US1618576A - Rail anchor - Google Patents

Description

Patented Feb. 22, 1927.-

' UNITEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS W. COOPER, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, OANADA, ASSIGNOR, BY IESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO STEAD RAIL ANCHOR-S INCORPORATED, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARIEL RAIL ANCHOR.

Application filed March 17, 1924. Serial No. 699,645.-

This invention relates to improvements in rail anchors of the type shown in Figure 3 of U. S. Patent No. 1,366,558, grantedto myself and Henry Steadworthy; and Figure 5 of application Serial No. 623,931, filed the 9th March, 1923, by myself and the said Steadworthy; that is to say, a rall anchor comprising a U-shaped body member notched to embrace one edge of a rail base so as to be supported with the web of the body inclined transversely of the rail and a loop member held in compression between the body web and bottom of the rail base and,

extending transversely under the rail into engagement with the opposite edge thereof. In the accompanying drawings which illustrate various but by no means all possible embodiments of the invention Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 are side elevations of various modifications of the anchor in position on a rail base.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary views illustrating further modifications of the anchor.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 designates a rail base and 12 an anchor body of the type shown and described in the patent above mentioned and being a U-shaped member having arms 13 notched at 14 to embrace the edgesof a rail base and to be thereby held in such position that the centre web 15 connecting the arms is inclined transversely of the rail and is positioned substantially in its entirety beneath the rail. I

(Jo-operating with the body 12 is a complementary key member or holding member 16 which alone and in combinationwith the body forms the subject of the present invention. Generally speaking, the holding member is wedge-shaped and is formed of a bar of suitable material such as spring steel bent upon itself toward one end to form a loop 17 at one end of the member, which loop imparts the wedge-shaped appearance and wedging effect to the member. When the member is not in use this loop is preferably open but in course of application the loop is closed or is compressed and by its tendency to open-or expand produces the effect hereinafter described. At the opposite end the member is hooked as at 18 for engagement with the edge of a rail base. The member is disposed as shown in various figures of the drawing with the looped end thereof embraced between the arms of the body member and, when in operation, in compression between the inclined web of the body and the under surface of a rail base, so

as to draw downwardly on the body and hold the upper notch edges thereof in close engagement with the upper surface of the rail base. The compressed looped end of the member tending to expand between the relatively inclined body web 15 and the bottom of the rail base draws the hook 18 and the body into tight engagement with edges of the rail base with clamping effect.

In the form shown in Figure 1,-the intermediate or shank portion 19 of the holding member is bent or deflected from a straight line and in operative position is spaced from the rail base intermediate the opposite edges thereof, the form being such that the holding member has a substantial bearing on the bottom of the rail base at what may be termed the junction of the shank and'loop which is located between the arms of the body. The tail 20 of theloop when in oper-' preferablygreater than after application,

as may be seen by comparison of the dot and dash lines and full lines in Figure 1; also the looped end is larger before application and the loop tail is preferably spaced away from the shank. lVhen assembled on a rail the loopedendds compressed between the body web and rail base to somewhat reduce the size thereof and also to close the same, the action being such that the shank tends to be straightened and the extremity of the loop tail is pressed tightly against the shank usually to such an extent that the tail is slightly flexed downwardly. In this form the upward pressure of the loop tail only bearing desired is that sufiicient to support the hook against being forced downwardly out of engagement with the rail edge by a chance blow.

In Figure 2 a holding member similar to Figure l is shown having two slight differences. In this form the curvature of the hook is continued under the rail base and a slight oifset 23 provided to bear on the under surface of the rail base a short distance inwardly of the edge to replace the hearing at the point 21 shown in Figure 1. -With this offset :23 there may be clearance between the rail and the hook at the point The second feature of ditl'erence lies in the provision of a longer tail 20 for the loop which will have substantial surface bearing with the shank, preferably at the lowest point thereof, but the looped end will be identical, in form and operation, with the type shown in Figure 1. The

' form of the holding member before applinear the edge cation will be substantially as already described, that is, the deflection will be greater and the loop will be larger.

In Figure 3 there is shown a modification in which the loop is inverted as compaied with the forms of Figures 1 and 2; that is to say, the tail of the loop, as well as the looped end. bears against the bottom surface of the rail base, while the shank thereof bears against the web of the body and when applied is flexed from the plane of the web so as to press upwardly against the rail base opposite from the body. In this form the loop may be open in operation and it will be noted that the shank is curved upwardly toward the rail base instead of downwardly and away from the rail base as in the preceding figures, the flexion bein imparted during the application of the Iiolding member which is preferably straight in the shank before application.

