Improvements in the Fastenings of Fishplates of Railways and Tramways.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in the Fastenings of Fishplates of Railways and
Tramways.
I, JOSEPH MOREWOOD DOWSETT, of Worple Road, Wimbledon, in the County
of Surrey, Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My present invention relates to that kind of fastenings for the fishplates of
railways and tramways in which the bolts by which the fish-plates are held to-
gether and tightened are provided with keys passing through them, instead of
being screwed and fitted with nuts, the keys being made taper so that the fasten-
ing is effected by simply driving them up, whilst the release of the fishplates is
equally easily effected by driving the keys back, great saving in the time sc
occupied, and in cost, being effected.
My invention has for its object a novel method of making the keys by which
the tightening is effected, and of washers introduced between the fish-plates and
the keys, and against which the latter act, so that whilst the tightening and
loosening of the keys are perfectly easily and quickly effected, it is impossible
for them to become accidentally loose, or to drop out, and at the same time the
washers against which they fit and press are durable and not likely to be injured.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention, Figure 1 being
a side view, and Figure 2 a transverse section, of rails and fishplates fitted with
the improved fastening. Figures 3 and 4 represent (on a larger scale) the washer
or ring against which the key fits. Figure 5 is the key, and Figures 6 and 7
show a modified form of washer or ring.
In order to put my invention in operation, I use the ordinary fishplates a, b,
of suitable size, which fit in the usual way against the sides of the rails c.
The bolts d pass completely through the rails and the fishplates, (suitable pro-
vision being made as usual for the expansion of the rails) and are provided at
one end with a head e, and at the other end with a slot through which the tapered
key f, of sufficient strength, passes freely. g is a ring or washer fitted freely
upon the bolt between the fishplate and the key f. The longitudinal edge of the
key, which abuts against the ring has formed upon it a number of small,
shallow transverse undulations, and the outer face of the ring is provided with
a number of annular grooves, corresponding in shape and distance apart with
the transverse undulations upon the edge of the key, so that when the latter is
driven tightly up, its edge fits in the grooves in the ring and prevents any possi-
bility of its accidentally becoming loose or coming out, whilst at the same time
the depressions or undulations are not sufficiently deep, and are of such a shape as
to allow the key to be driven back with a hammer when required, or to be
tightened further up if necessary.
The washer or ring 7 may he made somewhat elastic, in the manner shown in
Ticures 6 and 7 the ring being of steel and cut through (radially or diagonally).

page_text: at a point of its circumference, and one side of it bent somewhat up as shown,
the key, when driven in, forcing it back to its flat position, whilst its elasticity
serves to prevent any shake or play which might tend to loosen the key.
Instead of the method of construction shown, a separate spring may be arranged
between the fish plate and the ring, or a spring may be formed upon the back of
the ring itself.
By the use of the ring having shallow concentric grooves upon its outer surface,
undulating in cross section, and of the key having transverse grooves of corre-
sponding shape upon one of its edges, the fishplates can be very firmly and
securely drawn together and held, by blows with a hammer, without fear of the
fastening becoming loose, whilst they can be equally easily released when required.
The whole device is simple, cheap, and strong, and easily made and used.
Dated this 5th day of March 1898.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in the Fastenings of Fishplates of Railways and
Tramways.
I, JOSEPH MOREWOOD DOWSETT, of Worple Road, Wimbledon, in the County
of Surrey, Surveyor, 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, and accompanying drawing, that is to say:-
My present invention relates to that kind of fastenings for the fishplates of
railways and tramways in which the bolts by which the fishplates are held
together and tightened are provided with keys passing through them, (instead of
being screwed and fitted with corresponding nuts in the usual way), the keys
being made taper so that the fastening is effected by simply driving them up,
whilst the release of the fishplates is equally easily effected by driving the keys
back, great saving in the time so occupied, and in cost, being effected, whilst the
operations are exceedingly simple.
My invention has for its object a novel method of making the keys by which
the tightening is effected, and of washers introduced between the fish-plates and
the keys, and against which the latter act, so that whilst the tightening and
loosening of the keys are perfectly easily and quickly effected, it is impossible
for them to become accidentally loose, or to drop out, and at the same time the
washers against which they fit and press are durable and not likely to be injured.
The drawing which I lodged with my Provisional Specification is in illustration
of my invention, Figure 1 being a side view, and Figure 2 a transverse section, of
rails and fishplates fitted with the improved fastening. Figures 3 and 4 represent
(on a larger scale) the washer or ring against which the key fits. Figure 5 is
the key, and Figures 6 and 7 show a inodified form of washer or ring.
In order to put my invention in operation, I use the ordinary fishplates a, b,
of suitable size, which fit in the usual way against the sides of the rails c.
The bolts & pass completely through the rails and the fishplates, (suitable pro-
vision being made as usual for the expansion of the rails) and are provided at
one end with a head e, and at the other end with a transverse slot through which
the tapered key f, of sufficient strength, passes freely, the outer edge of the slot

page_text: being tapered to correspond with the tapered outer edge or back of the key.
g is a ring or washer fitted freely upon the bolt between the fishplate and the key f
The longitudinal edge of the "key, which abuts against the ring 9 has formed
upon it a number of small, shallow, transverse undulations, and the outer face
of the ring is provided with a number of annular grooves, corresponding in
shape and distance apart with the transverse undulations upon the edge of the
key, so that when the latter is driven tightly up, its edge fits in the grooves in
the ring and prevents any possibility of its accidentally becoming loose or coming
out, whilst at the same time the depressions or undulations are not sufficiently
deep, and are of such a shape as to allow the key to be driven back with a hammer
when required, or to be tightened further up if necessary.
The washer or ring g may be made somewhat elastic, in the manner shown in
Figures 6 and 7, the ring being of sufficiently elastic steel and cut through
(radially or diagonally), at a point of its circumference, and one side of it being
bent up as shown, more or less, the key, when driven in, forcing it back to its
flat position, whilst its elasticity serves to prevent any shake or play which might
tend to loosen the key.
Instead of the method of construction shown, a separate spring may be arranged
between the fishplate and the ring, or a spring may be formed upon the back of
the ring itself.
By the use of the ring having shallow concentric grooves upon its outer surface,
such grooves forming undulations in cross section, and of the key having trans-
verse grooves or undulations of corresponding shape upon one of its edges, the
fishplate can be very firmly and securely drawn together and held, by blows with
a hammer, without fear of the fastening becoming loose, whilst they can be
equally easily released when required.
The whole device is simple, cheap, and strong, and easily made and used.
I do not confine myself to the precise details of shape, and proportions of the
ring or washer and of the other parts, which may be varied more or less according
to the different conditions and circumstances under which my invention is to be
used, but
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. In fastenings for fishplates of railways and tramways, the bolt passing through
the fishplate and the end of the rail, having a head at one end, and a transverse slot
through it near the other end, the outer end of the slot being tapered, and the key
tapered so as to fit against the tapered end of the slot when driven in, and having
its front edge provided with numerous transverse shallow grooves or undulations,
and the washer or ring fitting freely upon the end of the bolt between the fish-
plate and the inner edge of the key, and having its front or outer surface formed
with concentric shallow grooves or undulations corresponding with those upon
the front edge of the key, all substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated.
2. The method of making the washer, which has the concentric shallow
grooves or undulations upon its front or outer surface, elastic, by making it of
elastic material such as steel, and cutting it through radially or diagonally and
bending it up at one side, substantially as described, and illustrated in Figures 6
and 7.
Doted this 21st doy of Narrambar 1908
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.