Improvements in "Fish" Plates for Rail Joints on Railways.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Sept., 1890-Accepted, 4th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in "Fish" Plates for Rail Joints on Railways.
I, WILLIAM BOUTLAND WILKINSON, of No. 5 Ellison Place in the City and County
of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Concrete and Cement Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The objects of my invention are to provide at the joints between the lengths of
rails, a more efficient connection whereby the weight, as each wheel passes over the
jeint, will be more distributed and greater support will be given to prevent the
disturbance of the joint and the jerk and noise caused by the wheels in passing over
the ends of two rails as now connected, and so to materially increase the comfort of
passengers and lessen generally the wear and tear.
To effect these objects I propose, at each joint of the rails, to substitute for the
present out-side "fish" plate a cast or pressed steel, or malleable cast iron, plate
shaped so that the upper portion of such plate, in the centre of its length, shall be
level with the upper or wearing part of the rails and overlap the joint, say about
1 inches, on either side, to the right and left of the joint, so that when a train is
passing over the joint this portion of the outside "fish" plate will take the weight, or
its due share of the weight, at that point and carry the carriages or other vehicles
smoothly over the joint without disturbance and without jerk or noise.
The improved outside fish plate will be formed so that the projecting upper portion
will fit accurately the shape of the head of the rail and be "Blush" with the top face
and provision may be made, if necessary for ensuring the latter requirement, by
leaving it a shade "bold" when fixed so that it may be filed down perfectly true.
The inside "fish" plate with the bolts will be the same as now used so that the
expense will be only the cost of the new outside plate and the fixing.
Dated this 4th day of December 1889
T. J. DANSON,
Per L. W.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in "Fish" Plates for Rail Joints on Railways.
I, WILLIAM BOUTLAND WILKINSON, of No. 5 Ellison Place, in the City and County
of Newcastle upon Tyne, Concrete and Cement Manufacturer do hereby declare the
nature of said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described ard ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The objects of my invention are to provide at the joints between the lengths of
rails, a more efficient connection than hitherto used whereby the weight, as each wheel
passes over the joint, will be more distributed and greater support will be given to
prevent the disturbance of the joint and the jerk and noise caused by the wheels in
passing over the ends of two rails as now connected and so as to materially increase
the comfort of passengers and lessen generally the wear and tear.
To effect these objects I propose at each joint of the rails, to substitute for the
present out side "fish" plate a cast or pressed plate of steel or iron shaped so that the
upper portion of such plate, in the centre of its length, shall be level with the upper
or wearing part of the rails and overlap the joint say about 1 inches, on either side,
to the right and left of the joint, so that when a train is passing over the joint this
portion of the outside "fish" plate will take the weight, or its due share of the weight.
at that point and carry the vehicle smoothly over the joint without disturbance and
without jerk or noise.
The improved outside "fish" plate will be formed so that the projecting upper

page_text: with
portion will fit accurately the shape of the "head" of the rail and be “flush
the top face, and provision may be made, if necessary, for ensuring the latter require-
ment, by leaving it a shade "bold" when fixed so that it may be filed down perfectly
true.
The inside "fish" plate, with the bolts, will be the same as now used so that the
expense will be only the cost of the new outside plate and the fixing.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
The accompanying drawing illustrates, to one half full size scale, my invention as
applied to the ordinary double headed rails now generally used on main lines.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved "fish" plate; Fig. 2 is a section of same,
at the junction of two lengths of rail, and Fig. 3 is a section at -x on Fig. 1.
The rails are in each case shewn by dotted lines as are also the inside "fish" plates
which are of the ordinary shape.
On each side of the joining A of two lengths of rail the "fish" plate rises to the
level of the top of the rails, as indicated by the arrows Fig. 1, and in section and end
elevation on Figs. 2 and 3 and thus the wheels, in passing over the joint, bear upon
this portion of the "fish" plate which affords them support and prevents disturbance
of the joint the "fish" plate having a firm bearing at its lower enlarged part upon the
bottom flange of the rail and the extra depth at the centre gives greatly increased
strength to resist bending as the wheels pass over it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and it. what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is :-
Forming the outer "fish" plate with its centre portion, for a certain distance on
each side of the joint between two lengths of rails, elevated to the level of the top
surface of the rails and embracing a portion of the outer flanges thereof and with, or
without, a corresponding projection on the lower edge, embracing a portion of the
lower outer flanges of the rails; with the objects herein before set forth substantially
as described and shewn.
T. J. DANSON, F.I.P.A.,
Offices for Patents, 2, St. Nicholas Buildings, Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
Agent for Applicant.