Improved Fastening Devices for Securing Rails to Sleepers
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left. 1st June. 1891-Accepted, 15th Aug. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Fastening Devices for Securing Rails to Sleepers
I, FRITZ OTTO CARL MAX SCHLUSS, of Breddestrasse 38, Witten a/d Ruhr
Germany Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improved fastening devices for securing rails to metal
sleepers so as to allow of adjustment of the gauge up to 10" to either side of the
line, the arrangement being such that after the gauge has been adjusted to the
required extent, and the screw nuts employed have been tightened up, an absolutely
secure fastening of the rail upon the sleeper is ensured.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a rail and part of a sleeper, showing two
of the improved fastening devices in position, there being one at each side of the
foot of the rail.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the rail fastening device with part of the sleeper in
section.
Figs. 4 5 and 6 are detail views shewing the form of the clamping plate in side
elevation, end elevation, and plan respectively.
The rail fastening device consists of the following parts viz. a wedge piece a
having a screw spindle e forming a prolongation thereof and carrying a screw nut f;
a wedge plate to embrace the foot of the rail at one side and also the under side
of the sleeper; a back plate c which engages with the sleeper; and a washer or
plate d that rests upon the top of the back plate c and the wedge plate 4 and is
held by the nut f. The sleeper is formed with rectangular holes for the reception
of the rail fastening devices these holes being arranged one at each side of the
foot of the rail and extending in a direction transverse to the rail. The parts
described are put together on the track in the following manner :-
One of the wedge plates 6 is first inserted at one side of the rail and then the
corresponding back plate e and wedge piece a are inserted and the rail shifted laterally
so as to bear against the wedge plate b. Then the other wedge plate b is inserted
on the opposite side of the rail, the corresponding wedge piece a is then inserted
without its nut, and after this the back plate c is inserted from the top into the hole
in the sleeper. When this has been done the two wedge screws a are drawn up,
It is now
the washer plates d are placed in position and the nuts fare screwed on.
possible to shift the rail laterally to the extent of 10 m/m to either side, as may be
required to adjust the gauge, and after the adjustment has been effected the rail
can be securely fastened on the sleeper in its adjusted position by tightening up
both nuts f. The manufacture of the wedge plates 6 the back plates c and the
washers or plates d, can be effected from rolled ingot iron or steel rods or bars of
accurate profile; and it may be remarked in this respect that the wedge plates b
and back plates c can if desired be made from material of exactly the same profile.
Each of the wedge plates 6 and back plates c has at its upper end lateral projections
as shown that serve to support it on the sleeper.
Dated this 8th day of May 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Fastening Devices for Securing Rails to Sleepers.
I, FRITZ OTTO CARL MAX SCHLUSS, of Witten, 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 improved fastening devices for securing rails to metal
sleepers so as to allow of adjustment of the gauge up to 10 / to either side of the
line, the arrangement being such that after the gauge has been adjusted to the
required extent, and the screw nuts employed have been tightened up, an absolutely
secure fastening of the rail upon the sleeper is ensured.
In the drawings left with my Provisional Specification,
Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a rail and part of a sleeper, showing two
of the improved fastening devices in position, there being one at each side of the
.foot of the rail.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the rail fastening device with part of the sleeper in
section.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail views shewing the form of the clamping plate in side
elevation, end elevation, and plan respectively.
The rail fastening device consists of the following parts viz. a wedge piece a
having a screw spindle e forming a prolongation thereof and carrying a screw nut f;
a wedge plate b to embrace the foot of the rail at one side and also the underside of
the sleeper; a back plate c which engages with the sleeper; and a washer or
plate d that rests upon the top of the back plate e and the wedge plate 6 and is
held by the nut f. The sleeper is formed with rectangular holes for the reception
of the rail fastening devices these holes being arranged one at each side of the foot
. of the rail and extending in a direction transverse to the rail. The parts described
are put together on the track in the following manner :-
One of the wedge plates b is first inserted at one side of the rail and then the
corresponding back plate c and wedge piece a are inserted and the rail shifted
laterally so as to bear against the wedge plate b. Then the other wedge plate b is
inserted on the opposite side of the rail, the corresponding wedge piece a is then
inserted without its nut, and after this the back plate c is inserted from the top into
the hole in the sleeper. When this has been done the two wedge screws a are
.drawn up, the washer plates d are placed in position and the nuts fare screwed on.
It is now possible to shift the rail laterally to the extent of 10 m/m to either side,
as may be required to adjust the gauge, and after the adjustment has been
effected the rail can be securely fastened on the sleeper in its adjusted position by
tightening up both nuts. The manufacture of the wedge plates the back plates c
and the washers or plates d, can be effected from rolled ingot iron or steel rods or
bars of accurate profile; and it may be remarked in this respect that the wedge
plates band back plates c can if desired be made from material of exactly the same
profile. Each of the wedge plates and back plates c has at its upper end lateral
projections as shewn that serve to support it on the sleeper.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A fastening device for use in securing a rail to a metal sleeper in such a
manner as to allow of lateral adjustment of the rail to the required gauge, the said
fastening device comprising a wedge plate adapted to engage the sleeper and the
foot of the rail, a back plate c, a wedge piece a arranged to bear against the wedge
plate b, and having a screw threaded part e to carry a nut f, and a washer or plate d

page_text: arranged to bridge over the wedge plate 6 and the back plate c and held in position
by the nut substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The application and use substantially in the manner described and shown of
the improved adjustable fastening devices for securing a rail to a metal sleeper.
Dated this 1st day of June 1891.
F. O. C. M. SCHLUSS.
By L. W., per F. B.