US1542028A - Guard-rail construction - Google Patents

Description

Patented June 16, 1.925,; V

- UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

GROVER F. BLAIR,

onnnrnnvnn, OHIO, ASSIGNOR or ensans 'ro ROLANDIS A.

BLAIR, or rear WAYNE, INDIANA.

GUARD-RAIL CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed May 7, 1924. Serial No. ?11,560..

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, Gnovnn F. BLAIR, a citizen of the United States, residing in Bellevue, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use" ful Improvements inGuard-Rail Constructions, of which the following is a specifica tion.

Myinvention relates to improvements in guard rail constructions for use in prevent ing the derailment of rolling stock at crossovers, switches and the like. i

A guard rail on its side adjacent the rail with which it cooperates is usually subjected to heavy wear due to the grinding'action of the wheel flanges, consequently the life of the guard rail is relatively short. One of the objects of my invention is the provision of an improved guard rail construction in which suitable supporting means, adapted to be fixed against lateral movement away from the railroad rail, carries awear memher which is separable from the supporting means and so arranged that when the member has become worn away to such an era tent that it is no longer safe to use, it may readily be removed and a new one substituted without discarding or even disturbing the supporting means. Preferably the supporting means carrying the wear member is provided with perforated base portions.

which extend under the base flanges of the adjacent railroad rail so that when spikes are driven through the perforated base por. tions into the ties, the railroad rail is not only secured in position on the base portions but the supporting means carrying the wear member is fixed against lateral movement away from the railroad rail.

It is another object of my invention to provide, in combination with the supporting means, a memberprovided with a plurality of wear surfaces and which is so mounted on the supporting means that by turning or reversing it on the supporting means any one of its several wearing surfaces may be brought into operative position adjacent the head of the railroad rail. Preferably the Wear member is in the form of a double-heaoled rail, wearing surfaces being provided on the respective sides of each head, whereby the life of the wear member is, four times that of the ordinary guard rail and, when all four surfaces on the member are worn away to such an extent as to make its use unsafe, the wear member may be discarded and a new member substituted.

-.Another object of my invention is the provision of means effectively preventing longitudinal movement of the wear member relative to the supporting means, this preferably being accomplished by providing inwardly turned lugs 011 the supporting means adapted to abut against the ends of the wear member. i

A further object of my invention is to provide supporting means for a guard rail which has its end portions divergent with respect to the rail while the portion thereof intermediate the end portions is made substantially parallel with respect to the rail, in combination with wearmembers on said divergent portions which are independent of the wear member for the intermediate portion, this. being particularly desirable when a double-headed wear member is carried by the intermediate portion because the last-named member is subjected to the greatest rolative wear and by such an. arrangement all four wearing surfaces on the double-headed wear member may be utilized without revamping or bending-the doubleheaded member to fit the divergent end portions. y i

Another object of my invention is the provision of a guard rail construction having the advantages above noted and which will be inexpensive to manufacture, strong and durable and which may be readily installed or repaired by ordinary track workmen.

The invention consists in'the novel constructions, arrangements and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above-stated objects and such other objects as will appear from the following description of certain preferred em- Cal bodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of a guard rail construction embodying the principles of my invention Fig. 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, on a ditl'erent scale, of a fragmentary portion of the means shown in the preceding views for supporting member 12 integrally formed with a. horizontal base portion 1-3. The base portion 1;) is provided, on one side, with a plurality of integrally formed base plates 14: which normally lie on top of the ties underneath the base flanges of the rail 8 and on the other side with laterally extending integrally formed foot portions 15 which are also adapted to rest on the top of the ties. The foot portions 15 are provided with notches 15 adapted to receive partially ordinary track spikes 16; Each of the base portions 1' 1- is provided with spike openings let, 14"

and 1 1, each being differently spaced fromtheupright portion 12, the function of which will be presently described.

Inthe en'ibodiment herein shown the wear member, referred to generally by the reference character 17, is provided with a head portion 18 and' a head port-ion 19, the two portions being connected by a web portion 20. The head portion 18 is provided with wearing surfaces 18" and 18 and the head portion 19 is provided with wearing surliaces 19 and 1 9. The medial portion 12 of the supporting member 12 is: shaped to conform to the web portion 20 of. the wear member 17, and the longitudinal marginpontions .12 a nd12 of the supporting: member are curved outwardly to conform to the heads 18 and 19. The supporting member 12 and the wear member 17. are provided with a plurality of registering 2117011111 68 21 for the insertionofbolts 22, or the like, whereby the wear member is lirmly secured to the supporting member.

The ends of the supporting member 12 are bent away from the rail to provide the divergent portions 12 and in that form of nay-invention shown in Fig. 1 the end portlOIlSOfthe wear member 17 are also bent;

divergent-1y with respect to the rail so as to lit the divergent supporting portions 12". The extremities of the divergent portions 12 are preferably provided with inwardly extending shoulders 12 which are adapted N to abut against the respective ends of the wear member 17. Foot blocks 23 may be positioned between the ends of the wear member and the rail 8, said blocks being held in position by means of bolts 24; which extend through the supporting member 12, the wear member 17, the foot blocks 23 and the web ofv the rail 8.

