US584085A

US584085A - Rail-joint

Info

Publication number: US584085A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 1914-06-08

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT rricn.

XVILLIAM FRANCIS IVEAVER, JR., OF LITTLES'IOXVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,085, dated June 8, 1897. Application filed July 13, 1896. Serial No. 599,003. (No model.)

To all wi'wnt it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM FRANCIS lVEAVER. Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Littlestown, in the county of Adams and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Rail Joints; 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 appertains to make and use the same.

My invention, while relating in general to the class of railroadrails, yet contemplates more particularly the provision of means whereby the several sections of rails comprised in each of the tracks of a roadway are so connected together as to approximate very closely, when under the strain incident to the passage of a railroad-train, the action of a single continuous rail without joint, and therefore at all times in perfect alineinent throughout the entire length of the roadway.

To the accomplishment of the end above set forth, the invention consists in so forming the abutting ends of the separate rail-sections that the said sections when in position shall be, by the peculiar formation of said joints, held in one and the same plane, so as to prac tically form, when the said separate sections are held together by the ordinary fish-plate, a single continuous rail having the properties above set forth, whereby a perfectly smooth surface is presented to the periphery of the truck-wheels.

The construction, arrangement, and combination of the parts comprised in the invention are hereinafter set forth, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a top plan View of two adjoining rail-sections connect-ed together by a joint formed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1, the rails separated to clearly show the abutting j oiut. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1, the fish plates being removed to more clearly show the joint. Fig 4:. is an end elevation of one of the rail-sections. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the sections of rail shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of two adjoining rail-sections, showing a modified form of the joint therehetwejen, the rails being in contact.

Fig. 7 is a similar top plan view of the railsections shown in Fig. 6, the same being separated to more clearly show the joint.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar letters of reference denote similar parts, A and B designate sections of ordinary railroadrails, and O the abutting joint of said rails, which latter, it will be observed, is not cutat right angles to the axis of the rails, as is the usual practice in this art, but rather is preferably cut at acute angles to said axis that is to say, the said joint extends from side to side of the rails at the head and base thereofwhereby I am enabled to attain ends not otherwise attainable-as, for instance, to provide the said joints at each side of the rail with interlocking portions, whereby the rails are maintained at all times in perfect alinement and so present a smooth unbroken surface to the truck-wheels.

As above stated, I provide the joint C at opposite sides of the rails with interlocking portions, which I form as follows, viz: (Z c designate short vertical joint-faces which are formed in the side flanges of both the head and base at a short distance from the edges thereof and parallel with the axis of the rails. f and g designate short vertical joint-faces which extend outwardly from one end of each of the faces cl and e and at acute angles with said latter faces to the side edges of the rails, as shown. I connect the remaining ends of the faces 6. and e by vertical faces 71, which latter extend diagonally across the body of the rails A B from one to the other of the faces (Z and c.

I preferably make the joint-faces of both the head and base of the rails practically the same in length, and because of this fact, in connection with the fact that said head and base vary greatly in width, the joint 0 in the head and base of the rails will extend transversely of said rails at different angles, as shown.

I preferably abut the web H of the rails A and B squarely together at a point intermediate of the ends of the joint C and thereby form shoulders K, which extend below the head flanges of the opposing rails and aid very materially to strengthen and support the joint, as Will be readily understood.

I provide the ends of the rails A and 13 with ICO III

suitable apertures Z to receive bolts M, that secure the fish-plates N in position to said rails. (See dotted lines in Fig. 4.)

In practice the rails are placed together, as shown in Fig. 1, the diiferent faces 72. and h, (Z and e, andfand g, comprised in the joint 0, engaging, as shown, and the shoulders 7c of each rail-section A and B extending below and thus supporting the head of the remaining rail-section. The fish-plate N is now secured in place over the joint by the bolts m in the ordinary manner. "vVhen thus secured together, the separate rail-sections cannot be displaced by the strains incident to the passage of a train, the interlocking portions bounded by the faces (1 and e and f and g operating most effectually to this end.

In the modified form of joint shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the joint 0 is in outline somewhat different, but in action is similar to the joint shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a railroad-rail, an interlocking joint. comprising vertical faces (Z, and e, at opposite sides of and parallel with the axis of the rail. vertical faces f, and g, projecting outwardly from said faces d, and e, at acute angles therewith and Vertical faces h, extending diagonally across the rail between said faces 61, and e, substantially as described.

2. In an interlocking rail joint, vertical faces d, and 6, connected to, and by vertical faces f, g, and h, at angles to said faces (1, and e, shoulders 70, on the web of the rail and fishplates N, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM FRANCIS WEAVER, JR.

Vitnesses:

II. S. Snnnrs, E. BASOHOAR.