IMPROVEMENTS IN FISH JOINTS FOR RAILS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Davy, of Wharf Street, Sheffield, in the County
of York, for an invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN FISH JOINTS FOR RAILS.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Davy at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd March 1882.
ALFRED DAVY of Wharf Street Sheffield in the County of York "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FISH JOINTS FOR RAILS."
My invention relates to a construction of fish-joints for rails in such a manner
that the full strength of the rails is maintained at their joints. For this purpose
I make fish plates the upper parts of which are of such internal profile that when
they are clamped against the rail on each side thereof they may be made to bear
against the rounded shoulder under the rail head, and also on the upper and
lower side or shoulder of the rib or flange at the foot or bottom of the rail,
without bearing generally against the surface of the vertical web. These fish
plates extend some distance below the rail and terminate in somewhat narrow
faces which meet together. One strong central bolt or two or more bolts arranged
on each side of the middle line of the fish-plates, being passed through holes
elose under the rail or it may be notched into its lower face, strain the fish
plates together, and these, taking their fulcrum on their lower meeting faces,
clamp the rails firmly between them as in a vice. In order to prevent any shift
of the fish-plates or rails lengthwise, I make a notch in the lower rib or flange
of each rail and provide on the inner face of each fish-plate a projecting rib which
enters the notch. When rails are already drilled for fishbolts, these holes may
receive bolts passed through them and through corresponding holes in the fish
plates above described, so as to prevent them from shifting lengthwise.
single bolt may be passed through holes in the middle of the fish plates and
through a hole formed by cutting a semicircular notch in the end or web of each
of the meeting rails. The fish plates may however be used as previously described
without passing any bolts through the rails.
Or &

page_text: one large central one may be employed. If the rails are already provided with
bolt holes for the ordinary fish plates, corresponding holes may be formed in the
fish plates a to receive bolts, in which case the notches g may be dispensed with.
Fig. 6 is a section of fish plate having a somewhat different configuration at their
lower part.
Having thus described the nature of my invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim :-
First. Constructing fish joints for rails with the fish plates extended some
distance below the rail, where they are made to bear against each other as a
fulcrum, while they are caused by a bolt or bolts passing through them immediately
below the bottom head or flange of the rails, to grip the latter above and below
such bottom head or flange and beneath the upper head or on the upper part of
the web, substantially as herein described.
Second. In combination with the construction of fish-joint referred to in the
preceding claim, forming notches in the lower heads or flanges of the rails into
which fit ribs on the fish plates, in order to prevent any longitudinal shifting of
the rails
In Witness whereof I the said Alfred Davy have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty fifth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
ALFRED DAVY. (L.S.)