US1373592A - Rail-clamp - Google Patents

Description

1. 1. BRANAGAN.

RAIL CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED DEC- 8, I920.

1,373,592. v Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

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RAIL CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED DEc. s, 1920.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

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RAIL-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5., 1921.

Application filed December 8, 1920. Serial No. 129,108.

Z 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN J. BnANAoAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at McKees Rocks, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Clamps, of which. the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in means for securing railroad rails to cross ties of the type shown in my prior United States Patents No. 1,256,199 of February 12, 1918, and No. 1,307,110 of January 17, 1919.

In my prior patents above enumerated, metal cross ties are shown having chairs at each end thereof, each chair being provided with a locking flange adapted to engage the outside base flange of the rail. Between the end chairs are abutments, and clamps engaging the side and the inner part of the base flange of the rail are" held in clamped position by means of removable tapered wedge plates. Unless means are provided for positively locking the wedge plates in position, especially on curves, they are liable to work loose and allow the clamp to become dislodged.

My present invention has for its object to provide a locking means for the wedge plates, by means of which the plate may be held from accidental removal, and which shall be adjustable to correspond to the different positions to which the plates may be forced during the setting of the rails.

in the accompanying drawings which show several embodiments of my invention Figure 1 is a perspective view of a curved rail and one end of a tie to whichthe rail is secured by the means described, the wedge plate being provided with means for holding it in place; i

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through a tie along the center, of one of the wedge plates, showing the means for holding the wedge plate from accidental removal;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the holding device;

Fig. 4: is a section through the clamping member and tie;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of theclamping member used for engaging the rail;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a clamping plate adapted to be spiked to a wooden tie;

F ig. is a section correspondingto Fig. 2,

but showing a modification of the invenbase flange and side of the rail. A slotted abutment 8 is provided on the tie and is spaced a considerable distance from the portion 7. A slotted clamping member 9 is placed against the inside of the rail between the rail and abutment 8, its rail engaging face having a groove therein in which the base flange of the rail fits so that the top and the bottom of the flange are engaged by the clamp. A gradually tapering wedge plate 10 having lateral fins thereon for cooperative engagement with the grooves in the abutment 8 and clamping member 9 is driven between the clamping member and the abutment, and serves to hold the clamp in position. This construction is shown in my United States Patent No. 1,256,199. In order to prevent the clamp 9 from tending to twist sidewise when the wedge is driven in, i provide depending flanges 9' on the clam pin memb ,r to engage the edges of the tie whi h insure against such displacement. The construction of the clamping member is clearly shown in Fig. 5.

When a tie in the form of an I-beam is used, one or more strengthening" webs 5 may be formed therein directly under the rail to enable the tie tosafely support the enormous loads to which they are subjected. The ties are also preferably a little wider at the bottoms than at the tops to give them greater stability.

Instead of forming the clamping means on a metallic tie, they may be formed on a plate 7, as shown in Fig. 6, and this plate may be spiked or otherwise secured to a tie. Such an arrangement is safer than the ordinary spiked rail, and the rail may be more readily removed or replaced.

' Where a curved rail is employed, the

clamp 9 is also preferably curved to conform to the rail, as shown in Fig. 1

The efficiency of the clamp described depends on the wedge plate being driven tightly into position and staying there. For the sake of convenience, however, it is desirable that the wedge plate be capable of re-- moval for the purpose of removing the rail or otherwise repairing the track. I therefore provide the removably locking or retaining means hereinafter described for holding the Wedge plate 10 in the position to which it is driven.

As shown in Fig. 2, the small end of the wedge plate is provided with a series of holes 12 passing therethrough. These'holes are preferably close together, and are equidistant. The fastening or retaining device comprises a small plate 13 having a depending pin 14 secured thereto, the pin be- 7 ing adapted to be passed through the opening 12 most nearly adjacent the edge of the tie and engages said edge. A cross pin 15 is then passed through the projecting lower portion of the pin 14 to prevent it from being accidentally removed. The plate 13 is also preferably provided with a second depending pin 16 rigidly secured thereto but which has a loope'dportion 17 formed above the plate to form a lifting meansfor the plate. The depending pin 16 is relatively short and does not pass entirely through the wedge plate although it does engage in the openings 12. The purpose of this pin is to maintain the cover plate 13 in suitable position to prevent the holes 12 from becoming filled by dirt and foreign matter collecting therein.

