IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINTS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Buckingham Ibbotson, of the Firm of
Ibbotson, Brothers, and Co., of Sheffield, in the County of York,
Steel Manufacturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINTS
Sealed the 15th October 1869, and dated the 7th August 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Buckingham
Ibbotson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 7th August 1869.
I, ALFRED BUCKINGHAM IBBOTSON, of the Firm of Ibbotson, Brothers,
and Co., of Sheffield, in the County of York, Steel Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
JOINTS FOR UNITING AND SECURING THE ENDS OF RAILWAY RAILS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates partly to further improvements in the railway
fastenings described in the Specification of an Invention for which

page_text: Letters Patent have been granted to me, bearing date the Tenth day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-eight, No. 2789. The fastening or joint described in the said former
Specification is a steel clip, which embraces the adjacent ends of the
rails, and is secured thereon by bolts and nuts of a peculiar character.
By my present Invention I dispense with these bolts and nuts, and
substitute for the same other means of binding the clip to the rails,
whereby I accomplish the main object of the said Invention, which is to
increase the security and strength of the joint.
The said Invention consists chiefly in the employment of peculiarly
formed fish plates on the outside of a clip for uniting the ends of
railway rails, and in the means whereby the said plates and clip are
secured together and to the said rails.
In applying my present Invention to the steel clip described in the
said former Specification I place two fish plates outside of the said clip
in such a manner that their upper and lower edges, which are formed to
correspond with the exterior of the clip, fit tightly against the under
sides of those portions of the clip which support the head of the rail, and
the upper sides of those portions which bear on the sloping portion of
the base of the rail immediately below the shoulders of the head, or upon
the lower head if the rail is of the form known as "double headed." I
prefer that these plates should be made of what is known as "Bessemer"
metal, but they may be formed of any other suitable metal. These plates
are secured outside the clip cither by bolts and nuts, the bolts being
passed through the plates and clip and through holes, or notches in the
ends of the rails, or by a screw or screws passed through one of the said
plates, and through the clip, and through holes or notches in the rail,
and screwed into the opposite plate; or one or more of such screws may
be passed through the joint in one direction and screwed into one plate,
and the others may be passed through the joint in the opposite direction a
and screwed into the other plate.
Although, as before stated, this Invention is more especially designed
to be applied to the steel clip joints described in my said former Speci-
fication it may be advantageously used in connection with other clips or
clamps which are formed to extend below the rails and to embrace the 3
sides thereof, whether the said clips are made of steel, iron, or what is

page_text: known as "Bessemer" metal, and my improved joint thus composed of
the combined clip and plates may be applied to rails of various sectional
forms.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Buckingham Ibbotson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 7th February 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
BUCKINGHAM IBBOTSON, of the Firm of Ibbotson, Brothers, and Co.,
of Sheffield, in the County of York, Steel Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Buckingham Ibbotson, Her
special licence, that I, the said Alfred Buckingham Ibbotson, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred
Buckingham Ibbotson, my 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 JOINTS FOR UNITING AND SECURING THE
ENDS OF RAILWAY RAILS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Alfred Buckingham Ibbotson, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, 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 VE that I the said Alfred Buckingham Thhotson.do

page_text: in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawing forming a part of this Specification :-
This Invention relates partly to further improvements in the railway
fastenings described in the Specification of an Invention for which
Letters Patent have been granted to me, bearing date the Tenth day of
September, A.D. 1868, No. 2789. The fastening or joint described in
the said former Specification is a steel clip, which embraces the adjacent
ends of the rails, and is secured thereon by bolts and nuts of a peculiar
character.
By my present Invention I substitute for these bolts and nuts other
means of binding the clip to the rail, whereby I accomplish the main
object of the said Invention, which is to increase the security and
strength of the joint.
The said Invention consists in the employment of peculiarly formed
fish plates on the outside of a clip for uniting the ends of railway rails,
and in the means whereby the said plates and clip are secured together
and to the said rails.
In applying my present Invention to the steel clip described in the
said former Specification I place two fish plates outside of the said clip
in such a manner that their upper and lower edges, which are formed to
correspond with the exterior of the clip, fit tightly against the under
sides of those portions of the clip which support the head of the rail, and
the upper sides of those portions which bear on the sloping portion of
the base of the rail immediately below the shoulders of the head, or upon
the lower head, if the rail is of the form known as "double headed." I
prefer that these plates should be made of what is known as "Bessemer"
metal, but they may be formed of any other suitable metal.. These plates
are secured together outside the clip either by bolts and nuts, the bolts
being passed through the plates and clip, and through holes or notches
in the ends of the rails, or by a screw or screws passed through one of
the said plates, and through the clip, and through holes or notches in
the rail, and screwed into the opposite plate; or one or more of such
screws may be passed through the joint in one direction and screwed
into one plate, and the others may be passed through the joint in the
opposite direction and screwed into the other plate.

page_text: Although this Invention is more especially designed to be applied to
the steel clip joints described in my said former Specification it may
be advantageously used in connection with other clips or clamps which
are formed to extend below the rails and to embrace the sides thereof,
whether the said clips are. made of steel, iron, or what is known as
"Ressemer” metal, and my improved joint thus composed of the com-
bined clip and plates may be applied to rails of various sectional forms.
bined clip and plates may be applied to rails of various sectional forms.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of two rail ends secured by my improved
clip joint; Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a transverse section showing a modification in the form of
the clip; Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the adaptation of my Invention to
rails of the "double-headed" section. Like letters indicate the same
parts throughout the Drawing.
A, A, are the rails; B is the clip; C, C, are the fish plates; D, D, are
the bolts. It will be seen that in Figure 2 the bottom of the clip is
curved or bent outward from the base of the rail, while in Figure 3 the
bottom of the clip is quite flat. Similar variations in the form of the clip
are illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, but these variations are given merely
as examples, and so that it may be clearly understood that I am not
restricted to any particular form or configuration of this part of the clip.
Throughout the entire length of the clip B its inclined portions are
fitted to the parts a of the rails. The fish plates C, whose edges are
bevelled or inclined to fit on the outside of these inclined or sloping
surfaces b, are placed one on each side of the joint, as shewn, and these
plates, the clip, and the bolts, or other fastenings thus combined and
properly secured together will render the permanent way as strong, safe,
and durable at the joints as at any other portion of the same.
.
Having now fully described my said Invention, and the best manner
with which I am acquainted of carrying the same into practice, I wish
it understood that I claim, the combination of a clip of steel, iron, or
"Bessemer" metal formed in one piece to pass underneath and to
embrace the sides of the rail with fish plates also of steel, iron, or
"Bessemer" metal. placed upon and fitted to the outside surfaces of
the said clip, and with bolts, screws, or other suitable fastenings for

page_text: binding the plates, clip, and rails tightly and securely together, sub-
stantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Buckingham Ibbotson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Third day of February, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
ALFRED BUCKINGHAM IBBOTSON. (L.S.)
Witness,
JOSEPH SHIPMAN.