US2024566A

US2024566A - Railway crossing or like track structure

Info

Publication number: US2024566A
Application number: US696995A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eugene W Caruthers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-11-07
Filing date: 1933-11-07
Publication date: 1935-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1952-12-17

Description

. E. W. CARUTHERS RAILWAY CROSSING 0 LIKE TRACK STRUCTURE Dec. '17, 1935.

Filed Nov. 7, 1935 TOR: Eu (ma WCaruZhers,

- ATTORNEYS.

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN Doc. 17, 1935. E. w. CARUTHERS 2,024,566

RAILWAY CROSSING OR LIKE TRACK STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 7, 1955 f 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIQI. l2 Z 16 JAE ' WITNESSES.-

A TTORNEYS.

' I R: M7. 6 5h lgzjzyeflne ara ers Patented Dec. 17, 1935 STRU CTURE Eugene W. Caruthers, Secane, Pa.

Application November 7, 1933, Serial No. 696,995

12, Claims.

This invention relates to crossings, frogs, or other like track structures used at-railintersections, and is applicableto both the solid one piece type of structure and to the composite type wherein rolled rails and steel alloyinserts are fitted together.

Heretofore for special track structures of this nature it has been customary to employ bodies of manganese steel or other steel alloy, and difd-' 10 culties have been experienced in properly. heat treating such bodies to obtain the desired hailness and uniform wear resisting properties. The foundry problem has been to produce .a body 7 having walls which are thirienough and of sub- 15 stantially uniform section so that incident to heat treatment the entire body may be uniformly and effectively cooled by the quenching medium, and at the same time to produce a structure having sufiicient strength to withstand the severe shocks 20 placed upon it by passing wheel loads.

The object of the present invention is to overi come the aforementioned difficulties, and this end I have accomplished by the provision of a track structure which, departing from the customary 25 practice, utilizes for its main support vertical columns placed beneath the points of application of the wheel loads, such columns serving in eifect. as continuations of the webs 'of' the adjoining running rails. The track structure of this invention is, in some instances, furthercharacterized by railbound side edgesformed to fit the with the interior of the metal body form passages for the free circulation of a quenching me- 35 dium throughout the interior of the body.

Other objects and advantages characterizing my present invention will become more fully apparent from the description hereinafter set forth of one embodiment or example thereof, having 40 reference to the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings: v

Fig. I represents part of, a rail crossing including a special track structure of my invention.

.. Fig. II represents an enlarged cross-section of 45 the same, taken as indicated by the lines II-II of Fi 1.

Fig. III represents an enlarged cross-section of the same, taken as indicated by the lines III-III of Fig. I.

50 Fig. IV represents an enlarged cross-section of the same, taken as indicated by the lines IV-IV of Fig. I.

Fig. V represents an enlarged vertical cross: section of the central insert, taken as indicated 55 by the lines v--v of Fig. I; and,

Fig. VI represents a horizontal cross-section of the central insert, taken as indicated by the lines -VI-'-VI of Fig. V.

With particular reference to Fig. I, there is shown a composite crossing -frog of my invention 5 comprising generally a central metal insert I joined to running rails 2, 3, 4 and 5, and guard rails 6, I. Preferably the metal insert I is constructed of manganese steel or like steel alloy and has at each end thereof a pair of diverging arms, one such pair being designated at 8 and .the other such pair being designated at 9. In

the particular example shown, certain of the running rails, namely those designated at 4 and 5 terminate abruptly at their juncture with the metal insert I, whereas other running rails, those designated at 2 and 3 are bent around the sides of the insert I and terminate in projecting ends In, I I which serve as guards for the running rails 4, 5, respectively. i