In use, the wedge platelO is driven into clamping position as far as possible. The pin 14 is then driven into that one of the holes 12 which brings it -into contact with the edge of the tie 5. At the same time, pin 16 enters one of the other holes to secure the cover plate 13 in position. After the pin 14 is in place, cross pin 15 is inserted to prevent the pin 14 and the cover plate being accidentally removed.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the wedge plate 10 is slotted at its small end, the slot being indicated at 20. Over a portion of the slot is a housing 21, the parallel sides of which are provided with a series of openings 22.

The fastening or retaining device comprises a body 23 adapted to slide in the slot 20, and the upper portion thereof projects above the surface of the plate 10 into the housing 21. A series of holes 24 adapted to be brought into alinement with the holes 22 in the housing are provided in the fastener. At the rear of the body 23 is a depending lug 25 for engagement with the edge of the tie 5.

When in use, the Wedge plate 10 is driven to clamping position, as usual, after Which, the fastening member 23 is placed in position so that lug 25 engages the edge of the aeraeea tie and cotter pin 26 is then passed through that opening in the housing which is in alinement with one of the openings 24 in the fastener, the end of the cotter pin projecting at the other side of the housing.

This end is then bent to secure the pin in position in a manner well understood. The

slope or curvature of the sides of slot 20.

'and quickly released when necessary. It

will also be seen that the plates may be locked in substantially the position to which they are driven, notwithstanding that some of the plates may be driven in farther than others. In other words, the locking means is adjustable to variations in the positions of the plates towhich they are applied. The invention is particularly useful in connection with a curved rail Where the spring pf the rail tends to force the clamping plate oose. formed on the bottom of the tie to prevent it from slipping and portions of its surface could be roughened or corrugated as indicated at 5*.

I claim .as my invention:

1. The combination with a rail, of a tie, and means for securing the rail to the tie, said means including a rail engaging clamp, a wedge plate cooperating with means on the tie for holding the clamp in position, means removably carried by said wedge plate for engaging one edge of the tie to hold said wedge plate against removal, and other means on said removable means for preventing the accidental removal thereof.

2. The combination with a rail, of a tie, and means for securing the rail. to the tie, said means including .a rail clamp a wedge plateengaging the clamp and cooperating with means on the tie for holding the clamp in position, means comprising a body member having a depending pro ection thereon for engagement with the t e, said body member being detachably carried by said wedge in position, means comprising a body mem her having a depending projection thereon for engagement withthe tie, said'body mem-.

ber being adjustably carried by said wedge plate, and a pin connecting thebody memher with the wedge plate to hold it in ad justed osition.

4. T e cbination with a rail, of a tie,

Transverse projections 5 may be net a ate and means for securing the rail to the tie including a rail clamp, a wedge plate en gaging the clamp and cooperatlng with means on the tie for holding the clamp in position, said wedge plate being provided with openings therein, and means including a body having a projection for engaging the edge of the tie through some one of the desired openings and means on the body connected to said wedge plate through some one of the other openings, said projection on the body preventing the removal of the wedge plate through its engagement with the edge of the tie.

5. The combination with a rail, of a tie, and means for securing the rail to the tie, said means including a rail clamp, a wedge plate engaging the clamp and cooperating with means on the tie for holding the clamp in position, said wedge plate being provided with a series of openings therein, and wedge retaining means supported on the wedge plate and comprising a body portion having a depending pin thereon projecting through any desired one of said openings, said pin 'being adapted to engage the tie and other means fOfI' preventing the accidental removel of said wedge retaining means.

6. The combination with a rail, of a tie, and means for securing the rail to the tie, said means including a rail clamp, a wedge plate engaging the clamp and cooperating with means on the tie for holding the clamp in position, said wedge plate being provided with a series of openings therein, and wedge retaining means supported an the wedge plate and comprising a body portion having a depending pin thereon projecting through any desired one of said openings, said pin being adapted to engage the tie, and means on the wedge retaining means connected with means on the wedge plate for prevent ing the accidental removal of said wedge retaining means. v

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

JOHN J. BRANAGAN.

Witnesses:

WM. H. PARMELEE, Lors WINEMAH.

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