US1227874A - Rail-joint. - Google Patents

Description

L. H. BRAUN.

RAIL 10m.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-31,19l7.

Patented May 29, 191?.

S. Rd

@FFTQE.

LUTHER H. BRAUN, OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 FRANK X. S'IECKER, OF STEUIBENVILLE, OHIO.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 1917.

Application filed January 31, 1917. Serial No. 145,634.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER H. BRAUN, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Steubenville, county of Jefferson, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail- Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to rail joints, and more particularly to a coupling for the adjacent ends of railway rails.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive coupling for the ends of railway rails in which the use of the usual connecting bolts is wholly dispensed with and which afiords positive means for maintaining the rail ends in proper relation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned which effectually guards against longitudinal creeping of the rails.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the features of construction, arrangement of parts and combinations of elements which will hereinafter be fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is. a perspective view of the invention applied;

Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal section of the rail chair, showing the web-embracing members in position;

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the invention applied;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line &-4:, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the webembracing members.

Referring to said drawings, in which like designating characters distinguish like parts throughout the several views- 1 and 2 indicate the integral parallel members of a rail-embracing clamp, each of said members corresponding generally in crosssectional form to a common type of'angle bar except that it has the upright rail-webengaging portion 3 thereof of slightly less height than the normal height of such angle bar to afford a space between its upper edge and the shoulder of an engaged rail. Said members 1 and 2 are joined at a point sub stantially midway between the ends of the member 1 by an integral abutment 4 having the form of an isosceles triangle, the apex of of which projects above the edges of said portions 3. The oppositely facing sides of said abutment may be disposed at any appropriate angle, as 45, to the base thereof and are adapted to receive in abutting relation thereto the ends of adjacent railway rails 5 and 6 which have sections of triangular form cut therefrom, removing portions of their webs and bases, such removed sections corresponding substantially in form and size to that of one-half said abutment divided vertically through its apex, as is most clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The member 2 of the rail-embracing clamp is of less length than the member 1, one end thereof being in the same vertical plane with the corresponding end of said member 1 and the other end thereof terminating in the inclined plane of the oppositely facing side of the abutment 1, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. A separate member 7 is complemental to said member 2, having its inner end inclined to correspond with and to assume mitering relation to the inclined end of the latter. Said member 7 constitutes a locking element whereby longitudinal movement of the railembracing clamp in a forward direction is prevented, the same cooperating with a shoulder 8 presentedby an inwardly extending wall 9 formed-integral with one of the side portions 10 of a rail chair 10 which is designed to closely embrace the adjacent rail ends and the clamp.

Said rail chair 10 is formed in a single piece and consists of a flat base 10 adapted to be mounted upon the usual crossties, and the opposite side portions 10 the latter being shaped to conformably embrace the rail ends and the clamp which comprises the members 1 and 2, as aforesaid, and also the locking element 7, said side portions having inwardly directed terminal edge 10 adapted to fill the spaces between the upper edges of the members 1 and 2 and the overhanging shoulders constituted by the under sides of the rail-head, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and a.

The rail chair 10 preferably has an integral base extension 10 formed at one end thereof, or, if desired, such an extension may be provided at each end of the chair. Said extension is provided with notches or recesses 11 in the edges thereof for the reception of securing spikes, as 12.

In practice, the application of the device is preferably accomplished in the following manner: The locking element 7 is first introduced within the rail chair l0 and is held therein in proper position, as by hand or by means of a suitable tool, until the end of rail 6 has been entered within said chair a distance slightly past the outer end of said element; whereupon the latter will be prevented by said rail from falling laterally inward. The chair is then slipped forward over said rail until the end of the latter occupies a position substantially midway between the chair ends. Then the clamp comprising the members 1 and 2 is slipped upon the end of rail 5 to a position wherein the inclined end of the latter seats against the adjacent face of the abutment 4c, whereupon the clamp and said rail 5 are together introduced within the end of chair 10 opposite that occupied by the end of rail 6, the inward movement of the clamp and the rail 5 being continued until the abutment seats against said rail 6; or, if said rail 6 has been projected past the midway point of the chair, said movement is continued, driving rail 6 outward, until the inclined end of the locking element 7 is engaged by the inclined end of the clamp member 2; or, in case said locking element has been advanced beyond its normal seating position, as is liable to occur due to frictional engagement therewith of rail 6 when the latter is being in troduced, said movement is continued, forcing said locking element outward, until the outer end of the latter engages the shoulder 8 presented by the inwardly extending wall 9 of the chair.

