US830754A - Rail-joint. - Google Patents

Description

No. 830,754. PATENTBD SEPT.11, 1906. N. P. WALTERS.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION PIIiIED T15R23. 1906.

WIZNLSSES: [NVENTOR W A TTORNE Y5 NELS P. WVALTERS, OF FORT MADISON, IOWA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 1906.

Application filed February 23, 1906. Serial No. 802,552.

IO ting ends of rails are prevented from sagging one below the other so as to cause pounding by car-wheels passing over the oints.

A still further object is to provide supporting means which will not interfere with the I expansion or the contraction of the rails and which is adapted to be used in connection with fish-plates of the usual construction.

I/Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists of a block or key adapted to be inserted in the registering recesses in the ends of two abutting rails so as to hold said ends against independent vertical movement. The key has forked ends adapted to embrace the webs of the rails, so as to prevent 2 5 lateral displacement of the key. The sides of the key are preferably rounded, so as to lit snugly within the inner faces of the fish plates.

The invention also consists of certain other 3 novel features of construction and combina tions of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings are shown the preferred forms of the invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rail-joint with the fish-plate removed. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section through the joint. Fig. 3 is a transverse section therethough. Fig. 4 is a detail View of the 4 key, and Fig. 5 is a similar view of a modified form of key.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 1 are rails having rectangular recesses 2 in the ends of the webs thereof, said recesses being of less width than the height of the webs, so that a considerable portion of the web remains between each recess and the head of the rail.

When two rails are placed together with 5 their ends in contact, the recesses therein will register, and these recesses are adapted to receive a supporting-key 3, which is equal in length to the combined lengths of the two recesses in which it is located. Extending from the ends of the key are parallel arms 4,

forming forks adapted to embrace the webs and hold the key against displacement. The side faces of the key and arms are rounded, so as to fit within the concavities formed within the inner faces of the ordinary fish-plates 5. These "fish-plates are adapted to be bolted to the rails in the usual manner and will spring inward at their ends to a certain extent, thereby acting as nut-locks, because they will bind upon the nuts 6 upon the bolts 7 and prevent them from being unscrewed unless subjected to more than the ordinary pressure. IVhile the key herein described is especially adapted for use in connection with rails having beveled overlapping ends, it can also be employed with rails having the ordinary square ends. Moreover, instead offorking the ends of the key the arms l may be dispensed with, as shown at 8. With this construction, however, the key is liable to fall out of position while the -fish-plates are being secured and therefore the key utilizing arms 4 will be found more desirable. As the recesses are not disposed close to the heads of the rails there is no danger of the rail breaking when subjected to extreme downward pressure, but instead the key will break and leave the rail uninured.

I/Vhat is claime is- 1. In a rail-joint the combination with abutting rails having registering recesses in the ends of their webs; of a substantially rectangular key seated within the recesses and having rounded exposed faces, and fishplates bolted upon the webs and embracing said rounded faces.

2. In a rail-joint, the combination with abutting rails having registering recesses in the webs thereof; of a substantially rectangular key seated within the recesses and having forked ends embracing the webs, the exposed faces of the key being rounded.

3. In a rail-joint, the combination with abutting rails having registering recesses in the webs thereof; of a substantially rectangular key seated within the recesses and having forked ends embracing the webs, the exposed faces being rounded, and fish-plates screwed upon opposite faces of the webs and embracing the rounded faces of the key.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixcd my signature in .the presence of two witnesses.

NELS P. WALTERS. I/Vitnesses:

E. O. WEBER, VEDA BUoIioLz.

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