IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY FISH JOINTS, BOLTS, AND NUT LOCKS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN RAILWAY FISH JOINTS, BOLTS, AND NUT LOCKS." A communication
from abroad by Richard Long, of Pittsburg, Alleghany County, State of
Pennsylvania, United States of America.
1.9.
J
Sealed the 5th January 1877, and dated the 2nd August 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY FISH JOINTS, BOLTS, AND NUT
Locks."
The object of the first part of this Invention is to construct a fish plate for rail-
road joints that will when applied to the rail make it practically continuous.
It has been fully proved that there is always a deflection in the rails when the
carriages are passing over them, which exists not only directly under the wheels,
but also a slight distance in front and rear of the same, and that this deflection
passes along the rails in the direction in which the carriages are going similar to
a wave in front of the prow of a boat. This wave or deflection travels as stated
along the rails until it reaches the rail joint where it is broken and ceases, or is
not transmitted to the rail in advance, and as the forward end of the rail upon
which the carriages are passing is slightly depressed below the end of the next
rail, the wheels striking this elevation are caused to jump from the depressed rail to
the end of the one in advance, and in this way the ends of the rails become battered
and have very soon to be removed.
It has also been fully demonstrated by practical experience that, owing to this
irregularity of the joint causing the wheels to strike the ends of the rails as
stated, the wheels are made to rebound from the track and strike again on the
track a few inches from the joint, and thus injure and wear out the rails at this point
only. There are two principal causes for this trouble arising, as stated, from the break-
ing or stoppage of this wave of deflection at the joint, and thus preventing the same
from being transmitted to the rail in advance, one of which is that the fish plates
now used do not give the extreme rigidity to the rail just at the point where it is
essential, viz., directly at the joint, but owing to the uniform thickness the same degree
Price Gd.]

page_text: of rigidity is maintained throughout, or from one end of the fish plate to the other,
while another cause is found in the fact that the fish plates!now used are not con-
structed in a manner adapted to their being retained firmly in position or tight up to
the head, web, and base of the rail, as they do not have sufficient bearing upon these
points to prevent the fish plates from slightly slipping or springing when the
engine comes upon them, thus permitting the end of one rail to be depressed below
the end of the other.
The fish plate of the present Invention is designed to remedy these evils, and is
made of different thicknesses, that is to say, having a very strong re-enforcement
in the middle, so as to give the extreme rigidity desired directly opposite the joint
of the rails, also a small re-enforcement or narrow boss at or near each end of
the fish plate so as to have greater bearing on the head and base of the rails,
thus preventing any slipping or springing of the plates. These re-enforcements
near the ends of the fish plates are made so as to take in the part of the plate
where the holes are punched to receive the bolts (the two end bolts) so as to admit
of the latter drawing and retaining the fish plates very firmly in position, or tight
up against the different parts of the rail, as well as to prevent any springing of
the plates at these points. The re-enforcements in the middle of the fish plate
is lessened in thickness at the points where the two inner bolts pass through, and
ceases entirely just beyond or outside these points, thus lessening the thickness
of that portion of the fish plates between the inner and the end bolts, so as to
reduce the extreme rigidity which is desired directly at the joint (but nowhere
clsc), so as to permit the rails to yield slightly at a point a few inches from the
joint of the same, and in this manner overcoming the injury occasioned by the
rebounding of the wheels and their striking and battering the head of the rails
at this point as before stated. Should the head of the bolt project too far out by
reason of the additional thickness of the re-enforcements, a depression can readily
be formed in the same to receive the head of the bolt and thus obviate any difficulty
of this kind.
In the manufacture of these fish plates they are passed between rolls having
suitable depressions and elevations formed on the surface thereof to produce the
ro-enforcements on the surface of the fish plates, thus adding nothing to the cost of
their construction over the ordinary fish plates, except in the additional amount
of iron used in the re-enforcements.
Another feature of the present Invention consists in providing the fish plate 3
proper with an angle piece or inclined foot extending down over the base flange of
the rail, and likewise provided with reinforcements. This angle piece gives an
additional bearing, and renders the rail joint still stronger and more rigid. I pro-
pose to apply the angle piece to those fish plates used upon steel rails, the latter
being more elastic than iron rails. The reinforcements are continued down over 4
the face of the angle piece to impart the required rigidity to its reinforcements.
One great advantage of the use of the angle piece with steel rails is that it can
be constructed with notches and spiked down to the ties, thus preventing creeping
of the track. As is well known to manufacturers of steel rails it is nearly or quite
impossible to cut or punch spike holes or notches in the base or flange of steel 4
rails, as is done in iron rails, in consequence of breaking or cracking the corners
leit on the flange, and also rendering the entire flange liable to crack or break at
that point. The angle piece will be formed simultaneously with the fish plate, and
its re-enforcements in the process of rolling.
