Improvements in Railway Rails and in Joints therefor, also partly applicable for Jointing Lengths of Hollow Sleepers, Hollow Shafting, and other Tubular Objects.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1892-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Rails and in Joints therefor, also partly
applicable for Jointing Lengths of Hollow Sleepers, Hollow
Shafting, and other Tubular Objects.
We, MAX MANNESMANN and REINHARD MANNESMANN, both of Remscheid-
Bliedinghausen, in the Empire of Germany, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has mainly for its object to provide more efficient means for
jointing together lengths of railway rails, so that such joints shall be of the same
strength and rigidity as the other part of the rail.
For this purpose according to one improvement we strengthen or thicken the
ends of the rails in such manner as to compensate for the weakening thereof by
the formation of bolt holes, when fish plates are used, and also to afford them
increased rigidity and resistance to wear. Such strengthening of the rail ends is
applicable both to solid and to hollow rails; for solid rails, the web is preferably
thickened somewhat on each side, the fish plates being made to fit against the
surfaces of such thickened parts; for hollow rails the thickening may be made
either externally or internally, or both combined, or the ends may be made solid.
In the latter case the jointing is effected by means of external fish plates, while
in the former case it is effected either by an internal fish plate alone, or by both
internal and external fish plates.
According to another improvement we form the ends of the rails with toothed
or ribbed and grooved surfaces such that the teeth of each rail take into the
grooves of the other, or in the case of hollow rails, the teeth may take into
grooves in a separate connecting piece or fish plate inserted into the two ends.
By this means the pressure to which the one rail end is subjected by a passing
load is effectually transferred by a considerable contact surface afforded by the
toothed connection, to the other unloaded rail end.
For the above purpose, according to one arrangement for solid rails and in some
cases also for hollow rails, the meeting surfaces of the joint are made to overlap
each other and extend longitudinally to some distance, and these overlapping
surfaces have longitudinal ribs formed upon them of such a configuration that the
ribs of the one surface will fit accurately into the intermediate spaces of the other
surface, so that the two surfaces are connected by a series of keys and grooves,
and they are secured in this position by transverse screw bolts. In order to insure
a tight fit, the ribs and grooves are made of a tapering or wedge-shaped cross
section, such that when fitted together a small space is left between the end surface
of the rib and the bottom of the groove into which it fits, so that on being drawn
together by the screw bolts, the grip of the surfaces will increase in proportion to
the pressure.
In order to obtain the requisite depth of the ribs and grooves the ends of the
rails are by preference thickened as first described.
In the case of hollow rails, the one rail end can be forged solid into a plug form
so as to fit into the hollow of the other rail end, the inner surfaces of which are
in that case formed with ribs and grooves that take into corresponding ribs and
grooves on the outer surface of the plug end of other rail.
To allow for expansion and contraction of the rails, the holes through which
the connecting screw bolts pass are suitably slotted.
When forming the overlapping joint on the ends of hollow rails, these ends are
either made solid, or the sides of the rail are forged close together so as to form
practically a web similar to that of an ordinary rail, and this has then the projecting
ribs formed upon it by pressing in suitable dies or between rolls.

page_text: .
When the joint is made by fitting the one rail end within the other or by fitting
a connecting piece or fish plate into both, the rapid disconnection of the rails at
any point for replacing a defective one, or otherwise, is rendered possible by forming
one of the joints, at certain distances apart, as an overlapping joint that can be
disconnected sideways.
According to another improvement we effect the jointing of the ends of hollow
rails, by close frictional contact, this method of jointing being also applicable to
hollow sleepers hollow shafting and other tubular objects requiring to be connected
together in lengths.
For this purpose we employ a jointing piece which is inserted into the two
abutting ends of the hollow rails or other objects to be joined, and which piece is
of such a sectional form as to bear at least upon two opposite portions of the inner
surface of the rail or shaft, and which has longitudinal slots at one or more points
so that on driving wedges into such slots the parts of the jointing piece on cach
side thereof are forced asunder and are thereby pressed with considerable force
against the inner surface of the rail or shaft, thus clamping the two parts firmly
together by frictional contact.
In applying this invention for connecting lengths of hollow shafting, a cylindrical
jointing piece is employed, fitting the interior of the shafting-ends, and provided at
four points of its length with sets of three or more longitudinal slots.
