US772543A - Rail-joint lock. - Google Patents

Description

, PAIENTED oGT. 18, 1904l N. G.' VDSLER. RAIL JOINTLOGK.- APPLICATION FILED Imc. su. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

7N() MODEL.

. Inventor jaw/zeges.' i

.A ./S/vnl/oS/e/ No. 772,543. PATENTED 00T. 1s, 1904.'

N. G. VosLER.

RAIL JOINT LOCK.

APPLIoATIoN FILED DBO, 21.1903.

' No MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented October 18, 1904. i

PATENT OFFICE.;

NEWTON e. vOsLEE, or FORT oOLLiNs, COLORADO.

" RAIL-JOINT LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,543, dated October 18, 1904.

Application led December 21, 1903. Serial No. 185,998. (No models) To all whom, 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, NEWTON G. VosLER, a

` citizen of the United States, residing at Fort securely fastened to the ties will prevent Collins, in the county of Larimer and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joint Locks, of which the following is a specification.`

My invention relates to improvements in devices for locking together the adjacent ends of railway-rails, and more especially to the class of locks illustrated and described in United States Patent N o. 665,984, granted to me January 15, 1901. The locks described in this specification, al-

though operating onthesame principle as the lock described in the above-mentioned patent, differmaterially in form and application and are more especially adapted for use on street, electric, and elevated railroads, sur-V face tramways for mines, &c.

' The Objects of my invention are, first, to provide a device of the class named which being simplel and durable in construction may be manufactured at low cost and readily applied to the rails without the use of bolts or other fastening devices, which generally are diiiicult to apply and which weaken the rails; second, to provide means for effectually locking the meeting ends of rails together, which, holding'the rails in perfect top and side alinement, will avoid lateral deiiection and socalled low joints, which are known to be the most fruitful source of` breakage and damage to rails and consequent danger to passing trains; third, to provide a rail -joint lock which by the absence ofbolts will allow the rails to expand or contract and which-being spreading ofthe rails; fourth, to provide a device of the class named which may be quickly applied at any time to any part of the rail or rails and in which, owing to its peculiar construction, the weight of the trains on the rails will aid in more securely locking the rail ends together, which, it may be observed, is a decided `advantage over the old method of fastening .the rails by straps and bolts, which oftentimes break or loosen by the pressure ofthe train on the rails.

Myl device may, furthermore, .be used to great advantage in mendin'g cracked or kbroken yties being omitted; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the combined bed-plate and angle-bar employed in my lock;l Fig.'3, a perspective view of the removable angl`ebar; Fig. 4,.a crosssection taken througha rail with the device in locked position and secured to a railway tie; Fig. 5, a top view of the part of my lock illustrated in Fig. 2, the adjoining ends of lthevrail being shown in place in section; Fig. 6, a perspective view of a modified form of my device; Fig. 7, an enlarged cross-section through two rails with my device shown in place in the locked position; Figs. 8, 9, and

10, perspective views of the various parts comprising the lock as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 Fig. 11, a sectional view of another modified form of my lock; Fig.-12, a perspective View of the connected bed-plates used in the form illustrated in Fig. 11; Fig. 13, a

.cross-section through the device as illustrated in Fig. 1, showing application of bolts; and

Fig. 14, a section taken'falong the line 14 14,

Fig. 5. f

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the various views.

My device, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, and 14, comprises two members A and B,

