US2101313A

US2101313A - Rail brace

Info

Publication number: US2101313A
Application number: US17998A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond L Gillispie
Original assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corp
Current assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corp
Priority date: 1935-04-24
Filing date: 1935-04-24
Publication date: 1937-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 1954-12-07

Description

RAIL BRACE Filed April 24, 1935 a sheets-sheet 1 'Dec- 1937. R. GILLISPIE 2,101,313

RAIL BRACE Filed April 24, 1935 SSheets-Sheet 2 1937. R. GILLISPIE v2,301,313

RAIL BRACE Filed April 24, 1955 5 Shee ts-Sheet s gwwnkm 1?. L. Gillie via;

Patented Dec. 7, 193'? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAIL BRACE Pennsylvania Application April 24,

14 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in rail brace structures.

One object of my invention is to provide rail brace structures which are easily assembled and which will absorb vibrations transmitted to the rails and thereby eliminate the vibrations being transmitted to the supporting elements of the track structure.

Another object of my invention is to provide a rail brace structure which will compensate for variations in the rails and tie plates with which they are assembled.

A further object of my invention is to provide a rail brace structure with a spring wedge of such shape and construction so as to provide a resilient connection intermediate the rail and the rail brace when the rail brace structure is in its assembled condition.

The novel features of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description and claims taken with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of members of a railway track structure embodying one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the structure taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and '7 are views of members of a track structure embodying another modification of my invention, Fig. '7 being a side elevation of the structure and Fig. 6 a sectional view taken on line 15-43 of Fig. 7.

Figs. 8 and 9 are views of members of a track structure embodying still another modification of my invention, Fig. 9 being a side elevation of the structure and Fig. 8 being a sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, thereof, l4 designates a plate having a depressed portion l5 extending across the plate upon which a rail I6 is mounted, said depressed portion providing shoulders I! and !8 to limit the lateral movement of the rail relative to the plate M.

The plate I4 is shown provided with an aperture l9. Abrace 20, having a projection 2| which extends into the aperture I9, is mounted on the upper surface of the plate 14 and is preferably welded to the upper surface of the plate and also 1935, Serial No. 17,998

to the plate adjacent the aperture I9 by means of the projection 2|. The lower portion of the face of the brace 20 is stepped back at 23 and provides an overhanging shoulder 24. The faces 48 and 49 of the brace 20 are formed so that they will bedisposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the web of the rail when the rail is in its assembled position on the plate l5 and the face 50 will lie in sloping relation with the base of the rail. Interposed between the rail I6 and the brace 20 shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, is the spring wedge 25 and interposed between the rail [6 and the brace 20 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is the spring wedge member 26. A dog or pawl 21 is pivotally mounted on the brace 20. The outer face of each of these wedge members is provided with depressions 28 one of which receives the pawl 27 when the wedge is in its assembled position, so as to retain the wedge against displacement in service. The

wedge members

25 and 26 cooperate with the braces 20 to resiliently retain the rails 16 in their assembled relation with the plate l4.

The Wedge 25 shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, comprises the rail engaging member 29 and the brace engaging member 30. These two members are shown connected adjacent their ends by

members

35 and 36, respectively, which are provided intermediate the members 29 and 3H and welded thereto so that the portions of these members intermediate their ends are in spaced relation, thus forming a slot 31 which extends from the top of the wedge downwardly and then outwardly to the outer edge of the wedge. The wedge 25 is provided with faces 5!, 52 and 53 which engage the faces 48, 49 and. 50 respectively of the brace 20 when the members are in their assembled condition.

The wedge 26 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 comprises the rail engaging member 4| and the brace engaging member 42. These two members are shown connected adjacent their ends by members 45 and 46, respectively, which are provided intermediate the members 4| and 42 and welded thereto so that the portions of these members intermediate their ends are in spaced relation, thus forming a slot 41 which extends from the upper surface of the wedge diagonally downwardly to the bottom of the wedge as plainly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The wedge 26 is provided with

faces

54, 55 and 56 which engage the faces 48, 49 and 50 respectively of the rail brace.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the rail I6 is assembled with the switch plate M by placing the rail thereon intermediate the shoulder l 1 and I8 and inserting the small end of the wedge 25 or the small end of the wedge 26 between the web of the rail and the brace 26 and forcing the wedge inwardly until the rail is brought into firm engagement with the shoulder I8 and the

faces

52 and 53 of the wedge 25 are in engagement with the faces 48, 49 and 50 of the brace 20 or if the wedge 26 is used the

faces

54, 55 and 56 are in engagement with the faces 48, 49, and 50 of the brace 20. The pawl 21' is then rotated into the recess I9 which is in line therewith, or if a recess is not in alignment with the pawl, the wedge due to the slot therein can be easily forced sufficiently further to bring the next recess opposite the pawl so that the pawl may enter therein and thus lock the wedge in its assembled position.

When excessive shock is transmitted to the side of the head of the rail opposite the brace 20 due to the passing of a train over the rail the wedge members being resilient will flex and absorb such shoclgs and thereby eliminate such shocks from being transmitted to the supporting elements of the track structure.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 I show a switch plate 51 having a pair of

rail brace members

58 and 59, respectively, having faces 60, 6| and 62, which are engaged by the faces of the wedge 63 shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and the faces of the wedge 64 shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The wedge 63 shown in Figs. 6 and '7 is provided at each end with a slot which is shown in Fig. 6 as extending diagonally through the wedge. The slot 65 extends from the upper corner adjacent the rail diagonally of the wedge to the lower outer corner thereof, while the slot 66 extends from the upper outer corner of the wedge to the lower inner corner of the Wedge. The wedge shown in Figs. 8 and 9 has a vertical slot 61 in one end which extends from the upper surface of the wedge to its lower edge in a plane substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the web of the rail and slot 68 in the other end which extends substantially at right angles to the slot 61. A pawl 69 is provided to enter one of the recesses provided in the wedge 63 or the recesses 'II provided in the wedge 64 to retain the wedges in their assembled relation with the rail.

