Improvements relating to Ties or Sleepers for Railways, and to Means for Securing the Rails thereto.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1897-Accepted, 19th Feb., 1898
Improvements relating to Ties or Sleepers for Railways, and to
Means for Securing the Rails thereto.
I, ELIJAH B. GILPIN, of the City of Davis, and State of West Virginia, United
States of America, Gentleman, 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:-
My invention relates to that class of railway ties and fastenings in which the tie is
especially shaped for the purpose of securing it in position, and also furnishing means
whereby the rails may be securely fastened thereto. Its object being to provide a
secure and economical construction of tie which, in connection with auxiliary
fastening devices of simple character, may be employed to hold the rails in place as
more fully set forth hereinafter. In my improved construction herein described, the
necessity for employment of spikes, screws, etc., is obviated, and a firm locking
construction provided. The parts necessary to the complete construction of my
invention herein described, are reduced to a minimum, and these parts are constructed
so as to be interchangeable, and can be readily replaced. In this construction, the
line and gage of the rails so adjusted, will be accurate and positive, and can be
readily set into position without loss of time and labor, as for example, not only in
the ordinary construction, but in case of accidental destruction or derangement
of the line.
The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the various parts to
be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings for a better understanding of my
invention :
Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of my improved tie, illustrating the rails locked in
position thereon.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tie, showing the position of the oblong holes and their
relations to the rails.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of the rails, clamping block, and portion of the tie, showing
the parts in position.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the tie, a cross section of the clamping
block and side elevation of a portion of the rail, showing the spring and clamping
block held thereby.
Fig. 5 is a cross section of the tie, and
Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the rail and a portion of the tie, showing the brace
and clamping block in position for use.
Like letters of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout the various
figures.
The tie may be made of any suitable material, preferably metal, in a cast, pressed
or rolled form, as desired, and of such a size as to suit the various conditions of the
road, as to the burden bearing capacity, etc.
As I have illustrated in my invention, this tie has an appearance, in cross section,
LD027

page_text: of the letter T. It is provided upon its under side with a rib a¹ which extends
longitudinally along the center of the top plate a, from end to end thereof, and a
second rib or anchor plate extending from the under side in a plain at right angles
to the plate a and rib a¹, at a point midway between the two ends of the tie. These
ribs may be of any desired depth and are adapted to act as anchors to hold the tie
against lateral movement, especially at curves or switches along the line. At a³, the
edges of the plate are turned downward for the purpose of holding or preventing the
ballast, beneath the tie, from working loose, and thus allowing the tie to shift or
settle out of its proper position. The plate a is provided at suitable points with
oblong holes a, preferably rectangular, and adjacent to the flanges of the rails as
indicated in Fig. 2.
In Fig. 3, at C, I have shown in section, one of the clamping blocks to be employed
in connection with the tie plate to clamp the rails in position. This clamp consists
of a round shank c, made to exend through the holes at and of such a size as to
engage the walls of such hole and turn therein, the head c¹ provided with the inclined
flange c' to engage over the flange of the rail, and the lower head c³ arranged at right
angles to the shank, and extending in one direction therefrom to engage the under
side of the top plate a. The head of this clamp, is constructed to fit the
hole a, which is greater in length than in width, and as the distance between the
incline face c² and the upper edge of the head c³ is equal to the combined thickness
of the top plate a and flange of the rail B, the head c³ may be inserted through the
hole, and the block turned one-quarter revolution to swing the clamp in position, as
shown in Fig. 3, where the tie and rail are firmnly secured together.
When the clamping block has been inserted in position, as above described, the
spring d, shown best in position in Fig. 4, is inserted between one of the end walis
of the opening and the clamping block. That side of the spring which engages the
block is made straight and flat, and the opposite side is provided with an inward
curve, so that when the spring is. in position, the curve rests over the edge of the
opening to prevent it from accidental disengagement therefrom, and at the same
time, the flat surface bearing against the corresponding flat side of the clamping
block, tends to hold the said block from turning out of position.
In Fig. 6, I have shown a modified form of clamping block, particularly adapted
for curves and such points in the line where the rails would be liable to spread and
which is particularly constructed to brace the rail against any lateral strain brought
upon it by the rolling load. The lower portion of this brace is substantially identical
to that of the clamping block above described, having two heads c¹, c3 and shank c
to hold the rail and tie together. The bracing portion of this device is formed
integral with the upper head where it is carried outward at right angles to the shank,
to a suitable distance, and turned back upon itself at an acute angle to bring the
upper end, which is slightly enlarged, against the web and under edge of the.upper
flange, thus furnishing a secure brace against the lateral strain.
.
In laying the track by the use of my improved tie and fastening device, the
tie is first adjusted in position and the ballast thoroughly tamped and worked
into its proper place below the tie, when the rails may be laid thereon, as
indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, whereupon the clamping blocks may be inserted
through the openings as above described, and given a quarter turn until the incline
face is brought into clamping engagement with the flange of the rail.
spring d is then pressed into position, firmly securing the lock in its adjusted position
until it is desired to be removed.
The
It will be apparent that with the use of this invention, the parts may be readily
replaced or interchanged, and much time and labor saved as the necessity of gaging
and spiking or bolting is entirely obviated.
It will be apparent to those familiar with the art that some slight modifications
may be made in the specific construction and arrangement of the various parts,
without materially effecting the results, and I desire to have it understood that
while I have preferred to show my invention in the particular form herein set forth,
I do not limit myself thereto.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination of the railway tie and rail-clamping device, substantially as
herein shown and described. .
Dated this Inirtieth day of July 1897.
ELIJAH B. GILPIN.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.