IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FISHING OR JOINTING OF RAILS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Aldred, Engineer, of Maryon Road, Charlton, in
the County of Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FISHING
OR JOINTING OF RAILS."
Sealed the 27th October 1877, and dated the 10th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Aldred at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th May 1877.
ss
SAMUEL ALDRED, Engineer, of Maryon Road, Charlton, in the County of Kent.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FISHING OR JOINTING OF RAILS."
This improvement consists in the use or employment of the simplest mechanical
means for the fishing or jointing together of rails, where the double-headed or
flanged, and thereby to do away with number and complicity of parts at present
usually employed in the shape of fish plates, bolts, and nuts.
And, further, my improvement is specially constructed to give an increased and
much stiffer support to the joint than can be obtained by the fish plates at present
usually employed for that purpose.
For such purpose I use a telescopic sliding piece or joint which embraces, as
closely as can practically be obtained from the rolling mills, the whole of the lower
portion of the rail, whether flanged or double-headed. The telescope pieces will
be rolled flat to suit the special section of rail employed, and then folded up by
pressure to closely embrace the whole of the lower portion of the rail.
When ready for use the telescope joint must be threaded on to one of two rails
to the jointed before being laid down, and when the ends of the two rails are then
laid down and brought together, the telescope joint is made to slide over the joint,
so as to embrace an end of either rail meeting at its centre. The joint just fished
cannot bend or spring to any extent, and is thus made with at single moveable
piece; and I thus also avoid weakening the rail by punching holes in the web
usually required for fish plates.
In order that the above-described telescope joint may not shift its position under
the jar of the traffic, I secure in its position by several alternate methods.
First. A small engaging spring catch may be fitted inside the telescope joint, so
as to press by its elasticity upon the web. When the button of the catch comes

page_text: opposite to a hole punched in a suitable position in the web of the rail the catch
engages in in the rail, and the telescope joint cannot move until the catch be with-
drawn by a screw for that purpose."
Secondly. The telescope joint may be fixed in its required position by one or
more set screws tapped through the joint, and bearing hard on the web of the
rail.
Thirdly. The telescope joint may be secured from shifting, and made all tight by
two long keys, one on each side, being driven in suitable slots left in the telescope
joint when rolled, and bearing on slightly burred-over shoulders at the bottom of
the chest or web of the rail.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Aldred in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th November
1877.
SAMUEL ALDRED, Engineer, of Maryon Road, Charlton, in the County of Kent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FISHING OR JOINTING OF RAILS."
· This improvement consists in the use or employment of the simplest mechanical
means for the fishing or jointing together of rails, whether double-headed or
flanged, and thereby to do away with the number and complicity of parts at present
usually employed in the shape of fish plates, bolts, and nuts.
And, further, my improvement is specially constructed to give an increased and
much stiffer support to the joint than can be obtained by the fish plates at present
usually employed for that purpose.
For such purpose I use a telescopic sliding piece or joint, lettered A in Figs.
1, 2, 3, and 4, which embraces, as closely as can practically be obtained from the
rolling mills, the whole of the lower portion of the rail, whether flanged, as in
Fig. 4, lettered B, or double-headed as in Fig. 1, lettered B. These telescope pieces
will be rolled flat to suit the special section of rail employed, and may be then
folded up by pressure to closely embrace the whole of the lower portion of the
.rail.
When ready for use the telescope joint must be threaded on to one of two rails to
be jointed before being laid down, and when the ends of two rails are then laid
down and brought together the telescope joint is made to slide over the joint, so as
to embrace an end of either rail meeting at its centre. The joint thus "fished"
cannot bend or spring, and the rail is left to its full and normal strength, since no
holes are punched through it to make the joint.
In order that the above-described telescope joint may not shift its position under the
jar of the traffic, I prefer to secure it in its position by means of two set bolts, as
shown by letters c in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. I reserve the right, however, to use
either of the two other alternative methods of securing the telescope fish joint.
First. By means of a spring catch, which may be fitted inside the telescope so
as to press by its elasticity upon the web. When the button of the catch comes
opposite to a hole punched in the web of the rail the catch engages in the rail, and
the telescope cannot move until the catch be withdrawn by a screw supplied for
the purpose.
Second. The telescope joint may be secured by two long wooden or metal keys
driven into suitable slots left in the telescope from either end.
Having now described my improvement in the fishing or jointing of rails, I wish
it to be understood that I claim,―
The use of a single telescope fish joint, closely embracing the lower portion and
under the crown of the rail, which shall make by itself a secure joint without the
use of fish bolts through the rail or wedges for its thorough support of the
joint..

page_text: And I also claim the use of set screws, the spring catch, and long keys in com-
bination with the above telescope joint for securing its correct position at the joint,
as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Aldred, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
J. C. FELL,
23, Rood Lane,
.E.C.
SAMUEL ALDRED. (L.S.)