IMPROVEMENTS IN METHOD OF STRAIGHTENING, FINISHING, AND HARDENING RAILROAD RAILS AND ANALOGOUS BARS OF METAL, AND IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS ADAPTED THEREFOR."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Webb, of Johnstown, in the County of Cambria,
and State of Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, Engineer, for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METHOD OF STRAIGHTENING, FINISHING,
AND HARDENING RAILROAD RAILS AND ANALOGOUS BARS OF METAL, AND IN
MACHINERY AND APPARATUS ADAPTED THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Webb at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th January 1880.
GEORGE WEBB, of Johnstown, in the County of Cambria, and State of
"IMPROVEMENTS
Pensylvania, one of the United States of America, Engineer.
IN METHOD OF STRAIGHTENING, FINISHING, AND HARDENING RAILROAD RAILS
AND ANALOGOUS BARS OF METAL, AND IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS-ADAPTED
THEREFOR.
"
This Invention is applicable more particularly to steel rails for railroads, though
some portions of the benefits may be realized in the treatment of iron rails for
railroads, and corresponding bars of metal for other purposes. In the manufacture.
of rails for railroad tracks one of the greatest difficulties is to have them perfectly
straight; I attain this, and also avoid injuring the structure of the metal.
The operation of straightening rails by the gag heretofore practiced is
objectionable, because by its great force applied on a small surface after the rail is
cold, it compresses the metal on one side while it stretches it on the opposite side.
Both changes injure the structure of the metal.
I keep the rail straight; I clean the rail surface mechanically while the rail is
hot from the rolls, and immediately receive it in stout clamps capable of resisting
any tendency of the rail to curve during the cooling. The clamps cover only the
thin portions leaving the upper portions of the head exposed. The rail thus held
during the entire cooling process remains straight afterwards.
According to my Invention the clamps are carried in a revolving frame turning
on a horizontal axis over a tank of water or other suitable fluid. The surface of
the fluid must be high enough to immerse the head of the rail as it passes the
lowest point. If it is higher and immerses the whole it will not harden the other
parts of the rail because of their being protected by the clamps.

page_text: In carrying out my Invention I employ mechanism adapted to make the rails
nearly or quite straight by holding each while cooling either exactly in a right line
or with such slight curvature as shall be found by trial to be required for any
given pattern of rail to insure a straight condition of the rail when it is released
cold. It excludes the fluid from those thin parts which when fully exposed cool
quickest, and it exposes the heavier part, the head, which retains heat the longest.
The effect is to protect the thin part from the influence of the fluid.
Instead of cooling in fluid I can attain a good effect by similarly holding the rail
by covering its thin parts and exposing its tread or the upper part of its head, and
then cooling it in the air. The refrigerating influence of the fluid or air may be
increased by agitation if desired. The result is a practically uniform temperature
of all the parts during the cooling process.
This treatment in a tank is proper for either iron or steel rails. In treating
rails of steel or of such iron as will, like steel, greatly harden by sudden cooling,
I attain a further end (the hardening of the exposed surface), while protecting the
remainder and keeping it in its natural condition of soft or untempered metal.
The mechanism which I employ has a fixed framework in which is mounted a
shaft on which are keyed spiders, and on the rim of these spiders or open wheels
are fixed parallel to the shaft, and equi-distant from it, a series of heavy longi-
tudinal cast iron plates longer than the rail to be treated. On the exterior of the
plates are clamps formed to match the sides of the rail. All the clamps may
be removable to allow of treating different patterns of rails. For any given
pattern and size of rail one clamp of each pair may be fixed firmly to the plate, but
the other clamp is movable and controlled by operating mechanism of any suitable
character, by which to open and close the clamps; I prefer simply screws.
The apparatus being mounted in a convenient relation to the other parts of the
mill, as soon as the rail is cut off at the saws it is seized by feed rollers or other
suitable appliance, and fed past scrapers to remove the saw-fins and roll scales. It
is then fed directly into the space between the clamps. The movable clamp is then
set tight by its screws or devices for that purpose.
So soon as the clamps are properly closed on the rail the entire frame with its
rail is partially rotated so as to immerse the rail or more especially the exposed
tread thereof, and to bring the next set of clamps into proper position for receiving
its rail. Holes are provided to allow this movement to be effected by simply
inserting levers or bars.
The level of the fluid in the tank may vary. It may be just sufficient to
immerse the tread only of the rail, or from one-fourth to one-half of the revolving
frame may be submerged in the fluid in the tank. The exposed portion of each
rail on being immersed therein at the proper heat assumes the hard or tempered
condition, but the other parts of each rail being enveloped by the clamps will be
cooled more slowly and will retain their normal condition.
It is important that not only the large surface at the sides, but also the small
surfaces at each end of each rail be kept soft except at and near the top. I esteem
it important that the top or tread be as hard as is practicable, but that this
condition shall extend only a little down into the rail. It is important to protect
the ends of the hot rails from the contact of the cold fluid when the frame and its
contents revolves to immerse.
