Improvements in Devices for Securing Together Metallic Surfaces, chiefly designed for Clamping Railway Rails to Sleepers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Securing Together Metallic Surfaces,
chiefly designed for Clamping Railway Rails to Sleepers.
We, ALEXANDER GEORGE EDWARD WESTMACOTT, residing on State Street,
Newtown, County of Bucks, State of Pennsylvania in the United States of America,
Clerk in Holy Orders, and JAMES PEMBERTON HUTCHINSON, residing on
Washington Avenue, in Newtown aforesaid Civil Engineer, 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 :-
Our invention relates to clamping devices for adjustably securing together
metallic surfaces, and is applicable more particularly to the fastening of the base-
flange of railway rails to metallic or other sleepers or cross-ties, and our improve-
ments constitute a simple and inexpensive device for the purpose of readily
permitting the removal at pleasure of the parts so united and requiring no skilled
labour in its use and application; and to this end it consists of the construction and
arrangement of parts as hereinafter particularly set forth.
In the accompanying drawings :-
:-
Figure 1 is a vertical section laterally through the cross-tie and rail, centrally
between the two sets of fastenings which are on either side; showing one of them
in section through its longitudinal centre, and the other in elevation.
Figure 2 is a plan of a rail mounted on a metallic sleeper or cross-tie intended to
show the openings in the latter and their position relatively to the base flange of
the rail.
Figure 3 is a like view with the clamping device in position in these openings and
embracing the base flange of the rail.
Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the line of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a Trail mounted on a metallic sleeper or cross-
tie, and secured thereto by our improved clamping device; a similar clamping
device being upon the other side of the rail and therefore not shown in this
figure.
Figure 6 are views in elevation of the two forms of clamp used by us and
the wedge to secure such clamp in the shaped slots or openings in the sleeper
or tie.
Figure 7 is a modification of the wedge to permit of its more easy removal.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views.
The essential elements of our invention are first the provision of L shaped slots
or openings M, M' (see Figure 2) in the face of the cross-tie or other surface to
which the base flange of the rail or other surface is to be adjustably clamped, and
secondly the provision for insertion in the ↳ shaped slots of a clamp C, C, (see.
Figure 6) constructed as therein shown; that is to say, a clamp having lower
projections on either side with upper projections c² on either side, and a square
neck between said sets of upper and lower projections, the upper projection on.
one side of the square neck being extended to form an overhanging lip, and which.
may be bevelled as at e to conform to the usual curvature of the base flange of a.
rail, if it is to be applied to the clamping of such surfaces. Thus the top projection
on one side above the square neck and which is intended to grip the metal surfaces
together should conform in shape on its under surface to the upper surface of the
metal to be clamped to the tie or other fixture, and so also should the upper
surface of the opposite lower projection e conform in shape to the under surface of..
the hollow metallic sleeper or other surface to be clamped.
By reference to said Figure 6 and also to Figure 1, the latter showing such a
clamping device in position, it will be observed that the over-hanging lip rests.

page_text: upon and grips the flange of the rail while the under projections et extend by means.
of the square neck beneath the under surface of the metal around the edge of the
Lshaped opening in the 'metallic-tie or sleeper, and thus bind the same and
prevent the lifting out of said opening of the clamp C after it has been finally
fixed in position in said slot or opening.
When this clamping device is to be used for securing rails to ties or sleepers,
the lower part of the clamp is inserted longitudinally in the slotted opening in the
sleeper, and it will be observed that this slot (see Figure 2) consists of a wide
portion M and a narrow portion M' and when arranged parallel with the flange of
the rail are of the form of the letter L, and must be so arranged that the base of
the shall be at right angles with the rail and with the narrow portion M¹
of the slot facing the same.
These slotted openings are constructed in size relative to the aggregate length
of the lower projections ct of the clamp, and of the square neck, while the width
of the narrow portion M' of the slot will correspond in width with the square
neck of the clamp. The clamp. is inserted longitudinally in the slot until its
lower projections pass beneath the under surface of the sleeper, the neck c
corresponding in height to the thickness thereof; and the clamp is then turned in
the slot at right angles to the flange of the rail so that the over-hanging lip c² will
rest upon said flange and the neck is then pushed laterally into the narrow,
portion M' of the slotted opening in the sleeper and fills said narrow portion
leaving the wide portion M which is the base of the L open. Thus a clamp is
provided which, in connection with the slotted opening constructed as stated,
binds together the flange of the rail with the sleeper in which said, slot is
provided.
In order to prevent a movement of said clamp laterally into the wide portion M..
of the slot, we provide a wedge D shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7, which has an over-
hanging head d. The body of this wedge is driver down into the wide opening M
in the slot and fills the space leaving the head d¹ projecting above the upper
surface of the sleeper; and in order to prevent a movement of this wedge
vertically, we provide channels c¹ on the inner faces of the clamp and d on the
faces of the wedge, and insert in said channels (which are arranged opposite each
other in the clamp and wedge) metal pins e fitting said channels which metal pins
may, after insertion, be bent over at their ends as shown in Figure 3, to prevent
dropping out. It will be observed that by this mode of fastening, the rail is held
securely to the sleeper, and yet may be easily removed therefrom by withdrawing
the metal pins e removing the wedges D and moving the neck of the clamp into the
wide portion M of slot, then turning around the clamp C to bring it parallel with
the rail, and longitudinally within the slot M, M', when the lower projections c* of
the clamp c
can be readily lifted out through said slot in the same manner as
originally inserted therein.
In order to provide for increase of gauge on curves or other points where
necessary or desired, we prefer to leave a space between the edge of the flange of
the rail and the inner edge of the slot as shown in Figures 2 and 3 and lengthening
the over-hanging lip as shown on the left hand side of Figure 6. The gauge 4
may be thus increased by moving the rail up to the edge of the wide part M of
the slot in the sleeper, and this device may be provided on either or both rails
(but not necessarily on both sides thereof) according to the increase of gauge:
desired; and the long or short lipped clamps shown in Figure 6 used and adjusted.
to suit such change of gauge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. In a rail fastening device the combination with a flange of the rail, and
with the surface of the underlying tie, of an
with relation to the rail substantially as shown
shaped slot in the latter arranged
and set forth, and a clamn having
i

