IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURre of SPIKES FOR SECURING RAILWAY RAILS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
I HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & C° Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURre of
SPIKES FOR SECURING RAILWAY RAILS" to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved railway spike of substantially triangular
form in which the rear or outer face of the spike forms the base of the triangle
and in which the remaining faces converge or approach each other centrally on the
opposite or inner side of the spike; it also relates to a rolled bar from which to
cut blanks for spikes having partly square and partly triangular shanks.
According to the present invention the shank for the greater portion of its length
is substantially triangular in transverse section the rear or outer face of said
shank being the base of the triangle and the opposite angle being in the median
line of the front or inner face, or that adjacent to the rail when the spike is in
use. The upper part of the said inner face of the shank is preferably flat and of
substantially the full width of the spike, in order that, when driven home, it may
bear broadly against the rail and possess the utmost strength at the point of greatest
strain. It is found in practice that both the driving and holding qualities of the
spike are materially improved if the faces of the triangular part of the shank are
concaved or fluted. To avoid abrupt shoulders the two sides of the inner face
curve gradually outward at their upper ends. The concavity of the rear face may,
if desired, extend to the very top or head of the spike. It is found desirable, that
the cutting edge of the spike should be practically the full width of the spike, and
that it should be so located that, in driving the spikes by fair or direct blows of
the hammer, the said spike will enter the tie or sleeper straight, or tend slightly
to throw inward at the top as the head approaches the rail. To obtain this result
in driving the spike of the triangular form of shank described, the cutting edge
should be considerably nearer to the plane of the rear face than to that of the front
face, and not at or near the median plane of the spike as heretofore constructed.
In order to make the cutting edge, thus located near the rear face of the full
width of the spike, the lateral converging faces are made to cut the parallel sides
of the shank at a corresponding distance in front of the rear face, so that tho
cutting edge, of the spike is practically a continuation of the edges at which the
lateral faces of the shank converge. In order further that the said cutting edge
may be pratically straight or in the vertical plane of the said edges, the concavity
of the rear face is made of depth not greater than the distance of said edge from

page_text: the plane of said rear face. Generally, I prefer that the said groove or concavity
should about equal such distance so that the groove will emerge at, or very near,
the cutting edge.
In locating the cutting edge in the position described, the rear bevel which leads
to the edge will usually be flat or in a single plano. The front bevel may also be
in a single plane. I prefer, however, to incline the three faces of the inner flange
to, or towards, the cutting edge in somewhat the form of a pyramid. The latter
construction has the advantage of wedging apart the fibres of the tie that are
disturbed by the central, inner flange or projecting vertical edge of the spike
instead of crushing them downward as is sometimes done.
In making the spike by swaging machinery, the theoretically accurate form of
the spike-point is not readily attainable; but the said point is usually made
somewhat bronder than the width of the shank above it and is curved or rounded
upwards at its corners. This is not, however, a departure from the invention or
in any practical sense a disadvantage, either to the driving or holding qualities of 1
the spike. Nor will a slight deviation of the cutting edge from the plane of the
edges in either direction, or a groove of a little greater relative depth than
described, be a material deparature from my invention, the main feature of which
is, providing the triangular spike with the central, inner, vertical edge or flange
and the cutting-edge-of-substantially the full width of the spike and located near 2
the rear face, whereby it-operates in driving, practically as set forth.
The spike head may be of any desirable form.
The said spikes may be formed from a continuous rod of any desired length--
composed of alternating square portions and triangular portions, so that when the
-rod or bar is cut into sections, each containing a square and a triangular part, such 2
section will contain the material-requisite for a single spike and the spike may be
completed-by-forming the head and the point upon such section. To this end the
sectional form of the triangular part corresponds with that of the spike.
The bar described is formed by properly constructed rolls, the grooves of said
rolls or of the matrix being fitted to give the-desired_triangularity and any degree a
of concavity wanted in the triangular faces. Ordinarily the bar will be-cut-at-or
near, the end of the triangular part. If preferred, the lengths of the square and
triangular portions may be doubled and the bar cut in the middle of each portion.
For continuous feeding into a machine, obviously the former is the better way.
It is found preferable to make the rolled bar described from a bar having a 3
somewhat oval form, the thinner side or edge of which forms the inner or median
edge or angle of the triangular part of the bar. The square part of the bar may
be made inore or less accurately square, as desired, by suitable conformation of the
rolls. It is also found desirable to make the rolled bar from a bar having a cross
sectional area somewhat less, or at least not greater, than the cross-sectional area
of the square part.
The triangular faces are curved outwardly, at least at one end, to correspond
with the curves of the spike. At the other end they may be of the same form, or
more or less abrupt. In swaging the head of the spike the irregularities present
in the upper end of the blank disappear.
The point, as well as the head, of the spike may be conveniently swaged from
the blank formed from the rolled bar described, and as the heading and pointing
machinery will not be concerned in shaping the body of the spike, further than t
ensure its straightness, the operation of making the spike from the rolled bar is
very greatly facilitated,
4