I attain this by the employment of removable pieces at each end. At the end of
the frame from which the rail is delivered I mount a close fitting button on a
center so that it is capable of being revolved. It moves close to the end of the
clamps. When turned in one position it applies against the ends of the clamps and
covers the hot end of the rail. When the rail is introduced into the open clamps,
it is moved therein until the rail abuts closely against the button. The clamps
being always longer than the rail there is an unfilled space at the other end, the
receiving end of the clamps. This I stop by the introduction of a short length of
rail of similar section introduced by hand or automatically. Thus conditioned the
clamps close, and the hot rail with its protecting clamps is revolved into the fluid.

page_text: The button is turned out of contact with the rail after the further revolution of
the frame has lifted the rail out of the fluid, so that it offers no obstruction to the
rail being drawn out, and is turned again into position to cover the end of the next
rail before the next rail arrives at that part of the apparatus.
The rail may be removed at whatever point in the rotation may be most
convenient.
In operating to harden the tread the rail may be inserted between the clamps at
any required part of their revolution. They may be each introduced in the last
position above the surface of the fluid. In such case they may be immersed
immediately that the clamps are closed, and that without removing the last
immersed rail from the fluid.
When hardening is not practiced, but only the clamping and holding for uniform
cooling, the frame may be enclosed so as to constitute a cylinder, and if it shall be
found that with any given size or style of rail the proper balance of temperature is
not attained, hot or cold air, whichever may be needed, may be introduced through
an orifice in or near the shaft, and circulated through the cylinder.
Modifications may be made in the details without departing from the principle
or sacrificing the advantages of the Invention. Where water is employed as the
cooling fluid, if salted or otherwise specially prepared, mechanical means may be
provided for causing it to circulate actively.
If fresh water is used, a liberal stream may be supplied to change it and to
maintain its low temperature.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Webb in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th June
1880.
GEORGE WEBB, of Johnstown, in the County of Cambria, and State of
Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN METHOD OF STRAIGHTENING, FINISHING; AND HARDENING RAILROAD RAILS
AND ANALOGOUS BARS OF METAL, AND IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS ADAPTED
THEREFOR."
The Invention is applicable more particularly to steel rails for railroads, though
some portions of the benefit may be realized in the treatment of iron rails for
railroads and corresponding bars of metal for other purposes. In the manufacture
of rails for railroad tracks, one of the greatest difficulties is to have them perfectly
straight; I attain this without injuring the structure of the metal.
The operation of straightening rails by the gag heretofore practiced is objection-
able because by its great force applied on a small surface after the rail is cold, it
compresses the metal on one side while it stretches it on the opposite side. Both
changes injure the structure of the metal.
I keep the rail straight; I clean the surface mechanically while the rail is hot
from the rolls, and immediately receive it in stout clamps capable of resisting any
tendency of the rail to curve during the cooling. The clamps cover only the thin
portions leaving the upper portions of the head exposed. The rail thus held
during the entire cooling process remains straight afterwards; I can also harden.
To attain this end I employ a tank filled with water, oil, or other cooling fluid,
and revolve the clamps, or the frame containing them and their contents, so as to
expose the tread of the rail to the rapid cooling necessary to induce the hardened
condition. The Drawings represent the apparatus as thus worked.
The clamps are carried in a revolving frame turning on a horizontal axis over a
tank of water. The surface of the water must be high enough to immerse the
tread of the rail as it passes the lowest point. If it is higher, and immerses the
whole, it will not harden the other parts of the rail because of their being protected
by the clamps.
The accompanying Drawings form a part of this Specification, and represent what
I consider the best means of carrying out the Invention.
Figure 1 is a section through the main portion of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is an end view of a portion.
Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion on a smaller scale.
Figure 4 is a face view of the ends of the scrapers, which act on the surfaces of
the rail as it is forced into the frame.
Figure 5 is a plan view of a portion of the same parts showing the relation to
the clamps and to the guides which are employed in connection.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the Figures.
The mechanism here represented is intended to make the rails absolutely
straight by holding each while cooling, either exactly in a right line or with such
curvature as shall be found by trial to be required for any given pattern of rail to
insure a straight condition of the rail when it is released cold. It excludes the
water from those thin parts, which when fully exposed cool quickest, and it exposes
the heavier part, the head, which retains heat the longest. The effect is to protect
the thin parts from the influence of the cooling fluid.
This treatment in a tank is proper for either iron or steel rails. In treating rails
of steel or of such iron as will, like steel, greately harden by sudden cooling, I attain
a further end, the hardening of the exposed surface, while protecting the remainder
and keeping it in its natural condition of soft or untempered metal.

page_text: A is a fixed framework. L is a shaft mounted in bearings on the supporting
frame; on it are keyed spiders L', L', and on the rims of those spiders or open
wheels are fixed parallel to the shaft, and equidistant from it, eight or more heavy
longitudinal cast iron plates L³, longer than the rail m to be treated. On the
exterior of the plates L are clamps L³, L, formed to match the sides of the rail.
