An Improved Nail or Spike applicable for Use in Wood Con- structions, especially for the Fixture of Railway Rails upon their Sleepers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 18th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 20th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Nail or Spike applicable for Use in Wood Con-
structions, especially for the Fixture of Railway Rails upon
their Sleepers.
I, CHARLES WEBER-JACQUEL, of Thann, in the Province of Alsace, in the
German Empire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to nails or spikes and has for its object the construction of
a nail or spike which is particularly applicable to the fixing of railway rails upon
their sleepers, but at the same time is also susceptible of other applications in
which it is desired to fix pieces of timber work and iron, the one to the other.
My invention consists in the combination of two nails or spikes, of which the
main part is furnished with a recess, which serves to guide the other or minor part.
This second part or subsidiary nail, is made in soft metal, and guided by the
recess during its penetration into the wood, so that it is curved up and effectively
fixes the rail upon the sleeper.
In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the accompanying drawings hereunto annexed,
reference being had to the letters and figures marked thereon, but it must be
understood that I only show this application of the spike to the fixing of rails
merely as one example of use of my improved spike.
Figure 1 is a view of a spike a of the general form of ordinary railway spikes
but furnished with an inclined channel b on one of its sides.
Figs. 2 and 3 show a side elevation, a transverse section and a front view of the
same, from which it will be seen that the channel b terminates with a curved
portion adjacent to the pointed end of the spike.
Besides this the sides of this channel are slightly inclined as will be seen in the
sectional view Fig. 2 and in Fig. 3.
Figure 4 shows the spike driven into a sleeper. When the spike a is completely
driven home its head engages and nips the rail; a second spike or nail of smaller
size is then driven down into the channel 6 of the spike a. This second nail e
follows the channel and on reaching the end of it, the end of the spike e is curved
up and by further, movement enters the wood in the form of a hook as shown in
Fig. 4.
The main spike a is thus securely held by the pressure of the second spike e,
which forms a wedge, besides the nail a is further held in place by the head of the
nail e and by the contact of the two nails at f. It is evident that the nail a cannot
be drawn unless, the nail e be drawn also. However the point of principal support
of the nail e is at fand to prevent the nail a from lifting the nail e to any extent
by the pressure of its head upon the nail e, it is well to leave a small space between
the heads of the two nails and not to drive the nail e completely down. A small
piece of wood, indiarubber or any other slightly elastic material can be inserted if
desired between the heads of the two nails.
In this case of a small interval of space, the total surface of support extends
from the head of the nail a to the point f; and the vibration does not produce so
large an ascensional movement as when it is carried by the head of the secondary
naile

page_text: One can otherwise, to prevent the contact of the heads, turn the head of e as
shown at g in Fig. 4.
Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, show a modification of my invention the spike having two
channels, one on each side of the spike..
Figure 8 shows the same driven into a sleeper..
Figure 7 shows the position of the channels and the head of the main spike.
The section of the secondary spike can be round, square, or of any other
convenient form.
Figure 9 shows.in.comparison the ordinary railway spike 1, and that according
to my invention.
The thickness of wooden sleepers is determined' especially with reference to the
resistance that the nail ought to meet.
For example if the sleeper has a thickness of 11 c/m., the spike will only
bave 11 c/m. of wood in which it can rest to maintain the rail in position, and
in consequence the resisting force of a spike will determine the proportions to be
given to the thickness of the sleeper.
The employment of my spike permits by reason of its resisting force, the
reduction of the thickness of sleepers as shown in Fig. 9.
:
My spike offers a resistance 5 times as great as the ordinary spike, consequently
the thickness of the sleeper can be diminished. 25%, which brings about a
corresponding economy in the cost of sleepers.
In the case where the wood becomes rotten at h. Fig. 9, the two spikes can be
drawn and in their place in the same hole, a spike with two channels as shown in
Fig. 8 can be driven employing only a single secondary spike on one of the sides
of the main spike.
This spike will then engage into sound wood and at a new point although
utilising the old hole of the main spike.
This is not possible with the old fashioned spike.
The head of the secondary spike is provided with a projection, either from the
sides, or from the end opposite to the head; and on a lever being inserted under
this projection, the spike e can be easily withdrawn as it follows its proper curve.