The assembly of the structure shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive are made in the same manner as the assemblies shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive and the

resilient wedges

63 and 64 function as cushioning means for absorbing excessive shocks transmitted to the rail and in this way prevent such shocks from being transmitted to the roadbed.

While I have shown my invention in a plurality of forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A rail supporting structure comprising a plate for supporting a rail, a bracing member located upon said plate, a shoulder on said plate and a resilient wedge shaped member having a slot intermediate its ends adiustably mounted intermediate the bracing member and the rail to force the rail against said shoulder during assembly and to resiliently brace said rail in service and means closing the slot at each end of the wedge.

2. A rail brace structure comprising a plate supporting the rail, means on said plate to retain the rail against lateral displacement in one direction, a rail brace connected to said plate and a substantially solid spring wedge shaped member intermediate the brace and the rail to retain the rail against displacement in the opposite direction, said wedge shaped member having a slot therein to permit limited movement of the rail engaging portion relative to the rail brace engaging portion.

3. A rail brace structure comprising a plate supporting the rail, means on said plate to retain the rail against lateral displacement in one direction, a rail brace connected to said plate, and a substantially solid spring wedge shaped member disposed intermediate said brace and the rail, said wedge member comprising a substantially rigid portion engaging the rail and a yieldable portion engaging the rail brace, said portions being connected at each end thereof and being in spaced relation intermediate their ends.

4. An adjustable rail brace comprising a plate upon which the rail rests, a bracing member seated on and secured to said plate, said bracing element having a pair of faces inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of a rail placed on the aforesaid plate lying in different vertical planes and a resilient wedge shaped member having a face engaging the web of said rail and the faces of said bracing member.

5. An adjustable rail brace comprising a plate upon which the rail rests, a bracing member seated on and secured to said plate, said bracing element comprising inclined faces and a resilient wedge shaped member interposed between the web of the rail and said inclined faces of the bracing element, said wedge shaped member having a yieldable portion engaging the bracing element disposed in spaced relation to the portion engaging the rail, whereby either of said portions may move independently of the other portion.

6. An adjustable rail brace comprising a plate upon which the rail rests, a bracing member seated on and secured to said plate, said bracing element comprising inclined faces and a resilient wedge shaped member having a slot therein to ermit independent movement of the different portions of said Wedge member interposed between the web of the rail and said inclined faces of the bracing element, said slot terminating short of each end of the wedge.

'7. A rail supporting structure comprising a plate supporting said rail, a shoulder on said plate for limiting the lateral movement of said rail, a rail brace located on said plate and a resilient wedge shaped member for engaging the web of the rail and the face of the rail brace to resiliently support said rail in its assembled position, said wedge member having a slot intermediate its ends to provide means to permit independent lateral movement of the different portions of the wedge member and means at each end of the Wedge closing said slot.

8. A rail supporting structure comprising a plate supporting said rail, a shoulder on said plate for limiting the lateral movement of said rail, a rail brace located on said plate and a resilient wedge member for engaging the web of the rail and the face of the rail brace to resiliently support said rail in its assembled position, said wedge having slots at each end one of'said slots being angularly disposed with reference to the other slot.

9. In a rail support, a plate supporting the rail, a shoulder limiting the transverse movement of the rail, a rail brace mounted on said plate, said brace having a shoulder adjacent its upper edge, and a Wedge resiliently engaging said brace and the web of said rail, said wedge having a projection thereon underlying the shoulder on said brace and a slot opposite said brace, and means at each end of the wedge closing said slot.

10. A rail brace structure comprising a rail support, means on one side of the rail cooperating with said support to retain the rail against displacement in one direction, a rail brace on the other side of the rail and a substantially solid Wedge shaped member having a longitudinal slot therein to permit independent movement of the different portions of said member disposed intermediate said brace and the rail to resiliently support the rail against lateral displacement in the opposite direction.

11. A rail supporting structure comprising a rail base support, means on one side of the rail for limiting the lateral movement of the rail in one direction, a rail brace having a plurality of faces inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rail on the other side of said rail and resilient means, having a plurality of inclined faces, engaging the inclined faces of the brace and the rail for resiliently supporting the rail against lateral displacement in the other direction, said resilient means comprising a substantially solid member having a slot opposite the rail brace to permit the rail engaging portion and the rail brace engaging portion to move a limited distance independently of each other.

12. A rail supporting structure comprising a rail base support, means on one side of the rail for retaining the rail against lateral displacement in one direction, a rail brace on the other side of the rail, and a distortable Wedge shaped member having a slot therein adapted to permit the one portion of said wedge member to be distorted independently of the other portion of the wedge shaped member extending throughout the major portion of its length and end closures for the slot, adapted to be inserted between the rail and the rail brace to resiliently support the rail and thereby absorb lateral shocks transmitted to the rail.

13. A wedge for a rail brace structure comprising a solid substantially rigid member to engage the rail and a yieldable member to engage the rail brace, said members being connected adjacent their ends and in spaced relation intermediate their ends.

14. A wedge for a railway track structure comprising a pair of members having substantially parallel adjacent faces in spaced relation intermediate their ends and means connecting said faces adjacent their ends, one of said members being substantially rigid and the other of said members being yieldable.

RAYMOND L. GILLISPIE.