Railway Rails in their Chairs or Seats.
Year: 1885

page_text: Railway Rails in their Chairs or Seats.
I EDWARD WALLER STONEY, of Madras, India, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO KEYS OR
WEDGES FOR SECURING RAILWAY RAILS IN THEIR CHAIRS OR SEATS
to be as
follows:-
دو
My invention relates to keys or wedges for securing railway rails in their chairs
or seatings.
The keys or wedges generally employed are made of wood, and, in dry weather,
are liable to shrink, so that they become loose and sometimes drop out of the
chairs. Steel spring-keys have been used but these are also liable to be shaken
out of place by the vibration caused by the traffic.
لے
My invention has for its object to obviate these difficulties or defects, and
consists partly in a key or wedge provided with an expanding device which, after
the key has been driven into its place, is adjusted to expand the same to such an
extent, on either or both sides of the chair, that the said key cannot be removed
from the latter until it is again allowed to contract by the readjustment or removal
of the expanding device. The expansion is effected in such a manner as to prevent
unnecessary strain upon the chair-jaw, and also to allow the portion of the key
within the chair to remain elastic.
The invention also partly consists in forming the keys or wedges in such a
manner as to allow of the portion within the chairs remaining elastic while those
parts projecting beyond the chair are expanded, thus preventing the chair-jaws
from being broken by over-screwing the expander.
According to one method of carrying this invention into practice, I use a wooden
key or wedge which may have any suitable shape, and which has a hole bored
through it longitudinally. This hole, at the smaller end of the key or wedge, is
coned or tapered out for a certain distance. The end of the key or wedge having
the conical opening has two longitudinal cuts crossing each other on the axis of the
hole. Through the said hole is passed a screw-bolt, and in the conical or tapering
portion of the said hole is placed a bush or sleeve of substantially the same taper
as the said conical portion and having a longitudinal hole, through which the said
bolt also passes.
In applying a key or wedge thus constructed, it is first driven tight in the usual
manner; then the nut upon the bolt is tightened against the conical or tapering
bush or sleeve, thereby forcing the latter into the conical hole and spreading or
expanding the divided end of the key or wedge.

page_text: I sometimes modify the construction above described by using a taper block in
lieu of a conical bush. In this case, the key is only cut in one direction and is
provided with a slot adapted to receive the said taper block.
Instead of having the conical bush or the taper block separate from the bolts
they may be made integral therewith, that is to say, the heads of the bolts may be
wedge-shaped or conical and arranged to be drawn more or less within the keys by
tightening the nuts upon the bolts, for the purpose above specified.
In some cases, I employ a metal key or wedge adapted to be expanded and con-
tracted as before described; this key may consist of a bar of iron or steel bent to
form two legs. Between the free ends of the legs is placed a taper block adapted
to force the said legs apart to the desired extent; for this purpose I use a screw-
bolt passing through a hole in the connecting portion between the said legs and
provided with a nut. The said taper block may be integral with the bolt, or loose
upon the same, as herein before described.
The metal key or wedge may if desired be in the form of a tube, of suitable
shape to fit the rail and chair to which it is to be applied. The said tube on one
side is divided longitudinally, and internally it is made to taper towards the centre
from each end. It is also slightly tapered on the exterior like a wooden key. The
smaller end is provided with a longitudinal cut on the side of the key furthest
from the rail, in addition to the cut first mentioned, in order that this end may be
expanded as herein before described. The head of the bolt is wedge-shaped or
tapering and is adapted to enter the larger end of the key, while a loose taper
block upon the other end of the bolt fits within the smaller end of the key. In
this modification, not only is the smaller end of the key expanded, but, by reason
of the internal tapering thereof, the key is slightly expanded throughout its entire
length, as the head of the bolt at one end of the key and the taper block at the
other end are caused to approach each other by screwing up the nut."
It is obvious that I may further modify the construction hereinbefore described
without departing from the nature of my invention.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Keys or Wedges for Securing
Railway-rails in their Chairs or Seats.
