IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."-A com-
munication from abroad by Charles Jules Pierre Desnos Gardissal, Civil
Engineer, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 10th May 1864, and dated the 16th February 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th
February 1864.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the permanent way of railroads,
and consists in the employment of iron rolled in various forms, the distinctive
feature of which consists in securing a platform at the upper part to serve for
the support of the rails and chairs, while at same time the depth and angle of

page_text: the sides or the width of the flanges presents an elasticity, resistance, and
support at least equal to that of wood sleepers.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, Sheet 1, represent various forms of iron sleepers,
both of the ordinary kind and also for joint sleepers. Figs. 1, 3, and 5
represent ordinary sleepers, and Figs. 2, 4, and 6 joint sleepers. For ordinary
sleepers I place a rolled plate z, 21, Fig. 1, Sheet 1, on the upper surface or
platform of said sleeper, which plate has an inclined surface corresponding to
the inclination of the rail, as shown in Fig. 3, Sheet 2; this plate in ordinary
sleepers is only about half an inch wider than the sleeper, or may be made
still narrower and of the form represented at Figs. 10 and 11, Sheet 2.
This plate has openings a, b, Fig. 4, Sheet 2, where the gibs and cotters are
applied. The rail is fixed to the sleeper by means of gibs C, D, C¹, D',
Fig. 1, Sheet 2, which are fixed to the flanges of the rails by means of keys
or cotters, Fig. 3, Sheet 2. The lower part of the gib being introduced under
the head of the sleeper, it will be understood that the flange of the rail will be
thus firmly secured by means of the upper bent part of said gib. The
inclination of the rail may also be obtained without the aid of a plate in the
manner shown at Figs. 6 and 7, Sheet 2, by bending the sleeper in a matrix.
In this case a sole plate z, z, is placed under the flanges of the sleeper to
prevent its getting out of shape.
Figs, 2, 3, 4, and 5, Sheet 2, represent a joint sleeper of greater width
than the preceding. In this sleeper the base plate is lengthened, so as to
afford sufficient support for the ends of each of the rails to be united together.
This plate is connected to the flange or lower rim of the sleeper by means of
double, angle irons of the form represented at y, y, Fig. 2, Sheet 2, or other
iron or cast-iron supports of the various forms shown at Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, Sheet 1. Figs. 2, 3, and 4, Sheet 2, represent an
elevation, plan, and section of a joint sleeper, showing an improved method of
fastening or uniting vignole rails; Fig. 5 of the same Sheet represents a
section of a method of fishing double-headed rails. I first apply a base plate,
having a hollow part for receiving the lower end of the rail, which is placed on
'the top of the sleeper; two angle plates a, a, b, b¹, are then connected both to
the plate and to the head of the sleeper by means of rivets, and also by gibs
and cotters, as before mentioned, which latter is necessary to permit of the
removal of the rail. The ordinary fish plate bearing may also be used for the
purpose.
Figs. 8 and 9, Sheet 2, represent longitudinal and transverse sections of
sleepers of similar arrangement, but having a much larger platform or bearing
surface, the required inclination of the double-headed rail being obtained

page_text: without the application of an intermediate plate by moulding the sleeper rail
while hot; the chair in this case is formed of two angle irons, which are
rivetted to the platform of the sleeper.
Fig. 3 represents an arrangement of iron sleeper differing from the foregoing,
inasmuch as the raised central part is of less depth, the flat base plate being
terminated by return pieces, which are buried in the ballast, so as to prevent
its displacement and facilitate its application. Figs. 1, 2, and 3 show the
application of this sleeper with a vignoles rail, the inclination being given to
the rail in a similar manner to the preceding by means of plate G, H.
Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 show the application of the same sleeper with double-
headed rails. Fig. 8 shows a modification of this form of sleeper, the
centre raised part f, g, h, i, being of greater depth than in the preceding
instances.
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 4, show an improved joint sleeper, with fish plate
for a vignoles rail. In this sleeper the laminated plate G, H', is lengthened,
and rests on the end of the sleeper, being supported by a hollow cylinder K, K',
through which passes a bolt R, which completes the fixing. Any other means
of support of cast or other metal may be applied.
It should be observed that in the arrangement of sleeper represented as
Sheets 3 and 4 the attachment of the rail to the sleeper is effected in the
same manner as in Sheet 2 by means of gibs and cotters. I may also employ
a kind of cramp for gripping the foot of the rail, and secured by nuts or keys,.
as represented in Fig. 4, Sheet 4.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th May 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William Clark, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William

