US1863145A

US1863145A - Rail retaining key

Info

Publication number: US1863145A
Application number: US550432A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles D Young
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-07-13
Filing date: 1931-07-13
Publication date: 1932-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 1949-06-14

Description

June 14, 1932. Q YOUNG 1,863,145

RAIL RETAINING KEY Filed July 13, 1951 3 SheetsSheet 1 FIG I.

WI T NEssEs gZZiQ BY W Z INVENTOR:

' ATTORNEYS.

June 14, 1932. D. YOUN 1,863,145

K RAIL RETAINING KEY Filed July 13, 1951 3 sheets-sheet 2 FIG N 29 6 0 g5" 5 0 a 22 j 0 5 9 J 2% 25 A? I ,M

/Z iii 1 FIG: I v

" TNESSES Z Z9 INVENTOR: Zaslllfizmg I June 14; 1932. c. D, YOUNG 1,863,145

RAIL RETAINING KEY Filed July 13, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I FIGXl I 5 7, 31 3.5 J Z7 5 Z9 FYCi-DZL 4 $6 Y W .97 Z5 INVENTOR:

(WZesDJfizmg BY TTORNEYS.

Patented June 14, 1932 PAT ENT OFFICE CHARLES D. YOUNG, HAVERFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL RETAINING KEY Application filed July 13, 1931. Serial No. 550,432.

This invention relates to rail retaining keys, and more particularly to means for re taining rails upon underlying tie plates, though in using the term tie plate herein I mean to include any form of plate, tie or foundation, upon which the base of a rail is adapted to rest or to be secured.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide incombination with a rail 1 and tie plate, a fulcrum member of special formation associated with the tie plate either as an integral or separate part, and a spring key which may be quickly and readily applied to or removed from the rail, and which Whenapplied is caught yieldingly in a predetermined position with a portion thereof bearing against the fulcrum member and anothler portion in pressure contact with the I am fully aware that it has heretofore been proposed to employ resilient retaining keys fulcrumed for pressure contact on a rail base, and my invention is incontrast with such prior devices in that the resilient retaining key and fulcrum member are so formed that when assembled together the end of the key bears upon the upper'surface of the rail base at a predetermined point and with a predetermined pressure. Accordingly, in a length of track embodying my invention, the rails are secured to their foundations with uniformity of restraint against vertical movement at all points therealong.

My invention is also characterized by the provision of complementary curved bearing surfaces on the-spring retaining key and fulcrum member, whereby the driving of the key into place causes an automatic seating of the same in its ther provision of a sharply bent' portion adapted to catch yieldingly on an angular surfaceof thetie plate to assist in the seat- L ing of the retaining key, as well as to resist dislodgment thereof incident to the vibration or movement of the rail under passing loads.

Other objects and advantages characteristic of my present invention will become more fully apparent from the description of several examples of the practice thereof which proper position; and by the furfollows hereinafter, having reference to the accompanying drawings, whereof:

Fig. I represents a plan view, with the rail shown in section, of a rail and tie plate assembly with one form of spring key and fulcrum combination shown at the left hand of the figure and another such combination shown at the right hand of the figure.

Fig. II represents a cross section of the same, taken as indicated by the lines II-II 6 of Fig. I, with the key shown inside elevation. i

Fig. III represents a plan view, with the rail shown in section, of a modified form of rail, tie plate and spring key assembly.

Fig. IV represents .a cross section of the same, taken as indicated by the lines IV-IV of Fig. III, with the key shown in side elevation.

Fig. V represents a cross section, taken as 7 indicated by the lines V-V of Fig. III.

Fig. VI represents a cross section corresponding to Fig. V, but showing a modified form of tie plate fulcrum member.

Fig. VII represents a plan view, with the rail shown in section, of an additional modified form of rail, tie plate and spring key assembly, with one form of spring key shown at the left hand of the figure and another format the right hand of the figure.

Fig. VIII represents a cross section of the same, taken as indicated by the lines VIII VIII of Fig. VII, with the key shown in side elevation. Y

Fig. IX represents a cross section, taken '85 as indicated by the lines IXIX of Fig, VII; and, s i

Figs. X and XI represent cross sections of -modified forms of spring keys showing longitudinal stiffening ribs formed thereon.