page_text: COMPLETE
DEVIFICATION.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the naturo
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF
SPIKES FOR SECURING RAILWAY RAILS and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
"
This invention relates to a railway spike of substantially triangular form in
which the rear or outer face of the spike forms the base of the triangle, the remaining
faces converging or approaching each other centrally on the opposite or inner side
of the spike; and to a rolled bar from which to cut blanks for spikes having partly
square and partly triangular shanks, and comprises the improvements hereinafter
described.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spike constructed according to this invention,
its front or inner face being shown.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the spike showing its rear or outer face.
Figure 3 is a side elevation.
Figure 4 is a front view showing more nearly the actual form of the point as
mado in practice.
Figure 5 is an end view of the spike looking from the point towards the head.
Figure 6 is a cross section of the triangular part of the spike on the line y, y
Figure 9.
Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a modification in the construction of the
spike at the point.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a rolled bar from which spikes having the
particular form of shank referred to may be formed, the side of the bar which is to
form the inner face of the spike being shown uppermost.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the same bar, showing uppermost that side
which is to form the outer face of the spike.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a section cut from the bar shown in Figures 8
and 9 to form a blank for a single spike, said view showing that side of the blank
which is to form the inner face of the spike.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the same section, showing that side of the
blank which is to form the outer face of the spike.
Figure 12 is a transverse section showing the shape which it is preferred the bar
should have before being rolled to give it the shapes shown in Figures 8 to 11
inclusive.
Figure 13 is a transverse section of the finished or rolled bar shown in Figures &
and 9 on the lino g. Figure 9.

page_text: A is the shank or body of the spike, B is its head, and C is its sharpened or
cutting edge. For a greater portion of its length the shank A is substantially
triangular in transverse section, the rear or outer face of said shank being the base
of the triangle and the opposite angle being in the median line of the front or
inner face, or that adjacent to the rail when the spike is in use. The upper part
of the said inner face of the shank is preferably flat and of substantially the full
width of the spike, as shown at a, in order that, when driven home, it may boar
broadly against the rail and possess the utmost strength at the point of greatest
strain. It is found in practice that both the driving and holding qualities of the
spike are materially improved if the faces a² as of the triangular part of the
shank are concaved or fluted, as shown in the drawings. To avoid abrupt shoulders
the two fuces a curve gradually outward at their upper ends, as indicated at a*.
The concavity of the rear face a³ may, if desired, extend to the very top or head of
the spike, nearer to the top than shown in the drawing. The above features,
however, form no part of this invention the improvements having more special
reference to the cutting edge C.
As to the cutting edge, it is found desirable, 1st that it should be practically the
full width of the spike, and 2nd, that it should be so located that, in driving the
-spikes by fair or direct blows of the hammer, the said spikes will enter the tie or
sleeper straight,.or_tend slightly to throw-inward at the top as the head approaches
the rail. To obtain this result in driving a spike-having the triangular form-of-
shank described, the cutting edge should be considerably nearer to the plane of the-
rear face than to that of the front face, as berein shown, and not at, or near, the
median plane of the spike, as heretofore constructed.
In order to make the cutting edge, thus located near the rear face a³, of the full
width of the spike, the lateral converging faces aa-are-made to cut or intersect
the parallel sides of the shank-at-a-corresponding distance in front of the rear face,
-say_at_aº, as indicated in the drawings, so that the cutting edge C-of-the-spike is
practically a continuation of the edges-a at which the lateral faces of the shank
converge. In order further that the said cutting edge C may be practically straight,
or in the vertical plane of the said edge as, as shown, the concavity of the rear
face a³ is made of depth not greater than the distance of said edge from the plane
of said rear face. Generally, I prefer that the said groove or concavity should
about equal such distance so that the groove will emerge at, or very near, the
edge C, as indicated in Figures 2 and 5.
In locating the cutting edge C in the position described, the rear bevel aª which
leads to the edge, will usually be flat, or in a single plane, as shown in the figures
which illustrate this feature. The front bevel a' may also be in a single plane, as
shown in Figures 5 and 7. I prefer, however, to incline the three faces of the
inner flange to or towards the edge C in somewhat the form of a pyramid, as shown
more plainly at a³ in Figures 1, 3 and 4. The latter construction has the
advantage of wedging apart the fibres of the tio or sleeper that are disturbed by
the central, inner flange or projecting vertical edge of the spike, instead of crushing
them downward as is done in some degree in driving the spike formed as shown
in Figure 7.
In making the spike by swaging machinery, the theoretically accurate form of
the spike-point shown in all but Figure 4 of sheet 1 of the drawings, is not readily
attainable; but the said point generally assumes the form indicated in said
Figure 4, or in other words, said point is usually made somewhat broader than the
width of the shank above it and is curved or rounded upwards at its corners.
This is not, however, a departure from the invention, or in any practical sense a
disadvantage either to the driving or holding qualities of the spike. Nor will a
slight deviation of the cutting edge C from the plane of the edges a³ in either
direction, or a groove a³ of a little greater relative depth than shown, be a material
departure from this part of my invention, the main feature of which is providing
the triangular spike with the central, inner, vertical edge or flange, and the cutting