The inner diameter of the jointing piece is made smaller at the middle part,
where two of the sets of slots are situated, than at the ends, where the other two
sets are situated, and the inner surface of the tube is made with a certain amount
of taper at these parts, so that conical wedge pieces can first be introduced into
the two inner coned seats of the jointing piece, after which two slightly larger
wedge pieces are inserted into the two end seats. On then driving keys through
slots in the outer tube and jointing piece behind the wedge pieces, these are driven
into their seats with such force as to expand the slotted parts of the jointing piece,
and thus form a tightly fitting joint as above described.
Dated this 8th day of April 1891
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Rails and in Joints therefor, also partly
applicable for Jointing Lengths of Hollow Sleepers, Hollow
Shafting, and other Tubular Objects.
We, MAX MANNESMANN and REINHARD MANNESMANN both of Remscheid-
Bliedinghausen in the Empire of Germany, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention has mainly for its object to provide more efficient means for
jointing together lengths of hollow railway rails, so that such joints shall be of the
same strength and rigidity as the other part of the rail.
For this purpose according to one improvement we strengthen or thicken the
ends of the rails in such manner as to compensate for the weakening thereof by
the formation of bolt holes, when fish plates are used, and also to afford them.
increased rigidity and resistance to wear. Such strengthening of the rail ends may
be effected by thickening them either externally or internally, or both combined,
or the ends may be made solid.
In the latter case the jointing. is effected by means of external fish plates, while
in the former case it is effected either by an internal fish plate alone, or by both
internal and external fish plates.
The accompanying drawings shew at Figs. 1 to 4 both the above described
arrangements.

page_text: In the arrangement shewn at Figs. 1 and 2, the two webs are advantageously
strengthened on the inner sides. The joint of such strengthened ends may be
effected by introducing a fish plate into the hollows of the two ends and securing
the same to the strengthened ends by screw bolts d.
The section of the fish plate may be made either to correspond exactly with the
hollows, or so as to fit only against certain parts thereof.
The strengthening of the ends may also be effected by making them perfectly
solid, as shewn at b Figs. 3 and 4, in which case the joint may be made by external
fish plates, c secured by bolts d.
The length of the joint will depend upon the nature of the rail supports employed.
The said strengthening not only perfectly compensates for the weakening of the
rail by the bolt holes, but also effectually prevents any deflection of the rails at
the joints and consequently also any loosening of the fastenings, thus insuring the
absence of all shocks due to imperfect joints.
The said strengthening of the ends may be effected by any known methods of
pressing, welding or rolling.
According to another improvement we form the ends of hollow rails with toothed
or ribbed and grooved surfaces such that the teeth of each rail take into the grooves
of the other, or the teeth may take into grooves in a separate connecting piece or
fish plate inserted into the two ends.
By this means the pressure to which the one rail end is subjected by a passing
load is effectually transferred by a considerable contact surface afforded by the
toothed connection, to the other unloaded rail end.
For the above purpose, according to one arrangement the meeting surfaces of
the joint are made to overlap each other and extend longitudinally to some distance
and these overlapping surfaces have longitudinal ribs formed upon them of such a
configuration that the ribs of the one surface will fit accurately into the inter-
mediate spaces of the other surface, so that the two surfaces are connected by a
series of keys and grooves, and they are secured in this position by transverse
screw bolts."
In order to insure a tight fit, the ribs and grooves are made of a
tapering or wedge shaped cross section, such that when fitted together a small
space is left between the end surface of the rib and the bottom of the groove into
which it fits so that on being drawn together by the screw bolts, the grip of the
surfaces will increase in proportion to the pressure.
In the case of hollow rails, the one rail end can be forged solid into a plug form
so as to fit into the hollow of the other rail end, the inner surfaces of which are in
that case formed with ribs and grooves that take into corresponding ribs and
grooves on the outer surface of the plug end of other rail.
To allow for expansion and contraction of the rails, the holes through which the
connecting screw bolts pass are suitably slotted.
When forming the overlapping joint on the ends of the hollow rails, these ends
are either made solid, or the sides of the rail are forged close together so as to
form practically a web similar to that of an ordinary rail, and this has then the
projecting ribs formed upon it by pressing in suitable dies or between rolls.
Figs. 5 to 16 shew different forms of rail joints constructed according to this
part of our invention.