The object of the second part of this Invention is to provide a cheap, simple, 5
and efficient nut lock for use on railroad rail fish plate bolts, also upon other bolts.
The same is so constructed as to entirely overcome the great difficulty heretofore
encountered in locking or fastening a nut upon a bolt where both are subjected to
great and continuous jarring or concussion in such a manner as to keep the nut at
all times perfectly tight in its place. In order to accomplish this I have con- 5
structed a screw-threaded bolt having a smooth neck formed on one end thereof,
and a conical recess countersunk in the same end. This bolt is passed through fish

page_text: plates and rail or through any other device or devices that are to be screwed
together, and a nut of the usual construction is screwed on the end thereof with its
outer face flush with the base of the last thread on the end of the bolt. A washer
of wrought iron or other suitable metal is then placed on the neck of the bolt jam
against the outer face of the nut, and a punch having a cup-shaped recess in its
end, from the centre of which a central stem or projection rises, having its end cut
square or straight off, but with its edges slightly beveled to prevent its cutting the
metal, is then applied to the recessed end of the bolt, the end of the projection
resting in the conical recess on a line slightly in advance or on the outside of the
face of the washer. The outer end of the punch is then struck with a hammer
which forces the projection further into the recess, and causes the beveled edges of
the projection to force or expand the metal of the neck out over the hole in the
washer, thereby forming an annular rib or projection on the body of the neck of
the bolt in front of the washer, while at the same time the outer end of the neck
of the bolt is firmly held in the recess in the end of the punch between the projec-
tion and the outer rim of the punch, thus preventing the outer end of the neck
In case the
from splitting or spreading while the annular rim is being expanded.
outer end of the screw thread should project beyond the outer face of the nut when
the latter is screwed home, a washer large enough to go over the thread should be
put on so as to give an even bearing for the locking washer to rest against; but it
is preferable to have the locking washer fit directly against the face of the nut, and
this can always be done, even if the bolt should be too long, by putting washers on
the end of the bolt against its head.
Where a nut is dispensed with and a plate or bar is used instead the latter is
provided with screw-threaded holes for the bolts, and the screw threads on the
bolts come out flush with but not beyond the outer face of the bar or plate, and
the locking washer is applied and rivetted against the face of the plate in the
manner already described
It will be perceived that by this method of fastening nuts upon bolts I do not
spread the end of the smooth neck but force a swell or rib out around the body
of the neck, and directly up against the nut or washer itself, so that the nut is
held firmly in place and not allowed any play or movement in the bolt, as would
be the case if the rib were formed at the end. By this method of fastening the
nut it is effectually prevented from ever working loose, while at the same time it
can be removed when desired by applying extra force with a wrench in such
a inanner as not to injure either the bolt or nut, as by turning the bolt or nut the
annular rib is forced back into the countersunk space in the neck of the bolt, and
as this neck is of smaller diameter than the body or threaded portion of the bolt
it can be withdrawn through the nut without injuring in any manner the screw
thread of the nut. In this way the bolt and nut can be used as many times as
may be desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
February 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY FISH JOINTS, BOLTS, AND NUT
sex, Patent Agent.
LOCKS." A communication from abroad by Richard Long, of Pittsburg, Alleghany
County, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America.
The object of the first part of this Invention is to construct a fish plate for rail-
road joints that will when applied to the rail make it practically continuous.
It has been fully proved that there is always a deflection in the rails when the
carriages are passing over them, which exists not only directly under the wheels,
but also a slight distance in front and rear of the same, and that this deflection

page_text: passes along the rails in the direction in which the carriages are going, similar to a
wave in front of the prow of a boat. This wave or deflection travels as stated
along the rails until it reaches the rail joint, where it is broken, and conses or is
not transmitted to the rail in advance, and as the forward end of the rail upon
which the carriages are passing is slightly depressed below the end of the next rail,
the wheels striking this elevation are caused to jump from the depressed rail to the
end of the one in advance, and in this way the ends of the rails become battered
and have very soon to be removed.
It has also been fully demonstrated by practical experience that, owing to this
irregularity of the joints causing the wheels to strike the ends of the rails as stated,
the wheels are made to rebound from the track and strike again on the track a few
inches from the joint, and thus injure and wear out the rails at this point only.
There are two principal causes for this trouble arising, as stated, from the breaking
or stoppage of this wave of deflection at the joint, and thus preventing the same
from being transmitted to the rail in advance, one of which is that the fish plates
now in uso do not give the extreme rigidity to the rail just at the point where it
is essential, viz., directly at the joint, but owing to their uniform thickness the
same degree of rigidity is maintained throughout, or from one end of the fish plate
to the other, while another cause is found in the fact that the fish plates now used
are not constructed in a manner adapted to their being retained firmly in position
or tight up to the web, head, and base of the rail, as they do not have sufficient
bearing upon these points to prevent the fish plates from slightly slipping or
springing when the engine comes upon them, thus permitting the end of one rail
to be depressed below the end of the other.
