US1033769A - Rail-joint. - Google Patents

Description

C. W. YERBURY.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1911.

1,083,769. Patented July 23,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. 2 20 a I .5 [1/24 E 10 C. W. YERBURY.

} RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION-FILED NOV. 4, 1911.

1,633,769; Patented July 23,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A J: Wm-588E856 5m .wiwnnnnmfilil z 56 W (7260265 11 15/610 fl 7 I ATTORNEYS CHARLES 'W. YERBURY, 0F SPBJN'GFIELD, ILLINOIS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 19112.

Application filed November 4, 1911. Serial No. 858,497.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. YER- BURY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Springfield, in the county of 1 {each of the plates is removed as at 10, whereby pockets are formed, which pockets, i when the plates are in the position shown in Fig. 2 are adapted to receive the web and j the bottom portion of the meeting ends of F the rails. The lower side walls of the pock- Eets in the plates form, in efi'ect, shelves on which the bottom portions of the rails rest Sangamon and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Rail-Joint, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates generally to a rail 'oint and, more particularly to a fish plate, adapted for use on steam, electric and elevated roads, or in mines or quarries, or in fact in any place where a construction is required to hold rails together for tractive service.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved structure specially adapted to holding adjacent ends of meeting rails, the arrangement being such that no bolts or equivalent devices are necessary.

A further object of my invention is to provide a structure of this class, which by reason of the arrangement of the parts is well adapted to hold the meeting ends of adjacent rails in position and insulated from the roadbed, thereby facilitating the operation and maintenance of signal systems, which make use of the rails as parts of the circuit.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as description further proceeds, the new and novel results being set forth in the appendant claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views and in which Figure 1 1s a side view of the preferred form of my invention, operative position; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof; Fig. 3 is a side View of the locking devices; Fig. 4 is an end view thereof; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of plate; Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view; Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a further modified form of plate; Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view thereof; and F 9 is a sectional view of the locking devices showing a modified means for spreading them.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, the adjacent ends of two rails are designated 1 and 2 respectively, the fish plates being indicated at 3 and 4t. The plates are preferably of the shape shown in Fig. 2, the lower outer ends of the plates being adapted to be supported in a suitable tray 5, having shouldered sides 67, the tray being secured on a i tie 8, by any means, such as spikes 9.

An intermediate portion of one side of substantially throughout their width. The lower portion of each of the plates along the bottom side thereof is preferably removed as at 11, whereby the plates restat their outer edges, providing for a firmer engagement of the parts when a train is passing over the rail, since the downward pressure on the top of the rail serves to bring the upper portion of each of the plates into firmer engagement with the rail.

The construction which I have set forth is well adapted to provide for insulation of the rails and to this end I have shown suitable insulating material 12, extending'along each side of the web and around the bottom portion thereof, which insures no electrical contact between the rails and the plates.

In order to firmly secure each late in position on opposite sides of the rails, I provide suitable locking devices, shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4, to be positioned in the pockets 10, the sides of the plates being provided with openings 13, whereby the locking devices are made accessible. These locking devices are made up of two elements 20-21, the opposite ends of each element being of unequal dimension as shown at 22-23 in Fig. Extending throughout the length of each of the elements 2021 and along the central portion thereof, are cooperating parts, made up of a wedge 24 on the part 20 and a groove or slot 25 on the element 21; each side of each of the elements is provided with a series of recesses or notches 26, which, when the elements are in operative position, are located as shown in Fig. 3. Since each of the elements is higher at one end than at the other, the combined lengths at each end, however, being equal, they will provide a wedge-like action when a suitable key is inserted in the recesses 26, whereby when the key is turned, the elements will move longitudinally of each other, thereby causing them to firmly grip the inside top portion of the plate 3 Y and the top of the bottom of the rail 2 as shown particularly in Fig. 2.

With the construct-ion thus defined, it is obvious that the tray 5 which is secured to the ties, determines the position of the plates 3 and the plates firmly engage the opposite sides of the rails, holding these rails in position with ample space for expansion and at the same time doing away with the necessity of bolts and providing a joint that will be substantially noiseless. 4

The construction which I have shown is capable of some modification in various parts and in Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown a joint involving a slight departure. In this case each of the plates 3 is provided with a pocket or recess 10*, which pockets receive the elements of the locking devices previously described, the departure residing in the form of the bottom portion of each of the plates. The plates are positioned with respect to each other and are held against movement, by making the bottoms thereof inter-locking, or as shown in Fig. 6. In this construction, each plate is provided with an extension 41 and also with a recess 42 of substantially the same dimensions. as the extension and adapted to bereceived thereby, all of which is shown in this figure' By reason of such construction and interengagcment of the parts, the two plates are held rigidly with respect to each other and the engagement with the rail is insured.

