US1107018A

US1107018A - Railway-track construction.

Info

Publication number: US1107018A
Application number: US83974414A
Authority: US
Inventors: Milton Bartley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1914-05-20
Filing date: 1914-05-20
Publication date: 1914-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 1931-08-11

Description

M. BABTLEY. RAILWAY TRACK CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1914 1 1 07,018. Patented Aug. 11, 1914 2 SH EETSSHEET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOR M. BARTLEY.

RAILWAY TRACK CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1914.

Patented Aug. 11 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 24 kl 5% 7/ A 1% WITNESSES 1n: NORRIS PETERS cu.

UNITED STATES MILTON BARTLEY, OF PITTSBURGH,PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-TRACK CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'PatentedAug. 11, 1914;.

App1ication filed May 20, 1914. Serial No. 839,744.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON ,BARTLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Track Construction, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in railway track construction, and particularly to means for positively maintaining the guard rails of switches, crossovers, etc, in fixed positive relation to the main rails of the track, and especially at positions opposite the crossover point of the ordinary frog construction, for the purpose of insuring alinement of the wheel treads therewith, and preventing any variation in passing over the space between the frog point and the main rail.

The invention i also adapted to thevprotection of the main rails of a track against spreading, at switch junctures, one emb0di= ment of the invention being illustrated in such application.

The invention consists generally in providing, with the frog and the opposite guard rail for the companion track rail, or with the outer track rails of a switch construc-. tion, means for fixedly holding the guard rail in relation to the outer track rail and the frog construction, or for maintaining the outer rails, of a switch, in fixed unvarying relation and uniform gage.

Ordinarily, guard rails, or track rails at; switches, are merely held in position on the. cross ties, and with relation to the inner side of the outer rail, in the case of a guard rail, by shoes, clamps or braces of different. form, either spiked to the tie, or connected in some manner, as by an embracing clevis with the outer rail.

My invention provides positive bracing means between the frog construction, or the outer rails thereof, and the guard rail for the opposite companion rail; or between the outer rails of a switch, independent of the movable switch point, such means consisting generally in resisting or bracing membersand intervening sectional body portions, operable either as strut members or tension members,having adjustable mechanism for clamping the rail braces and engaging portions into holding engagement against the track members, also intermediate independent length. adjusting members, the construction being intended to also engage a supporting tie.

Preferred forms of the construction are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a railroad crossover provided with the usual center frog construction, the outer track rails, and their guard rails, showing one form of the invention asapplied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view on the line II. II. of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail plan view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view, similar to Fig.1, showing the invention as applied to a switch. Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal. sectional view on the line V. V. of Fig. 4;. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional detail view, enlarged, taken on the line VI. VI. of Fig. 3, showing the adjustable wedge. Fig. 7 is a similar sectional view, showing a modified detail construction of the locking wedge. Fig. 8 is a cross sectional detail view on the line VIII. VIII. of Fig. 8.

In the drawings, referring to Sheet 1, the main

inner track rails

2, 3, converge and form continuations of the tread surfaces of frog member 4:, of the usual frog, having at each side the customary guard rail members 5 and 6 respectively, of well-known construction.

Rails

2 and 3 are parts of the two main tracks, composed of the

rails

2 and 2 respectively, and 3 and 3 respectively. The guard rails 5 and 6 of the frog member converge toward the point a. between which and the point 6 of the frog is the intervening open space 0. The treads of the wheels, as is well-known, run across such open space and off of the main track rails 2 and 3respectively and onto the point Z) of the frog 4:, or viceversa from either side, and it is highly important that the treads and flanges of the wheels shall cross this space accurately and surely to insure safety and free trackage.

