An Improved Joint for the Rails of Railways or Tramways.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Joint for the Rails of Railways or Tramways.
I, ALBERT PREISS, of Norwood in the Province of South Australia Plumber, do
hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "AN IMPROVED JOINT FOR THE RAILS
OF RAILWAYS OR TRAMWAYS" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My Invention relates to an improved construction of the rails of Railways or
Tramways and is intended to take the place of the fishplates and bolts used for such
purpose.
The special feature of my Invention consists in constructing the Joints of
rails in such way as to form a bed or socket in which the ends of the rails
rest and into which they are clamped by a fishplate or side piece kept in position
by a key screwed into the sleeper. I also cut the ends of the rails at an angle
say of 45° instead of at a right angle, so that they may meet diagonally and overlap
one another. Whilst permitting free longitudinal contraction or expansion my
improved Joint will not allow of lateral motion or rising and by providing a solid bed
on which the ends of the rails rest entirely obviates the dropping or sinking which
renders constant packing necessary when the ordinary fishplates and bolts are
employed. By cutting the ends of the rails at an angle the wheels of the rolling
stock in crossing the joint rest on both rails at once and since my improved joint will
not allow the end of either rail to rise the edges or corners are not injured as is the
case with the joint at present in use.
My improved rail joint may be constructed of iron or steel and may be rolled or
pressed or partly rolled and partly pressed.
In order that my Invention may be the better understood I will now proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawings in which
Fig. I, is a plan of rails and joint complete.
Fig. II, a side elevation of the same.
Fig. III, a sectional elevation of rail joint fishplate or side piece and key.
Fig. IV, a plan and elevation of the ends of the rails shewing the diagonal cut.
Similar letters refer to similar parts in all Figures.
A, is a rail of any size (in the present instance a full sized section of a 41 lb.
steel rail is shewn). A', diagonal cut ends of rails. B, a rail joint having a solid bed
and provided with projecting lugs B2, B3, and a keel or projecting piece B². The
lug B', projects inwards and is of sufficient length to engage the corner where the
head of the rail joins the web. The keel or projecting piece B² runs longitudinally
the whole length of the joint and projects downwards at right angles to the bed plate,
into a groove cut for the purpose in the sleeper.
The lug B³, projects upwards at right angles to the bed plate of the Joint B, a space
being allowed between the lug B³, and B¹, corresponding to the foot of the rail A.
C, a fish plate or side piece of angle iron or steel, and having sides of sufficient length
to take a bearing underneath the head of the rail and against the inner side of the
lug B³, D, sleeper of permanent way. E, a key provided with suitable screw thread
and having a head of such length as to engage the fish plate or angle side piece C.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the special form of
lug B', but may make it to fit the web and foot of the rail or may cause it to project
at right angles to the bed plate in a similar manner to B³, and provide a second fish-
plate on side piece C. The bed plate may also if found desirable, be constructed
without the projecting piece B².
It will be seen by reference to Fig. III, that the bed plate of the joint is let into
the sleeper in order that the foot of the rail may rest on a level with the face of the
former.

page_text: In cutting the ends of the rails diagonally I do not confine myself to an angle of 45°
but may vary the angle according to the size or class of the rail employed.
Having now particularly described and explained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what l
claim is :-
First. In the construction of rail Joints, a bed plate provided with projecting lugs
which together form a seat for the foot of the rail, and one of which projects inwards
at an angle in order to engage the head and web of the same substantially as herein
described.
Second. In the construction of rail joints the combination with a bed plate having
projecting lugs, one of which projects inwards so as to engage the head and web of
the rail, of a fishplate or angle side piece clamped in position by a suitable key or
dog spike, substantially as herein described.
Third. In the construction of rail Joints a bed plate provided with two lugs pro-
jecting at right angles in combination with two fishplates, or angle side pieces clamped
in position by suitable keys or dog spikes substantially as herein described.
Fourth. In the construction of rail Joints having a solid bed plate and projecting
lugs a keel or footpiece B², substantially as herein described.
Fifth. In the construction of rail joints having angle side pieces or fishplates, a
screw key such as E, having a head of sufficient length to clamp the corresponding
angle side piece or fishplate in position substantially as herein described.
Sixth. The ends of the rails A, cut diagonally and preferably at an angle of forty
five degrees (45°).
Dated this Thirteenth day of December 1889.
ALBERT PREISS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.