IMPROVEMENTS IN RAIL JOINTS FOR RAILWAYS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Amos Joseph Acaster, of the Princess Works, Sheffield, in
the County of York, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAIL
JOINTS FOR RAILWAYS."
aled the 5th June 1877, and dated the 18th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Amos Joseph Acaster at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th December 1876.
AMOS JOSEPH ACASTER, of the Princess Works, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAIL JOINTS FOR RAILWAYS."
This Invention, which relates to improvements in rail joints, has for its objects
the dispensing with the use of nuts and bolts in jointing or connecting the ends of
rails, and consequently with the necessity for drilling or punching holes therein and
in the usual fish plates, which adds considerably to the cost, and materially weakens
the rails and the joint, the lessening of the number and weight of the parts required,
and the provision of a strong self-locking joint which will allow of the jointed ends
of the rails deflecting equally at the approach of an engine or train, and of the joint
being securely tightened up as the rails wear.
The present improvements are applicable to rails of double headed T or other
section.
My Invention consists principally in grooving or ribbing the rail longitudinally,
and in the use in combination therewith of ribbed, grooved, and notched wedged-
shaped keys, by the combination and use of which the number of parts required is
reduced to a minimum, all nuts and bolts being dispensed with, and the rail ends
are most firmly held and rendered almost as strong as if continuous, so that deflec-
tion is equal at all parts of adjoining rails. These wedges may be adapted and
used in various modifications, some of the most easily applicable of which I will
now describe.
The most simple modification applicable to the double-headed rail consists in
longitudinally grooving or ribbing the rails under the heads, and in using in combi-
nation therewith wedge-shaped keys ribbed and grooved longitudinally, and notched
or indented transversely both on their contact surfaces with the rails and with
each other. In jointing rails by these means, the ends being opposite, the lower

page_text: wedge of each side is first placed in position, and then the upper wedge, the inclined
ribbed, grooved, and notched edges being in contact, and the parallel or outer ribbed
or grooved and notched edges being in the longitudinal grooves or about the ribs of
the rails. The wedges being then knocked well together the rail ends are well and
strongly supported by the outer edges of the keys, whilst the latter are prevented
moving sideways or slipping by the ribbing, grooving, and notching of their wedge
or inclined edges. The continuous grooving or ribbing of the rails allows of them
being cut at any part and jointed.
In another modification, also especially applicable to double-headed rails, I adapt
and use in combination with such longitudinally grooved or ribbed rails, and ribbed,
grooved, and notched wedge keys a sheath longitudinally ribbed or grooved, botli
inside and outside, correspondingly with the grooves or ribs of the rails, and of the
outer edges of the wedge keys, the grooved or ribbed sheath being placed between
the rails and the wedge keys, which are tightened up, as in the preceding
modification.
In another modification, especially applicable to T or single-headed rails, the under
part of the head and the upper part of the flange are longitudinally grooved or
ribbed, and the wedge keys are correspondingly ribbed or grooved on their outer
edges, and ribbed, grooved, and notched on their inclined or contact surfaces, as
above. The lower key however is continued down either so as to encircle the
flange of the rail, or is flanged and turned outwardly so that it can be spiked to the
sleeper, and act (in the latter case) as a compound rail joint and chair.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Amos Joseph Acaster in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
June 1877.
AMOS JOSEPH ACASTER, of the Princess Works, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAIL JOINTS FOR RAILWAYS."
This Invention relates to certain useful and effective improvements in rail joints
for railways, and has for its principal object the provision of a strong self-locking
elastic joint, which will allow of the jointed ends of the rails being securely tightened
up, and will cause them to deflect equally at the approach of an engine or train.
The Invention is illustrated on the accompanying Drawings in Figures 1 to 4
(Sheet 1), and in various modifications of its application in Figures 5 to 16
(Sheet 2)
The principle of this Invention consists in the application and use, for the purposo
of jointing and supporting the ends of rails, of improved wedge keys, which are
made of steel, wrought iron, or other suitable metal of a peculiar and special form or
shapo.
The Invention may be practically adapted to the rails of railways in various
methods or ways, some of the most advantageous of which I will now describe.
One of these modifications consists in the use in combination of longitudinally
grooved or ribbed rails, with longitudinally ribbed or grooved wedge-shaped keys,
which are transversely notched, indented, or roughened (preferentially by machinery)
on their contact surfaces both with the rails and with each other. This modification
is illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 to 8.on the accompanying Drawings.
A second of these modifications consists in the use in combination with such
longitudinally grooved or ribbed rails, and ribbed or grooved and transversely
notched, indented, or roughened wedge-shaped keys of a sheath longitudinally
ribbed or grooved, both inside and outside, correspondingly with the grooves or ribs
and of the outer edges of the wedge keys, the sheath being placed between the rails
and the wedge keys. This modification is illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 4, and 9
to 12

