US1128157A - Rail-joint. - Google Patents

Description

LEWI RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1914.

a Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

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ALBERT I-I. LEWIS, OF NEW COMERSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO CHARLES C. STARKER AND ONE-THIRD TO CHARLES R. STARKER, BOTH OF NEW COMERS- TOWN, onro.

RAILFJOINT.

inseam.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915;

Application filed June 16, 1914. Serial No. 845,372.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT H. LEWIS, citizen of the United States, residing at New Comerstown, in the county of Tuscarawas and State of Ohio, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to rail joints; and it consists in the peculiar and advantageous rail joint, hereinafter described and definitely claimed, constructed with a view to strongly connecting the adjoining ends of rails and supporting the said ends, and the latter in such manner that a practically smooth and continuous support for the wheels of a train is afforded and maintained at all times, notwithstanding any expansion or contraction that may take place due to variations in temperature.

In the accompanying drawings which are hereby made a part hereof: Figure 1 is a plan of my novel rail joint. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, with one of the side walls of the rail-connecting member broken away to show the abutment and support between the two side walls of the member. Fig. 3 comprises side elevations of the end portions of the two rails. Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken through the railconnecting member alone, in the plane indicated by the line 44 of Fig. 1, looking toward the right, and showing the abutment between the side walls of said member, and also showing the end wall at the inner end of the recess in the under side of the base of the member.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the Views of the drawings.

In furtherance of my invention, the end of the rail at the right, of the connecting member has its web 1 extended, as indicated by 2, beyond its base 3, and also has its head 4 extended beyond the end of the web portion 2. It will also be observed by reference to Fig. 1 that the head portion 4 of the rail is reduced in width, as indicated by 5, for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

The head portion 6 of the rail, at the left of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is reduced in width for a portion of its length, as indicated by 7 It will also be observed that the inner end of the web of said rail is recessed as indicated by 8, and that the base 9 of the rail rests in rear of the forward end of the head 6. Both of the rails are provided in their webs with elongated transverse openings 10. The connectmg member of my novel joint comprises side walls 11 and 12, spaced suiiiciently far apart to receive the webs of the rails snugly between them. The side wall 12 is of a less height than the side wall 11, in about the proportion illustrated, so as to enable the side wall 12 to rest under and support the heads of the rails, with a View to contributing to the continuity and smoothness of the tread on which the wheels of rolling stock move. In addition to the side walls 11 and 12, which are provided with elongated apertures 13, designed with the elongated apertures 10 to receive connecting bolts 14, the connecting member comprises a head portion 15 designed to rest flush with the head portions of the rails, and

contribute to the continuity and smoothness of the joint, an intermediate portion 16, Figs. 2 and 4, arranged between and fixed with respect to the side walls 11 and 12 and designed to form an abutment for the ends of the rail webs, and to rest under and support the rail heads at the meeting point thereof, with a View to assuring the joint being smooth and continuous, and a base 17, having notches 18, of elongated form, by preference, designed for the passage of spikes 19.

By comparison of Figs. 2 and 4, it will be observed that the base 17 is provided at its underside with a recess 20, which is in communication with the space between the side walls 11 and 12, and extends from the left hand end of the connecting member to a point below the intermediate portion or abutment 16. The said recess 20 is to receive the base 9 of the left-hand rail in such manner that the said base rests flush with the under-side of the base 17 of the connecting member, which arrangement is advantageous inasmuch as it contributes to the maintenance of the heads of the rails, and connecting member flush with each other. In this connection I would say that it is my purpose in the practice of the invention to have the end portions of the rails rest at points adjacent the connecting member on sleepers or ties.

It will be manifest from the foregoing that the disposition of the bolts 14 in the slots 13 are calculated to afford ample play for the rails when expansion or contraction takes place. It will also be observed that notwithstanding its practical advantages as hereinbefore pointed out, my novel rail joint is easily made and is therefore inexpensive, and that the joint is at once compact and well adapted to withstand the shocks and strains to which rail joints are ordinarily subjected.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. A rail joint, comprising a rail having its web extended beyond its base and its head extended beyond the web and also having the end portion of its head reduced in Width and further having an elongated opening in its web; a complementary rail having a recess in the forwardportion of its web and also having its head portion extended beyond the web and reduced in width at and near its end and further having an elongated opening in its web; a connecting member having spaced side walls receiving between them the webs of the rails, one of said walls being of a less height than the other and resting under the heads of the rails, and the other wall having a head portion on its upper edge, which head portion rests flush with the heads of the rails, and both side walls having elongated openings, and further having an intermediate portion fixed between the side walls and arranged to rest under and support the meeting portions of the rail heads, and further having a recess in its base communicating with the space between its side walls and extending from one of its ends to a point below the intermediate portion, said recess receiving the base of the second-named rail, and bolts extending through the slots or elongated openings.

2. A rail joint comprising rail portions having heads reduced in width at and near their meeting ends and extending beyond their Webs; a connecting member having spaced side Walls and also having one of said walls of a less height than the other to rest under the heads of the rails and further having a head portion on the higher of the two side Walls, and an intermediate portion fixed between the side walls and interposed between the webs of the rails and resting under the meeting ends of the head portions thereof, and means connecting the rails with the connecting member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT H. LEWIS. Witnesses CHAS. O. STARKER, HOMER LEWIS.

Copies of this patent may be-obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

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