Both clamps may be exchanged to allow of treating different patterns of rails. For
any given pattern and size of rail, the clamp L' of each pair is fixed firmly to the
plate L2, but the other clamp L is movable and controlled by operating mechanism
of any suitable character, by which to open and close the clamps; I have
represented simply screws L
The apparatus being mounted in a convenient relation to the other parts of the
mill, as soon as the hot rail is cut off at the saws, not represented, it is seized by
feed rollers or other suitable appliances, and fed past scrapers S to remove the
roughness produced by the saws and the roll scales. It is then fed directly into
the space between the clamps L³ and L*; the movable clamp L' is then set tight by
its screws or devices L for that purpose.
So soon as the clamps are properly closed on the rail, the entire frame L, L¹, L³,
L³, L*, L³, with its rail m, is partially rotated so as to immerse the rail, or more
especially the exposed tread thereof, and to bring the next set of clamps in proper
position for receiving its rail. The holes are provided to allow this movement to
be effected by simply inserting levers or bars in these holes, and turning by
hand.
The level of the fluid in the tank may vary; it may be just sufficient to immerse
the tread only of the rail, or from one-fourth to one half of the revolving frame may
be submerged in the oil or water in the tank T. The exposed portion of each rail
on being immersed therein at the proper heat assumes the hard or tempered
condition, but the other parts of each rail being enveloped by the clamps L³, LA,
will be cooled more slowly, and will retain their normal condition.
It is important that not only the large surface at the sides, but also the small
surfaces at each end of each rail be soft except at the top. I esteem it important
that the top or tread be as hard as is practicable, but that this condition shall
extend only a little down into the rail. It is important to protect the ends of the
hot rails from the contact of the cold water when the frame and its contents
revolves to immerse them.
I attain this by the employment of removable pieces at each end. At the end
of the frame from which the rail is delivered I mount a close fitting button L,
mounted on a centre l', so as that it is capable of being revolved. It moves close
to the end of the clamps. When turned in one position it applies against the ends
of the clamps L³, L, and covers the hot end of the rail. When the rail is intro-
duced into the open clamps, it is moved therein until the rail abuts closely against
the button Le. The clamps being always longer than the rail there is an unfilled
space at the other end, the receiving end of the clamps. This I fill by the
introduction of a short length of rail of similar section inserted by hand or
machinery. Thus conditioned, the clamps close and the hot rail with its protecting
clamps is revolved into the water.
The button L' is turned out of contact with the rail after the further revolution of
the frame has lifted the rail out of the water, so that it offers no obstruction to
the rail being drawn out, and is turned again into position to cover the end of the
next rail before the next rail arrives at that part of the apparatus.
The rail may be removed at whatever point in the rotation may be most
convenient.
The rails may be inserted when the respective clamps are in the highest part of
their revolution, in which case they will be a considerable time in descending to
the tank T, T, if each pair of clamps is filled, or the rails may be inserted at any
desired lower position, care being taken, of course, to turn them into the
corresponding position. They may be each introduced in the last position above
the surface of the water; in such case they may be immersed immediately that

page_text: the clamps are closed, and that without removing the last immersed rail from the
water.
Instead of cooling in water I can attain a good effect by similarly holding the
rail by covering its thin parts and exposing its head and cooling it in the air.
This exposes the upper part of the rail alone to the full refrigerating influence of
the air, which latter may be increased by agitation by a blower or other means if
desired. The result is a practically uniform temperature of all the parts during
the cooling process.
When hardening is not practiced, but only the clamping, and holding for uniform
cooling, the frame may be enclosed so as to constitute a cylinder, and if it shall be
found that with any given size or style of rail, the proper balance of temperature
is not attained, hot or cold air, whichever may be needed, may be introduced
through an orifice in or near the shaft, and circulated through the cylinder.
Modifications may be made in the details without departing from the principle
or sacrificing the advantages of the Invention. Where water is employed as the
cooling fluid, if salted, or otherwise specially prepared, mechanical means may be
provided for causing it to circulate actively. If fresh water is used a liberal
stream may be supplied to change it and to maintain its low temperature.
I claim as my Invention secured to me under the said Letters Patent,―
1st. The clamps L³, L, and operating means L³, mounted in the revolving
frame L, L', in combination with the tank T of cooling fluid, and adapted to
receive and hold a rail and to expose the tread only to the cooling fluid, while the
other portions are protected, as herein specified.
2nd. In combination with a movable frame carrying clamps L, L, and operating
means, the employment of movable end pieces adapted to protect the ends of the
rail during their immersion in cooling fluid, as herein specified.
3rd. The method of treating railroad rails and other bars after rolling by
removing the scale, clamping rigidly in the required form, and holding until
cooled, substantially as herein specified.
4th. The method of treating a steel rail by first passing it in a heated condition
between scrapers, then receiving it between clamps which cover the thin parts, and
leave the tread exposed, and finally immersing the exposed part in a cooling fluid,
while thin parts are protected by the clamps, as herein specified.
5th. The treatment of steel rails by receiving them in a hot condition between
clamps which expose the head and confine all the other parts, and immersing
together with the clamps in a cooling fluid so as to perform the double functions
of straightening and hardening, as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Webb, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 31st day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and sighty
Witnesses,
THOMAS DREW STETSON,
Patent Solicitor, New York,
WILLIAM COLBORNE BROOKES.
GEORGE WEBB. (L.S.)