In Figure at a further modification of the type of Figurel is illustrated, the shank being offset or reversely curved, as at 24, intermediate the looped and hooked ends to space the shank away from the rail base. The loop tail is preferably bent adjacent its end, as at 25, so as to be in endabutting relation with the offset and substantially normal to that portion of the shank which it engages. In this modification of theoevice before application the angular relation of the two parts of the shank on opposite sides of the offset is greater than shown and when the member is applied the shank is flexed between the offsetand hook so that the hooked end thereof presses upwardly against the rail base. Further, before aplication the loop is open as in Figure 1 ut on application compression of the loop forces the tail thereof toward the shank end into end abutting relation with the offset 24, so that the loop tail thrusts against the offset in a direction perpendicular to the engaged surface of the offset. lVhile the point of abutment is shown at the lowest point of the shank it may be shifted either way from this point as desired,'the perpendicular relation of the tail portion 25 being retained.

In Figure 5 there is shown a holding member end in what may be termed a flattened spiral loop which may replace the corresponding ends of any of the forms previously described, but with the dilference that the action of the tail is altered as the tail is in this case turned into the loop. A holding member having this form of end may be disposed either with the shank at the lower side or at the upper side of the loop as desired. Before application the loop is preferably open and is upon application fully closed as shown. The flattening of the loop in manufacture must be suflicient to provide surface bearing upon both anchor body and rail adequate to prevent the holding member end turning or slipping and permitting the hook 18 to move downwardly out of engagement with the railedge.

The modification shown in Figure 6 is applicable to any of the preceding forms and resides in the provision of a straight portion in the shank adjacent the hook 18 and designated 26, said portion being adapted to obtain surface bearing with the lower surface of a rail base for a short distanceinwardly from the edge.

In all the forms of anchor thus far described the wedge shape and wedge action have been apparent by reason of the form of the end. In Figure 7 there is shown a modification in which wedge action is obtained similar in efl ect to that of the previous forms, although the loop is only potential. In this formthe hook designated 18" is extended to have substantial bearing on the upper surface of the rail base and the shank 19 has preferably continuous bearing surface with the bottom of the rail base from the hook to approximately the middle of the base. The shank then curves downwardly away from the base and when in operative position the opposite end or tail 3O bears on the web of the body. In this form the bearing on the under surface of the rail base replaces the upper part of the loop and the extremity of the shank replaces the bottom of the loop. The wedging effect described in connection with other forms is obtained in this form also but in a different way. In the application of this form the plain extremity of the shank is flexed upwardly and toward the rail base, as will be seen by a comparison of the dot and dash lines and full lines in Figure 7.

If desired the Figure 7 may be applied to the various form of hook shown in.

intended.

of the notch edges with the lower surface of. the rail is not absolutely necessary as the body may be applied, and with good results, to a rail smaller than that for which it was In such a case a small clearance will be found between the notch edges and the under surface of the rail base and the edge of the rail will go completely to the bottoms of the notches, as indicated in Figure 7. It is, however, not advisable that any such clearance shouldbe so great as to permit appreciable tilting of the anchor in the longitudinal direction of the rail when thrusting against a tie, as such tilting tends to unnecessarily, unduly and unequally stress the holding member.

The method of application of the forms of anchor shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive is extremely simple. The body is first applied to the rail and the holding lnember is then passed\ hooked end first through the body under the rail. \Vhen the member has been passed part way under the rail the looped end commences to bind between the upper edge of the body web and the bottom of the rail base, pressing the end of the hook upwardly againstthe rail base. Force is now applied to the looped end by any suit able instrument, such as a maul, to drive the holding member completely across the rail and at the same time to partially straighten the shank thereof until the hook clears the edge of the railand snaps up into the operative position shown. During the application the looped end is compressed and closed and the whole length of -the holding member tensioned. If desired, as a final step, the hook 18 may be given a slight tap toward the rail to ensure close engagement thereof with the rail at the point 22, but this result is normally obtained by the expansion of the looped end between the converging surfaces of the body web and rail base. In the case of themodifications shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, compression of the looped end in application forces the tail thereof upwardly and against the shank to partially straighten the same and to hold the hook 18 up inoperative position, the

