The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-07

that a ''U"-shaped mortise could be made
to stand fully as much strain as the NOR
tiSe cut on the Lewis pattern, with it's
square corners. This was the secret Of
the invention. A trial was given the idea
at once. rail end was secured, and,
with drill three-fourths of an inch in
diameter, Hachmann bored a hole in it's
end, the center of which fell slightly be-
low the face Of the rail. In this manner
mortise was left into the steel, giving a
slot on the surface Of the rail two inches
in length. considerably narrower than the
largest diameter of the hole. Taking an
other rail end the inventor completed his
work by drilling a similar hole, and, with
the drill still revolving, lifting it in such
a manner as to bore the surface of the
slot, appearing on the top of the fange
the same width as the greatest diameter
This was the secret of a successful rail
joint.
The steel bridge was then cut, shaped
to the two different slots and, inserted.
AS shown in the accompanying cuts,
when the bridge is inserted in the
section, where the mortise is so construct
ed that the slot on the surface of the
rail is less in width than the greatest
diameter Of the mortise, it cannot be
lfted out. With the bridge inserted In
the b section 1t Is dropped into the A
section, Joining the two and forming a
bearing surface between the two rails
which increases their life four times
Inc inventor in his patent specifications
makes the following statement outlining
his claims:
l. The combination with two adjoining
rails provided in the upper surface Of
their adjacent ends with longitudinal re-
cesses. of a bar extending between said
rails and supported in said recess, the up
per surface Of which is flush for it's prin-
clpal part With the upper surfaces of the
rails; said bar being longitudinally nova
Die, but vertically immovable with respect
to one Of said rails and being free to be
moved vertically into and out Of the re-
cess of the other rail.
z Inc combination with two adjoining
rails provided in the upper surfaces of
their adjacent ends with longitudinal re-
cesses, of bar extending between said
rails and supported in said recesses, the
| upper surface of which is flush for its
principal part with the upper surfaces of
the rails, one end of said bar and the
| recess engaged thereby being of dovetail
! shape In cross-section and the other end
of the bar having vertical sides which en-
gage side walls in the other recess
3: The combination with two adjoining
the adjacent ends with longitudinal re-
cesses, of bar extending between said
rails and supported in said recesses. said
/ bar being longitudinally movable but
vertically immovable with respect to one
of said rails and being free to be moved
vertically into and out of the recess Of
| ing said last mentioned recess having it's
| upper surface inclined for short dis
lance to bring the same below the level
of the upper surface of the rail.
Mr.. Hachnann says Of his continuous
| device:
by the use of the construction describ-
ed | am enabled to prevent conclusion
between car wheel and the ends of the
rail- when the latter are separated. which
conclusion acts to shatter the ends OF the
rails and produce an uneven roadbed
as well as very considerably shortening
the life Of the rail-, Furthermore. such
conclusions greatly injure the car wheel
and shorten the life thereof and injure
the mechanism of locomotives by the
continued Earring and jolting caused by
the uneven surface of the rails, and also
add materially to the discomfort and
danger of travel. Again, it has been
found that the Irregular surface occa-
stoned by the separation Of the rails
wears the wheel between the fange and
the tread thereof, thereby so weakening
the same that often wheel otherwise
perfect must be discarded
With my invention, on the other hand. 4
5 the supporting or bearing surface of the I
rails IS made in effect continuous. so
that the difficulties above pointed out
are entirely overcome; that Is to saw,
the effective life of the rails and the roll
AIA5 olOCh ~ Bicdlly Increased and the 4
security and comfort of travel is en- 4
HANGED. i
The overlapping construction describ- 4
ed may, II the parts are fitted tightly to- 4
gether, constitute rail bond or connec-
ton adapted for use for connecting the
rails of an electrical railway track, and
which connected rails serve the purpose
OF a return conductor
The recesses Of adjoining rails are ar
ranged in alignment with each other and
each are desirably made somewhat long
er than one-half the length of the bridge
bar. so that when said rails are in con-
tact with each other, as when expanded,
the combined length of such recesses is
sufficient to contain the connecting bar
without endwise pressure being exerted
thereon. This bar is made of such thick
ness that when in place in the recess the
principal part Of the upper surface is
flush with the upper surfaces of the heads
of the rails, so that a car wheel support
ed thereon will have contact equally
| with the rails and bar The bar will also
be made of metal which is equally hard
| and durable as the metal forming the
| head of the rails whereby wear on the
bar and rails viii be uniform.
"A connecting bar arranged as de-