An Improved Rail Joint.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left. 27th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1898
Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left. 27th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Rail Joint.
We, WILLIAM SANDFORD, of Eskbank Ironworks, Lithgow, in the Colony of
New South Wales, Ironmaster, WILLIAM THORNLEY, of Marrickville, near
Sydney, in the said Colony, Mechanical Engineer, and EDWARD SILCOCKS, of 32,
Buckingham Street, Sydney aforesaid, Railway Inspector, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
This improved rail joint consists essentially of the combination and arrange-
ment with the abutting ends of two lengths of rail of four plates which may
be made any required length. The two inner plates are made to fit the rail
accurately on the upper and lower side, the two expanding plates are made with
inclined edges which are of the same angle as the inner flanges on the inside
plates when these plates are put together and the bolts screwed up tight, the
outer plates being pressed in towards the centre of the rail, causes the inner
plates to expand and force themselves tight against the flange and head of rail.
The inner plates are curved in the middle so that the forcing home of the outer
plates causes the circular web of the inner plates to straighten out and so in-
crease the width of the plates to allow them to take up any irregularities or wear
there may be in the rail or plate. These rail joints may be made in the manner
above described, or if preferred, the inner plates can be made in two pieces to
allow them to open out more freely. If desired they may be made with the
inner plates extended to the surface of rail. The advantages claimed for the
invention are as follows:-The joint plates are in full bearing contact with rail,
under head and on flange, and as the action of the inner plates being tightened
by the bolts expands the joints in a direct line, the same surface of rail is
always in contact with the same surface of rail joint, so that any inequalities
or roughness in either rail or plate, is in a short time impressed either in joint
or on rail. This has the effect of making the ordinary rolled surfaces of rail
and joint practically a true mechanical fit.
It will be readily seen that this method of tightening the joints is superior
to any joint which slides down the ordinary inclined plane of the rails because
the plates or joints which depend upon being brought closer together by the
ordinary method are constantly shifting their position on the rails, so that the
indentations made by any irregularity in the rolling of the joints or rail, are
shifted every time the bolts are tightened up.
The rail is thus constantly knocking fresh impressions in the joints and causes
them to quickly wear away and become useless.
D
ihi 1a dos of January 1898.

page_text: An Improved Rail Joint.
We, WILLIAM SANDFORD, of Eskbank Ironworks, Lithgow, in the Colony of
New South Wales, Ironmaster, WILLIAM THORNLEY, of Marrickville, near
Sydney, in the said Colony, Mechanical Engineer, and EDWARD SILCOCKS, of 32,
Buckingham Street, in Sydney aforesaid, Railway Inspector, 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 state-
ment:-
This improved rail joint consists essentially of the combination and arrange-
ment with the abutting ends of two lengths of rail of four plates which may
be made any required length. The two inner plates are made to fit the rail
accurately on the upper and lower side, the two expansion plates are made with
inclined edges which are of the same angles as the inner flanges on the inside
plates, when these plates are put together as shewn at Figure 1, and the bolts
are screwed up tight, the outer plates being pressed in towards the centre of the
rail causes the inner plates to expand and force themselves tight against
the flange and head of rail. The inner plates are curved in the middle, so
that the forcing home of the outer plates causes the circular web of the inner
plates to straighten out and so increases the width of the plates to allow them
to take up any irregularities or wear there may be in the rail or plate.
These rail joints may be made as shewn on Figure "1" and in the manner
above described, or if preferred, the inner plates can be made in two pieces so as
to allow them to open out more freely, this method is shown on Figure 2. If
desired they may be made as shown on Figure 3, this method would have the
effect of strengthening, the rail joints, and may assist in carrying the wheels
over the slight opening between the rails and at the joints, as the tread of the
wheel would come in contact with the top flange and outer portion of rail joint.
But in order that this invention may be more clearly understood reference
will now be made to the drawings herewith where the letters of reference apply
to the same parts in all the figures.
Figure 1, is a section shewing the joint as applied to a flange rail A. The
inner plates B, B, are shewn in position when bolted up, the outer plates C, C,
fitting tightly between flanges of inner plate B, B, causing these portions of inner
plates to fit tight against head and flange of rail.
In Figure 2 the inner plates B, B, B, B, are in four pieces as shewn the action
being the same as in Figure 1.
Figure 3 shews one of the inner plates B, B, extended to surface of rail.
Figures 4 and 5 shew the application of the invention to the bull head and
double head rails. Figure 4, shows the joint applied in the same manner as
described on Figure 1. Figure 5, however shows an alteration which gives the
advantage of a deep fish plate, but the strength is added to the plates where it
will be of most service to the joints.
Figure 6 shews a longitudinal elevation of the joint.
The advantages claimed for the invention are as follows. The joint plates are
in full bearing contact with rail, under head and on flange, and as the action
of the inner plates, being tightened by the bolts, expands the joints in a direct
line, the same surface of rail is always in contact with the same surface of rail
joint, so that any inequalities or roughness in either rail or plate, is in a short
time impressed either in joint or on the rail. This has the effect of making the
ordinary rolled surfaces of rail and joint, practically, a true mechanical fit.

page_text: It will be readily seen that this method of tightening the joints is superior
to any joint which slides down the ordinary inclined plane of the rails, because
the plates or joints which depend upon being brought closer together by the
ordinary method are constantly shifting their position on the rail, so that the
indentations made by any irregularities in the rolling of the rails or joints, are
shifted every time the bolts are tightened up. The rail is thus constantly
knocking fresh impressions in the joints, and causes them to quickly wear away
and become useless.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
An improved rail joint consisting essentially of the combination and arrange-
ment of four plates, two inner plates and two outer expansion plates the two
outer plates being made slightly wedge form which when screwed up tight
causes the inner plates to expand and force themselves tight against the flange
and head of rail making a true mechanical fit substantially as described and
shewn on drawings.
FREDERIC PRINCE,
37, Cursitor Street, Chancery Lane, London,
Agent for Applicants.