Improvements in Rail Joints for Tramways and Railways.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 28th Mar., 189!
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rail Joints for Tramways and Railways.
We, JOHN WILSON, of 66, Accrington Road, Blackburn, Engineer, JOHN
GEORGE COOK, of 328, Blackburn Road, Darwen, Tramway Manager, and
THOMAS WINTER, of 18, St. Peter Street, Blackburn, Engineer, all in the
County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the joints, or means of attaching, or
connecting the rails of tramways, or railways whereby the rails at, or near the
joints are prevented sinking, or working loose, thus obviating oscillation, and
vibration of engine and car, or carriages when passing over same, also allowing
of the line being repaired at the weakest parts i.e. the joints without the necessity.
of raising, or moving as much pavement, or as many setts, or sleepers as hereto-
fore, and without raising the rails, as the sole plate can be pushed underneath
the ends of the latter, and into position without moving them.
According to this our invention we connect the ends of the rails by means of
a sole plate, and fish plate combined, the upper edge of the fish plate being close
to, and pressing against the underside of the "tread" of the rail, and the lower
portion is bent at an angle corresponding to the angle at the bottom of the rail,
and is then again bent under the sole "of the rail so as to enclose the ends
of the two rails, the portion which is bent under the latter forming the sole
plate, and is made of greater width than the sole of the rail so as to ensure a
more solid foundation. At the other side of the rails to the fish plate is a bracket
of L shape in section, one side of which acts as a fish plate, and the other is
secured by nuts, and bolts to the sole plate, the bolt heads being passed through
holes of slightly larger diameter, and having slots of less size formed in connection
with them so that the bolt heads may be passed through the holes, and the shanks
moved into the slots through which the bolt heads will not pass. The bracket is
now placed in position and secured by nuts on the bolts above mentioned. Two, or
more nuts, and bolts are also employed for securing the fish plates, and rails
together, the bolts passing through one fish plate, through the rails, and
then through the other fish plate, or bracket when the three are firmly secured
together by the nuts.
When a new rail is desired to be placed in position, or an old one replaced, only
sufficient of the pavement, or setts, or permanent way need be removed as will
allow of the sole plate being placed in position, as this latter can be done without
raising, lifting, or moving the rail, or rails, the sole plate being pushed underneath
the rails until in the correct position with the fish plate against the rib of the rail,
and under the tread; "the L bracket is next placed in position, and this is done
by first passing the bolt heads through the holes in the sole plate, and moving them
into the slots as above described, whereby it will be seen that it is not necessary
that the foundation should be cleared away beneath the sole plate for the purpose
of inserting the bolts, as this can be done from the top.
When used for railway purposes the sole plate is preferably bolted to the sleepers
to maintain it in correct position.
When the rails are connected in the manner described the joints are practically
as firm, and solid as the other portions, and at the same time a great saving in labour
in ensured when laying, or repairing a line.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1890
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Central Chambers, Halifax, Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rail Joints 'for "Tramways and Railways.
We, Joins WILSON, of 66, Accrington ' Road,' Blackburn, Engineer, JOHN
GEORGE COOK, of 328, Blackburn Road, Darwen, Tramway Manager, and
THOMAS WINTER, of 18, St. Peters Street, Blackburn, Engineer, all in the County
of Lancaster, 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 improvements in the joints, or means of attaching, or
connecting the rails of tramways, or railways whereby the rails at or near the joints
are prevented sinking or working loose, thus obviating oscillation, and vibration of
engine and car, or carriages when passing over same, also allowing of the line being
repaired at the weakest part i.e. the joints, without necessity of raising, or moving
as much pavement or as many setts, or sleepers as heretofore, and without raising
the rails, as the sole plate can be pushed underneath the ends of the latter, and into
position without moving them.
According to this our invention we connect the ends of the rails by means of a
sole plate, and fish plate combined, the upper edge of the fish plate being close to
and pressing against the underside of the "tread" of the rails and the lower portion
is bent at an angle corresponding to the angle at the bottom of the rail, and is then
again bent under the sole of the rail so as to enclose the ends of the two rails, the
portion which is bent under the latter forming the sole plate, and is made of greater
width than the sole of the rail so as to ensure a more solid foundation. At the
other side of the rails to the fish plate is a bracket of L shape in section, one side
of which acts as a fish plate, and the other is secured by nuts, and bolts to the sole
plate, the bolt heads being passed through holes of slightly larger diameter, and
having slots of less size formed in connection with them; so that the bolt heads
may be passed through the holes, and the shanks moved into the slots through
which the bolt heads will not pass. The bracket is now placed in position and
secured by nuts on the bolts above mentioned. Two or more nuts, and bolts are
also employed for securing the fish plates and rails together, the bolts passing
through one fish plate. through the rails, and then through the other fish plate, or
bracket when the three are firmly secured together by the nuts.
