An Improved Fastening for Bolts, more especially applicable to the Fish Joints of Railways and Tramways.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fastening for Bolts, more especially applicable to the
Fish Joints of Railways and Tramways.
A communication to me from JOSEPH MOREWOOD DowSETT, of Stoney Creek,
Palmerston North, in the Provincial District of Wellington, in the Colony of
New Zealand, Settler.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
London, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, 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:-
The objects of my invention are to provide a more ready and efficient means of
fastening bolts, more especially suitable for purposes in which the bolts are
permanently screwed up and are not required to be removed as is the case in the
fish joints of the permanent way of railways and tramways.
It is well known that in such structures the fish joints are generally secured by
bolts and nuts and that attempts have been made to prevent these from becoming
loose by locked nuts or some form of nut lock or spring washer but in all cases the
great vibration caused by the passage of heavy engines and trains tends to loosen
the bolts so that a staff of men are constantly employed in examining and fastening
them.
Now by my invention the usual nuts and spanners may be dispensed with and a
simple key substituted which is so formed that when driven down it tightens the
fish plate and its return is effectually prevented except when driven by a sledge
hammer in the opposite direction in which case it is released by cutting through the
metal opposed to it.
In order that my invention may be better understood it is illustrated in the
annexed drawings in which,-
Figure 1. is a side view of the ends of a pair of rails with ordinary fish plates
attached by my improved fastening.
Figure 2. is an end view of the same.
Figure 3. is a plan of the fish plate bolt.
Figure 4. is a side view of the wedge.
Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts in all the figures.
a a. are the ends of two ordinary rails having the usual four fish bolt
holes "a etc."
66
b b. are the fish plates with the usual oblong holes, "b¹ etc." corresponding to
those in the rails "a."
c. are the fish bolts having slots "c" and the usual head "."
d d. are washers.
e. is a wedge made in a curved form (by preference) so as to fit to the rail more
readily and also to be in the most suitable form and position for driving; these
wedges I make of tempered steel and they are formed on their inner edge with
teeth "e" as shewn in "Figure 4" so that on being driven down the bolt "e" is
securely and firmly tightened at the same time that the wedge is prevented from
recoiling or being driven back in consequence of the teeth "e" cutting into and
pressing tightly against the washer and also catching against the inside edge of the
washer which securely locks it in its place and the said wedges being driven with a
heavy plate layers hammer the fish joint is made compact and permanently tight.
It will be evident that there may be several modifications in the application of
my principle, for instance the washer may be dispensed with and the wedges made
to press against the fish plate itself, moreover it is possible to make the teeth on the
sides of the key or on the back edge of the same, the key or wedge may also act in

page_text: conjunction with a nut in order to lock and prevent the return of the nut but in all
such modifications my serrated wedge is made use of for firmly fastening and locking
the bolt.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,―
The combination of a serrated wedge or key "e" with bolt "c" having a
slot.""as and for the purposes substantially as described herein and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of October A.D. 1892
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.