page_text: A third of these modifications consists in a similar combination to that referred
to under the first modification, with the exception that the lower key is continued
down so as to encircle the lower head or flange of the rail, and is flanged outwardly,
so that it can be spiked to a sleeper, and act as a compound rail joint and chair.
This modification is illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 13 to 16.
These modifications are illustrated as adapted to double-headed grooved rails in
Figures 5, 9, and 13; as adapted to single-headed ribbed rails in Figures 6, 10, and
14; as adapted to grooved Trails in Figures 7, 11, and 15; and as adapted to
ribbed Trails in Figures 8, 12, and 10.
Figures 5, 9, and 13 will serve also as illustrations of these modifications as
adapted to single-headed grooved mails; and Figures 6, 10, and 14, as illustrations
of these modifications as adapted to double headed ribbed rails, without necessitating
separate illustrations.
It is evident that these improvements may be equally well adapted to rails of
other sections, and the Invention may also be equally well adapted in other modifi-
cations than those above described, and of which a short description without illus-
trations will suffice, as the illustrations of the preceding modifications render the
Invention completely intelligible.
The modifications just above referred to differ only from that described in the
third modification in that the lower keys are continued down and formed as one
sheath, so as to encircle the lower head or flange of the rail, or are formed as
separate half sheaths, so as to partly encircle it, or are each continued from the
lower head straight down for a short distance without being formed with the out-
ward flanges.
The peculiar or specially characteristic feature of this Invention (and I have
found it to be a most material and important feature) is illustrated in Figures 1 to
4, Sheet 1, and consists in specially notching, indenting, or roughening (preferentially
by machinery) all contact or bearing faces of the wedge-shaped keys, by which
means they are enabled to obtain a firmer or more secure hold of the rail or sheath
and of each other, and are prevented loosening or slipping endways (as in keys or
wedges of other makes), and without which special notching, indenting, or roughening
the said wedge keys are comparatively useless, as from their nature they have a
constant tendency to slip in the direction of the loosening of the wodge keys when
the joint is subjected to the jar arising from the passing over it of engines or
vehicles.
On all the Figures of the accompanying Drawings each of the following letters
and figures of reference refers to a similar part, and respectively represent the parts
following (that is to say) :-1 represents the rails; 2, the sheath; 3, the wedges; 4,
the wedge chairs; 5, the grooves in the said rails; 6, the ribs thereon; 7, the ribs
on the wedges or wedge chairs; 8, the grooves therein; 9, the grooves in the
sheath; 10, the ribs thereon; 11, grooves in the inclined faces of the lower wedges;
12, ribs on the inclined faces of the upper wedges, which engage in the grooves 11,
and prevent the wedges moving sideways; 13, the usual spikes for securing the
wedge chairs to the sleepers; 14, the inclined and contact faces of the wedges; 15,
the peculiar notches, indentations, or roughenings thereof; 16, the parallel rail
contact faces of the wedges; 17, the peculiar notches, indentations, or roughenings
thereof; and 18, the rail ends.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of Figure 10; Figure 2, a similar view of
Figure 5; Figure 3, a plan view of the parallel rail contact faces 16 of the wedges;
and Figure 4, a similar view of the inclined contact faces 14 thereof.
Figures 1 to 4 are drawn one-half full size, but Figures 5 to 16 are drawn full
size; the latter Figures are all cross sections, but the section lines are not shown, as
they would only serve to render the illustrations less clear of comprehension.
With reference to Figures 2 and 5 to 8, in jointing the rails, the ends thereof
being brought opposite the lower wedge of each side, is first placed in position, and
then the upper edge, the inclined ribbed, grooved, and notched edges (14) being in
contact, and the parallel or outer ribbed or grooved and notched edges (16) being in

page_text: the longitudinal grooves or about the ribs of the rails, the wedges being then well
knocked together endways, the rail ends are well and strongly supported by the
outer edges of the keys, whilst the latter are prevented moving sideways or slipping
endways by the ribbing, grooving, and special notching, indenting, or roughening of
their wedge or inclined edges.
With reference to Figures 1 and 9 to 12 the rail ends are first placed within the
sheath, and then the wedges are applied to the sheath in the same manner they are
to the rails, as immediately above described; and with reference to Figures 13 to 16
the rail ends are first inserted into the wedge chairs, and then the upper wedges are
applied, and well knocked in.
The faces of the wedges when finely indented (or equivalently serrated, cross, or
diamond cut) and tightly driven in make a secure self-locking clastic joint, which
will stand until the rail is so worn as to be unfit for further use.
The ribbing of the rails may he continuous throughout their length, so as to allow
of them being cut at any part and jointed. The grooving of the rails may also be
continuous if desired, but it should preferably be effected only at their ends. The
grooving of the rails is effected by means of a grooving machine, or it may be effected
by hand with an ordinary grooving tool or instrument.
From the application of these improvements the following important advantages
are attained in addition to those above enumerated:-All necessity for nuts and
bolts and for drilling or punching holes in the webs of the rails is dispensed with,
and thus the number and weight of the parts required is much lessened, and the
cost of jointing materially reduced, in addition to the joint being rendered more
effective, and almost as strong as if the rails were continuous.
Having now fully described the nature and object of my said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention,―
First. The construction or formation, and the application and use for the purpose
of jointing and supporting the ends of railway rails, of steel, wrought iron, or other
suitable metal wedge keys, longitudinally ribbed or grooved, and specially trans-
versely notched, indented, or roughened on their contact surfaces both with the rails
or sheath and with each other, substantially as herein-before described and as illus-
trated on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The jointing and supporting the ends of rails in the modes herein-above
described and illustrated in Figures 9 to 16 on Sheet 2 of the accompanying
Drawings, in all of which the wedges used are specially transversely notched,
indented, or roughened on their contact surfaces, both with the rails or sheath and
with each other.
In witness whereof, I, the said Amos Joseph Acaster, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
BRISTOW HUNT,
Solicitor and Patent Agent,
5, Serle Street,
Lincoln's Inn.
A. J. ACASTER. (LS.)