IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CHAIRS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic Barnes, of Tylehurst, near Reading, in the County
of Berks, Farmer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CHAIRS."
Sealed the 18th March 1879, and dated the 22nd November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic Barnes at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd November 1878.
FREDERIC BARNES, of Tylehurst, near Reading, in the County of Berks, Farmer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CHAIRS."
The objects of this Invention of improvements in chairs for supporting rails of
railways and other similar roadways, are to facilitate the laying of the rails to
render them more secure, and to lessen the number of parts required by dispensing
with the usual tightening up wedges.
Railway chairs as hitherto generally made are formed with opposite jaws wider
apart than the width of the flange of the rail, the space intervening between the
web of the rail and the chair when in position being occupied by a tightening up
wedge to secure the rail in position so as to keep it in gauge; but this the wedges
are frequently prevented from doing owing to the vicissitudes of humidity and
temperature, and the constaut jarring to which they are subjected, loosening and
shaking them out of place to the endangering of rolling stock, and the lives of
passengers and others.
According to another mode, the chairs are made with opposite jaws which nearly
fit the web and under flange of the rail; these chairs are threaded on to the rail
and then spiked in position.
My Invention according to which I obviate the many defects attendant upon the
use of the above referred to chairs consists in constructing the chairs with jaws
which are on opposite sides of the chair, but are not opposite to each other, and are
shaped and situated in such a manner in relation to each other, as that they have
to be placed in an inclined or annular position in relation to the rail, in order that
the latter may be dropped between the jaws thereof, the rail being then firmly
Davin B17

page_text: secured by simply turning the chair at right angles to the rail and spiking it in
position to the sleeper, the jaws of the chair then pressing firmly against opposite
sides of the rails but not at opposite parts, and not needing the intervention of any
wedges or other tightening up or holding appliances.
The base plate of the improved chairs is also formed in such a manner as that a
lever or bar can be placed between suitable parts thereof in order to turn the chair
to its position at right angles to the rail, and it is perforated with four holes
through which the bolts or spikes securing the chair to the sleeper are passed, and
so arranged that each bolt takes a separate grain in the sleeper beneath, thereby
avoiding the splitting of the same, two of the bolts or spikes serving simply for this
purpose, the other two serving also as additional means of securing the rail, one
thereof being situated opposite each jaw, the rail being firmly held between them
and the opposite jaws, and thus held at four points in each chair.
An especial advantage attendant upon the use of these improved chairs is that
the gauge of the rails is at all times accurately ensured, the sleepers being
perforated with holes at the required distances apart, in one of each pair of which
one bolt of each chair is placed acting as a centre, upon which the chair can be
turned to admit of the rail being placed in or removed out of position without
removing the chairs or rendering the gauge liable to be altered thereby.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederic Barnes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd May
1879.
"
FREDERIC BARNES, of Tylehurst, near Reading, in the County of Berks, Farmer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CHAIRS."
The objects of this Invention of improvements in chairs for supporting rails of
railways and other similar road ways, are, to facilitate the laying of the rails to
render them more secure, and to lessen the number of parts required by dispensing
with the usual tightening up wedges.
Railway chairs as hitherto generally made are formed with opposite jaws wider
apart than the width of the flange of the rail, the space intervening between
the web of the rail and one jaw of the chair when the rail is in position, being
occupied by a tightening up wedge by means of which the rail is secured in
position and kept in gauge; but this the wedges are frequently prevented from
doing owing to the vicissitudes of humidity and temperature, and the constant
jarring to which they are subjected loosening and shaking them out of place to the
endangering of the rolling stock and the lives of passengers and others.
According to another mode, the chairs are made with opposite jaws closely
fitting the web and under flange of the rail, these chairs being threaded on to
the rail and then spiked in position.
In order that my Invention may be clearly comprehended, I have annexed
hereunto one Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked the same
with figures of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation
thereof.