When a new rail is desired to be placed in position, or an old one replaced, only
sufficient of the pavement, or setts, or permanent way need be removed as will
allow of the sole plate being placed in position, as this latter can be done without
raising, lifting, or moving the rail or rails, the sole plate being pushed underneath
the rails, until in the correct position with the fish plate against the rib of the rail,
and under the tread," the L bracket is next placed in position, and this is done by
first passing the bolt heads through the holes in the sole plate, and moving them into
the slots as above described, whereby it will be seen that it is not necessary that
the foundation should be cleared away beneath the sole plate for the purpose
of inserting the bolts, as this can be done from the top.
When used for railway purposes the sole plate is preferably bolted to the sleepers
to maintain it in correct position.
When the rails are connected in the manner described the joints are practically
as firm, and solid as the other portions, and at the same time a great saving in labour
is ensured when laying, or repairing a line.
Such being the nature and object of our said invention the following is a
complete description of same reference being had the to the accompanying drawings
in which:-
Fig. is an end view of a
thereto.
"rail
having our improved joint applied
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the
arrow A.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the
arrow B.
According to this our said invention we connect the ends of the rails 1.1 by means
of a sole plate, and fish plate combined, the upper edge 2 of the fish plate 3 being
close to, and pressing against the underside 4 of the "tread" of the rails 1. 1 and the
lower portion 5 is bent to an angle corresponding to the angle at the bottom of
the rails 1.1 and is then again bent under the sole "6 of the rails 1. 1 so as to enclose
the ends of the two rails, the portion 7 which is bent under, the latter forming the
"sole" plate and this is made of greater width than the sole 6 of the rails 1. I so as
to ensure a solid foundation.
<:
At the other, and opposite side of the rails 1. 1 to the fish plate 3 is a bracket 8
of L section one side of which acts as a fish plate and the other side 9 is secured by
nuts and bolts 10. 10 to the sole plate 7 of the bolt heads being passed through
holes 11. 11 (sec Sheet 2) in the sole plate 7 of slightly larger diameters than the
heads and having slots 12. 12 of less size formed in connection with them so that the
bolt heads when passed through the holes 11 and the bolts moved along the slots 12
through which the heads will not pass the L bracket 8 next being placed in
position and secured by screwing the nuts on the bolts 10. 10, and also by the nuts
and bolts 13. 13 which latter pass through holes in the L bracket 8 through the
rails 1.1 and then through holes in the fish plate or bracket 2 and thus the whole
are securely fixed together and in position.
When a new rail I is desired to be placed in position, or an old one replaced only
sufficient of the setts, pavement or permanent way is required to be moved as will
allow of the sole plate 7 being removed and again placed in position, and the latter
can be accomplished without lifting, raising, or in any way moving the rail or rails 1
the sole plate 7 being simply pushed in, the direction indicated by arrow B (see
Fig. 1) underneath the sole 6 of the rails 1. 1 until in the correct position with the
fish plate 3 against the rib of the rails 1. 1 and the upper edge 2 against the under-
side 4 of the tread "of the rails, the bracket 8 being next placed in position
as above described, it will be seen that it is not necessary to clear away the founda-
tion 14 as the bolts 10. 10 can be inserted from the top of the sole plate 7 as herein.
before described.
The fish and sole plates are made to correspond with the outline section of the
rails with which they are to be employed, and when used for railway purposes
the sole plate 7 is preferably bolted to the sleepers in the ordinary way.
6:
"
When rails are connected in the manner above described, and with our improved
appliances, the joints are practically as firm and solid as other portions there being no
sinking or jumping of joints it follows that cars, or vehicles will run more
steadily over the lines, and consequently with less wear and tear, and at the
same time a great saving in labour is ensured when laying or repairing a line.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The improvements in rail joints wherein is employed the combined "fish"
and sole plates, and L bracket as and for the purpose herein described and substan-
tially as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
The 7th 1
r
1001
JOHN WILSON.
JOHN GEORGE COOK.
THOMAS WINTER.
By their Agent, Walter Brierley,
Central Chambers, Halifax.