IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILROAD SPIKES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILROAD SPIKES." Α'
communication from abroad by David Servis, Accountant; Charles Francis.
Sturtevant, Manufacturer; and Corydon Horace Merriman, Accountant; all of
the City, County, and State of New York, in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th July 1878.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN RAILROAD SPIKES." A communication from abroad by David Servis,
Accountant; Charles Francis Sturtevant, Manufacturer; and Corydon Horace
Merriman, Accountant; all of the City, County, and State of New York, in the
United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to produce a railroad spike, with means to prevent
the same from working loose in the ties, of such a construction that the resistance
of the wood will not be destroyed or the ends of the fibre crushed or broken by the
driving or withdrawal of the spike, allowing the spike to be redriven in the same
hole the second and third time with but a slightly diminished adhesion, and the
Invention therein consists mainly in providing the spike with a ridge of upwardly-
pointing notches or barbs, and on each side of this ridge of notches with a groove,
which compresses the ends of the fibre against the notches to increase the holding
power of the spike in the wood; second, in making such notches wider at their
lower ends than at their upper termination, so that as the spike is driven the fibre
will be compressed gradually; and further, in the peculiar construction of the grooves
and notches, the ridge of notches extending centrally down one side of the spike from
near the head of the same to near the point thereof, and being of angular shape,
and the grooves also of angular form, running down one on each side of the ridge
of notches, and gradually widening towards the point of the spike.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th January 1879.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harriss and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN RAILROAD SPIKES." A communication from abroad by David Servis,
Accountant; Charles Francis Sturtevant, Manufacturer; and Corydon Horace
Merriman, Accountant; all of the City, County, and State of New York, in: the
United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to produce a railroad spike, with means to prevent
the same from working loose in the ties, of such a construction that the resistance
of the wood will not be destroyed or the ends of the fibre crushed or broken by the
driving or withdrawal of the spike, allowing the spike to be redriven in the same
hole the second and third time with but a slightly diminished adhesion, and the
Invention therein consists mainly in providing the spike with a ridge of upwardly-
pointing notches or barbs, and on each side of this ridge of notches, with a groove
which compresses the ends of the fibre against the notches to increase the holding
power of the spike in the wood; second, in making such notches wider at their
lower ends than at their upper termination, so that as the spike is driven the fibre
will be compressed gradually; and further, in the peculiar construction of the
grooves and notches, the ridge of notches extending centrally down one side of the
spike from near the head of the same to near the point thereof, and being of
angular shape, and the grooves, also of angular form, running down one on each
side of the ridge of notches, and gradually widening towards the point of the
spike.
And in order that the said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more fully
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a railroad spike with the Invention applied
thereto; Figure 2, an elevation of the back of the same; and Figure 3, a cross
section on the line x, x, in Figure 2, looking downwardly.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all three Figures.
A represents the body of the spike of any ordinary or convenient form, and a the
head. These parts are shown of the most common form, the body being of general
rectangular shape in cross section with a flattened point b, and the head projecting
principally on one side of the body, but the Invention is applicable to spikes of
other constructions and designed for use for other purposes than railroad spikes, as
well as to bolts and nails.
Preferably on the back of the spike is a ridge of notches or barbs B, with points
tending towards the head a, and extending centrally down such back from a point
a short distance below the head, and terminating at the lower end of the spike,
where it is bevelled to form the point b. This ridge of notches is preferably of an
inverted V shape, as shown in the Drawing, and the top of the same is preferably
about even with the edges of the spike.
On each side of the notches B the spike is grooved out to form two annular
grooves C, C', extending the same distance as the ridge of notches, and running out
into the bevelled point. These grooves are preferably of V shape, and are of
tapering form, being smaller at the top than at the bottom, as may also be the
ridge of notches. The grooves C, C¹, are made so as not to destroy the general
shape of the spike, leaving flanges c, c', on their outer edges, which form the corners
of the spike, these flanges, in accordance with the tapering shape of the grooves,

page_text: being the widest at the upper ends of the grooves, and being bevelled almost to an
edge just above the point.
It is evident that the grooves and notches can be on one of the sides or the face
of the spike, and that they can be of curved instead of angular shape, so long as
they act to compress the ends of the fibre.
In use the spike is driven as usual, and, entering the wood, the ends of the fibre
will be divided by the grooves, and be gradually compressed against the notched
ridge till the maximum holding power is obtained. This compression is accom-
plished without breaking the fibre.
When the spike is being drawn the flanges c, c¹, protect the wood, holding the
fibre that comes in contact with the notches firmly in place, giving support and
strength to the resistance of the wood and preventing the fibre from breaking and
the wood from splitting. After the spike is removed the hole nearly closes up,
leaving the resistance of the wood but slightly impaired, and allowing the spike to
be redriven two or three times in the same hole with but a slight diminution of
its holding power.
In railroad spikes the strain of the rail under the head a forces the notches into
a position of the greatest possible resistance, while in drawing the spike from the
back in the usual way the notches will be forced in a measure out of contact with
the ends of the fibre.
It has been found that the spike is practically immovable when the strain is
brought to bear under the head, while a comparatively slight leverage applied to the
back will draw it from the wood without injury to the fibre. Any pressure or
strain exerted from the rail only sets the barbs against the downwardly pressed
ends of the fibre and "locks" the spike; by lifting from the opposite side the
points are relieved and the spike "unlocked."
From the great holding power of this spike a smaller number of railroad ties
need be used, and most of the expense of redriving railroad spikes can be
saved.
Although it is preferred to make the grooves of the widening form shown, still
it is evident that they can be constructed of the same width throughout without
departing from the spirit of this Invention.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the mode in which
the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,-
First. A spike provided with a ridge of upwardly-tending notches and a groove.
on each side of the said notches, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. A spike provided with a ridge of notches and a groove on each side of
such notches, said grooves widening gradually in a downward direction; substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. The body A of the spike, having head a and bevelled point b, and pro-
vided with notches B and grooves C, C¹, constructed and arranged substantially as
described and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.