US1126504A - Rail-chair. - Google Patents

Description

A. G. LIEBMANN.

BAIL 01111111.. V APPLICATION FILED APR.28,1913.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

AUGUST G. LIEIBMANN, OF BUTTE, MONTANA, ASSIGNOB, TO VIG'NOLES RAIL CHAIR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

RAIL-CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. .26, 1915.

Application filed April 28, 1913. Serial No. 764,155.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, AUGUST Gr. LIEBMLANN, citizen of the United States, residing at Butte, in the county of Silverbow and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway track appliance and particularly to means for holding the rail to the tie.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a very simple, easily formed rail chair so constructed as to support the rail against lateral and vertical strains and stresses and provided with means permitting the vertical adjustment of the rail by using shims and with means whereby the rail may be laterally shifted with relation to the chair without removing the primary fastenings whereby the chair itself is held to the tie or other supporting structure.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a chair and rail braces so constructed that the rail braces will have interlocking engagement with the abutments of the chair but so formed that the braces may be wedged into engagement with the chair or raised vertically and locked in adjusted position to conform to any elevation of the rail. And a further object of the invention is to so construct the rail braces and chair that in case of any elevation of the rail through the action of frost, the rail braces or the locking means therefor will yield to the slight extent necessary to compensate for such emergency elevations of the rail without any likelihood of the base flange of the rail being sheared and, of course, without any eifect upon the primary fastenings of the chair to the tie.

Other objects of the invention will of course appear in the following description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a por tion of the tie, my improved chair thereon and a rail supported on the chair, the rail being shown partly in section; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the construction; Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view of one of the drift bolts whereby the braces are locked in adjusted position with relation to the chair.

Referring to these figures, A designates a ably by means of screw spikes 3 of a standard form. These screw spikes have many advantages over the ordinary driven spike, as is well understood by those skilled in the art.

Disposed at each end of the bed plate and along the median line of said bed plate are upstanding abutments l, these abutments being in line with each other and extending in a plane transverse to the line of the rail. Each of said abutments has a vertical inner edge face 5 and a downwardly and out wardly inclined outer edge face. Slidingly mounted on each of these abutments for vertical movement is a shoe 6, each shoe being bifurcated or U-shaped in plan so as to fit snugly upon the upstanding abutment, as illustrated in Fig. 3. In other words, each shoe is recessed or slotted upon its outer face, and the abutment ifits within the recess or slot. Each abutment i is formed with a vertical series of transverse apertures designated 7. Each aperture, as illustrated, is approximately circular in form but is provided with a lateral extension 8 directed toward the middle of the chair. Each of the shoes 6 is also provided with one or more transversely extending apertures 9, each of these apertures having a lateral extension and the apertures in the shoe being of the same diameter and size as the apertures 7 in the abutment l and be ing adapted to register with said apertures in the corresponding abutment. The inside face of each shoe is formed with a nearly circular bead or bulb 10 which is longer than the width of the shoe and extends out at each side thereof. Each of these bulbs or beads is formed with a perforation for a bolt or other suitable fastening 11.

Disposed against the rail on each side thereof are the rail braces 12. Each rail brace extends downward and outward from the head of the rail and at its lower end is formed with a basal portion 12 having a vertical outside face which bears against the vertical face of the shoe. This basal portion l2 is formed with a nearly circular recess 12 adapted to receive and embrace the bead or bulb 10 as illustrated in Fig. 2. It will be obvious, therefore, that the braces must be slid upon the bulbs or beads 10 from one end thereof. The lower face of the basal portion 12 is slightly rounded and fits between the edge of the base flange of the rail and the corresponding shoe 6. Each rail brace at its upper end is provided with an inwardly extending portion 13 which fits beneath the head of the rail at the intersection of the head with the flange and an inwardly extending portion 13 which engages with the base of the rail at the intersection of the flange and web. When the rail braces are positioned as illustrated in Fig. 2 any lateral thrust upon the rail will be transmitted to these downwardly and outwardly extending braces and translated into a nearly direct vertical thrust. Furthermore, the rail is held both at its head and at its base from either lateral movement or from lateral tipping movement.

For the purpose of locking the shoe in place upon the abutment and for the further purpose of providing means for wedging the shoes and the rail braces laterally or downwardly, I provide the drift bolts designated ll, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 4. Each drift bolt has a nearly cylindrical portion of uniform diameter throughout its length which extends through the passages 7 and 9 and a laterally projected fin 15 which extends through the extensions 8 of the passages 7 and through the lateral extension of the passage 9. The edge face of this fin is tapered longitudinally, that is, is inclined toward one end and toward the longitudinal axis of the bolt and the upper and lower faces of the fin converge at one end so that the fin forms a double wedge which when the drift bolt is inserted acts to force the corresponding shoe inward and downward. One end of the drift bolt is formed with a head and the other end with a threaded extension adapted to receive a nut 16. This nut may be of any suitable character but as illustrated is provided with a series of perforations whereby a pin or spanner may be inserted in the nut for turning it. Preferably the nut is of such character that it can not be turned by ordinary means, but must be turned by means of a specially constructed wrench thus preventing malicious tampering with the nut.

