Improvements in Kailway Kails.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
Improvements in Kailway Kails.
I, JACOB FINK of Paderborn in the Empire of Germany 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 a railway rail divided into two parts, which rail serves
simultaneously as a travelling rail and longitudinal sleeper, and the parts of which
are arranged in such a way to one another that they may be easily taken apart
and interchanged. For instance when the rail is worn, the two parts may be
separated, reversed and put together again so that the two head parts of the rail when
they are no longer suitable for use may take the place of the longitudinal sleeper
parts whilst the two parts used as a sleeper may serve as a rail head.
This railway rail further enables trains to travel free from jolting and consequently
affords a considerable saving in the rolling stock, whilst the two parts of the rail are
arranged to overlap or break joint with one another at the ends so that the rim of
the wheel travels unimpededly over the joint of the one half of the rail, as it is always
maintained by the uninterrupted part of the rail at a constant height.
This invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a cross.
section and Figure 2 a plan view.
The rail consists of two equal sized and equal shaped right-angled parts A. A¹ of the
section shown in Figure 1. The right-angled shanks 61 62 63 64 of both halves of the
rail are so thickened at the edges at the points a' a² a³ a' that when two such shanks
are placed one against the other in a suitable position, they together form the
upright and head of the rail, while the other two shanks form the extended foot and
take the place of a longitudinal sleeper.
In order to better secure the track, the shanks forming the longitudinal sleepers
are fixed by means of screws d to iron or wooden cross sleepers 8 which lie at
suitable distances apart. The thickened edges a¹ a serve as a protective
arrangement in the case of derailing, whilst when reversed and placed upright they
form together the head of the rail.
The two shanks connecting the head of the rail to the foot are fastened together
by means of screw bolts c, the ends of the two half rails being arranged in such a
way against one another that the points of juncture or joinings of the one half rail
lie about the middle of the opposite half rail which is unbroken at that
point (Figure 2), and in consequence of this arrangement it is possible to have a
simpler and therefore cheaper and at the same time more effective coupling up or
securing of the rails than in the arrangements hitherto employed.
In the case of sharp curves and gradients, the track may be secured in position by
the arrangement of more cross sleepers than is necessary under normal conditions,
and also by means of elbow pieces g as shown in Figure 1.
In consequence of the even and very broad rail base, an effective and secure support
for the rail is produced. The under stopping of the rails may take place in the same
way as with wooden cross sleepers.
When the left part a² of the head of the rail is worn away, the rail may be so
reversed that the right half a³ comes in place of the left and vice versa.
If however

page_text: the right half as be also worn away, the half rails are taken apart and then put together
in such a way that the shank 6' takes the place of the shank 62 and the shank b
takes the place of the shank 63, whilst the parts used as the travelling rail namely a² a³
and 2 are used as rail-foot and longitudinal sleeper respectively. The wheel
rim runs unimpededly over the two rail ends placed in juxtaposition, as it is
maintained at an equal height by the half rails breaking joint. No shock causing
joltings, such as has hitherto been produced through the vehicle having to overcome
an impediment in passing from one rail which is pressed down by the weight of the
vehicle to the other rail standing at the normal height, takes place in the present
arrangement of connecting the rail joints.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
A railway rail divided into two parts, consisting of two angle irons (A B), the
shanks (61 62 63 64) of which are of equal height or width and are provided with
thickened edges (a¹ a² a³ a) in such a way that each two vertical shanks form the
head and upright of the travelling rail, whilst the two horizontal ones form a
rail-foot and longitudinal sleeper with an outer and inner protective projection,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 1st day of June 1907
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.