The guard rail construction is installed in atrack by slipping the base portions 1% underneath the flanges of the rail 8: the wear member 17 may be mounted on the supporting members 12' either before or after the latter has been placed in position. Spikes 25 are driven through the openings 1 1 of the base portions 14: and the spikes 16 are driven through the notches 15 of the foot portions 15. When the surface of the wear member adjacent the head of the rail becomes worn to such an extent that it is unsafe to use, the supporting means and the wear member may be moved laterally toward the rail 8 by withdrawing the spikes 1G and 25 and then reinserting the spikes 25 in the openings 14"; As the spikes 25 are driven home, the supporting means and the wear member are drawn over toward the rail, which compensates for the worn away portion of the surface on the member 17 adjacent the head of the rail 8. The spikes 16, of course, are then reinserted to fasten the foot pieces 15 to the ties. It will be obvious by inserting the spikes 25 in the openings 14 that the supporting means and the wear member may be positioned even closer to the rail 8. hen the surface on the member 17 adjacent the head of the rail 8 wears to such an extent that it is no longer safe to use even with the supporting means moved toward the rail 8 as far. as possible, the member 17 may be readily removed and a new one substituted.

hen the wear member is in the form of a double-headed rail, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, its life is four times that of the ordinary guard rail. It will be obvious, when the surface 18 thereof wears to such an extent that it can no longer be used, that the wearing surface 19 may no brought into operative position by turning the member 17 end for end; After the surface 19 is entirely worn away, the surface 18* may be brought into operative position by turning the member 17 half over in which case, however, it will be necessary to bend the extremities of the member 17 in the opposite direction to bring them against the divergent portions 12 of the supporting means, which may be readily done by an ordinary rail bender. When the surface 18 isentirely worn away the surface119 may be brought into operative position by turnmg the memberIT end for end. On sharp curves jand especially in double track, there is a considerabletendency for the wear member 17 to creep longitudinally relatively to the supporting means in the direction of traffic, which places the bolts 2' and 24: under a considerable shearing stress. The inwardly turned lugs or shoulders 12" on the supporting means abut against the respectiveencls of thewear member and ettectively prevent relative longitudinal nloveiuentoit the Wear member, thereby reliev'ing thebolts 22 and 24: of any undue shearing stress. i

A guard rail construction embodying the princi iilespol ny invention is inexpensive to manufacture. Themelnber l7 may be of rolled steel similar to ordinary rails. Thesupporti'ng means for the member 17 is preferably one integral casting; The constructionis strong and durable and maybe readily installed or repaired by ordinary track workmen. V

In that term of my invention shown in Fig. 4-, the wearmeinber comprises divergent end 'se'ctions26 (only one being shown) and j a straight section 27. The divergent eudseotiOnS-QG are'subjected to much less we than theintermediate straight section 27 and in, this: form of my invention the straight section'obvio usly may be reversed to bringany Oneof its four wearing suriliaces into operative position without the necessity of bending'itsends tomake them conformto the divergent supporting por tions12 In thatqform of my invention shown in Fig. 5 the divergent endportions 28 (only one being shown) are made relatively thick sothat iit isonlynecessary to attach relatively thin wearing plates 29 thereto in order to build up the wearing surfaces thereof" so they will be even with the wearing surface of the straight section 27. In this modification strong, rugged shoulders 30 are provided on the supporting means for the respective ends of the Wearing member 27 to abut against-and they prevent'any longiw tudinal movement of the wear member 27" relative to the supportingmember.

I do notjintendto limit 'my invention to the details of construction shown and described, except only in so far ascertain of the appended, claims are specifically so limited',as it will be obviousthat modifications mav be made without departing from the principles of my invention. v

I claim: h r i 1L Ina guard rail construction, the com binationof supporting means adapted 'to be fixed against lateral movement; away from a railroad raili a "member separable from said supporting'meansand having a plurality of w'earing surfaces, and means for 'mountlng said member upon said sup porting means so that any one of said w'earbe readily brought into said member upon said supporting means so that any one of said Wearing surfaces may be readilybrought into' operative po sition; i

3. In a guard rail construction, the combination of supporting means adaptedto be fixed against lateralmovement away from a railroad rail, a doubleheaded member having wearingsurl'aces on the respective sides ofeach of its heads, and means for mount-' ing said member upon said; supporting means so that any one of said wearing surfaces may be broughtinto operative position.