Figs. 5 and 6 shew respectively a cross section and plan of the joint of two
flanged hollow rails a a. The two webs of each rail end g'g' and g² g², are first
pressed close together, so as to form a single web and are then subject to pressure
in dies so as to make them of the tongue and groove form in such a way that the
tongues c c of the one end fit into the grooves d d of the overlapping other
end, such tongues and grooves being made slightly taper, as shewn, so that when
the overlapping ends are drawn together by the screw bolts, the tongues and
grooves will be tightly wedged into each other, and thus afford an exceedingly
firm and strong joint.
The external grooves formed in the rail ends can be filled in with suitable filling
pieces, as shewn.

page_text: Sufficient spaces are allowed between the end of each rail and shoulder of the
other one to allow of expansion and contraction, and the bolt holes are slotted
to a corresponding extent."
Figures 7 and 8 shew corresponding views of the joint of double headed rails
the ordinary section of which is shewn at Fig. 9.
Fig. 10 shews a part in side view of the end joint of such a rail in which,
instead of merely pressing the two webs close together, as at Figs. 5 and 6, the
ends are forged solid in the first instance.
Figs. 11 and 12 shew similar views of a different form of hollow rail.
In the arrangement shewn at Figs. 13 and 14 the end of the one hollow rail k
is formed as a hollow plug fitting into the hollow of the other rail end g¹ 92, the
outer surfaces of the plug i and the inner surfaces of the rail end being
formed with ridges and grooves cc' that fit into each other as above described, and
that may be drawn into close contact by fish bolts; or the joint may even be made
sufficiently tight fitting and strong without the use of fish bolts, and will thus
afford means for effecting the jointing of the rails in a very rapid manner.
In order to enable rails so jointed to be readily disconnected, there are provided
at intervals rails with joints so formed as to allow of their being separated laterally,
such as the joints previously described.
Figs. 15 and 16 shew the modification in which the two rail ends g¹ g² are joined
by a separate solid fishing plug 7, the external surfaces of the plug, and the internal
surfaces of the rail ends being, as before, formed with ribs and recesses e c¹ fitting
into each other. The ends of the grooves in the rails are formed with abutments
for the ribs of the plug so that this cannot get shifted longitudinally out of
place. If fish bolts are used, these shoulders may of course be dispensed with.
According to another improvement we effect the jointing of the ends of hollow
rails, by close frictional contact, this method of jointing being also applicable to
hollow sleepers hollow shafting and other tubular objects requiring to be connected
together in lengths.
For this purpose we employ a jointing piece which is inserted into the two
abutting ends of the hollow rails or other objects to be joined and which piece is of
such a sectional form as to bear at least upon two opposite portions of the inner
surface of the rail or shaft and which has longitudinal slots at one or more points so
that on driving wedges into such slots the parts of the jointing piece on each side
thereof are forced asunder and are thereby pressed with considerable force against
the inner surface of the rail or shaft, thus clamping the two parts firmly together
by frictional contact.
Figs. 17 to 29 show various modes of forming joints between rails according to
this part of the invention while Figs. 30 to 40 shew the invention as applied to the
jointing of hollow shafting or tubular rods.
In the arrangement shewn in part longitudinal section, sectional plan and cross
section at Figs. 17, 18, 19, the two abutting hollow rail ends c c are securely
connected together by the fishing piece a which has a cross section approximating
as nearly as possible to the internal space of the rails, which are here shewn formed
with corrugated sides, the sides of the fishing piece being by preference made so as
to allow a little play, so that the piece may be readily introduced. In the fishing
piece are formed horizontal slots at suitable distances apart, which have
enlargements at their middle. In the sides of the rail ends, opposite where these
enlargements of the slots are situated, are formed corresponding holes g g' which
are somewhat larger than the enlargement of the slot e, and through these holes and the
said slot is driven a wedge d in such manner that by the wedging action the slotted
part of the fishing piece is expanded upwards and downwards so as to fit tightly
with considerable pressure against the top and bottom internal surfaces of the rail
ends. By this means it will be seen that a most effectual rail joint is produced,
which can be readily separated again by driving back the wedges d.
In the modification of this arrangement shewn at Fig. 20, the wedge d. is provided
with jibs k which bear with parallel faces against the slot of the fishing. piece, and

page_text: the key d is secured against loosening by locking screw nuts m screwed on to a
threaded extension of the key. The jibs k in this case extend through the rail and
bear with their shoulders against the same; they may however be fitted in the
fishing piece only when the sides of the rail are without corrugations, as shewn at
Fig. 21, a washer being provided, for the locking nuts to bear against,
passing through the hole in the rail and bearing against the ends of the jibs.
