US1863248A

US1863248A - Railway track construction

Info

Publication number: US1863248A
Application number: US509495A
Authority: US
Inventors: John A Mcgrew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-01-17
Filing date: 1931-01-17
Publication date: 1932-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 1949-06-14

Description

`une 14, 1932. J, A. MCGREW 1,863,248

RAILWAY TRACK CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 17, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l :Q l- 2 2 vr// /7 l rr l ,f7

June E4, 1932. J. A. MCGREW 1,863,248

RAILWAY TRACK CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 17, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented `lune 14, 1932 PATENT oEFlcE JOHN A. MCGREW, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK RAILWAY TRACK CONSTRUCTION application mea January 17, 1931, serial 1ro. 509,495.

This invention relates to railway track constructions and more particularly to devices by means of which the rails are secured or anchored to the cross ties.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved tie plate and rail fastener by means of which there is produced a stronger, safer, and more easily and economically maintained track structure than those in general use at the present time. The invention contemplates the provision of a novel type of rail securing means whereby practically unrestrained wave motion in the rail is permitted without transmitting this motion to the tie plates or ties. The load on the tie plate is distributed uniformly at all times and thus the tendency of the spikes or lag screws to pull out is lessened, and the wearing or cutting of the ties, caused in the ordinary constructions by the rocking or shifting of the tie plates, is prevented. The life of the ties is furthermore considerably increased, where wooden ties are utilized, by obviating the necessity for frequent re-spiking.

One feature of the invention, whereby these and other advantages are realized, is the provision, in a rail securing device of this type, of a longitudinally cambered rail seat affording substantially a line contact with the underside of the base flanges of the rail and of resilient clips or fastening elements which are adapted to bear upon the upper surfaces of the rail base flanges above this line of contact.

Other features of the invention by which increased strength and safety in the track construction are attained are the provision ot two rail shoulders upon the tie plate, the lagging of the plate to the tie, and the use of spring fasteners which exert a holding force in excess of that afforded by the cut-spikes used in ordinary constructions.

From the standpoint of economy in track construction and maintenance. it may also be pointed out that the fastener provided by the present invention will prevent the rail from creeping and thus preclude the necessity of the provision of rail anchors or anti- Creepers. AThis construction also permits the renewal of rails more speedily than where cut-spike securing means are employed.

Another important feature of the invention is the provision of a tie plate of the type used in connection with the spring clip fasteners above described, in which means are provided whereby the ordinary cut-spikes usually employed for securing the rail and tie plate to the tie may be used instead of spring clips whenever necessary or desirable. Thus, in the event of breakage of a spring clip, a spike may be used as a temporary securing means. Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the following speciiication 55 in connection with the accompanying drawings in which certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a section of track to which there is applied the tie plate and rail fastener constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in transverse cross section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the improved tie plate and rail fastener with the rail removed therefrom;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 3 with the rail installed;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view similar to Figure 2, showing a modified form of rail fastener; and

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view similar to Figure 2 showing an alternative form of fastening means in which ordinary cut-spikes are used.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, in which a section of track to which the improved rail fastening means have been applied is shown, the rail is designated by the numeral 10 and is provided with the usual head 11, web 12 and base anges 13. The numeral 14 denotes the usual wooden cross ties as in the ordinary type of track construction. The rail l() is supported upon and secured to the ties 14 by means of the tie-plates 15 and their associated fastening elements which will now be described.

f to bear.

The tie plates 15 are preferably rectangular in plan and are secured to the ties by means of the lag screws 17 which are adapted to pass through the perforations 18 provided in the tie plate at points spaced forwardly'and rearwardly of the transverse median ine of the tie plate. The upper surface of the tie plate 15 is provided with a pair of ribs or shoulders 2O which define a centrally disposed rail seat 21. If desired the surface of the rail seat 21 may be canted or sloped laterally as shown in Figures 2, 6, and 7. The rail seat 21 is cambered longitudially as shown (exaggerated somewhat) in Figure 4, providing sloping surfaces extending in both directions from the transverse ridge or peak 22, the ridge 22 providing substantially a line contact between the underside of the rail base flanges 13 and the rail seat.