effect being due primarily to the inclination of the web 15. In the case of the modification shown in Figure 3 the "same result is obtained but by direct co-operation of the expansion in the looped end acts upon the inclined body web and urges the body toward the centre of the rail and atthe same so -that the rail base is resiliently clamped edgewise between the body and holding member hook. This clamping action is so pronounced that great force must be exerted upon the body in the direction of rail length to cause even a slight movement. If such movement does occur in service it results in disposing the holding member out of normal to the rail edges so that the holding member is drawn more tightly between the converging surfaces of the body web and rail base and the looped end further compressed. In this way the grip of the device on a rail increases with the thrust against the body.

In the later stages of the application the, holding member shank and loop tail will be. flexed to a greater extent than shown in full lines in' the drawings. In the forms shown in Figures 1, 2 and st the fiexion will be such that the shanks are nearly straightened, while in the modification shown in Figure 3 the curvature will be more pronounced than shown. On account of this superflexion it is desirable to keep the hooks 18 as low as possible to avoid straining the member, but it will be understood that this does not preclude the use of a hook as shown in Figure 7.. hen a hook of the type shown in Figure 7 is employed the holding member must be driven sufiiiciently past its final position to clear the tip of the hook from the edge of the rail and after the hook snaps up the holding member must be driven back to relatively enter the rail edge into the hook. The super-fiexion of the holding member which necessarily occurs in the application thereof serves to test each member as it is applied, and if the material is soft or flawed the action of the hook 18 will indicate the fact. In the same way if the member is too brittle it will break in application.

The holding member shown in Figure 7 may be applied from either edge of the rail and the hook 18 levered up into proper position. The remarks as to the length of the hook, super-fiexion of the member and spring action made in connection with previously described forms apply also tothis form. In this case the effect may be said to be attained by tendency of a potential loop to close instead of tendency to open as in other forms. The action of this form of holding member in relation tothe rail is the same as with previously described forms.

The anchor may be readily removed in; the case of modifications such as shown in shank 19 and body web. The tendency to 2' "latter knocked oil-the rail.

Figures 1 to 4 by a sharp downward blow on the end of the hook to disengage the same from the rail edge. The looped end may then be drawn out through the body and the lVith proper dimensions and quality of material the anchor is capable of re-use a number of times. The form of member shown in Figure 7 may best be removed by means of a claw-bar fulcrumed against the head of the rail and used to lever the hook laterally clear of the rail edge. lVhen thus positioned the hook should be struck downwardly until clear of the lower surface of the rail to free the member.

It will be understood that certain structural features of the tioned may be used to replace corresponding features of the present disclosure, for example, the form of the hook may, where applicable, be used in place of the hooks herein illustrated and described. Furthermore, the various details herein disclosed may be combined in any manner desired. It will also be understood that the proportions and amount of curvatureand flexion herein illustrated are somewhat exaggerated to simplify such illustration, and that the invention is therefore not confined to the proportions, forms and fiexions herein shown but that many variations in form, proportion and structural details may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body to hook onto one edge of a rail base and a holding member to pass through such body and hookingly engage the edge of a rail base opposite said body, the holding member being formed to engage toward its ends with the under surface of a rail base and to be spaced intermediate its ends from the rail base.

2. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body to hook onto oneedge of a rail base and a holding member hooked at one end and u'escnting at the opposite end an inclined surface to cooperate with wedging action with the body, said holding member being adapted to be passed hooked end first through the body and transversely of a rail into hooking engagement with the rail edge opposite the body, said holding member being formed to engage toward its ends with the under surface of a rail base and to be spaced intermediate its ends from the rail base.

3. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body to hook onto one edge of a rail base and a holding member to hook at one end onto the opposite edge of the rail base and to be compressed at the opposite end between the body and the underside of the rail base,

patent previously men said holdingmember being formed to have engagement with the'underside of the rail base at or near the opposite edges thereof and to be spaced from the rail base intermediate the edges thereof. a

4. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body to hook ontoone edge of a rail base and a holding member to beheld in compression at one end between the underside of the rail base and at the opposite endto hookingly engage the opposite edge of the rail base, said holding member being oftset adjacent its hooked end tobear upon the under surface of a rail base and to space an intermediate portion of the member from the rail.

