US811261A - Rail-joint. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JAN. 30

J. W. TRACY.

RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

sluocufoz f/lfl agy No. 811,261. PATBNTED JAN. 30, 1906, J. W. TRACY.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. TRACY, OF NASH COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN M. FITZGERALD, OF ROCKYMOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA.

RAID-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1906.

Application filed May 8, 1905. Serial No- 259,899.

To (LZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be known that I, JOHN W. TRACY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the county of Nash and State of North Carolina,

accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing rails mounted upon ties, the joint means involving the invention being applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the rails and joint-chair. Fig. 3 is a horizon tal sectional view taken about on the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the rail-chair alone. Fig. 5 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of the end portion of a rail, showing the cutaway portion thereof. Fig. 6 is a detail perspec tive view of one of the wedge members utilized for clamping the rail ends in the chair. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the key device utilized to actuate or spread the wedges in the chair.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

In carrying out this invention the rails 1 are of the ordinary T form at present in use, and said rails are mounted upon the ties 2 in the customary manner. The end portions of the rails are united by means of a joint comprising this invention, which consists, essentially, of: a chair adapted to receive the ends of the rails and composed of a base 3 and spaced wings 4 and 5, projecting upwardly from the base. When the rails are disposed in the chair, the wing 5, which is broad and heavy, is in. contact throughout its length with the web portion of each rail 1. at one side thereof. The wing 4, however, is spaced throughout its length from the webs of the rails, and the space between the wing 4 and said rails converges toward the opposite extremities of the chair, as shown at 6, from a point about intermediate the extremities of the wing 4, above mentioned-in other words, the wing 5 affords a solid bearing for the web portion of each rail upon one side, whereas the other wing, 4, is spaced. from the web portions upon the opposite sides. The space between the wing 4, which converges toward opposite extremities of the chair, is adapted to receive oppositely-opcrating wedges, which are preferably of like formation, said wedges 7 being adapted to be separated by suitable actuating means, so as to be forced toward the extremities of the chair to be clamped hard against the adjacent side of the web portions of each rail 1, so as to firmly hold said rail with a solid bearing in the chair which receives said rails. The wing 5 is of a sufficient hei ht to engage with the ball or head of the rail ends at the ends of the rails 1, said wing forming a bearing upon the under side of the head portions at one side of the rails,

" the wedges 7, however, which operate upon the opposite side of the rails form a bearing rigidly bracing the head portions, sai d wedges engaging beneath the head portions in a manner similar to that described with reference to the member 5. The base portions of the chair for the rails are formed with flanges 8, opposite flanges being notched, as shown at 9, to receive spikes, which when driven into the ties of the road-bed will firmly position the chair upon said ties.

The wings 4 and 5 of the chair are formed with a transverse opening 10, through which a bolt or key 11 is adapted to be passed, said bolt or key having a head 12 at one extremity and being provided with threads at the opposite extremity to receive a nut 13. The key 11 tapers toward the threaded extremity thereof and is adapted to pass between. the extremities of the railsl, the. latter having notches or cut-away portions 14 to permit the key to afford a space between the rail ends, through which the key may pass. The member 11, when forced through the openings 10 of the wings 4 and 5, will engage with the larger extremities of the wedges 7, so as to positively, because of the tapered construction of the member 11, force said wedges apart, causing them to move farther into the converged spaces at the ends of the chair. Necessarily the wedges will be caused to clamp more firmly against the adjacent side of the rail ends at the web, and when the key 11 has been forced through the wings 4 and 5, as above mentioned, and a nut 13 screwed thereon to hold the same tightly in place. the wedges 7 will have been separated, so as to firmly hold the rails 1 in place in the chair, therefore obviating all looseness or play of the rails in a manner readily apparent. Since the rails are not directly secured to the chair, it Will be noted that said rails are permitted to have a certain amount of movement in expanding and contracting, this being necessary, as will be apparent to those versed in this art.

It will be understood that the number of wedges 7 is immaterial, and two or more of the same may be utilized under certain conditions of service and by certain variation in the structure of the chair embodying the wings 4 and 5. The nut 13 upon the key or member 11 is prevented from displacement by means of a cotter-pin 15, which may pass through the opening transversely in the threaded end of the member 11. Extending longitudinally from the ends of the chair are angle extensions 16,'one integral with each wing at opposite ends, said angle extensions 16 virtually forming angle-bars adaptedto bear against the opposite sides of the rails in a manner obvious. The outer extremities of the angle members 16 are notched at the basal portions, as shown at 17, so that spikes driven into the ties adjacent the tie upon which the rail-chair is disposed will effectively hold the angle bars or extensions against the sides of the rails, said rails having an extended bearing at the joint, the joint means thus being carried upon three ties instead of one. The extensions 16 are of course spaced from each other.

