IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FISH JOINTS OF RAILWAYS.
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Barnabas Daft, of 2, Queen Square, West-
minster, and William Pole, of 3, Storeys Gate, Westminster, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FISH JOINTS OF RAILWAYS.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Barnabas Daft,
and William Pole at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 10th November 1860.
We, THOMAS BARNABAS DAFT, of 2, Queen Square, Westminster, and
WILLIAM POLE, of 3, Storeys Gate, Westminster, do hereby declare the nature
of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FISH JOINTS OF RAILWAYS," to be
as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the fish joints of railways.
For these purposes between the screw nuts and the fish plates of fish joints of
railways a metal washer is used suitable for embracing two or more screw.
bolts, and between such or single washers an elastic washer by preference of
vulcanized india-rubber is introduced. By these means the elastic washer
will tend to prevent the jar or vibration passing to the screw nuts, and at the
same time the elastic pressure between the metal washer and the side of the
fish plate will tend to prevent the screw nuts turning round on their screw
bolts. The long metal washer will also have a beneficial action in preventing,

page_text: when screwing up of the nuts, any prejudicial dragging or action on the elastic
washers, and such long washers will themselves also be more effective than
single washers in preventing the screw nuts becoming loose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Barnabas Daft and William Pole in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 10th May 1861.
TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
BARNABAS DAFT, of 2, Queen Square, Westminster, and WILLIAM POLE, of
3, Storeys Gate, Westminster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord,
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Thomas Barnabas Daft and William Pole, Her special licence that we, the
said Thomas Barnabas Daft and William Pole, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas Barnabas Daft and William
Pole, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FISH JOINTS
OF RAILWAYS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Thomas
Barnabas Daft and William Pole, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand
and seal of one of us, or them, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Barnabas Daft, on behalf of
myself and the said William Pole, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to
say:
This Invention has for its object improvements in the fish joints of railways.
For these purposes between the screw nuts and the fish plates of fish
joints of railways a metal washer is used suitable for embracing two or more

page_text: screw bolts, and between such or single washers an elastic washer, by pre-
ference of vulcanized india-rubber, is introduced. By these means the elastic
washer will tend to prevent the jar or vibration passing to the screw nuts,
and at the same time the elastic pressure between the metal washer and the
side of the fish plate will tend to prevent the screw nuts turning round on
their screw bolts. The long metal washer will also have a beneficial action in
preventing, when screwing up of the nuts, any prejudicial drag or action on the
elastic washers, and such long washers will themselves also be more effective
than single washers in preventing the screw nuts becoming loose.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, we will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews a side elevation of the ends of two rails connected by a fish
plate, having a metal washer and an elastic washer applied thereto according
to our Invention; Figure 2 is a transverse section thereof, and Figures 3
shew one of the metal washers, and also one of the elastic washers separately.
The fish plates and the screw bolts used may be of any of the ordinary
constructions.
a, a, are the rails; b is the fish plate; c is an elastic washer by preference
of vulcanized india-rubber which is put next the surface of the fish plate;
d is a long metal washer suitable for two screw bolts which is applied over
the elastic washers c and between them and the screw nut. It is not essential,
although it is preferred, that the metal washers should be each of a suitable
length to receive two screw bolts through it, on the contrary a metal washer
for each screw bolt may be applied. By these means the screw nuts will be
rendered less liable to the shocks and vibrations to which they have heretofore
been subjected, and consequently they will have less tendency to move on
their screw bolts, whilst, at the same time, there will be greater friction con-
stantly offered to the inner surfaces of the nuts by reason of the metal washers
being pressed against them tending to prevent the screw nuts turning on their
screw bolts.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Barnabas Daft, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
THOMAS
DALT
THOMAS R
B. DALT
(1.0.)