US2101884A - Rail anchor - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 14, 1937. H. G. WARR 2,101,884

RAIL ANCHOR Filed May 16 1936 Patented Dec. 14, 1937 PATENT OFFICE RAIL ANCHOR Harold G. Warr, Park Ridge, 111., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Poor & Company, a cor- Duration of Delaware Application May 16, 1936, Serial No. 80,047

V V 5 Claims.

This invention relates to rail anchors for resisting longitudinal movement of railroad rails and more particularly to one piece anchor devices comprising a hook shaped portion for gripping the top and bottom surfaces of a rail base at one side of the rail, an under rail body portion which extends across beneath the rail base and abuts against a vertical face of a cross tie and means at the other end of the anchor for engaging the other edge of the rail base.

It has been customary, heretofore, to make anchor devices of the above character from steel bars of uniform cross section so that when the hook shaped portion of the anchor is driven onto either of the base flanges of a rail one of the side faces of the under rail body portion of the anchor will have a flat bearing against a vertical face of a cross tie. The major portion of the grip of such anchors for resisting creeping movement ofthe rail is obtained from the gripping action exerted by the hook-shaped portion on the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base when the under rail body portion of the anchor is pressed against the vertical face of the cross tie by the forces which tend to move the rail longitudinally. In order to provide rail gripping surfaces of sufficient width to take advantage of the above gripping action and at the same time avoid any actual cantingof the hook portion of the anchor about an axis transversely of the rail, such anchors have been made heretofore of steel, bars which approximate a one inch square in cross section. Another purpose of using bars of such cross section is that they provide the under rail body portion of the anchor with a tie bearing face of suitable area to minimize the tendency of such anchor body to cut into the vertical face of the cross tie.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a rail anchor of the above general character which may be formed from a bar of smaller cross section than has been used heretofore for. an anchor of similar size and at the same time provide substantially the same rail gripping and tie bearing effects, as above mentioned, which have heretofore required the use of bars of larger cross-section.

According to the'p-resent invention, the anchor is made from a rectangular bar which, asviewed in the drawing, has a depth or vertical dimension somewhat greater than its horizontal thickness and, preferably, both end portions of the bar are flattened to provide bearing surfaces substantially wider than the under rail body portion of the anchor. One flattened end portion of the bar provides a jaw for engaging the top surface of the rail base and is so arranged relative to the under rail body portion of the anchor that the bearing surfaces for engaging the top and bottom of the rail base will have the same effective Width, for resisting the forces tending to rock the hook portion of the anchor about a horizontal axis, as that of the anchor heretofore formed from bars of substantially greater cross sectional area.

' Another and. more specific object of the invention is to provide a rail anchor having a locking shoulder at one end and having a flattened portion at the other end to provide a gripping jaw of greater width than the intermediate portion of the anchor body, whereby the anchor can be made of relatively light stock and at the same time provide a relatively wide rail gripping surface which cooperates with a portion of the anchor of narrower width to resist the forces tending to turn the anchor about a horizontal axis and which cooperates with the locking shoulder and with a stop surface at the jaw end of the anchor to resist the forces tending to move the anchor about a vertical axis to a diagonal position on the rail, for example, when the adjacent cross tie is shifted in the ballast of the roadbed so as to engage but one end only of the anchor body.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanyme drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a side view of a rail anchor device constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is aplan view of the rail and anchor device applied thereto, as shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3..-3 of Fig. 1 so as to illustrate the effective width of the rail gripping surfaces for resisting the forces tending to turn the jaws about a horizontal axis when the body portion of the anchor is pressed against a vertical face of a cross tie.

Referring to the drawing, l0 designates the base portion of a railroad rail, II a supporting cross tie, l2 a tie plate interposed between the tie and the rail base, and I3 designates a rail anchor made in accordance with this invention and applied to the rail base. The anchor device l3, insofar as its general contour is concerned, is of well known form and in this respect may be briefly described as comprising a downwardly bowed body or under rail portion 14. A hooked end portion H3 at one end of the body provides upper and lower jaws I6 and I! for engagement with one flange of the rail base Ill. The said jaws are formed so that they will be spread apart slightly when they are driven onto the said base flange and -consequently exert a strong spring grip on the top and bottom surfaces of therail base at one side of the rail. The rail engaging surface l8 of the lower jaw bears against the bottom surface of the rail base at a location nearer the edge of the rail than the rail engaging surface IQ of the'upper jaw. It will be seen, therefore, that by reason of the arrangement of the above surfaces l8l9 at different distances from the edge of the rail, the anchor will turn about an axis extending lengthwise of the rail when the jaws |6- -i I are driven upon the wedge-like base flange of the rail and thereby force the bearing surface 20 at the other end of the anchor, against the bottom surface of the rail. A locking shoulder 2| engages the vertical edge portion of the rail adjacent the bearing surface 28 to hold the anchor in its applied position on the rail. i

The general constructions described above are recognized as being old in the art. It is to be understood, therefore, that the present invention resides in the herein disclosed improvements which make it practicable toform an anchor of the above general'character from a metal bar of relatively light cross section and at the same time provide a widened rail gripping surface at the jaw end of the anchor and preferably also at the locking shoulder end thereof which gives the improved anchor rail gripping portions having substantially the same gripping coaction as is obtained when such anchor is made from bars of heavier cross section.

