IMPROVEMENTS IN PERMANENT WAY WITH LONGITUDINAL IRON SLEEPERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Pieper, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, of 74,
Belle-Alliance-Strasse, Berlin, S. W., Prussia, now of 8, Southampton Buildings,
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PERMANENT WAY WITH
LONGITUDINAL IRON SLEEPERS." A communication from George Schwartz-
kopff, of Kassel, Prussia.
Sealed the 5th August 1879, and dated the 15th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Pieper at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th February 1879.
CARL PIEPER, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, of 74, Belle-Alliance-Strasse,
cr
" IMPROVE-
Berlin, S.W., Prussia, now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London.
MENTS IN PERMANENT WAY WITH LONGITUDINAL IRON SLEEPERS." A communica-
tion from George Schwartzkopff, of Kassel, Prussia.
This Invention relates to an improved construction of permanent way in which
a longitudinal iron sleeper is combined in a special manner with a rail having in
section the shape of an inverted U, the hollow at its under side forming a dovetail
groove upon its whole length.
The sleeper consists of a single bar of iron, which in its general outline is of
I shape with broad flanges at the bottom, which may be either inclined or square.
to the vertical web. The head of the sleeper has on one side a dovetail profile
which fits to the inside of one of the flanges of the rail, while between the other
side of the head, which is concave, and the other flange of the rail a certain space is
left. Into this space the ends of clamping levers, made by preference of spring steel,-
and having a specially curved shape are introduced, each clamping lever bearing
with a convex part of its bend against the concave part of the sleeper head, and
with its upper end against the inside of the corresponding flange of the rail. The
lower end of the clamp is drawn towards the vertical web of the latter by means of
a hook-bolt passing through the web, or by a common bolt passing through both
the clamp and the web. A number of such clamps being applied they will firmly
unite the rail and the sleeper, without however preventing thein from sliding to
the requisite amount with respect to each other when they expand or contract from
variations of temperature.
The described method of uniting the rail and the sleeper by clamps may also be
applied in other cases where a secure but not absolutely rigid connection between
two parts of any construction is to be attained.

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 15th August
1879.
CARL PIEPER, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, of 74, Belle-Alliance-Strasse,
Berlin, S.W., Prussia, now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London.
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PERMANENT WAY WITH LONGITUDINAL IRON SLEEPERS." A communica-
tion from George Schwartzkopff, of Kassel, Prussia.
This Invention relates to an improved construction of permanent way in which
a longitudinal iron sleeper is combined in a special manner with a rail having in
section the shape of an inverted U.
As shown on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings the sleeper B consists of a
single bar of iron, which in its general outline is of I (or double T) shape, with
broad flanges at the bottom, which may be inclined to the vertical web, as repre-
sented by Fig. 1, or square to the same, as shown by Fig. 3. Other suitable forms
of flanges may however be used if preferred. The head b of the sleeper has on one
side a dovetail profile which fits to the inside of the flange a of the rail A, whereas
between the other side of the head, which is concave, and the flange a' of the rail
a certain space is left. Into this space the upper end of the clamping levers C
which have a specially curved shape are introduced, each clamping lever bearing
with its convex part c against the concave part of the sleeper-head b, and with its
upper end d against the inside of flange a¹ of the rail A. The said flanges a and a¹
are inclined towards each other so as to form together with the top of the rail a
dovetail groove. The lower end of the clamp C has a head e corresponding with
the hook on the bolt D, which passes through the vertical web of the sleeper, as
shown by Fig. 3, or a common bolt is passed through both the clamp and the web,
as represented by Figs. 1 and 2. The clamp is by preference made of spring steel
and tempered to the proper degree so that it may spring slightly when the nut E
is screwed down. A number of such clamps being applied over the length of the
rail and the sleeper, as shown by Fig. 4, and the nuts E of the bolts D being
drawn tight, it is evident that the rail and the sleeper will be firmly united, as
neither the clamps can shift up or down in the hollow of the sleeper-head nor the
rail become loose on the latter on account of the dovetail shape of its groove. The
solidity of this connexion has been proved by experience, nevertheless it is not so
rigid as to prevent the rail and the sleeper from sliding to the requisite amount
with respect to each other when they expand or contract from variations of tem-
perature. Moreover the elasticity of the clamps affords complete security against
an accidental slackening of the nuts E, so that no special means, such as spring
washers or lock-nuts, are required for this purpose.
The butts of the rails and of the sleepers are, by preference, to be shifted with
regard to each other. Each butt of two rails, which is in this case supported by
the centre of a sleeper, may be secured by a single clamp, as shown at f, Fig. 4.
The sleepers are united at their ends by angular or other suitably shaped fish-
plates, close to and at either side of which a clamp should be placed (see Fig. 4).
The sleepers are maintained laterally at the proper distance from each other by
the stays F, shown in the plan of the arrangement, Fig. 5; and moreover, if
preferred, a cross-bar of T-iron may be bolted under the butts of the sleepers as
well for the purpose of additional security as for fixing the lateral incline of the
rails and sleepers. When the sleepers are formed according to Fig. 1 this cross-bar
must, of course, be suitably bent at the ends so as to correspond to the foot of the
former.
The method of uniting the rail and the sleeper by the clamps C may also be
applied in other cases where a secure but not absolutely rigid connexion between
two parts of a construction is to be attained, but this I do not claim as a part of
the said Invention.

page_text: The described system of permanent way presents various advantages, which may
be enumerated as follows:-
The rail and sleeper combined may be regarded as a single piece in respect to
resistance against bending, and, moreover, the sectional shape of the sleeper is such
as to present the greatest possible strength for a given amount of material; the
entire weight of rail and sleeper combined is therefore lower than with any other
system of permanent way of the kind, having equal solidity. Especially the rail is
reduced in weight to a minimum, and as this is the only part subject to wear and
tear it may be renewed at a small cost. It has also to be taken into account that
the rail having the same sectional shape on both sides may be reversed when worn
off on one side.
The rolling of the rails, the sleepers, and the bars out of which the clamps and
the fish-plates are made, as also the bending of the former when they are to be used
in curves, presents no material difficulties. The laying-down of the sleepers and
rails can be done speedily and without any ponderous apparatus, and on the other
hand a permanent way of this kind may be made unserviceable with facility by
simply removing the rails and the clamps but without destroying the bed of the
road or disturbing the line of sleepers, in consequence whereof the system is
especially adapted for field-purposes in times of war.
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 corre-
spondent), I hereby claim as a new and essential feature of the same,-
The combination of the longitudinal iron sleeper B with the rail A and the
clamps C, substantially as and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Pieper, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fifteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
NIDT