Year: 1888

page_text: We, JAMES MARTIN PRICE, of Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia, and
State of Pennsylvania, and BENJAMIN HEAD LIGHTFOOT, of Pittsburgh, in the
County of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
gentlemen, 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 invention herein relates to certain improvements in that class of rail joints
known as "continuous tread," wherein the ends of adjacent rails overlap each other
in a horizontal plane, thereby ensuring the bearing on or engagement of the car
wheel with the end of one rail, before it has left the rear end of the preceding rail.
It is necessary in this class of rail joints that the overlapping ends of the rails should
be held firmly together not only horizontally, but also vertically. For this purpose
resort has heretofore been had to bolts passing through the rails, but these bolts,
while effective in holding the overlapping ends together horizontally and also to a
certain extent vertically, are objectionable for the reason that when the nuts are
screwed on sufficiently tight to hold the rails together, they prevent the rails from
moving with desirable freedom when expanded or contracted by changes in
temperature; and further they are subjected to severe shearing strains by the
independent movements of the overlapping rail ends. This latter objection is,
however, entirely obviated in the construction of rail joints shown in the drawings
wherein independent vertical movement of the overlapping ends is prevented by the
engagement of ribs or grooves on the inner face of one rail and with complementary
grooves or ribs on the inner face of the other rail end. It will be readily understood
that, having ensured a unison of movement of the two parts or elements of the joint,
comparatively little force or power will be required to hold said ends together hori-
zontally, a tendency to such movements being to a great extent prevented by the
spikes bolding the rails on the cross-ties.
The object of the invention herein is to provide means whereby the overlapping
ends of such continuous tread" joints will be held together in such manner as to
permit the ends to move freely as expanded or contracted by changes in temperature,
while ensuring the engagement of the devices employed for preventing independent

page_text: vertical movement of such ends. In general terms the invention consists in the
construction and combination of elements all as more fully hereinafter described and
.claimed.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a railroad joint embodying
our invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof on the line - Fig. 5; Fig. 3
is a view of the inner face of one end of a rail; Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modifi-
cation thereof; Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line c Fig. 6; Fig. 6 is an
underside view of the joint showing the manner of securing the clamps together;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of our improved joint showing a modification of the
clamp Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line y-y Fig. 7, and Figs. 9 and 10 are
views similar to Fig, 8, of modifications of the clamp shown in Fig. 7.
In the practice of our invention the ends of the rails A, are swaged or pressed
aside forming tongues B, whose inner faces coincide or approximately so with the
longitudinal axis of the rails,, whereby when the tongues of adjacent rails are placed
together they form a tread of a width corresponding to the normal width of rail
treads.
On the inner faces of the tongues B. of each of the rails are formed broad and flat
ribs or projections C, and grooves D, of corresponding shape, which extend the
longitudinal direction of the rails, and are located at or about the centre of the inner
faces of the tongues of the rails, their disposition being such that the rib or projection
of one rail enters the groove of the opposite rail, it being noticed that the grooves
are of greater length than the ribs or projections, whereby the latter are permitted to
play in the former during the expansion and contraction of the rails.
The wall of each groove joins the adjacent rib, and each tongue of the rail has one
rib or projection and a groove; but the number of the same may be increased as
desired.
It will be seen that the ribs or projections and grooves are preferably equidistant,
or approximately so from the top and bottom, or heads and bases of the tongues B,
of the rails, and occupy the centres of said ends, thus avoiding material reduction of
the strength of the rails.
The engagement of the ribs or projections and grooves upon the contiguous rail
ends, prevents the possibility of vertical motion in either rail upon the other, and the
concussion or pounding incident to the ordinary forms of rail joint, is effectually
avoided.
It will also be seen that when the rails expand, the outer ends of the ribs or
projections firmly abut against the walls of the inner ends of the grooves, and when
the rails contract the inner ends of the ribs or projections firmly abut against each
other, thus limiting the degree of expansion and contraction of the rails, and preventing
creeping of the rails to any material extent, whereby a reliable, safe, strong and
durable rail joint is produced.
In Fig. 4, I show the rib or projection and groove of each rail separated by a
wall D which is flush with the metal not occupied by the rib or projection and groove,
and contains the opening for the passage of the securing bolt when the latter is
desired. In either case the rib or projection and groove are broad, flat and
rectangular.
In order to couple the ends of the rails, and prevent lateral separation thereof,
I employ clamps E, which embrace the sides and bases of the rails and tightly bind
the same together, the number of said clamps being according to requirements.
The clamps may be made of any desired shape in cross section, but are preferably
made parabolic in external contour, such shape giving the greatest strength in the
directions in which the greatest strain is exerted.
The flanges along the tongues B, gradually widen from the ends to the center as
shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thus imparting a double wedge character to the flanges of
the joint when put together. The clamps are placed on the rails before the tongues
are arranged in position, and are then forced along the flanges toward each other and
the center of the joint, thereby clamping the tongues tightly together. These clamps
are held together as against longitudinal displacement by a tie strap or rod F, passing

