US961031A - Splice-bar lock. - Google Patents

Description

E. S. SHIPMAN. SPLICE BAR LOOK. APPLIOATION FILED DBO.10 190s.

Patented June 7, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. S. SHIPMAN.

SPLICE BAR LOCK. APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 10, 1909.

961,031 Patented June 7,1910.

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SPLICE-BAR LOCK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN S. SHIruAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Braddock, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Splice-Bar Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in connections for the contiguous ends of railway rails, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a pair of splice bars with simple and effective means whereby the said bars may be retained in locked position upon the rails and whereby the use of bolts and nuts or other analogous removable devices is entirely dispensed with.

lVith the above, and other objects in view, which will appear as the description progresses, the invention resides in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings there has been illustrated a simple and preferred embodiment of the improvement, and in which drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the contiguous ends of a pair of rails having fish plates provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the fish plates. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view upon the line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional view upon the line 66 of Fig. 4 showing the locking jaws engaging the tongues of the lock mechanism. Fig. (i is a similar view illustrating the jaws withdrawn to permit the separation of the lock sections. Fig. 7 is a detail inverted lan view of the lock members, parts being roken away.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 1 designates the contiguous ends of a pair of rails. These rails 1 are of the ordinary construction, comprising the usual head or ball 2, web 3 and base flanges 4. The webs 3, in the present instance, are provided with a plurality of spaced openings, the purpose of which will presently be described.

The numeral 6 designates the fish plates for the device. Each of these fish plates 6 is provided with a horizontally straight base portion 7 upon which is integrally formed the inclined overlapping flange 8 which is adapted to engage the base flange 4 of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 10, 1909.

Patented June '7, 1910.

Serial No. 532,406.

rails. The flange 8 is integrally provided with a vertically extending portion 9, and the said extending portion has its upper and lower edges provided with longitudinally extending beads 10, whereby the main portion of the member 9 is spaced away from the web 3 of the rails so as to provide for a certain amount of resiliency when the rolling stock is passing over the rails. The vertical members 9 are each provided with semicylindrical integrally formed spaced studs 11, which are adapted to engage within the openings 12 provided in the web of the rails and to have their faces contacted as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Each of the fish plates 6 has its edge provided with spaced openings 13, the same being adapted for the reception of suitable spikes whereby the fish plates are secured to the ties of the rails. The fish plates 6 are also centrally provided upon their overlying flanges 8 with spaced ribs 14 and the space be tween the said ribs 14 is adapted for the re ception of overlying flanges 15 16 provided upon the sections of the locking member 17. The section 15 of the locking member 17 is centrally provided with a projection 18, the said projection comprising a flattened member of a substantially arrow or V shape having shoulders 19 which are adapted to be engaged by the shoulders 20 of locking jaws 21 provided upon the opposite section of the locking member. This section, designated by the numeral 22 has its base of a substantially rectangular formation and the said base is centrally depressed to provide for the reception of the looking jaws 21. The base of the member 22 is also provided with suitable pockets 23 within which are mounted the rotatable retaining dogs 24. The dogs 24 are trunnioned within suitable openings within the base of the member 22 and their extending portions are provided with suitable non-circular wrench heads 25. The locking jaws 21 have their extremities adjacent their pivotal point provided with suitable eyes 25 which are adapted for the reception of links 26 and the said links project through suitable openings in the side of the member 22, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. The member 22 is further provided with depressions or pockets 27, the said member being adapted for the reception of helical springs 28 which exert pressure between the locking jaws 21 and the base of the member 22 so as to normally force the jaws toward each other.

When the'fish plates 6 have been positioned upon the rail members 1 and the spikes driven through the openings 13, the member 22 is first positioned between the ribs 14 upon one side of the rails, the overlying flange 16, of course, engaging between the ribs 14 upon this fish plate and the body portion 22 underlying the horizontal members 7 of the fish plate and the base flanges l of the rails. The tongue 18 of the opposite member is then inserted between the locking jaws 21 until its shoulders 19 are engaged by the shoulders 20 of the said locking jaws, the springs 27 forcing the said jaws into engagement with the tongue. WVhen this is accomplished the non-circular head 25 is turned by a wrench or like device so as to throw the retaining dogs into contact with the outer edges of the locking jaws 21, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. By this arrangement, it will be noted that accidental movement of the members comprising the lock is effectively obviated and that, in order to separate the sections of the lock, it is necessary to rotate the retaining dogs 24 so as to bring the same into the position illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings and in order to move the tongue 18 from engagement with the locking jaws 21 the links 26 are grasped by the ends by the operator and swung upon their pivots in opposite directions and against the tension of the springs 27, when the said links are brought to the position as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be noted that I have provided a simple and effective devicefor the purpose intended, and while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of the improvement, as it now appears to me, minor details of construction, within the scope of the following claims may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. In combination with a pair of rail members, fish plates for the rail members, said fish plates being provided with overlying flange members, spaced ribs upon the flange members, a lock for the plates, said lock comprising a pair of sections, each provided with overlying lips adapted to engage between the ribs of the fish plates, one of said sections being formed with a V- shaped tongue having shoulders, the opposite section being provided with locking jaws also provided with shoulders and adapted to engage with the shoulders of the first section, and resilient means for forcing the locking jaws into engagement with the tongue.

2. In combination with the meeting ends of a pair of rails, of fish plates therefor, said fish plates being provided with overlying flange members, said flange members having spaced ribs, a locking member, said locking member comprising a pair of sections, each provided with overlying lips adapted to engage between the ribs of the fish plates, one of said sections being provided with a substantially V-shaped tongue having shoulders, the opposite section being provided with locking jaws also provided with shoulders and adapted to engage the shoulders of the tongue, resilient means for forcing the locking jaws into engagement with the tongue, and rotatable dogs adapted to contact the locking jaws to secure the same in engagement with the tongue.

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

EDWVIN S. SHIPMAN.

VVit-nesses ANDREW A. SGHILLING, EDWARD J. L. MULLEN.

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