US2091095A - Foot guard for railway track construction - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 24, 1937.

A. ENSTROM FOOT GUARD FOR RAILWAY TRACK CONSTRUCTION Filed July 27, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l m & w 6

Aug. 24 1937. A. ENSTROM FOOT GUARD FOR RAILWAY TRACK CONSTRUCTION Filed-July 27, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 P v W m m on W sh m W Wv l W KN a n Mn v Aug. 24, 1937.

A. ENSTROM 2,091,095 FOQT GUARD FOR RAILWAY TRACK CONSTRUCTION Filed July 27, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 24, 1937 UNITED STATES FOOT GUARD FOR RAILWAY TRACK CON- STRUCTION August Enstrom, Chicago, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Pettibone Mulliken Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application July 27, 1935, Serial No. 33,607

18 Claims.

My invention relates to devices for filling in the angular spaces at the junctions of angularly disposed railway rails as for example are presented in railway frogs or switches, to the end of preventing the shoes of persons walking along the track from becoming caught in these spaces.

My object generally stated is to provide a construction of this character which will be simple andeconomical of construction, may be readily applied to use and will be highly eifective for its intended purpose.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of a conventional railway frog showing a guard device, in accordance with my invention, located at one of the angular spaces referred to to be equipped with guard means.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan View of the guardequipped part of the frog shown in Fig. l, a p-ortion of the frog being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a broken view in longitudinal section taken through the frog, the section being ;taken at the line 3 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction ofth'e arrow.

Figure 4 is a section taken at the irregular line 4-4 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the members of which the guard device is composed.

Figure 6 is a fragmental face view of a modification of the plate portion forming a part of the guard device of the preceding figures of the drawings.

Figure 7 is a plan view of still another modification of the guard device.

Figure 8 is an edge view of the device of Fig. '7.

Figures 9 and 10 are edge views of two more modifications of the guard device.

Figure 11 is a perspectiveview of one of the '6- plurality of angle members forming parts of the way rails IB- and El, respectively, as commonly provided and secured to the rail portions i l and [5 by sets of joint-bars each comprising the bars l8 and I9 spanning the joints between these rail portions and the rail 16 and IT.

In accordance with common practice the jointbars are secured in place by bolts alternate ones of which are inserted into place from opposite sides of the rail structure as shown. Thus of the four bolts shown for each pair of joint-bars thebolts 28 and 2! are inserted to place from one side of the rail and the alternate bolts 22 and 23 inserted from the opposite side of the rail. The shanks of the various bolts adjacent the heads thereof are somewhat enlarged and made oval shape as represented at M of the bolts 22, these oval portions fitting in correspondingly shaped openings in the joint-bars as shown at 25 of the hole for the bolt 22 to hold the bolts against turning in the tightening of the nuts thereon to firmly clamp the joint-bars to the rails and frog.

The angular space defined by the rail portions M and i5 and rails it and H! is an example of a space required to be provided with a foot guard, my improved guard being shown, by way ofexample, as located in such space.

The guard representedgenerally at 26 comprises a bar-like member N of angle shape incross-section aflording a vertical flange 28 and a horizontal flange 29; and a plate member 33. The member 21 is adapted to be secured at its vertical flange 28 to the bolts holding thejoi'ntbars l8 and it in position and the plate 30, which in the particular construction shown is of Wedge shape to correspond with the shap-eof the space in which the guard is located, to cooperatewith the horizontal, flange 29 in substantially filling the space, lies flatwise against the flange 29 and is secured thereto, preferably adjustably, as by the means hereinafter described, theplate 30 being provided at its ends with downwardly inclined portions iii to protect persons from thrusting their shoes under the guard device.

The vertical flange 28 is shown as cut away as represented at 32 and 33, the remaining alternating portions of the flange 28 and represented at 3 3 and being horizontally slotted at 36. The slots 35 open through the ends of the flange portions 3 and 35 at which they are constricted as by providing the opposing projections on the flange portions 34 and 35 as represented at 36 and 36 The width of the slots 36 at the constricted portions thereof formed by the projections 36 and 35 is slightly less than the diameter of the shanks of the rail bolts and the width of the otherportions of the slots 36 is slightly greater than the diameter of the shanks. Thus upon slightly loosening the nuts on the bolts 22 and 23 the guard may be applied to position thereon by sliding the guard lengthwise along the rails to enter the shanks through the open ends of the slots 3%, the projections'tii springing away from the projections 36 by reason of the springiness of the metal of which the guard section '2'! is constructed, the cut away parts 32 and 33 of the flange 28 registering with the nuts on the: others of the bolts thus avoiding the need of loosening these nuts in applying the guard to position.