5. A rail anchor or the like comprising :1 body to hook onto one edge of a rail base and a holding member to be held in compression at one end between said body and the under surface of the rail base, said member being booked at its opposite end toengage an edge of the rail base, the hook being formed and dimensioned to have edge engagement with the rail at substantially the junction of the side or edge and top of the base.

6. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body to hook onto one edge. of a rail base and a holding member to be held in compression at one end between said body and the under surface of the rail base. said member beinghooked atits opposite. end to engage an edge of the rail base. the book being formed to overlie the base only sntiiciently to hold the hook against accidental downward disengagement from the base while permitting such downward disengagement by force when desired.

7. A rail anchor or the like comprising :1 body to hook onto one edge of a rail base and a holding member to be held in compression at one end between said body and the under surface of the rail base. said member being booked at itsopposite end to engage an edge of the rail base. the end of the bar forming the book being sheared out of nor mal to the length thereof to reduce the depth of the book while permitting a slight engagement of the same with the upper surface of the rail base.

8. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body to hook onto one edge of a rail base and a holding member hooked at one end to engage the opposite edge of the rail base and looped at the opposite end to beheld in compression between the body and under surface of the rail base. the member being spaced intermediate its ends from the rail base, the looped end of the member having a loop tail spaced from the central part of the member and bent at its end toward the member to have end abutting relation therewith and to stand substantially perpendicular to the surface engaged.

9. A rail anchor or the like comprising bodv and the llil lli

- a body to hook onto one edge of a rail base,

and having a seat to be disposed under the rail base, and a holding member including a bentshank, and a loop at one end of the shank adapted for compression between the body seat and a rail base, and a tail on said loop underlying the shank and adapted upon compression of the loop to thrust up wardly against the shank with straightening effect thereon. v 11. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body to hook onto one edge of a rail base and having a seat to be disposed under the rail base, and a holding member including a bent shank, and a loop at one 'end of the shank 14. A rail anchor or the adapted for compression between the body seat and a rail base, and a tail on said loop underlying the shank and adapted upon compression of the loop to thrust upwardly against the shank with'straightening efl'ect thereon, and a hook at the end of the shank opposite said loop adapted toengage an'edge of the rail base.

12. A rail anchor or-the like comprising a body to hookonto one edge of a rail base and having a seat to be disposed under the rail base and a holding member including a bent shank, a'hook at one end thereof for engagement with the edge of the rail base opposite the body, and a wedge-shaped loop at the opposite end of the shank adapted to be forcibly introduced between the body seat and the rail base whereby said loop will be compressed, and a tail on the loop underlying the shank and adapted upon compres sion of the loopto thrust upwardly against the 'shank'torelea'sably hold the hook thereof in engagement with the edge of a rail.

base.

13. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body adapted tohook onto one edge of a rail base and having a seat to be d1sposed under the rail base, and a holding member including a shank and a wedge-shaped loop at one end thereofadapted to be forcibly intl'oduced'between the body seat and the rail base whereby said loop will be compressed. and the opposite end of the shank forced upwardly against the rail base with fiexion of the shank, and a hook at said opposite end of the shank to engage an edge of the rail base. a

like comprising a body adapted to hook onto one edge of a rail base, and a holding member including a shank reversely bent intermediate its ends whereby said will bear adjacent its ends upon a rail base and will be spaced intermediate such bearings from the rail base, and a loop at one end of the shank adapted to be compressed between thebody and rail base and including a tail to thrust upwardly against. the intermediate portion of the shank when the loop is compressed, and a hook at the opposite end of the shank from. the loop to engage the edge of a rail base.

15. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body to hook onto one edge of a rail base and a key member to enter between the body i and a rail base with wedging effect, said key being in its operative position and form flexed betweenits ends from its form when inoperative, with holding effect, and a hook on the key to engage an edge of a rail base and to, be held in such engagement by the tendency of the key to reflex movementto its original form.

16. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body to hook onto oneedge of a rail base, and a holding member to hookingly engage the oppositeedge of a rail base, said member including a shank and a loop at one end thereof to be compressed between the body and rail base, the loop having a tail turned adjacent its end toward the shank and thrusting againstthe shank when the loop is compressed.

