Improvements in and relating to Spikes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 28th May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Spikes.
I, VAN RENSSELLEAR PAIGE, a Citizen of the United States of America, residing
Hopkinton, in the County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire, United
tates of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
scertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to spikes, and more particularly to that class of such
evices which are designated for and employed in connection with the securing of
ailroad rails to the supporting ties.
The invention has for its object the production of a simply and cheaply constructed
pike possessing advantages in point of efficiency and durability, in that when in
olace my improved spike maintains a resistance to the maximum degree against
the side thrust of the rail, and will not oscillate and work out of the tie. Other
advantages existing in my improved spike will appear in the following description
which is directed to the details of construction and operation, and which is to be
read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved spike.
Figure 2 is a vertical central sectional view.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of two spikes one of which forms the auxiliary for
augmenting the resistance.
Referring to the said drawings by letter,
A designates my improved spike which is headed at its upper end, or at b, and
there provided with side flanges 61 61 which allow the application of a claw bar or
similar device for withdrawing the spike. The lip 2 of the head which in practice
engages the foot of the rail has its under side inclined as shown to insure a proper
contact on the rail foot and for another purpose presently to be explained. This
lip extends forwardly of the head and from the rear of the latter extends a bridge c
which is integral with the spike and of the same lateral dimensions. From the
extreme end of this bridge depends a blade d, the outer side of which forms a
continuation of the end of the bridge and the inner side of which is inclined to
bring the point of the blade to a comparatively sharp edge. The width of the
blade corresponds in dimensions with the thickness of the bridge, while the thick-
ness of the blade is considerably less as shown. The upper surface of the head is
convex and extends to a point about midway of the bridge and the top of the latter
from this point is inclined or sloped on a line coincident with the inclination of the
5 underside of the lip in order that when two spikes are employed, as for instance, as
shown in Figure 3, the lip of the second driven or auxiliary spike may properly
bear and have a good contact on the inclined top of the bridge of the first driven
spike.
In practice I rely for lateral resistance upon the peculiar shape and arrangement
0 of the blade which, being comparatively thin and driven cross-wise of the grain of
the tie, will not split the latter but will, by reason of its breadth, maintain a firm
resistance against the side thrust of the rails, and also the blade being so arranged

page_text: will hold the spike firmly in the tie, so that the side thrust and the spring of the
rails will not draw or cause the spike to loosen and work out.
The blade is integral with the spike and consequently with the bridge from
which latter it depends or drops and hence is driven with the spike in a manner to
preclude of its being bent or fractured during the operation. The inclination of
the top of the bridge aside from serving as a bearing for a second spike when
driven, also has the advantage of strengthening the bridge at that point which
receives the greatest strain during the driving operation.
From the foregoing it will be evident that I have combined in my improved
spike all of the advantages which go to make a device of this character efficient and
durable. My improved spike when driven in place offers the maximum resistance,
will not split the tie either while being driven, or when driven, while under strain;
is simple in its construction, readily made, and may be produced at a comparatively
low cost.
The construction moreover permits of two or more spikes being driven
in line in cases where extraordinary resistance is to be met with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is =
A railway rail spike having a head provided with side flanges and a forwardly
extending lip the underside of which is inclined upwardly, a bridge integral with
the spike, and a thin solid blade depending transversely from the extreme end of
the bridge, the upper outer side of the blade being approximately at right angles
to the bridge and the upper side of the latter being inclined on the line of
inclination of the underside of the lip, whereby the outer sides of the bridge and
blade are in conformity with the underside of the lip, substantially as and for the
purposes described.