page_text: Clark, 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 PERMANENT
WAY OF RAILWAYS," a communication to him from abroad by Charles Jules
Pierre Desnos Gardissal, Civil Engineer, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Clark, 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 per-
formed, 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 William Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of the 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, reference being had to the Eight Sheets of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to the use of iron instead of wood for the support of
the permanent way of railways, and consists, first, in the peculiar forms of iron
sleepers; secondly, in the means of giving the desired inclination to the rails;
thirdly, in the means of attaching the rails to the sleepers, whether inter-
mediate or joint; fourthly, in the various combinations relative to joint
sleepers. The sleepers are formed of hollow iron rolled in various forms, the
distinctive feature of which consists in securing a platform at the upper part
to serve for the support of the rails and chairs, while at same time the depth
and angle of the sides or the width of the flanges presents an elasticity,
resistance, and support at least equal to that of wood sleepers.
The iron sleepers may be made of various forms and furnished with flanges
or feet resting horizontally on the ground, thus the side surface or part uniting
the upper platform and the foot may be formed, first, in an oblique rectilinear
line, as shown at Fig. 1, Sheet 1; secondly, in an inclined irregular line, as at
Fig. 2, Sheet 1; thirdly, in a curved concave line, as at Fig. 3, Sheet 1;
fourthly, in an undulated line, as at Fig. 4, Sheet 1; fifthly, in a convex
curved form, as at Fig. 5, Sheet 1. Several of those forms are also repre-
sented at Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7, Sheet 2.
Instead of being terminated by a flange or foot the sleeper rail may be
furnished with a kind of cramp for securing it in the ballast, in which case

page_text: the sleeper is of the form represented at Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11, Sheet 1, and
Figs. 5 and 6, Sheet 2. The dimensions of these sleepers may be varied,
although such is comprised within the following limits:-The space a, b,
representing the width of the sleeper resting on the ground, may vary from
about seven to nine inches, according to whether they are joint or ordinary
sleepers, as represented at Fig. 10, Sheet 1, and Figs. 2, 3, and 6, Sheet 2.
The space g, h, representing the depth of the sleeper, may vary from one and
a half to three inches. The platform or bearing surface e, f, may also vary
from two to three inches, according to whether it is to carry a single or double
headed rail, or it be an ordinary or joint sleeper. The inclination of the rail
is obtained either by superposing a plate of iron on the top of sleeper,
having the requisite slope for a single-headed or vignole rail, or the hollow
or groove necessary for fixing double-headed rails; this may be still better
obtained by moulding the sleeper itself of the desired form for giving the
rails the requisite slant. The single rails may be fixed by means of keys or
cotters, or by ordinary cast-iron chairs, as at Fig. 21, Sheet 2, while double
rails are secured by means of chairs in the form of angle irons.
Having thus given a general idea of the Invention, I will proceed to give
the detailed arrangement of these improved metal sleepers.
In ordinary sleepers I place a rolled plate 2, 1, Fig. 1, Sheet 3, on the
upper surface or platform of said sleeper, which plate has an inclined surface
corresponding to the required inclination of the rail, as shown in Figure 2,
Sheet 3, and Fig. 19, Sheet 2; this plate may be made still narrower, and of
the form represented at Figs. 7 and 8, Sheet 3, and is furnished with
openings a, b, where the gibs and cotters are to be applied. The rail is fixed
to the sleeper by means of gibs K, Figs. 2 and 7, Sheet 3, which are fixed on
the flanges of the rails by means of keys or cotters. The lower part of
the gib being introduced under the head of the sleeper, it will be understood
that the flange of the rail will be thus firmly secured by means of the upper
bent part of said gib.
In order to prevent the cotters falling out from the vibration or shocks
produced on the line, a pin may be placed between the gib and cotter, as seen
at Fig. 2, Sheet 6, the cotter being slightly bent below the part engaged in
the mortise, as shown at Fig. 5, Sheet 6. Another method of attachment is
represented at Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 8. In this arrangement the back of the
gibs B, B', against which the cotters A, A', bear, instead of being flat has a
concave surface, which is also the case with the extreme part of the mortises.
made in the sleeper for receiving the attachments of the rail; the cotters also,
instead of being square or rectangular, as previously described, are rounded so

