Improvements in Rail Securing Ties or Sleepers for Permanent Way.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1899 - Accepted, 20th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rail Securing Ties or Sleepers for Permanent Way.
We, GUSTAV WEISE, of Lake Lalbert, in the Colony of Victoria, Australia,
Blacksmith and Wheelwright, and GEORGE NALDER, of Lake Lalbert, in the
Colony of Victoria, Australia aforesaid, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
-
The object of this invention is to provide metallic railway sleepers so con-
structed that said sleepers when properly laid down grip the rails (whether of
Vignoles, double headed or other forin), so making spikes, chairs, keys and the
like as now commonly used to fasten rails to sleepers in the construction of
permanent way wholly unnecessary. The work of laying down railway lines
can by this invention be performed more easily and expeditiously than is usual,
whilst the durability of metal over wood renders the former preferable, and in
the end cheaper. Each sleeper (of tee or angle iron or steel) comprises two
parallel halves or sections of any suitable length or weight which have only to
be bolted, rivetted, or otherwise screwed together to fasten the rails to any
predetermined guage.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1
shows in cross section two such halves of tee iron, which when combined, form
the sleeper. In the other views angle iron is shown. Figure 2 represents an
elevation of a sleeper in position across the track, one of the rails being shown
in its cramped position, the bolts connecting the sleepers being rivetted.
Figure 3 represents a plan of portion of a railway track with one of my sleepers
bolted up and securing the rails to guage, one sleeper also being shown ready
for the insertion of the bolts, one rail being shown shorter than the other to
better exhibit certain details.
Figure 4 shows in plan view the central wedge bolt which passes through
tapering holes in the adjoining halves of the sleepers, and thereby secures the
latter in position. Figure 5 shows portion of a sleeper in elevation showing the
tapering holes adapted to receive the wedge bolt, the larger end of said holes
facing the observer. Figure 6 shows on a larger scale an end view of a sleeper
and part of a rail it secures. Figure shows a cross section of a rail on the
scale of Figure 6, and part of one of the parallel halves of the sleeper, in gripping
position. The scale varies in these figures for the better illustration of the details,
but in each case the same letters of reference indicate like parts. Tee iron
may be used where angle iron is shown and is preferred.
Referring to the lettering, X indicates the rails, and Y the ballast or earth.
A and are the respective members or halves which when combined form a
sleeper, in the vertical web of each of which are two recessed slots B. C and B'C'
respectively--each slot being at its top (or narrowest) part somewhat wider than
the rail base. On one side of each slot is a projection adapted to fit in over the
flange or lower head of the rail and truly meet the web thereof. The arrange-
ment of these projections G, H, GH respectively is such that one projection

page_text: occurs at each side of each rail. The two projections on one half sleeper face
in one direction and the two on the other half sleeper in the opposite direction.
Thus (as seen in the drawing) the part A has projections G and H which meet
the left hand side of each rail, and the part A has projections G and H which
meet the right hand side of the said rails. It will now be evident that in
assembling the two half sleepers together, wide slots may be left into which the
rails can be dropped, and then either or both of the half sleepers can be thrust
endwise until the lower part herein called a flange of each rail is located in one
of the recesses below the projections, Hand GH respectively, these projec
tions gripping or fitting close to the web, and being high enough to meet the
head of the rail on the under side when such a heavy construction (not shown)
is preferred. When this contact is secured two holes D and 11 having inclined
or tapering sides and situated at about mid length of each half sleeper will
have been brought almost exactly opposite one another. The small end of the
larger hole adjoins the larger end of the smaller, the non-coincident edges being
clearly shown in Fig. 4. Through these holes a tapering wedge bolt E is passed,
and owing to the non-coincidence aforesaid the wedge bolt contacts with hole 1)
on the opposite side to that on which said bolt contacts. with hole D. The wedge
bolt is then screwed up tight, and this has the effect of forcing each half sleeper
in the endwise direction shown by arrow thereon in Figures 3 and 4, so increas-
Fare
ing the grip and pressure of projections G, H, G₁ H' on the rails.
any suitable number of bolts which are then screwed up through suitable holes
provided for the purpose so as to register with one another, or drilled at the
time so completing the construction and making every part rigid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that
what we claim is:
1. A railway sleeper formed in two parallel halves or sections, each having
two recessed slots to receive the rails, with a projection on one side of each slot
so arranged that on adjusting and connecting the said halves the respective
projections on one sleeper will fit against and secure the left side of each rail
web respectively and the respective projections on the other sleeper will fit
against and secure the right side of each rail web respectively substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a railway sleeper of tee or angle iron or steel, the combination of two
parallel halves or sections having slots B, C, B, C, projections G, HG, H¹
tapered holes 1, 1) a tapered or wedge bolt E and bolts For other means for
connecting the said halves of the sleeper all substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Dated this 15th day of April 1899.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.