17. In a two piece rail anchor, a U-shaped member with parallel Sides connected by a fiat web, inclined slots in the sides adapted to fit on the edge of a rail base, and hold the member with its web inclined towards the under surface of the rail, and a retaining member of strip resilient metal bent to form a wedge, having a long leg bent out wardly in the middle with an outwardly hooked end and a short leg with an inwardly hooked end'adapted to bear on the middle of the-long leg. 18. In a two piece rail angrhor oft-the type specified, a body member with inclined slots to, receive the edge of a rail base, having an inclined surface under the'rail and a wedge shaped spring adapted to hold the body member in position on the railzedge, comprising a'curved portion, a long leg bent outwardly in the middle with an outwardly hooked end and a short leg with an inward ly hooked end adapted to bear on the middle of the long leg when in compression.

' which extends to the rail axis, slides on the inclined surface of the body ortion and compresses the bend of the first egltowards 13 the under surface f the rail,

, defining a normally open loop,

\ thereby to space .leg, with an inwardly 20. In a two iece rail anchor of the type specified, a we e shaped spring member having a curved portion, a long leg bent outwardly in the middle and hooked outwardly at the end to grip the edge of the rail base, and a short leg inclined towards the lon hooked end adapted to bear on the middle of the long leg and partially flatten the bend thereof, when the wedge shaped spring is under compression.

21. In a. rail anchor. a U-shaped body portion notched to embrace one flange of a rail base and a retaining member of strip resilient material bent intermediate its-ends to the general form of a wedge and including long and short arms, the long arm being bent intermediate its ends away from the short arm and further outwardly bent adjacent its extremity to provide a hook for engagement with the edge of a rail base flange. and a short arm bent adjacent its end toward the long arm and adapted in service to bear against the long arm with tendency to straightening efiect therein.

22. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped body member notched to embrace one flange of a rail base and including a seat disposed beneath a rail base and inclined transversely thereof, and a holding member for said body being a strip of resilient material bent intermediate its ends to form long and short arms in spaced relation and defining a normally open loop, the long arm of said strip being adapted to engage the under surface of a rail base at opposite edges thereof and being bent intermediate its ends thereby to space it below the central part of a rail base. I

:23. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped body member notched to embrace one flange of a rail base and including a seat portion to be disposed beneath a rail base and inclined transversely thereof, and a holding member for said body being a strip of resilient material bent intermediate its ends to form long and shortarms in spaced relation and the long arm of said strip being adapted to engage the under surface of a rail base at thereof and being bent intermediate its ends it below the central part of a rail base. the said long arm bein formed at its end adjacent the looped en with a substantially straight port-ion of appreciable length for engagementflat-wise with the under surface of a rail base.

24:. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped body member notched to embrace one flange of a rail base and including a seat portion-to be disposed beneath a rail base and inclined portion to be opposite edges terial bent intermediate its ends to form long and short arms in spaced relation and defining a normally open loop, the long arm of said strip being adapted to engage the under surface of a rail base at opposite edges thereof and being bent intermediate its ends thereby to space it below the central part of a rail base, and the short arm of said strip being bent adjacent its free extremity to form a hook turning toward the long arm and adapted to bear against the long arm at about the point of maximum spacing below a rail 'base upon closure of the loop by compression thereof between the body seat and under side of the rail base.

25. In a rail anchor, a holdingmember comprislng a long arm and a short arm in divergent relation, and a substantially semicircular portion connecting the divergent ends of said arms, a hook at the free extremity of the long arm turned away from the short arm, and a hook at the free extremity of the short arm turned toward the long arm. a

26. In a rail anchor, a. holding member comprising a long arm and a short arm in divergent relation, a substantially semicircular portion connecting the divergent ends of the arms, the free extremity of the short arm being spaced from the long arm, a hook at the free extremity of the long arm turned away from the short arm, and a hook at the free extremity of the short arm turned toward the long arm.

27. In a rail anchor, a holding member comprising a long arm and a short arm in divergent relation, a substantially semicircular portion connecting the divergent ends of the arms, the long arm being bent intermediate its ends to present a convex surface to the short arm. and a hook at the free extremity of the long arm turned away from the short arm. I

28. In a rail anchor, a holding member comprising a long arm and a short arm in divergent relation, a substantially semicircular portion connecting the divergent ends of the arms. the long arm being bent intermediate its ends to resent a convex surface to the short arm, a look at the free extremity of the long arm turned away from the short arm, and a hook at the free extremity of the short arm turned toward the long arm.

In witness whereof, my hand.

I have hereunto set FRANCIS TV. CQO PER

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