US1407368A

US1407368A - Adjustable rail brace

Info

Publication number: US1407368A
Application number: US475682A
Authority: US
Inventors: John L Beil
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1921-06-07
Filing date: 1921-06-07
Publication date: 1922-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 1939-02-21

Description

J. L. BEIL.

ADJUSTABLE RAIL BRACE.

APPLIICATION FILED JUNE 7. 1921.

Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

c n 0 01A 1 o I} v 1 5 m M a 3 WW l o o o A II 9 & W 1 a v 7 4 M LL By M420 ATTORNEYS stars JOHN L. BEIL, OF GALENA, ILLINOIS.

inc-recs.

ADJUSTABLE RAIL BRAGE.

Specification of Letterslatent. Paffmgntigd Fgb. 21, 11922,

Application filed June 7, 1921. Serial No. 475,682.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. BnIL, a citi- V zen of the United States, and a resident of Galena, in the county of Jo Daviess and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Adjustable Rail Braces, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to railway. switch constructions, and it consists in-the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereln described and claimed:

7 An object .of my invention is to provide provide an adjustable brace for a rail in a switch construction-that will have the effect of causing the wear on a cooperating switch point being reduced to a minimum, since the rail is maintained in a desired position with respect to the switch point.

A further object of my invention'is to provide a device of the character described that can be employed in switch constructions in connection with standard rails and other switch parts.

Otherlobjects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particle larly pointed out in the appended claim.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of railway switch showing the device applied,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device arranged in relation to a rail,

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device.

Fig. 4; is a top plan view of the same,

Fig. 5 is a perspective of an element of the device.

Referring now to Fig. l of the drawing, I show an ordinary switch construction in which rails l and 2 are secured to ties 3 by means of spikes 4. The switch points are denoted by 5 and 6 and are connected by a switch bar 7 which has a. connection with a throw rod 8. Switch plates 9 are provided betwen the rails and the supporting ties, being secured to the latter by spikes 4. Certain of the spikes 4 are arranged with the heads thereof clamping the rail flange to the switch plate to prevent movement of the rails l and 2 apart. The parts described so far are ordinary in construction and form no part of my invention, except in so far as they cooperate with the parts which will be hereinafter described.

In service, the rails 1 and 2 are moved apart on account of the repeated impact of the switch points thereagainst and especially on account of the lateral thrust of the load passingtherealong. Consequently, in time the switch points no longer contact the adjacent rails and the wear on the switch points is thus increased, since the latter then bear the weight of the load and the ends thereof are frequently broken as the load passes from the rails to the switch points. Heretofore, it has been necessary at frequent intervals to adjust rails 1 and 2 by returning the same to initial positions. To accomplish this, the spikes holding the rails to the ties at the switch and the spikes holding the switch plates to the ties and the rails to the switch plates must be withdrawn and new spikes used when the rails are again secured in adjusted position. lVhen my improved device is used, not only is each rail braced against movement laterally, but

the rails may be returned to original 13OS1' tion with the necessity for removing any of the fastening spikes and shifting the switch plates obviated.

A Referring now more particularly to Figures 2. 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that the device in the form now preferred by me comprises a body portion 10 having an integral laterally extending foot or base 11. The body portion 10 and the base 11 are cast or otherwise formed of a suitable material, such as steel. The body portion 10 is fashioned with its upper face curved at 12, the inner wall 13 thereof being adapted to closely contact the web of the rail and the lower or under wall 14 thereof being adapted to conform with the curvature of the upper surface of the rail base or lower flange. It will thus be observed that the bias-e 11 has a shoulder 15 abutting the edge of the rail base or flange when the body portion 10 has been moved into contact with the adjacent side of the rail web. The base 11 is secured with the body, portion abutting the adjacent side of the rail by means of "by any suitable means.

spikes 16 which are driven into the underlying tie or other support to clam the body firmly against the rail. The b0 y portion 10 is formed with a vertically extending opening 16, the wall of which contacting the web of the rail being provided with an opening 17 in which is slidably disposed a thrust block 18. An adjusting bolt 19 is projected through an opening 20 extending from the outer face of the body portion 10 to the bore 16. A non-rotatable retaining nut 21 engaging the bolt 19 is disposed within the bore 16 and guides the bolt into contact with the thrust block 18 at the approximate center of the latter, whereby the thrust block '18 may be moved against the web of the rail when the head 22 of the bolt is turned The base or foot of the brace may be provided with a strengthening rib 23 merging into the body portion 10, as shown, and the body portion 10 may be cut away along its outer face at 24 and 25 for the sake of economy'of material in manufacturing.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device the operation thereof may be readily understood. The thrust block 18 is preferably formed with a substantially hemispherical recess 26 in its outer face at the approximate center thereof adapted to receive the end of the adjusting bolt 19, whereby the thrust of the adjusting 7 block 18 against the web of the adjacent rail will be more effectively transmitted to the latter. The device is relatively simple in construction and can be manufactured cheaply. Its employment obviates the necessity of shifting or moving the usual switch plates in adjusting the position of the rails 1 and 2 with respect to each otherv and thereby results in a saving of material and labor. The rails may be readily adjusted through the agency of the bolts 19 and the thrust plates 18 when the same have been moved out of initial position and are-at all times pressed against movement on account of presses received in service tending to move the same laterally and in opposite directions. I claim: A device of the character described comprising a body portion having an integral base adapted to be secured to a rail support to clamp the body portion securely against tion.

JOHN L. BElL.