US516870A

US516870A - Rail joint or coupling

Info

Publication number: US516870A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1894-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 1911-03-20

Description

(No Model.) y 2 sheetssheet 1.

J. G. MILLE-R. -RAIL JOINT 0R COUPLING.

No. 516,870.. Patented Mm?. 2o, 1894.V

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(No Model.) 2 sheets-Shet.

J. G. MILLER.

RAIL JOINT 0R COUPLING.

No. 516,870. Patented Mar. 20, 18,94. 7. r

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' UNITED 'STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JAMES G. MILLER, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

RAIL JOINT OR COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,870, dated March 20, 1894.

Application tiled August 26, 1893. Serial No. l84.136. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES G. MILLER, of Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Joints or Ocuplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the Invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in rail-joints or couplings, the object being to provide a joint or coupling that will automatically clamp the rails when the rollingstock passes over the meeting ends of the rails; wherein no nuts or bolts are required; that is more durable and efficient than the joints or couplings heretofore devised; that is exceedingly simple in construction and well adapted kfor use on curves in the track, and that cannot easily be tampered with.

With this object in view, my invention consists in certain features of construction and in combinations of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a rail-joint or coupling embodying my invention, showing two contiguous or abutting rails joined or coupled together. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sections on lines 3 3, and 4-4, respectively, Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the plate O detached. Fig. 6 is a transverse section,

showing the manner of assembling the parts in applying my improved joint or coupling.

Referring to the drawings, A A represent the contiguous or abutting end-portions of two rails. A pair of jaws B are adapted to clamp or bite opposite sides of the rails, respectively, at the meeting ends of the rails. Said jaws nicely t between the head and base of `the rails and are fulcrumed, as at h, upon cylindrical portions or bearings C rigid and preferably integral with a plate O that iits nicely between a pair of ties T at the railjoint or coupling, to which,ties the rails are spiked, as atll", in the usual manner. Said jaws extend through slots C2 in plate O and, below the axis of their fulcrums are provided, respectively, with an inwardly-projecting 4 flange, B. Flanges B support blocks D that extend upwardly through slots (12in-plate O, and the meeting ends of the rails rest upon lblocks D, as shown in Fig. 3. Blocks D, at

their inner ends are provided, respectively, with a depending flange, d, that, on its inner side, tapers inwardly toward its lower end, as at d', and engages the correspondingly downwardly and inwardly tapering or beveled edge b of flange B of the respective clamping-jaw. Blocks D are also preferably beveled or tapering downwardly and inwardly at their outer end, as at D2, where they engage, respectively, the correspondingly inwardly and downwardly tapering or beveled portion B2 of the adjacent clamping-jaw. The arrangement of parts is preferably such that in their normal position, shownV in solid lines, Fig. 3, the clamping-jaws do not clamp the web of the rails, and the top surface of blocks D is somewhat above the topsurface of plate O, leaving a space, S, between said plate and the base of the rails. It will, however, be observed that as the rolling-stock comes on the meeting ends of the rails, it depresses said ends of the rails, and the head of the rails acting upon the top edge of the jaws and the base of the rails acting upon block D that in turn act upon the inwardly-projecting flanges B and upon portions B2 of the jaws, causes the jaws to be swung or actuated upon their fulcrum in the direction to tightly clamp or bite the rails, as shown in dotted lines Fig. 3, the space between the base of the rails and plate C accommodating the depression of the rails. The clamping-jaws are fulcrumed upon the cylindrical bearings C of the plate in such a manner as to support said plate, the jaws having preferably, respectively, a semi-cylindrical recess B3 embracing the inner side of the respective bearing.

To enable the parts of the rail-joint or coupling to roll or turn upon one another in the assemblage or separation of the partsv the faces of the jaws at the top and lower edges of the same are rounded, as at B4, inwardlyprojecting anges B of the jaws are rounded at the top of their edge, as at h2, and blocks D are rounded, as shown, where they engage the rounded portions h2 of the flanges B of the jaws, and are rounded next adjacent to IOO the inner ends of said iianges as at d2 and are also rounded at the top of their inner edge, as at d3.

In assembling the parts the jaw and block at one side of the rails are placed in position relative to the rail, as shown in Fig. 6, whereupon the jaw at the opposite side of the rails, and block D supported by said jaw, are placed imposition to cause thejaw to be supported by the rail. The parts are then pressed together into proper position relative to each other, the rail being sprung laterally in assembling the parts. In separating the parts the rails are also sprung laterally to loosen the one jaw,

whereupon the parts of the rail-joint or coupling are readily separated, the jaws being preferably somewhat cut away adjacent to the outer portion of the top surface of the base of the rails, as at B5, to facilitate the loosening and consequent disconnection of the parts. But, of course, the rails cannot be sprung laterally as required to separate the parts without irst removing the rail-fastening spikes for a number of ties from each end of the rail-joint or coupling, a matter of no inconsiderable importance,when it is considered that a tramp or train-wrecker would hardly feel disposed to go to the trouble of unspiking the rails to such an extent as would render the rails capable of being sprung laterally sufficiently to separate the parts of the rail-joint or coupling. Furthermore, I prefer to locate another pair of clamping-jaws E and blocks G a suitable distance from the ends of, but substantially the same in construction as, jaws B and blocks D, jaws E being fnlcrumed, in the same manner as jaws B upon bearings C that extend from end to end of plate C as shown in Figs. l and 2, and plate C being-provided with slots C3 to accommodate the location and operation of jaws E and blocks G. In the case of jaws E, however, I would remark that they preferably engage corresponding recesses, a, provided in the base of the rails, as shown in dotted lines, Figs. 1 and 4, the object being to counteract any tendency of the rails to contract or expand or separate. Especially is this feature of vast importance on inclines. Slots C2 and C3 in plate C are preferably just large enough to accommodate the location and operation of blocks D and G and the clamping-jaws, so that said parts cannot possibly become displaced.