When the spike has been removed from engagement, it can be redressed to original
form. The drawing shows at k Fig. 10 the cavity left free after the spike has
been withdrawn from the sleeper, when the spike a can be raised in the same
way as an ordinary spike. It is otherwise impossible to remove the two spikes at
the same time.
If one attempts to retire the principal spike before the secondary spike, one only
succeeds in pulling on the head of the main spike but not destroying the whole.
As I have said previously the secondary nail e ought to be made in metal soft
enough to curve up when being forced into place.
:
Finally I reserve to myself the right to vary the forms and dimensions of my
improved spikes without departing from the essence of my invention.
It must also be readily understood that my system is not only applicable to the
fixture of railway rails on their sleepers, but for the fixture of all kinds of pieces
of wood and metal, the one to the other.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Nail or Spike applicable for Use in Wood Con-
structions, especially for the Fixture of Railway Rails upon
their Sleepers.
I, CHARLES WEBER-JACQUEL of Thann, in the Province of Alsace in the
German Empire, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to nails or spikes, and has for its object the employment of
a combination of nails or spikes particularly applicable to the fixing of railway
rails upon their sleepers, but is at the same time susceptible of other applications
in which it is desired to fix pieces of timber work and iron one to another, and in
all other applications having for their object the attachment of wood to iron or of
wood to wood as in cartwright's work.
My invention consists in principle in the combination in use of two or more nails
or spikes of which one, the principal nail is provided with a recess or recesses
which serve as a guide to other subsidiary nail or nails.
One or more complimentary nails or spikes, guided by the recess or recesses in
the principal nail, penetrates into the wood curving upwards at their points and
cause the fixing of the primary spike and rail upon the sleeper as hereinafter more
fully described.
The same effect can be produced without a channel having side wings in the
principal nail or spike, by placing a curved swelling or an oblique ledge on one or
inore faces of the principal nail which will oblige the points of the supplementary
nail or nails to take a curved direction such as is desired.
And in order that my invention may be the better understood, I have shown in
a drawing annexed hereto, by way of example, various combinations of nails and
the manner of realising my invention in the case of its application to the fixing of
railway rails.
Figure 1 represents in perspective a nail or spike a of which the general shape
is that of an ordinary railway spike, but it is furnished with an inclined channel b
on one of its sides.
Figures 2 and 3 show a side elevation, a transverse section, and a front elevation
of the said spike showing that the channel b terminates in a curved recess, at a
position close to the point of the spike.
Further the sides of this channel are splayed outwards as may be clearly seen
in the sectional and face views of Figures 2 and 3.
Figure 4 shows the spike driven into a sleeper c.
When the spike a is completely driven home its head engages over and secures
the rail d; a second smaller spike or nail e is then driven into the channel 6 of the
first spike a.
This second spike follows the channel, and on arriving at its end
bends outwards, and on being further driven it penetrates the wood laterally in the
form of a hook as shown in Figure 4.
The principal spike a is thus firmly jambed by the pressure of the secondary
spike or nail e; and further the spike a is prevented from rising by the head of
the spike e and by the contact of the two spikes at f.
The head of the spike e can he turned outwards as at g Figure 4 if desired.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 represent modifications of my improved spikes, having a double
channel, one on opposite faces of the primary spike.
Figure 8 shows a spike with double channel and subsidiary spikes driven into a
sleeper.
Figure 7 shows in transverse section the position of the channels and the head
of the principal spike.

page_text: The section of the secondary spikes may be round, square, or வர
shape.
Figure 9 shows in comparison the ordinary railway spike and my improved
combined spikes a e.
The thickness of the sleepers is usually determined by the frictional grip that 5
the ordinary spike should encounter therein.
If the sleeper has a thickness for example, of 11 centimetres, the spike will only
have 11 centimetres of wood into which it can be driven to hold the rail. In
consequence, the requirements as to holding grip for the spike will determine the
thickness of the sleeper.
The employment of my system of combined spikes, enables me by reason of the
increased hold in the wood, to diminish the necessary thickness of the sleeper as
compared with the ordinary spike as shown in Figure 9.
My system of combined spikes offers as a fact five times the holding grip of an
ordinary spike; as a consequence the thickness of the sleepers may be easily
diminished by 25% which will effect a corresponding economy on the cost of the
sleepers.
