IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS, AND IN FITTINGS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Whiteford, of Greenock, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Doctor of Medicine, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS, AND IN FITTINGS CONNECTED
THEREWITH."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Whiteford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th November 1881.
JAMES WHITEFORD, of Greenock, in the County of Renfrew, North-Britain,
Doctor of Medicine. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
4
AND IN FITTINGS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
This said Invention has reference to the permanent way of railways, and
especially to an improved mode and means of securing the rail in the chair, both
in its continuity and at the ends or points of junction of the rails. The Invention
is applicable to the existing form of chair and double headed rail in ordinary use
(or with suitable modification to any other form of chair and rail) without requiring
any change in, or interference with, the actually existing condition of either chair
or rail, and may be relied upon for securing the rail in its continuity, and also for
joining and fastening the ends of the rails in the chair, thereby avoiding the use
of fish-plates; and where it is desired to continue the use of fish-plates with
hanging joints, this same means is applicable to secure these as to the rail in its
continuity, requiring but a slight change to be made in the shape of the two
chairs adjacent or next to the joint and in the fish plates; the holes in the rail
and fish-plates being no longer required, as the bolts are not used, while at the
same time the joint is made much stronger.
The nature and novelty of this Invention consist in substituting for the wooden
key or wedge at present in use a new construction, arrangement, and combination
of cheek-plate, key, and bolt, cottar or split pin, all of which may be formed of
metal, such as cast-iron or malleable iron or steel, wholly or partly of such metal,
and partly of wood, but preferably wholly of metal.
The new cheek-plate is formed so as when in position to fit by its outer surface
exactly to the inner surface of the jaw of the chair, and by its inner surface to the
Price G11

page_text: outer surface of the lower flange of the rail below, for which purpose it is fluted
below, the rest of this surface forming a vertical plane parallel to the web of the
rail. About the middle of this plane there is formed a vertical groove or recess of
rectangular section, extending about two inches in length by one-eighth of an inch
in depth, by three eighths of an inch or thereby in breadth (for about half the
Jength) above, widened to five-eighths of an inch below. At each end of this
cheek-plate there is formed a flange which projects backwards, so as to fit to the
edges of the jaw of the chair.
The improved key is made to fit exactly, so as to fill the space left between the
vertical plane surface of the cheek plate already mentioned and the rail. This is
grooved correspondingly, so that when pushed or tapped longitudinally (namely, in
the direction of the rail) into position, the two grooves or recesses in the cheek-plate
and key being brought into opposition, form together a vertical slot for the
reception of the cottar, or bolt, or split pin. The cottar, bolt, or split pin is of
rectangular section, having the split transverse to the direction of the rail when in
position, whereby the key is prevented from moving by any vibration.
The cheek plate and key when in position thus fill the whole space between the
chair and rail, which is only partially filled by the present wooden key, and
accurate adjustment, so as to produce sufficient friction between key and rail, may
be obtained when necessary by inserting wood shaving, canvas, or sheet metal, or
other convenient substance between the check plate and the chair before inserting
the key.
The check plate and key used together and thus fastened are relied upon not
only for securing the rail in its continuity in the chair, but.for-fastening-the-ends-
-of-two-rails in a chair sufficiently wide, thereby forming a solid joint without the
use of fish-plates, or requiring any change in or interference with the actually
existing chair and rail.
Where however it is desired to use fish-plates at the joints, I propose to make
use of the same check-plate and key, and with these to secure the ends of the
fish-plates in the adjacent chairs, which must be brought sufficiently close to cach
other to adinit of this.
For this purpose the ends of the inner fish-plates are reduced to the three-eighth
part of an inch or thereby in thickness, for the length of somewhat more than the
breadth of the chair. And the inner jaw of the chair (namely, that which grasps
the lower flange of the rail) must be reduced sufficiently so as to admit of the end
of the fish-plate at that side being inserted. The ends of the outer fish plates are
in like manner reduced to five-eighths of an inch, and the key must be reduced in
thickness by the same as the thickness of the end of the fish-plate.
In making new chairs for the permanent way of railways, the chair and cheek
plate may be formed or cast in one piece, that is, with the outer jaw having a
vertical surface on the inside to correspond with the inner surface of the cheek-
plate described, between which and the rail the improved key would fit, a groove
being formed or cut in this side of the chair for the reception of the bolt, cottar, or
split pin, and thus the check plate may be dispensed with.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Whiteford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd May
1882.