In Figs. 7 and 8, I have shown a further modification. 3 have a continuous bearing surface for the rail as shown'in Fig. 7, the departure residing in the fact that the interior of the pockets 10 is such that the whole width of the bottom of the rail is in engagement with the bottom of the plates, whereby a construction is afiorded which may be better adapted for certain classes of heavy traffic. In order to insure that the plates 3 will be inter-locking and held in close relation with each other, as well as with the rail itself, the bottom of each plate may be provided with a plurality of projections 41, adapted to engage in similarly formed recesses 41, whereby the inter-engagementl of the recesses and the projections will accurately determine the position of the plates.

Instead of using the particular form of locking elements shown in Fig. 3, a modified construction thereof which is shown particularly in Fig. 9 may be utilized. In this instance the purpose of the locking elements is the same as that previously set forth, namely to cause a firm engagement between the inside of each pocket and the bottom of the rails, which engagement is brought about by the binding of the locking elements between these parts. In Fig. 9, the locking elements 50 5l, are each provided In this instance the plates with tapered, threaded recesses 52-53, the outer ends of each of which communicate with suitable recesses 54:. A tapered looking screw 55 having a squared outer end 56 adapted for engagement with asuitable wrench or key is positioned in each pair of recesses, the engagementof the key with the outer end of each screw and .the turning thereof, bringing the screw farther into each pair of recesses, thereby causing the elements 5051 to be moved apart and into firm frictional engagement with the inside of the plate and the bottom. of the rail.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it w1ll be clear that I have set forth a structure well adapted to perform the functions set forth, the size and shape of the several parts bemg largely a matter of design, these features bemg capable of change in order to adapt the construction to different localities and uses.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A construction of the class described embody ng a plurality of plates adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the meet mg ends of rails, means for securing the plates n' position on a tie, together with a plurality of longitudinally slidable locking means engaglng the plates and the rail for holding the parts together, the locking meansbeing positioned on opposite sides of the rall.

2. A construction of the class described comprising a plurality of'plates l1aving open ngs in the sides thereof adapted to be positioned adjacent the meeting ends of rails, means for holding the plates in position on a t e, and slidable locking means positioned adjacent each plate and one side of the rail for holding the parts together, the said opening affordlng the entrance for a suitable key 111 the operation of the said means.

3. construction of the class described comprising a plurality of plates having pockets in one side thereof, the said plates being adapted to be positioned adjacent the meeting ends of rails and on opposite sides thereof, means for securing the plates to a tie or other support, together with a plurahty of locking means positioned within the pockets and engaging each plate and the sides of the rail whereby the parts are held together.

4. A construction of the class described comprising a plurality of plates, each plate having a pocket in one side thereof, the plates being adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the meeting ends of rails, means for securing the plates on a tie or other support, together wit-h a plurality of longitudinally slidable locking means positioned in the pockets and engaging one side of the pockets and opposite sides of the rail whereby the plates are held in frictional engagement with the rail.

5. A construction of the class described comprising a plurality of plates, each plate having a pocket in one side thereof, an opening in the side of each plate communicating with the pocket, the plates being adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the meeting ends of adjacent rails, a locking device made up of two elements movable longitudinally with respect to each other, a locking device being positioned in each of the said pockets, each locking device being operable by means of a key or wrench inserted into engagement therewith through the said openings in the sides of the plates, the elements of the said device engaging the side wall of the pocket and one side of the rail whereby the parts are frictionally held together.

6. A construction of the class described comprising a plurality of plates having pockets therein, the pockets being intermediate the top and bottom of the plates, the plates being adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the meeting ends of rails, together with a lockin device positioned in each pocket, each device beingmade up of two elements movable longitudinally-with respect to each other, the said elements in' locked position engaginga side wallof each pocket and one side of the rail, thereby holding the parts together by frictional contact.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES W. YERBURY.

Witnesses:

ALBERT L. Soon I CARLISLEY G. BIBRMAN.

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