. The metal insert I is made of one piece, and as clearly shown in the cross sectional views representedin Figs. 11 to V, is of hollow box-like construction. The head portion I2 has thereon intersecting flangeways I3, I4 and adjacent to the flange-ways I3, I4" there are tread surfaces I5, I6, respectively, the tread surfaces I5, I6 forming continuations of the tread surfaces of the adjoining running rails 2, 3', 4 and 5. Beneath the gage sides of the tread surfaces I5, I6 of the insert Y I, there are provided intersecting vertical colrails but having openings therein which together umns I3 which join the head portion I2 to the base portion 20 and afford the mainsupport for the insert. The disposition of the intersecting vertical columns I8 is clearly shown in Fig. VI, and it will be seen that these columns form in effect continuations of the webs of the adjoining running rails 2, 3, 4 and 5, and serve to support the head portion I2 of the insert substantially at the points of application of passing wheel loads.

The side edges of the head'and base of the inserts I, as most clearly shown in Fig. II, are

' formed to a shape complementary to the adjacent rails and are fitted thereto with the parts joined together by one or more through bolts 22. At the sides of the insert I, openings 23 are provided. Such openings 23 may vary in number and size; and depending upon the angle of intersection, one or more struts 24 may be utilized to give additional support to the head portion I2 at its side edges. The openings 23 form with the interior I of the metal body I unobstructed passages for the 7 free flow of a quenching medium used during the process of heat treatment. Like openings 25 are providedat each end of the metal insert I, and 5 these openings 25, together with additional openings 26 formed in the base portion 20 of the insert l, and the bolt-hole openings 29, form passages which permit the quenching medium to flow freely through all portions of the metal body.

In the particular example illustrated, the diverging arms 8, 9 of the metal insert l are fitted to the adjoining running rails and guard rails in the manner shown in Figs. III and IV; At these points the running rails and guard rails are spaced apart by flangeway fillers 21 and are joined together by bolts 28. Desirably lock washers 30 and head lock washer plates 3| are associated with the bolts 2I'and with the central body bolts 22. r

Asshown in Figs. V and VI, the intersecting verticalcolumns I8 are provided withbolt holes 29, through which the bolts 22 pass, and such bolt'holes aid considerably in the circulation of the quenching medium through the interior of the body I without materially lessening the strength of the colunms.

From theabove description it will be appa ent that the metal insert l of this invention is assembled rigidly with'the adjoining rails and is givenextra strength at the regionsCwhere such 4 strength is particularly desired by the provision of the vertical columns I! which are disposed substantially beneath the tread surfaces I5, l6 and in approximate alignment therewith. The columns i8 extend completely across the insert and abut against the running rails. Moreove while the metal insert l is thus amply rigid and adequately supported at the critical regions thereof, the head portion of the insert is desirably of relatively thin cross section and of substantially uniform thickness throughout. It will be observed that the formation of the inserts as described provides in the interior thereof a number of passages which are unobstructed to allow a quenching medium to pass freely. through the body with a uniform cooling effect upon the exposed surfaces. There are no cavities or dead spaces on which such circulation is retarded.

Accordingly, the track structure of my invention combines the qualities of strength and economy in method of manufacture, as well as satisfying the conditions necessary for the heat treatment of the metal body to obtain the desired shock and wear resisting properties.

While I have described my invention with respect .to one embodiment or example thereof ap plied to a particular form of track structure, it will be apparent that the invention is applicable to many different types of track structures and that changes in the form of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the nexed claims. More particularly, it will be apparent that the invention may be applied to both solid and built-up types of special track structures, and that the disposition and form of the supportingvertioal columns and the number, size and location of the openings leading to the interior of the body will vary according to the type of structure desired and the angle of intersection of the rails.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. Ina railway crossing or like track structure, a metal bodyhavlng a head portion with tread surfaces and crossing flangeways thereon, a base portion, and crossing vertical columns joining said head and base portions beneath the gage sides of the tread surfaces, said metal body havmg 'side edges of a shape complementary to a rail section and having openings at the sides forming with the interior of the body circulatory passages to permit the free flow of a quenching medium throughout the central portion of the body.

