Improvements in or relating to Rail Joints for Railways.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 8th Apr., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Rail Joints for Railways.
I, SOLOMON FINK STEVER of Fairfield, Iowa, United States of America,
Farmer and Stock Raiser 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 railway rail joints.
The object of the invention is to supply means for forming a joint for railway
rails, which shall be of such construction as to prevent either up or down movement
of the ends of the rails during the approach or passage of trains, obviating wear,
and wherein loosening may be taken up, producing a practically continuous rail for
the track.
With these objects in view the invention consists in the improved combined
angle-bar and jaw as hereinafter fully described.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my combined angle-bar and jaw the view being
taken from the outer face of the same.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a section of two rails, a portion of a tie, and
my improved angle-bar and jaw in position for use.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing two of my combined angle-bars and jaws in
position to be applied to the ends of adjacent rails illustrating the inner face of one
angle-bar and jaw and the outer face of the other, and
Fig. 4 is a transverse section of a railway-rail with two of my improved angle-
bars and jaws applied thereto.
In these drawings, A. A represent the ends of adjacent rails.
B represents my combined angle-bar and jaw, one of which is designed to be
placed on each side of the rails at their meeting ends. The inner part 6 of the
angle-bar portion fits between the crown of the rail and the flange. To make a
tight fit between the rail and the part b the upper and lower faces of the part 6 are
bevelled to correspond to the incline of the crown and flange. A small space of a
quarter of an inch, more or less, is left, between this part 6 and the shank of the
rail, to permit any wear between the parts being taken up by drawing the two jaws
placed on opposite sides of the rails towards each other.
The jaw portions 62 are formed in one piece, with, or welded to, the angle-bar,
and they are in their general form inclined downward and outward from the side of
the rail. A space of approximately half an inch is left between the under
faces of the jaws when in place. The openings in the jaw portions are tapering
so that as they are forced inward on the flange, they will tightly enclose the same.
The jaws are provided in their depending parts with horizontal openings for the
reception of bolts, the tightening of the nuts thereon serving to draw the jaws
together. The openings for the reception of the bolts are elliptical, permitting the
natural contraction and expansion of the rails. Holes similar in form are provided
in the shanks of the rails and in the angle-bar portion b.
To strengthen the combined angle-bar and jaw at the point where the space
between the ends of the rails occurs, the exterior of the angle-bar and jaw is
provided with a rib b³.
The drawing together of the combined angle-bars and jaws when in position on
the rails, will serve to force the angle-bar portion securely between the crowns of
the rails and the flanges, thus presenting the entire strength of the device to
oppose any up and down motion of the ends of the rails. And this tightening has
the effect of exerting upward pressure on the rails by reason of the inclined form
of the jaw portions.

page_text: I do not wish to limit myself to the specific arrangement described, as the
combined angle-bar and jaw may be placed only upon one side of adjacent rails
with a fishplate or other suitable device, on the other side, secured to the combined
angle-bar and jaw by bolts, or the like."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
An angle-bar adapted to fit into the hollow at the side of two railway-rails
placed end to end, and a jaw of less length than the angle-bar integral with the
same forming a substantially central reinforcement thereto and to be at the place of
juncture of the two rails when the device is in use the jaw being adapted to
enclose the flanges of the two rails at their ends on one side and also bear against
and sustain the under sides of the rails at the joint substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of March 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.