Improvements in the Construction of Rail Joints for Railways.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Rail Joints for Railways.
I, JOHN WHITTLE, of 27 Frampton Place, Boston, Lincolnshire, Gentleman, 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:-
This invention has for its object, the construction of railway rails in such a
manner that the ends of each adjoining rails bear against each other at the sides
with a locking action and be firmly pressed into contact and held by a chair and
key, the ends being also secured by bolts which pass through from the sides. The
rails are what are known as continuous, there being no gap at the abutting ends.
To carry my invention into practice, I roll the ends of the rails with a wavy
chamfer from opposite sides, and provide holes in them just outside where the chair
and key touch but within the range of the chamfered parts, into which bolts can be
inserted and be tightened up by nuts. The wavy parts are of the form known as
the O.G. moulding or pattern and fit each other with the extreme ends shaped to
fit in a step of the adjoining rail to make the sides flush.
I purpose having two holes at each side next the part occupied by the chair and
the bolts may be in pairs with one head only or separate headed bolts may be
employed.
purpose using the web or splay footed rail with my invention, said rails for
renewal simply requiring to be turned end for end, but with double headed rail ends
said rails cannot only be turned end for end but upside down also and reversed.
My invention will be clearly understood by the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan of the adjoining ends of two rails.
Figure 2 a perspective elevation of the end of one rail on an enlarged scale to
that shown at Figure 1. A is the body of the rail with the usual tread and with
splayed foot B. C is a swell on each side, as seen at Figure 1 which swell merges
into the web D, the swell forming an increased thickness and continued along to
the extreme ends on that side of each rail only where the wavy or undulating
vertical faces E, E, are shaped from opposite sides of the two ends of each rail.
F, F, are holes through wavy faces and the extension of the swell for the reception
of bolts G, G, two of which may have a single head, as at H, or each bolt may
have a head, as at I, I, or if preferred there can be a single head for the two bolts
at each end of splice joint the space between the two sets of bolts serving for the
jaws of the chair to further bind the end of the two rails together.
By this invention, 1 form continuous lines of rail without fear of one end jumping
up above the level of the next, or of one end sinking lower than the other, as with
butt end rails as now laid, consequently I obviate that jolting sensation felt by
passengers when passing over the ends, I also by the unbroken smoothness of the
rails tread prevent the rattling of bolts and plates of the carriage fixings and of the
engines while travelling, whereby I give increased comfort to travellers and to
drivers and firemen. I reduce the trembling vibration of the earth from passing
trains, an inconvenience often felt by householders living in proximity to a
railway.
The invention will be exceedingly useful at main stations and shunting places
from the certainty of the driving wheels biting the rails to start a train instead of
the wheels slipping and running round as is now the case, which causes so much
wasting of power, reduction of steam pressure and violently shaking the mechanism.
It will be observed that the usual fish plates are dispensed with, a more solid
road produced with less risk of trains leaving the rails, less wear and tear of the

page_text: permanent way, and of the rolling stock, besides many other advantages derived
from decreased supervision of the line, facilities for repairing or renewing etc.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The construction of railway rails with wavy faces on opposite side ends, as
indicated by the drawings annexed, in conjunction with increase of metal for giving
rigidity, and with holes for the reception of bolts for binding the two wavy faces of
adjoining rails into contact, as and for the purposes described, and whether said
rails be splay footed or double headed rails.
Dated this 29th day of September 1899
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London.
Agent for the said John Whittle.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London.
Agent for the said John Whittle.