US1201304A - Rail-joint. - Google Patents

Description

C. V. JOHNSON.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION men FEB. 4. 1916.

1,201,304. I Patented 001;. 17, 1916.

nnirnn siarns PATENT onnioni.

CECIL V. JOHNSON, OF OAK HILL, WEST VIRGINIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Onon. V. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Hill,in the county of Fayette and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful Rail-Joint, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to an improved rail joint, and has for an object to provide a joint wherein the opposite ends of a rail are of the same formation, so that when a number of rails are assembled, it is not essential to turn the rails into predetermined positions in order to bring together mating ends or interlocking parts. I

The present invention contemplates rail ends all of the same construction, and the provision of a splice bar, which is adapted to fit between the ends of the rails and to hold them in interlocked position, so that they cannot separate longitudinally, and cannot separate by any lateral movement out of line with each other.

It is another object of the invention to provide the device with a chair, or secondary lock adapted to unite the ends of the splice bar to the adjacent ends of the rails and to so arrange openings in the bases of the rails and the splice bar that ordinary spikes may be used for interlocking the chairs, the rails, and the splice bar together in the act of spiking the rails to the ties. 'Thus, by the improved construction of this invention all fish plates, bolts, and other separable devices are done away with and the entire locking and securing of the parts together is effected by the driving in of the usual spikes in substantially the usual manner.

The invention has for a still further object the provision of a strong, easily assembled joint wherein no excess material is employed, and which is of such form and construction that the tongues on the opposite ends of the rails may be formed by cutting the rails subsequent to their delivery from the rolls, and while the rails are hot.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be brought out in the following specific description of the present preferred embodiment of the invention, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a rail joint, embodying the features of this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, parts of the joint being shown in section. Fig. 3

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

Application filed February 4., 1916. Serial No. 76,206.

is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2, and showing the splice bar in end elevation. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one end of one of the rails. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the splice bar, showing one side thereof broken away to disclose the interlocking lug adapted for engagement in the recess of the tongue shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view through the upper end of the splice bar and the tongues fitting therein, showing the application of bolts for heavy rail use.

Referring to this drawing, wherein like parts are designated by similar. characters of reference throughout the several views, 10 and 11 designate rails, which as shown in Fig. 1 are secured together at their adjacent ends. Each rail, 10 and 11, is of like form throughout and at each end. In Fig. 5 is disclosed the end of the rail, wherein the head or tread of the rail is supported upon a web 12 in the usual manner, terminating at its lower end in a base flange 13. The base flange 13 has near the end of the rail and at each side thereof, an elongated opening 14: to receive the shank of a spike therethrough, as will hereinafter appear. At the end of the rail 10 is a tongue 15 of the same thickness and height of the web 12, and which comprises an extension or elongation thereof. This tongue 15 is provided in its upper edge with a recess 16, the same being formed intermediate the inner and outer ends of the tongue and providing inner and outer abutting shoulders 17 and 18, respectively. As shown in Fig. 2, the ends of the rails 10 and 11, which are to be connected are placed in substantially abutting position, whereby the tongues 15 of the opposite rails are brought into alinement, and have their outer ends substantially abutting.

It will be noted from Figs. 2 and 5 that the outer ends of thetongues 15 are straight, and extend vertically as at 19, to provide fiat abutting faces on the tongues. The

tongue 15 is of the same height as the Web 12, so as to provide a space above the tongue 15 sufficient to receive the head or tread portion 20 of a splice bar, which is adapted to be fitted downwardly over the end-wise abutting tongues 15. As shown in Fig. 4:, the splice bar comprises a head or tread portion of the size and shape of the heads of the rails 10 and 11, and which is adapted to seat IOU upon the upper edge of the tongues 15. The opposite ends of the head 20 of the splice bar abut against the opposed spaced extremities 21 of the rail heads, so as to form substanti ally a continuation of the same. The head 20 of the splice bar is supported upon a pair of spaced apart walls or web sections 22 which extend down against the opposite sides of the tongues 15, overlap the same, and have upon their lower edges longitudinal outstanding base flange sections 23. These base flange sections and the web sections 22, are of the same length as the length of the head 20, so that the splice bar fits, as a whole, snugly in between the spaced apart ends of the rails 10 and 11, and provides between the web sections 22 a longitudinal slot 2i, into which. is fitted the tongues 15.

The tongues 15 are adapted for slight longitudinal movement in the slot 24:, but are held in interlocking engagement with the splice bar by means of lugs 25 formed in the splice bar between the web sections 22, and against the under side of the head 20. These lugs 25 are located, one adjacent each end of the splice bar and in such position as to fit down into the adjacent recesses 16 of each of the tongues 15. From Fig. 2, it will be noted, that the recesses 16 are of slightly greater length than is the length of the lugs 25, so as to admit of a slight play between the tongues 15 and the splice bar. Nith this construction, the joint is capable of taking up expansion and contraction of the parts, incident to climatic, and other conditions. It will thus be seen that when the splice bar is fitted down over the tongues 15 and the lugs 25 seated in the recesses 16, the rails with their tongues are held from spreading apart longitudinally, and are also held from relative lateral movement out of line with each other.