In all of the figures referred to above, the

rail is designated at 1, and its base is designated at 2. Each rail base 2 is seated between upstanding ribs 3of customary form on an underlying tieplate. For convenience the various forms of tie plates are designated with reference to their end portions by the numerals 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and 46, there being selected for illustration tie plates of gradually diminishing thickness effecting a slight inclination to the rail.

With reference to the assembly at the left hand of Figs. I and II, there is shown a rail retaining key 5a in combination with fulcrum members 6a formed on the end portion 4a of the tie plate. In this'example the fulcrum members 6a comprise opposite upstanding lugs punched from the tie plate and turned over so that their ends 7 lie in a horizontal plane. At the underside of the lug ends 7, smoothly curvedbearing surfaces 8 are provided for engagement with the spring key 5a. As shown in Figs. IT and V, the opening formed by the punching of the lugs affords a sharp angular edge 9 beneath the fulcrum members 6a.

v The spring key 5a of this assembly has an upwardly deflected end portion 10 hearing on the rail base 2 in pressure contact therewith and without sharp edges biting into the rail base. At the opposite end the key 5a is bent to form a spring loop 11 which tenninates in a sharply bent extremity 12 adapted to .catch yieldingly on the angular surface 9 of the tie plate. At the intermediate portion 13 between-the loop 11 and the end portion 10, the key 5a is bowed with a curvature complementary to the curved bearing surfaces 8 of the fulcrum members 6a.

The manner of assembling the spring key 5a will be apparent from the above description, it being merely necessary in applying the key to direct it properly towards the rail base and to deliver a blow upon the back of the spring loop 11 to cause the key to move inward into pressure contact with the rail base and to the point where the sharply bent extremity 12 passes over and catches on the edge 9 at the tie plate opening. When so I driven the spring loop 11 will expand to mined proper position.

cause the key 501. to be seated in its predeter- To disengage the key 5a from the tie plate, it is merely necessary to compress the spring loop 11,. as by a wedge applied beneath the loop, and then to apply a force in a direction transverse'to the rail to cause the key to move outward.

With reference to the assembly at the right hand of Figs. l and H, there is shown a rail retaining key 5?) in combination with a fulcrum member 6?) which constitutes a separate attachment rather than an integral part of the end portion 46 of the tie plate. In this example the fulcrum member 6?) is in the formof a stirrup of inverted U-shape with its ends 13 passed through slots 14 in the end portion 4?) of the tie plate and bent over to lie 1n a horizontal plane. The stirrup ends 13 are accommodated within a recess 15 of corresponding size at the bottom of the tie plate."

At the underside of the central portion of the fulcrum member 66, a smoothly curved bearmg surface 16 is provided for engagement with the spring key 5.7). The end portion a?) posite end the key 5?) is bent to form a loop 20,

which terminates in a sharply bent extremity 21 adapted to catch yieldingly on the inner edge 18 of the boss 17. At the intermediate portion between the loop 20 and the end portion 19, the key 5?) is relatively flat except for an offset 22 which is curved complementary to the curved bearing surface 16 of the fulcrum member 6?).

The manner of assembling the spring key 5?) is similar to the manner of assembling the previously described key 5a, it being merely necessary in applying the key to direct it properly towards the rail base and to deliver a blow upon the back of the spring loop 20 to cause the key to move inward into pressure contact with the rail base, and to the point where the sharply bent extremity 21 passes over the edge 18 of the boss 17. When so driven the spring loop 20 will expand to cause the key 5?) to be seated in its predetermined proper position.

With reference to the assembly of Figs. TH and TV, there is shown a tie plate with end portions 40 having fulcrum members 60 at each side thereof and spring keys 50. In this example the fulcrum members 60 are in the form of oppositely projecting lugs and are substantially similar to the fulcrum mem her (is previously described, except that their curved bearing surfaces 23 are described with shorter radii. At the outer edge of the tie plate to an upstanding marginal boss 24 is provided. The spring key a succession of waves or corrugations. At the end 25 it bears upon the rail base 2; at the end 26 it is sharply bent to catch on the boss 24 of the tie plate; and at the intermediate portion there is a concave region 27 with a curvature complementary to the curved hearing surfaces 23 of the fulcrum members 60. Screw spikes 28 are conveniently employed in this example for securing the tie plate 40 to the tie 29.