page_text: as to enable them to turn between the concave part of the mortise and the gib.
These cotters are further provided with a rib or projection throughout their
length, with the exception of a portion equal to the depth of the mortise; this
rib or projection lodges at the moment of introducing the cotter in a small
square hole m of said mortise. It will be understood that when the cotter A
.has been introduced into its mortise sufficiently to clear the rib or thickness
piece by turning a quarter circle, and closing up the small hole m with
a pin, the lower rib will prevent all movement tending to displace the
cotter.
In the arrangement represented at Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 8, A, A¹, are the
cotters, and B, B¹, the gibs. A shows the position of the cotter after having
been turned a quarter of a circle, the rib on same preventing its exit; A¹ shows
the cotter as it is first introduced into the mortise; the space in the centre of
the rib permits its being turned a quarter circle and assuming the position
shown at A. The inclination of the rail may also be obtained without the
aid of a plate, in the manner shown at Figs. 5 and 6, Seeet 5, by bending
the sleeper in a matrix; in this case a sole plate 2, 2, is placed under the
flanges of the sleeper to prevent its getting out of shape, which is, however,
hardly probable, as the pressure brings the end of the sleeper to a horizontal
position.
It will be understood that this alteration in the shape could only be
produced by the extension of the ridge or raised part of the sleeper, and this
only by the application of enormous pressure, hence this method of moulding
presents advantages which may be readily conceived. In this case the
metal is rolled with a thickness piece under the top surface of the sleeper
for affording sufficient support to the cotter which locks the gibs in position.
Figs. 8, 9, and 9bis, Sheet 2, represents this additional rib or thickness
piece.
By moulding the sleeper while hot on its leaving the rolls much greater
economy is ensured, while the mortising or holes made for receiving the gibs
and cotters may also be effected simultaneously, for this purpose the sleepers
after having been sawn to the required length are placed in a cast-iron mould,
represented in longitudinal & transverse section at Figs. 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 7.
The moulding is effected by means of a cast or wrought iron punch of the form
shown at Figs. 1 and 2 of the above Sheet, which is forced on to the bed of
the mould either by means of a screw, as at Fig. 2, by a piston worked by an
hydraulic pump, or it may be by a beam actuated by a crank or eccentric.
Instead of making the punch movable, I may make the mould containing
the sleeper to rise up and down, as at Fig. 1, Sheet 7, it being forced upon the