Following the application of the guard to'the bolts 22 and 23 as stated the operator tightens the nuts on these bolts (the enlargements 24 at their portions of greater diameter extending lengthwise of the slots 35) thus drawing the heads of the bolts tightly against the flange 28 and firmly securing the guard device in position on the track. I

As will be understood, the provision of the slots 36 elongatedas shown adapts the guard for connection with rails the securing bolts of which are spaced apart different distances; and the provision of the constricted portions at the ends of the slots present shoulders which prevent lengthwise movement of the guard device out of engagement with the rail bolts in the event of loosening of these bolts.

The plate 30 is secured to the flange 29 by means of stud bolts 31 rigid with the flange 29 and extending upwardly therethrough and into openings in the plate 3!], nuts 38 screwed on the upper end of the bolts 3'! rigidly securing the plate to the flange 29.

It is desirable that the plate 30 be adjustable on the flange 29 crosswise of the rails to adapt the guard to properly fill the space between the rails. To this end in this particular construction the openings in the plate through which the bolts 3'! extend are in the form of a pair of slots 39 for cooperation with each bolt 37 and extending crosswise of the plate. Each slot 39 is provided along one longitudinal edge with a series of recesses 40 the recesses of one slot being staggered relative to the recesses of the other slot. The width of the slots at the portions thereof between the recesses is less than the diameter of the bolts 3'! and thus when the bolts are entered in any of these recesses they cannot become accidentally displaced laterally therefrom when force is exerted tending to relatively move the bolts 31 and plate 30 in a direction crosswise of the rails.

The staggering of the recesses as stated, in the arrangement shown serves as a means for effecting a relatively fine adjustment of the plate 30 on the member 21 in a direction crosswise of the rails.

The bolts 31 are located adjacent one edge of the guard, thus leaving spaces between the nuts 38 and the opposite rail, of such width as to possibly afford danger of the shoe of a person stepping on the guard becoming wedged between the nuts and the rail last referred to; and to overcome such danger the plate 30, at the spaces referred to, is provided with upwardly extending projections 4! shown as, and preferably, of general frusto-pyramid shape and produced by upwardly deforming the metal of the plate.

If desired the alternating recess feature just described may be embodied in a construction in which a single slot only instead of a pair of the slots 39 is provided for cooperation with each bolt 31. Such an embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 6 wherein the single slot represented at 42 is provided along its opposite longitudinal edges with series of recesses 43 and 44, respectively, disposed in staggered relation and into any of which the bolt 31 cooperating therewith may be positioned but only by inserting the bolt lengthwise into the selected recess, the plate 30 being held against shifting on the bolts 3! crosswise of the rails because of the narrowness of the slot 42.

The guard of Figs. '7 and 8 is of the same construction as that shown in Figs. 1-5, inclusive, except as to the slotting of the plate 30 to permit of crosswise adjustment on the member 21, in

this construction the slots in the plate for receiving the bolts 3! and represented at 45, being plain elongated slots unprovided with recesses along their longitudinal edges.

The guard shown in Fig. 9 is of the same construction as the guard of Figs. 7 and 8, except that the slots represented herein at 46 and provided to receive the rail bolts, are closed throughout their margins instead of opening laterally, this construction, however, being less desirable than those of the preceding figures as the installation of such a guard would require that the rail bolts which enter the slots 46 be entered endwise into them.

The arrangement shown in Figs. 10 and 11 constitutes an embodiment of my invention ina structure in which the supporting member of the guard, instead of being provided as a one piece angle member such as the member 21, is formed of a pair of angle sections 41 adapted to engage with the rail bolts (such as the bolts 22 and 23) at the slots 48 in their vertical angle portions 49, (these slots if desired being each open at one end as in the case of the slots 36). The horizontal flanges 5|] of the members 41 are provided with stud bolts 5|, like the bolts 31 and supported on the horizontal flanges 50 and secured thereto by nuts 52 on the bolts 5|, is a plate 53 like the plate 30, adjustment of the plate 53 on the members 49 crosswise of the rails being provided for, if desired, by the provision of any suitable crosswise extending slots in the plate 53, as for example as explained of the preceding described construction.

Figure 12 illustrates a modification of the means for preventing the shoe of a person from becoming wedged between the nuts 38 and the opposite rail. These means, shown in connection with the parallel bolt-slots 39 of preceding Figures 1-4, inclusive, comprises ribs 39 which extend upwardly from the plate 30 crosswise thereof and substantially parallel with the slots, these ribs being formed by pressing upwardly the metal of the plate 30 to the approximate shape of rib as shown.

The ribs 39 not only perform the protecting function referred to but also serve as means for locking the nuts 38 in place, these ribs to this end being located close to the slots 39 whereby as the nuts are screwed down tight the resistance afforded by the ribs in reacting on the nuts tends to deflect the nuts on the threaded shanks of the bolts and thus augment resistance to unscrewing of the nuts.

