Improvements in and connected with Railroad Spikes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1895-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Railroad Spikes.
I, CHARLES PLATZ, Woodworker, of 659 E. 158 Street, New York, in the
County of New York, and State of New York, United States of America, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to railway spikes, and to locks therefor; and the object
thereof is to provide an improved device by means of which such spikes may be
securely held in the tie, and the accidental removal thereof, or the working loose
of the spike, prevented; and with this and other objects in view, the invention
consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter
described and claimed.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following Specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which ;-
Fig. 1, is a sectional view of a rail, showing also my improved locking device
for a railway spike;
Fig. 2, a side elevation of the spike ;
Fig. 3, a back view thereof; and,
Fig. 4, a view of my improved locking device.
In the practice of my invention, I provide a railway spike A, having the
usual head B, formed at the upper end, and in the back and sides of the spike
is a groove C, which is adapted to receive my improved lock which consists of a
yoke D, the ends of the sides of which are pointed as shown at d, and in the back
of the spike, at the upper end thereof, is also formed a vertical slot E, which
extends upwardly, through the back of the groove C, and through the head of
the spike as shown in Fig. 3, and by the dotted line in Fig. 2.
The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description when
taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. The railway rail F, is placed
in position upon the ties in the usual manner and the spike A, is then driven into
the tie so that the head B, thereof, will overlap the base plate or flange shown in
Fig. 1, the yoke D, is then driven into the spike, the position thereof being also
shown in Fig. 1, so that the closed end thereof will rest in the back of the groove C,
and the sides thereof, in the sides of the groove which are inclined forwardly and
downwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 2.
When the locking yoke is thus driven into position, it will, as will be readily
understood, securely hold the spike in place and the latter will not work loose and
cannot be removed without first removing the yoke.
It may be necessary at times to remove the spike, and for this purpose I provide
the groove E, and whenever it becomes necessary to remove the spike, a wedge
or similar device is driven into said groove and by this means the yoke may be
removed and after the yoke has been removed the spike may be withdrawn in the
usual manner.
Having fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters
Patent :-
1. A railway spike, provided with the usual head, and a groove formed in the
back and sides thereof. below the head, the sides of the grooves being inclined

page_text: forwardly and downwardly and a yoke adapted to fit within said groove and to
be driven into a tie, substantially as shown and described.
2. A railway spike, provided with the usual head, and a groove formed in the
back and sides thereof below the head, the sides of the groove being inclined
forwardly and downwardly and a yoke adapted to fit within said groove, and to be
driven into a tie, said spike being provided at its upper end with a longitudinal
groove or slot in the back thereof, which extends through the back of the head
and back of said groove downwardly, substantially as shown and described.
3. A railway spike, adapted to be held in position in a tie by means of a yoke
which fits within a groove formed in the back and sides thereof, substantially as
shown and described.
4. A railway spike provided with a head as B, and a groove as C, formed in the
back and sides thereof, below the head, said groove being adapted to receive a
yoke as D, substantially as shown and described.
5. A railway spike provided with the usual head as B, and a groove as C, formed
in the back and sides thereof, below the head, and also with a vertical groove or
slot as E, said groove C, being adapted to receive a yoke which is adapted to be
driven into a tie, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 8th day of November 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.