Improvements in Rack-rails for Railways and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rack-rails for Railways and the like.
I, PAUL SIMONS, of 20 Wilhelmstrasse, Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hessia, in the
Empire of Germany, Civil Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to rack-rails for rack-railways and its object is to provide
means for constructing such racks in a light and durable manner and at low cost and
so as to allow them to be reversed and used on the other side when the one side has
become worn.
This invention, therefore, consists in forming and arranging the teeth of the said
rack-rail on both sides of a common longitudinal axis in such a manner that the
portion between the teeth of both rows of teeth, or the portion between the one row
of teeth joined to the adjoining portion of the other row of teeth, will form the
vertical stem or body of the said rack-rail. In the latter case, that is to say, when
the stem or body of the rack-rail is formed of the two corresponding vertical portions
on both rows of teeth, an intermediate vertical layer of metal or other suitable inaterial
may also be provided.
In the accompanying drawing
Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a lateral view, a plan view and a vertical section on the
line A-B, Figure 2 respectively of one form of rack-rail constructed in accordance
with the principle of this invention; Figure 3 at the same time showing part of a
toothed wheel in engagement with the part of the rack-rail.
Figure 4 is a plan view and
Figure 5 a section on the line C-D, respectively, of another form of such rack-
rail.
Figures 6 and 7 are a lateral view and a section on the line E-F respectively, of
another form or modification of such rack-rail and,
Figures 8 and 9 are a plan view and section on the line G-H, respectively, of such
modified form of rack-rail.
Figures 10 and 11 are a plan view and a section on the line I-K, respectively, of
another modified form of such rack-rail, and
Figure 12 is a plan view of a still further modification of such rack-rail.
The improved rack-rail may be adapted for toothed wheels rotating either in a
vertical or in a horizontal direction, and may be formed by means of rolling or
pressing, out of one piece as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, a here designating
the stem or body of the rack-rail and c¹ the teeth projecting laterally therefrom on
both sides or the rack-rail may be made of two separate plates of metal formed into
two rows of teeth by bolting or riveting together or otherwise connecting the
adjoining vertical portions a' and a" to form the stem or body of the rack-rail, as
shown in Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. As illustrated in Figures 10 and 12 an
intermediate layer may also be introduced between the vertical portions a' and a¹¹
which layer may either consist of one single piece of flat metal, as in Figure 10, or
of a number of shorter pieces, as in Figure 12.
=
The teeth of one side may be arranged either directly opposite those of the other
side as in Figures 8 and 12, or they may alternate so that the teeth of one side will
be opposite the spaces between the teeth of the other side, and vice versú, as in
Figures 2, 4 and 10.
By making the teeth ce" of such height as to leave a sufficient portion of their
surface exposed to the action of the engaging toothed wheel and by forming them
symmetrically in relation to their top and bottom portions the rack-rail may be
reversed or turned on its longitudinal axis at an angle of 180 degrees after the one
side has become worn, and may then be used on the other side.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is -
:
First. A rack-rail having two rows of teeth arranged laterally on the right and left
side of a longitudinal axis and projecting outwardly therefrom and formed, near the
said longitudinal axis, into one or more vertical portions the latter thus forming the
stem or supporting body of such rack-rail, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Second. A rack-rail having two rows of teeth c and c¹ arranged on the two sides
of a central vertical portion a forming the stem or body of the said rack-rail, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
Third. A rack-rail consisting of two pieces of plate-metal each formed into a row
of teeth and joined with their adjacent flat portions so that the latter will form the
stem or body of the said rack-rail, and the two rows of teeth will project laterally
therefrom on both sides, substantially as, and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. A rack-rail consisting of two pieces of plate-metal each formed into a row
of teeth and joined with their adjacent flat portions so that the latter will form the
stem or body of the said rack rail, and the two rows of teeth will project laterally
therefrom on both sides, and an intermediate layer between the said flat portions,
substantially as set forth.
Fifth. A rack-rail having lateral teeth of such height as to leave a portion of their
surface undisposed to the action of an engaging toothed wheel, the said teeth being
formed symmetrically in relation to their top and bottom portions, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
ated this 2nd day of June 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.