Ribs, double-functioning, as stated, may be also utilized where the bolt-slots are provided otherwise than as shown in Figs. 1-4, such as for example as provided in accordance with the showing in Fig. 6 or Fig. 7. Where the slots are provided as in Fig. 6 such ribs would be provided at opposite sides of, and substantially parallel with, the slot 42; and where provided as shown in Fig. 7 such a rib would be positioned alongside of, and parallel with, each slot 45.

As will be manifest the guard members should present such resistance as not to unduly yield under any weight which is likely to be placed thereon, a condition upon which the term substantially rigid as used in the appended claims is predicated.

. While I have illustrated and described certain particular constructions constituting embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered and the invention embodied in other forms of structure without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantially rigid construction and of angular shape in cross section formed of sheet metal and having vertical and horizontal flanges and adapted to be secured at its vertical flange to a rail, said vertical flange having apertures having upper and lower walls for engaging the rail-bolts and elongated horizontally to adapt the guard to be applied to rails having different bolt-spacings, said flange having spaced apart portions in which said apertures are provided, each of said apertures being open at corresponding sides so that the said portions may be disposed between bolts of the rails and the guard then moved longitudinally of the rails. for interengagement of the apertures and bolts, said foot guard substantially crosswise filling the space between said rails.

2. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantially rigid construction and of angular shape in cross section formed of sheet metal and having vertical and horizontal flanges and adapted to be secured at its vertical flange to a rail, a plate lapping with the horizontal flange of said member and means securing together said member and plate, said vertical flange having apertures for engaging the rail-bolts and elongated horizontally sufficiently to: adapt the guard to be applied to rails having different bolt-spacings, said flange having spaced apart portions in which said apertures are provided, each of said apertures being open at corresponding sides so that the said portions may be disposed between bolts of the rails and the guard then moved longitudinally of the rails for interengagement of the apertures and bolts, said foot guard substantially crosswise filling the space between said rails.

3. A foot guard for the space between adjacent rails, of substantially rigid construction and of angular shape in cross section formed of sheet metal and having vertical and horizontal flanges and adapted to be secured at its vertical flange to a rail, said vertical flange having apertures for engaging the rail-bolts, said apertures being of a height substantially equal to the thickness of those parts of the bolts which extend through said apertures and elongated horizontally to adapt the guard to be applied to rails having different bolt-spacings, said flange having spaced apart portions in which said apertures are provided, each of said apertures being open at corresponding sides so that the said portions may be disposed between bolts of the rails and the guard then moved longitudinally of the rails for interengagement of the apertures and bolts, said foot guard substantially crosswise filling the space between said rails.

4. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantially rigid construction and comprising a member of angular shape in cross sec-- tion having vertical and horizontal flanges and adapted to be secured at its vertical flange to a rail, a plate lapping with the horizontal flange of said member and means securing together said member and plate, said vertical flange having apertures for engaging the rail-bolts, said apertures being of a height substantially equal to the thickness of those portions of the bolts which extend through said openings and elongated horizontallyto adapt the guard to be applied to rails having different bolt-spacings, said flange having spaced apart portions in which said apertures are provided, each of said apertures being open at coresponding sides so that the said portions may be disposed between bolts of the rails and the guard then moved longitudinally of the rails for interengagement of the apertures and bolts, said foot guard substantially crosswise filling the space between said rails.

5. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantially rigid construction and of angular shape in cross section having vertical and horizontal flanges and adapted to be secured at its vertical flange to a rail, said vertical flange having spaced apart portions each provided with an aperture for engaging the rail-bolts and opening through the edge of said vertical flange generally in the direction of the length of the guard to permit of application of the guard to the rail upon merely loosening the bolts, said foot guard substantially crosswise filling the space between said rails.

6. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantially rigid construction and comprising a member of angular shape in cross section having vertical and horizontal flanges and adapted to be secured at its vertical flange to a rail, a plate lapping with the horizontal flange of said member, and means securing together said member and plate, said vertical flange having spaced apart portions each provided with an aperture for engaging the rail-bolts and opening generally in the direction of the length of the guard to permit or" application of the guard to the rail upon merely loosening the bolts, said foot guard substantially crosswise filling the space between said rails.

7. A foot guard, forthe space between adjacent rails, of substantially rigid construction and comprising a member of angular shape in cross seczontal flange of said member and supported.

wholly by said horizontal flange and means connecting together said horizontal flange and plate sald foot guard substantially crosswise filling the space between said rails.

8. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantially rigid construction and formed of members one of which is of angle shape in cross section and has vertical and horizontal portions and is adapted to be secured at its vertical flange to a rail, and the other of which has a horizontal portion, and means for securing together said members at their horizontal portions comprising a projection engaged with one of said portions and series of projection-receiving openings in the other of said portions extending crosswise of the guard, the openings of one series thereof being staggered relative to the openings of the other of said series, said members being relatively adjustable crosswise of the guard to adapt the guard to substantially crosswise fill the space between. said rails.

9. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantially rigid construction and formed of members one of which is of angle shape in cross section and has vertical and horizontal portions and is adapted to be secured at its vertical flange to a rail, and the other of which has a horizontal portion, and means for securing together said members at their horizontal portions comprising a projection engaged with one of said portions and slots in the other of said portions extending crosswise of the guard and each having a series of projection-receiving recesses along an edge thereof, the recesses of one series thereof being staggered relative to the recesses of the other of said series, said members being relatively adjustable crosswise of the guard to adapt the guard to substantially crosswise fill the space between said rails.

10. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantially rigid construction and formed of members one of which is of angle shape in cross section and has vertical and horizontal portions and is adapted to be secured at its vertical flange to a rail, and the other of which has a horizontal portion, and means for securing together said members at their horizontal portions comprising a projection engaged with one of said portions and a slot in the other of said portions extending crosswise of the guard and having a series of projection-receiving recesses in each of its opposite side walls, the recesses of one series thereof being staggered relative to the recesses of the other of said series, said members being relatively adjustable crosswise of the guard to adapt the guard to substantially crosswise fill the space between said rails.

11. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantially rigid construction and formed of sections, means securing said sections together and comprising a bolt the nut of which is exposed at the upper surface of the guard, and an upwardly extending projection on the guard positioned to prevent the wedging of the shoe of a person between said bolt and an adjacent rail and operative in the tightening of the nut to tilt the latter for looking it in place, said foot guard substantially crosswise filling the space between said rails.

12. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantially rigid construction and formed of sections, means securing said sections together and comprising a bolt the nut of which isexposed at the upper surface of the guard, one of said sections having a slot extending crosswise of the guard and receiving a bolt, and an upwardly extending rib on the guard extending substantially parallel with, and adjacent to, said slot and operative to prevent wedging of the shoe of a person between said bolt and an adjacent rail and operative in the tightening of the nut to tilt the latter for looking it in place, said foot guard substantially crosswise filling the space between said rails.

13. A track construction comprising rails presenting a space therebetween, and a foot guard of substantially rigid construction for said space formed of sections, means securing said sections together and in said space and comprising a part which projects upwardly from the upper surface of the guard closer to one rail than to the other rail and upwardly projecting means on the guard positioned to prevent wedging of the shoe of a person between said part and one of the rails.

14. A track construction comprising rails presenting a space therebetween, and a foot guard of substantially rigid construction for said space formed of sections, means securing said sections together and in said space and comprising a part which projects upwardly from the upper surface of the guard adjacent an edge thereof and upwardly projecting means on said guard between said part and the rail at the opposite edge of the guard, for the purpose set forth.

15. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantially rigid construction and of angular shape in cross section having vertical and horizontal flanges and adapted to be secured at its vertical flange to a rail, said vertical flange having apertures for engaging the railbolts open at one side for engagement with the rail-bolts through longitudinal movement to permit of application of the guard to the rail upon merely loosening the bolts, the distance between the walls of said apertures at the entrance ends thereof being less than the diameter of the bolts and the metal of said vertical flange being sufficiently springy to permit of the entry of the bolts into said apertures laterally through said entrance ends, said foot guard substantially crosswise filling the space between said rails.

16. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rafis, of substantially rigid construction and formed of sections, means securing together said sections and comprising a part which projects upwardly from the upper surface of the guard adjacent one edge thereof, and means for preventing the shoe of a person from becoming caught between said part and the one of the rails adjacent the other edge of said guard comprising an upwardly extending projection on the guard between said part and the opposite edge of the guard, said guard substantially crosswise filling the space between said rails.

17. A foot guard for the space between adjacent rails comprising an angle member having one flange horizontally disposed and the other flange vertically disposed, said vertical flange having spaced apart portions, each of said portions having a longitudinally elongated slot open at one side of the portion, one of said slots being constricted adjacent its entrance, said portions being disposable between bolts of a rail joint and then movable longitudinally to engage adjacent bolts in the slots, and a horizontal plate substantially of wedge shape connected to said horizontal flange.

18. A foot guard for the space between adjacent rails comprising an angle member having one flange horizontally disposed and the other flange vertically disposed, said vertical flange having spaced apart portions, each of said portions having a longitudinally elongated slot open at one side of the portion, one of said slots being constricted adjacent its entrance, said portions being disposable between bolts of a rail joint and then movable longitudinally to engage adjacent bolts in the slots, a horizontal plate disposed on said horizontal flange, securing means connecting the plate and horizontal flange, an upwardly extending projection on the plate positioned to prevent the wedging of the shoe of a person between said securing means and an adjacent rail.

AUGUST ENSTROM.

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