JAMES WHITEFORD, of. Greenock, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Doctor of Medicine. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS,
AND IN FITTINGS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
My said Invention has reference to the permanent way of railways, and especially
to an improved mode and means of securing the rails in the chair, both in its
continuity and at the ends or points of junction of the rails. The Invention is
applicable to the existing form of chair and double headed rail in ordinary use (or
with suitable modification to any other form of chair and rail), without requiring
any change in or interference with the actually existing condition of either chair
or rail, and may be relied upon for securing the rail in its continuity, and also for
joining and fastening the ends of the rails in the chair, thereby avoiding the use of
fish-plates. Where it is desired to continue the use of fish-plates with hanging
joints between the chairs my said improvements are also applicable for securing
these to the rail in its continuity, requiring but a slight change in the shape of
the two chairs adjacent or next to the joint and in the fish plates, by which the
holes and bolts through the rails and fish plates are not required, and therefore
could be dispensed with, while at the same time the joint is made quite as
strong.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be clearly understood, I have hereunto appended for that purpose two Sheets
of explanatory Drawings, representing various modifications of my improvements,
which I shall now proceed to describe. In these Drawings the same reference
letters are used to indicate the same or like parts where shown in the different
Figures.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 on Sheet 1 are respectively a side elevation, a corresponding
transverse section, and a plan of a part of an ordinary double-headed or flanged
rail Z, properly secured in position within an ordinary narrow chair X (where no
end joints of the rail are required) by one construction and arrangement of my new
or improved fasteners, all in accordance with this Invention, while Figures 4, 5,
and 6 show a sido elevation and edge view of the three main parts respectively of
the fasteners, nainely, the bearing block A, the wedging or fixing key B, and the
retaining split cotter or pin C. Figures 7 and 8 are a transverse vertical section,
and a corresponding horizontal section taken on the line 1-1 in the former of
an ordinary chair X with the adjacent ends of two ordinary double flanged
rails Z, Z, properly secured therein by a slight modification of my said improve-
ments from that shown in the former Figures 1, 2, and 3, also in accordance with
this Invention, while Figures 9 and 10 show a side and an edge view of a rail
retaining plate D and the fixing key B of this arrangement. Figure 11 shows a
horizontal section corresponding with Figure 8, but with a wider chair X, for
securing the joint ends of two rails Z, Z, to the chair X without the retaining
plate D of the former arrangement, by and in accordance with the improvements
of my said Invention. Figure 12 is a transverse vertical section, and Figure 13
a horizontal section taken on the line 2--- 2 of the former with the key piece B
as removed, showing the end joint of the two rails Z, Z, for being secured in an
ordinary narrow chair X by a slight modification of my improvements (as shown
in Figures 1 to 6), Figure 14, showing the front view and plan of the cheek
plate A, as modified in this arrangement. Figure 15 on Sheet 2 is a transverse
vertical section, and Figure 16 a corresponding horizontal section taken on the

page_text: ---
line 3-
3 with the key piece B as removed, of a wide chair X for securing the
joint ends of two rails Z, Z, by my improvements, otherwise substantially as shown
in Figures 12, 13, and 14 on Sheet 1; Figure 17 is a transverse vertical section of
a rail and side view of a chair; and Figure 18 is a corresponding plan in horizontal
section on the line 4 --- 4 of the former, showing a modification of my improve-
ments suitable for either narrow or broad chairs for securing the rails at the middlo
or the ends respectively of the rails Z to the outer jaw of the chair X with my
improved securing parts, fitted on the inner side of the rail and chair instead of on
the outside, as shown in the former Figures.
Referring generally to the Figures on the two Sheets of accompanying
Drawings, the nature and novelty of this Invention consist in substituting for
the wooden key or wedge at present in use for securing the rails in their chairs a
new construction, arrangement, and combination of check-plate A, key-piece B,
and bolt, cotter, or split pin C, all of which may be formed of metal, such as cast
iron or malleable iron or steel, wholly or partly of such metals, and partly of wood,
but preferably wholly of metal.
