US1639969A - Rail joint - Google Patents

Description

D. R. 'RICHARDS RAIL JOINT Aug. 23, 1927..

Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

',.UNITED STATES DAVID mins RICHARDS,

PATENT OFFICE.

0F 'S'.l. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

' RAIL JOINT.

Applicationk iled December T he object of my present lnvention is to provide arail joint which will prevent the adjacent ends of two opposed rails from up and down movement with relation to each i other and to keep the head surface of the rails in aplane'ivhile the wheels of an engine and cars are approaching and leaving theV joint; therebyeliminating the low and high joint. Y -4v l a. a

A further` object of` the. invention is to provide a rail joint which will prevent iish plate boltsjfrom wearing the holesin'the fish plates Whichnow canse loose joints.

A still furtherobject of the invention is to provide a space ykey disposed in opposed lend slots in the web of two opposed rails to prevent up and down displacement .of the ends of the rails from any cause. y A

A still further object Aof the invention is to provide means to vprevent displacement of the tie-key. Y Y n l A further object of the invention. isthe provisionof a rail joint which will possess advantagesin points of simplicityand eiiiciency, and, at the same time prove itself comparatively inexpensivek in manufacture.'

wWith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and finally pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1, is a perspective view of two rails disposed end to end and equipped with a rail joint embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2, is a perspective view of two opposed rails disposed end to end showing the end slots therein.

Fig. 3, is a sectional view taken on lin 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4L, is a perspective view of the tie-key.

Fig. 5, is a perspective view of the tie-key washer. Y

Referring to the drawings, the reference pun'ierals 1 and 2 designate ties while 3 and i designate two opposed rails laid end to end thereon in the usual manner.

15,1925. Serial No. 75,515.

Eaclrof the rails 3 and i is provided atr l each end with a slot 5 in the web 6 thereof.v

Each slot 5 has an open end communicating v with the end face of the web 6. These slots 5 when the ends of the rails are confronting each other, form a single transverse slotted opening 7, as .clearly shown in Fig. 2. i

The numeral 8 designates a pair of fish plates each being provided with a slotted opening 9. .When these plates 8 are fixed to the side faces of the webs of the rails by v means of the usual bolts 10, they slotted openings 9v of the. fish plates 8 register with the slotted opening 7 of the opposed rails `1 .and 2,. as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Positionedwithin the slot-ted openings 7 and 9 of the rail websand ish plates, re-

spectively, is a splice Ykey 11,'which spans vthe yjoint space between. theV opposed rails 3 and 4. v Y l The splice key 11 is provided with a vided at its opposite end'with an extended screw threaded stud 13. Y

The reference numeral 14 designates a washer having a slotted opening 15 for reflanged or T-head 12 at one end and'is proceiving the studded end of the splice key 11,.

as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The washer 14 is provided upon its outer face with a pair of suitable opposed bosses 15, as shown in Fig. 5, against which a nut 16 clamps, which nut is carried by the screw threaded stud 13 of .the splice key4 11, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 `for securing the splice key against displacement. f

To further insure against possible dis-- placement of the splice key, I provide the key with a pair of vertically disposed openings 17 which receive suitable Cotter pins 18. These pins can beused with or without the securing nut 16, as desired. The use of either the nut 16, or the cotter pins 18, or both, it is manifest, will secure the splice key against lateral displacement.

From the foregoing description, it is evident that I provide a rail joint which will positively prevent the up and down movement of the confronting ends of two .adjacent rails independent of each other due to the use of the splice key 11 passing through the slotted openings in the webs of the rails even should the bolt openings in the fish plates be slightly worn or enlarged. Both ends of the rails must yield together under a load thereon by the use of mty splice key 11 which unites the rails at the joint of two confronting rails thereby providing a rail bond which is strong and durable, highly efiicient and one which guards against loose rail joints without the use ot' a joint tie or the use of rail plates.

The many advantages of the herein described invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

Ido not wishto be understood as having limited myself to the exact details of construction shown and described, but desire to have it understood that the invention I have shown in the drawings is merely illustrative, as it is manifest that various minor changes may be made in the exact construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit ot my invention, hence I reserve the right to make any such changes, or modications as may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims when fairly v construed.

What I claim is:

l. In a rail joint construction, a pair of rails each having the confronting end of its web provided with an open ended slot in register vwith the other, a pair of fish plates secured to the rails and each provided with a slotted opening in register with the slots in the rail webs', a splice key receivable in said slots to hold the rails in true alignment, a lwasher having a slotted'opening mounted upon one end of the splice key, a pair of spaced bosses directed from the outer face of the washer and disposed above and below the slotted opening, a head :tor one end ofv the splice key, a screw threaded shank extending from the opposite end of the splice key and a securing nut carried by said screw threaded shank and engaging said bosses for securing the splice key in position.

In a rail joint construction, a pair of rails each having the confronting end of its web provided with an open ended slot in register with the other, a pair of fish plates secured to the rails and each provided with a slotted opening in register with the slots'in the rail webs, a splice key receivable in said slots to hold the rails in true alignment, a washer having a slotted opening mounted upon one end of the splice key, a pair of spaced bosses directed from the outer face or the washer and disposed above and below the slotted opening, a head for one end of the splice key, a screw threaded shank extending from the opposite end of the splice key,

a securing nut carried by said screw threaded shank and engaging said bosses and cotter keys carried by said splice key on opposite sides of said bosses.

3. A rail fastening adapted to secure the confronting ends of adjacent rails, said rails each having the end of its web portion provided with an open ended slot, lish plates secured to the webs of the rails, said ish plates having slotted openingsv therein in register with the slots in the webs or' the rails, a splice key receivable in the slotted openings of the nsh plates and the slots of the rails, a head for said splice key, a washer mounted upon one end or' the splice key .and engaging one ot the lish plates, a pair of bosses directed from said washer, a screw threaded stud extending lfrom the splice key and extending beyond said bosses, a nut carried by said screw threaded stud and engaging the bosses of said washer for securing the splice key against displacement and a pair of cotter pins carried by the splice plate on opposite sides of the bosses of said washer.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to the speciiication.

' DAVID BEES RICHARDS.

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