US1001177A - Rail-anchor. - Google Patents

Description

H. H. SPONENBURG.

RAIL ANCHOR.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 20, 1910.

Patented Au 22, 1911 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. H. SPONENBURG.

RAIL ANCHOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20, 1910.

Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HIBAM H. SPONENBURG, OF GURNEE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 OTTO R. BARNETT, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAIL-ANCHOR.

Specification of Letters Iatent. Patented Aug. 22, 1911- Application filed October 20, 1910. Serial-No. 588,150.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM H. SPONEN- mum, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gurnee, in the county of Lake and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Anchors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a rail anchor, and has for one of its primary objects to provide a novel and improved form of rail anchor in which an efficient grip of the anchor on the rail is attained without the use of bolts and nuts or similar fastening devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail anchor in .which a very considerable amount of friction is developed, when the anchor is clamped on the rail, between the parts of the device under the rail and the under surface of the rail base; and, by preference, to accomplish this result by providing a suitable Wedging engagement of the parts of the jaw carrying members extending beneath or around the rail base.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of such jaw carrying members, or other members employed to constitute the rail clamp, that will develop between such members, or some of them, an amount of friction suflicient to keep them in their operative positions, or which, at least, contributes materially to that end.

A further object of the intention is to 'provide a form of rail anchor in which the jaws may be made very solid and heavy; it being a fault common to several Well known types of rail anchor that the means employed for clamping the jaws on the rail base necessitates a perforation, cutting away or weakening of the jaws at places which makes them liable to break under heavy strains.

A further object of the invention is to form one of the members constituting the device with a part which is adaptedtobe bent over or upset against another of said members, the bending taking efi'ect either automatically as the members are driven together on the rail base, the preferred arrangement, or by force subsequently exerted on such part.

A further object of the invention is to provide the novel and improved constructions, arrangements and devices in rail anchors which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawings, wherein I Figure 1 is a sectional view of a rail showing in elevation the parts constituting the anchor of my invention, certain portions being, however, shown in section; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the device taken from the left hand side of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation showing the position of the parts at the left hand side of Fig. 1 before they have reached the clamping osition; Fig. 6 is an elevation, with parts in section, of a modified form of rail anchor; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the arts shown in Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is a side elevatlon, with the tie shown in section, taken from the left hand side of the preceding two figures.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several figures of the draw- Tt eferring first to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings, A designates a railroad rail, the base of which is designated 13. C is one of the ties on which the rail rests. The anchor, as shown, consists of two clamping or rail gripping members D and E, formed respectively with the jaws F and G which may be of any form and construction suitable for gripping the rail base B at opposite sides thereof. One of these clamping members, the member D as shown, 1s formed with a depending flange H constituting a tie abutment adapted to bear against tie C. Preferably this tie abutment projects a trifle outwardly from the side of the jaw, or the anchor is otherwise formed so that the end other than that provided with the tie abutment stands away from the tie. It is obvious that the device might be permanently secured or anchored to the tie, if desirable, instead of merely bearing against it; or the device might be arranged to abut against or be attached or anchored to some relatively stationary part of the road bed other than the tie. In order to obtain certain of the objects above enumerated, specifically in order to develop friction beween the device under surf ace of :the rail baseand between the gripping members themselves, the parts of the clamping or jaw carrying members D and E which exother so that when the jaws F and G are driven or otherwise forced tightly on the rail base, a considerable stress is developed between the upper wedge I and the bottom of the rail base, and between the edges of the rail base and the jaws F and G. In order to obtain a frictional grip between the wedges themselves, and in order to give strength and-rigidity to the entire structure,

the wedge I is preferably formed with the ribs 11 constituting a channel in which fits the wedge J, the latter being preferably formed on its edges with the ribs or flanges j. The tie abutment- H is preferably braced by the web K which intervenes between H and one of the flanges i ofwedge I. The member D is further formed with a slot L adapted to receive the end M of wedge J,

the slot intervening between the preferably rounded end N of the member D and the projecting web or bar P. By giving the slot 30 an upward inclination, the end M of wedge J is turned by the web P and bent -up around the end of the member 1). By this arrangement the jaw members D and E are self locking; although it is obvious that, if desired, the end M might be further bent around by a sledge. F ig. 5vshows the end M just entering the slot L. Fig. 1 illustrates the final position of. the parts. It will be seen that friction is developed between the end M of the wedge J and the web or bar P on the othermember which, even if the end M were not bent around far enough to make an efiect-ive lock, will, together with the friction developed between the flat surfaces of the wedges and between the upper wedge and the rail base, tend tohold the parts of the anchor in their operative .or gripping position;