In the modifications shewn in Figs. 22 to 29, the fishing piece instead of being
slotted is divided into two separate parts a' a' which are forced respectively against
the upper and lower internal surfaces of the rail ends by the action of the wedge or
key h. In the arrangement shewn in longitudinal section, cross section and plan at
Figs. 22, 23 and 24 the two fishing pieces a² a² bear upon each other with
inclines in the middle of which they have a single hole through which is
driven the wedge or key h. The key is in this case parallel in its vertical
dimension and tapering in its horizontal dimension, and the holes in the pieces a¹ a³
are made wider than the key so that when placed in position, the upper piece a¹
bears only with the right hand edge of its hole against the one side of the key h, while
the lower one a bears only with the left hand edge of its hole against the other side
of the key. Thus it will be seen that on driving in the key, this will force the two
pieces a a² in opposite horizontal directions, and as they move upon each other by
means of the inclines it will be seen that they exercise a wedging action upon each
other whereby they are pressed with considerable force respectively against the
upper and the lower surfaces of the rail, thereby securing the two rail ends firmly
together, as in the preceding case.
In order to reduce as much as allowable the friction of the
upper and lower
surfaces of the pieces a a² against the surfaces of the rail, portions ii of the
surfaces of the former may be hollowed out as shewn. In order to fix the key h
tightly in the parts in a vertical direction, a small auxiliary key is driven in
below. As the key is in this case driven in at the joint of the two rails, the holes
for the key are formed by notches in the meeting end faces of the rails.
In the arrangement shewn respectively in cross section, sectional elevation and
plan at Figs. 25, 26 and 27, the two fishing pieces a a² are made as parallel bars
and are forced apart by a series of keys acting in a vertical direction,, as in
the first described arrangement the parts a' a' being in this case out of contact
with each other. Instead of two keys being provided on each side of the rail joint
as shewn, there may be a greater or less number. Figs. 28 and 29 shew a similar
arrangement to the foregoing one in which the two fishing pieces a' a² are driven
apart by a single key .
The parts a a² are in this case formed as bearers in order to afford equal strength
throughout, and in order to insure perfect contact with the rail surfaces at the ends,
portions of the contact surfaces may be hollowed out as at Fig. 22.
the
In the application of this part of the invention to the securing of joints of tubular
rods or of tubular shafting, shewn in side view at Fig. 30, longitudinal section at
Fig. 31, and cross sections respectively on lines X X and Y Y at Figs. 32 and 33,
the jointing piece a connecting the two tube or shaft ends is made
cylindrical, and thicker in the middle than at the ends, in such manner that while
the outer surface is cylindrical and fits the inner surface of the two ends cc,
inner surface of the fishing piece is made either with four conically tapered parts b
as shewn or the inner surface may be made with a continuous taper from either end
These conically tapered parts are formed with longitudinal slots e e', and ƒƒ of
which there may be four, as shewn, or any other number, and into these slotted parts
are introduced, before inserting the jointing piece into the tubular shafts conical
wedges d d'
The one pair of each set of slots such for instance as e e¹ are somewhat enlarged
at the end which is behind the conical wedge, and corresponding to the positions of
these enlargements, holes y g' are formed in the sides of the hollow shafts, c c, the
wedges d d being made to project somewhat beyond the one side these holes and the
corresponding enlargements, as shewn,
:

page_text: On now driving keys through the said enlargements, so as to bear against the
back surfaces of the wedges d', these will be driven further into the conical
surfaces of a,
and will thereby be made to bulge the slotted parts outwards so as to
bear with considerable pressure against the inner surface of the shafting cc, and
thus effectually secure the two ends together. The wedges are by preference made
of such length, that when driven in, they do not project beyond the outer surface of
the shafting c The separation of the connection is effected by first driving out the
keys h, and then driving in other wedges through holes i made in the shafting in
front of the wedges d', in positions corresponding to the front ends of the slots ff¹,
whereby such wedges, in acting upon the front ends of the wedges d d', will force
these backwards so as to cause the parts of the jointing piece a to release their
hold upon the shafting.
