Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 28th June, 1897--Accepted, 18th Sept., 1897
I, JAMES MCKENNY M.R.C.V.S. of 116 Stephen's Green, West, Dublin, Veterinary
Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to Improvements in the construction of Railway Rails in
connection with the means of joining or coupling them together, and has for its
object, to render the rails practically continuous as regards their supporting capacity
and continuity of the line of tread, independently of the expansion or contraction
of the metal; also to avoid or lessen the bumping of the wheels when passing over
the joints and to preserve a lateral, and, practically a horizontal alignment
longitudinally.
The object or nature of my invention may be carried out or attained substantially
as follows or in any other similar suitable manner.
1stly. The adjacent ends of the rails are constructed so as to interlock and
mutually support one another, and to this end they may be divided in such a
manner as to break joint in the horizontal and vertical plane, that is to say, each
rail is made with projecting portions having the head of each end suitably divided
for a certain distance, preferably longitudinally, the neck or web of each rail being.
turned outwards and under the divided portion thereby supporting it and resting on
the flange of the other rail end so that when two such rail ends are fitted together
they mutually overlap and complement each other to make up the complete rail
section.
These projections when bolted together strengthen and more closely unite the
rails the slots through which the bolts pass being oblong to allow of expansion or
contraction of the metal.
2ndly. I construct the joint so that the tread or upper surface of the rails and
coupling reciprocally, either in a longitudinal, diagonal, V shaped or other suitable.
manner, but preferably longitudinally, complement each other, that is to say, a
certain portion of the head of each rail at its extreme end also a portion of the tread
on each side of the rail is removed; the ends of the rails are thus sectionally. formed
into inverted L's capable of receiving a connecting coupler which complements,
forms the counterpart and replaces the already referred to removed portions: these
ends have oblong slots for the reception of bolts which secure them to the connecting.
coupler.
The connecting coupler-which is an interchangeable junction piece-when
formed represents two plates joined by a central piece, the union of which con-
stitutes an equivalent to the parts necessary to form a complete rail, together with
fulfilling the purpose of the ordinary fish-plates.
The whole is so constructed that when the rail ends are connected by the coupler,
the parts mutually complement each other, as already described, forming the
Laamulete rail section

page_text: Although my invention is designed more particularly for uniting the rails of rail-
roads I would have it understood that I do not limit myself in this respect and that
the same inethods may be used for connecting trainway rails or any line of rails on
which wheeled vehicles travel.
Dated this 28th day of September 1896
Improvements in Railway Rail Joints.
I, JAMES MCKENNY, M.R.C.V.S. of 116 Stephens Green W. Dublin, Veterinary
Surgeon, 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 improvements in the construction of railway rails in
connection with the means of joining or coupling them together, and, has for its
object, to render the rails practically continuous as regards their supporting capacity
and continuity of the line of tread, independently of the expansion or contraction of
the metal, also to avoid or lessen the bumping of the wheels when passing over the
joints and to preserve a lateral, and, practically, a horizontal alignment longitudinally.
The object or nature of my invention may be carried out substantially as follows,
or in any other similar suitable manner.
1stly. The adjacent ends of the rails are constructed so as to interlock and mutually
support one another-forming a bridged joint having for its support the web and
flange of each rail end and practically preserving a continuous line of tread; to this
end they may be divided in such a manner as to break joint in the horizontal and
vertical plane, that is to say, each rail is made with projecting portions as represented at A
of Figs. 2. 3. 4 and 5. having the head of each end suitably divided for a certain distance,
preferably longitudinally, the neck or web of each rail end being turned outwards and
under the divided portion, thereby supporting it, and resting on the flange of the
other rail end forming, practically, a rigid joint against displacement by the application
of force or pressure from above downwards and froin within outwards as shown A at
and F of Figs. 2. 3. 4 and 5; so that when two such rail ends Figs. 2 and 3 are fitted
together Fig. 1, they mutually overlap and complement each other to make up the
complete rail section Fig. 1. These projections when bolted together strengthen and
more closely unite the rails, the slots B. Fig. 1. through which the bolts pass being
oblong to allow of expansion or contraction of the metal. The afore described form
of carrying out the invention can only be applied to new rails in the process of their
manufacture.
2ndly. I construct the joint so that the tread or upper surface of the rails and
coupling, reciprocally, either in a longitudinal, diagonal, V shaped or other suitable
manner, but preferably longitudinally, complement each other, that is to say, a certain
portion of the head of each rail at its extreme end C Figs. 6 and 7, also a
portion of
the tread D Figs. 6 and 7 on each side of the rail is removed; the ends of the rails
are thus sectionally formed into inverted T's capable of receiving a connecting
coupler Fig. 8. which complements, forms the counterpart and replaces the already
referred to removed portions: these ends have oblong slots E Figs. 6 and 7 for the
reception of bolts which secure them to the connecting coupler.
The connecting coupler, Figs. 8. 9. and 10-which is an interchangeable junction
piece when formed, represents two plates joined by a central piece, the union of
which constitutes an equivalent to the parts] necessary to form a complete rail,
together with fulfilling the purpose of the ordinary fish plates.

page_text: The whole is so constructed that, when the rail ends are connected by the coupler,
the parts mutually complement each other, as already described, forming the
complete rail section. This form of carrying out my invention can be applied to
rails already made as well as to those under manufacture, and, on the whole, may be
considered preferable to that firstly described.
From the foregoing description it will be seen, that, the joint has an increased
thickness of web and is so constructed that pressure on any portion of it being
distributed over its entire length its resisting power or strength is increased in ratio
to the length of the parts forming the joint."
In the annexed drawing:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my rail joint in the form firstly described in my
specification.
Figs. 2 and 3 show a perspective view of the two rail ends-forming the joint-
separated.
Fig. 4 represents a top plan of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 represents a top plan of Fig. 3.
Figs. 6 and 7 show a perspective view of two rail ends of the second form of my
rail joint, as described in the specification.
Fig. 8. represents the coupler by which two rail ends as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 are
connected.
Fig. 9. is a cross section of Fig. 8 in the plane of the line x. x.
Fig. 10. is a cross section of Fig. 8 in the plane of the line y. y.
Fig. 11. shows an end view of Figs. 6 and 7.
Although my invention is designed more particularly for uniting the rails of railroads,
I would have it understood that I do not limit myself in this respect, and, that the
same methods may be used for connecting tramway rails or any line of rails on which
wheeled vehicles travel.
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 :-
A bridged rail joint having for its support the web and flange of the rail ends
ocked together, so that pressure is resisted from within outwards, and, from above
downwards, practically forming a continuous line of tread, distributing the weight-
esting on or passing over the joint-over a much larger area than heretofore, thus
ncreasing the resisting power of the joint itself, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 26th day of June 1897.