Improvements in Rail-joints.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by WHEELER RAIL-JOINT COMPANY, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of New York, and located in the City
and County of New York, in said State of New York, United States of
America.]
Improvements in Rail-joints.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 rail-joints hereinafter described, reference being made
to the accompanying drawing forming part of this Specification, and in which
Figure 1, represents a perspective view of one form which a rail-joint constructed
in accordance with this invention may assume, this being a tie-joint.
Figure 2, a view thereof in transverse section on the line a-b of Figure 1.
Figure 3, a plan view of the chair of the joint with the draw-clamp and rail-ends
removed.
Figure 4, a detached plan view of the draw-clamp in position to be applied to
the chair.
Figure 5, a similar reverse view of the clamp.
Figure 6, a view of the chair in central longitudinal section on the line x-x of
Fig. 3.
Figure 7, a view in horizontal section of the device on the line z-z of Fig. 2.
Figure 8, a view in end elevation of one of the modified forms which the improved
device may assume.
This invention relates to an improvement in rail-joints, the object being to
produce a simple, durable, and effective device, composed of few parts, adapted to
grip the rail-ends firmly, and to sustain its hold upon them for a long period
without attention.
With these ends in view, the invention consists in the construction as will be
hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim.
As shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive of the drawing, this improved device has a
flat bottomed chair A, having a solid or jointless seat a, corresponding in width to
the full width of the rail-ends B B', which rest upon it, and extending throughout
the center of its upper face. The said chair is further constructed with a longi-
tudinal flange A', located on one side of the said seat a, and overhanging the same,
and having transverse ribs a¹ to increase its strength, the said flange A being
adapted to fit over the adjacent edges of the bases of the rail-ends, and against the
adjacent faces of the webs thereof. A tapering longitudinal groove A², formed in
the upper face of the chair on the opposite side of the seat a aforesaid from the
flange A', has its inner wall under-cut to extend under the said seat a, and hence
under the base of the rail-ends when the same are in position on the chair, as
clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The tapering form of the groove is
produced by inclining its outer wall inward, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3
of the drawing. The said groove is designed to receive a tapering rib C, formed
upon the under face, and extending throughout the length of a draw-clamp C¹,
which is constructed to fit over the adjacent edges of the bases of the rail-ends,
and against the adjacent faces of the webs thereof, being thereto provided with an
overhanging flange C³, reinforced by transverse ribs c. It will be seen by reference

page_text: to Fig. 2 of the drawings, that above its rib C, the said draw-clamp corresponds in
general form to the flange A¹ of the chair. The tapering form of the rib Ċ of the
clamp is produced, as shown by Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, by inclining its
outer edge inward. When the draw-clamp is applied to the chair, the narrow end
of its tapering rib is entered into the narrow end of the groove A², therein, and as
it is driven into its place, it will be positively forced inward, whereby the rail-ends
will be moved laterally toward the flange A' of the chair, and drawn down upon
the seat of the same until all play is taken up and they are rigidly held within the
rail-joint by inward pressure upon their webs, and by downward pressure upon their
bases. The inward pressure upon the webs of the rail ends is derived directly from
the inward movement of the draw-clamp, while the downward pressure upon the
bases of the rail ends results from it, the inclined lower portions of the bearing
faces of the two flanges crowding down upon the bevelled faces of the bases of the
rail-ends. It will be noted that a very large portion of the surfaces of the rail ends
is subjected to the clamping action of the improved joint, larger it is believed than
in any joint heretofore constructed. This equalizes the strain upon the rail-ends,
and obviously promotes the efficiency of the joint. Particular attention is called to
the fact that the flanges of the chair and clamp not only have a clamping action as
above described, but also a trussing or reinforcing action, for inasmuch as they
extend throughout the length of the joint and are located above the bottom of the
chair, they will act as compression trusses to resist downward pressure upon the
joint tending to bend it longitudinally. This is a very important function of
the flanges.
The transverse ribs a' formed upon the outer face of the flange A' of the chair,
and the transverse.ribs c formed upon the outer face of the flange C2 of the draw-
clamp, greatly stiffen the same against those lateral thrusts which are communicated
to the joint by lateral thrusts upon the rail-ends. This construction gives therefore
great strength, and is lighter than a solid construction, and therefore more desirable
and also requires less metal, making it less expensive. It will be noticed by
reference to Fig. 1, that the upper surface of the grooved edge of the chair is
constructed with a series of short transverse ribs a², arranged so as to align with the
ribs c of the flange of the draw-clamp. These ribs a² have the same function of
securing stiffness without increasing the joint too much in weight.
When the draw-clamp is in position on the chair, as shown by Fig. 2 of the
drawings, the inner edge of its rib extends under the bases of the rail-ends, so that
the same virtually forms a purchase for the clamp in preventing the same from
being turned upon its under-cut rib, and rolled outward away from the rail-ends.
It will be noted, however, that the rib of the draw-clamp although extending under
the bases of the rail-ends is not directly engaged therewith, so that in case the
clamp should be turned upon the rib and rolled outward away from the rail-ends,
the same would not be tilted or disturbed thereby. This action is further resisted
by constructing the chair with an inwardly inclined seat a³ and the edge of the
clamp with a corresponding bearing face c, respectively located outside of and
parallel with the groove A2 of the chair and the rib C of the clamp.
In order to prevent the rails from creeping, the flange A¹ of the chair is
provided with two inwardly projecting pins D D, which are arranged so as to take
into the holes b and 6' formed in the respective rail-ends B B', the said holes being
the holes which are formed in all rails of the same size and at the same place to
receive the bolts used in connection with the splice-bars ordinarily employed for
coupling rails. The taking of the said pins into the said holes is clearly indicated
in Fig. 7 of the drawing.
If desired the flange A' formed integral with the chair, may be dispensed with,
and a draw-clamp used in its place corresponding to the clamp C₁ already
described, but constructed to be driven in the opposite direction. Such a con-
struction is shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, in which a chair E, having a solid
or jointless seat e for the bases of the rail-ends is furnished with two draw-clamps F
and F.