If the wood becomes split or is rotten in the direction of h, Figure 9, into which
the secondary spike first enters, the spikes may be removed, and one may use a
spike with two side channels as in Figure 8, using only if desired a single
secondary spike on either side of the main spike.
The secondary spike thus may be made to enter into the soundest part of the
wood in a new direction, whilst at the same time the old hole of the principal spike
may be utilized.
This is impossible with the ordinary spike.
Figure 10 represents the manner of prizing out my combined spike.
The head of the secondary spike e presents a projection either at the sides, or at
the top opposite to the ordinary head. A lever i is inserted under this projection,
When the
and the spike e is thus easily prized out for it follows its own curve.
secondary spike is drawn completely out it is nearly straightened and thus can be
again used.
The drawing Figure 10, shows at k the cavity left free by the spike partly
prized out of its hole. After the secondary spike e has been withdrawn the spike a
can be lifted in the manner of an ordinary spike.
It is otherwise impossible to prize out the two spikes at the same time. If it
is attempted to prize out the principal spike before the secondary one, the only
effect will be to tear off the head of the principal spike, but not to destroy or
remove the general combination or hold fast."
My arrangement of combined spikes may be modified as in Figures 11, 12,
and 13. In this case the principal spike a is furnished with a channel on the face
opposite to the projecting head, which channel has a curved side issue f.
As a consequence when the secondary spike e is driven into the channel its point
curves laterally outwards forming the lateral hold-fast in the wood which is
desired.
When the combined spikes are fixed as above described, it is evident that no
shock or jar to the principal spike a will disengage or withdraw the point of the
secondary spike e from the wood, as the latter is maintained in position by the
sides of the channel 6 formed in the main spike a which is an important point.
In Figure 14 the curved channel is formed partly on the back of the main
spike a and partly overlaps one edge of the same.
In Figures 15 and 16 of the drawing I show two channels formed on adjacent
sides of the principal spike a and disposed in such a manner that the points of the
secondary spikes pass one above the other forming a lateral grip at right angles to
one another in plan.
In Figures 17 and 18, the channels though on adjacent faces of the main spike
cause the points of the spikes e to project parallel to one another on the same side
of the main spike. This is caused by the shape of the curved exits of the channels

page_text: A third auxiliary spike may be used on the third face of the main spike as shown.
in dotted lines in Figure 18.
Figures 19 and 20 show a principal spike with the channels made at each angle
of the back, so that the points of the secondary spikes diverge in a direction
bisecting the said angles.
By a slight variation in the position of the channels and in the direction of their
exits, it is evident that the points of the secondary spikes may be made to diverge
in any desired direction.
Figures 21, 22, 21, 22 bis show modifications of the principal spike without.
recessed channels or double side guides, but with a curved swelling or oblique
ledge in various directions by which the same curved diverging effect upon the
auxiliary spikes may be obtained as hereinabove described.
Figures 23 and 24 show an arrangement in which there is provided only a half
curved recess at one edge of the main spike of similar effect to those above.
described.
By means of these combined spikes or nails it is possible to re-unite a piece of
wood split or cloven in two, with the same solidity as if it were one piece.
Finally I reserve to myself the right under my invention to vary the forms and
dimensions of my combined spikes and the form position and numbers of the
guiding channels in the principal spike without departure from the essence of my
invention.
It is also to be understood that my arrangement applies not only to the fixing of
railway rails as herein illustrated, but also to the fixing of all kinds of wood,
metal or material capable of being pierced by nails, one to the other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what 1
claim is :-
1st. To effect the herein described system of nailing a principal spike or nail,.
furnished with one or more channels, slides, guides, or a simple swelling or ledge
on one or more of its sides, in combination with one or more subsidiary spikes or
nails driven by the side of the principal spike, so that the points of the subsidiary
nails are forced to curve outwards engaging laterally into the material into which
they are driven substantially as herein described.
2nd. The construction of a spike or nail, with channels, slides, guides, a swelling
or ledges formed on one or more faces of the said spike or nail, adapted to receive
and bend outwards the points of subsidiary nails or spikes, substantially as
described and illustrated in the drawing hereto annexed.
nated this 18th day of April 1896.
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.