Improvements in Railway Rail Joints.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1893
Improvements in Railway Rail Joints.
I, JOHN STODDART BROWN, of 2221 Strand, Galveston, in the County of
Galveston, and State of Texas, United States of America, Merchant, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters
and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This invention relates to railway rail joints or couplings of that type wherein
the chairs at the sides of the rails have a dovetail connection with a connecting
block or tie extending through the webs of the rails.
The objects of my invention are to improve the prior construction and render
the connecting block susceptible of being adjusted, and also capable of removal
laterally from the rails, after detaching either one of the chairs, or lengthwise from
the end of either rail after detaching the chairs.
To accomplish this object, my invention consists in the combination with rails
having longitudinal slots in their webs, and chairs having dovetail channels in
their inner faces, of a detachable head-block fitting the slots in the rail webs and
formed with dovetail projections which engage the dovetail channels, and are of
such dimensions as to pass laterally through the slots in the rail webs, whereby the
head block with its dovetail projections can be removed and replaced laterally with
respect to the rails by detaching either one of the chairs.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating my invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the parts shewn in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a detail view of the head-block removed from the coupling or chair.
Fig. 4 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section shewing the
several parts of the coupling in connection with the ends of the rails.
The reference numeral 1, in said drawings, indicates the railway rails which are
of the usual pattern commonly known as T-rails. I have shewn in the drawings
only those portions of said rails which are immediately connected with the coupling
or chair constituting my invention. The numeral 2 denotes the sleepers or ties, to
which the said rails are spiked in the ordinary manner, except at the ends, where
they are supported by the chairs or couplings.
Each chair is composed of two lateral parts or members 3, substantially identical
in form and construction. Each member when viewed, in transverse section, or end
elevation, will be seen to consist of a solid bar or block of wood, metal, or other suitable
material, or materials having a substantially vertical inner face 4, and an outer inclined
face 5, which converges upwardly towards the vertical face 4. Upon the upper edge
of each member is formed a comparatively narrow face 6, usually having a slight
transverse concave, or such other formation as will enable it to fit closely upon the
lower face of the T-head 7, upon one side of the vertical web 8. The width of
the vertical face 4 of each part 3, is such as to enable it to occupy the space
between the head 7 and foot 9 of the rail, its width being substantially equal,
therefore, to the height of the rail-web 8. As the upper face 6 corresponds
practically with the shape and inclination of the lower face of the head of the rail,
upon one side of the web, so, also, the lower face 10 of said member 3 is so formed
and inclined that it will lie upon the upper slightly inclined face 12 of the foot of
the rail. Upon the lower and outer edge of the part 3, is formed a thick, strong
rail, or bar 13, which lies against or immediately adjacent to the outer margin of
the rail foot, the lower face of said rail or bar being brought into the plane of the

page_text: lower face of the rail-foot 9, which rests upon the sleepers. One or more notches
or recesses 14 are formed in said rail or bar 13 to receive spikes which fasten it
securely to the sleeper or sleepers.
In the inner vertical face 4 is formed a slôt or channel 15, parallel with and inter-
mediate of the upper and lower edges of the vertical face. This slot or channel
communicates with a channel 16 extending on both sides of the channel 15, the two
channels thereby forming a T-shaped longitudinal channel, resembling, approximately
a dovetail. The channel 15 opens through the vertical face 4 of the part 3, at a
point not far from midway between the upper and lower margins of the rail-web 8.
Each part or member 3 is substantially identical in construction with the other
part, so that a description of one will suffice for both.
The two members 3 of the chair are positively connected by a head-block 17,
having substantially the thickness of the web 8 of the rail, and of such width,
measured vertically, as to afford the necessary strength and rigidity. Upon its
opposite vertical sides are formed similar T-bars or dovetail projections 18, having
such size and proportions that they can enter the channels 15 and 16 in the
members 3, and fit therein as closely as is consistent with the longitudinal move-
ment or adjustment of the head-block. Open slots 19 are cut into the ends of the
webs 8 of the rails, at such a point and of such length that the head-block 17 will
enter the same and afford a support of great strength and rigidity to the abutting
ends of the rail. Displacement of the head-block is prevented by the ends thereof
abutting against the closed ends of the slots 19'in the webs.
The head-block 17, and the heads of the T-bars or dovetailed projections 18,
are approximately coextensive in height with the slots 19 in such a manner that the
head-block 17 with its T-bars or dovetailed projections 18 can be inserted into or
removed from the slots in the rails in a lateral or sidewise direction which obviously
could not be effected if the dovetailed projections 18 were of a height greater
than the height of the slots 19.
My construction is desirable, in that the head-block can be quickly and rapidly
adjusted to the required position and also removed laterally from the slots in the
rail-webs after detaching either one of the chairs.
My invention affords a coupling or chair, of simple and comparatively cheap
construction, capable of giving a support to the rail-ends of such character that
they will be maintained permanently in their true alignment, prevent the pounding
and speedy destruction of their abutting ends, sustain the treads of the rails in the
same true level or line to render the passage of the wheels smooth, safe, and without
increased noise, and, at the same time, permitting the free expansion and contraction
of the parts without causing displacement and especially avoiding the wear and
tear produced by such causes, when the rail and its couplings are connected by bolts
or rivets. My improved construction affords a coupling in which the number of
parts is reduced to the minimum, the employment of bolts or rivets is wholly
avoided, and a positive and rigid coupling connection provided to unite the opposite
laterally arranged members, said connection having all the strength, rigidity and
durability afforded by bolts or rivets, while permitting the head block to be easily
removed lengthwise from either rail after the chairs are detached.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :
1. The combination with the rails having longitudinal slots 19 in their webs, and
chairs 3, having dovetailed channels in their inner faces, of an adjustable head-
block 17 fitting the slots in the rail-webs and formed with dovetailed projections 18
which engage the dovetailed channels, and are of such dimensions as to pass
laterally through the slots in the rail webs, whereby the head-block with its dove-
tailed projections can be removed and replaced laterally with respect to the rails by
detaching either one of the chairs, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. My improvements in railway rail joints, substantially as hereinbefore described
and shewn with reference to the annexed drawings.
Dated this 8th day of August 1893.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.