The fish plate of this Invention which is designed to remedy these evils is made
of different thicknesses, that is to say, having a very strong re-enforcement in the
middle, so as to give the extreme rigidity required directly opposite the joint of the
rails, also a small re-enforcement or narrow boss at or near each end of the fish
plate so as to have greater bearing on the head and base of the rails, thus
preventing any slipping or springing of the plates. These re-enforcements near
the ends of the fish plates are made so as to take in the part of the plate where
the holes are punched to receive the bolts (the two end bolts) so as to admit of the
latter drawing and retaining the fish plates very firmly in position, or tight up against
the different parts of the rail, as well as to prevent any springing of the plates at
these points. The re-enforcement in the middle of the fish plate is lessened in
thickness at the points where the two inner bolts pass through, and ceases entirely
just beyond or outside these points, thus lessening the thickness of that portion of tho
fish plates between the inner and the end bolts, so as to reduce the extreme rigidity
which is desired directly at the joint (but nowhere else), so as to permit the rails
to yield slightly at a point a few inches from the joint of the same, and in this
manner overcoming the injury occasioned by the rebounding of the wheels and
their striking and battering the head of the rails at this point as before stated.
Should the head of the bolt project too far out by reason of the additional thickness
of the re-enforcements, a depression can readily be formed in the same to receive
the bead of the bolt, and thus obviate any difficulty of this kind.
In the manufacture of these fish plates they are passed between "rolls" having
suitable depressions and elevations formed on the surface thereof to produce the
re-enforcements on the surface of the fish plates, thus adding nothing to the cost
of their construction over the ordinary fish plates, except in the additional amount
of iron used in the re-enforcements.
Another feature of the Invention consists in providing the fish plate proper with
an angle piece or inclined foot, and extending the re-enforcement down across the
face of the said angle piece or foot as herein-after described.
In. the accompanying Drawing forming part of this Specification, Figure 1 is a
side elevation of the adjoining ends of two rails showing one of the improved fish
plates in position; Figure 2 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the line y, y,

page_text: of Figure 1, showing the two fish plates in position and bolted to the rails; Figure 3
is a transverse vertical section showing one of the fish plates provided with an
angle piece.
In the Drawing A, A, represent the adjoining ends of two railroad rails of the
usual construction. B, represent the two fish plates in position one on each
side of the rails and secured thereto by bolts and nuts in the usual manner.
a, a, designate the largest or thickest re-enforcements on the middle of the fish
plate at the point where the joint between the two rails is located. b, b, designate
the thinner portion of this main or central re-enforcement at the points where the
inner bolts pass through the plates. c, c, c, c, designate that part of the fish plate
which is made the thinnest in order to allow the rails to yield slightly at these
points. d, d, designate the smaller re-enforcements near the ends of the fish plates
through which the end bolts pass. The increased bearing for the head and base of
the rail obtained by the addition of the re-enforcements of the fish plate is fully
shown in Figure 2. The fish plates will in certain cases be provided with an angle
piece or foot e extending down over the base flange of the rail and likewise pro-
vided with re-enforcements. This angle piece gives an additional bearing and
renders the rail joint still stronger and more rigid. I propose to apply the angle
piece to those fish plates used upon steel rails, the latter being more elastic than
iron rails. The re-enforcements are continued down over the face of the angle
piece to impart the required rigidity. One great advantage of the use of the angle
piece with steel rails is that it can be constructed with notches and spiked down
to the ties, thus preventing creeping of the track. As is well known to manufac-
turers of steel rails it is nearly or quite impossible to cut or punch spike holes or
notches in the baso, or flange of steel rails, as is done in iron rails, in consequence of
breaking or cracking the corners left on the flange, and also rendering the entire
flange liable to crack or break at that point. The angle piece will be formed
simultaneously with the fish plate and its re-enforcements in the process of
rolling.
'
The object of the second part of the Invention is to provide a cheap, simple, and
efficient nut lock for use on railroad fish plate bolts and also upon other bolts. The
same is so constructed as to entirely overcome the great difficulty heretofore
encountered in locking or fastening a nut upon a bolt where both are subjected
to great and continuous jarring or concussion in such a manner as to keep the nut
at all times perfectly tight in its place. In order to accomplish this a screw threaded
bolt is provided with a smooth neck formed on one end which is a little less in
diameter than the body of the bolt and having a conical recess countersunk in the
same end; and a punch of peculiar construction is also to be used in connection
therewith to form a rib or swell on the neck for securing the nut in place; this
punch has a cupped-shaped recess in one end thereof, from the centre of which
a stein or projection rises, as will be herein-after more fully set forth.
