RAIL JOINTS
Year: 1886

page_text: I JOHN SHIPLEY of Sayre Bradford County State of Pennsylvania United
States of America, Machinist do hereby declair that the nature of my invention
for RAIL JOINTS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide means to secure the ends of rails so that
the rails are held firmly together without the bolts passing through them as hereto-
fore, and at the same time provide for the more equal contraction and expansion of
the rails. To carry out my object I provide a casting to receive the rail, and by
the application of a loose angle plate having a V shaped rib opposite each bolt; the
rail joint is made by the loose plate being fastened into the casting by eccentric
formed washers with V shaped recesses on the outside radiating from the centre.
My invention consists of a cast steel chair for embracing the rails provided on
one side to suit the section of the rail, and on the other side with an abutment so
that when the rail ends are placed in the cast chair the loose angle plate with the
V shaped ribs opposite each bolt can be put in its place, the bolts passing through
the chair and the loose angle plate receive a cast steel washer eccentric in form
with V shaped grooves on the bottom edge radiating to the centre and with small
hubs on top side indicating the position of the V grooves, on being tightened by
the wrench binds against the loose angle plate and the abutment thereby the loose
angle plate holds the rail in position after which the nuts of the bolts being
tightened virtually forms a lock.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of rail joint.
Fig. 2 is a plan of same.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of eccentric washer.
Fig. 4 is a plan of same.
Fig. 5 is an outside elevation of same.
Fig. 6 is a cross section of rail joint.
Fig. 7 is a plan of underside of washer showing V grooves.
In figures 1. 2 and 6. A designates the rails B is the chair for embracing the
rails baving one side to suit the section of the rail the other side having an
abutment b so that the loose angle plate may be fastened between the rails and the
abutment Do the loose anals whate having V showed sibo annocite each bolt and

page_text: on which the V shaped grooves on the under side of the eccentric washer fit,
d, is V shaped ribs d¹ is the V shaped grooves E is the eccentric washer which
is made hollow with a square in the centre so that it can be operated by a wrench
to put the larger part of the washer to bear against the abutment b and the loose
angle plate D holding down the rails on the underside of the washer E. V shaped
grooves radiate to the centre and small hubs on the top side are for indicating the
position of the V shaped grooves so that when the washer is moved by the
wrench it fits over the rib on the loose angle plate. E¹ is the square on washer.
E is the hub on washer.
F are the bolts with a dovetailed head to fit the chair B and which pass through
the centre of the eccentric washer, the nut on the top keeping the eccentric washer
down in its place so that it virtually forms a lock.
In figures 3. 4. 5 and 7 the enlarged drawing of the eccentric washer is clearly
defined with the V shaped grooves on the underside and the small hubs on the top.
The square for the wrench and hole for the bolt to pass through.
Instead of single chairs double chairs can be made for holding rail joints as will
be readily understood.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
invention & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
Claim 1. A rail joint chair consisting of two peices embracing the rails, the chair
proper having an abutment by which the loose angle plate can be fastened by the
eccentric washer held held in position by the bolt and locked by the nut all
substantially as and for the purpose specified and set forth.
2. A rail joint consisting of two peices the combination of the eccentric washer
substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof I the said John Shipley have herewith set my hand and
seal this 21st day of December 1885.