1. In a rail-joint or coupling, the combination with the rails and one or more pairs of jaws pivotally supported at opposite sides of the rails, respectively, said jaws fitting between the head and base of the rails, and having an inwardly-projecting flange, respectively, of blocks or pieces resting upon said anges and engaging the lower side of the base of the rails, the arrangement of parts being such that the depression of the rails by the weight of the rolling-stock passing over them shall depress the aforesaid blocks or pieces and thereby actuate the clamping-jaws in the direction to clamp or bite the rails, substantially as set forth.

2. In a rail-joint or coupling, the combination with the meeting or contiguous ends of the rails, of a pair of clamping-jaws pivotally supported at opposite sides of the rails, respectively, said jaws engaging the head and base of the rails and having an inwardly-proj ecting flange, respectively, projecting `u nder the base of the rails, and blocks or pieces resting upon said flanges of the jaws and engaging the under side ot' the base of the rails, said blocks or pieces, at their inner end, having a depending flange, respectively, tapering or beveled inwardly toward its lower end and engaging the correspondingly beveled edge of the flange of the respective clamp ing-jaw, the arrangement of parts belngsubstantially as shown, for the purpose specified.

3. In a rail-joint or coupling, the colnbina tion with the meeting or contiguous ends of the rails and a pair of jaws pivotally supported at opposite sides of the rails, respectively, said jaws nicely litting between the head and base of the rails and having, respectively, an inwardly projecting flange extending under the base of the rails and beveled downwardly and inwardly at its edge, the jaws being also similarly beveled immediately above the inner end of said inwardly projecting flanges, of blocks or pieces resting upon said flanges of the jaws and beveled at their outer end to engage the beveled portion of the clamping-jaws at the inner end of the anges, said blocks or members, at their inner end, having, respectively, a depending flange beveled on its outer side to engage the beveled edge of the ange of the respectlve clamping-jaw, the arrangement of parts being substantially as shown, for the purpose specified.

4t. In a rail-joint or coupling, the combination with the rails, of a plate, C, located a suitable distance below the base of the rails, one or more pairs of clamping-jaws located at opposite sides of the rails, respectively, and fulcrumed upon the aforesaid plate in such a manner as to support the plate, said jaws engaging the opposing sides of the head and base of the rails, and having inwardly-proj ecting nanges in under the aforesaid plate, and blocks or pieces resting upon said iianges and engaging the under side of the base of the rails, the arrangement of parts being substantially as described, and the aforesaid plate being slotted to accommodate the location and operation of the clamping-jaws and blocks or pieces supported thereby, substantially as described.

5. In a rail-joint or coupling, the combination with the rails, of a plate C located a suit able distance below the base of the rails, one or more pairs of clamping-jaws at opposite sides of the rails, respectively, and fulcrumed upon the aforesaid plate in such a manner as to support the plate, said jaws engaging the opposing sides of the head and base of the IOO IIC

rails and having inwardly-projecting anges in under the aforesaid plate and below the axis of the pivotal bearing of said jaws, blocks or pieces resting upon said fianges and engaging the under side of the base of the rails, the parts being suitably rounded at the points where they turn or roll upon one another in assembling or separating them, the jaws being shaped to form a suitable space between the outer portion of the top side of the base of the rails and the adjacent portion of the jaws, substantially as set forth.

6. In a rail-joint or coupling, the combination with the rails and pair of rail-supportingties at the meeting or contiguous ends of the rails, of a plate, C, nicely fitting between said ties, and located a suitable distance below the base of the rails, one or more pairs of clamping-jaws at opposite sides of the rails, respectively, and fulcrumed upon the aforesaid plate in such a manner as to support the plate, said jaws engaging the opposing sides of the head and base of the rails and having inwardlyprojecting flanges in under the aforesaid plate, and blocks or pieces resting upon said flanges and engaging the under side of the base of the rails, the arrangement of parts being substantially as described and the aforesaid plate being slotted to just accommodate the location and operation of the clampingjaws and blocks or members supported thereby, substantially as set forth.

7. In a rail-joint or coupling, the combination with the rails, of a plate C located a suitable distance below the base of the rails, two or more pairs of clamping-jaws at opposite sides of the rails, respectively, and fulcrumed upon the aforesaid plate in such a manner as to support the plate, said jaws engaging the opposing sides of the head andbase of the rail and having inwardly-projecting flanges in under the aforesaid plate, and blocks or pieces resting upon said flanges and engaging the under side of the base of therails, the jaws and blocks or members being suitably shaped to nicely operate, the arrangement of parts being substantially as described, and one or more of the pairs of jaws engaging recesses in the base of the adjacent rail or rails, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 25th day of July, 1893.

JAMES Gr. MILLER.