AN IMPROVED PERMANENT WAY WITH NEW COMBINATION OF LONGITUDINAL IRON SLEEPERS AND RAILS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Pieper, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, of
74, Belle-Alliance-Strasse, Berlin, S.W., Prussia, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED PERMANENT WAY WITH NEW COMBINATION OF LONGITUDINAL IRON
SLEEPERS AND RAILS." A communication from Louis Schwartzkopff, of Berlin,
Prussia. Engineer and Engine Manufacturer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Pieper at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th October 1879.
CARL PIEPER, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, of 74, Belle-Alliance-Strasse,
Berlin, S.W., Prussia. "AN IMPROVED PERMANENT WAY WITH NEW COMBI-
NATION OF LONGITUDINAL IRON SLEEPERS AND RAILS." A communication from
Louis Schwartzkopff, of Berlin, Prussia, Engineer and Engine Manufacturer.
This Invention relates to a permanent way with a new combination of iron
sleepers and rails, which requires but few connecting parts, and which presents a
superior degree of elasticity as compared with other systems of the kind.
The rail is in section of an inverted U-shape, the flanges at its underside, by
preference_converging towards each other, so as thereby to form a dovetailed
groove. The longitudinal sleeper consists of two bars or plates of curved sectional
form, which are placed back to back at an angle and project with their top edge
into the groove of the rail Suitable clamping pieces serve to press the foot edges
of the said bars or plates together, and thereby cause the latter, while bearing at
their point of contact on each other, to press with their upper edges against the
inside of the flanges of the rail; a secure connection between the different parts
being thus obtained.
A modification of the described arrangement may consist in manufacturing the
rail and one of the said sleeper-plates in one piece, while the second sleeper-plate is
similar to the corresponding plates of the first arrangement.
For the purpose of forming a complete line of rails two systems of combined rails
and sleepers are connected together by suitable tie-rods, bolted or otherwise
attached to the clamping-pieces.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Carl Pieper in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th April
1880.
CARL PIEPER, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, of 74, Belle Alliance Strasse,
Berlin, S.W., Prussia. AN IMPROVED PERMANENT WAY WITH NEW COMBI-
NATION OF LONGITUDINAL IRON SLEEPERS AND RAILS." A. communication from
Louis Schwartzkopff, of Berlin, Prussia, Engineer and Engine Manufacturer.
This Invention relates to an improved permanent way with a new combination
of iron sleepers and rails, which requires but few connecting parts, and which
presents a superior degree of elasticity as compared with other systems of
the kind.
The new system is represented on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings; Fig. 1
is a perspective view of the same, and Fig. 2, a section on a larger scale; while
Fig. 3 represents a modified construction of the rail and the sleeper; Fig. 4 finally
shows a different arrangement of the tie-rods.
The rail A, Figs. 1 and 2, is in section of an inverted U-shape, the two flanges or
legs o, o, at its underside converge towards each other, so as thereby to form a
dovetailed groove. The longitudinal sleeper consists of two bars or plates B, B, of
curved sectional form, which are placed back to back at an angle, and project with
their top edge into the groove of the rail. These plates, however, not only serve as
sleeper, but they also replace the vertical web and the foot of the common rail, or
of other systems of combined rails and sleepers; C, C, are clamping pieces having
the projections q, q; these, in co-operation with the wedges D, serve to press the
foot-edges of the plates B, B, together, and thereby cause the latter, while bearing
at the point m against each other, to press with their upper edges n, n, against the
inside of the flanges, o o, of the rail.
It will readily be understood that the hold which the rail has on the sleeper-
plates B, B, will become more secure as the foot-edges of the latter are pressed
together more firmly by the clamps C and wedges D, because in such case the
plates B acting as levers, which have their fulcrum at m, will press more strongly
against the flanges of A; but also any load coming on the rail will have a similar
effect, as the pressure caused by the same acting vertically downward on the end n
of each plate B has the tendency to bend this end outward, or to turn it on the
point m; but, as an actual bending cannot take place, it will increase the pressure
of n against o; at the same time, of course, the pressure of the foot-edges p, p, of
the plates B, B, against the projections q, q, is increased; consequently, the greater
the load is, the more secure the connection of the parts will be.
The rail A having a section which is symmetrical with regard to its center-line
may be reversed (i.e., its inside turned outward) after having been worn off on one
side; and considering, moreover, that it is very light it may be replaced at a
small cost.
The arrangement of the sleeper-plates and the rail may be modified according to
Fig. 3. In this case the rail A¹ and the plate B are manufactured together in
one piece, while the plate B is similar to the corresponding plates of the first
arrangement.
If it should be desired to increase the friction between the plates B, B, of the
first arrangement narrow grooves may be rolled into them upon their line of
contact, or one of the plates may be provided with a single groove, and the other
with a bead fitting into the said groove.
The mode of securing the foot-edges of the plates B, B, together after rail A has:
been put into its place may also be varied in different manners; thus, for instance,
instead of one of the projections q a piece sliding on plate C may be used, the end
of C being adapted for receiving a nut or a cotter, for the purpose of tightening

page_text: the same up; but even all such parts as wedges, nuts, &c., may be dispensed with,
if the lower edges of the plates B are pressed together sufficiently by any suitable
tool, and then allowed to recede from each other by their inherent elasticity, after
the clamping-piece has been put into its place.
For the purpose of forming a complete line of rails two systems of combined rails
and sleepers may be connected together, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2; each pair of
opposite clamping pieces C being united by one or two tie-rods E and suitable bolts
or pins F. For the straight parts of the line the holes in all the tie-rods and the
clamps may be punched or drilled beforehand, but for curves where the gauge of
the line has to be increased it is preferable to make the holes in one end of the
tie-rods (or in one of each pair of the clamps) while the line is being laid down.
Fig. 4 shows a different arrangement of the tie-rods, which will be understood
without explanation. Any other suitable known construction may however be
applied for the same purpose without departing from the nature of the Invention.
The butts of the rails, and of the sleeper-plates, are to be shifted with respect to
each other, and at every butt of the latter there must be a clamping piece, by
preference of greater width than the others. By this arrangement all fish-plates
will be rendered unnecessary.
The space under the sleeper-plates is filled with ballasting material, so that these
plates rest on the ground upon their whole length. On the outside they may be
covered with ballast, so that only the rail remains completely free.
In addition to the advantages already mentioned the described system presents
considerable facilities in laying down a line, and also for taking the same up if
required.
Having thus described the nature and object of this Invention, and the manner
in which it is to be carried out in practice, as communicated to me by my
correspondent, I hereby claim as new and important features of the same,-
1. The combination of a rail A grooved at its under-side, moreover of the two
curved bars or plates B, B, bearing against each other, and projecting with their
top edge into the groove of the rail, and finally of the clamps C, the said plates B, B,
thus constituting a longitudinal sleeper, substantially as hereinbefore described, and
for the purpose stated.
2. The combination of a rail A' grooved at its underside, and made out of one
piece with the curved plate B¹, moreover of the curved plate B bearing against B¹,
and projecting with its top edge into the groove of the rail, and finally of the
clamps C, the plates B and B' constituting a longitudinal sleeper, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Pieper, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eighteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand