Improved Chairs or Base Plates for Railway Rails.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1894-Accepted, 19th Jan., 1895
Improved Chairs or Base Plates for Railway Rails.
We WILLIAM RILEY FUNK and ARTHUR GRANT HENRY both of McFarland,
County of Wabaunsee, Kansas, U.S.A. do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
The invention relates to improvements in tie-plates.
The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of tie-plates,
and to provide an adjustable one adapted to be readily arranged to suit the width
of the rails to which it is to be applied, and capable of forming a firm seat for
a rail, and of securely holding the same against lateral displacement to prevent
spreading of rails, or the like.
The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrange-
ment of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing,
and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.
In the drawing:
Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a rail provided with a tie-plate
constructed in accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of one of the sides or sections of the
tie-plate.
Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the
drawing.
1, designates a tie-plate composed of two sections 2, arranged upon the upper
face of a tie 3, and located at opposite sides of the rail 4, and forming a seat for the
same and preventing lateral displacement to prevent rails from spreading. Each
section of the tie-plate is constructed of a single piece of metal, and is composed of
a downwardly-offset, horizontally arranged inner portion 5, and an oppositely,
upwardly-offset outer portion 6, whereby an inner vertically-disposed shoulder 7 is
formed for engaging the outer edge of the bottom flange at one side of the rail 4,
and an outer vertical shoulder 8 is provided for engaging the cross-tie 3. The
inner portion 5 of each section is located beneath the bottom flange of the rail, and
is seated in a recess 9 of the cross-tie, whereby the sections of the tie-plate are
prevented from slipping outward on the latter; and the upper or outer portion 6
rests upon the upper face of the cross-tie and is located at the side of the rail
adjacent to the bottom flange thereof.
The sections form a seat or recess between their vertical shoulders 7 for the
bottom flanges of the rail which is engaged in the usual manner by spikes 10
passing through openings 11 of the sections, whereby the rail is securely clamped
and the sections of the tie-plate firmly attached to the cross-tie.
The tie-plate sections are adapted to be adjusted on the upper face of the
cross-tie to suit the width of a rail, and they bear against the shanks of the spikes
and support the latter, holding them in engagement with the bottom flanges of the
rail. The lower edges 12 of the inner portions 5 of the sections of the tie-plate are
slightly beveled.
It will be seen that the tie-plate is simple and comparatively inexpensive in
construction, that the sections are capable of adjustment to suit the width of a rail,
and that they form a seat for the latter. It will also be seen that the rail is
securely clamped to the cross-tie and is safely held against lateral movement to
prevent the spreading of rails and the consequent accidents. It will be apparent

page_text: that the tie-plate sections may be readily manufactured and quickly applied to any
ordinary construction of rails.
The tie-plate is adapted to be employed in various places, such as in connection
with frogs, guard-rails, switches, and the like; and from their compactness and
adjustability, they are adapted for use in places where larger rail chairs and plates
cannot be employed.
Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be
resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the
advantages of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. A tie-plate composed of two adjustable sections designed to be arranged at
opposite sides of the rail, and each consisting of a plate having a downwardly-
offset inner portion, and provided with an upper inner shoulder to engage the
bottom flange of a rail, and having a lower outer shoulder for engaging a cross-tie,
substantially as described.
2. The combination with a rail, and a cross-tie provided below the rail with
recesses, of a tie-plate composed of two sections located at opposite sides of the
rail, and each consisting of a plate baving a downwardly-offset inner portion
located in a recess of the cross-tie and having a beveled lower face, and an
upper outer portion arranged on the upper face of the cross-tie, said section being
provided with a central spike-opening and having an upper inner shoulder to
engage the bottom flange of the rail and a lower outer shoulder for engaging
the cross-tie, and spikes passing through the openings of the sections and engaging
the rails, substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1894.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.