AN IMPROVED FISHI PLATE FOR RAILS OR MEANS OF CONNECTING THE ENDS OF RAILS TOGETHER
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martyn John Roberts, of the City of Bath, Esquire, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED FISHI PLATE FOR RAILS OR MEANS OF
CONNECTING THE ENDS OF RAILS TOGETHER."
"
Sealed the 23rd September 1876, and dated the 31st March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Martyn John Roberts at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st March 1876.
MARTYN JOHN ROBERTS, of the City of Bath, Esquire. "AN IMPROVED FISHI
PLATE FOR RAILS OR MEANS OF CONNECTING THE ENDS OF RAILS TOGETHER."
My Invention has reference to what are known as fish plates or fish joints and
my object is to construct these in such manner as to entirely prevent all lateral and
vertical deflection of the rails. This I effect by bolting the said plates immovably
to the rails and doing away with the oblong bolt holes or slots usually made
therein to allow for the contraction and expansion of the same. My improved fish
plates are so made that any longitudinal movement of the rails is taken up by the
fish plates themselves instead of being compensated for by the oblong holes as in
the ordinary way. For this purpose 1 manufacture the plates from Bessemer iron
or other metal possessing the requisite elasticity and with one or more loops, V's or
U's, on their outer face, so as to act as a sort of hinge which will allow the plates to
become elongated or contracted to an extent corresponding with the contraction or
expansion of the rails. Sometimes instead of using a fish plate having a V or U,
and availing myself of the simple elasticity of the metal, I use in place of this a
hinge of the common form, but prefer the solid bending of the plate with the
V or U on its face as before described.
Sometimes also I place a stop at or near the apex of the V or Ụ for the purpose
of preventing any lateral or sidelong motion of the V or U portion of the plate;
this stop may be fixed to the sleeper or other solid support.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Martyn John Roberts in the Great Seal Patent Office on tho
29th September 1876.
MARTYN JOHN ROBERTS, of the City of Bath, Esquire. "AN IMPROVED FISH
PLATE FOR RAILS, OR MEANS OF CONNECTING THE ENDS OF RAILS TOGETHER.'
[Price Adl
"

page_text: My Invention has reference to what are known as fish plates or fish joints, and
my object is to construct these in such manner as to entirely prevent all lateral
and vertical deflection of the rails. This I effect by bolting the said plates immov-
ably to the rails and doing away with the oblong bolt holes or slots usually made
therein to allow for the contraction and expansion of the rails. My improved fish
plates are so made that any longitudinal movement of the rails is taken up by the
fish plates themselves instead of being compensated for by the oblong holes as in the
ordinary way. For this purpose I manufacture the plates from Bessemer iron or
other metal possessing the requisite elasticity and with one or more loops, V's or U's,
on their outer face so as to act as a sort of hinge which will by its or their flexure
allow the plates to adapt themselves to the changing lengths of the rails. Some-
times instead of using a fish plate having a V or U and availing myself of the
simple elasticity of the metal I use in place of this a hinge of the common form
but I prefer the solid bending of the plate with the V or U on its face as before
described.
Sometimes also I place a stop at or near the apex of the V or U for the purpose
of preventing any lateral or sidelong motion of the V or U portion of the plate;
this stop may be fixed to the sleeper or other solid support.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings is an elevation; Figure 2, a plan; and Figure 3,
n transverse section shewing a pair of my fish plates applied to rails of the Vignoles
form. A, A; are the rails and B, B, are the fish plates having each a U (B1, B¹,) as
and for the purpose before stated. C, C, are the bolts, the bolt holes in the rails
A, A, being made round to fit the bolts instead of oblong as heretofore.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are respectively an elevation, a plan, and a transverse section
showing my fish plates applied to double headed rails, the fish plate having V's
(B, B) instead of the U's shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3. 1), D, Figure 5, represent
stops in the form of spikes or pins which may be used at each side of the V and
driven into the sleeper or other solid support to prevent lateral motion of the V
portion of the fish plate.
And, having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, constructing fish plates for
rails substantially as herein-before described and represented in the annexed
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Martyn John Roberts, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six.
MARTYN J. ROBERTS. (L.S.)