US1234321A - Rail-joint. - Google Patents

Description

E. G. FIDLER.

RAIL JOINT.v

MPLICATION FILED APR. 1. I916..

1 %3,82 11w Patented Jul '24, 1917.-

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY E. G. HDLER. RAlLlQiNT. APPLICATION HLED APR. 1, 9E6.

I lfimfimw Patented July 24, 1917 2 SHEET 5555 [ET 2.

ATTORNEY sae TNT RAIL-JOINT.

Application filed April 1, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL G. Fromm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Garrett, in the county of Somerset and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail- Joints, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates to rail joints, and has more special reference, to an improved boltless joint.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a joint of the character described, whereby, the rail engaging chairs are so supported, as to, when moved in opposite relative directions, automatically clamp and securethe adjoining ends of the rail sections.

Another important characteristic of the invention, resides in the provision of novel means, whereby, further movement of the rail chairs, when moved into a clamping position, will be positively prevented.

It is also among the aims and objects of this invention, to provide a rail joint, which will be of exceedingly simple construction, the various constituent elements thereof, being closely assembled; one which is eilicient for the purpose to which it is designed, and finally, strong and durable in use.

Other improvements and novel details in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the apparatus, will be brought out more in detail in the description to follow, which, for a clear under- .standing of the invention, should be considered 1n connection wlth the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, and wherein is dlsclosed, for the purpose of 11- lustration, convenlent and satisfactory embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved joint, as applied;

Fig. 2 is a top plan, partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 1 is a transverse section, taken on the line 4L4= of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the supplemental clamping member; and

Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective of its complemental or coacting clamping member.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24, 191 7.

Serial No. 88,369.

throughout the several views thereof, it may be stated, that the adjoining rail sections are designated by the numerals 1 and 2, while the cross ties are indicated at 3, in general.

Referring now to the present improvements I provide complemental. rail securing chairs 4 and 5, which are provided with vertically disposed bracing webs 6. The rail securing chair a is provided with a base portion 7, ,which has arranged therein, a diagonally extending way 8, it being noted that the outer extremity of the base portion 7, adjacent the way 8, is provided with a substantially tapered arm 9, the inner face of which is beveled as at 10, while, the opposite side of the way 8, formed by the base portion 7, is beveled as at 11. To provide for means whereby a portion of the rail may be supported upon the base 7, I arrange thereupon a laterally extended portion 12, which portion is provided with, adjacent its outer extremity, a depending rib 13. The remaining ail securing chair 5, is so constructed as to be received within the diagonally arranged way 8, as formed in the base portion 7 and comprises a base portion 14, having arranged upon its under face, a depending leg 15, the outer face of which is beveled to conform to the portion 10, while the opposite side face has formed thereupon, a lateral extension 16 the said extension having arrangedthereupon a vertically projecting rib 17 the outer face of which is beveled to conform to the side or face 11 of the said portion 7. It will be noted that the rail chairs a and 5 extend slightly beyond their respective base portions, as indicated at 18 and 19, permitting the same to rest upon the cross ties 3. Notches as generally indicated at 20, are ar ranged adjacent the edges of the said chairs, to permit the driving of spikes 21 into the cross ties, the heads of the spikes engaging with the rail chairs and consequently, securely afiixing the same to said cross ties.

In order to provide for means whereby further movement of the rail securing chairs will be prevented, when once the adjoining rail sections have been clamped therebetween, I arrange upon one end of the chair 4, an elongated support 22; Formed integrally with the outer extremity of this support, is a clamping element 23, which has arranged adjacent its outer side, a hooked or rail engaging portion 24, while the inner side thereof is reduced to provide a portion 25, which portion has arranged therein, a diagonally extending groove 26. To the forward end of the device, there is secured an extending lug or stop 27, which stop is adapted to engage with the adjacent side of a cross tie 8. A complemental fastening member 28 having formed upon its outer side, a hooked or rail engaging portion 29 1 and a reduced part 30, so formed as to provide a diagonally extending engaging finger 31, which engaging finger is engaged with a diagonally extending groove 26 as arranged in the first mentioned clamping member 23. The other rail chair 5 has formed upon the opposite end thereof, a similar elongated element 32, of less length than the elongated support 22, and, has arranged upon its outer extremity a clamping member constructed in exact accordance with the clamping member 23, with the exception, that the stop 27, is omitted. A complemental clamping member is engageable with this second mentioned clamping member and is also constructed in a similar manner as the clamping member 28. Hence, it is deemed, that the description of this second mentioned clamping member is unnecessary, since those numerals as applied to the first mentioned clamping members may be similarly applied in this particular instance. Attention is directed to the fact that the inclined grooves 26 and the inclined fingers 31 of the clamping members' 23 and 28 respectively are arranged so as to extend in a direction opposite to the diagonal or inclined Way 8, in the base portion 7.

