Year: 1889

page_text: A communication from abroad by RICHARD DE SAUSSURE BACOT, of Columbia,
South Carolina, United States of America, Patent Broker.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster & 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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 object of the invention is to provide an elastic rail which greatly reduces
the wear and tear on the road and rolling stock, to provide means for connecting
the joints in the laying of the rails while protecting the abutting ends of the lower
section of the rail from the wear incident to the method in general use, and to
provide a cheap means of repairing the rails, arising from the peculiar construction
of the rail, and whereby the danger of derailment while repairs are being made, is
obviated.
The invention consists of a rail in two parts, namely, a flange or foot having a
web or shank like that of an ordinary Trail, which together constitute the base of
the rail, and a grooved ball, which fits over the web of the base, so that the outer
webs forming the walls of the groove, or jaws of the ball, secure the ball to the
base web and at the same time connect the successive sections of the base. The
webs or jaws of the ball are concave on their inner sides, in the wake of the
bolts.
The ends of the base sections are cut with oblique faces which fit against each
other, in order to form a continuous support for the ball.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention,
Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the rail showing its construction,
Figure 2 is a cross section of the same,
Figure 3 shows the invention as applied to the remodelling of an old track, and
Figure 4 is a plan view of the joint of the base section.

page_text: '
In
A is the rail in which B is the ball, having the jaws or webs bb1 forming the
groove C. Dis the flange and E is the web forming the base section. F G is the
joint in the base sections, and H I the joint in the ball sections. c is the space left
between the bottom of groove C and the top of web E of the base section.
Figures 1 and 2, in the flange D, grooves k k¹ are shown on each side of web E
in which fit the ends of the jaws bb₁of ball B, in Figure 3 grooves k k¹ are
dispensed with.
In the figures, the webs bb of ball B are shown concave to a slight extent at
about the centre of the webs in the wake of the bolts, the shape of groove C being
such that the base web is confined at both the top and bottom.
The object of this concavity in the webs, is to compensate for the wearing of the
rail and to prevent its working loose.
In Figure the joints of the base sections are diagonal as shown at F G, in which
case they are held together and the ball B secured to the base by a single bolt,
the joints of the ball and of the base sections respectively being broken. Such a joint
is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.
In this way the increased strength resulting from the use of a single bolt is
obtained, in place of two in fastening the joint, because an increased number of
bolt holes has a tendency to weaken both web and jaws, and the advantage of a
diagonal joint in the base offering an unbroken support to the ball without exposing
the base webs to the danger of chipping off of the feather ends formed on the base
webs at their diagonal joint beneath the ball, a common occurrence when the diagonal
joint extends entirely through the rail. But joints can be made with bases having
the ordinary straight ends, the ball breaking joint with the bases, as shown in
Figure 3.
In Figure 3 the joints of the base sections are shown as at right angles to the
major axis of the rail, in which case a bolt is necessary on each side of the joint as
there shown.
The bolt holes in each instance are oblong to allow for the contraction and expan-
sion of the rails as is well known.
The advantage obtained by the space c in the elasticity of the rail is very great, it
also allows for any slight variation in the ends of the abutting webs arising from
various well-known causes, without interfering with the general surface of the rail,
and these irregularities being covered by the ball, all jar and shock in passing from
one rail to another is removed, thus overcoming to a great extent the expense of
resurfacing, that has heretofore arisen therefrom. The size of this space is varied
from 1 to 3 of an inch, thus where the rail is very heavy and exposed to the
constant passage of heavy rolling stock the space should not be less than but
where the rails are light the minimum of 3½ of an inch is sufficient.
In Figures 1 and 2 is shown the top of base web E as arched, in which form it is
preferable to use it, and in which case also the bottom of groove Cis arched, but the
form shown in Figure 3 may also be used with good results.
The upper part of web E of the base section may also be formed in the shape of
a wedge, in which case the upper part of the groove C in the ball is of similar
shape, as shown in Figure 3. This causes the ball to maintain a tight grip upon
the web of the base section, notwithstanding the gradual wear of the contact
surfaces.
Among numerous advantages arising from the use of the improved rail are the
following
The expense of repairing the track is greatly lessened, for since the wear of the
rail is almost wholly confined to the ball, all that is necessary in making repairs,
is to replace the latter, which can be done without disturbing the base which
remains permanently in place. Further than this, while the rail is being repaired,
even after the removal of the ball, a rail is still provided by which the wheels
may traverse the section on the base web, should the necessity arise, without danger
of derailment. By the use of these base sections and the breaking of the joint.
with the ball sections a better and more permanent alignment of the track on curves

page_text: is secured, because the joint of the base comes directly in the centre of the hall of
the rail, so that the force tending to throw the curve out of alignment is that of
the curve of only one half of the length either of the ball or base section, in place
of that of the entire length of the rail as in the usual way. Tracks already laid
may be remodelled by simply removing the hall of the ordinary T rail and replacing
with the improved ball without disturbing the old base.
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 correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a rail, the combination of a flange and web section constituting the base
and a grooved ball fitted thereto by means of webs integral with the ball, concave in
the wake of the bolt projecting from each side of the ball clamping the base section,
and having a space c between the top of the web section and the bottom of the
groove, substantially as described.
2. In a rail the combination of a flange and web section constituting a base having
diagonally cut ends for forming the joints, and a grooved ball with projecting webs
or jaws fitting over the base section, whereby when a joint is formed, the sections are
secured together, and an unbroken base section is provided for the support of the
ball.
3. In a rail, the combination of a web and flange section constituting a base, having
a groove on each side of the web, and a grooved ball fitting over the base and having
webs or jaws concave in the wake of the bolts, the extremities of which fit into
the grooves on each side of the base section, and having a space c between
the top of the base section and the bottom of the groove in the ball, as described.
4. As a new article of manufacture a ball for a rail, having a central groove and
two downward projecting webs or jaws integral with the ball, concave in the wake of
the bolts and adapted to be fitted over the web of a flange and web section, the groove
being of sufficient depth to leave a space c when applied to the base section,
substantially as described.
5. In a rail the combination of a flange and web-section constituting the base
and a grooved ball fitted thereto by means of webs integral with the ball and concave
in the wake of the bolts projecting from each side of the ball and clamping the base
section.
Dated this 8th dow of Anril 1880
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.