Device for Bridging the Joints of Railway Rails,
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1896-Accepted, 11th July, 1896
Device for Bridging the Joints of Railway Rails,
I, THOMAS STEURT MCKINNIE, of 341 Sterling Avenue, Cleveland, Cuyahoga
County, Ohio, United States of America, Farrier, 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 has reference to a device for bridging the joints of railway rails,
and the object of the invention is to prevent what is known as hammering or
pounding of the rails.
The object of the invention is to bridge the joint so that in effect and fact there
will be no joint so far as the tread or action of the wheel is concerned. That is,
the joint between the rails will disappear on their surface by reason of my bridge,
which spans the intervening space and makes the exposed running surface con-
tinuous from rail to rail. Immediately at or over the joint the weight is sustained
by both rails, and part of the weight is still supported by the rail that is left after
the wheel enters upon the new rail. Thus the sudden impact or shock of transit
from one rail to the other is prevented, and having prevented this I have met the
difficulty at its very threshold and preserved the integrity and security of the
fish-bars or like fastenings in all their original efficiency.
It is the initial weakening that hurts, and if this can be avoided there is no
reason why the present otherwise perfect means for connecting rails should not
serve to hold them rigidly together for an indefinite period.
Having reference to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved
bridging device.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of end sections of railway rails in working relation, with
my improved bridge in position as used.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line 3, 3, Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is an elevation on
line 4, 4, Fig. 2, looking to the right and showing the bridge in section.
The outlines and appearance of my improved bridging device or bridge A, are
clearly shown in Fig. 1. Here it will be seen that it is substantially T shape,
having a stem or standard 2, and arms 4 of uniform outline at its top. The stem 2
is preferably flat and thin so as to be adapted to enter and remain between rails
which are comparatively close at their abutting ends, but it may be of varying
thicknesses and thus better serve the purpose as the spaces between rails usually
vary more or less.
The arms 4 and 4 have a perfectly flush or flat top surface which is intended to
come flush with the surface of the rails B and C, in the ends of which they are
imbedded, substantially as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The sides 5 of the said arms
converge inwardly and downwardly to the central bottom meeting point 6, and the
inward taper is uniform on the said sides so as to form a symmetrical finish
This makes the said arms
throughout and exactly the same at both ends.
substantially V shape in cross section at any and all points, but I slightly round
the sides as shown, which gives the arms more strength and serves altogether a
better purpose than plain straight sides would. Both arms taper also to points 8,
and the proportions of the device to the rails are to be about as shown and in
these proportions are found sufficient to do the work.
I have here shown the device with T rails, but it may as well be used with street
car rails or others of still different construction. If there be danger of the device
jumping out of place it can be provided with a suitable catch or lock, but I have

page_text: not been troubled on this account. Steel or any durable metal may be used for
this purpose.
The rails are prepared for use with the bridge by producing notches or depressions
in their ends and top corresponding exactly to the construction and shape of the
said arms. This may be done by means of a cold chisel and hammer or in any
other available way. If with a chisel the material will be displaced at that point
but will not be lost because it will pack at the sides of the depression and remain
for service and solidify and strengthen the seat for the device.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. A device to bridge the joints of railway rails, having a central stem and
substantially sharp pointed arms with a flat top and tapering sides, substantially as
.described.
2. A bridging device for rail joints having a flat stem and tapered arms sub-
stantially V shape in cross section and flat over their top, in combination with the
rails having substantially V shaped notches in their ends to receive said arms,
substantially as described.
3. The device described having a stem to enter between the ends of the rails
and arms flat over their top and converging to their extremities and from their
top surface on both sides uniformly, to their bottom edge, substantially as
described.
Dated this 8th day of June 1896.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents for the Applicant.