US2161925A - Rail anchor - Google Patents

Description

June 13, 1939- cs. A. JOHNSON 2,161,925

RAIL ANCHOR Filed Nov. 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /NVENTOR GEORGE A. Jomvso/v '5 Y M Ju 3, 939- G. A. JOHNSON 2 1 1 925 RAIL ANCHOR Filed Nov. 23, 1936 Q 2 Sheets-Skeet 2 GEORGE A. JOHNSON Arrx l/vnwroa Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES RAIL ANCHOR George A. Johnson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to W. H. Miner, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application November 23, 1936, Serial No. 112,271-

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in rail anchors.

One object of the invention is to provide an efficient rail anchor of simple design and construction which operates to tightly clamp the rail and positively prevent relative creeping of the rail and tie of the railway track structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail anchor having substantially rigid jaw members which engage with and grip the rail flanges to prevent creeping of the rail with respect to the tie, together with means for at all times maintaining the gripping jaws in gripping relation with the base flanges of the rail.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a rail anchor of the character described in the preceding paragraph made in one piece and which is so designed that it has a positive locking action on the rail and is held in place through spring action which is entirely independent of the locking action thereof, thereby assuring tight gripping action on the rail under all conditions of service.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a broken top plan view of a rail and tie of a railway track structure illustrating my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 22 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the tie, corresponding substantially to 5 the line 33 of Figure 2 and showing the rail and improved anchor in elevation. Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the rail showing the improved rail anchor in elevation and also in dotted. line position, illustrating the manner of 40 application of the anchor to the rail. Figure 5 is a broken View showing the rail in transverse vertical section and illustrating one of the jaw members of another embodiment of the invention, the remainder of the rail anchor being 45 broken away. Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 6-6 of Figure 5, said view also showing a portion of the tie of the railway track structure. Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating still an- 50 other embodiment of the invention.

In said drawings, I0 indicates a tie and II one of the rails of a railway track structure. The rail II is of a well-known type having the usual base flanges I2I 2 by which the rail is supported 55 on the ties of the track structure,

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, my improved rail anchor, as shown, is of one-piece construction and comprises broadly a pair of opposed gripping jaws A-A anda spring loop B for holding the jaws in gripping position.

The improved anchor is preferably made of carbon spring steel, is in the form of a continuous bar of substantially rectangular cross section, and has the jaws A-A thereof of such :1 thickness as to provide substantially unyielding rigid. jaw structures. Each jaw A comprises relatively heavy top and bottom jaw members I3 and I 4 adapted to embrace and grip the corresponding rail flange I2. The jaw members I3 15 and I4 are connected by a curved outer section I5 which is continuous with said jaws and formed. integral therewith. The top jaw member I3 of each jaw A is tapered towards its free end, as clearly shown in Figure 2, and. has a substantially flat inner face I6 slightly inclined so as to truly fit the top surface of the corresponding flange I2 of the rail II. The curved section I5, which connects the jaw member I4 to the jaw member I3, is of such a contour that the inner curved face I! thereof clears the edge of the flange I2 and is spaced an appreciable distance from the bottom corner of said flange. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the lower jaw member I 4, which forms a continuation of the section I5, extends laterally inwardly therefrom and is bowed upwardly to engage the underneath surface of the rail base flange I2 at a zone inwardly of the edge of said flange. The inner face portion of the jaw member I4, which engages the flange I2 is preferably flattened for an appreciable area to form true contact with the underneath surface of the rail base.

The spring loop B which connects the jaws AA is in the form of a bar of rectangular cross section and is broadly of inverted U-shaped form with upstanding side arms I9.I9. The arms I 9I9 of the loop B are curved and converge inwardly toward each other near the upper ends.

A loop of substantially circular outline, open at the top, is thus provided. Beyond the converged upper section, the arms I9--I9 are curved laterally outwardly in diverging relation and merge with the members I 4I 4 of the jaws A-A, as indicatedat 20-20. As will be seen upon reference to Figure 2, the thickness of the metal of the loop member B is much less than that of the jaw members I3 and I4, thereby providing a sensitive leaf spring element having the proper amount of resiliency to hold the jaws A- -A in place on the rail base and permitting spreading apart of the jaw carrying portions of the anchor to an extent to permit application and removal of the anchor with respect to the rail. As shown, the merging portions 20-20 of the jaws [4-44 with the loop B are gradually tapered from the ends of the jaws 14 to the converging sections of the arms l9--l9 of the loop B. Upon reference to Figure 3, it will be seen that the opposite side edges of the rail anchor are substantially parallel and one of said edges bears on the flat vertical base of the tie II] when the anchor is in operative position. As will be evident, this parallel arrangement of the opposite edge faces provides for application o frthe rail anchor in position with either of said edges against the tie, thereby avoiding the necessity of providing right and left anchors. The tie illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive is of that type having the corners thereof slightly rounded, as indicated at 2|, thereby allowing a slight rocking of the tie engaging portion of the anchor on the tie whereby the lower or tie engaging portion of the anchor acts as lever means to eflect slight tilting or rocking of the jaws A-A of the anchor with respect to the rail with the result that a tight binding or gripping action of said jaws on the base flanges l2l2 of the rail II is effected. Tight gripping action of each individual jaw A is assured through the resiliency of the loop member B which is yieldable so as to permit slight twisting thereof, thereby permitting slight angular displacement of the arms |9l9 of said loop member, with respect to each other in a direction lengthwise of the rail, thereby allowing independent leverage action of the arms to effect clamping of the jaws A--A on the base flanges of the rail. In other words, the resilient loop construction which permits of independent movement of the arms l9 l9' provides for perfect gripping action of both jaws of the anchor on the rail even when irregularities are encountered in the end surface of the tie or the surfaces of the base flanges of the rail engaged by the jaws of the anchor. V