The manner of assembling the spring key 50 will be apparent from the above descrip- 50 is formed with tion. The key is driven towards the rail base to the point where the concave region 27 engages the underside of the fulcrum (in. At

this point the sharply bent extremity 26 will combination with any of the spring keys herein described. In this example the tie plate 4d is punched to provide upstanding lugs with inturned ends 30, forming a U-shaped 1 bowed are shown in cross section.

stirrup with openings 31 at the sides thereof. As shown by the broken and full lines, the ends 30 are provided at the underside with curved bearing surfaces 32.

With reference to the assembly of Figs. VII and VIII, there is shown a tie plate with end portions 4e'having the edges 33 thereof turned upward to extend above the rail base 2. Between the upturned edges 33 and the short upstanding ribs 3, the base of the tie plate is verticallyolfset to provide a boss 34 and a recess 35 therebeneath. The tie plate end portion 46 is secured to its tie 29 by screw spikes 28. Fulcrum members 66 in the form of stirrups of inverted U-shape are provided at each side of the tie plate, their ends 36 passing through slots 37 in the tie plate and being bent over within the recesses 35 at the bottom of the tie plate. The stirrups 6e are substantially similar to the stirrup 66 previously described, and are provided with smoothly curved bearing surfaces 38.

At the left hand of Figs. VII and VIII there is shown a spring key 56 having one end 39 in contact with the rail base 2, having the opposite end 40 sharply bent to catch yieldingly on the upturned edge 33 of the tie plate, and having an intermediate portion with a hump 41'and an adjacent curved surface 42 in engagement with the curved bearing surface of the fulcrum member 6a and complementary thereto. At the right hand of Figs. VII and VIII there is shown a spring key 57 having a deflected end 43, having an opposite end 44 sharply bent to catch on the turned end portion 33 of the tie plate, and having an intermediate bowed portion 45 in engagement with the curved bearing surface 38 of the fulcrum member 6/. It will be noted that in this example the curved bearing surface 38 of the fulcrum member is described with a radius shorter than the radius of the portion 45 of the spring key 5]".

The manner of assembling and disassembling the spring keys 5c and 5) will be apparent from their description.

In Figs. X and XI spring keys 5g and 5h In Fig. X the key 59 is provided with a longitudinal rib 46. In Fig. XI the key 5k is provided with a longitudinal rib 47 and a corresponding depression 48 at the opposite side thereof. The ribs 46 and 47 serve to stiffen the spring keys and thus to provide greater capacity for flexure without acquiring a permanent set.

In all of the assemblies described above the spring keys are provided with curved portions complementary to curved bearing surfaces on the corresponding fulcrum member, except that in Fig. VIII the spring key 5f is provided with a bowed intermediate region 45 described with a somewhat greater radius than the corresponding curved bearing surface 38.-, In every example the spring key is adapted to catch yieldingly on a portion of the tie plate so that the ultimate position of the key is a matter of choice and not of chance. Furthermore, in every example the spring key is formed by preference with an 'upward deflection at its inner end so that this end will not bite. into the metal of the rail 1. Hence creeping of the rail will not tend to dislodge the retaining key. When the key is driven it will automatically seat itself when it has reached a predetermined position on the rail base, irrespective of the force of the driving blow.

While I have described a number of examples of the practice of my invention, it will be apparent that other modifications may be made in the form of tie-plate, spring key and fulcrum member without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the claims hereto annexed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a rail and tie plate, a fulcrum member on the tie plate affording a curved bearing surface, and a spring key having one end engaging the rail base and the other end engaging the tie plate, and having an intermediate curved portion complementary to the curved bearing surface of the fulcrum member and in contact therewith.

.2. In combination with a rail and tie plate. a fulcrum member carried on the tie plate and aflording a curved bearing surface, and a spring key having one end engaging the rail base and the other end sharply bent to catch yieldinglv on the tie plate, and having an intermediate curved portion complementary to the curved bearing surface of the fulcrum member and in contact therewith.

3. In combination with a rail and a tie plate having an angular surface spaced from the rail base, a fulcrum member'carried on the tie plate and affording a curved bearing surface, and a spring key having one end engaging the rail base and the other end sharply bent to catch yieldingly on the aforesaid angular surface of the tie plate, and having an intermediate portion complementary to the curved bearing surface of the fulcrum memher and in contact therewith.

4. In combination with a rail and tie plate, a fulcrum member carried on the tie plate and affording a curved bearing surface, and a key bent to form a spring loop, said key having one end engaging the rail base, having the other end engaging the tie plate, and having an intermediate curved portion complemen tary to the curved bearing surface of the fulcrum member and in Contact therewith.

