US2052502A - Rail joint - Google Patents

Description

N. L. TILLE Y RAIL JOINT :Aug. 25, 1936.

7 Filed July 27, 1935 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor LLEY RAIL JOINT Aug. I 25,

Filed July 27, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n [or 1 Au b Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I Norman Lincoln Tilley, Fisher, Ark.

Application July 27, 1935, Serial No. 33,596

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in rail joints and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manner hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which eliminates the usual fish plates, bolts, nuts, etc.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a rail joint of the aforementioned character which is adapted to clamp the adjacent end portions of the rails and which includes novel means for locking the device in operative or clamped position.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a rail joint of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a rail joint constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail view in perspective of the base.

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of the longitudinally slidable clamp.

Figure 5 is a View in vertical transverse section, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail view in perspective of the locking key.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a, metallic base or plate I which is adapted for engagement beneath the base portions 2 of the rails 3. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 5 of the drawings, plate I extends beyond the longitudinal edges of the rail bases 2.

Formed integrally with one of the projecting longitudinal marginal portions of the plate I is an angular inturned flange 4 which is engaged over the adjacent side portions of the base portions 2 of the rail 3.

From a point at the longitudinal center of the rails 3, the plate I is provided with a recess 5 for the reception of a longitudinally slidable clamp which is designated generally by the reference numeral 6. The clamp Ii includes a base 1 which projects beyond the rail bases 2 and which has formed integrally therewith an angular, inturned retaining flange 8 engaged on said rail bases.

Rising from the plate I is a longitudinal rib 9 which the clamp G abuts. Rib 9 has formed therein a vertical notch or recess Ill. Formed vertically in the outer edge of the clamp 6 is a plurality of notches or recesses II which are adapted to be brought into registry with the recess II] to form, in conjunction with each other, a polygonal socket for the reception of a polygonal locking key l2. The locking key I2 has formed therein a vertical threaded bore I3 for receiving a suitable threaded instrument, as at I4 (see Figure 5) to facilitate the removal of said locking key when desired by authorized persons. The inner edge of the base portion 1 of the clamp 6 abuts the opposed vertical wall of the recess 5 in the plate I and, as illustrated in broken lines in Figure 1 of the drawings, these abutting surfaces extend substantially diagonally for tightening the joint on the rails when said clamp 6 is driven home. To facilitate driving the clamp 6 home, the base portion 1 of said clamp is provided, at one end, with a longitudinal extension I5 which projects beyond the rest of the joint to be conveniently struck with a hammer or other suitable tool.

To install the joint, the plate I is placed beneath the adjacent end portions of the rails 3 with the flange 4 engaged on the base portions 2 of said rails. The clamp 6 is then placed in position in the recess 5 with the base portion 7 engaged beneath the base portions 2 of the rails and the flange 8 engaged on said base portions of said rails. The clamp 6 is then tightened by driving said clamp longitudinally towards the narrow end of the recess 5, care being taken to bring one of the notches I I into registry with the notch III. The locking key I2 is then inserted and the clamp 6 is positively secured in position against longitudinal movement relative to the plate I.

It is believed that the many advantages of a rail joint constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of the construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A rail joint of the class described comprising a plate adapted to be mounted beneath the rails,

a flange rising from one of the longitudinal marginal portions of said plate and engaged with the base portions of said rails on one side thereof, the other side portion of the plate having a recess 5 therein providing a vertical, diagonally extending wall, a longitudinal rib rising from the bottom of said recess in spaced relation to the rails, a clamp slidably mounted in the recess and including a substantially wedge shaped base portion extending beneath the rails and abuttin said vertical wall, said clamp further including a retaining flange engaged on the base portions of the rails, said base portion of the clamp ex-

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