New or Improved Railroad Spike.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nev., 1897-Accepted, 8th Jan., 1898
CUNTLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Railroad Spike.
We, JULIUS RICHARD, Inventor, FREDERIC COLEMAN, Merchant, OTTO VON
KANEL, Merchant, AUGUST JOERRS, Jeweller, and FRANK DUBACHER, Merchant, all
of Bisbee, Arizona Territory, in the United States of America, 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 railroad spikes, and has for its object to provide a
simple, cheap and efficient spike which, when driven into the tie, will be adapted
to spread and obtain a firmer hold on the tie than by the ordinary construction.
The improved spike is divided longitudinally and beveled as to its separated
portions, so that, as the spike is driven down, the said portions are caused to
spread away from a central line, thereby causing the spike to become more
firmly embedded in the tie, and the said spike also comprises near its head, cheek
portions and also a laterally projecting lug forming a sustaining shoulder, all of
which will be hereinafter described.
The invention consists in a railroad spike embodying certain novel features
and details of construction as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the
drawings and incorporated in the claim.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved railroad spike.
Fig. 2 is a section through the tie, showing the position of the spike when driven
to place.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the spike.
Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several
figures of the drawings.
The improved railroad spike contemplated in this invention, resembles in its
general outline an ordinary railroad spike. This spike comprises the body or
shank portion 1, which is provided, at one end, with an enlarged head 2 having
the usual overhanging or laterally projecting lip 3 for engaging the base of a
railway rail or the fish plate which connects to the contiguous ends of the rails
in a manner well understood.
For the purpose of carrying out this invention a round hole 3¹ is formed in
the spike, extending transversely therethrough at a point about an inch more or
less below the head 2, and this hole extends in a direction at right angles to the
rail when the spike it in place. Upon the hole 31 the body or shank of the spike
is divided longitudinally, said division extending to the point or end of the spike,
and opening out through it, whereby the body or shank of the spike is divided
into two equal portions firmly connected or formed integrally with the head 2.
At their extremities these divided portions are beveled on their inner faces
downward and outward, as indicated at 4, whereby, as the spike is driven home,
the divided portions are caused to separate or be deflected in opposite directions,
assuming a position shown in Figure 2 and thereby serving to prevent the dis-
placement of the spike.

page_text: Just under the head 2 the body or shank 1 is provided with cheeks 5, formed
by thickening the spike on each side at a point on each side of the transverse
hole 3¹. These cheeks not only strengthen the body of the spike adjacent to the
point where the same is weakened by the formation of the hole 31, but they also
serve to snugly fill the mouth of the opening in the tie formed by driving the
spike therein. On that side of the spike opposite to the side from which the lip 3
projects is a laterally projecting lug 6 which forms a sustaining shoulder, the
same being adapted to be driven partly into the tie so as to become firmly seated
and serving to prevent the spike from being thrust away from the base flange of
the rail when subjected to heavy strain. The underside of the laterally pro-
jecting lug 6 is concaved as clearly shown so that as the spike is driven to place
in the tie, it will be at the same time forced toward the rail for causing the lip 3
to engage more firmly over the base flange of the rail.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that a very simple and efficient
spike is provided which obtains a much firmer hold on the tie than an ordinary
spike and which is especially useful on curves where the greatest strain is brought
to bear on the spike. The object in making the transverse opening 31 round, is
to afford no angular termination to the longitudinal division in the spike, which
would increase the liability of the spike to split entirely in two. The spike is
formed from malleable metal so that it will spread without breaking.
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 :-
An article of manufacture, a railroad spike provided below its head with a
round transverse opening extending there-through, the shank of the spike being
divided longitudinally and centrally from said opening to the point of the spike
where the divided portions are beveled reversely upon their inner surfaces,
thickened cheek portions at each side of the spike extending from the transverse
opening upward toward the head, and a rearwardly projecting lug forming a
sustaining shoulder and having a curved and concave lower surface whereby in
driving the spike, said shoulder or lug serves to force the head of the spike into
solid engagement with the base of the rail, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of November 1897.