In actual use in assembling the parts of the rail-joint the rail-chair is first placed in position upon the ties and may be properly secured thereto. The wedges 7 are then disposed in the space between the opposing wings 4 and 5, and the larger ends of the wedges may be brought together, so as to give sufficient space between the same and the wing 5 to freely admit of disposing the ends of the rails 1 in the space between said wedges 7 and the wing 5. The rails 1 are of course introduced in the chair by longitudinal or endwise movement thereof into opposite ends of said chair, and after the rails have been properly placed in position the member 11 is forced into engagement with the wedges 7 and simultaneously separates these wedges to cause the same to rigidly engage the side of the rails adjacent.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In combination with the meeting ends of rails, joint means therefor including a wing at one side of the rails in spaced relation thereto, and spaced oppositely movable wedges arranged between the wing and the rail ends for firmly holding the rails in position.

2. In combination with the meeting ends of rails, a oint therefor including a wing at a side of the rails in spaced relation thereto, oppositely operating wedges between the wing and the rails, and means for imparting simultaneous longitudinal movement to said wedges.

3. In combination with the meeting ends of rails, a joint therefor including a wing at a side of the rails in spaced relation thereto, oppositely-operating Wedges between the wing and the rails, and a member arranged transversely of the Wedges for simultaneous actuation thereof.

4. In combination with the meeting ends of rails, a joint therefor including a Wing at a side of the rails in spaced relation thereto, oppositely-operating wedges between the wing and the rails, and a tapered key movable be tween the wedges for separating the same.

5. In combination with the meeting ends of rails, a joint therefor comprising a chair, spaced wings carried by the chair and arranged upon opposite sides of the rails at the ends, oppositely-operating wedges between a wing of the chair and the adjacent rail ends, and means between said wedges for imparting simultaneous longitudinal movement thereto.

6. In combination with the meeting ends of rails, a joint therefor comprising a chair, spaced wings carried by the chair and arranged upon opposite sides of the rails at the ends, the space between the wing of the chair and the adjacent rails being convergent from a point between the ends of the chair toward the opposite extremities of the chair, and oppositely-movable wedges arranged for movement in the space between the aforesaid wing and the rails.

7. In combination with the meeting ends of rails, a joint therefor comprising a chair, spaced wings carried by the chair and arranged upon opposite sides of the rails at the ends, the space between the wing of the chair and the adjacent rails being convergent from a point between the ends of the chair toward the opposite extremities of the chair, oppositely-movable wedges arranged for movement in the space between the aforesaid wing and the rails, and a key passing between the rail ends for spreading the wedges simultaneously.

8. In combination with the meeting ends of rails, a oint therefor comprising a chair, spaced wings carried by the chair and arranged upon opposite sides of the rails at the ends, the space between the wing of the chair and the adjacent rails being convergent from a point between the ends of the chair toward the opposite extremities of the chair, oppositely-movable wedges arranged for movement in the space between the aforesaid wing and the rails, and a key passing between the rail ends for spreading the wedges simultaneously, the rail ends having notched or cutawaynportions through which the key passes.

5 9. Incombination with the meeting ends of rails, a joint therefor comprising a chair, spaced wings carried by the chair and ar ranged upon opposite sides of the rails at the ends, the space between the wing of the chair 10 and the adjacent rails being convergent from a point between the ends of the chair toward the opposite extremities of the chair, oppositely-movable wedges arranged for movement in the space between the aforesaid wing 15 and the rails, a key passing between the rail ends for spreading the wedges simultaneously, the rail ends having notched or cutaway portions throngh which the key passes, and a nut threaded upon the key for prevent- 2o ing displacement thereof.

10. In combination with the meeting ends of rails, a joint-chair therefor embodying a,

base and spaced wings carried by the base,

wedges operating between a wing and the rails, and angle extensions projecting from 25 the wings at the ends of the chair.

11. In combination with the meeting ends of rails, a joint-chair therefor embodying a base and spaced wings carried by the base,

wedges operating between a wing and the 0 rails, angle extensions projecting from the wings at the ends of the chair, a key passing through the wings of the chair and movable between the wedges for actuating the latter,

and means for preventing displacement of 3 5 said key.

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

JOHN W. TRACY. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

R. L. HUFFINEs, ROLAND JENKINS.

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