Year: 1888

page_text: I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex 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:
--
My invention relates to improvements in rail-joint unions, and consists of the novel
construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in
the claims.
The object of the invention is made to appear in connection with the following
description.
Fig. 1 of the drawings, is a top plan view of my improved device shown in position
for use with the rails detached, the relative position of the rails being indicated by
dotted lines.
Fig. 2 is a central, vertical section taken on the broken line x-x-in Fig. 1–
showing the members of the union spiked to a cross-tie and supporting one end of a
railway rail.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 2-and showing a position of the
members while the parts are being locked or unlocked, in making or breaking the
union.
Fig. 4 is a bottom plán view of that member of the union termed the locking-bar,
detached.
Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the other member of the union called the chair,

page_text: '
My improved union consists essentially of two members A-&-B,-which I term
respectfully chair, and locking-bar.
The chair A is provided with a bed-plate A-adapted to support the foot of the
rail C, also with an upwardly projecting flange A2-adapted to form a lateral support
for the web of the rail, also with a horizontal flange A-adapted to rest upon the
cross-tie D-and be secured thereto, as by bolts or spikes a.
The locking-bar B-is provided with the horizontal flange B-adapted to be secured
to the cross-tic in the same manner as the chair-flange, as by spikes a¹; and with an
upwardly projecting flange B-adapted to form a lateral support for the web of the
rail, also with a recess or eye B³-adapted to receive a pivotal hook or spur A*-pro-
jecting from one side of the chair.
The members are each provided with spike holes b.-In applying the members of
my improved union to the support of a railway rail-joint, the ends of the rails to be
joined are first seated upon the bed-plate A-in substantially the position shown in
Fig. 2 and by dotted line in Fig. 1.
The chair is then lifted and tilted, as shown in Fig. 3-and the flange B³-of the
locking-bar passed over the hook A-until the latter enters the recess or eye B'-
and permits the flange B-to pass under the ball of the rail from the position shown in
Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2-in which latter position they are securely locked together
by the hook and recess, and cannot be unlocked without lifting the chair and rail.
By having the hook A-project above and to one side of the rail-seat it forms a
pivotal connection in the eye B³-between the two members, which permits of their
being easily forced from the position shown in Fig. 3-to that shown in Fig. 2-and
back again as desired when the members are not spiked to the cross-tie. They are
secured to the cross-tie by the spikes a―a'.
It should be observed that the web of the rail is tightly inclosed between the two
flanges A and B'--the latter fitting the curve at the junction of the web and ball of
the rail, and affording a rigid lateral support for each side of the rail.
The flanges are provided with end-extensions d-d-which may be of any desired
length, and serve as an auxiliary support.
When desired, a post or stud may be erected from the bed-plate A¹-to act as a
stop to prevent the longitudinal displacement of the rails.
There may be a stop for each rail, located at any convenient point to engage with
the rails, but prefer to locate a single stop at a central point on one side of the
bed-plate as shown at E-in Fig. 5-and by dotted lines in Fig. 1-where it is
adapted to engage with the end of each rail, when one corner of the rail flanges has
been chipped off, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.
I am thus able to rigidly secure the contiguous ends of the rails in perfect
allignment with each other without in any manner attacking or weakening the
web or ball of the rails, or interfering with expansion or contraction.
No bolts are required and there are no nuts to loosen and impair the rigidity of the
device, nor other small parts to adjust and readjust or replace.
The whole device is composed of the two members A and B.
The lateral support afforded will permit of the use of lighter rails.
The device can be applied to the support of the rails intermediately of their ends,
and it may be used upon every cross-tie when desired to secure additional resistance
to lateral strains upon sharp curves, or elsewhere.
When used intermediately of the rail-ends the stops E-would be dispensed with, as
unnecessary, and to leave the bed-plate free to receive and support the rail.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign Correspondents I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a rail-joint union, the combination with a chair, provided with a rail-seat,
and having on one side of such seat a cross-tie flange and a laterally-supporting rail-
flange, and on the opposite side a pivotal hook projecting above and to one side of such
eat of a locking-bår provided on its opposite edges with a cross-tie flange and a

page_text: laterally-supporting rail-flange, and, intermediately of such flanges, with an eye
adapted to receive such pivotal hook, substantially as described.
Second. In a rail-joint union, the combination with a chair, having a rail-seat, and
provided with a cross-tie flange, a laterally supporting rail-flange, having end
extensions d, and a pivotal hook A'; of a locking-bar provided with a cross-
tie flange, a laterally-supporting rail-flange, having end-extensions d'-and
intermediately of such flanges, with an eye adapted to receive such pivotal hook,
substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of December 1888