US624983A - Ville - Google Patents

Description

No. 624,983. Patented May l6, I899.

w. SANDFORD, w. monuusv & E. SILCOCKS.

EXPANDING RAIL JOINT.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1898.) (No Model.)

( (I, 6 yaw/beam Ja /1: 25:

' 116144 JZMZ gm $11M L Mw gles as the inner flanges on the inside plates.

ner plates are curved in the middle, so that ward the center of the rail causes the inner NTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM SANDFORD, OF LITHGOW, WILLIAM THORNLEY, OF MARRIOK- VILLE, AND EDWARD SILCOOKS, OF SYDNEY,NEVV SOUTH WALES.

EXPANDING RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,983, dated May 16, 1899.

Application filed March 1, 1898. Serial No. 672,204. (No model.)

To ztZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM SANDFORD, ironmaster, of Eskbank Ironworks, Lithgow, WILLIAM THORNLEY, mechanical engineer, of Marrickville, near Sydney, and EDWARD SILOOOKS, railway-inspector, of 82 Buckingham street, Sydney, in the Colony of New South ales, have invented an Improved Expanding Rail-Joint, of which the following is a specification. v

This improved rail-joint consists, essentially, of the combination and arrangement, with the abutting ends of two lengths of rail, of four plates which may be made any required length. The two inner plates are made to fit the rail accurately ontthe upper and lower side. The two expansion-plates are made with inclined edges which are of the same an- WVhen these plates are put together, as shown at Figure 1, and the bolts are screwed up tight, the outer plates being pressed in toplates to expand and force themselves tight against the flange and head of rail. The inthe forcing home of the outer plates causes the circular web of the inner plates to straighten out and so increases the width of the plates to allow them to take up any irregularities or wear there may be in the rail or plates.

These rail-joints may be made as shown on Fig. 1 and in the manner above described, or, if preferred, the inner plates can be made in two pieces, so as to allow them to open out more freely. This method is shown on Fig. 2. If desired, they may be made as shown on Fig. 3. This method would have the effect of strengthening the railjoints and may assist in carrying the wheels over the slight opening between the rails and at the joints, as the tread of the wheel would come' in contact with the top flange and outer portion of railjoint; but in order that this invention may be more clearly understood reference will now be made to the drawings herewith, Where the letters of reference apply to the same parts in all the figures.

Fig. 1 is a section showing the joint as applied to a flange-rail A. The inner plates B Figs. 4 and 5 show the application of the invention to the bull-l1ead-and double-head rails. Fig. at shows the joint applied in thesame manner as described on Fig. 1. Fig. 5, however, shows an alteration which gives the advantages of a deep fish-plate, but the strength is added to the plates where it will be of most service to the joints.

,Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal elevation of the joint.

The advantages claimed for the invention are as follows: The joint-plates are in full bearing contact with rail under head and on flange, having their inner edges in contact with the rail-web, and as the action of the inner plates being tightened by the bolts expands the joints in a direct line, the inner plates being prevented from movement with relation to their contacting rail portions by reason of abutting against the web,as just described, the same surface of rail is always in contact with the same surface of rail-joint, so that any inequalities or roughness in either rail or plate is in a short time impressed either in joint or on the rail, This has the effect of making the ordinary rolled surfaces of rail and joint practically a true mechanical fit. It will be readily seen that this method of tightening the joints is superior to any joint which slides down the ordinary inclined plane of the rails, because the plates or joints which depend upon being brought closer together by the ordinary method are constantly shifting their position on the rails, so that the indentations made by any irregularities in the rolling of the rails or joints are shifted every time the bolts are tightened up. The rail is thus constantly knocking fresh impressions in the joints and causes them to quickly wear away and become useless.

Having now described the nature of our invention, we declare that what we claim is- 1. In a rail-joint the combination with abutting rail-sections, of inner plates upon each side of the rail and extending along both railsections across the line of abutment, said inner plates being respectively under the railhead and above the bottom flanges, the plates when in position being prevented from movement with relation to the contacting rail portions, outer plates on each side of the rail and extending along both rail-sections, said outer plates fitting between the before-mentioned inner plates on a given side of the rail, the contacting surfaces of one member being inclined, whereby movement of the outer plates along the inner plates serves to force the inner plates against the rail-head and bottom flanges, and means for locking the outer plates in adjusted position; substantially as described.

2. In a rail-joint the combination with abutting rail-sections, of inner plates upon each side of the rail and extending along both railsections across the line of abutment, said inner plates being respectively under the railhead and above the bottom flanges, and having their inner edges in contact with the railweb, outer plates on each side of the rail and extending along both rail-sections, said outer plates fitting between the before-mentioned inner plates on a given side of the rail, the contacting surfaces of one member being inclined whereby movement of the outer plates along the inner plates in the direction of their width serves to force the inner plates against the rail-head and bottom flanges, and means for locking the outer plates in adjusted position; substantially as described.

WILLIAM SANDFORD. WILLIAM THORNLEY. EDWARD SILCOOKS.

Witnesses:

W. V. ALEXANDER, G. F. W. DANDO.

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