Combination Rail Joint and Device for Preventing the Spreading of Rails.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Combination Rail Joint and Device for Preventing the Spreading
of Rails.
I, HENRY MARTYN WILLIAMS, of 36, East Berry Street, in the City of Fort
Wayne, County of Allen and State of Indiana, United States of America, Manu-
facturer, 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 certain new and useful improvements in combined rail
joints and devices for preventing the spreading of rails, having for its object to
provide a simple, rigid and effective joint whereby the ends of abutting rails may
be maintained in perfect alignment and withstand the shocks and thrusts conse-
quent to trains passing over them; and with this object in view, the invention
consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the parts hereinafter more
particularly pointed out.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of 'this specification and in
which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Fig. 1 is a side eleva-
tion of two abutting rails with a joint embodying the invention applied thereto,
parts of the rails being broken away; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of a
track with the improved joint and the means for preventing the spreading of
the rails applied thereto; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line -,
Fig. 2; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views of modifications.
Referring more particularly to the drawings, A, B designate the meeting ends
of two abutting rails, which extend over and meet between the ties C, C. D is
the rail joint applied to the ends of the rails and comprising, in the present
instance, two main sections arranged upon opposite sides of the rails and secured
to said rails and to each other.
The sections of the joint are formed in duplicate and are adapted for applica-
Each of said sections is formed with a vertical
tion to either side of a rail.
portion 2, an inclined portion 3, a horizontal portion 4, and a depending por-
tion 5. The vertical portions 2 of the joint sections normally rest wholly out of
contact with the webs of the abutting rails and are of less width than said webs
in order to prevent their coming in contact with the under faces of the heads of
of the sections are adapted to
the rails. The inclined and horizontal portions 3,
receive the bases of the rails between them and conform to the upper and lower
faces thereof respectively and the depending portions 5 are adapted to project
below the rails between two adjacent cross ties. In order that this may be accom-
plished, the depending portions 5 are of less length than the joint sections and
preferably, though not necessarily, the depending portions of opposing sections
are inclined with respect to each other, so that their only point of contact will
be at their lower edges. In other words, they diverge upwardly from their lower
contacting edges to the bases of the rails.
To the end that the greatest degree of strength may be imparted to the depend-
tions by the employment of a minimum amount of metal, the said por-

page_text: tions are provided upon their outer faces at the edges thereof with strengthening
ribs 6. It is desirable too that the joint sections be strengthened at the point
of intersection of the inclined portions 3 and horizontal portions 4.
In practice the joint sections are placed upon opposite sides of two abutting
rails. Bolts 6 are then passed through coinciding holes in the vertical portions 2
and the webs of the rails and tightened; and while the said vertical portions are
not drawn into contact with the webs of the rails, the bolts serve to prevent them
from moving in a direction away from the rail webs.
The depending portions 5 of the joint may then be drawn together by means of
ordinary bolts to cause the sections to closely conform to the base of the rail, but
preferably this is effected by means of a tie-rod 7 provided at one end with a
fork 8, the branches of which extend parallel to each other. These branches of
the fork are provided near their ends with shoulders or collars 9 while at their
extreme ends they are provided with screw threads and the said branches extend
through holes in the opposing depending portions 5 of the joint and their
shoulders are drawn into contact with the portion 5 at one side of the joint by
means of nuts 10 received upon the ends of the branches and bearing upon the
outer face of the opposite depending portion thereby drawing the lower edges of
the said depending portions into firm contact. The rod 7 extends across the track
from the rails A to the rails B and at its end it is provided with a bearing for
engagement with the latter rails to prevent their lateral movement with respect
to the opposite rails. As shown, this bearing is in the form of a hook 14 which
extends beneath the rail base between two adjacent cross ties and embraces the
outside edge of the said base. It will thus be seen that the rod not only serves
to secure the sections of the rail joint together but in addition constitutes a
simple and effective means for preventing the spreading of the opposite rails of
the track. Moreover it will be noted that by securing the rod 7 to the rail joint
at separated points the lateral movement of its opposite or hooked end is
prevented.
The opposite ends of the joint sections rest upon the upper faces of two adja-
cent cross ties and the depending portions thereof extend between the ties and in
order that lateral shifting of the joint sections may be prevented, said sections
are provided upon their lower faces with ribs 12, which are preferably wedge-
shaped in cross section and are adapted to enter the cross ties. The said ribs
as shown extend transversely across the cross ties and serve to hold the joint
sections firmly in position rendering other means for securing said sections to the
cross ties unnecessary, although such means may be employed if desired.
In the modification illustrated in Fig. 4, the depending portions 5 of the oppo-
site joint sections extend parallel to each other and at their lower edges they are
provided with ribs or bearings 15 which rest in contact when the parts are
assembled and serve to maintain the inner faces of the depending portions out of
contact with each other.
In the construction shown in Fig. 5, the rail joint is composed of the ordinary
L-shaped fish plates 16 placed upon opposite sides of the rails and these plates are
secured in position by the branches of the fork 8 which extend through the plates
and through holes in the webs of the rails, one of the branches extending through
the fish plates and one of the rails while the other branch passes through the plates
and the abutting rail, the fork thereby constituting a bond between the rails and
preventing their separation.
In lieu of forming the bearings or shoulders 9 integral with the branches of the 5
fork 8 as indicated in Figs. 1 to 4, the said branches are provided near their ends
with threaded portions for reception of nuts 17 and these nuts constitute the
bearings for engagement for the fish plates or joint sections. By means of this
construction it will be obvious that any looseness which may exist between the
book or bearing 14 and the rails B may be easily taken up by adjusting the 5
nuts 17 to the right and then tightening the nuts 10.

page_text: The modified construction illustrated in Fig. 6 is substantially identical with
that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the vertical portions 2 of the joint sections and
the securing bolts 6, are however omitted, the joint sections being held in posi-
tion only by means of the tie or gauge rod 7.
From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that a simple and cheap rail
joint is constructed of a relatively small amount of metal, which is so shaped
and distributed that it possesses great strength at those points where it is most
needed. Moreover, it will be evident that by arranging the vertical portions of
the joint sections out of contact with the heads and webs of the rails they are
relieved of all strain which is ordinarily imposed upon them, such strain being
taken up by the depending portions of the joint and consequently there is little
liability of the securing bolts and joint sections becoming loosened. By reason
of the close engagement of the joint sections with the upper and lower sides of
the rail bases and the extent of such engagement, the rails are tightly held and
all liability of lateral swaying under strain is prevented. It will be obvious
also, by reason of the fact that the vertical portions of the joint are out of con-
tact with the webs of the rails the joint sections may be tightened and a more
uniform and extensive engagement thereof with the rail bases secured than would
be possible if they rested in contact either with the rail heads or webs.
one
In order to preclude all possibility of water and dirt being retained between
the depending portions it is preferable to form at least of said
portions with one or more perforations, as shown at 15, Fig. 4, the said perforation
leading from the space between the depending portions and permitting water and
dirt to pass therefrom to the exterior of the joint.
It has been heretofore stated that ordinary bolts may be employed for securing
the depending portions 5 together, and the tie-rods 7, thereby dispensed with.
This has not been illustrated but it is thought that the modification is an obvious
one.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A rail joint comprising joint sections constructed and arranged substantially
as described and embracing the base flanges of the rails, and means for securing
the joint sections, as and for the purposes set forth.
2. A tie rod for railway rails forked at one end and provided with means for
attaching it to the opposite rails, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the rails and rail joint sections, of a tie rod forked at
one end, and means for securing it to the rail joint sections and opposite rail,
substantially as described.
Dated the 19th day of December 1898.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.