According to the present invention an anchor of the above or similar configuration is made from a steel bar, the horizontal thickness of which is substantially less than the breadth or vertical dimension of the bar. Preferably one or both ends of the bar are flattened before the bar is bent to'the configuration shown in Fig. 1. The flattened portion at one end of the bar'provides the jaw l6 with a rail bearing surface H! which is substantially wider than the bottom bearing |8 of the lower jaw By inspection of Fig. 3 of the drawing it will be seen that the bearing surface It of the lower jaw I1 is centralized with relation to the width of the flattened portion or rail engaging surface iii of the upper jaw. The overhang of the flattened upper jaw portion with relation to the opposite vertical faces of the under rail body portion permits the anchor to be driven onto the rail base at either side of the rail without interfering with the flat bearing of the under rail body portion against an adjacent cross tie. Either side of the under rail body portion of the anchor may bear against a vertical face of the cross tie, depending upon which side of the rail the anchor jaws engaged When the anchor is applied to a rail base and bears against a cross tie, in the manner indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the effective width of the upper and lower jaws for effecting the turning or shackle grip on the top and bottom surfaces, is the dimension indicated by the letter A. This dimension is preferably the same as is maintained in the anchors of the same general contour which have been made heretofore from bars of heavier cross section and provides for a strong grip on the rail base without any actual canting of the jaws and, therefore, without danger of spreading apart or opening of the jaws.

Inasmuch as a principal grip of anchors of the above character for resisting lengthwise movement of the rail is obtained by the grip of the hook shaped jaw portion on the top and bottom surfaces of one basefiange of the rail, when the anchor body is pressed against a cross tie, it is important that the effective width of the jaw portion be suiiiciently narrow to prevent it from sliding lengthwise of the rail when the anchor body is pressed against a cross tie and which, at the same time, will permit a strong gripping action at the edges 23-24 of the jaws without involving any actual canting of the jaws about a horizontal axis. The flattened end portion of the jaw 16 is preferably curved, as indicated at 25. This curvature may be formed during the, shearing of the bar or during the flattening of the end portions thereof. The bend I5 is preferably so formed as to contact the lower corner 26 of the rail base when the anchor is driven to the full limits of its applying movement. The said bend,

therefore, provides a stop surface which prevents over-driving of the anchor during its application to the .rail and limits movement of the hook end of the anchor transversely of the rail when the anchor is subjected to forces tending to turn the anchor about a vertical axis to a diagonal position on the rail base. The said upturned lug 2| and the surface 20 adjacent'thereto, preferably, correspond in width'to' the flattened portion of the jaw IGandtherefore is substantially wider than the'horizontal dimension of the downwardly bowed under rail portion of the anchor. By widening the lug portion 2| by flattening the end of the bar so as to maintain the narrower portion of the bar centralized with relation to the lug 2|, the anchor body is given an effective width, insofar as the engagement with the opposite edges of the rail base is concerned, equal to the dimensionindicated by the letter B. The engagement of the'anchor with the rail at points indicated 21 and 28 cooperate to provide the anchor with a width sufficient to resist the pressures ordinarily encountered in service tending to turn the anchor about a vertical axis to an abnormal diagonal position across the rail. The engagement of the anchor at the points 29 and 30 provide a corresponding re sistance to forces tending to displace or shift the anchor about a vertical axis in the opposite direction. These forces are resisted also by an increased gripping action of the upper and lower jaws on the rail base flange produced by the turning movement of the widened upper jaw about a vertical axis passing through the point of engagement of the said stop surface with the edgeof the rail base. The bearing 20 of the anchor being of greater Width'than the width of the downwardly lbowed portion of the bar is preferably so proportioned in length as toavoid contact with the cross tie.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with certain specific construction, it should be understood that the invention is not restricted to the specific constructions shown and described except insofar as specific limitations appear in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A light weight rail anchor comprising a bar having flattened and widened end portions which gradually increase in width and decrease in vertical thickness toward the ends and having an intermediate body portion of substantially rectangular cross-section havinggreater depth than its horizontal width, adapted to extend across beneath a railwith its. wider faces arranged substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the rail base so that either wide face of the body may bear against a vertical face of a cross-tie, the said body portion of the bar being bent adjacent to one end into hook form to provide a wide upper jaw and a narrower lower jaw for grippingfthe top and bottom surfaces respectively of one base flange of the rail; the widened: end of said jaw being of a 'Width substantially corresponding to the depth of the said lower jaw which grips the botthe flattened and widened portion at the other end of the body for engaging a vertical surface of the other rail base flange to lock the anchor on the rail; the flattened portions of the bar, which form the said upper jaw and the said vertical surface engaging means, being positioned so that each flattened portion projects laterally beyond the tie engaging planes of the sides of the under-rail body portion of the anchor but only above the plane of the top of the cross-tie, whereby substantially the same effective rail gripping tie bearing effects are produced as where said anchor is formed of uniform square cross-section, corresponding to the depth of the jaw which engages the bottom of said first mentioned rail flange, throughout the entire length of the anchor.