5. In combination with a rail. and a tie plate having an upstanding lug punched therefrom to afford a fulcrum, a key bent to form a spring loop, said key having one end engaging the rail base, having the other inn end sharply bent to catch yieldingly in the tie plate opening formed by the punching of said lug, and having an intermediate portion bearing on said lug.

6. In combination with a rail, and a tie plate having an upstanding lug punched therefrom to afford a fulcrum with a smoothly curved bearing surface, a key bent to form a spring loop, said key having one end engaging the rail base, havin the other end sharp- 1y bent to catch yieldingly in the tie plate opening formed by the punching of said lug, and having an intermediate smoothly curved portion in contactwith curved bearing surfacesof said lug.

7. In combination with a rail, a tie plate formed with a boss thereon, and a stirrup carried on said tie plate adjacent to said boss, a key bent to form a spring loop, said key having one end engaging the rail base, having the other end sharply bent to catch yieldingly on the edge of said boss, and having an intermediate portion bearing on said stirrup.

8. In combination with a rail, a tie plate formed with a boss thereon.v and a stirrup carried on said tie plate adjacent to said boss, said stirrup having a smoothly curved surface at the inside thereof, and a key bent to form a spring loop, said key having one end engaging the rail base, having the other end sharply bent to catch yieldingly on the edge of said boss, and having an intermediate smoothly curved portion in contact with the curved surface of said stirrup.

9. In combination with a rail, a tie plate formed with a boss thereon, and a stirrup carried on said tie plate adjacent to said boss, said stirrup having a smoothly curved surface at the inside thereof, and a key bent to form a spring loop, said key having one end engaging the rail base, having the other end sharply bent to catch yieldingly on the edge of said boss, and having an intermediate offset bowed portion with a surface complementary to the curved surface of said stirrup and in pressure contact therewith.

10. In combination with a rail and tie plate, a fulcrum member on the tie plate affording a curved bearing surface, a spring key having one end engaging the rail base and the other end engaging the tie plate, and having an intermediate portion in the form of a succession of waves with a region complementary to the curved bearing surface of tlllfe fulcrum. member and in contact therewit 11. In combination with a rail and a tie complementary to the curved bearing surface of the fulcrum member and in pressure-pontact therewith.

12. In combination with a rail and a tie plate having a vertically ofiset portion with slots at the ends thereof, a stirrup of inverted U-shape having its ends passed through said slots and bent over beneath said offset portion, and a spring key fulcrumed at said stirrup for pressure contact on the rail base.

13. In combination with a rail and a tie plate having a vertically offset portion with slots at the ends thereof, a stirrup of inverted U-shape having a smoothly curved bearing surface andlhaving its ends passed through said slots and bent over beneath said offset portion, and a spring key fulcrumed at the curved bearing surface of said stirrup for pressure contact on the rail base.

14. In combination with a rail, and a tie plate having a U-shaped stirrup punched from the base thereof with its ends turned inward and afiording at the undersides thereof curved bearing surfaces, a spring key fulcrumed at said curved bearing surfaces for pressure contact on the rail base.

15. In combination with a rail, and a tie plate having opposite upstanding lugs punched therefrom and turned over at the ends to afford at the underside thereof curved bearing surfaces, a spring key fulcrumed at said curved bearing surfaces for pressure contact on the rail base.

16. In combination with a rail, and a tie plate having an end portion thereof turned upward to extend above the rail base, a fulcrum member carried on the tie plate and affording a curved bearing surface at the underside thereof, and a spring key having one end engaging the rail base and the other end engaging the turned end portion of the tie plate, and having an intermediate curved portion complementary to the curved bearing surface of tile fulcrum member and in contact therewit 17. In combination with a rail, and a tie K engaging the rail base and the other end sharply bent to catch yieldingly on the turned portion of the tie plate, and having an intermediate portion complementary to the curved bearing surface of the fulcrum member and in contact therewith.

1.8. In combination with a rail. and a tie plate having an end portion thereof turned upwardto extend above the rail base, a fulcrum member carried on the tie plate and afiording a curved bearing surface at the underside thereof, and a spring key having one end engaging the rail base and the other end sharply bent to catch yieldingly on the turned portion of the tie plate, and having an intermediate bowed portion in contact with the gurved bearing surface of the fulcrum mem- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 6th day of July, 1931.

CHARLES D. YOUNG.