The new check-plate A is formed so as when in position to fit by its outer
surface A exactly to the inner surface ¹ of the jaw x of the chair X, and by the
part a' of its inner surface a, a¹, to the outer surface of the lower flange ¹ of the
rail Z below, for which purpose it is fluted below at a', the rest of this surface a
forming a vertical plane parallel to the web of the rail Z. About the middle of
this plane a there is formed a vertical groove or recess c of rectangular section
extending about two inches in length by one-eighth of an inch in depth, by three-
eighths of an inch or thereby in breadth (for about half the length) above,-widened-
-to-five-eighths of an inch below. At each end of this cheek-plate A there is forined
a flange A2, A2, which projects backwards so as to fit to the edges of the jaw x of
the chair X.
The improved key-piece B is made to fit exactly so as to fill the space left
between the vertical plane surface a of the cheek-plate A already mentioned, and
the rail Z. This piece B is grooved correspondingly at c, so that when pushed,
driven, or tapped longitudinally (namely, in the direction of the rail) into position
between the flanges,, of the rail Z, the two grooves or recesses c, c, in the cheek-
plate A and key B being brought into apposition form together a vertical slot c for
the reception of the cotter and bolt or split pin C. The cotter, bolt, or split pin C,
as shown in side and edge view in Figure 6, is of rectangular section, having the
split transverse and vertical to the direction of the rail when placed in position in
the recess c, c, formed for it in the cheek-plate A and key B, whereby the key B is
prevented from moving out of place by any vibration of the rails.
The check-plate A and key B when in position, as seen in Figures 2, 12, 15,
and 17, thus fill the whole space between the chair and rail, which is only partially
filled by the present wooden key, and accurate adjustment so as to produce
sufficient friction and tightness between the key B and rail Z may be obtained
when necessary by inserting wood shaving, canvas, or sheet metal, felt, paper, or
other convenient soft substance, as shown at d, d, between the cheek-plato A and
cheek or jaw of the chair X before inserting the key B.
The cheek-plate A and key B used together and thus fastened are relied upon
not only for securing the rail in its continuity in the narrow or ordinary chairs
where there are no end joints, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, but also for fastening
the ends of the two rails in a chair sufficiently wide, as shown in the other
Figures 7 to 18 on both Sheets of Drawings, thereby forming a solid joint without
the use of fish-plates, or requiring any important change in or interference with
the form or construction of the actually existing chairs and rails.
Referring to the modification and arrangement shown in Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10,
the two ends of the rails Z, Z, are inserted into the ordinary chair X with the
joint near the centre of the chair, and have a thin connecting longitudinal plate D
across the end joint bearing on the vertical web Z of the rails with two round
holes e in it at the proper distance to suit the centre of the usual slightly oblong

page_text: holes as used for the ordinary fish-plate in the web of the rail, as seen particularly
in Figure 9, for the insertion of short thin headed pins E through the plate D, and
the web of the rails projecting on each side of the inner bearing cheek of the
chair, as seen in Figure 7 and 8; this allows of a free motion of the rails for
expansion at their end joint, and yet prevents the rails from slipping longitudinally
out of the chairs. The key piece B in this case is made thinner and longer than.
in the former Figures 1, 2, and 3, with a hollow in the centre to clear the head of
the pins E to retain them in position, all as seen in Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10, and
particularly in Figures 8 and 10; but otherwise the rails are held tight in the
chair X by the cheek plate A, key B, and cotter C, all substantially as shown and
described in reference to Figures 1 to 3. In Figure 11 the plato D is dispensed
with, and the chair is made wide enough to have holes or recesses c' formed in the
inner jaw, or that against which the rail bears, to receive the ends of the pins E
for retaining the ends of the rails in the chair, and yet allow of the proper freedom
for expansion at the end joints; in this case the pins E may or may not have
heads as described, but otherwise this modification is substantially the same as
shown and described in reference to Figures 7 to 9 for securing the rails in the
chair by the cheek plate A, key B, and cotter C.