4. Ina guard rail construction, the combination oi"means providing a base portion. and a supporting portion, said means he ingadapted to be positioned with its base portion under a railroad rail and to be fixed against lateral movement away from said rail, a double-headed member having wearing surfaces on the respective sides ofeach ofits heads, and means for mounting said member upon said supporting means so that any one of said wearing surfaces may be brought into operative position. i

5. In a guard rail construction, the combination of supporting means adapted to be fixed against lateral movement away from a railroad raih a member having a plurality of wearing surfaces, said supporting means having means projecting laterally and adapted to abut against one of the ends of said member, and means for mounting said member upon said supporting means sothat any one of said wearing surfaces may be placed in operative position. l

6; In a guard railconstruction? the combination ofmeans comprising a base portion and a supporting,portion, suidmeans being adapted'to beposi-tionecl with its base portion under a railroad rail and to be fixed againstlatera1 movement away from said rail, member having a pluralityof Wearing surfaces; saidsupporting portion havingmeansoplrojecting laterally and adapted to abut against" one of the ends ofsaidmember,' and means for mounting said member upon 'said supporting portion so that any one of said wearing surfaces may be placed in oprativ 'positiom 'Z. In aguard railconstruction, the combination of supporting means adapted to be fixed against lateral movement away from a railroadrail, a member having a plurality of wearing surfaces, said supporting means having means projecting laterally and adapted to abut against the respective ends of said member, and means for mounting said member upon said supporting means so that any one of said wearing surfaces may be placed in operative position.

8. In a guard rail construction, the combination of means comprising a base, portion and a supporting portion, said means being adapted to be positioned with its base portion under a railroad rail and to be fixed against lateral movement away from said rail, a member having a plurality of wearing surfaces, said supporting. portion having means projecting laterally and adapted to abut against the respective ends of said member, and means for mountingsaid member upon said supporting portion so that any one of said wearing surfaces may be placed in operative position.

9. In a guard rail construction, the combination of supporting means adapted to be fixed against lateral movement away from a railroad rail, a double-headed member having wearing surfaces on the respective sides of each of its heads, said supporting-means having means projecting laterally and adapted to abut against the respective ends of said member, and means for mounting said member upon said suportin means so that an one of said wear-v p b ing surfaces may be placed in operative position.

10. In a guard rail construction, the com bination of means comprising a base portion and a supporting portion, said means being adapted to be positioned with its. base portion under a railroad rail and to be fixed against lateral movement away from said rail, a double-headed member having wearing surfaces on the respective sides of each of its heads, said supporting portion having means projecting laterally and adapted toabut against the respective ends of said member, and means for mounting said member upon said supporting means so that any one of said wearing surfaces may be placed in operative position.

11. In a guard rail construction, the combination of supporting means adapted to be fixed against lateral movement away from a railroad rail, the end. portions of said means being'divergent and the portion thereof intermediate said divergent portions being substantially parallel with respect to said rail, and wear members, provided on said divergent and intermediate portions, respectively.

12. In a guard rail construction the combinationof means providing a base portion and. a supporting member, said means being adapted to be positioned with its base portion under a railroad rail and to be fixed. against lateral movement away from said rail, the end portions of said member being divergent and the portion thereof intermediate said divergent portions being substantially parallel with respect to said rail, and wear members separable from said supporting member and provided on said divergent and intermediate portions, respectively.

13; In a guard rail construction, the combination of supporting means adapted to be fixed against lateral movement away from a railroad rail, the end portions of said means being divergent and the portion thereof intermediate said divergent portions being substantially parallel with respect to said rail, a wear member mounted on said intermediate portion, said divergent portions being in the form of shoulders adapted to abut against the respective ends of said wear member, and wear plates provided on said respective divergent portions.

14:. In a guard rail construction, the combination of means providing a base portion and a supporting member, said means being adapted to be positioned with its base portion under a railroad rail and to be fixed against lateral movement away from said rail, the end portions of said member being divergent and the portion thereof intermediate said end portions being substantially parallel with respect to said rail, a wear member mounted on said intermediate portion, said divergent portions being in the form of shoulders adapted to abut against therespective ends of said wear member, and wear plates provided on said respective divergent portions.

15. In a guard rail construction, the combination of supporting means adapted to be fixed-against lateral movement away from a railroad rail, the end portions ofv said means being divergent and the portion thereof intermediate said divergent portions beingsubstantially parallelwith respect to said rail, a member having a plurality of wearing surfaces, means for mounting said member upon said intermediate portion so that any one of said wearing surfaces may be placed in operative position, said divergent portions being in the form of shoulders adapted to abut against the respective ends of said member, and wear plates provided on said respective divergent portions.

16. In a guard rail.- construction, the combination of means providing a base portion and a supporting portion, said means being adapted to be positioned with its base portion under a railroad rail and to be fixed against lateral movement away from said ra1l,.t;he extremities of said supporting portion being divergent and the portion thereof in operative position, said divergent exintermediate said extremities being substantremities being in the form of shoulders tially parallel with respect to said rail, a adapted to abut against the respective ends 1 member having a plurality of Wearing surof said member, and Wear plates provided 5 faces, means for mounting said member on said respective divergent extremities.

upon said intermediate portion so that any one of said wearing surfaces may be placed GROVER F. BLAIR.

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