Under normal circumstances the rail B will rest flat down upon the face of the bed plate 2, but it often is necessary to elevate the rail a slight distance so as to bring it to a proper level with other rails. This elevation is ordinarily temporary to compensate for elevations of the rail caused by the action of frost. Underthese circumstances, a shim 17 is inserted beneath the rail to lift it. This shim as illustrated is very thin but it is to be understood that the shim may be of any desired thickness. Where the shim isvery thin, the taper of the fin 15 will be sufficient to permit the introduction of the shim. W'here, however, a relatively thick shim is used it will be necessary to withdraw the drift bolts l l entirely, elevate the rail to the required distance and then insert the drift bolts into the second, or even the third, of the apertures in the abutments. The series of vertical apertures 7 in the abutments permits the rail and rail braces to be raised and then the braces held in their vertically adjusted position.

It often becomes necessary to shift a rail laterally to bring it to gage. lVhere rails are spiked down upon a tie or upon a tie plate, this requires the service of a section gang, as the spikes have to be withdrawn, the rail shifted and the spikes redriven. Vith my improved construction, this slight shifting of the rail laterally may be accomplished by .one man and with an ordinary sledge. lVhere it is desired to shift the rail laterally one of the drift bolts on one side is released either entirely or partly and the drift bolt on the other side driven farther in, whereupon-the outer face of the fin 15 will act towedge the rail and the rail braces over upon the shoe. After the adjustment has been accomplishechthe .drift bolts are locked in position by means of the nuts 16.

It will be seen that the drift bolts provide means for vertically adjusting the braces to a relatively small degree and also provide means for locking the rail brace in various elevations depending upon the height to which the rail is raised and that these bolts also provide means for laterally adjusting the rail to gage. It is further to be noted that the rail brace 12 cannot be shifted longitudinally out of engagement with the shoes by reason of the cotter pins or other suitable fastenings 11 and that they are held from any movement with relation to the shoes, except that when the rail is.

raised under, for instance, the action of frost there will be a very slight movement of the rail braces which will thus permit the rail braces to yield and prevent either the rail brace or the rail being sheared by the elevation of the rail. It will furthermore be seen that in lifting the rail under extreme force will not act to damage the chair or the rail holding means, or relieve the rail from the bracing action of the rail braces 12.

It is to be pointed out that the chair is formed from a simple structural element, namely a section of T-iron, and that the chair therefore may readily be made by rolling and pressing, thus tending to economy of production and to the securing of a maximum strength for the chair. This form of my improved chair is particularly adapted for use on straight track or on long tangents in prairie or valley lines. It permits the easy shifting of the rail to gage or the easy elevation of the rail, it holds the rail rigidly against thrusts from any direction and the rail may be easily connected to the chair or detached therefrom.

It will be noted that the tie is unmutilated by the constant driving and redriving of spikes and hence that the tie will last considerably longer than is possible where spikes are used to hold the rail directly to the tie or to a tie plate. The primary fastenings of the chair to the tie need not be changed at any time. As the tie will last longer because less subjected to disintegration through the driving of spikes, it is economically practical to apply a preservative to the tie or to provide a water proof layer between the bed plate and the tie.

Particular attention may be called in connection with my improved rail chair to the oflicial report of the Block Signal and Train Control Board of the Interstate Commerce Commission, this report being dated June 29, 1912, wherein certain requirements are laid down for rail supports and wherein the board says: A fundamental defect in design which is most apparent is the failure to realize and appreciate the overturning movement due to the wheel flange pressure against the head of the rail. It is not suiiicient that the tie should support the vertical loads and resist directly horizontal thrusts and the tendency of the track to move laterally and longitudinally, but the overturning movement must be resisted. In order that the tie may properly support the stresses transmitted to it by the rail, a suitable fastening of the rails to the ties is most essential. Further the report states that under conditions existing in a large proportion of the railroads in this country the means of adjustment of rail to tie must be such as to admit of blocking up or shimming. The board further says that adequate means should be provided for shimming or for widening gage and this means should not involve lost motion and change of adjustment. It is pointed out that my improved rail chair, as heretofore described, conforms to all of the requirements referred to in this report and at the same time that the fastenings are not of a complicated nature and that the chairs may be made relatively cheap.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate, upwardly extending oppositely disposed abutments, mounted on the bed plate, members vertically movable upon said abutments, means for holding said members at variously vertically adjusted positions upon the abutments, and rail braces engaging said members.

2. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate having oppositely dis-- posed abutments, vertically movable members embracing the said abutments, means for holding said members adjusted at various elevations upon the abutments, and rail braces detachably engaging said members.

3. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate having oppositely disposed abutments, vertically movable members embracing the said abutments, means for holding the said members at various elevations with relation to the abutments and wedging said members laterally, and rail braces detachably engaging said members.

4. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate having oppositely disposed abutments, vertically movable members embracing the said abutments, railbraces engaging said member for common vertical movement, drift bolts passing transversely through each of said members and the corresponding abutment, and means for holding said drift bolts in position.

5. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate having oppositely disposed abutments, the abutments extending parallel to the length of the bed plate but transverse to the direction of the rail supported thereon, rail braces engaging said members for common vertical movement, vertically movable members embracing the said abutments, wedge-shaped drift bolts passing transversely through each of said members and the corresponding abutment, and means for holding said drift bolts in position.

6. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate having oppositely disposed abutments, the abutments extending parallel to the length of the bed plate but transverse to the direction of the rail supported thereon, vertically movable members embracing the said abutments, drift bolts passing through the apertures in the said members and the abutments, each drift bolt being formed with a latterly extending tapered fin adapted to exert a \vedging action upon said members. I

7. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate, vertically disposed abutments at opposite ends of the bed plate, members having sliding engagement With hold them in shifted position.

said abutments, rail braces adapted to engage with said members, and wedges engaging the abutments and the members and adapted to shift said members laterally an 8. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate, vertically disposed abutments at opposite ends of the bed plate, members having a sliding engagement with said abutments, rail braces adapted to engage with said members, and wedges engaging the abutments and adapted to shift said members vertically and hold them in adjusted position.

9. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate having upstanding abutments at each end, members having sliding engagement with said abutments, and rail braces having sliding engagement with the members in one direction but interlocked with said members for a common movement in another direction.

10. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate having oppositely disposed upstanding abutments, vertically movable members having sliding engagement with said abutments, each of said members being formed with a transversely extending horizontal bead or bulb, and rail braces having each a recess in its basal end for receiving said bead or bulb.

11. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate, oppositely disposed upstanding abutments at each end of the bed plate, shoes having sliding engagement with said abutments for vertical movement but interlocked therewith from lateral movement, each of said shoes having a transversely extending bead or bulb circular in section and each brace having a transversely extending circular recess in its basal end to receive said bead, and means for holding the shoes in vertically adjusted positions upon the abutments.

12. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate having oppositely disposed abutments spaced from each other a distance greater than the width of a rail base, said abutments extending in a longitudinal plane relative to the bed plate, each of said abutments being formed with a vertical series of drift bolt passages, each passage having a lateral extension, shoes embracing said abutments and each formed with a transverse drift bolt passage having the same form as the passages in the abutments, the inner face of the shoe being formed with a transversely extending bead or bulb, drift bolts passing through said passages in the shoes and abutments and each formed at one side with a longitudinally tapering wedging fin, means for holding the drift bolts in wedging position, and rail braces downwardly and outwardly inclined, the basal portion of each rail brace being formed With a recess adapted to receive the bead or bulb on the corresponding shoe.

13. A rail chair comprising a basal member, an abutment projecting upward therefrom, a rail brace disposed inward of said abutment and co-acting therewith, a member vertically adjustable with relation to the abutment and engaging therewith, the rail brace having locking engagement with said member.

let. A rail chair comprising a basal member, an abutment projecting upward therefrom, a rail brace disposed inward of said abutment and coacting therewith, a member vertically adjustable with relation to the abutment and engaging therewith, the rail b "ace having locking engagement with said member at its lower end.

15. A rail chair comprising a basal member, an abutment projecting upward there from, a rail brace disposed inward of said abutment and coacting therewith, a member vertically adjustable with relation to the abutment, and engaging therewith said member and the rail brace having one a bead and the other a hollow bulb embracing said bead.

16. A rail chair comprising a basal memher, an abutment projecting upward therefrom, a rail brace disposed inward of said abutment and coacting therewith, a member vertically adjustable with relation to the abutment and engaging therewith, said brace having interlocking engagement with the member at its lower end for common vertical movement but for independent movement parallel to the rail.

17. A rail chair comprising a basal member, an abutment projecting up therefrom, a rail brace disposed inward of said abutment and coacting therewith, a member vertically adjustable with relation to the abutment and engaging therewith, means for holding the member in a vertically adjusted position, the rail brace being detachably engaged by the member.

18. A rail chair including a basal member, an abutment projecting up therefrom, a rail brace disposed inward of said abutment and coacting therewith, a member vertically adjustable with relation to the abutment and engaging therewith, means for holding the member in a vertically adjusted position, the rail brace being detachably engaged by the member, and means for forcing said member inward toward the rail.

19. A rail chair including a basal mem ber, an abutment projecting up therefrom, a rail brace disposed inward of said abutment and coacting therewith, a member vertically adjustable with relation to the abutment and engaging therewith, means for holding the member in a vertically adjusted position, and a wedge engaged between the ill) abutment and said member and acting to force it inward.

20. The combination with a bed-plate having oppositely disposed upstanding abutments, of a rail adjustable laterally and vertically of the bed-plate between said abutments, members having sliding engagement with the abutments, and rail braces having sliding engagement with the members in one direction but interlocked with said members for a common movement in another direction.

21. The combination with a bed-plate having spaced upstanding abutments, of a rail adapted to rest on the bed-plate or on a shim between said abutments and adjustable vertically and laterally with respect to the bed-plate, members vertically movable upon said abutments, means for holding said members at various vertically adjusted positions upon the abutments, and rail braces having a pivotal connection with said members.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST G. LIEBMANN.

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

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