In order to secure the rail 10 within the seat 21 the spring clips or levers 25 are provided, the inner `ends 26 of which are ada ted to bear upon the upper surfaces of tlhe ase flanges 13 and the opposite ends of which are formed with the tongues 27 and the lateral shoulders 28 which are adapted to engage the tie plate. An intermediate portion of the .clip is perforated as at 29 for the reception of the bolt 30 the head 31 of which is adapted to interlock with a portion of the tie plate. Each of the spring clips 25 is caused to bear heavily upon the rail base by turning the associated nut 32 upon the threaded shank of its bolt. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the spring clips 25 are illustrated as provided with the pronounced intermediate bend 34- while a. modied form of clip which comprises merely an L-shaped lever of spring steel is shown at 25 in Figure 6. It will be seen that these fastening devices are applied to the tie plates upon each side of the rail with their rail engaging ends 26 directly above the line of contact 22 of the rail base with the rail seat.

Each tie plate is provided with a generally T-shaped slot 35 upon each side of the rail base which may be considered as comprising three distinct portions. The head of the T is formed by a relatively wide slot portion 36 into which the tongue 27 of the spring clip 25 is adapted to project and upon the margins of which the shoulders 28 are adapted The second portion of the slot 35 is designated 37 and is shown in longitudinal cross section in Figure 5 of the drawings. From this figure it will be seen that the lower half of this portion of the slot is provided with upwardly converging walls 38 and the upper half of the slot is bounded by the vertical walls 39. The bolt head 31 is bevelled, as clearly shown in Figure 5, so as to interlock with the tie plate when it is disposed within the correspondingly bevelled slot portion 37. It will be readily understood .that in applying the bolt the head 31 is first inserted in the wider portion 36 of the slot 35 and then passed laterally into the slotportion 37. lThe third portion of the slot 35, designated 40, is provided with straight walls and is of the same width as the upper portion of the slot 37. The purpose of this slot extension 40 will be later explained.

As stated heretofore, the two securing elements 25 of each pair are disposed, substantially in a transverse vertical plane which includes the line of contact 22. These elements are resilient, being preferably formed of spring steel, and a few turns of the nut 32 upon the holt 30 will cause the clip 25 to exert a pressure upon the rail base of several thousand pounds. Because of this construction, the wave motion of the rail which results from the passing of a train does not cause unequal loadings of the tie plates and injury to the ties. It will be understood that the entire weight of that portion of the rail which is supported by the tie plate 1s received upon the ridge or peak 22 of the rail seat 2l and is thus uniformly distributed throughout the area of the tie plate. The lag screws 17 are, therefore, subjected to no unequal strains and there isno tendency for these securing elements to be pulled out due to tilting or shifting of the tie plates. The device which has just been described holds the rail so firmly in place that the use of rail anchors or anti- Creepers is unnecessary. At the same time the requisite exibility in the track construction is realized.

ln the event of accidental breakage of the spring fasteners of the preferred construction, as in the case of a derailment or other mishap, cut-spikes 41 of ordinary construction may be employed to secure the rails, as illustrated in `Figure 7 of the drawings. These spikes are adapted to be inserted in the slot portions 40 of the tie plate and driven into a tie upon each side of the rail base 13 so that the heads 42 of the spikes bear as at 43 upon the upper surfaces of the base flanges 13 directly above the line of rail contact 22. This alternative construction, while not as flexible as the spring clip construction previously described, will permit the occurrence of limited undulatory motions in the rails Without pulling the spikes or disturbing the position of the tie plate 15.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiments illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

While the present invention has been described as applied to tie plates used in connection with wooden ties, it is by no means limited thereto but may be embodied in rail securing means associated with ties constructed of metal, concrete, or any other malll! :Maus

\terial. In the case of an all metal tie, the

1 of the base of the rail intermediate the ends thereof, the surfacey of said rail seat being cambered longitudinally, and a fastening means for securing the rail to said tie plate disposed substantially in the same vertical plane with the highest portion of the camber of said rail seat, whereby the rail is permitteda slight rocking movement relative to the tie late and relative movement between the t1e plate and the tie, whereby said tie plate securing means would be loosened, is obviated.