Figures 12 to 14 show a slight modification of my improvements for properly
jointing and securing the adjacent ends of the rails Z, Z, in an ordinary chair X,
without either the plate D or pin E of the former modification, by forming two
small projections a on the lower inner fluted bearing part al of the cheek plate A,
as seen particularly in Figure 14, and cutting corresponding recesses ² in the side
of the lower flange of the rails Z, Z, for these projections a² to enter, but
sufficiently wide longitudinally to allow of the necessary freedom for the expansion
of the rails at the end joint, as seen particularly in Figure 13, that is, the recess 22
in the flange ¹ of the rail should exceed the projection a² on the cheek plate A
by a quarter of an inch or thereby, exactly in the same manner as the longitudinal
diameter of the holes at present in use in the rails exceeds the diameter of the
bolts for the fish plates. At the same time it will be seen that the rails are firmly
secured laterally in the chair by the block A, key B, and cotter C, substantially as
described in reference to all the other Figures and modifications.
Figures 15 and 16, on Sheet 2 of the Drawings, illustrate the modification of
my improvements, shown and described in reference to Figures 12 to 14, as applied
to a wide chair X, which gives more ample bearing surfaco A' and a' of the
block A. for bearing on the inner surface of the chair and the lower web ¹ of the
ends of the rails, as also leaving more room for cutting out the notches for the
retaining projections a on the lower part of the bearing block A, which, with the
key B and cotter C, secures the rails laterally in the chair in the same manner as
in all the former Figures and modifications.
Figures 17 and 18 on Sheet 2 show a modification of my improvements as
arranged and fitted for tightening and securing the rails Z, Z, in their chair X on
the inner side by fitting the bearing block A and key B with their retaining
cotter C on that side quite below the flanges y of the carriage wheels Y, instead of
on the outside, as in the other Figures, and which is generally the case. The lower
bearing part a¹ of the block A is fluted to bear on the rounded edge of the lower
flange at of the rail Z, as in all the other modifications. But in this modification
the projections a² are shown as formed on the lower grooved part of the jaw X of
the chair on which the rail bears (instead of on the block A, as in the former
Figures 12 to 15), the notches 2 being formed in the lower flange of the rail on
the corresponding side to receive the projections and retain the joint of the rails in
the centre of the chair longitudinally, and also allow freedom for their expansion.
The bearing blocks A and the tightening keys B, as shown in the Drawings, are
intended for being made of cast iron, and made parallel or slightly tapered and
rounded off at the ends as of their adjacent bearing surfaces a and b, for being
easily entered and driven up, the desired tightness being given by adding a thin
layer of wood, felt, paper, canvas, or other suitable soft yielding material at d

page_text: between the bearing surface A' of the block A and the cheek x of the chair.
However, as before stated, these blocks A and keys B might be made of other
metals, or one or other of these, or of hard wood, but the retaining cotter C, when
split as shown, would be made of steel or other hard elastic material. Where,
however, it is desired to use fish plate at the joints I propose to make use of the
same cheek plate A and key B, and with these to secure the ends of the fish plates
in the adjacent chairs, which must then be brought sufficiently close to each other
to receive or admit the ends of the fish plates between the jaws of the rails.
For carrying out this arrangement the ends of the inner fish-plates are reduced
to the three-eighth part of an inch or thereby in thickness, for the length of a
little more than the breadth of the chair and within it, and the inner jaw of the chair
(namely, that which grasps the lower flange of the rail) must be reduced sufficiently
so as to admit of the reduced end of the fish-plate being inserted. The ends of
the outer fish-plates are in like manner reduced to five-eighths of an inch, and the
key B is reduced in thickness by the same as the thickness of the end of the
fish-plate on which the key B will bear. This will enable my new or improved
fixing cheek plate A and key B, with their retaining pin or cotter C, to secure the
rails and also their joint fish-plates to the chairs adjacent to the end joints of
the rails, all otherwise substantially as described in reference to the other
modifications.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but what I consider novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore-in-part-recited
Letters Patent-is,-
First. The fixing in their chairs of the rails of permanent way at their solid or
continuous parts or at their end joints, substantially as shown in the accompanying
Drawings and described in reference thereto under any of the modification of the
improvements of my Invention.
Second. The fixing of the rails of permanent way laterally in their chairs by
means of a bearing block or cheek plate A, tightening key B, and retaining cotter
or pin C, and either with or without retaining plate D and pins E, or projections a²
and notches, for retaining the rails longitudinally at their end joints, all
substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Whiteford, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty-two.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
JAS. WHITEFORD. (L.S.)