing against the end of the wooden key, so that on
screwing up the nut, the plate bearing against the key end holds it securely
in place. Or, a bolt with nut and screw at each end, as above described, may
be used; or, the bolt may be cast or screwed into the jaw of the chair, and
the end being provided with nut and screw and plate, as before, holds the
key in place.
Second, to prevent the creeping, or running of the rail, as it is technically
called, in the direction of traffic. I form a countersunk hole in the rail next
the jaw of the chair, in which I place a bolt or rivet or stud, the head of
which being placed behind the key, is held in place by it. The stud projects
through the rail and bears against the jaw of the chair, and thus prevents the
creeping of the rail. The details of my plans may be varied to suit particular
cases.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Saxby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th November 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SAXBY, Engineer, of Brighton, Sussex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Saxby, Her special licence that I, the said John Saxby, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Saxby, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MODE OF SECURING THE RAILS ON RAILWAYS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Saxby, 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

page_text: 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 John Saxby, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My improvements consist, first, in a new modo of securing the keys of
railway chairs so as to prevent them from falling out or getting loose. To
effect this, I cast a hole horizontally through one of the jaws of the chair,
through which I pass a bolt having a screw and nut at one end, the other end
being bent at right angles, forming what is called an L bolt, or a head may'
be formed on it. This head bears against the larger end of the wooden key;
and the nut being screwed up tight holds the key in its place. Or, instead of
an L bolt head, an additional nut and screw may be used at the head, provided
with a plate bearing against the end of key.
The same object may be gained by casting a groove in the inside of the jaw
of the chair, or by forming a groove in the wooden key, or partly in both,
and then placing an L bolt in the groove with the head bearing against the
outer side of chair, and the other end provided with a screw and nut, and a
plate or washer bearing against the end of the wooden key, so that in
screwing up the nut the plate bearing against the key end holds it securely
in place. Or, a bolt with nut and screw at each end, as above described, may
be used; or, the bolt may be cast or screwed into the jaw of the chair, and
the end being provided with a nut and screw and plate, as before, holds the
key in place.
Second, to prevent the creeping or running of the rail (as it is called
technically), I form a countersunk hole in the rail next the jaw of the chair,
in which I place a bolt, or rivet, or stud, the head of which being placed
behind the key, is held in place by it. The stud projects through the rail and
bears against the jaw of chair, and thus prevents the creeping of the rail.
The details of my plan may be varied to suit particular cases.
In the Drawing, I have shown two methods of securing the keys. Similar
letters denote similar parts. Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, show one method. Holes
are cast in the jaw of the chair to receive the
bolt a, the head of which
bears against the large end of the key b. On the other end is a nut and
screw c, by tightening which the head of the bolt holds the key securely.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, show another method of holding the key. A groove d
is cut in the key, next the jaw of the chair, in which groove is placed the
Lbolt a, with the head reversed, so that the L bead bears against the jaw of

page_text: the chair, and the screw end passes through a washer plate g, made to fit the
end of the key. The nut or double nut, if preferred, is then screwed down on
this plate, and so holds the key in place.
I propose to use some one of these plans both to the intermediate and joint
chairs, and I place at one end of each length of rail a stud k with a counter-
sunk head, so that the key b, when in place, holds it in position. This stud
is placed so that the traffic being only in one direction, as on double lines of
rail, presses the stud against the jaw of the chair, and so prevents the rail
from creeping forwards and having its bearing position in the chair. In the
case of single lines, where the traffic runs both ways, a stud must be used at
each end of each length of rail.
These plans may of course be modified, as mentioned before, to suit varying
circumstances.
Having thus described my Invention and the mode by which I carry it out
into practice, I may state that I claim, the mode or modes of securing the
keys of railway chairs by means of an L bolt, as herein described; and,
secondly, the use of a stud for preventing the creeping of the rail, as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Saxby, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
ALFRED PYALL.
JOHN SAXBY. (L.S.)