US922835A - Rail-joint. - Google Patents

Description

o. R. BALDR'IG'EL RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1909.

Patented May 25, 1909.

1m: NORRIS r-Ersns can, WASHINGTON, n. c

UNTTED STATES CLARENCE RAY BALDRIGE, OF BRADDOOK, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1909.

Application filed February 15, 1909. Serial No. $78,061.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE RAY BALD- nren, a citizen of the United States, residing at Braddock, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to an improvement in rail joints and consists of a base supporting plate having a plurality of integral or fixedly connected upwardly extending bolts having shanks and enlarged heads engaging the flanges of the rails, by means of slotted openings therein, as hereinafter described.

The object of the invention is to provide means for connecting the ends of the rails solidly and tightly together without the usual Web bolts and nuts, and to facilitate, cheapen and accelerate the construction and operation of devices of this character.

The invention also includes means for pre venting dis-connection or separation of the parts.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, of a rail joint made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views showing modifications.

The rails 2, 2, which abut together at the joint, have their flanges 3 provided with bolt head openings 4 from which extend longitudinally of the rails the slot extensions 5.

6 is the connecting base plate preferably rovided with the lateral flanges 7 for engagement with the rail flange edges as shown, and of ample body portion to receive and support the rails. Extending upwardly from the upper face of the plate 6 at each side of its center a distance corresponding to the lateral spacing of the slotted openings 4, and also spaced longitudinally to correspond to the location of said openings, is a double series of securing bolts 8 of a diameter to fit within the slots 5 and having retaining heads 9 of a size to bind downwardly on the flange around the slot but to pass freely through the openings 4. These bolt heads may be of any suitable form or shape, and are spaced above the face of the plate 6 a distance equal to the thickness of the rail flanges, the under sides of the bolt heads being sloped to correspond to the slope of the flanges.

in connecting the parts together with the rails abutting together, the heads of all the bolts are inserted upwardly through openings 4.- and the upper face of the base 6 brought into contact with the bottoms of the rails, and the base is then shifted longitudinally until their shanks are set into the slots and against the ends thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the bolt heads binding downwardly on the rail flanges. Ordinarily the frictional engagement is such that the base and bolts have to be driven longitudinallv by the use of a sledge and will there remain in place, but any abutment in the road bed may be set up against the rear end of the base plate to hold it in place, as a tie 10, Fig. 1.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown a supplemental construction in which the base plate is provided with a separate tightening bolt and nut i 1 which may pass through one of the slots in the same manner as described and then tightened, or through an ordinary hole in the rail flange, as preferred. Such device provides a positive tightening element for holding the parts together which thus becomes an incorporated part of the construction.

The bolts 8 may be molded or cast integral with the base plate or may be incorporated with it in any other suitable manner. The device will be found to hold the rail ends rigidly and securely together, avoiding the necessity of the usual fish plates; it is siinple and cheap in construction, not liable to get out of order, and will perform its func tions satisfactorily.

What I claim is:

i. A rail joint consisting of rail ends having their flanges provided with longitudinally slotted bolt head openings, and a base plate having upwardly projecting stud bolts having heads capable of passing through said openings and engaging the slotted extensions thereof by their shanks, substantially as set forth.

2. A rail joint consisting of rail ends having their flanges provided with longitudinally slotted bolt head openings, and a base plate mental securing bolt, substantially as set 10 forth, In testimony whereof I ai'liX my signature having upwardly projecting stud bolts en- I gaging said slotted openings, with means for fixedly holding the parts against longitudinal I IILOVGXIGIlt, substantially as set forth. 111 presence of two witnesses.

3. i rail joint consisting of rail ends having their flanges provided with longitudinally l CLARENCE RAY BALDRIGE' slotted bolt head openings, and a base plate Witnesses: having upwardly projecting stud bolts en- C. M. CLARKE, gaging said slotted openings, and a supple- I CHAS. S. LEPLEY.

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