Each rail, 10 and 11, is provided at its adjacent connected end with a chair 26, which comprises a flat metallic plate extending transversely beneath the base flange of the rail and which is provided with a pair of opposed inwardly extending flanges 27, which overhang the body portion of the chair, and are adapted to receive therebeneath the opposite sides of the base flange of the rail. The chairs 26 are slidable upon the rails 10 and 11, and when the splice bar is seated down upon the tongues 15, and the base flange sections 23 of the splice bar register in the same plane with the flanges of the rails 10 and 11, the chairs 26 of the rails are adapted to be slid longitudinally on the rails to partially overlap the base flange sections 23 of the splice bar. This arrangement is shown to advantage in Fig. .1, wherein the chairs engage at one side upon their respective rails 10 and. 11

and at their opposite sides upon the opposite ends of the splice bar. Thus, the splice bar is held from vertical movement out of engagement with the tongues 15 and is also held against lateral movement or spreading by these chairs. Any force tending to draw the rails 10 and 11 longitudinally apart moves the tongues 15in the slot 24: and thus brings the outer abutting shoulders 18 of the tongues into contact with the lugs 25. The lugs 25, being a part of the splice bar, thus prevent the spreading of the tongues, and consequently interlock and securely hold the rail ends together. The flanges of each chair 26 are provided with an opening near each end, the openings in the flanges 27 registering vertically over the openings l-lin the base flanges 13 of the rails to receive therethrough a spike 28 adapted to be driven downwardly through the flanges 27, and 13, and down through correspondingly formed openings in the body or base portion of the chair 26. The spikes pass down through these flanges and the chair to interlock all of these members together, and the spikes are further driven into the tie 29 to secure the rails thereto.

The lon itudinal openings 1% in the base flanges or" the rails admit of the relative longitudinal movement of the parts due to expansion and contraction.

It will thus be noted that with the rail joint of this construction, and embodying the features of this invention, the opposite ends of rails are similarly formed, so that it is not necessary to bring together certain predetermined mating ends of rails to provide the interlock. The tongues on the ends of the rails are all of the same length, form and thickness, and are received in the longitudinal slots of the splice bars used to unite the rails. It will also be noted that by the provision of the chairs with the peculiarly arranged openings therein, the chairs, the rails, and the splice bar are all peculiarly interlocked by the driving in of spikes in substantially the usual manner of securing rails to the ties.

From Fig. 6, it will be noted that the base flange sections 23 of the splice bar are provided near each end with a vertically extending opening 30 through which the spikes 28 are adapted to pass in interlocking the splice bar to the opposite chairs 26. From Fig. 1, it will be noted that each flange of each of the chairs has two spikes driven downwardly therethrough, one of the spikes passing downwardly through the openings 30 in the adjacent ends of the splice bar to lock the chair to the splice bar. The opposite spike 28 passes downwardly through the flange 27 and through the opening lt in the base flange of the adjacent rail so as to lock the rail to the chair. Thus, the chair comprises an inter-' lock between the splice bar and the rail. This construction is provided at each end of the splice bar, so that the splice bar is securely held at its opposite ends to the opposite rails.

In Fig. 7 of the drawing, there is shown an arrangement, which may be employed in addition to the interlocking means above described, for holding the tongues in the splice bar in heavy rail construction. In this arrangement the tongues 15 are provided, outwardly of the recesses therein, with relatively large transverse openings 31, which register with smaller openings 32 formed in registration in the opposite web sections :22 of the splice bar. Bolts 33 are positioned through the splice bar and the tongue 15 to firmly hold the tongues in the splice bar in addition to the interlocking lugs 25, shown in Fig. 2. It is, of course, understood that any number of these bolts 33 may be employed, and also that in light rail construction, the bolts may be eliminated.

The chairs 26 seat upon the tie 29 immediately beneath the adjacent ends of the rails 10 and 11, and beneath the splice bar, so as to prevent the undue sinking of the rail flanges in the tie and to thus hold the rails and the splice bar in true horizontal alinement and from any vertical displacement.

It is, of course, understood that various changes may be made in form, design, and size to accommodate the present invention to all types of tracks, the invention being of particular advantage in laying rails in mines, and other relatively small rails. It

will also be noted that as there is an absence of fish plates, bolts, and other like devices, considerable time is saved by the use of this improved joint, as the ordinary driving in of the spikes secures the detachable parts in interlockingrelation and firmly holds the joint together.

That is claimed is 1. In a rail joint, a pair of rails having like tongues extending from their opposite ends with recesses in their upper edges, a splice bar fitting between the adjacent ends of the rails and having a longitudinal slot in its under side adapted to receive therein the adjacent abutting tongues and provided with a lug near each end and in said slot for engagement in the recesses of the op posed tongues whereby to prevent the longitudinal and lateral separation of the rails, said splice bar having a base flange adapted to lie in the plane of the base flanges of the rails, chairs slidably fitting over the bases of the rails and adapted to be slid partially over the opposite ends of the base flange of the splice bar whereby to lock the ends of the splice bar against vertical and lateral displacement from the rails, said chairs and said base flanges of the splice bar and the rails having registering openings, and spikes engaging downwardly through said openings for interlocking said members together.

2. In a rail joint, a pair of rails each having a tongue upon its end extending from the web of the rail, the tongue being provided with a recess in its upper edge, a splice bar having a slot in its under side adapted to receive said tongues upwardly therethrough, lugs carried by the splice bar in the slot thereof for engagement in said recesses to lock the tongues from spreading apart, chairs engaging the base flanges of the rails and the base flange sections of the splice bar whereby to interlock the splice bar to the rails, said chairs, base flanges, and base flange sections having registering openings therein, and spikes adapted to be driven downwardly through said openings to interlock the splice bar and the rails to said chairs.

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

CECIL V. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

JOHN H. Sreenns, J OHN R. RAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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