2. In a railway crossing or like track structure, 5 a metal body having a head portion with tread surfaces and crossing flangeways thereon, a base portion, and perforated vertical crossing columns joining said head and base portions beneath the gage sides of the tread surfaces, said metal body 10 having openings at the sides thereof forming with the interior of the body and with the perforations in the vertical columns circulatory pasways at the head portion thereof, and vertical 20 crossing columns beneath the gage Tides of said tread surfaces, and coextensive therewith, and having openings at the sides adjacent to the rails.

4. A railway crossing or like track structure of the composite type comprising rails and a hollow metal insert joined thereto, said insert having aligned tread surfaces and crossing flangeways at the head portion thereof and having its head and base portions joined by crossing vertical columns disposed beneath the wheel contacting portions of the tread surfaces, and said insert having openings at the sides adjacent to the rails} serving as passages for a quenching medium when the insert is heat treated.

5. A railway crossing or like track structure of the composite typecomprising rails and a hollow metal insert Joined thereto, said insert having aligned tread surfaces and crossing flangeways at the head portion thereof and having 40 vertical, crossing columns directly beneath and in substantiahalignment with the wheel contacting portions of said tread surfaces, and said insert having side edges conforming to the-con.-

.-tour of the adjacent rails with openings at the tions of the tread surfaces, and said insert having side edges conforming to the contour of the adjacent rails and having a plurality of openings at the sides thereof serving as passages for a quenching medium leading to the central portion of said insert, and the ends and base'portion of said insert having additional such openings.

'7. A railway crossing or like track structure of the composite type comprising rails and a hollow metal insert joined thereto, said insert having intersecting tread surfaces and flangeways at the head portion thereof and having openings at the sides and ends thereof, and intersecting vertical columns extending beneath the fiangeways near their point of intersection and joining the head and base portions of the insert beneath the gage sides of the tread surfaces, said columns being coextensive with said tread surfaces and forming substantially continuations of the webs of the running rails.

8. A railway crossing or like track structure s,oa4,see

openings forming with the interior of the body of the composite type comprising rails and a metal insert bolted thereto, said insert having intersecting tread-surfaces at the head portion thereof, and having intersecting vertical columns extending beneath said tread surfaces and perforated with bolt holes in the central portion of the insert, and having openings at the sides a metal body having a head portion with aligned tread surfaces and crossing flangeways adjacent to said tread surfaces, a base portion, and crossing vertical columns joining said head and base portions beneath the gage sides of the tread surfaces and coextensive therewith, said metal body having a series of openings forming with the interior of the body circulatory passages permitting the free flow of a quenching medium throughout the central portion of the body.

10. In a railway crossing or like track structure, a'metal body having ahead portion with aligned tread surfaces and crossing flangeways adjacent to said tread surfaces, a base portion. and crossing vertical columns Joining said head and base portions beneath the gage sides of the tread surfaces and coextensive therewith, said metal body having openings at the ends and in the base portion near the ends, and having a plurality of openings at each side, the aforesaid circulatory passages permitting the free flow of a quenching medium throughout the central and end portions of thevbody.

11. In a railway crossing or like track strucd ture, a metal body having a head portion with aligned tread surfaces and crossing flangeways adjacent thereto, a base portion, and crossing vertical columns joining said head and base portions beneath the gage sides of the tread sur- 10 faces, said columns extending beneath the flangeways near their point of intersection, and said metal body having a series of openings forming with the interior thereof passages permitting the free flow of a quenching medium through the body.

12. In a railway crossing or like track structure, a metal body having a head portion with aligned tread surfaces and crossing fiangeways adjacent to said tread surfaces, a base portion,

and crossing vertical columns joining said head and base portions beneath the gage sides of the tread surfaces and coextensive therewith, said metal body having a series of openings forming with the interior of the body circulatory passages permitting the free flow of a quenching medium throughout the central portion of the body, said of which are'disposed adjacent to the intersection.

EUGENE W. CARUTHERS.