US1683432A - Insulated rail joint - Google Patents

Description

' Sep; 4, 1,928.7

E. C. ZMMERMAN 'INSULATEQRAIL JOINT Filed Nov'. 23, 1925 Q #f @a Q I n INVENToR Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNITED sTAIs fr FFICE. I

EMIL CARI. ZIMMEIIMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIeNon 'ro e a o COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or MAINE.

INsuLA'rnn RAIL JOINT.

Application led November 23, 1925. Serial No. 70,767.

This invention relates to rail joints of the insulated type and has special. reference to improvements in the design thereof adapted to produce an improved oint possessing many advantages over structures as heretofore used while requiring a minimum amount of insulating material, which, in its arrangement is utilized to thebest advantage for its intended purpose.

In accomplishing the purpose of the present invention, there is employed an improved form or construction of splice bar of reinl forced fish plate type specially designed to have added strength and rigidity at its center portion and of form allowing of its economical production by a forging operation. rIhe additional strength contributed by the reinforcing features allows'of the successful employment of. the fish plate type of splice bars incident to which there is a-substantial and important reduction in the area of insulating fibre required and a further advantage is obtained in that the use of standard tie plates -upon the joint ties is permitted and the requirement of base insulation eliminated with resulting economy. My improved insulating joint structure furthermore readily allows of building up with different thicknesses of bre to compensate or take care of varied spacing of shing surfaces of'different rail sections,

vthereby allowing of economy in die investments. The improved joint is, moreover, advantageous for the use in conjunction with frog and switch installations where close clearance conditions are present.

Other important features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters are applied to the corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an insulating joint embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view thereof in side elevation, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line a-a of Fig. 1 as viewed from the left.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a suitable modication.

In the approved embodiment of the features of the present invention as shown in the drawings, 1-1 indicate the track rail ends to be joined, 2 2 indicate the splice bars surfaces of the underside ofthe railhead and upper surface of the rail base flange. Interposed between the rail ends and the splice bars, there are positioned the insulating fibre members 6 and the splice bars and joint are secured by means of the usual bolts 7 passedk through apertures in the bars vand rail .ends and insulated from the bars by means of tubular insulating bushings 8 fitted upon the bolts and within the bar apertures and also by Lmeans of libre insulating strips 9 posil tioned between the outer surfaces of the bars --and the bolt straps orl washer bars 10 fitted upon the bolts. Four of the washer bars are employed, arranged oppositiely in pairs and of a length to be received upon the two bolts associated with each rail end, the washer bars being engaged at one side by the bolt head 12 and opposite thereto by the usual spring or lock washer 14, positioned behind the usual retaining nut 15.. At 16 is shown the usual and standard form of tie plate providing a bearing for t-he rail base, having thevrail base edge engaging shoulder 17 andapertured to receive the holding spikes 18 in position when driven to have overlying engagement with the rail base flange. ,4

In accordance with the present invention, the splice bars. which are of similar form are of improved design or contour embodying an important feature of reinforcement at the central portion so as to possess added strength and rigidity at the region of the Vmeet-ing rail ends. For this purpose, my improved splice bars, as shown, are formed withA a vertical web portion 20 having a longitudinally continuous vertical outer face or surface with upper and lower longitudinally extending and inwardly projecting bearing shoulder portions 21 and 22 providing inward eXtensions or continuations of the fishing surfaces. For reinforcing the central portion of the bar in the vicinity of the meeting rail ends to afford added strength, both laterally and vertically, additional metal is provided by a substantial thickening of the web portion inwardly, which is shown at 24 in the form of an elongated shoulder or fillet increment to the web section connecting the fishing shoulder extensions 21 and 22, having a vertical inner wall at its central region of maxias protection to the insulating fibre.

The improved insulated joint, by the einployment of the fish plate type of splice bar effects a substantial economy inthe amount of insulating fibre required and is i f-urther of advantage by reason of facilitating inspection and also replacement of the fibre as required which is accomplished by the removal of the splice bars without interferencewith `the tie plates and track fastenings. The insulation is of simple and interchangeable form and includes the usual fibre end post 27`of a contour corresponding to the contour of the rail section and which is held in effective position by its bearing engagement with the splice bar insulating vmembers 6.

IVhile I have disclosed an approved einbodiment of the features of my invention, it vwill he Vunderstood that varied modifications thereof may be made without departing'from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. As illustrative thereof, I have shown in Fig. 4 a suitable modification conforming to the foregoing disclosure with the addition of a modification of thesplice bar which consists in providing an outwardly extending reinforcement of the bar at its central portion by the external thickening of the web at 29 to still the inner sides Vthereof and said bars being formed at their end portions With web .thickening fillets connecting theiishing shoulderA extensions, substantially as described.

2. In an insulated rail joint, the rail ends,` oppositely positioned splice bars, insulating members interposed between the opposed surfaces of the rail ends and splice bars and said splice bars being of the fish plate type comprising vertical web portions having inwardlv extending bearing shoulders on its upper and lower longitudinal edge portions and providing fishing surfaces and provided with a reinforced central portion formed by a thickening of the web inwardly to form' a filletr portion connecting the fishing shoulder extensions, said fillet portion having its inner face in a vertical plane with a central region of maximum thickness with its end portions tapered to gradually converge into the normal section of the web portion of said bars, being formed at their end portions with web thickening fillets connecting the fishing'shoulf der extensions, substantially as described.

Signed at New York city, inthe country of and State of New York this 18th day of September A. D. 1925. i

EMIL CARL ZIMMERMAN.

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