Improvements in Sleepers and in Securing Rails thereto.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1897-Accepted, 28th Aug., 1897
COMPLETE DI BUIT
Improvements in Sleepers and in Securing Rails thereto.
I, BENJAMIN FERRISS, foreman, of Hamburg Avenue, Deckertown, in the County
of Sussex, and State of New Jersey, one of the United States of America, 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 improvements in metallic ties or sleepers for
railroad rail joints, and also to a peculiar construction of fastening by which the
rails are secured, the object being to provide, in a simple and inexpensive manner,
a fastening which shall be easily and quickly applied, and which may be adjusted
to block up the track in winter time, rendering the whole much safer, and
preventing the destruction of the spikes.
The invention comprises certain novel features of construction and arrangement
of parts; whereby the above and other important advantages are attained, and
whereby it is made simpler and otherwise better adapted for the purposes for
which it is intended, as will be hereinafter fully described and specifically defined
in the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a tie or sleeper constructed in accordancé
with my invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof.
Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the spike used in connection with my
invention, to secure the rail to the tie or sleeper.
Similar reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of
the drawing.
1 represents my improved metallic tie or sleeper which is shown as a rectangular
box arranged to lie transversely of the rail, being provided with openings 2 to
receive within them spikes 3.
The box 1 is provided with transverse walls 4 which lie adjacent to the openings 2
and form a substantial bearing surface for the spikes when in place therein, and
the spikes are provided with a series of teeth which extend along the opposite side
thereof, to engage with a spring latch 5 arranged within a pocket 6 located at one
side of the box 1. The latch 5 is beveled at one end and engages the teeth of the
spikes 3, and the opposite extremity is reduced to receive a spring 7, and which
normally keeps the latch pressed forward into engagement with the teeth of the
spikes.
The box 1 is provided with an opening 8 directly above the pocket 6, and the
purpose of this opening is to permit of any convenient tool or other implement
being inserted to engage a depression within the latch, and thus withdraw it from
engagement with the teeth of the spikes and admit of its ready removal.
In practice, the boxes are arranged transversely of the rail, and are securely
embedded in the ballast, after which the rails are placed in their proper position

page_text: thereon and the spikes inserted within the openings 2, whereupon the spring
latches engage with the teeth thereof and securely hold the rails in place.
At curved sections of the tracks, I prefer to use a plate 9 which I screw to the
box 1 in such a manner that one edge of the said plate will bear against the
flange of the rail, and thus prevent a lateral movement thereof.
It will thus be seen that my invention provides, in a simple and inexpensive
manner, a railroad rail joint which may be quickly and easily applied in securing
the rails in place, which does away with the use of driven spikes, an operation
difficult to accomplish in cold weather, and which permits of the easy and quick
blocking up of the track in winter time, as will be readily obvious to those skilled
in the art.
T
Modifications may be made without departing from the essential features of my
invention, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise
details of construction herein shown and described, but reserve the right to make
such changes and alterations therein as may fairly fall within the spirit and scope.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A railroad rail tie comprising a box having openings therein to receive the
spikes, said spikes being provided with a series of teeth, and spring latches adapted
to engage said teeth, substantially as described.
2. A railroad rail tie comprising a box having openings arranged therein, spikes
engaging the flanges of the rail and being provided with a series of teeth, and
spring latches adapted to engage the teeth of said spikes and prevent the removal
thereof, substantially as described.
3. A railroad rail tie comprising a box having transverse walls, openings and
pockets arranged therein, toothed spikes adapted to said openings, spring latches
to engage the teeth of said spikes and preventing the removal thereof, said latches
being provided with depressions to receive a tool or other implement to withdraw
the latch from engagement with the teeth, substantially as described.
4. A railroad rail tie comprising a box having transverse walls, openings and
pockets arranged therein, toothed spikes adapted to said openings, and latches
arranged in said pockets, one end being beveled to engage the teeth of the spikes,
and the other end reduced to receive a spring, said latches being provided with
depressions to receive a tool or other implement to withdraw the latch from
engagement with the teeth substantially as described.
Dated this 19th day of July 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.