US225034A - George w - Google Patents

Description

G. W. WHIPPLE.- Railway Switch-Bar.

No. 225,034. Patented Ma-r.'2, I880;

- 1 043 I, H. III! I .....mllm F i UNITE ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. WHIPPLE, ,OF LUDLOW, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO MATTHEW H. BENTLEY, OF SAME PLACE. I

RAI LWAY-SWITCH BAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,034, dated March 2, 1880.

Application filed J annary 9, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE W. WHIPPLE, of Ludlow, Kenton county, Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railway-Switch Bars, of which the followin is a specification. V

My invention relates to an improved form of those bars or rods which connect the two rails that constitute a railway-switch, and of to which the bar nearest to the outer ends of the switch connects to the switch-stand.

My improvements are designed to enable theheads of the switch-bars to be applied to any desired parts of the switch-rails without the necessity of being first slipped over the extreme ends of the same, and to be securely and accurately clamped in such positions.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is aside elevation of a switch-bar embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, together with portions of the stationary tracks and with the supporting head-block. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of two clampheads with connecting-rod and keys, one head and key being detached. Fig. at represents the clamp-head nearest the switch-stand. Fig. 5 is aside View of a modification of my invention.

A A may represent the two rails composing the switch. B and C may respectively represent portions ofthe main and side tracks. 1) may represent the customary bed-plate or head-block to support the chairs E of the stationary track-rails. F represents the heads or clamps of the switch-bar G. Similar heads are provided for the switch-rods H, which, at distances of about four feet, connect the two rails of the switch.

- In the preferred form of my device the rod H, which connects the clamp-heads F, and which, in conjunction with said heads and with the keys or wedges-I, serves to bring and maintain the switch-rails to the proper equidistance, is the same both at the extreme end of the switch, connected with the switchbar, and for the intermediate places. This rod consists of a stout wrought-iron bar, H, 'of rectangular transverse section. Said bar ootwo hooks, F F. Each extremity of the bar H is upbent to form a lip, h, which snugly fits the top of the rail-base and the inner wall of rail leg or web. Each bar H has near each end of it a horizontal slot, h, for a wedge or key, I, whose thin end, being divided into two portions, M, enables it to be doubly clinched .after insertion, as shown in Fig. 3.

For attachmentof the' switch-bar the clamphead nearest the switch-stand may have its middle portion cut and turned back, as at F in Fig. 4, and welded to the switch-bar G, as shown at X, Figs. 1 and 2.

The above-described illustration of n1y.invention maybe varied in non-essential particulars. For example, the clamp-heads of each or any particular bar may be connected by a permanently-welded bar, as at K, Fig. 5, and two slotted bars, L M, be employed to secure the respective rails, of which one bar, M, may constitute the switch-bar.

Instead of the middle portion of the clamphead being cut and turned back, as at F, Fig. 4, the clamp-head may be left solid and the rod G be welded on the same for the purpose of insuring greater strength. The rod H may terminate in a check, H, to afford better lateral support to the rail and prevent crushing and splitting under heavy loads.

The fastening-wedge may have its point split horizontally, as shown at I, and its severed portions becaused to curve outward, so as to securely lock the wedge in place; or the wedge'point may be perforated and receive a split ring, as at I",or be plain, as at I.

A head, 1', may be formed on the wedge for convenience of driving, and also to facilitate extraction.

While preferring wrought-iron, especially for permanent ways, yet the heads or clamps 0 F may be cast-iron, if preferred.

Among the advantagesof my improvement are convenience of taking off and putting on without necessity of raising the sliding rails; avoidance of any lost or slack motion liable to 5 occur from inequalities in size of rails; accurate spacing of the rails, leaving no chance or liability of a lip, (projecting end,) which is a frequent source of accident to trains passing to or from the switch placing the draft of the 00 switch-bar at about mid-height of the rail, so as to make the work of shifting the switch easier, and also more precise, than when the draft is some distance below the rail 5 avoidance of the accidental displacement or shifting of the clamp-heads along the length of the rail, and thus securing a given throw at every movement of the switch-crank.

The lips of the elampheads and the ends of the bar H, especially when the latter is furnished with the cheek H,operate, when keyed fast, to afford lateral support to the rail and to prevent splitting and mashing of the latter under heavy loads. The keys or wedges afford an easy means to take up lost motion. There is an entire avoidance of the noise and chafing incident to loose joints.

The construction of the clamp-heads will be seen to be such as to readily allow of their application to the switch-rails at any part of theirlength without necessity of slipping them on endwise, as customarily done. The slotted coupling-rod being accuratelfswaged serves the purpose of a gage'to insure absolute equidistance of the two switch-rails at every part of their length.

I claim as new and of my invention-- I. In combination with a pair of switchrails, the described clamp -heads F, slotted coupling-bar H, and keys I, for the purposes designated.

2. In combination with the clamp-head F, receiving one of the rails, slotted couplingbar H, and keys I, the clamp-head FfF, receiving the other rail and having a portion, F, out and turned back to form a part of the switch bar or rod, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

, GEORGE W. WHIPPLE.

Attest WALTER KNIGHT, J. L. LOGAN.

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