In applying the anchor to the rail one of the jaws A is engaged over the corresponding base flange I2 of the rail, as shown in Figure 4, and the anchor positioned as shown by dotted lines. The anchor is then spread apart laterally of the rail, as shown in full lines in said figure, so that the top member l3 of the other jaw A will pass the outer edge of the opposite flange l2 of the rail. With the anchor in the last named position, the same is forced upwardly to a position where the jaw member l3 will pass beyond the upper outer corner of the flange l2 and snap inwardly over said flange. When this occurs the rail anchor contracts due to the resilient spring action of the loop member 13, drawing both jaws into close engagement with the flanges |2-l2 of the rail, as shown in Figure 2. The anchor is then driven bodily against the tie into intimate contact with the vertical face thereof. In spreading the anchor in applying the same to the rail, a pinch bar or similar tool may be employed, the

bar being preferably engaged with the free end of the upper jaw member l3 of the jaw A at the right hand side of the anchor, as viewed in Figure 4, and fulcrumed on the outer edge of the flange I2 at the corresponding side of the rail to obtain the necessary leverage to pry the jaw carrying section of the anchor outwardly to the position shown in full lines in said figure.

When the rail anchor is in the applied position against the tie, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, creeping of the rail in a direction toward the tie is positively prevented by the binding action of the rigid jaws A-A on the bottom flange of the rail, as hereinbefore pointed out,

vention disclosed in Figures 5 and 6, the construction and design of the rail anchor is substantially identical with that shown and described in connection with Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, with the exception that the inner faces of the top and bottom members l3 and M of the jaws A-A are hollowed out or transversely concaved or inwardly curved, as indicated at 22--22, to present relatively sharp edge portions 23-43 and 23-23 which bite into the surfaces of the flanges l2 of the rail when the anchor is slightly tilted or rocked.

Referring next to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 7, the construction and design of the rail anchor is substantially identical with that shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive with the exception that the opposite side edges of the depending loop portion B of the anchor are inclined outwardly and downwardly with respect to each other, as indicated at 24-24, thereby providing 2. depending tie engaging section of dovetailed or tapered transverse outline. This construction is particularly effective with sawed ties of true square cross section, as indicated by 25, the tapered arrangement of the depending section of the anchor assuring proper gripping action of the jaws thereof by permitting slight initial tilting or rocking of the tie engaging portion of the anchor on the tie. Figure '7 shows the anchor in gripping relation with the bottom flanges of the rail, and as will .beevident said anchor has been tilted from a true vertical position wherein the lower end of the section B is in contact with the tie and the edge portion 24 thereof is slightly inclined to the face of the tie. The tapered tie engaging portion of the anchor shown in Figure 7 is truly symmetrical at opposite sides of a vertical central plane through the length of the rail anchor, thereby providing an anchor which is available for universal application on either side of the tie. In other words, the anchor is designed for both right and left application.

As will be obvious, the anchor illustrated in Figure 7 may be provided with jaws AA having either fiat gripping faces, as disclosed in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, or inwardly curved or hollow concave gripping faces, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. It is further pointed out that the use of this type of anchor is not limited to application with the square sawed ties and may be used with equal efficiency with ties having rounded edges of the character shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 6.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a rail anchor, the combination with transversely opposed rigid jaws adapted to respectively engage with the opposed base flanges of a rail; of a tie engaging leaf spring member rigidly fixed to and permanently connecting said jaws, said tie engaging leaf spring member being of lesser thickness than the material of said jaws to provide a sensitive resilient yieldable connection to permit ready relative adjustment of the jaws with respect to each other lengthwise of the rail.

