US33036A - Bailroad-rail cotjpung - Google Patents

Description

intimen srfrrns PATENT OFFTQFQ.

A. N. GRAY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

RAILROAD-RAIL COPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent No; 33,036, dated August 13, 1861.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, A. N. GRAY, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful mprovement in Clamp-Couplers for Railroad-Rails; and l do hereby declare that the following is aV full and exact description thereof, reference being had to they accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon.

In the drawings, Figure l. is a perspective view of two rails connected by my improved coupler. Fig. 2. is a top view of the same the rails resting on portions of two ties, thus showing the position of the coupler between such ties. Fig. 3. is a cross section through the coupler-and rail. Fig. 4. is an end view of a rail with t-he coupler attached. Figs. 5. 6. and 7. are detached views of separate parts hereafter more fully described.

In the common way of making' rail roads, the ends of the rails meet and rest upon the tie or upon a chair supported by the tie. In such cases the ends of the rails are soon battered down giving an uneven' surface to the top of the rail. The tie or chair under the ends of the rail acts like an anvil supporting the rail, so that the wheel in passing gives a stroke upon the rail over such anvil or solid support, which stroke tends to rapidly crush down the top of the rail at the end. In order to prevent this difficulty attempts have been made to securely connect the ends of rails when meeting between the ties where such ham1ner-and-anvil crushing action may be avoided. But great difficulty has been found in securely connecting the ends of the rails between the ties. The bolts screws or wedges employed in connecting such rails between the ties are liable to work loose and it is difficult to secure the full strength of `the coupling, and the proper stiffness of t-he joint and prevent the rails from crawling7 or separating from each other so as to leave a space between the rails where the wheel may sink and soon batter the rail as above explained.

The object of my invention is to make a more simple, convenient, efficient and cheap coupling for rail-road rails to be used between the ties.

My invention consists in a peculiar construction and arrangement of clamp coupler and key by means of which, in connection with a gib, both flanges of the rail are "brought home upon thel bed of theV coupling piece, said flanges receiving both a vertical and a lateral pressure, thus employing the full strength of the rails and of the coupling `piece and making the rail Vas sti at the joint as in any other place, while there is no undue strain upon any part, the whole being locked in close Contact by the selffastening key.

In the use of my invention it is .proposed to fasten the rails A, A. directly upon the ties T, Fig. 2. by means of spikes s, without chairs, the ends of vthe rails meeting between the ties where they are clamped together. The ends of the two rails being brought together the coupling piece Fig. 5. is adjusted as shown in Fig.V 3, when the gibs E, are inserted and the whole fastened together by the key L. The coupling piece Fig. 5. may be rolled to t any form of T rail. On one side the coupler has a broad lip C, fitting the side of the rail, and on the other side there is a small lift D, embracing the flange of the rail. The bed B, of the coupler just lits the bottom of the rail. There are holes through the coupler and notches in the edge of the flange to receive the gibs E. The under side of the head of the gib E, Fig. 3, is inclined so as to lit the top of the flange of the rail, and the hook of the gib locks under the coupler as seen at E so that the driving of the key L, will give the gib a wedge like clamping action, pressing the coupler and the flange of the rail together and atthe same time driving the rails laterally under the lip C. Thus the key and gib produce a combined vertical and lateral pressure upon the rails and coupler, bringing all the parts into close Contact and form.- ing a reliable joint. The gibs being let` into the flange of the rail, and the notches for the two outer' gibs being several inches from the end of the rail it is impossible for the joint to open, provision being made for eX- pansion in punching the coupler and rail. The central gib is placed at the meeting of the rails so as to hold the ends even at top and side thus giving an even surface for the tread and flange of the wheel.

The key L is of peculiar construction being beveled on one side toward the lower end, so as to have sulficient drift for keying the parts together laterally, and then having parallel sides above the bevel near the head of the key as seen in Fig. 3. Then this key is driven home it cannot possibly work loose because the pressure is upon the parallel sides and not upon the bevel. As the key stands perpendicularly, its gravity will prevent it Jfrom falling out.

My invention has been in experimental use during` the last six months and may be recommended for the following reasons:

1. The key L, being beveled only in part of its length, and arranged vertically is simple, eiicient self-fastening and yet easily removed.

2. The bed B, of the coupler and the lip C, being brought home upon the rail the full strength of the coupler is obtained without undue strain upon either side of the coupler or of the rail, (the gibs being equal in strength to the lip C).

3. The joint made by my coupler is equal in strength and durability to any other part of the rail. As all the parts are in close contact there is no jar or wear of the coupler gib or key.

I am aware that railroad rails have been coupled between the ties by different clamping devices therefore I confine my claims to the improvements herein set forth,-to the substantial new results and not to the precise form of the devices.

I am aware that rail road spikes have been made somewhat similar to my key, but such spikes are sharpened at the point and driven into wood for the purpose of holding them and the rail in place. In connection with a gib I believe it is new to employ the above described key L, having a wedge like action and at the same time being self-fastening Without entering the sleeper as set forth.

lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is;

l. The combination of the key L, with a gib for clamp-couplers for railroad rails, said key being self-fastening substantially as set forth.

2. The 'special combination and arrangement of the coupler B, C, gib E, and key L, With the rails A, A substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein described.

y ADMIRAL N. GRAY. lVitnesses:

DANIEL BREED, JOHN UNDEIzwooD.

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