page_text: fixed punch, and moulded of the desired form as previously. Lastly, instead
of moulding the sleeper in the position represented at Fig. 3, Sheet 7, I may
reverse it, and effect the moulding in the manner shown at Figs. 3 and 4,
Sheet 8.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6, Sheet 3, represent a joint sleeper of greater width
than those previously described; in this case the base plate is made of
greater width so as to afford sufficient support to the ends of each of the rails
to be united. This plate is connected to the flange or lower edge of the
sleeper by means of double angle irons of the form represented at y, y, or other
iron or cast-iron supports of the various forms shown at Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13,
14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, Sheet 2.
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 3, represent an elevation, plan, and section of a
joint sleeper showing an improved method of fishing or uniting vignole rails.
Fig. 6, Sheet 3, represents a section of a method of fishing double-headed rails.
1 first apply a base plate having a hollow part for receiving the lower end of
the rail which is placed on the top of the sleeper; two angle plates a, a, b, b¹,
are then connected both to the plate and to the head of the sleeper by means
of rivets, and also by gibs and cotters as before mentioned, which latter is
necessary to permit of the removal of the rail. The ordinary fish plate bearing
may also be used for the purpose. Figs. 3 and 4, Sheet 3, represent longi-
tudiral and transverse sections of sleepers of similar arrangement, but having
a much larger platform or bearing surface, the required inclination of the
double-headed rail being obtained without the application of an intermediate
plate by moulding the sleeper rail while hot; the chair in this case is formed
of two angle irons, which are rivetted to the platform of the sleeper. The
sleepers of double-headed rails may be moulded by a process analogous to that
used for Vignole or single rails as previously described.
Sheet 4 represents an arrangement of iron sleeper differing from the foregoing,
inasmuch as the raised central part is of less depth, the flat base plates being
terminated by return pieces, which are buried in the ballast so as to prevent
its displacement and facilitate its application. Figs. 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 4,
shows the application of this sleeper with a vignole rail, the inclination being
gren to the rail in a similar manner to the preceding by means of plate G, H,
ulded in the manner described. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, Sheet 4, show the
aplication of the same sleeper with double-headed rails. Fig. 8 of the
ame Sheet shows a modification of this form of sleeper, the centre raised part
9, h, i, being of greater depth than in the preceding instances.
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 5, show an improved joint sleeper with fish plates
:

page_text: for vignole rails; in this sleeper the rolled plate G², H', is lengthened, and rests
on the end of the sleeper, being supported by means of cylinders K, K³,
through which passes the bolt R, which completes the fixing. Any other
means of support of cast or other metal may be applied. It should be observed
that with the arrangement of sleeper represented in Sheets 3 and 4, the
attachment of the rail to the sleeper is effected in the same manner as before
explained by means of gibs and cotters; I may also employ a kind of cramp
for gripping the foot of the rail, and secured by screw bolts or keys as repre-
sented in Fig. 4, Sheet 5.
To prevent the displacement of the sleepers in a transverse direction, an
angle iron, shown at Fig. 6, Sheet 6, may be placed either at the centre or
at both extremities, and rivetted to the foot or sides of the sleeper.
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 6, represent an iron sleeper of T-form. In order to
give stability to this kind of sleeper, two plates of iron are applied at its end
of a quadrated or other form; these plates form the lateral sides of the hollow
iron previously described, and are bolted to the lower flange of the T iron.
For single-headed rails I obtain the necessary inclination either by means of
an additional plate, as seen at Figs. 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 6, or by bending the.
ends of the T iron while hot, as at a, b, Fig. 4, Sheet 6. These arrangements of
sleepers may serve either for single or double headed rails, but are of especial
advantage as joint sleepers, as a very large bearing surface may be obtained
by increasing the width of the flanges of the T-form.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the various arrangements of sleepers formed of rolled iron in' the
manner described, the top of which serves as a bearing surface for fixing the
rail or chair, while its depth and the form of the sides secure at once loth
elasticity, strength, and sufficient support.
Secondly, I claim the several means of obtaining the inclination of the ruls 8
either by superposing an inclined iron plate on the upper surface of the sleejer
rail, or, preferably, by moulding the latter of the desired shape for receiving
the foot of a vignole rail or the hollow part necessary for lodging n
ordinary double-headed rail.
Thirdly, the various means of attaching the rail to the sleeper either by the 3
aid of gibs and cotters, or cramps in the case of single rails, as also by mean
of an ordinary cast-iron chair or chairs in the form of angle irons connected to
the sleepers in the case of double rails.
2

page_text: Fourthly, I claim the several arrangements herein described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings, more especially as applied to joint sleepers,
and the method of shaping or moulding directly on leaving the rolls.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)