page_text: edge C of substantially the full width of the spike, and located near the rear face,
whereby it operates in driving, substantially as set forth.
"
The spike head may be of any desirable form.
The rolled bar for the manufacture of spikes having triangular shanks is:
illustrated in Figures 8 to 13, and also in part in Figure 6.
The said bar may be of any desired length, and is composed of alternating
square portions D and triangular portions E, so that when the bar is cut into
sections, ench containing a square and a triangular part, such section will contain
the material requisite for a single spike and the spike may be completed by
forming the head and the point upon such section. To this end the sectional form
of the triangular part E corresponds with that of the spike, both being illustrated
by Figure 6.
The bar described is formed by properly constructed rolls, the grooves of said
rolls or of the matrix being fitted to give the desired triangularity and any degree
of concavity wanted in the triangular faces. Ordinarily the bar will be cut at, or
near, the end of the triangular part, as indicated in Figures 10 and 11. If
preferred, however, the length of the parts D and E may be doubled and the bar
cut in the middle of cach part D and E. For continuous feeding into a machine,
obviously the former is the better plan.
It is found preferable to make the rolled bar described from a bar having the
somewhat oval form indicated in Figure 12, the thinner side or edge of which forms
the inner or median edge or angle of the triangular part of the bar. The square
part D of the bar may be made more or less accurately square, as desired, by
suitable conformation of the rolls. It is also found desirable to make the rolled
bar from a bar of the form shown in Figure 12, having a cross-sectional area
somewhat less, or at least not greater, than the cross-sectional area of the square
part D.
The triangular faces at E are curved outwardly, at least at one end, to correspond
with the curves at at of the spike. At the other end they may be of the same
form, or more or less abrupt, as indicated at e Figures 8 and 9. In swaging tho
head of the spike (which may be of the form shown or of any other desired
shape) the irregularities present in the upper end of the blank (Figures 10 and 11)
disappear.
The point as well as the head of the spike may he conveniently swaged from the
blank formed from the rolled bar described, and as the heading and pointing
machinery will not be concerned in shaping the bodies of the spikes, further than
to ensure their straightness, the operation of making spikes from the rolled bar
shown is very greatly facilitated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
First: In a spike having a shank triangular in transverse section and of which
two of the sides converge towards the inner face of the said shank, the cutting
edge C located near, and parallel with, the rear or outer face of the spike and of
substantially the full width thereof, substantially as described.
Second: In a spike having a shank triangular in transverse section, the
converging faces a² a² constructed to cut or intersect the sides of the spike in front
of the rear face, and the cutting edge C constructed substantially in the plane
in which the sides and the said converging faces of the spike meet, as set forth.
Third: In a spike having a shank triangular in transverse section, the
converging faces a² a constructed to cut or intersect the parallel sides of the
shank at a, anterior to, but near, the rear face a³; the edge C located in the plane
of the edges a; and the groove in the face a³ constructed of depth not greater
than the distance of the edge C from the plane of the rear face of the shank,
substantially as described.

page_text: Fourth In a spike having a shank triangular in transverse section, the
converging faces a a³ constructed to cut or intersect the sides of the shank at a³,
anterior to, and near, the plane of the rear face of said shank; the edge C located
in the plane of the edges a; and the groove in the face a³ constructed with its
bottom in the plane of the edge C, substantially as described and shown.
Fifth: A rolled bar for triangular spike-blanks consisting of alternating
rectangular and triangular portions D and E, substantially as described.