page_text: It will be noticed that the bottoms of the ribs f and f' of these clamps are at
different elevations, indicating that the clamps are constructed to be driven in.
opposite directions.
Although, as herein shown, the invention is represented as applied to a "tie-
joint" which is a joint designed to be placed upon a railway tie, the invention is
equally applicable to the construction of suspension joints, which are suspended, so
to speak, between two ties. Nor is it necessary that the flanges which impinge
against the webs of the rail-ends be continuous, for, if preferred, they may be
broken into fingers, as indicated by Fig. 1, which shows a flange having what
might be called a deeply indented edge, the elevated points of which are the-
terminations of the transverse ribs employed to stiffen it. Furthermore, so far as
the clamping of the rail ends by their webs is concerned, it is not necessary that the
chair should have a solid or jointless seat, though that construction is always.
preferred.
It is well known that it is old to adapt rail-joints to impinge against the
respective faces of the webs of the rail-ends, and also that a rail-joint having its
chair constructed with a longitudinal groove and having a draw-clamp constructed
with a rib adapted to enter the groove is old, neither of these constructions
therefore are broadly claimed.
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 correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a rail-joint, a chair having a solid or jointless seat corresponding in width.
to the full width of the bases of the rail ends which rest upon it and constructed in
its upper face with a longitudinal groove, the inner wall whereof is under-cut to
extend under the said seat, in combination with a draw-clamp having upon its
lower face a rib shaped to extend into the said under-cut portion of the groove, the
said chair and clamp being constructed to impose inward-pressure upon the webs of
the rail-ends and downward pressure upon the bases thereof, substantially as set
forth, and whereby the rail-ends are rigidly held in place.
2. In a rail-joint, a chair having a solid or jointless seat corresponding in width
to the full width of the bases of the rail-ends which rest upon it, and constructed
in its.upper face with a longitudinal groove, the inner wall whereof is under-cut to
extend under the said seat, in combination with a draw-clamp having upon its
lower face a rib shaped to extend into the said under-cut portion of the groove,.
substantially as set forth, and whereby the clamp takes a bearing under the
said seat, and hence under the bases of the rail-ends, but not directly against
the same.
3. In a rail-joint, a chair having a solid or jointless seat corresponding in width
to the full width of the bases of the rail-ends which rest upon it, a longitudinal
flange extending over the said seat from one side thereof, and constructed to.
impinge against the webs of the rail-ends, and a longitudinal groove located on the
opposite side of the seat from the said flange, and under-cut to extend under the
said seat; in combination with a draw-clamp having a flange adapted to impinge
against the adjacent faces of the webs of the rail-ends, and a rib shaped to enter
the said groove and to extend into the under-cut portion thereof, substantially as
set forth, and whereby the clamp takes a bearing under the said seat, and hence
under the bases of the rail-ends but not directly against the same.
4. In a rail-joint, the combination with a chair provided with a longitudinal
flange adapted to take a bearing against the adjacent faces of the webs of the rail-
ends, and furnished with two inwardly projecting pins to take into holes formed in
the rail-ends for preventing the rails from "creeping," of a clamp applied to the
upper face of the chair on the opposite side thereof from the said flange, for binding
the rail-ends in place, and furnished with a flange to impinge against the adjacent.
faces of the webs of the same, substantially as described.
5. In a rail-joint, a chair having a solid or jointless seat corresponding in width

page_text: to the full width of the bases of the rail-ends which rest upon it, and a longitudinal
flange overhanging one side of the said seat, adapted to take a bearing against the
adjacent faces of the webs of the rail-ends, constructed upon its inner face to
positively engage the same to prevent the rails from "creeping," and having its
outer face reinforced by transverse ribs, and the said chair being also constructed
with a longitudinal groove located on the opposite side of the seat from the said
flange, and under-cut to extend under the said seat; in combination with a draw-
clamp adapted to be applied to the upper face of the chair upon the opposite side
of the seat from the flange thereof, constructed with a flange adapted to impinge
against the adjacent faces of the webs of the rail-ends, reinforced by transverse
ribs, and provided with a rib shaped to enter and occupy the said groove,
substantially as set forth, and whereby the clamp takes a bearing under the said
seat, and hence under the bases of the rail-ends, but not directly against the
same.
This outh J of Mah 100.1
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.