. Appleton's dictionary of machines, mechanics, engine-work, and engineering. , Figs. 3198 and 3199 have been exten-sively used in Europe; but it is said that the H, and bridge or U rails, American designs, are cominginto favor there. They have long been the favorite patterns in America, and do now divide the opin-ions of professional men and railway companies, so that the two are placed in competition on extensivedivisions of the same line, and on different roads. Each has its peculiar merits. The H-rail has the advantage in simplicity and beauty of form, and may have in solidity, by a mod-if
. Appleton's dictionary of machines, mechanics, engine-work, and engineering. , Figs. 3198 and 3199 have been exten-sively used in Europe; but it is said that the H, and bridge or U rails, American designs, are cominginto favor there. They have long been the favorite patterns in America, and do now divide the opin-ions of professional men and railway companies, so that the two are placed in competition on extensivedivisions of the same line, and on different roads. Each has its peculiar merits. The H-rail has the advantage in simplicity and beauty of form, and may have in solidity, by a mod-ification of the section. The head and base are generally made too light, (see Fig. 3200.) It also affordsa better base for its support on the bearings. The U or bridge rail has the advantage of perpendicular sides to support the head, without projectionssubject to be split off, like the H-rail. It also offers better facilities in its hollow form to secure strongand even joints, by the insertion of an iron core at those points. See Fig. 3201. 3204. r 3203.—Two-part 1 i ? . j / 6 inches long. j / 1 ^ But, after all the exertion of talent and skill for the last twenty years to perfect a line of road withthe usual form of rails, it still remains very deficient in smoothness and stability at the joinings, and itis feared will continue to be so while the rails are made in independent, separate, solid pieces. The perfection of a rail would be one of sufficient and uniform strength—rolled, or made by othermeans—in one piece, without joints the whole length of the line; but this being impracticable, the effortis now to approach it by a new device, which is to form the rail of two or more pieces, say 20 feet inlength, and to splice them together, breaking joint, so that each part shall act as a splicing-plate to theothers where their ends meet. A three-part compound rail of cast and wrought iron has been on trial for some time on a line ofheavy traffic, and stands the test
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectmechanicalengineering, bookyear1861
