Improved Joint Chair for the Permanent Way of Railways.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improved Joint Chair for the Permanent Way of Railways.
I, PERCY RICKARD, of Friargate House, Derby, in the county of Derby, Civil
and Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for an
"IMPROVED JOINT CHAIR FOR THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS" 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 overcome the jolting which usually takes place
when the wheels of vehicles pass over the joints of rails in the permanent way of
railways; which not only causes the vehicles to oscillate to their damage and
danger, but also to cause considerable wear to the rails near the joints; thereby
necessitating a more frequent renewal than what would otherwise be required.
I
To accomplish this object so far as regards bull headed and double headed rails
propose to employ a new form of joint chair, consisting of two parts only; each
part is made to fit in between the upper and lower flanges of the rails similarly to
the common form of fishplate; but is further provided with a foot which spreads
out and forms the base which rests upon the sleeper: the two parts of the chair are
bolted together through the webs of the rails in a similar manner to the ordinary
fishplates; but are further secured by two bolts under the rails which pass through
lugs formed at each end of the two parts of the chair.
The whole weight of the rail with its load is communicated from the undersides
of the top flanges through the two parts of the chair to the sleeper; to which the
chair is attached by spikes, trenails or bolts in the usual manner.
The base of each part of the chair is extended underneath the rail to give.
additional bearing, but the two parts do not meet and the bottom of the rail is
left quite clear, so that no part of the weight shall be transmitted through it.
The four bolts which pass through the two parts of the chair and the webs of the
rails grasp the whole firmly; but the inner faces of the chair are made so as to be
clear of the web of the rail and thus enable the two parts to be tightened up, from
time to time, if necessary. The two bolts which pass underneath the rails give
additional strength in keeping the two parts together; and, should the four other
bolts become loose, would prevent their being forced asunder to the detriment of
the spikes and trenails.
The chair might be made of cast steel, wrought iron, cast iron or malleable cast
iron: cast steel would be the strongest but cast iron would answer the purpose

page_text: well. If cast iron is employed it should be of a tough and hard quality; and
I prefer the parts which come in contact with the rails to be chilled in the mould
so as to obviate abrasion on those parts should they begin to rub by reason of the
bolts becoming slack.
I prefer that the joint chair should rest upon a sleeper of larger size than the
others; while the adjacent sleeper on either side of it should be spaced a little
closer; so as to reduce the amount of deflection of the rail and thus prevent the
joint sleeper from rocking on its bed; but this is not absolutely necessary.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Fig. 1 shews a cross section of the chair with the rail in position; A the rail;
C & D the inner and outer parts of the chair which differ in shape so as to give
the necessary vertical inclination to the rail; each part fits up tightly against the
inclined faces between the flanges of the rail; a space being left clear of the web
to enable the two parts to be tightened up, if required. The bolts E bind the
whole together thus keeping the ends of the two rails exactly opposite and, at the
same time, forming a rigid connection for the transmission of the weight to
the sleeper. The bolts F passing through the lugs G. G. give additional security
and prevent any spreading of the two parts of the chair asunder at the base: these
bolts while desirable are not absolutely necessary. Spike holes are shewn at H. H.
for securing the chair to the sleeper. J. J. are ribs to give additional strength at
the centre of the chair.
..
Fig. 2.is a plan of joint chair with rails in position. A and B are the ends of
two rails. C and D are the inner and outer parts respectively of the chair.
E. E. E. E. are the bolts passing through the webs of the rails. F. F are the bolts
passing through the lugs G. G. G. G. and underneath the rails. H. H. H. H. are
spike holes and I. I. trenail holes by means of which the chair is secured to the
sleeper. J. J are ribs formed at the centre to give additional strength.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of the outer part (D) of the chair. A and B are the ends
of two rails. E. E. E. E are the bolts passing through the webs of the rails.
F. F. the bolts passing through the lugs G. G. underneath the rails. H. H are
bosses for spike holes and I. is a boss for a trenail hole. J is a strengthening rib."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is
.
1. A joint chair for bull headed and double headed rails in two parts. only
(C & D) through which the whole of the weight is transmitted from the undersides
of the top flanges of the rail to the sleeper; in combination with the bolts E
passing through the web of the rail to secure the whole.
;
2. A joint chair for bull headed and double. headed rails in two parts only
(C & D) through which the whole of the weight is transmitted from the undersides
of the top flanges of the rail to the sleeper; in combination with the bolts E
passing through the web of the rail; and also in combination with the bolts F and
the lugs G. substantially as described above.