My Invention according to which I obviate the many defects attendant upon
the use of the above referred to chairs, consists in constructing the chairs 1 with
jaws 2 which are on opposite sides thereof, but are not opposite to each other as
shown most clearly in the plan views Figures 1 to 5, and are shaped and situated
in such a manner in relation to each other, as that they have to be placed in an
inclined or annular position in relation to the rail 3, being turned upon one bolt 4,
the bolt from the other or opposite hole 5 being removed to allow of such move-
ment; when a rail for instance requires renewal between two sound rails (as
illustrated in Figure 5), in order that the rail (represented by the dotted lines)
may be dropped between the jaws 2 of the chairs, and firmly secured by simply
turning the chairs at right angles to it, as shown in Figure 4, and fixing the
chairs in position on the sleepers by simply replacing the bolts 6 in the holes 5,'
the jaws of the chairs then pressing firmly against opposite sides of the web 7
of the rail, as shown in Figure 3, but not at opposite parts, and not needing the
intervention of any wedges or other tightening up or holding appliances.
Figures 3 to 5 represent the base plate 8 of the improved chairs as formed with
recesses 9 in such a manner as that the chairs can be thus readily turned into
position at right angles to the rail by means of a lever placed in such recesses.
Figures 2 and 4 to 6 represent the base plate 8 as perforated with four holes
5, 5, 10, through which the bolts or spikes securing the chair to the sleeper are
passed; these holes being arranged so that each bolt takes a separate grain in the
sleeper beneath in order to avoid the splitting of the same, two of the bolts or
spikes, those placed in the holes 5, 5*, serving simply for securing the chair to the
sleeper, the other two those placed in the holes 10 serving also as additional means
of securing the rail, one thereof being situate opposite each jaw, the rail being
firmly held between them and the opposite jaws, and thus held at four points in
each chair.
Figures 1 and 3 represent the improved chairs as made with side projecting
parts 11 in lieu of the hole 10, so that hooked bolts 12 can be passed therethrough
and be made to embrace the lower flange of the rail, as shown in Figure 3, and be

page_text: tightened up by nuts 13 so as to draw the rail up against the jaws of the chairs,
and not thrust it against the same as the spikes do.
The rails when first placed into position in the chairs as shown in Figure 5 rest
upon the highest parts 14 of the bed plate thereof, but as the latter are turned
round the rails follow the peculiar conformation of the beds of the chairs, and are
gradually lowered into position. This curving of the beds of the chairs serves also
to keep the rails well up against the jaws thereof.
Figures 6 and 7 represent in under plan view and side elevation the chairs as
formed with a series of angular or other serrated grooves 15, which are embedded
or obtain a good grip into or upon the sleepers upon the passing over of trains or
vehicles, and prevent the chairs having any tendency to move.
An especial advantage attendant upon the use of the improved chairs is that the
gauge of the rails is at all times accurately assured, the sleepers being perforated
with holes at the required distances apart, in one of each pair of which one bolt of
each chair is placed, acting as a centre upon which the chair can be turned to
admit of the rail being placed in or removed out of position without removing the
chairs or rendering the gauge liable to be altered thereby.
Having now described the nature and objects of my said Invention together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that what I claim as the Invention
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
The manufacture or construction of improved railway chairs having jaws situated
on opposite sides thereof, but not opposite to each other, such jaws closely fitting
the web of the rail when in position, the beds of the chairs being curved in such a
manner as to cause the rails to gradually bed themselves into position, as the
chairs are turned from the inclined position they occupy in relation to the rail,
when the rail is being dropped into or placed in position therein, into the position
at right angles thereto which they occupy when supporting the rails, and in which
latter position they are bolted to the sleepers, and the use in combination therewith
as additional means of securing the rails in the chairs of spikes or of hooked bolts,
substantially as hereinabove described, and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederic Barnes, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
FREDERIC BARNES. (L.S.)