I, EDWARD WALLER STONEY, of Madras, India, Civil Engineer, 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:-
3
My invention relates to keys or wedges for securing railway-rails in their chairs 4
or seats.

page_text: The keys or wedges generally employed for this purpose are made of wood and
are liable to shrinkage in dry weather, so that they frequently become loose, and,
in some instances, drop out of the chairs. Steel spring keys have been used, but
these are also liable to be shaken out of place by the vibration caused by the
traffic.
My invention is designed to obviate these difficulties or defects and consists
partly in the combination, with a key or wedge of an expanding device, which,
after the key has been driven into its place, is adjusted to expand the same (at
either or both ends outside the chair) to such an extent that the said key cannot
be removed from the chair until it is again allowed to contract by the readjustment
or removal of the expanding device. This device I will, for convenience, hereinafter
term the expander.
The said invention, moreover, comprises a peculiar formation of the key or wedge
whereby the portion of the same within the chair is enabled to retain its elasticity
notwithstanding the expansion of the part or parts which project beyond the chair.
I thus provide for preventing breakage of the chair-jaws by over-expansion of the
key or wedge.
My said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, and
Figure 2 an end elevation, partly in vertical section, showing a rail secured in
a chair by means of a key or wedge and expander constructed according to my said
invention.
Figure 3 is a plan, and
Figure 4 an end elevation, of the said key or wedge.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section of another key made according to my said
invention, with the expander shown in plan.
Figure 6 is an end elevation of the key and expander shown in Figure 5.
Figures 7, 9 and 12 are plans, and
Figures 8, 10 and 11 are end elevations, showing various modifications of my
invention.
Figure 13 is an end elevation, and
Figure 14 a side elevation of the expander shown in Figure 12, detached from
the key.
Figure 15 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, and
Figure 16 an end elevation, showing another modification of my invention.
Figure 17 is a plan, and
Figure 18 an end elevation, shewing a further modification of my said invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
a is the rail, and b the chair in which the same is supported. c is the key or
wedge..
The key or wedge shown in Figures 1 to 4 is made of steel or other metal bent
into the form of a tube. This tube is preferably rectangular, or approximately
rectangular, in transverse section, but may be of any desired external form
according to the shape or configuration of the rail and chair with which it is to
be used. The edges of the metal of the key do not meet, therefore the key has
throughout its length a slot or opening c¹, and is capable of being contracted and
expanded and will be more or less elastic. The said key is also made with a slit c'
extending partially throughout its length to permit the bending outward of a
portion of the key by the expander as hereinafter set forth.
Through the centre of this key is passed a bolt d, the head d¹ of which is made
slightly taper so that the said head, when drawn or forced into the key, will expand,
or tend to expand, the large end thereof. A taper block or wedge e constituting the
expander is fitted to slide upon the bolt d, and a nut f is screwed upon the said bolt
outside the expander. By screwing up this nut, the expander and the head of the
bolt may be simultaneously forced into the key. By forcing the said expander
a sufficient distance into the key, the small end of the latter can be expanded
until its width is greater than that of the space through which it has been driven

page_text: between the web of the rail and the jaw of the chair, as shewn in Figure 1; the
displacement or loosening of the key is thus prevented.
In applying a key constructed as above described, it is first inserted, without
the bolt and expander, between the rail and the chair, and driven tightly into its
place in the usual or any suitable manner; the bolt and expander are then inserted
and the nut f tightened to force the large end of the key into tight contact with the
rail, and to force the expander into the small end of the key, and thus open or
expand the same, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 3 and in full lines in
Figure 1, and prevent its slipping out of the chair.