In operation, the adjoining rail sections 1 and 2 are received by the rail chairs 4 and 5, the way 8. as arranged in the base portion 7 is accordingly engaged with the depending leg 15. Thus, when the base portions 7 and 14 are moved in relatively opposite directions, the rail chairs 4 and 5, will, due to the diagonally arranged way 8 and the similarly constructed depending leg portion 15, be moved laterally toward each other, consequently, firmly clamping the ends of said adjoining rail sections. It is to be also noted that the clamping members 23 and 28, as arranged upon the elongated supporting member 22 are engaged with the base of one of the adjoining rail sections, namely, 2, while the clamping members as arranged upon the elongated supporting member 32 are engaged with the base portion of the remaining adjoining section, namely, 1. The clamping members 23 and 28 and the similar clamping member 32 which are engaged with the abutting rail sections will, should relative movement of the said sections be permitted, clamp upon the base portions of the said rails. This clamping action is due to the arrangement of the inclined ways and fingers, thus preventing spreading of the rails which would otherwise be permitted especially in the event that the spike or other securing means should become worn or broken. The stop 27 as arranged upon the clamping element 23 will abut the near side of the adjacent tie 3, and consequently prevent further movement of the said element. Should for any reason, the spike 21, become broken or worn to such an extent as to permit a slight relative movement of either of the rail chairs 4: and 5, the clamping members 23 and 28, due to the opposite arrangement of the grooves 26 and engaging fingers 31, will accordingly be moved toward each other, thereby, causing the rail engaging portions 24- and 29 to bind the oppositely disposed portions of the rail base with which they are engaged.

It will be understood that the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and that minor changes in this particular construction and wrangement of parts, may be made within the scope of the appended claims, Without deviating from I the nature or principle of my invention.

I claim 1. In a rail joint, including abutting rail receiving means, and clamping means car ried by and arranged beyond the'ends of said receiving means and engaged with the abutting rail sections, said clamping means being adapted to grip the rail base more tightly upon separation of the rails.

2. In a rail joint, rail receiving chairs, and wedge actuated clamping means ar- 100 ranged adjacent said chairs and engaged with the abutting rail sections for preventing relative movement of the same in said chairs.

3. In a rail joint, rail receiving chairs, 105 clamping means arranged adjacent said chairs and engaged with the abutting rail sections for preventing relative movement of the same in said chairs, and means arranged upon said clamping means for causing late 110 eral movement of the clamping means when shifted longitudinally.

4. In a rail joint, rail receiving chairs, clamping members carried by and extending beyond the ends of said chairs and engaged 115 with the abutting rail sections for preventing relative movement thereof in said chairs, and means arr. nged upon the base portions of the clamping members for causing lateral movement thereof whenshifted lorigitudi- 12 nally.

5. In a rail joint, rail securing chairs, clamping means carried by and arranged beyond the ends of said chairs, said clamping means being engaged with the abutting 5 rail sections, and means carried by one of the clamping means engageable with an obj ect for limiting the movement thereof.

6. In a rail joint, rail securing chairs,

clamping members carried by and extend- 3 ing beyond the ends of said chairs, said clamping members comprising interlocked slidable elements, and means arranged upon said slidable elements for causing lateral movement thereof When shifted longitudinally.

7. In a rail joint, rail securing chairs, clamping members arranged at the ends of said chairs and engaged With the abutting rail sections, said clamping members comprising slidable portions for diagonally arranged interconnected portions formed upon their adjacent ends whereby the same Will be caused to move laterally upon longitudinal movement of the interconnected portions.

8. A rail joint including rail clamping chairs adapted to receive and secure the abutting ends of the rail sections, interlocked base portions supporting said chairs, one of said base portions being provided With a diagonally arranged track- Way adapted to receive said second mentioned base portion, whereby said rail chairs Will be moved laterally upon relative longitudinal movement of said base portions, and clamping means arranged adjacent said clamping chairs for preventing further longitudinal movement of the same When moved to a clamping position, said clamping means comprising slidable hooked portions having diagonally arranged inter-connected portions formed upon their adjacent extremities whereby said hooked members will be moved laterally upon longitudinal movement of said diagonally interconnected portions.

In testimony whereof I a'l'fix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EARL G. FIDLER. WVitnesses:

M. E. JONES, W. F. KnLLoGG.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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