Improvement in Joints for Railway Rails.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 8th Sept., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Joints for Railway Rails.
I, ALFRED DAVID CRESSLER, of the City of Fort Wayne, County of Allen, State
of Indiana, one of the United States of America, manufacturer, 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 joints for railway rails.
-
The object of my present invention is to provide a rail-joint for railway rails
of simple and economical construction so constructed and arranged as to secure
absolute rigidity of the abutting ends of the rails relative to each other, by an
interlocking union therewith, thereby obviating the usual wearing action on the
said ends of the rails, and avoiding the jar and disagreeable sensation incident
to passing over the uneven joints of the railway rails now in common use, and
also materially increasing the durability of the rails as well as the road-bed while
at the same time permitting a proper longitudinal movement of the rails due
tc expansion and contraction thereof.
Another object of my invention is to provide an interlocking rail-joint adapted
to prevent the spreading of the rails under all conditions of use.
My improvement consists of a chair splice-bar so constructed as to completely
envelop or inclose the flanged bases or feet of the abutting rail-ends, and is
provided with upright longitudinal flanges in parallel arrangement adapted to
embrace and firmly clasp the said rails, when secured in position by transverse
bolts and holding spikes.
The novel feature of my invention resides in the construction by which
absolute relative rigidity of the abutting ends of the rails is secured without any
liability of either vertical or lateral movement relative to each other under the
heaviest strains in use.
In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference numerals indicate
like parts throughout the several views, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my in-
vention showing the same secured in position for use, rigidly connecting the
adjacent ends of two railway rails broken away in part.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of my improvement in position on a supporting cross-
tie or sleeper, taken through the holding spikes, the said sleeper and spikes
being partly broken away.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of the same taken through the bolt holes, showing a
holding bolt in position.
Fig. 4 is a perspective detail of my improved interlocking joint or chair splice-
bar.
My improved rail-joint comprises an integral chair having a base 1, oppositely
inclined sides 2 united at their outer edge to said base, and the vertical parallel
flanges 3 united at their base to the inner edge of the said sides.
The space 4 between the base and said sides is adapted to snugly contain the
foot or flanged base 5 of the rail.
The said upright flanges 3 are separated by a sufficient space to admit and
contain the vertical web 6 of the rail as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

page_text: The said upright flanges 3 are provided with a series of coincident transverse
bolt holes 10 adapted to register with corresponding bolt openings 11 in the
abutting rails.
These bolt holes are all properly elongated to admit of the usual or necessary
longitudinal expansion of said rails 20 and 21.
The abutting ends of the said rails are firmly secured to their seat in said
chair splice-bar by the bolts 12 which are loosely arranged in the said holes and
are secured therein by the washer 13 and the nut 14.
My improved chair splice-bar is provided upon its opposite edges with vertical
slots adapted to receive and contain a small portion of the spikes 15 by which
the said abutting ends are secured to the ties or sleepers 22.
These slots are arranged as follows:-
The base 1 has two or more vertical slots 16 upon its outer edges of sufficient
width to snugly admit the said spikes, while the said inclined sides are provided
with corresponding slots 17 of sufficiently increased size to admit the inner and
extended portion of the spike-head 18.
The operation and manner of employing my improvement thus described is
briefly stated as follows: The said chair splice-bar or interlocking rail-joint is
slipped over the abutting ends of the adjacent rails endwise.
The bolts 12 are then placed in position and the nuts 14 tightened thereon,
whereby the vertical parallel flanges 3 are firmly forced against the inclined
lower faces of the ball 9 of the rail.
This wedging action obviously forces the said flanges 3 slightly downward
thereby also firmly clasping the base of the rail as well as the ball thereof as
described.
The spikes 15 are then driven in place the heads 18 thereof resting in the
said slots 17 substantially flush with the upper surface of the said sides 2 as shown
in Figs. 2 and with their inner edge impinging on the flanged base 5 of the
rail and resting in the said slots 16 in the base 1, of said chair.
It is thus obvious that my improved rail-joint or chair splice-bar is rigidly
secured in its interlocking union with the abutting rails by means of the said
bolts which in tightening exert a clamping action thereon, and that either
vertical or lateral displacement of the abutting ends of the rails, is impossible,
when the bolts are removed, so long as the said spikes are in their holding
position.
It is obvious that in the use of my improved joint it is immaterial whether
the abutting ends of the rails rest directly on or between ties or sleepers; and
it is also immaterial whether the abutting ends of the rails are cut transversely
in the usual manner, or otherwise, as my improved rail-joint may be employed
with any form of abutting ends.
While I preferably make my improved rail-joint or chair splice-bar in one
piece as shown it may be made in two or more longitudinal pieces or sections
without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.
My invention can readily be adapted for use on any form of railway rail.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The improvement in joints for railway rails consisting in the use of a chair
having a hollow base adapted to inclose and contain the base or bottom flange
of the rails and provided with integral upright flanges in parallel arrangement,
adapted to inclose the web of the rails, and the hereindescribed means for se-
curing the said joint or chair to the abutting ends of the said rails.
2. A rail joint for railway rails consisting of a chair having a hollow base
adapted to snugly inclose the flanged foot of the rail as shown, and provided with
upright parallel longitudinal flanges inclosing the web of the rail, and the means
for securing the said chair to the rail, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. The improved means for securing the abutting ends of railway rails, con-
sisting of a hollow splice-bar whose base is adapted to snugly inclose the base
of the rail, and whose upright sides or flanges are adapted to inclose the web
of the rail as shown, and the hereindescribed means for rigidly securing the said
splice-bar in position.
4. A rail joint for the abutting ends of railway rails consisting of a chair or
splice-bar having a hollow base adapted to inclose the foot of the rail, and pro-
vided with upright sides or flanges adapted for a wedging contact with the lower
faces of the ball of the rail, substantially as described.
5. In a rail-joint the railway rails the combination of a chair or hollow splice-
bar adapted to inclose the base of the rail and to form a wedging contact with
the ball or tread of the rail as described, and the hereindescribed means for
rigidly securing the said chair in position.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of December 1899.
J. C. CHAPMAN & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.