As is obvious, the positioned clamp is positively locked against forward movement by the locking element 7 which is interlocked as aforesaid with the rail chair 10, which latter is immovably attached to the under lying crossties. Consequently, the rail 5 having its end seated against the abutment 4: of said clamp is positively maintained against forward creeping movement. It will be noted, however, that the device doesnot maintain the rails, or either of them, against longitudinal creeping movement in an outward directionthat is, does not prevent movement of said rails in directions away from each other. Such movement is however prevented in practice by the obvious expedient of disposing adjacent joints in reversed relationthat is, by mounting adjacent chairs in reverse positions.

lVhat is claimed is 1. The combination with the adjacent ends of railway rails, each of which has a portion of the web and base thereof cut away, of a rail clamp comprising a pair of parallel rail embracing members and an integral abutment joining said members substantially midway between the ends of said clamp and adapted for receiving said rail ends thereagainst, one of said members having one end of shorter length than the corresponding end of the other member, a looking element complemental to said shorter end and adapted to engage the latter, and a rail chair adapted to occupy embracing relation to said clamp and to said locking element and to support said rail ends, said chair having a shoulder adjacent to one end thereof against which the outer end of said locking element seats and which prevents longitudinal movement of said element in an outward direction.

2. The combination with the adjacent ends of railway rails, each of which has a portion of the web and base thereof cut away, of a rail clamp comprising a pair of parallel rail-embracing members which are rigidly united intermediate their ends by a transverse connecting member, said connecting member being adapted for receiving said rail ends in seating relation thereto, and a rail chair adapted to receive said clamp and the embraced rail ends within its embrace, said clamp having an inturned portion at one end thereof affording a shoulder whereby the extent of longitudinal movement of said clamp in one direction is limited.

3. The combination with theadjacent ends of railway rails, each of which has a portion of the Web and base thereof cut away, of a rail clamp comprising a pair of parallel rail-embracing members which are rigidly united intermediate their ends by .a transverse connecting member, said connecting member being adapted for receiving said rail ends in seating relation thereto, said rail-embracing members having their railweb-engaging portions of less height than the rail web, and a rail chair adapted to receive said clamp and the embraced rail ends within its embrace, said chair having inturned terminal edges snugly occu ying the spaces between the upper edges 0 said rail-embracing members and the overlying shoulders of'the rails, and said chair also having a portion at one end thereof preventing outward movement of said clamp in one direction from its properly sea-ted position.

4;. The combination with the adjacent ends of railway rails, each of which has .a portion of the web and base thereof cut away, of a rail clamp comprising a pair of parallel rail-embracing members and an integral abutment joining said members substantially midway between the ends of said clamp and adapted for receiving said rail ends therea'gai-nst, one ofsaid members having one end of shorter length than the corresponding end of the other member, a locking element complemental to said shorter end and adapted to engage the latter, said rail-embracing members having their railweb-engaging portions of less height than the .rail web, and a rail chair adapted to receive within its embrace said clamp and said locking element, together with the embraced rail ends, said chair having inturned terminal edges disposed in underlying seated relation to the shoulders of the rails and also having at one end thereof an inturned portion affording a shoulder whereby said locking element is maintained against outward movement from its operative position.

5. The combination with the adjacent ends of railway rails, each of which has a portion. of its web and base removed, of a rail clamp comprising parallel members between which said rail ends are received, and a transverse member connecting said parallel members at a point intermediate their ends, said transverse member being shaped to constitute an abutment against which said rail ends comfortably seat, and a rail chair for embracing and supporting said clamp and said rail ends and having a portion adapted to be engaged by said clamp whereby relative movement of the latter from its operative position is prevented.

6. The combination with the adjacent ends of railway rails, each of which has a portion of its web and base removed, of a rail clamp comprising parallel members between which said rail ends are received, a transverse member connecting said parallel members at a point intermediate their ends, said transverse member being shaped to constitute an abutment against which said rail ends comfortably seat, a rail chair for embracing and supporting said clamp and said rail ends, said chair having an inturned portion at one end thereof forming a shoulder, and a locking element complementing one of said railembracing members and adapted to be interposed between an end of the latter and said shoulder whereby relative movement of said clamp from its operative position is prevented.

7 The combination with the adjacent ends of railway rails, of a rail clamp comprising parallel members between which said rail ends are received, and a transverse member connecting said parallel members at a point intermediate their ends, said transverse member being shaped to constitute an abutment for limiting longitudinal movement of said rails, and a rail chair for embracing and supporting said clamp and said rail ends, said chair being provided with means whereby relative movement of the clamp from its operative position is prevented.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUTHER H. BRAUN.

Witnesses:

FRED M. COLEMAN, FRANK X. STRIKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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