As stated, he preferred construction of the anchor contemplates having the end of the anchor other than that on which the tie v abutment is located, stand a little away from the tie againstwhich the tie abutment is placed. By this arrangement, any tendency of the rail to creep in the'direction of the tie tends to swing the free end of the anchor, member E, with respect to the other end which tightens up the clamp and at once checks further tendency to creep. However,

the construction above described is one in which a very tenacious grip may be obtained by driving the parts together on the rail base by a sledge, or otherwise, so that the arrangement of the device with one end free from the tie, with the consequent tendency of the grip of -.the parts to tighten when a tendency of the rail to creep is developed,

while a preferred arrangement and one which adds to the efiiciency of the anchor, is perhaps not essential to a proper operation of the device.

It will be understood that the member E is made of tough malleable metal, preferablymalleable iron. If desired, the whole device may be made of this metal.

Certain of the features possessed by the rail anchor above described are to-be found in the device illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive. The anchor shown in these figures consists of two gripping or clamping memhere Q and R, formed with the tapered bars or wedges S and T respectively, which overlap beneath the rail base, and a fastening wedge U. The jaw of member Q is preferably provided with a hard metal block or the upper surface of the rail base, and the wedge S is preferably formed with the ribs 8 forming a channel for wedge T, the latter projecting through an opening in the member'Q, and with the projecting end formed with a slot adapted toreceive one of the prongs uof the split wedge U; A tie abutment is provided consisting, as shown, of a flange V projecting downwardly from member Q. The jaw carrying members Q, R, are forced into gripping engagement with-the rail base B by driving wedge U, or the jaw members may be first driven onto the rail base andthe wedge U employed simply as holding or lockingmeans. Obviously the wedge actionobetween T and S develops a considerable amount of friction be-' tween the relatively broad contacting surfaces of the rail base and member S. This wedging action insures a better bite of the hard metal part g into the top of the rail base. i

I have illustrated my invention in two different structural embodiments, but it will be obvious that the invention is not limited to either of these forms. I therefore do not intend that the claims be construed as limited to the particular-forms, devices and constructions shown and described, except as certain of them are specifically limited to such particulars. In some of the claims the device is described as engaging with astationa-ry part of the road bed. The word stationary is used in a relative sense intending some part, such as a tie, which has little or no movement in comparison with the creeping tendency of the rails.

I claim:

- l.' A rail anchor comprising members rel; atively movable transversely of the rail and constituting a rail clamp, one of said members being formed with a part adapted to be automatically bent into engagement with another of said rail clamping members so plate g having teeth 9 which bite into as to secure said clamp to the rail; andmeans adapted to engage a stationary portion of the road bed. v

2. A rail an'chor comprising relatively movable members constituting a rail clamp, one of said members being formed with a part adapted to be bent, by a clamping movement of said members, into engagement with another of said members so as to secure said clamp to the rail; and means adapted to engage a stationary portion of the road bed.

3. A rail anchor comprising relatively movable members constituting a rail clamp, one of said members being formed with a slot and another with a part adapted to enter said slot and to thereby securesaid clamp to the rail; and means adapted to engage a stationary portion of the road bed.

4. A rail anchor comprising relatively movable members constituting a rail clamp. one of said members being formed with a slot and another with a part adapted to enter said slot and to be bent by a clamping movement of said members so asto secure said clamp to the rail; and means adapted to engage a stationary portion of the road bed.

