Improved Joint Chair for Rail Joints on all Railways.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 30th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 4th Feb., 1899
We, WILLIAM JOHN RICHARDS, Ironworks Manager, and THOMAS DAVIES, Railway
Clerk, both of Aberkenfig, near Bridgend, in the County of Glamorgan, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present mode of making a rail joint on railways, is by fixing a fish plate on
each side of the rail ends, held together by four bolts and nuts.
This arrangement prevents a sleeper being fixed directly under the joint, and in
consequence, there is always a spring in the rail ends, causing the nuts to ease, and
sometimes drop off, thereby endangering its safety.
The object of our invention is to avert the danger of the present system, by a
simply constructed cast-iron chair, which allows the rails to be easily changed, and
when properly fixed, requires no attention afterwards, and at the same time dispenses
with fishplates and bolts altogether.
According to our invention we have a chair fixed directly at the joint of the two
rails (upon a sleeper as usual) somewhat stronger, and a little broader at base than
ordinary chairs.
.
The improved chair has two nipples, or lugs in the casting, to which the rail ends
are fitted, and is then keyed up in the same manner as the ordinary chair, and we
have a means of preventing the key from working out.
The nipples, or lugs in our chair may be made in two different forms, that is to say,
one form being with two circular nipples in the casting to which the rail ends are
fitted and keyed up, and the other form being one oblong lug in the casting, to which
the rail ends are fitted and keyed up, as hereinbefore mentioned.
Dated this 18th day of lume 1808
W. J. RICHARDS,
THOMAS DAVIES,
Applicants.
Improved Joint Chair for Rail Joints on all Railways.
We, WILLIAM JOHN RICHARDS, Ironworks Manager, and THOMAS DAVIES, Railway
Clerk, both of Aberkenfig, near Bridgend, in the County of Glamorgan, 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:-
The present mode of making a rail joint on railways is by fixing a fish-plate on
each side of the rail ends, held together by four bolts and nuts.
This arrangement prevents a sleeper being fixed directly under the joint, and in

page_text: consequence there is always a spring in the rail ends, causing the nuts to ease, and
sometimes drop off, thereby endangering its safety.
The object of our invention is to avert the danger of the present system, by
placing a cast iron chair, fastened to a sleeper in the usual way, by two fang bolts,
directly at the joint of the two rails, and when properly fitted together, requires no
attention afterwards while the cost of laying a line of rails is thereby reduced to a
minimum. According to our invention, we have lugs, or nipples, casted on the inner
side of the joint chair, to which the rail ends are fitted, after allowing for contraction
and expansion, and a wood, iron, or steel key is driven home in the ordinary way,
which is kept in its normal position by a set-screw, with a lock nut.
There is no strain whatever on the lugs or nipples, and the great advantage is,
that the chair, or rails, cannot move from their central position, and at the same
time the arrangement allows the rails to be changed easily and quickly, therefore we
claim to have made a sound rail joint.
The nipples, or lugs in our chair, may be made in two different forms, one form
being, two circular nipples, the other, one oblong lug.
Although we prefer the nipples, yet the lug may be used to the same
advantage.
If the two circular nipples be used, each rail end has one hole, which after being
fitted to the said nipple in the chair, is then keyed up and, secured as hereinbefore
stated.
If the oblong lug be used, each rail end, must be notched, and when the two rail
ends join, must form an eblong hole, over the lug, which is keyed up and secured as
stated above.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a sectional elevation of our
invention.
Figure 2 a sectional plan.
Figures 3 and 4 a sectional end elevation.
A. A. Are the nipples.
B. A groove in the chair.
C. Nut chamber.
D. Lock nut and set screw.
E. On Figure 4 shews the oblong lug.
The functions of A and E are to keep the chair and sleeper in an exact central
position under the joint. The groove B, allows for ordinary wear of the casting,
otherwise a ridge would form, and prevent expansion of the rails taking place.
C. In the event of the nut-thread becoming defective, a new nut can be replaced,
without interfering with the life of the chair.
D. Lock nut and set screw. After the key has been driven home, the set screw
must be tightened up, and the lock nut fastened at the back.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we
claim as our invention :-
An improved joint chair for rail joints on all railways, hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, that is to say, a cast iron chair with lugs
or nipples casted on the inner side of the chair in two forms, one form being two
circular nipples the other form, one oblong lug, to which the rail ends are fitted, and
keyed up with a wood, iron or steel key, which is kept in position by a set screw and
lock nut, for the purposes and substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 28th day of November 1898.
WILLIAM JOHN RICHARDS.
THOMAS DAVIES.