page_text: an upper projection and a lower projection c¹ with a square connecting neck c³
between them; said clamp being adapted in size to be inserted in the slot in one
direction and the square connecting neck thereof to fill the narrow portion of the
slot when moved therein in the other direction, and thereby brought to its final
position therein; substantially as described.
Second. In a fastening device the combination with a flange of the rail or other
object and with the surface of the underlying tie or other object to be clamped
thereto, of an L shaped slot in the latter arranged with relation to the upper surface
to be clamped substantially as shown and set forth; and a clamp having double
upper projections ²² and double lower projections c¹ c¹ with a square connecting
neck between them; the said L shaped slot being adapted in size to fit said
clamp in one direction and the square neck thereof in the other direction, with a
wedge adapted to close the remaining space in the slotted opening after the clamp-
shall have been brought to its final position therein; substantially as described.
Dated this 29th day of March 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants..

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1892
Construct
an econo
struction, the improvements consisting in the construction and arrangement and
combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved metallic tie.
Figure 2 is a top view thereof, and
Figure 3 a cross-sectional view through the line a b of Figure 2 drawn to an
enlarged scale.
Similar letters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several figures of
the drawings.
A, Figure 2, represents the flat top or rail surface of our improved metallic tie,
which is of a proper length to suit the gauge of the railway and upon which rest
the rails E E which rails are secured to the flat top of the tie by any mode of
fastening the bases of rails to metallic ties. The sides B B (see Figure 1) extend
the length of the flat top A of the tie, and these sides are provided with openings F,
at or about their longitudinal centres, which openings are preferably produced by
cutting away a portion of the metal from the lower portion of the sides of the tie.
The sides B B are bent toward each other until they meet, and are preferably given
a curved shape, shown in Figure 3 that is to say the sides B B, the depth of which
is denoted by the lines b, extending to the base-line ¹, are given first an outward
and then an inward curvature toward each other until the said sides B B meet along
their bases, except where cut out in middle opening F in a vertical plane passing
longitudinally through the centre of the tie. Extension-pieces CC, (see Figure 1)
projecting longitudinally from the flat top A, are bent down at right angles with the
top surface of the tie, as shown in said Figure 1 so that the end view thereof will be
substantially as shown in the cross-section, Figure 3. Openings in the top surface A
are provided, as at D, in the centre, and, as at H H, at either end, as shown in
Figure 2, the centre opening D being shown in the cross section, Figure 3, these
openings being provided in order that when the tie is placed in position on the
ground ballast may be introduced therein and packed within the hollow portion of
the tie in order to give solidity thereto. The tie being thus in position on the ground,
the lateral openings F, (see Figure 1) in addition to economy of metal in the con-
struction of the tie, will enable ballast to be worked under and inside of the hollow
portion thereof, the packing of which ballast inside and under the curved longitudinal
sides B B adding to the solidity of the tie and preventing longitudinal motion
thereof, which latter feature is aided largely by the bent-over ends CC. (Shown in
Figure 1.) This inward curvature of the sides B B produces thus a hollow tie,
within which ballast may be packed as aforesaid, and owing to the form of the base
of the tie produced by the inward curvatures of its two sides toward each other,
enables the tie to rest solidly upon supporting external ballast, while the form of
the sides also produces a sufficiently elastic top surface A as a base for the rails
resting thereon and preventing a disintegration of the metal and a loosening of the

page_text: fastenings, which would otherwise be the case from the hammering of the wheels of
the rolling-stock on a too solid surface.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:―
1. A hollow metallic tie or sleeper consisting of a continuous flat top surface pro-
vided with openings therein and with longitudinal sides inclined inwardly toward
each other and meeting at their bases, substantially as described.
2. A hollow metallic tie or sleeper consisting of a flat top surface and with
longitudinal sides inclined inwardly toward each other and meeting at their bases
and with vertical end pieces of rectangular form, substantially as described.
3. A hollow metallic tie or sleeper consisting of a flat top surface with openings
therein and with longitudinal sides inclined inwardly toward each other and meeting
at their bases and provided with lateral openings in the same, substantially as
described.
4. A hollow metallic tie or sleeper consisting of a flat top surface with openings
therein and with longitudinal sides inclined inwardly toward each other and meeting
at their bases and provided with lateral openings in the same and vertical end pieces
of rectangular form, substantially as described.
Dated this 26th dow of Naramban 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.