AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC RAILWAY JOINT SUITABLE FOR PORTABLE AND OTHER RAILWAYS
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN KERR of the Office for Patents No 33 Southampton Buildings, Holborn,
Middlesex, Engineer and Contractor do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC RAILWAY JOINT SUITABLE FOR PORTABLE AND
OTHER RAILWAYS to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object an improved automatic railway joint which
is particularly adapted for use in the construction of portable railways but which
may also be employed for other railways.
Such improved joint possesses the advantage of combining rigidity and strength
with great facility of fitting as it entirely dispenses with all necessity for bolts
and nuts-The construction and arrangement of my improved automatie railway
joint is at once simple and effective and is as follows.
The rails are laid upon corrugated cross aleepers to which they are rivetted or
otherwise secured and they are connected by fish plates which are fitted to
alternate ends of the rails: Thus, for example, assuming the end of the right band
rail on the left side of the joint to be so fitted with fish plates, then the end of
the left hand rail on the right side of the joint is also similarly fitted-The noses
of the fish plates project beyond the ends of the alternate adjoining rails and form
grooves or clips which receive the ends of the opposite rails when fitted therein-
Two corrugated sleepers are placed underneath the rails, one on each side of the
joint to which the rails are rivetted-These sleepers form two cross ties viz³ one at
the end of each pair of rails and when placed in juxtaposition afford a double
bearing or support upon which the joint is always firmly supported thus giving
great strength and rigidity thereto and so effectually preventing the fish plates.
from working loose.
Another advantage of this improved construction and arrangement is that the
railway can be laid down or taken up with the greatest facility thereby effecting
a considerable economy both in the time and labor requisite for construction.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I JOHN KERR, of the Office for Patents, 33 Southampton Buildings Holborn
Middlesex Engineer and Contractor do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC RAILWAY JOINT SUITABLE FOR PORTABLE
AND OTHER RAILWAYS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object an improved automatic railway joint which is
particularly adapted for-use in the construction of portable railways, but which
may also be employed for other railways-Fig 1: of the accompanying drawings
shews a view in side elevation and Figs: 2 a plan view of such improved joint-
Similar letters,indicate corresponding parts.
1
Such improved joint possesses the advantage of combining rigidity and strength
with great facility of fitting as it entirely dispenses with all necessity for bolts
and nuts-The construction and arrangement of my improved automatic railway
joint is at once simple and effective and is as follows
The rails (a) are laid either upon corrugated or other suitable cross sleepers (b)
to which they are rivetted or otherwise secured and they are connected by fish or
clip plates (c) which are fitted to alternate ends of the rails-Thus assuming the
end of the right hand rail on the left side of the joint to be so fitted with fish
plates then the end of the left hand rail on the right side of the joint is also
similarly fitted The noses (e) of the fish plates project beyond the ends of the
alternate adjoining rails and form grooves and clips which receive the ends of the
opposite rails when fitted therein as shown in Figs 2: The rails are rivetted or
otherwise secured to the corrugated or other sleepers (b) and the latter are so
arranged that the joint is supported upon one of such sleepers while the other
serves as an auxiliary support as also shewn in Figs 2: The sleepers thus form
two cross ties; thus affording a double bearing or support upon which the joint is
always firmly supported and so giving great strength and rigidity thereto and
effectually preventing the fish plates working loose.
One great advantage of this improved construction and arrangement is that the
railway can be laid down or taken up with the utmost facility thereby effecting a
considerable economy both in time and labour.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
An improved automatic railway joint suitable for portable and other railways
constructed arranged and fitted substantially in the manner herein before specified
and shewn.
Dated this 14th day of April 1885.
ELT & Co.,
33, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, London, 40
Agents for the Applicant.