page_text: between the clamps and the underside of the tongues, and having its ends bent down
around the clamp, as shown in Fig. 6. Or if preferred, holes may be bored through
the clamps and bolts passing through said holes may be used for tying the clamps in
position. Or in lieu of either of the above means for holding the clamps in position.
the cross-tics on each side of the joint may be so placed as to prevent any material
displacement of the clamps.
The rails will be supported upon and spiked to cross ties as usual, and as they are
held laterally by the clamps E, and interlocked and held vertically by the ribs or
projections and grooves C, D, their disconnection in lateral, longitudinal and vertical
directions is thus prevented.
The ribs or projections are made broad and flat, so as to avoid diminution of
strength of the web of the rail, it being noticed that said web is of greatly increased
thickness, owing to the construction of the joint.
In lieu of widening the flanges of the tongues B, as above described, they may be
thickened at the middle, said thickness gradually tapering or lessening towards the
ends of the tongues. Or in lieu of either of these constructions, wedge or inclined
faces may be formed on the outer faces of the webs of the tongues B, as indicated by
dotted lines in Fig. 2. In using either of these modifications, the edges of the flanges
of the tongues should be made parallel and the distance between the jaws of the clamps
where they engage said edges should be such that said jaws bear upon said edges
when the clamps have been driven to place. In lieu of either of the arrangements of
tie-rods shown in Fig. 6, we may employ that shown in Fig. 1, said form or arrange-
ment being preferable in some cases as permitting easier access to the tie rods.
As indicated by dotted lines in Figs. S to 10, inclusive, the interlocking grooves
and ribs may be constructed and arranged as shown and described in Letters Patent
No. 16,064, dated November 22, 1887, and in lieu of the rigid clamp hereinbefore
described, the portions of the clamp above the rail flange or the jaws as we prefer to term
them, may be so constructed as to have a spring bearing against the web of the rails,
the distance between the inner faces of the vertical portions should be somewhat less
than the combined thickness of the webs of the tongues B, thereby ensuring a strong
but yielding clamping action. In lieu of constructing the jaws with a vertical
portion bearing against the web along the entire height thereof as shown in Fig. 8,
they may be shaped as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, wherein the clamp has only two
points of bearing on each side, i.e. the edge of the flange and against the underside of
the head.
In laying a line of rails embodying our invention, it is necessary that the clamp
should be slipped onto one of the rails before the two tongues are placed together,
and after the two tongues have been properly adjusted together, the clamp is driven
back until the tongues are grasped thereby.
To provide for the application of the clamp after the rails have been secured in
position, the clamp is made in two parts, as shown in Fig. 10, the base of each
part being formed with a flange having bolt holes formed therethrough. It will
be readily understood that this form of clamp can be readily applied to a splice-
joint at any time without disturbing the rails.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is
1st. A railroad joint, consisting of rails having interchangeable ends operating
when placed together, as a continuous rail provided with broad and flat rectangular
interlocking ribs or projections and grooves, permitting a limited lengthwise motion,
and preventing vertical displacement or movement, substantially as described.
2nd. A railroad rail joint consisting of rails having reduced ends which are placed
side by side, and provided with wide and flat, rectangular ribs or projections and
grooves on their inner faces, said ribs or projections and grooves engaging and
being of different lengths, so as to permit the expansion of rails and limit the same,
and disposed midway or about midway of the heads and bases of the rails, substantially
as described.

page_text: 3rd. In combination with two rails having their adjacent ends overlapping, thereby
forming a continuous tread joint, a clamp for holding such ends in position, sub-
stantially as set forth.
4th. A railroad rail joint consisting of rails having overlapping tongues, said
tongues being provided with inclined or double wedge shaped faces in combination
with clamps engaging said inclined or wedge shaped faces, substantially as set
forth.
5th. A railroad rail joint consisting of rails having overlapping tongues, the
flanges of said tongues gradually increasing in width from the ends of the tongues
to the center thereof, in combination with clamps engaging the inclined edges of the
flanges, substantially as set forth.
6th. A railroad rail joint consisting of rails having overlapping tongues, the flanges
of said tongues gradually widening from the ends to the center thereof, in combination
with clamps engaging the inclined edges of the flanges and straps or rods for holding
the clamps in position, substantially as set forth.
7th. In combination with two rails having their adjacent ends overlapping, thereby
forming a continuous tread joint, a clamp having spring jaws for holding such ends
in position, substantially as set forth.
8th. In combination with two rails having their adjacent ends overlapping and
interlocked as against independent vertical movement, a clamp for holding such ends
in position, substantially as set forth.
9th. In combination with two rails having their adjacent ends overlapping, the
inner faces of such overlapping portions being provided with complementary inter-
locking grooves and ribs, a clamp for holding such ends in position, substantially as
set forth.
Signed by James Martin Price at Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.A., September 26th,