' For such purpose, the

guard rails

7 and 8 respectively are ordinarily laid along the inner side of the

opposite rails

2 and 3 respectively, and opposite the middle portion of the frog which is to be protected, extending to a considerable distance at each side thereof, as is the usual practice. For the purpose of firmly and fixedly bracing the

guard rail members

7 and 8, I provide the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,0f the drawings, and indicated generally by the letter A, referring generally to the complete composite member extending between one main track member and the other. In such case the member A constitutes a bracing spanner or member composed of two con nected

plate members

9 and 10 respectively, each having opposed inner

terminal abutments

11 and 12 respectively, fitting against the head, web and flange of the innermost rail at each side, i. 6., rail section 6 of the frog at one side and guard rail 8 at the other side. Abutment 11 is fixedly secured to plate 9 by bolts 13, and abutment 12 is adjustably secured to plate .10 by similar bolts 1%. Said bolts may be tapped directly into the plate 10 or may be provided with nuts on the under side; preferably recessed in the same manner, as are the nuts shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The inner adjacent connecting ends of

plate members

9 and 10 are each provided with an upwardly extending flange or wall. 15, said flanges being fixedly connected together by intervening bolts 16. Said bolts, preferably two for each joint, are provided with adjusting nuts 17, whereby each flange may be positively engaged and fixedly located or spaced apart, or accurately adjusted, as desired. For the purpose of insulating one of the plate members and its parts from the other, one of the flanges 15 is provided with insulating thimbles and washers, of well-known construction, as indicated at 18, and more particularly illustrated in Fig. 5. By this means, the passage of electric currents from one member to the other is prevented. For the purpose of providing supplemental adjustment for one of the abutments 12, its rear end is chanifere'dor tapered crosswise, as indicated at 19, and'between such edge and the inner face of flange 15 is interposed the wedge member 20, for the purpose of accurately adjusting the abutment 12 toward or from the rail 8. Wedge 20 is secured in position by a bolt 21 extending through a longitudinal slot 22 of the wedge, such bolt being either tapped into the plate member 10, as in Fig. 2, or into a nut 23, preferably recessed into the under side of member 10, to prevent turning, as

shown in Fig. 6. As an additional holding means for wedge 20, against receding from engagement with face 19 of abutment 12, it

is provided with a series of transverse shoulders 24, one of which is adapted to engage over the edge of plate member 10 when the wedge is adjusted and screwed down in place, thereby fixedly holding it against movement.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified construction of wedge 20, mounted upon plate member 10' by means ofthe bolt 21 and nut 23, above described, but provided at its narrowed end with a pivoted locking dog 24L? having a series of locking shoulders 24:, and rotatably mounted on a pivoting pin 24", within a slot 24;, and provided with an upwardly extending operating finger 24. iy such construction the same securing hold may be had against the edge of the plate member 10. A filler block 25 is interposed at intervals between the guard rail 8 and track rail 3, preferably with one or more liners 26, whereby to firmly brace the rails apart and provide for setting the guard rail up toward the main rail, when its inner face becomes worn, by removing the liner, which may be of any degree of thickness.

In the switch construction, illustrated on Sheet 2 of the drawings, the

outer track rails

2 and 3 are provided with the inner adjustable switching rails 27, 2S, tapering to switch points, of well-known construction, and provided with connecting members 29 and an operating rod 30 for shifting the switch points. Plate members 9 and 1.0, of generally similar construction to

members

9 and 10 above described, are also provided with adjacent upwardly extending flanges 15", and connected by the same adjusting bolts 16 and their nuts, as above described. The plate members, however, each extend underneath the

rails

2 and 3, and are provided at their outer ends with lug members 31 and outer abutments 11 and. 12. Said abutments engage against the outer head, wedge and flange of the rails 53 and 2", as shown, and also against the outer abutments 31, and are fixedly secured in position by bolts 32, thus providing substantial. reinforcements against the outer side of each rail. Inwardly of each

rail

2 and 3" is a supplemental plate 33, preferably secured to the

plate member

9 or 10 by one or more bolts 34, or in. any other suitable manner, whereby to facilitate reinforcing engagement against the inner flange of

rails

2 and 3. Upon plates 33, as thus provided, are slidably mounted switch rails 27, 28, respectively, adapted to be moved in either direction by the usual operating mechanism.