Referring to Figures 4, 5, and 6 of the Drawing, A' represents a screw threaded
bolt having a smooth neck a¹ formed on one end thereof, and a conical recess b
countersunk in the same end, as shown in side view in Figure 4. This bolt is
passed through fish plates and rail or through any other device or devices that
are to be screwed together, as represented by the plates B, B, Figure 4, and a nut
C of the usual construction is screwed on the end thereof with its outer face
flush with the base of the last thread on the end of the bolt. A washer D¹ of
wrought iron or other suitable metal is then placed on the neck of the bolt jam
against the outer face of the nut C', and a punch E' having a cup-shaped recess
c, c, in its end, from the centre of which a central stem or projection d' rises,
having its end cut square or straight off but with its edges slightly bevelled to
prevent its cutting the metal, as shown in Figure 5, is then applied to the recessed
end of the bolt, the end of the projection d¹ resting in the conical recess b¹ on a
line slightly in advance or on the outside of the face of the washer D¹, as shown
in Figure 6. The outer end of the punch E' is then struck with a hammer, which
forces the projection d¹ farther into the recess b¹ and causes the bevelled edges of

page_text: the projection to force or expand the metal of the neck a¹ out over the hole in the
washer D', thereby forming an annular rib or projection e¹ on the body of the
neck of the bolt in front of the washer, as clearly shown in Figure 4, while at the
same time the outer end of the neck of the bolt is firmly held in the recess in the
end of the punch between the projection d¹ and the outer rim of the punch, thus
preventing the outer end of the neck from splitting or spreading while the annular
rim is being expanded. In case the outer end of the screw thread should project
beyond the outer face of the nut when the latter is screwed home a washer large
enough to go over the thread should be put on so as to give an even bearing for the
locking washer to rest against, but it is preferable to have the locking washer
fit directly against the face of the nut, and this can always be done, even if the
bolt should be too long, by putting washers on the end of the bolt against its head.
Where a nut is dispensed with and a plate or bar is used instead the latter is pro-
vided with screw-threaded holes for the bolts, and the screw threads on the bolts
come out flush with but not beyond the outer face of the bar or plate, and the
locking washer is applied and riveted against the face of the plate in the manner
already doscribed.
It will be perceived that by this method of fastening nuts upon the bolts I do
not spread the end of the smooth neck, but force a swell or rib out around the body
of the neck, and directly up against the nut or washer itself, so that the nut is held
firmly in place and not allowed any play or movement on the bolt, as would be the
case if the rib were formed at the end. By this method of fastening the nut it is
effectually prevented from ever working loose, while at the same time it can be
removed when desired by applying extra force with a wrench in such a manner as
not to injure either the bolt or nut, as by turning the bolt or nut the annular rib is
forced back into the countersunk space in the neck of the bolt, and as this neck is
of a smaller diameter than the body or threaded portion of the bolt, it can be with-
drawn through the nut without injuring in any manner the screw thread of the
nut. In this way the bolt and nut can be used as many times as inay be desired.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is―
First. The method herein-before described of rigidly connecting the continuous
ends of railroad rails by means of fish plates constructed with a re-enforcement at
the centre or opposite the rail joint, as shown and described.
Second. A fish plate constructed with a heavy re-enforcement at its central
portion, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Third. The fish plates B, B, having a re-enforcement at their central portion and
extending from the top edge to the bottom thereof in combination with the
rails A, A, as shown and described.
Fourth. A fish plate constructed of varying thicknesses, as described, whereby
different degrees of rigidity are obtained therein, and capable of being rolled in
their manufacture, as stated, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set
forth.
Fifth. The fish plates B, B, having the depressions c, c, formed in the face thereof,
in combination with the rails A, A, as described, whereby the rails are allowed to
yield, in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. The fish plates B, B, constructed with the re-enforcements a, a, b, b, and
, d, and the depressions c, c, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set
forth.
Seventh. A fish plate or bar provided with an angle piece or foot e, substantially
as described.
Eighth. The rail joint bar formed of the fish plate and angle piece, provided with
a re-enforcement extending entirely across both, us and for the purpose specified.
Ninth. The method of fastening or securing nuts upon bolts, consisting in
striking up a rib or projection on the body of the neck of said bolts, substantially
as shown and described..

page_text: Tenth. A bolt A', having the smooth neck a formed on the end thereof, and
the conical recess b¹ also in the end of the neck, substantially in the manner and for
the purpose set forth.
Eleventh. The punch E', having the cup-shaped recess c¹, c¹, and the central stem
or projection &, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
T 137
A. M. CLARK. (LS)