RAIL WEDGE HOLDER
Year: 1885

page_text: ROBERT BARKER, 12 Catherine Street Whitehaven Cumberland (Butler) do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for THE RAIL WEDGE HOLDER to be as
follows:-
=
Made of spring steel set at a slight angle and tempered with ears at each end to
prevent sliding with the wedge and three flutes horizontally to prevent lifting in
the chair, it can be used either on the chair or on the rail optionally, and can be
made in sizes to fit any companys chairs. The object is to prevent the rail wedges
from dropping out owing to expansion and contraction in being exposed to the
weather and to do away with packing entirely. To reduce friction and vibration
by which means the wheels of the carriages will pass more steadily over the chairs.
To diminish the chances of the carriages leaving the metals and so prevent loss of
life by accidents through the wedges dropping out of the chairs.

page_text: I ROBERT BARKER of 12 Catherine Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland Butler, do
hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "RAIL WEDGE HOLDER" and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to prevent rail wedges from dropping or working
out of the chair and so letting loose the rails (generally caused by expansion or
contraction, the effects of exposure to the weather) whilst at the same time
obviating the employment of packing, whilst rendering friction and vibration nil,
so that carriage wheels will pass more steadily over the chairs, and lessen the
chances of their leaving the metals, and so prevent accidents and loss of life
through the liberation of the wedges.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a cross section through the centre of a
rail chair, showing the rail wedge and holder in situ.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal elevation of the same.
Fig. 4 a plan of the rail wedge holder.
Fig. 5 a front elevation.
Fig. 6 a vertical section of the same.
The same letters of reference indicate like parts shown in the different figures.
For the purpose of effecting the objects of my invention I construct what I term
a rail wedge holder D. D. this is made of spring steel, slightly bent or arched,
having tempered ears at each end to prevent sliding with the wedge C, and having
two projections E. E, horizontally arranged on the side G, of the holder, next the
wedge, these are made by stamping the metal from the back, and imbed themselves
in the wedge C, and cause the holder to become permanently connected with it, so
that it is impossible for the wedge to move either through contraction or vibration,
as the wedge holder is allowed inch spring so that it will follow up the
contracting wedge, so that it is impossible to leave the rail B, or chair A, by
working out, and so letting loose the rail.
The wedges can be driven in and out at pleasure without affecting the holder,
which can be be used on the rail or the chair as may be desired.
In using these holders the wedges C, require reducing the thickness of the metal
used for the holder D, by this reduction of the wedge there is so much less wood to
contract or expand, which is a saving in expense in wedges, as they are not required
so thick.
If good oak wedges are employed, they will last for years in conjunction with
the holder, without the necessity of any attention.
F. F represents the sides of the rail wedge holder which have to be adapted to
- suit the different sizes of chairs,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
A wedge holder for rails consisting of a curved spring plate, provided with
projections E, horizontally arranged on the side G, of the holder D, next the
wedge C, the object of such holder being to prevent the wedge dropping or
working out of the chair, the holder being constructed in the manner and for the
purposes substantially as hereinbefore described.