2. In a railway track construction, in combination, a tie plate, a rail seat on said tie plate of a configuration providing line contact between the rail and said seat transversely thereof, resilient means for securing said rail to said tie plate adjacent said line of contact, whereby slight rocking movement of said rail relative to said tie plate is permitted, and means for securing said tie plate to the tie disposed at points spaced longitudinally of the tie plate from said line of contact.

-3. In a railway track construction, in combination, a tie plate, means at spaced points on either side of the longitudinal center of said tie plate, for securing said tie plate to a tie, a rail seat on said tie plate of a configura tion providing line contact between the rail and' said seat transversely thereof and `resilient means for securing said rail to said tie plate adj acentsaid line of contact, whereby slight rocking movement of said rail relative to said tie plate is permitted While longitudinal creeping of'said rail is prevented.

4. In a railway track construction, in combination, a tie plate, means for securing 4said tie plate to a tie, a rail seat on said tie plate of a configuration providing line contact between the rail and said seat .t transversely thereof, and resilient means for securing said rail to said tie plate adjacent'said lineof contact, whereby slight rocking movement of said rail relative to said tie late is `permitted while longitudinal creeplng of said rail is prevented. I

5. In a railway trackv construction, in combination, a cross tie. a rail seat on said cross tie the surface of which is cambered in a direction longitudinal of the rail, and a rail fastening'device for securing said rail to said cross tie, at the highest point of said cambered rall seat.

.6. In a railway track construction, in comblnatlon, a tie plate, a rail seat on said tic plate for receiving an intermediate portion of the base of the rail, the surface of said seat being cambered in a direction longitudinal of the rail, and a rail fastening device for securing said rail to said tie plate at the highest portion of said cambered rail seat.

7. Ina railway track construction, in combination, a tie plate, a rail seat on said tie plate the surface of which is formed in two planes which are downwardly inclined from the longitudinal mid-portion of said rail seat in yeach direction longitudinally of the rail, and a rail fastening device comprising a spring lever for resiliently securing said rail to said tie plate adjacent said longitudinal mid-portion of said seat.

8. In a railway track construction, in combination, a tie plate, means for securing said tie plate to a tie, a rail seat formed upon said tie plate the surface thereof being formed in two longitudinally inclined planes which in tersect in a line which passes transversely of said rail seat at its mid-point, thus providing line contact between the rail base and said seat whereby limited rocking movement of said'rail is permitted, and fastening means for securing the base flange of the rail to the' tie plate at a point adjacent said transverse line of intersection, said fastening means comprising a spring lever adapted to bear at its ends upon the rail base and the tie plate, and a bolt adapted to pass through the intermediate portion of said spring lever and provided with a head adapted to interlock with a portion of said tie plate.

9. In'a railwa track construction, in combination, a tie ate, having a rail seat thereon and a slot ormed therein, a spring lever having one end adapted to bear on the rail base and means on said lever adapted to engage a portion of said tie plate, said slot being provided with a narrow straight walled pprtion, a portion provided with opposed velled walls, and a wide straight walled portion, said portions being arranged in the order `named from the rail base outwardly, a f-" bolt for iiexing said lever and connecting it to said tie plate, said bolt being provided with a head adapted to be disposed in said slot and having bevelled surfaces adapted to I contact with the bevelled walls of said slot.

10. In a railway track construction, in combination, a tie plate, a pair of ribs formed on said tie plate, disposed longitudinally thereof, and deiining a rail seat therebetween, said tie plate being provided with a f" slot on each side of Said railvseat, a pair of spring levers each having one end adapted to bear on the rail base and means on each of said levers adapted to engage a'portionof said tie plate, each of said slots being pro-"i i" van vided with a narrow straight walled portion, a portion provided with opposed bevelled Walls, and a wide straight Walled portion, said portions being arranged inv the order named from the rail base outwardly, portions of said slots adapted to intersect said ribs, bolts for flexing said levers and connecting them to said tie plate, saidbolts being provided with heads adapted to be disposed in 'said slots and having bevelled surfaces for contacting with the bevelled walls ofsaid slots.