In the modified construction shewn in longitudinal section and cross section at
Figs. 34 and 35, the cylindrical jointing piece a, instead of being made of uniform
diameter throughout, is made with a middle part m of reduced diameter, and the
lengths of shafting to be joined, instead of butting together, terminate at a
distance apart corresponding to the length of the reduced part m of the jointing
piece. Such reduced part, which may either be solid or hollow, can then be made
to serve as the bearing of the shafting, the shoulders of the reduced part serving to
secure the shaft in its longitudinal position on each side of the plummer block.
This construction has the advantage that the shaft will run with greatly reduced
friction in its bearings, as compared with bearings of the full diameter of the hollow
shaft. The reduced part m
can also be case hardened to a high degree at
comparatively small cost, whereby friction and wear will be further reduced. The
other parts of the connection are the same as previously described.
The modification shewn at Figs. 36 and 37 only differs from the preceding one in
that only one conical wedge d is employed at each end of the jointing piece for
securing the two ends of the shafting.
Figs. 38 to 40 shew the application of the before described divided fishing or
jointing piece to the jointing of shafting.
Figs. 38 and 40 shew two longitudinal sections at right angles to each other and
Fig. 39 shews a cross section. In this case the cylindrical jointing piece is formed
of two separate parts a' a², which may be made either solid, or hollow, as shewn.
They are formed with two sets of inclines ³ d', at right angles to each other, by
which they bear upon each other, so that each part has three semi-cylindrical parts,
a middle one and two end ones which are connected together by intermediate
helically shaped parts. The inclines of the middle cylindrical parts are made with
central grooves d, into which is driven the key g through corresponding holes
formed by notches in the two end surfaces of the shafting.
The grooves d' and key g are formed as described with reference to Figs. 22
and 23 so that on driving in the key the two parts a a² are driven laterally in
contrary directions, and are thus wedged outwards against the inner surfaces of the
shaft ends, as previously described, the tightening being effected in a vertical
direction by the middle parts, and in a horizontal direction by the two end parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. Constructing hollow railway rails with ends of increased thickness for the
purpose on the one hand, of counteracting the weakening of the rail ends by the
means requisite for effecting the jointing thereof, and on the other hand to prevent
the deflection of the rail ends in any material degree, substantially as described.
2. Constructing hollow railway rails with overlapping joints by pressing or
forging the two sides of each rail end together and forming longitudinal ribs and
grooves on the meeting surfaces of such rail ends, in such manner that the ribs of
the one rail fit into the grooves of the other rail, the two ends being secured
together by fish bolts substantially as described.

page_text: 3. Constructing hollow railway rails with the one end formed as a plug and the
other end as a socket so that the joints of the rails are formed by fitting the plug
end of the one rail length into the socket end of the contiguous rail, the meeting
surfaces of the two parts being formed with longitudinal ridges and grooves so as to
fit into each other, and thus make a strong and secure joint, substantially as
described.
4. Constructing hollow railway rails with internal longitudinal grooves and
ridges at their ends, into which fit fishing plugs or jointing pieces having
corresponding grooves and ridges that take into those of the contiguous rail ends,
and thus effect a firm joint between the two, substantially as described.
5. Connecting the abutting ends of hollow rails, sleepers tubular shafts or rods
and the like by introducing into such ends a fishing or jointing piece adapted to be
expanded or forced outwards by a wedging action so as to bear with sufficient
pressure against the inner surfaces of the rails or shafting as to secure the two ends
firmly together, substantially as described.
6. The use, for securing the ends of hollow rails, hollow shafting and the like
together in the manner set forth in the preceding claim, of a fishing or jointing
piece such as a which either has longitudinally slotted parts or which is divided
longitudinally into separate parts that are expanded or separated by wedges or keys,
so as to fit tightly against the inner surfaces of the rail or shaft ends substantially
as described with reference to Figs. 17 to 29 and 38 to 40 of the drawings.
7. The use, for securing the ends of hollow shafting or tubular rods together in
the manner set forth in the 5th Claim, of a hollow cylindrical fishing or jointing
piece which is slotted in parts that are formed internally with tapering or conical
surfaces into which are driven longitudinal conical wedges acted upon by transverse
keys, so as to expand the slotted parts tightly against the inner surfaces of the
shafting, such jointing piece being either made of uniform external diameter
throughout, or with a reduced middle part which serves as the bearing for the
shafting substantially as described with reference to Figs. 30 to 37 of the
drawings.
Dated this 30th day of January 1892
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.