US1800322A - Railroad-track holding and bracing device - Google Patents

Description

April 1931- w. c. SCHMITT 1,800,322 I RAILROAD TRACK HOLDING AND BRACING DEVICE Original Filed May 20, 192.9

Fatentecl Apr. 14, 1931 1 1 UNITED STATES WILLIAM C. 'SGHMITT, OF I'QRTLAND OREGON RAILROAD-TRACK HOLDING AND BnAoINe DEVICE.

Application filed May 20, 1929. Seria1 m5. 364,598.

My invention relates, generally, to appliances used for holding the rails of a railroad track in true relative positions, and against distortion that frequently occurs under the 5 normal loads of trafiic. And my invention has for its object the providing of efficient means.

Referring now to my purpose in providing efficient means for holding the rails in true relative position: To anyone versed in the technique of railroad track maintenance, it is well known that stresses develop in the track through the action of traflic, and the forces of nature, and are constantly acting 5 as agents to distort the true alinement of the rails. These stresses must be efficiently resisted, otherwise the track becomes unsafe.

The effect of these stresses on the railroad track is evidenced by the tipping of the rails on the ties, loosening of spikes, spreading of the rails beyond theproper gauge, creeping of the track, and other distortions which constantly menace safety.

Prior to my invention, various types of track braces had been used for bracing the track against the distortions referred to above. In most cases, such braces comprise rods that extend between the rails, combined with rail-holding devices called rail-dogs, adjustably secured to the rods and engaged with the rail so as to secure the latter against their said relative movement.

The main object of my invention is to provide an improved form of rail-brace, which will have superior advantage over the ones used prior to my invention. I

The details of my invention are fully hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

40 Fig. 1 shows a transverse vertical cross section through a railroad track, showing my improved track brace as used in connection therewith;

Fig. 2 shows a fragmentary horizontal sec- 4,; tion on the line 22 of Fig. 1, illustrating more in detail theconstruction of my rail brace and its use; o v a Fig. 3 shows a detail of a blank for making one of my rail braces as itappears before bent to finishedchannel form; and

Fig. 4 shows a left-end elevation of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1- to indicate the proper location of my track bracev with respect to the tie.

In the said drawings a represents a railroad tie,'b, b,are'the rails restingthereon and spiked in position by track spikes 0 as seen in Fig. 4:. Track ballast is represented by d in the latter figure. The rails b, b, are of the usual standard form known as T-rails, the base flanges of same being indicated by e. I I A steel rod fextends between and under the rails b and is threaded for a considerable length on each end, as shown by g. The rail braces it, hare each made of a piece of steel plate, blanked outapproximatelyto the flat shape shown by Fig. 3. Therail braces have a centrally located hole 71 cut out to receive the ends of the rod 7, and beveledslots j are provided in the ends. It is to be noted that 70 the top of the hole 71 and the bottoms of the slots j are in approximate alinement, which arrangement is necessary for my rail brace to function as purposed.

The flat blank h is then bent perpendicular ontransverse parallel spaced lines k as. illustrated by Fig. 3, into channel shape of which the end sections Z, Z containing the slots j will form the legs at the sides, the center web Q or section t having-the hole i as shown in Fig. 2. 1

Itis to be noted that the slots j of the legs Z,'Z, are of substantial depth and are shaped to correspond with the angles which the upper and lower faces of the base flanges e, e V of the rail on which they are to be used, make with each other; and when the rail brace has been formed to, its finished shape, the slots 7' will be in parallelalinement with each other, '90

and adapted to engage effectively the opposite sides of the base of the rail, as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

When in this position the rod f may be passed through the holes z of the central sections t of the rail braces of the companion rail sections and the rail braces are then locked in properly adjusted position by the nuts m and 1t threaded on the opposite ends of the rod 7. For the purpose of providing good clearance, the corners of the rail braces are relieved or-cut away as shown atp;

The advantages of my rail brace may be summarized as follows: a

The channel shape of my rail braces is structurally one of great strength." The slots j in the legs Z give the braces a double grip,

the rail.

WILLIAM SCHMITT.

that is, on both sides of the base of the rail,

and prevent the device tromnbeing moved lengthways on the rail. The cutting of the said sl otsto conform with the bevels of the rail base, assures that my braces may be tap-pedinto a good engaging position with the bases of the rails, and the large area of contact which the legs 5,1 of my braces thus have with the rail bases renders my braces practically immovable on the rail. Furthermore, the said bevel'slots y, j adapt my rail braces to be used on rails of different sections. The broad, fiat surface of the legs Z, Z of the rail braces, one of whichis caused to bear against the adjacent side face of the tie, distributes its pressure over a large area, and prevents mutilation of the tie, which frequently happens when cast dogs are used.

This is very important, asfrequently the ties in the track on which my device is used are rotten, or otherwise in poorcondition, and are susceptible to being easily mutilated. Further, the proper positioningof the hole- '5 of the middle section of my rail braces with respect to the slots 7' will permit the positioning of the rod very close to the underside of the base of the rail, and thusprovide in the rod a substantial bearing for the rails whereby the tipping of the latter outwardly is efficiently resisted.

Lastly, the economy in manufacturing effected by my rail braces is very great, since as all'castings are eliminated; at the same onthe base flanges'of a rail, the middle web being provided with a hole below the plane of said slots to receive a tie rod, themiddle webs of the plates serving to hold the rod firmly in place so as to hold theplatesfirmly on the base flanges of the ra i1.

e 2 In a rail brace, the combination of an.-

a time maximum strength andefficiency are se-

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