By making the key with the slit c², I provide for permitting the expansion of
the small end of the said key without expanding, or affecting the elasticity of, that
part thereof which is between the rail and the jaw of the chair. Therefore, after
the key has been driven into its place, no further strain will be put upon the chair
by the screwing up of the nut f. Moreover, the key itself being elastic, however
tightly the said nut may be screwed up, the chair-jaw cannot be fractured or
broken by the expansion of the said key. The said key, when driven into its place,
and previous to its expansion, secures the rail tightly in the chair; but, without
the expansion of the key in the manner herein described, what is known as the
creep" of the rails and the vibration caused by the traffic would loosen, or tend
to loosen, the said key and, in some instances, cause it to fall out.
"
To withdraw the key, it is only necessary to take off the nut fand remove the
bolt and expander; the key can then be easily driven out, without injury, by
means of a block of hard wood or a suitably shaped metal rod or bar placed against
its end and struck by a hammer.
I sometimes use the key shown in Figures 1 to 4 without the bolt and nut and
the taper block e, the small end of the key being expanded by means of a drift, wedge
or lever. Or I bend the part c³ of the key outward and temper the same, so that,
when the key is driven into place between the rail and chair, the part c³ will spring
outward and thus prevent displacement of the key; the small end of the key is,
in this case, bevelled or tapered to facilitate its entrance between the rail and chair.
Amongst the advantages afforded by my invention I will mention the following
viz; The key is elastic, very durable, and can be easily inserted and removed to
allow rails to be renewed or taken out, or for other purposes. It can be made to
suit any existing rail, chair and sleeper. It forms a very secure fastening which
cannot be loosened or fall out, as wooden keys do, especially in tropical climates.
Its action is not affected by weather or change of temperature.
In the modification of my invention illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the key is
made solid at.its large end with the exception of a hole for the bolt d. The sides
of the key are made with flanges c to strengthen them and to form a guide for
the expander e, so that it will slide along the key without dropping down. These
flanges may, however, be dispensed with, if desired. In the key shown in
Figures 5 and 6, the flanges at the outer side of the key are cut away as at c³ to
facilitate the expansion of the small end of the key; but, in some instances, the
said flanges are left as shown by the dotted line c* in Figure 5. I sometimes make
the expander with a feather or projection which fits into a longitudinal slot or
groove in one side of the key, thus preventing the turning or dropping down of the
expander, whilst permitting its longitudinal movement.
My improvements are applicable to wooden as well as to metal keys. In the
modification of my invention shown in Figures 7 and 8, the key c is of wood and
is slightly taper externally. It is provided with slits or saw-cuts c which extend
through a portion of its length. These slits permit the expansion of the end of the
key in the manner above described. The bolt d is passed through a longitudinal
hole in the key from the small to the large end thereof and is formed integrally with
the expander e, which is of conical shape and fits into a conical recess or cavity
in the key. A nut f and washer g are placed upon the said bolt at the large
end of the key. By screwing up this nut upon the bolt, the expander e,
.which constitutes the head of the bolt, is drawn into the recess or cavity in the key,

page_text: and thus expands the small end of the said key, and, at the same time, brings it
into close contact with the rail. Feathers or projections e¹ are formed or provided
on the expander o, which feathers or projections fit into the slits cd and prevent
the turning of the bolt and expander with the nut, when the latter is tightened or
slackened.
I sometimes make the bolt taper or conical nearly throughout its length, so that,
when the nut is tightened, the key will be expanded throughout its length. Or
I make the bolt with a conical portion at each end and with a cylindrical portion
of small diameter between the two conical parts, as shewn in dotted lines in
Figure 9, so that only the ends of the key outside the chair will be expanded when
the nut is tightened. In the modification of my invention shewn in Figure 9, the
key is made with a single slit c which extends from end to end thereof. The hole
for the expander may be either in the centre of the key as shewn in Figure 10, or
it may be placed near the top thereof to facilitate the expansion of the key.
In the modification of my invention shown in Figures 11 and 12, the key is
constructed in a substantially similar manner to those described with reference to
Figures 7 and 9, but the expander e, instead of being formed integrally with the
bolt d, is provided with an internal screw-thread and constitutes the nut. By
turning the bolt d in the proper direction by means of its head d, the expander is
drawn into the key and expands the small end of the same, the expander being.
prevented from turning by the feathers e¹ fitting into the slits co.
