IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINING OR CONNECTING THE ENDS OF TRAMWAY RAILS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
JOINING OR CONNECTING THE ENDS OF TRAMWAY RAILS." A communication
from abroad by Count Delamarre, of Paris, in the Republic of France,
Managing Director, of the Compagnie des Tramways de Paris.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th August 1879.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINING OR CONNECTING THE ENDS OF TRAM-
WAY RAILS." [A communication from abroad by Count Delamarre, of Paris, in
the Republic of France, Managing Director of the Compagnie des Tramways de
Paris.]
This Invention relates to improved means of joining or connecting together the
abutting ends of the contiguous lengths of tramway rails, and consists in the
employment of fishes of a shape approximating to that of an inverted U adapted
to the recess on the underside of the rails formed by their pendent sido flanges,
the fish and rails being secured together either by bolts passing through the two
pendent flanges of the rail and the two branches of the fish, or by bolts having
hook or other suitably shaped heads, and applied separately to each pendent flange,
and the corresponding branch of the fish, or by rivets or any other similar means.
The extremities of the fish may be bent outwards if required, or extended down to
the bottom of the sleeper where longitudinal sleepers are employed. In the case
of existing tramways in which longitudinal sleepers are used, the holes already
provided for the attachment of the rails to the sleepers by the ordinary fastenings
may be partly utilized for the reception of the fish bolts or rivets employed in
carrying out this Invention.
It is obvious that in applying the Invention to rails of special form the shape of
the fish will be varied in order to adapt it to the internal profile of the particular.
section of rail used. In all cases it may be composed of wrought iron or steel
rolled to the required shape.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
February 1880.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINING OR CONNECTING THE ENDS OF TRAMWAY
RAILS." A communication to me from abroad by Count Delamarre, of Paris, in
the Republic of France, Managing Director of tlie Compagnie des Tramways de
Paris.
The said Invention relates to improved means of joining or connecting together
the abutting ends of the contiguous lengths of tramway rails, and consists in the
employment of fishes of a shape approximating to that of an inverted U adapted
to the recess on the underside of the rails formed by their pendent side flanges, the
fish and rails being secured together either by bolts passing through the two
pendant flanges of the rail and the two branches of the fish, or by bolts having
hook or other suitably shaped heads and applied separately to each pendent flange,
and the corresponding branch of the fish, or by rivets or any other similar means..
The extremities of the fish may be bent outwards if required, or extended down to
the bottom of the sleeper when longitudinal sleepers are employed.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a side elevation, and Figure 2 is a
corresponding transverse section illustrating one modification of the said Invention..
Figure 3 is a side elevation, and Figure 4 is a corresponding transverse section
illustrating another modification of the said Invention.
According to the arrangement represented in Figures 1 and 2, the extremity of
a tramway rail A is connected to the extremity of another tramway-rail A¹ (both
provided with pendant side flanges a) by means of a fish plate B, bent so as to fit
closely against the underside of the rails. The fish plates which are thus formed
with flanges b corresponding to the flanges a on the rails are attached to the rails
by means of bolts C passing through both the side flanges a on the rails, and those
b on the fish plate.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the rails are connected
together by means of fish plates adapted to their under sides as in the preceding
arrangement, but in lieu of long bolts passing through both pendent flanges a, a,
separate short bolts G are employed for each flange. The heads of these bolts are
formed by projections on opposite sides of the shank of the bolt, as shown at D or
on one side only, as shewn at E.
In the case of existing tramways in which longitudinal sleepers are used the
holes already provided for the attachment of the rails to the sleepers by the
ordinary fastenings may be partly utilized for the reception of the fish bolts or
rivets employed in carrying out this Invention.
It is obvious that in applying the Invention to rails of special form the shape of
the fish will be varied in order to adapt it to the internal profile of the particular
section of rail used. In all cases it may be composed of wrought iron or steel
rolled to the required shape.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe' in, conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original

page_text: and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
Joining or connecting the ends of tramway rails, substantially in the manner
hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, this Twenty third day of February, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)