US1987033A - Guard rail strut or spacer - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 8, 1935. J. v. STEWART GUARD RAIL STRUT OR SPACER Filed Dec. 1, 1951 v INVENTOR =J0/2/2 Fflfewari I ATTORNEY-S Patented Jan. 8 1935 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUARD RAIL STRUT QR. SPACER. John V. Stewart, Johnstown, Pa.

Application December 1, 1931, Serial No. 578,364

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved guard rail strut or spacer for use in track structures. The invention finds its particular utility in maintaining an accurate gauge between a guard rail 5 and a frog. The invention will be fully apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawingand the novel features will be defined with particularity in the appended claim.

In the drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing my improved strut or spacer operatively associated with a guard rail and a frog point of a track structure;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, 10 represents a frog of a known type having the usual frog point 12.

The frog, as shown, is bolted to a rail section 14 by through bolts 16. Adjacent the rail 18 of the track, there is a guard rail 20 of the usual type.

The particular feature of my invention relates to the means for accurately maintaining the gauge between the guard rail 20 and the frog 10. This means, as illustrated in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4, includes a strut,

indicated as a whole at 22.

This strut is formed of complimentary pressed steel sections 24 and 26, each having a bearing portion 28 and an upwardly and outwardly inclined portion 30, which terminates in a nose portion 32.

The nose portion 32 of the section 24 engages the underside of the head of the guard rail. Similarly, the

nose portion 34 of the section 26 engages the underside of the rail 14 secured to and forming part of the frog 10. The sections 24 and 26 are preferably formed of pressed steel and are each provided with a reinforcing central rib, as indicated at 36.

or the like.

This being desirable in some instances to properly insulate the guard rail from the frog portions or to avoid closing a circuit across the rails which might interfere with the block signalling system in certain locations of the track structure. The parts of the strut are united by bolts 44, which pass through suitable clearance holes when'the bolts are insulated, the heads and nuts of the bolts engaging insulating strips 46 provided for the purpose. It will be readily understood that in the described construction, the nose portions 32 and 34 make engagement with the track structure at points immediately adjacent the locations where the wheel thrust is transmitted, hence the guard is peculiarly effective to counteract such thrust. also manifest that the shim arrangement provides means whereby an accurate gauge may be maintained even though there may be a discrepancy in the bending up or forming of the complementary parts of the strut. This isimportant as it g It is is advisable in work of this character to allow for ness to compensate for any inequalities.

While I have described quite precisely the details of the embodiments of the invention illustrated, it is to be understood that modifications in design and substitution of equivalents may be made without departure from the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What I claim is:-

The combination with a guard rail and frog of a track structure, a strut holding them in spaced relationship comprising two identical forged metal sections, each having a hollow reinforcing rib substantially coextensive therewith and each having an intermediate portion adapted to seat on the railway tie and an outer upwardly inclined portion terminating in a nose, engaging the fillet at the intersection of the underside of the rail head and the face of the rail web, each. section having an upturned flange at its inner extremity, spacing shims between said flanges, and holding bolts piercing said flanges and shims.

JOHN V. STEWART.

inserting one or more shims of requisite thick-

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