2. A light weight one-piece rail anchor comprising a bar having flattened and widened end portion which gradually increases in width and decreases in vertical thickness toward the end of the bar and having a body portion which is of greater depth than its horizontal width adapted to extend across beneath the rail with its wider faces arranged perpendicular to the bottom of the rail base so that either wide face of the body may bear against a vertical face of a cross-tie, the said body portion of the bar being bent adjacent to said widened end into hook form to provide a wide upper jaw and a narrower lower jaw for gripping the top and bottom surfaces respectively of one base flange of the rail at different distances relative to the edge of the flange and having a stop surface for limiting movement of the hook transversely of the rail; and means for engaging a vertical surface of the other rail base flange to lock the anchor on the rail; the flattened portion of the bar which forms the said upper jaw being positioned so that it projects beyond the vertical tie engaging planes of the under-rail body portion of the anchor whereby the effective width of the anchor for resisting turning movement thereof about a horizontal axis is defined by the vertical plane of one side of the lower jaw and the edge portion of the widened upper jaw which projects beyond the plane of the other side of said lower jaw and whereby a turning movement of said widened jaw about a vertical axis passing through said stop surface increases thegrip of the upper and lower jaws on the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base to resist such turning movement.

3. A one piece rail anchor comprising a bar having a flattened and widened end portion and having a body portion adapted to extend across beneath a rail with opposite faces arranged perpendicular to the bottom of the rail base so that either of said faces may bear against a vertical face of a cross-tie, the bar being bent adjacent to said widened end into hook form to provide a wide upper jaw and a narrower lower jaw for gripping the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of one rail base flange at different distances relative to the edge of the flange and having a stop surface for limiting movement of the hook transversely of the rail; and means for engaging the vertical surface of the other base flange of the rail to lock the anchor on the rail; the flattened portion of the bar which forms the said upper jaw being positioned so that it projects beyond the tie engaging planes of the under-rail body portion of the anchor whereby the effective width of the anchor for resisting turning movement thereof about a horizontal axis is defined by the vertical plane of one side of the lower jaw and the edge portion of the widened upper jaw which projects beyond the plane of the other side of said lower jaw and whereby a turning movement of said widened jaw about a vertical axis passing through said stop surface increases the grip of the upper and lower jaws on the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base to resist such turning movement.

4. A one-piece rail anchor comprising a bar having a flattened and widened end portion and having a body portion adapted to extend across beneath a rail with opposite faces arranged perpendicular to the bottom of the rail base so that either of said faces may bear against a vertical face of a cross-tie, the bar being bent adjacent to said widened end into hook form to provide a wide upper jaw and a narrower lower jaw for gripping the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of one rail base flange at different distances relative to the edge of the flange and having a stop surface for limiting movement of the hook transversely of the rail; the flattened portion of the bar which forms the said upper jawtion of the anchor, whereby the effective width of the anchor for resisting turning movement thereof about a horizontal axis is defined by the vertical plane of one side of the lower jaw and the edge portion of the widened upper jaw which projects beyond the plane of the other side of the lower jaw; and means for engaging the vertical surface of the other base flange of the rail to lock the anchor on the rail and adapted to cooperate with the widened upper jaw and with the said stop surface of the hook to increase the grip on the rail during a turning movement of the anchor about a vertical axis passing through said stop surface. v

5. A one-piece rail anchor comprising a bar having a flattened and widened end portion and having a body portion adapted to extend across beneath a rail with opposite faces arranged perpendicular to the bottom of the rail base so that either of said faces may bear against a vertical face of a cross-tie, the bar being bent adjacent to said widened end into hook form to provide a wide upper jaw and a narrowed lower jaw for gripping the top and bottom surfaces respectively of one rail base flange at different distances relative to the edge of the flange and having a stop surface for limiting movement of the hook transversely of the rail; the flattened portion of the bar which forms the said upper jaw being positioned so that it projects beyond the tie engaging planes of the under-rail body portion of the anchor, whereby the effective width of the anchor for resisting turning movement thereof about a horizontal axis is defined by the vertical plane of one side of the lower jaw and the edge portion of the widened upper jaw which projects beyond the plane of the other side of the lower jaw; and means for engaging a vertical surface of the other base flange of the rail to lock the anchor on the rail comprising a portion of the bar which decreases in thickness toward the end of the bar and is provided with a surface for locking engagement with the said vertical surface of the other base flange of the rail and thereby cooperates with the widened upper jaw and with said stop surface adjacent said jaw to increase the grip of the anchor on the rail during a turning movement of the anchor about a vertical axis passing through said stop surface.

HAROLD G. WARR.

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