US617031A - Frederick la forest - Google Patents

Description

9 9 8 3! n a d e n Bu a P E 7 Em 1 v m .nUNd FEB Tm n F. 'LA

TRACK FAS (Applicatio No. 6l7,03l.

(No Model.)

lrventor 1 1g Attorneys Witnesses: WWW? (Q) I I H% FREDERICK LA FOREST, OF EDMUNSTON, CANADA.

TRACK-FASTENING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,031, dated January 3, 189 9. Application filed November 6 1897. Serial No. 658,108. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK LA FOREST, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Edmunston, in the county of Madawaska, Province of New Brunswick, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track-Fastening Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in railways, and has particular relation to trackfastening devices.

The objects of my invention are to provide a device of this character in which the rail after having been spiked to the tie will be held in position and prevented from becoming loosened by the action of the trains passing over the rails.

A further object is to provide a device in which the tie will be preserved from the cutting effects of the pressing down of the rail.

A further object is to protect the spikehead and prevent its being worked loose.

A further object is to provide a device which will be neat and attractive in appearance, durable in its construction, and which can be made at a nominal cost.

To these ends my invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts, as more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in both views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a rail and tie, showing my devices in the position occupied when in use.

In the present construction of railways, in which the rails are spiked to the tie, it has been found that after the rails have been laid and in use for some time the continual passing of trains over the rail has had the effect of forcing the rail into the tie and cutting it, thus loosening the spikes holding the rail to such an extent that the rail itself becomes affected by it. A number of devices have been proposed to overcome this disadvantage; but none of them have been able to successfully cope with the jarring effect of the passing trains, and it is to overcome this difficulty that the present device has been provided.

In the drawings, A represents the rail.

13 represents a tie to which the rail A has been attached by the spikes b b.

O designates my improved device, which consists of a head 0, having flanges c 0 extending therefrom rearwardly. A top 0 also extending rearwardly and formed with the flanges c c, is connected integrally with the head 0. The flanges c c and top 0 may be made as shown in the drawings, where they are shown as extending to the edge of the rail, or they may be made to conform to the shape of the rail, in which case they will surround the spike on all sides and top, with the exception of the side nearest the rail, while if constructed as shown in the drawings they surround the spike on the same sides and partially on its top, the difference in construction being the distance which the top 0 extends over the head of the spike. Either form will perform the same duties, and no preference is made as to which form might be used.

Extending rearwardly from the flanges c c are plates 0 0 to the under side of which are affixed or formed suitable holding projections 0 formed as shown in the drawings, or which may be formed by placing suitable serrations or teeth at intervals on the under side of the plates made by punching out the metal form= ing the plates, it being essential that the face of the tooth extend toward the head 0. As shown, the plates have their rear ends formed to allow of the placing of the plates under the rail.

As shown in the drawings, the plates 0 extend under the rail a sufficient distance to have the plates form practically a wearingplate for the rail. While I have shown these plates as extending for a portion of the dis tance yet I do not limit myself to this construction, but may extend them a sufficient distance across the rail, as may be found necessary, in order that a sufficient wearing-surface will be formed to prevent the rails cutting into the tie, this being one of the principal features of the invention, as hereinbefore set forth.

lVhile I have shown the bevel as extending but a part of the length of the plates, it is to be understood that the same may extend the entire length, if desired.

After laying and spiking the rail, to attach my device the plates 0 are placed 011 the sides of the spike and driven under the rail by a hammer until the inner face of the head 0 abuts against the spike. The projections 0 owing to their form, will offer no resistance to the driving of the plates beneath the rail, but will operate to prevent their easy withdrawal. It is obvious that the spike cannot be withdrawn by any means unless the device here shown is intentionally drawn out or broken or mutilated, and it will be readily understood that the spike cannot be worked loose by the passing of trains over the rails, the fact being that the passing of trains will have the effect of forcing the spike deeper into the tie by reason of the pressing downward of the top 0 While I have shown the plates 0 c as provided with holding projections 0 yetI do not limit myself to such construction, but may make the plates without any holding projections, depending upon the Weight of the rail upon the plates to hold them in place and, if found necessary, the driving of a small spike in front of the head 0 to prevent the device from being forced outward.

It will thus be seen that the device herein described will form an eiiicient track-fastening, one that will be durable and which can be manufactured at a nominal cost.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. The combination with a tie; a rail; and spikes for holding said rail to said tie; of a spike protector and securer for each spike adapted to be driven under the rail, comprising a head, having a top and side flanges extending rearwardly therefrom; and substantially thin horizontal plates, having a toothed under surface, extending rearwardly from said flanges, said plates being adapted to be driven between said tie and said rail, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a tie 5 a rail; and spikes for holding said rail to said tie; of a spike protector and securer for each spike, comprising a head, having a top and side flanges extending rearwardly therefrom; and substantially thin horizontal plates, having a toothed under surface, extending rearwardly from said flanges a distance equal to at least half the width of said rail, said plates being adapted to be driven between said tie and said rail, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK LA FOREST.

Witnesses:

ALPHONSINE BABIN, AARON LAWSON.

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