lhe construction as above described is substantially the same as that for the cross over, except that it eliminates the supplemental wedge member 20, but embodies intervening adjusting and holding bolts, whereby to fixedly locate the members with relation to each other. It will be understood that the plate member in either case is s'e- I cured to the usual cross tie, with any suitable bolt or spike construction. Where a pair of bolts are provided, as indicated in Fig. 8, such bolts 35 may be tapped into twin nuts 36, preferably recessed up underneath the under side of member 9, whereby to effectually prevent turning of the nut on loosening of the bolt.

l Vith either of the constructions described, it will be seen that the plate members provide a good supporting foundation for the rails; that the abutments by engaging the rails will positively and effectually brace them against movement; that the adjustability of the abutments and the positive securing of them in position will effectively hold and maintain the rail member in positive position, so as to resist pressure and strains and carry out the objects of the invention.

The advantages of the improvement will be readily appreciated by all those familiar with this class of apparatus. It insures positive and permanent spacing and maintenance of the guard rails, or of the main rails when used with a switch; it provides for immediate and easy adjustment, so that any wear of the rails by the Wheel flanges may be compensated for; and is simple in construction, strong and reliable, and not liable to get out of order.

The device may be variously changed or modified by the skilled mechanic in various features of detail construction, but all such changes are to be considered as within the scope of the following claims.

l/Vhat I claim is:

1. The combination with a railway frog, an opposite track rail, and a protecting guard rail therefor; of bracing abutments directly engaging the web of the frog and guard rail respectively, and an intervening bracing mechanism composed of a pair of tandem plates having adjacent flange portions, bolts connecting said portions provided with adjusting nuts, the outer portions of said plates extending underneath the rail structure and each provided with a bracing abutment fixedly secured to its upper surface and engaging the rail structure, one of said plates having an adjustable abutment and a wedge bearing directly against the plate flange, substantially as set forth.

2. Rail bracing mechanism comprising a plurality of supporting plates in tandem arrangement adapted to be laid upon the upper surface of a tie and each having an inner connecting flange, said plates extending by their outer portions underneath the rails and provided with rail bracing abutments, one of said abutments being longitudinally adjustable upon one of said plates, and an adjustable wedge for holding said abutment fixedly in position bearing directly agalnst abutment and the flange of the plate and bearing directly against it, substantially as set forth.

4:. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of two longitudinally arranged supporting plates adapted to be laid upon a railroad tie, each having an inner flange, bolts adjustably securing said flanges together, a rail bracing abutment fixedly secured to one of said plates, a rail bracing abutment adjustably secured to the other of said plates extending inwardly adjacent to its inner flange a wedge device adjustably inserted between the inner end of said abutment and the flange of the plate and bearing directly against it and means for adjusting and fixedly holding said wedge in position, substantially as set forth.

55. Guard rail bracing mechanism of the class described consisting of a pair of rail supporting plates adapted to be laid upon a tie having inner adjacent connecting flanges and adjusting securing bolts extending therethrough, one of said plates having at its outer end an outwardly pressing rail bracing abutment, the other of said plates having at its outer end an inwardly extending pressing bracing abutment, and an inner outwardly bracing abutment adjustably secured to the plate, and means interposing resistance therefor bearing directly against the connecting flange of the plate, substantially as set forth.

6. Guard rail bracing mechanism of the class described consisting of a pair of rail supporting plates adapted to be laid upon a tie having inner adjacent connecting flanges and adjusting securing bolts extending therethrough, one of said plates having at its outer end an outwardly pressing rail bracing abutment, the other of said plates having at its outer end an inwardly extending pressing bracing abutment, an inner outwardly bracing abutment adjustably secured to the plate, and an adjustable wedge device interposed between it and the connecting flange of said plate and bearing directly against said flange and means for holding said wedge in position, substantially as set forth.

7. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with the supporting plate and an adjustable rail bracing abutment In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my thereon, of 'a holding Wedge operable against signature in the presence of two Witnesses. said abutment anc provided With a seour- 7 ing bolt, and having a plurality of trans- MILTON BARTLLX 5 verse shoulders for individual engagement Witnesses:

With the edge of the plate, substantially as O. M. CLARKE, set forth. Fnnon. STAUB.

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

Washington, D. C.