lone of which, A, is composed of abcd-plate 5, hprovided along one of its sides with anupa plane with the upper surface of plate 5. Plate .5 is, furthermore, provided with one or more slots 5d, which extend along its' lianged edge and through the vertical portion 5, which connects the flange 5c to the plate. Two or more feet 5f, by which the plate may be secured to i the cross-ties, extend laterally. from the angle- IOO bar side of the bed-plate and are provided along their outer edges with downwardly-extending teeth 5g, which are made to enter the tie when the feet are secured thereto by spikes 9, driven through suitably-located apertures 5 in feet 5f. The entire structure is reinforced by ribs 5, two of which extend vertically from the feet alongside the outside surface of the anglebar, being integral with both, while the third or middle one extends diagonally from the lower to the upper edge of the angle-bar. The second member, B, which is shown in detail in Fig. 3, is composed of an angle-bar 7, similar in size and shape to the angle-bar 6 and provided with one or more laterally-extending angle projections or knees 7, which depend from the lower edge of the angle-bar. They correspond in length and location to the slots 5, the vertical portion 7c being adapted to occupy said slots when the membersA and B are assembled. Both the integral as well as the detachable angle-bars are shaped so as to conform to the contour of the under side of the head, the web 8, and the upper side and edge of base 8 of the rail, so that when the rails are placed on the bed-plate and the detachable angle-bar is in place the two bars, in conjunction with the bed-plate, will embrace or clasp said rails. The bed-plate to this end has been made of a width sufficient to admit the base of the rail as well as'the drooping' edge 7 d of angle-bar 7, which forms a shoulder along the entire length of the plate between the edge 8 of the rail and the offset 5 of the bed-plate. The upper edges of both angle-bars rest in practice against the lower surface of the head 8e of the rail, thus furnishing additional support for the rails. The horizontal portions 7 of the angle projections on the detachable angle-bar being similar in form to the feet 5f on the bed-plate project outwardly from beneath the elevated flange 5C when the vertical portions 7c of the knees occupy slots l. They are, like feet 5f, provided with downwardly-extending teeth 7 g and spike-holes 7, by which they may be secured to the cross-ties l0. The holes 7 in the horizontal portion of knees 7 are so located that when the spikes 9 are driven therethrough the lips and sides of the spikes will engage the outer edge of flange 5c, thus not only securing the angle-bar to the tie, but at the same time rigidly connecting the two members. of the device. Located at a point midway between the ends of the bed-plate and near its flanged side is an upwardly-exf tending projection or stop l1, the oiiice of which is to limit the longitudinal movement of the rails toward each other. The distance between stop 11 and the offset on the bedplate should be equal to or exceed the thickness of the lower edge 7l of the detachable angle-bar, so as to prevent stop 1l from obstructing the path of the edge 7d when the angle-bar is putin place. The adjacent ends of the rails 8 have been provided with notches 8X, corresponding in position to the stop 11, so that the latter will engage said notches when the rails are in their proper position on the bed-plate.

The operation of the device and mode of applying same to the rails are very simple. The rails having been placed on the bed-plate in the recess formed by the plate and the integral angle-bar, so that notches 8X engage stop 11, the knees 7 of the detachabl 1. anglebar 7 are inserted in slots until. the vertical portions 7 c occupy said slots and angle-bar 7 rests against the rail. rlhe entire structure is now secured to the cross-ties by spikes .l, driven through apertures 5" and 7 in the feet of the bed-plate and the horizontal portions of the knees 7, the lips of the spikes driven through the latter resting against the upper surface of flange 5c, as heretofore explained, thus affording supjilementary means for holding the different parts intact. When the spikes are driven home, the downwardlyextending projections 5r on the feet of the bedplate and on the horizontal portion 7 of the knees, as well as portions of the parts themselves, the ends of which to this end have been made pointing downward, will enter the surface of the cross-ties. This feature of my invention is intended to form an absolute safeguard against spreading of rails, which is a great source of danger on raih'ozul-tracks as they are now constructed. Moreover, in my device I gain the advantage that the spikes on the inside of the rail have thev same hohling power against lateral movement as those on the outside, which greatly adds to the strength of the joint. The teeth and ends of the lateral projections of the bed-plate and detachable angle-bar entering the ties cresswise of the grain, shoulders are formed which not only will prevent lateral movement, but materially relieve the strain on the spikes. W hen the detachable angle-bar has been put in place and the entire structure spiked down on the ties, the two parts of the device will be rigidly connected, this rigidity being aug mented when the weight of passing trains is brought to bear on the rails, owing to the suspension of the joint where it is spiked to the tie. The assembled members A and B, it will be observed, form together a recess in close conformity to the shape of the cross-section of the base, web, and under surface of the head of the rail in which the rail ends will be clasped firmly, so as to assure perfect alinement of the meeting rails. 1 wish it understood, however, that although lateral movement of the rails clamped in my lock is prevented sa`id rails may still move longitudinally when expanded or contracted.

Although, as a general rule, it is my intention to secure the lock to two cross-ties, it may, if necessary, be made longer, so as to engage three or even more ties, or when used on side tracks or for repairing slightly- TOO y bars, as illustrated in Fig. 13.

rested by stop 11.

Should it be deemed advisable on account of economy in manufacturing or other reasons to omit stop 11, the rails may be secured against longitudinal movement by means' ofl bolts 12, projecting through properly-placed holes in the web of the rails and the anglederstood, however, that the bolts are in no case required for any other function, as they do not add to the strength or safety of my device. Y n

In Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and l() is illustrated a form of my device which is especially adapted for use on railroads of narrow gage and light traffic, such as the surface vtramways used in mines. i The construction and operation of the locking parts of the device are practically the same as described in my abovementioned patent, there being besides a bedplate 5 two detachable angle-bars 7 .f In this case, however, the two inner angle-bars of the corresponding locks on the two rails coinposing the track have been connected by a metal strap 13, integral with both angle-bars and provided with suitable apertures 13a for fastening purposes. The shape `of the outside angle-bars is similar to that of the detachable angle-bar hereinabove described. In the drawings only one knee has been shown; but it will be understood that as many may be employed as desired. i The connected inner angle-bars differ from the outer ones in width. Owing to the fact that on vaccount of their being attached to eachother they have to be inserted `from the under side of the bed-plate, their width cannot exceed that of the slots in 'the plate. The connectingplate 13, which takes the place of the horizontal portions of the knees in the other angle-bars, is made of the same width as the angle-bars to which they are attached. The construction of the bed-plate is practically the same as in' the'two-piece lock, excepting' that as both angle-bars are detachable the integral angle-bar has been replaced by a `{iange similar in shape to iiange 5G, while the feet .5f have been omitted. Slots 5d instead of be- I wish it un?v on the rails the corresponding locks on the two rails will form one whole. This construction enables ine to dispense with the cross-ties, especially when the rails are to be placed on a rocky surface, to which the connecting- `strap 13, as well as the feet of the outside angle-bars, may be spiked.

In Figs. l1 and l2 is illustrated a modified form of the above-described connected locks. In this lcase the inner iianges on the bed-plates of corresponding locks on the two rails have been replaced by a connecting-bar 11i, while all the angle-bars are detachable and separated. The spikes on the inside of the locks are driven through the connecting-flange 14C, as well as through the horizontal parts of the knees of the inside angle-bars, the holes in both having been made to correspond.

Having thus described my invention, what I clairnis i 1. In a rail-joint lock the combination with a bed-plate adapted to be interposed between the rail and the tie, having an integral anglebar extending along one of its sides and being provided with slots along its opposite side, of a'detachable angle-bar having knees extending downwardly through said slots and outwardly from the slotted side-of said plate, said knees and said bed-plate being provided with suitably-located spike-openings, substantially as described.

2. A rail-jointiock comprising a base-plate providedwith an integral angle-bar along one of its sides and an elevatedoutwardly-extending iiange, formed by an oifset along its opposite side, slots in said base-plate extending through said offset, a detachable angle-bar having knees extending from its lower edge and adapted to extend through said slots, underneath said flange'and outwardly therefrom, said angle-bars being adapted to confine between them a rail placed on the bed-plate, substantially as 'described 3. A'rail-j'oint lock comprising a bed-plate, a ribbed angle-bar integral with said bed-plate extending along one of its sides, feet extending laterally from said bed-plate and adapted to be spiked to the ties, downwardly-extending projections onlsaid feet, a flange formed by an offset along a side of said bed-plate, slots in said plate extending through said offset, an angle-bar having angle-knees adapted 'to be passed through said slots and to be spiked to the tie and downwardly-extending teeth on the outwardly-extending portions of said sides, a detachable angle-bar having'v anglelknees adapted to be passed through the slots in said plate and to project outwardly'fromv; 4 I 3o said plate, and a projection on said-bed-plate IOO IIO

IZO

' ing flange formed by an offset extending along the opposite side of said plate, slots in said plate extending through said oifset, an anglebar having' knees adapted to be passed through said slots, to project beyond said flange, and to be spiked to the ties, said angle-bar having a downwardly-extending ange extending between said offset and the edge or' the base of the rail placed on said bed-plate and conlined between said angle-bars, substantially as described.

6. A rail-joint lock comprising two slotted bed-plates adapted to receive the bases of two rails composing a railroad-track, angle-bars, between which the rails are to be conlined having knees adapted to be passed through the slots in said plates anda strap, connecting those angle-bars which face each other and the center of the track, substantially as described. v

7. A rail-joint lock comprising two bedplates adapted to receive the bases of two rails composinga railroad-track and provided with ontwardly-extending elevated slotted flanges, along their sides, angle-bars having knees adapted to be passed through the slots on the outside of said plates, and a` strap adapted to connect said plates, its extremities being formed into angle-bars, adapted to be passed through the slots on the inside of said plates, substantially as described.

8. A rail-joint lock comprising two connected slotted bed-plates adapted to receive simultaneously the bases of the two rails composing a railroad-track, and angle-bars between which the rails are to be conlined, ha v ing knees adapted to be passed through the slots in said plates and to be spiked to the surface on which the track rests, substantially as described.

9. A rail-joint lock comprising two bedplates adapted to receive the bases of two rails composing a railroad-track and provided with outwardly-extending slotted, elevated flanges along their sides, angle-bars having knees adapted to be passed through the slots in said ianges and to extend beyond the same, and a plate connecting the flanges which face each other and the center of the track, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l have afiixed my signature in presence ot' two witnesses.

NElVTON (l. VOSLER.

Vitnesses:

(Jr. J. RoLLANDur, R. M. STUMr.

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