IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENING OR SECURING THE ENDS OF RAILS FOR RAILWAYS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Owen, of Merthyr Tydvil, in the County of
Glamorgan, Inspector of Rails, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FASTENING OR SECURING THE ENDS OF RAILS FOR RAILWAYS.”
Sealed the 29th March 1878, and dated the 30th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Owen at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th January 1878.
. DAVID OWEN, of Merthyr Tydvil, in the County of Glamorgan, Inspector of
Rails. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENING OR SECURING THE ENDS OF RAILS FOR
RAILWAYS,"
This Invention relates to a simple and effective mode of-fastening or securing the
ends of rails for railways, constituting a new rail joint, wherein fewer parts are
required, and the necessity for drilling or punching the rails and fish plates is
entirely obviated.
According to my said Invention I fasten or secure the adjoining ends of the
rails which form the joint by the aid of two keys driven transversely or otherwise
to the rails through an iron box situate under the end of each rail, and common to
the two. The cavity in this box, which fits both ends of the rail, is made narrower
at the top than at the bottom, so that when drawn downwards by the act of driving
in the keys it tends to tighten on two plain pieces of rolled iron, which serve as
fish plates, and which are rolled to fit any section of rail employed, the result of
such tightening being to secure firmly the rail ends in a much more effective and
simple inanner than by the ordinary arrangements heretofore adopted. This joint
is applicable to any section of rail, and its length is of course regulated by the
weight of the rail employed, whilst it admits of the distance between the joint
sleepers being considerably reduced.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David Owen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th July
1878.
DAVID OWEN, of Merthyr Tydvil, in the 'County of Glamorgan, Inspector of
Rails. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENING OR SECURING THE ENDS OF RAILS FOR
RAILWAYS."
My said Invention relates to a simple, effective, and cheaper mode of fastening or
* securing the ends of rails for railways, constituting a new rail joint, wherein fewer
parts are required, and the necessity for drilling or punching the rails and fish plates
is entirely obviated.
According to my said Invention I fasten or secure the adjoining ends of the rails
which form the joint by the aid of two keys driven transversely or otherwise to the
rails through an iron box or chair situate under the end of each rail, and common
to the two. The cavity in this chair fits loosely over the two adjoining ends of the
rails, and is made narrower at the top than at the bottom, its inner sides sloping
inwards. Two pieces of rolled iron, which serve as fish plates, and which are rolled
to fit any section of rail employed, are disposed loosely one on each side of the joint
between the sides of the rails and the inner sloping sides of the chair. On driving
home the keys the said chair will be drawn downwards, or in other words the rail
and its fish plates will be lifted, and as the opening in the chair is narrower at the
top than at the bottom it follows that the tightening of the keys will cause the
fish plates to come closer together, and grip the rail ends firmly and securely in a
much more effective and simple manner than by the ordinary arrangements hereto-
fore adopted. This joint is applicable to any section of rail, and its length is of
course regulated by the weight of the rail employed, whilst it admits of the
distance between the joint sleepers being considerably reduced.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a transverse vertical section (half the full
size) of my improved rail joint as applied to a heavy steel rail (say, 83 lbs. per
yard) of the section known as the bull-head section; Figure 2 is a corresponding
side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing my improved rail joint as
applied to a lighter make of rail (say, 40 lbs. per yard) of the section known as the
flange rail; and Figure 4 is a corresponding side elevation thereof.
A, A, are the rail ends; B, the chair, which may be composed of cast iron. or
steel, as preferred. The inner sides of the jaw of this chair are made plane, and
tend to incline inwards towards the top, the opening being narrower at the top
than at the bottom, as is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3. C, C, are two keys of
wrought iron, steel, or other suitable material driven transversely through openings
made to receive them in the lower portion of the chair, the said keys bearing against
the under sides of the rail ends inside the chair; D, D, are two fish plates
rolled or otherwise shaped to any desired form and dimensions to suit the size and
shape of the particular rail to which they are to be applied. These fish plates
require no bolting, and hence neither they nor the rails need to be punched or
perforated. They are fitted in loosely between the rail and the inclined sides of the
chair jaw, taking their bearings against the top and bottom heads or flanges of the
rails, as shown clearly in my Drawings.
The chair having been slipped over the ends of the rails, and the fish plates
adjusted in position, the keys are driven home, and the joint is effectually tightened
by the tendency which the keys have to force up or lift the rail and fish plates, and
to draw down at the same time the chair, thus tightening the fish plates between

page_text: the inclined sides of the jaw. In order to prevent the keys from working back and
becoming loose they are split open for a short distance at their smaller ends, and
opened out after having been driven home; or if preferred the smaller ends of the
keys may have one or more holes made transversely therein, through which holes
small split pins are driven to prevent the keys from working back.
When once the keys are driven well home no vibration whatever can take place
in the joint, which is in fact stronger than any other part of the rail.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the peculiar mode of and combined means for fastening or securing
the ends of rails for railways, as herein-before described, and illustrated by my
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Owen, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
DAVID OWEN. (L.S.)