11. In a railway track construction, in combination, a tie plate having a rail seat thereon and a slot passing through va portion thereof, said slot comprising a relatively narrow vertical walled portion adjacent the rail base, a wider vertical walled portion nearer the outer edge of said tie plate and an intermediateportion the longitudinally opposed walls of which converge upwardly, a spring lever one end of which is adapted to bear upon the top surface of a base flange of the rail and a portion of the other end of which is adapted to enter said wider portion of said slot, a bolt passing through an intermediate portion of said lever and adapted to flex said lever and secure it to said tie plate, the head on said bolt adapted to interlock with said tie plate and having bevelled surfaces thereon adapted to contact with said converging walls of said slot, the narrow portion of said slot adjacent the edge of the rail base providing means for the reception of an alternative fastening means.

12. In a railway track construction, in combination, a tie plate provided with a slot passing therethrough, said slot having a portion adapted to receive one type of rail fastening means and another portion adapted to receive a secon-d type of rail fastening means.

13. In a railway track construction, in combination, a tie plate provided with a slot passing therethrough, means for securing the rail to said tie plate comprising a spring clip and a bolt for securing said clip in position to clamp the rail, said slot being provided with a portion adapted to receive one end of said clip, a portion adapted to receive said bolt, and a portion adapted to receive an ordinary cut-spike as an alternative rail fas'- tening means.

14. In a railway track construction, in cornbination, a tie plate, a rib formed upon said tie plate to provide a rail base fiange abutment, said tie plate being provided with a slot passing vertically therethrough, means for normally securing the rail to the tie plate comprising a spring clip and a bolt for flexing said clip and securing it to said tie plate in position to clamp the base flange of the rail, means for independently securing said tie plate to the tie, said slot being provided with portions adapted to receive an end of said clip and the head of said bolt and a portion passing through said rib and adapted to receive an ordinary cut-spike vas an alternative rail and tie plate securing means.

15. In a railway track construction, in combination, a tie plate, a pair of ribs formed on said tie plate, extending longitudinally of the rail and defining between them a rail seat, the surface of said rail seat being formed in two longitudinally inclined planes which intersect in a line which passes transversely of said rail seat at its mid-point, thus providing line contact between the rail base and said seat whereby limited rocking movement of said rail 4is permitted, said tie plate being provided with a pair of slots one on each side of said rail seat and disposed in transverse alignment with the line of Contact between said rail and rail seat, a pair of angularly bent spring levers disposed one on each side of said rail seat with their inner ends clamping the top surfaces of the base flanges of the rail above said line of contact, narrowed tongues and lateral shoulders formed at the other end of said clips, means upon either side of said line of contact for independently securing said tie plate to a tie, bolts for iexing said clips and securing them to said tie plate, said bolts having bevelled heads, said slots being provided with relatively wide portions for receiving said tongues and intially receiving the heads of said bolts, portions with upwardly converging walls providing means for interlocking with said bolt heads, and relatively narrow portions adjacent the edges of said rail base providing means for receiving ordinary cut-spikes for alternatively securing said 'rail and tie plate to said tie.

16. In a railway track construction, in combination, a tie plate substantially rectangular in plan, means disposed adjacent the ends of said plate for securing it to a tie, a pair vof ribs formed upon said tie plate so as to extend longitudinally of the rail and define between them a rail seat, the surface of said rail seat being cambered longitudinally, and fastening means for securing the rail directly to said tie disposed substantailly in the same vertical plane with the highest portion of the camber of said rail seat,)vl1ereby the rail is permitted a slight rocking movement relative to the tie late and relative movement between the tie plate and the tie, whereby said tie plate securing means would be loosened, is obviated.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aliix my signature.

JOHN A. MGGREW.