This arrange-
ment is advantageous as it permits the driving of the key by striking the head of
the bolt d. The expander is sometimes made with a slit e² extending throughout
its length, as shewn in Figure 13, so that the more tightly it is drawn into the
taper recess or cavity in the key, the more firmly it will grip the thread of the
bolt. The expander is thus made to act as a lock-nut.
It is obvious that, in either of the modifications herein described, the expander
may be either circular, rectangular, or of other suitable form in transverse section.
When made rectangular, the said expander may fit into a V-shaped recess or
cavity in the small end of the key; the feathers or projections e¹ are then
unnecessary, as the turning of the expander is prevented by reason of its shape.
In the modification shewn in Figures 15 and 16, the expander e is circular in
transverse section and is formed integrally with the bolt d, as in Figure 7, but the
nut is dispensed with and the key is provided with a screw-threaded hole, into
which the bolt d is screwed to draw the expander into the key. The bolt is, in
this case, preferably provided with a coarse square thread. The key is expanded
by rotating the expander and bolt. To facilitate this rotation, I provide the
expander, which constitutes the head of the bolt, with a hole or socket e³,
Figures 15 and 16, into which the square end of a bent bar or wrench can be
inserted.
For
In the modification of my invention shewn in Figures 17 and 18, the key is
parallel throughout its length and is adapted to be expanded at both ends.
this purpose it is provided with two expanders e, and the bolt d is passed freely
through one expander and is screwed into the other expander. By screwing up
the bolt d, the two expanders are drawn into the key, so that the two ends of the
same are simultaneously expanded as shewn by dotted lines. The expander into
which the screw-threaded end of the bolt enters is preferably provided with a
slit e, as shewn in Figures 17 and 18, so that, as the said expander is drawn into
the recess in the key, it will be compressed laterally and thus be made to grip the
bolt like a lock-nut, as herein before described.
In all the modifications hereinbefore described, the expander is so arranged that
both sides thereof will bear against the key. This construction, however, although
preferable, is not essential, as I might cut away one side of the key at one end and
make the expander of such shape and size that one side thereof would bear against
the web of the rail and the other against the key. The side of the expander
in contact with the rail is, in this case, made parallel therewith while its other
side is inclined and bears against a corresponding inclined surface on the key. As

page_text: the expander is drawn into the key, its inclined surface forces out the side of the
latter.
In some cases, instead of forming the expander on the bolt, I make it separately
therefrom and place it thereon, so that, when the nut is tightened, the head of the
bolt will bear against the expander and force the same into the key.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood
that I claim :—
First. The above described method or manner of providing for the retention of
keys or wedges between railway-rails and their chairs or seats, for the purpose
specified, by the expansion of the said keys or wedges.
Second. The combination, with a key or wedge for securing a railway-rail in
its chair or seat, of a taper block or expander and a screw-bolt or other suitable
device for forcing or drawing the said block or expander into the key or wedge,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Third. The above described peculiar formation of my key or wedge whereby
I provide for preventing breakage of the chair-jaws by over-expansion of the said
key or wedge, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The modification of my invention wherein the expander constitutes the
head of the screw-bolt, substantially as described with reference to Figures 7 and 8
or to Figures 15 and 16 of the drawings.
Fifth. The modification of my invention wherein the expander constitutes the
nut for the screw-bolt, substantially as described with reference to Figures 11, 12,
13 and 14 of the drawings.
Sixth. The modification of my invention wherein I employ two expanders, one
of which constitutes the nut for the screw-bolt, substantially as described with
reference to Figures 17 and 18 of the drawings, for the purpose specified.
Seventh. The modification of my invention wherein I employ a wooden key
with a single slit extending throughout its length substantially as described with
reference to Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The modification of my invention wherein I so construct my expander
that it will serve as a lock-nut, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Dated this 21st day of April 1886.