74.6 Transactions of tee American Institute. 



The items excited considerable discussion, in wliich Drs. Parmelee, 

 Vanderwcyde, Fcuchtwanger, Mr. S. H. Maynard and others i)ar- 

 ticipated. 



RAIL COUPLING AND FASTENING. 



Mr. T. Selleck, of Greenwich, Conn., gave the following expla- 

 nation of his model: 



This improved rail coupling and fastening was devised, after a 

 careful study and examination of all the de\'ices at present employed 

 for coupling the abutting ends of railway rails, to remedy one of 

 the greatest and most expensive evils attending the methods at 

 present employed, namely, the lamination or battering of the ends 

 of the rails in consequence of their resting on a rigid metallic chair. 

 I found that a yielding bed was necesssary for the preservation of 

 the rails, and also to give an easy motion to passing trains, and one 

 constructed so as to allow for the free expansion and contraction 

 of the rails. My invention accomplishes the object sought, and the 

 fearful battering of the ends of the rails, caused by heavily-laden 

 trains, is entirely obviated, and a free expansion and contraction 

 of the rails is provided for. 



I employ a metallic plate, having its edges turned upward in the 

 form of lips, which rest against the flanges of the rails. This plate 

 rests on two or more sleepers or ties, according to its length. The 

 abutting ends of the rails meet at about midway of the length of 

 this plate, and at a point between the sleepers. The plate rests 

 snugly between sleepers at each of its ends against which they 

 abut, and thus any longitudinal displacement of the plate is abso- 

 lutely precluded. Strips of sheet metal, one or more, are placed 

 on the plate, which serve as a cushion for the rails to rest upon, 

 and thus prevent their being subjected to any material amount of 

 concussion under the weight of the car wheels. This plate is pre- 

 vented from moving laterally by ordinary spikes, which are fitted 

 in notches in the sides of the plates, their heads projecting over 

 the flanges of the rails. I employ three clamps for securely hold- 

 ing the rails upon the plate, and between its lips; the principal 

 clamp being located in the center, and consisting of a wrought or 

 rolled rectangular plate, whose ends are turned down upon the 

 flanges of the rails, which clamp the plate and rail together so as 

 to hold the rails at the joint securely against lateral displacement, 

 and also in perfect line with each other. The end clamps are 

 located at each end of the plates, and their edges are also turned 

 down upon the flanges of the rails, and they clamp the plate and 