2. In a rail anchor, the combination with an opposed pair of gripping jaws, each jaw comprising opposed relatively rigid gripping portions adapted to embrace the top and bottom sides of the base flange of a rail; of a twistable leaf spring member of lesser thickness than said gripping portions rigidly fixed to and permanently connecting said jaws, said thickness being such as to provide sensitive spring action to yieldingly force the jaws toward each other to maintain them engaged with the base flanges of the rail, said spring member being yieldable to twist on an axis transverse of the rail to permit relative adjustment of the jaws with respect to each other lengthwise of the rail.

3. In a rail anchor, the combination with transversely opposed jaws adapted to respectively engage with opposite side portions of the base member of a rail, each jaw comprising a pair of opposed, relatively rigid, gripping members; of a tie engaging sensitive leaf spring portion comprising connected depending arms on said jaws having independent leverage engagement, with the tie, the connection between said arms being of lesser thickness than said gripping members of said jaws to provide for sensitive flexibility and resiliency to yieldingly hold said jaws engaged with the rail base member and permit relative displacement of said jaws with respect to each other lengthwise of the rail.

4. A rail anchor of one-piece construction, comprising opposed gripping jaws engageable with opposite side portions of the base member of a rail and a tie engaging section connecting said jaws, each jaw including a pair of opposed, relatively rigid, connected, gripping members, and said tie engaging section being in the form of a sensitive inherently resilient leaf spring element of lesser thickness than said gripping members to yieldingly hold said jaws against lateral spreading and maintain the same engaged with said base member.

5. A rail anchor of one-piece construction, comprising opposed jaws engageable with opposite side portions of the base member of a rail, and connected tie engaging lever members depending from said jaws, the connection between the lever members being in the form of a sensitive leaf spring of lesser thickness than the rail base engaging portions of said jaws to yieldingly resist spreading of said lever members laterally of the rail and relative angling of the lever members with respect to each other lengthwise of the rail to permit displacement of said jaws with respect to each other lengthwise of the rail.

6. A rail anchor of one-piece construction, comprising transversely opposed rigid jaws adapted to respectively engage with the opposed base flanges of a rail and a depending downwardly bowed sensitive leaf spring connecting section disposd transversely of the rail and engageable with the tie for resiliently holding said jaws in engaged position, said connecting section being of lesser thickness than the base flange engaging portion of said jaws to provide for yielding twisting distortionof said section to a limited extent to permit relative adjustment of the jaws with respect to each other lengthwise of the rail.

'7. A rail anchor of one-piece construction, comprising transversely opposed rigid jaws adapted to respectively engage with opposed base flanges of a rail, and a barlike section of greater width than thickness connecting said jaws, said barlike section extending from one jaw to the other transversely of the rail and having a portion thereof bowed downwardly away from the rail, said last named portion being in the form of a sensitive leaf spring member of lesser thickness than the remainder of said bar.

8. A rail anchor of one-piece construction, comprising transversely opposed jaws and a depending section disposed between said jaws connecting the same, each of said jaws having rigidly connected, relatively fixed rigid gripping members adapted to grip the rail, and said depending section being in the form of a sensitive leaf spring of lesser thickness than said gripping members to yieldingly urge said jaws inwardly toward each other.

9. A rail anchor of one-piece construction, comprising opposed jaw members, and a sensitive leaf spring loop section connecting said jaws, each of said jaws being rigid and having a jaw opening provided with opposed, relatively fixed gripping faces having extended engagement with the top and bottom faces of the rail base, said loop section being of lesser thickness than the members of said jaws and yieldable in lateral direction transversely of the rail and twistable to permit relative displacement of the jaws with respect to each other lengthwise of the rail.

10. A rail anchor of one-piece construction, comprising opposed rigid jaws provided with V- shaped jaw openings, and a depending spring loop section connecting said jaws, said loop section being of barlike leaf spring material of rectangular cross section, greater in width than thickness and forming the tie engaging member of said anchor, the thickness of said material of the loop section being less than the thickness of the gripping portions of said jaws to provide sensitive resilient action.

11. In a rail anchor of one-piece construction, the combination with a tie engaging open loopshaped member in the form of a sensitive leaf spring, the leaf spring material of said loop member being of greater width than thickness and having edge engagement with the tie; of opposed rigid jaws forming continuations of the open end of said loop, the material of said jaws being of greater thickness than the material of said loop member to provide absolute rigidity thereof, each jaw having an inwardly directed jaw opening providing opposed gripping elements, said elements having elongated gripping faces and being rigid with respect to each other.

12. In a rail anchor, the combination with opposed gripping jaws adapted to, respectively engage opposite side portions of the base member of a rail, each jaw comprising a pair of opposed gripping jaw members rigid with respect to each other, said jaws being exact duplicates; of a depending tie engaging portion of sensitive leaf spring material of lesser thickness than the gripping jaw members and formed integral with, and connecting said jaws, said tie engaging portion having substantially straight, parallel, tie engaging bearing faces on opposite sides thereof,

whereby the anchor may be applied in reverse positions with either of said faces in abutment with the tie.

GEORGE A. JOHNSON.

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