An Improved Joint for the Rails of Railways.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18:h Reb.. 1895.
Complete Specification Left, 11th May, 1895-Accepted, 15th June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Joint for the Rails of Railways.
1, CHARLES CORWIN WELLS of Hayes Street, San Francisco, County of San
Francisco, California, U.S.A., Municipal Officer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows :-
In this invention the meeting ends of railway rails are each provided with a
vertical recess or slot one slot being in a line with another on the next rail.
Into two recesses thus placed is fitted an iron plate or bar which at each end is
slightly below the top of the corresponding rails in which it is embedded but curves
upwards to the middle of its length so as to lie somewhat higher than the top of
the rails in the manner that when wheels are passing along the rails the ends of
the embedded bar are not touched but upon the upward curve of the same the
wheels are practically lifted above the joint, and then come down gently upon
the surface of the next adjoining rail. The embedded bars are held in the rails by
pins so as to have a certain amount of end movement and vertical rocking
movement.
Dated this 16th day of February 1895.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
An Improved Joint for the Rails of Railways.
I, Charles CORWIN WELLS of Hayes Street, San Francisco, County of San
Francisco, California, U.S.A., Municipal Officer, 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 has for object to relieve the jar caused by the wheels of
railway vehicles more especially of street railways or tramways. when said vehicles
or cars pass over the meeting ends of the rails.
In the drawing,
Fig. 1 is a side view of the meeting ends of two rails one partly in section and
shewing the application of the appliance of this invention.
Fig. 2 is a top view with the end of one of the rails in section.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view shewing the rails separated.
A are the meeting ends of two rails the heads of which have vertical channels
formed in them of the same width from top to bottom. C is a connecting plate or
The ends of the
bridge fitting loosely in the channels in the ends of the rails.
plate come slightly lower than the upper surfaces of the rails so that when the
wheels reach these points they do not strike the ends of the plates but roll a short
distance over them before taking upon their upwardly curving upper edge, which
rises sufficiently to practically lift the wheel above the joint between the rails and
as it passes over this curvature and down upon the opposite side it rolls gently
and easily upon the surface of the next adjoining rail. These plates are preferably
held in place in the channels by pins E extending through transverse holes in the

page_text: rails and slots F made in the ends of the plates corresponding in position with the
holes in the rails. These slots allow for a certain amount of end movement, and
vertical rocking movement of the plate, and for such change of position of the
rails as may take place by slight separation of the rail ends.
In the construction shewn in the drawing two pins or bolts, one in each rail
head, are used. They pass through slots of considerable length in the connecting
plate and by reason of this arrangement there is always a certain amount of
hinge like movement allowed to the rails which is especially manifest when the
meeting ends of the rails have settled or been raised a little.
If four pins or bolts were used as is usual in this class of devices, the parts
would be rigidly held and would not allow of any adjustment but with a single
bolt in each end of a bridge bar and an elongated slot there is formed a loose
hinged joint which whilst allowing a movement of the joint does not destroy
the smooth surface over which the wheel passes and obviates the pounding and
shock which now generally obtains.
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 bridge for the joints formed by the abutting ends of railway rails, con-
sisting of a rectangular bridge bar having its upper edge convex and a single
elongated slot in each end, open ended correspondingly shaped channels or recesses
in the top of each rail end in which the bridge bar fits loosely with its central
convex portion slightly above the surfaces of the rail ends, and a pin or bolt passing
transversely through the single hole in each rail and the corresponding slot in each
end of the bridge har whereby a loosely hinged and movable joint is formed,
substantially as described and shewn.
2. A bridge for the joints formed by the meeting ends of railway rails, con-
sisting of a rectangular bridge bar, having a single elongated slot in each end,
open ended correspondingly shaped channels or recesses in the top of each rail end
in which the bridge bar fits loosely and a single pin or bolt passing through each
rail end and the corresponding slot in each end of the bridge bar whereby a
100sely binged and movable joint is formed, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 11th day of May 1895.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.