5. A rail anchor comprising relatively movable members constituting a rail clamp, one of said members being formed with a part capable of being bent, and another with means by which said part is engaged by a clamping movement of said members and bent into a position which secures said clamp to the ail; and means adapted to engage a stationary portion of the road bed.

6. A rail anchor comprising relatively movable members constituting a rail clamp, one of said members being formed with a part capable of being bent and another with a slot adapted to receive said part and of a configuration which causes said part to be bent when said members are driven into clamping position; and means adapted to engage a stationary port-ion of the road bed.

7. A rail anchor comprising two rail clam )ing members, one of said members being ormed with a part adapted to be bent into engagement with the other of said members so as to hold said members in clamping position on the rail.

8. A rail anchor comprising two rail clamping members, one of'said members being formed with a part adapted to be bent into engagement with the other of said members so as to hold said members in clamping position on the rail, said anchor provided at one end with a tie abutment and forined so that the other end stands away from the tie.

9. A rail anchor comprising two rail clamping members, one of said members being formed with a part adapted to be bent, by a clamping movement of said members,

into engagen'lent with the other of said members so as to hold said members in clamping relation on the rail.

10. A rail anchor comprising two rail clamping members, one of said members be-' abutment and being formed so that the ther end stands away from the tie, substantially as described. I

11. A rail anchor comprising two 'ail clamping members, one. of said members being formed with a part adapted to be bent, and the other of said members being formed with a slot adapted to receive said part.

12. A rail anchor comprising, two rail clamping members, one of said members being formed with a part adapted to be bent. and the other of said members being formed with a slot adapted to receive said part and to bend the same into position so as to hold said members in clamping position on the rail.

13. A rail anchor col-uprising two rail clamping members, one being formed with a. channel on its under side and with a transverse slot, the other being adapted to fit in said channel and being provided with a part capable of bending and adapted to enter said slot.

14. A rail anchor comprising two rail clamping members,one being formed with a channel on its under side and with a t 'ansverse slot, the other being adapted to fit in said channel and being provided with a part capable of bending and adapted to enter said slot, said slot having a configuration which causes said part to be bent when the clamping members are driven together.

15. A rail anchor comprising relatively movable members constituting a rail clamp. said members provided with overlapping parts located under the rail base and conformed so as to produce a frictional grip of the anchor against the under surface of the rail base; and means adapted to engage a stationary portion of the road bed.

16. A rail anchor comprising relatively movable members constituting a rail clamp, said members formed with overlapping wedges located under the rail base; and means adapted to engage with a stationary portion of the road bed.

17. A rail anchor comprising two jaw carrying members formed with parts which extend below the rail base and one underneath the other, means for holding said members together and to the rail when the device is applied to a rail; and means adapted to engage with a stationary portion of the road bed.

18. A rail anchor comprising two jaw carrying members formed with Wedges which extend below the rail base, and one underneath the other, means for holding 5 said'members together and on the rail when the device is applied to a rail; and means adapted to engage with a stationary portion of the road bed.

. 19/A rail anchor comprising two jaw carrying members formed with wedges which lie, one under the other, under the rail base, means for producing a frictional hold between said wedges; and means adapted to engage with a stationary portion of the road bed.

20. A railanchor comprising relatively movable members constituting a rail clamp, one of said members being formed with a wedge, and means on the othermember 26 against "which said wedge is adapted to be driven so as to give a ictional hold between said members; and eans adapted to engage a stationary portion of the road bed.

21. A rail anchor comprising relatively movable members constituting a rail clamp,

said members being formed with woverlapping wedges located under the rail base, and

one of said members being formed with a slot adapted to receive the end of the wedge on the other member; and means adapted to engage with a stationary portion of the road bed.

22. A rail anchor comprising two jaw jaws of one of said members so as to bear against the top of the rail base, said jaw carrying members being provided with overlapping wedges extending transversely of the rail and beneath the rail base; and means adapted to engage a stationary portion' of the road bed.

HBAM H. SPONENBURG.

Witnesses: v

P. H. TRUMAN, H. L. PECK.

Images