AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TLONATING WoóDEN RATE WAY. Stenne"ATEWAY TREATING RAILWAY SLEEPERS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT. to. William Billinton, of Great George Street, West-
minster, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
TLONATING WoóDEN RATE WAY. Stenne"
TORATING WOODEN PATEWAY. STE
"
Sealed the 2nd September 1856, and dated the 5th March 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by, the said William Billinton at
the Office of the Commissioners, of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th, March 1856.
+
I, WILLIAM BILLINTON, of Great George Street, Westminster, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature. of the said Invention for "AN.
IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING WOODEN RAILWAY SLEEPERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved method of treating, wooden railway
sleepers for the purpose of rendering them more durable than heretofore, and
consists in exerting-mechanical pressure endwise of the grain or fibres of the
sleeper; either when the wood is green or dry, as in practise may be found
most desirable; the intention of thus operating upon the sleeper being to
compress, strengthen, and consolidate the fibres or grain of the wood, so as
to render the sleeper impermeable and not subject to decay.

page_text: SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said William Billinton
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st October 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BILLINTON, of Great George Street, Westminster, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth-day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Billinton, Her special licence that I, the said William Billiuton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Billinton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF TREATING WOODEN RAILWAY SLEEPERS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Billinton, 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 In-
vention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, 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 Billinton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said. Invention, and in what manner the saine is to be per-
formied, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in applying by suitable machinery longitudinal or end
pressure to wooden railway sleepers after they have been cut into shape and.
before they are laid down for use. The length of time necessary for continuing
the pressure will depend on the state of the wood, whether green or dry; if
green, the pressure must be continued longer than if the wood is dry. The
beneficial effect produced upon the said sleepers will be, that without creosoting,
or any other process of steeping or saturation with liquids, the wood will be
rendered non-absorbent of wet, damp, or moisture, and therefore not liable to
decay or disease; consequently, the strength and solidity thereof will be greatly
increased, and the sleepers will last perfect for a considerably longer time than

page_text: timber sleepers will, otherwise treated or prepared, and not compressed by
longitudinal or end pressure, as above stated.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention of "an
improved method of treating wooden railway sleepers, together with the best
means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I
would remark, in conclusion, that what I claim as my Invention, intended to
be secured to me by the above in part recited Letters Patent, is, the method
above described of treating wooden railway sleepers, by exerting longitudinal or
end pressure thereon, for the purpose of rendering the same more durable than
when otherwise treated, and for increasing their strength and solidity, as above
stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Billinton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
JOSEPH DAWSON,
Wakefield.
WILLIAM BILLINTON. (L.S.)