Improvements in Rail-joints.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 28th Apr., 1894
[Communicated from abroad by WHEELER RAIL-JOINT COMPANY, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of New York, and located in the City
and County of New York, in said State of New York, United States of
America.]
Improvements in Rail-joints.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 relates to rail-joints hereinafter described, reference being made
to the accompanying drawings forming part of this Specification, and in which
Figure 1, represents a view in perspective of one form which a rail-joint
constructed in accordance with this invention may assume.
Figure 2, a plan view showing the two members of the said joint in position for
being coupled together.
Figure 3, a view in inside elevation of one of the said members.
Figure 4, a view of the joint in transverse section as in use.
This invention relates to an improved rail-joint of the suspension type, and
designed particularly for street railways, the object being to produce a stiff and
effective device, of simple and compact form, containing but few parts, comparatively
inexpensive, and adapted to hold the rails firmly for an indefinitely long time without
the need of attention.
With these ends in view the invention consists in a suspension rail-joint having
certain details of construction as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in
the claim.
In carrying out the invention each of the respective longitudinal members A A¹
of the joint is provided with a depending longitudinal truss B B', extending.
throughout its length, and parallel with each other. These trusses give great
strength to the joint, and enable it to bear any strain which may be imposed upon
it. Otherwise than as described, the joints may be of any approved construction,
but by preference the upper edge of each is constructed with three inwardly
projecting upwardly extending fingers A2 A2 A2, located at and between their ends
respectively, and adapted to impinge against the respective faces of the webs of
the rail-ends C C, whereby the said rail-ends are more firmly held, their webs
stiffened, and their bases relieved of some considerable strain. The middle fingers,
which are much wider than, the others, engage with the rails where they "break
joints" as the expression is, and prevent them from sidewise displacement.
Preferably also, the respective members A A¹ of the joint are reinforced by
transverse ribs D. The said members of the joint are adapted to be coupled
together, and are drawn toward each other when being so coupled, by their
provision with oppositely inclined ribs E and grooves F, not new and not needing
description, and forming a joint under the bearing or seat on which the bases of the
rail-ends rest.
This improved joint is not only very strong and adapted to carry great weight,
but is also comparatively simple and light in construction, and the nature of the
grip that it secures on the rail-ends is such that it will hold them firmly for a long
time without attention

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A rail-joint composed of two longitudinal members adapted to be coupled
together on the draw principle below the bearing of the rail-ends, and each having
a depending truss extending throughout its length below the said bearing, and
below the line on which they are coupled together, substantially as described.
2. A rail-joint composed of two longitudinal members adapted to be coupled
together on the draw principle at a point below the bearing for the rail-ends, and
each having a depending truss extending throughout its length below said bearing
and below the line on which they are coupled together, and each having also
inwardly extending upwardly projecting fingers adapted to impinge against the
webs of the rail-ends, substantially as described.
3. A rail-joint composed of two longitudinal members adapted to be secured
together on the draw-principle below the bearing of the bases of the rail-ends, and
each having a depending truss extending throughout its length at a point below the
said bearing and the line on which they are united, and each having also transverse
reinforcing ribs located above the said trusses, substantially as described.
4. A rail-joint composed of two longitudinal members coupled together on the
draw principle at a point below the bearing for the bases of the rail-ends, and each
having a longitudinal truss extending throughout its length and located below the
said bearing and below the said joint on which the two members are united, and
each member being adapted also to impinge against the respective faces of the
webs of the rail-ends and the upper faces of the bases thereof, substantially as set
forth.
Dated this 21th dow of Mach 1901
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.